village girl › nct 2018

01

      MIN JAEYOUNG。

"would you like to just hand this to the store owner by the street?" mrs kang told me and handed me a box of her awesome baked goods. i was a stray, left alone under the doorstep. i grew up with mrs. kang, she treats me like her own daughter. i nodded and grabbed the box from her grasp and headed to one of the stores that was newly opened.

i politely handed them the goods and exited the place. upon walking back to the bakery, i accidentally bumped into a guy who seemed to be in disguise. i fell onto the floor as he stuck his hand out. he gladly pulled me up before speaking, "i'm so sorry– i was in a rush and all." he muttered. i shook my head, "it's fine. is everything alright?"

"i have to get back home before they find out that i left." he mumbled.

"oh, i understand." i told him.

"but, i'm lost. i don't know a way back home.. i'm not familiar outside my home." he sadly said as he let out a sigh. "i should've listened."

"look, i'll be glad to help you! just tell me where you live, i'll do my best and help you get back to your home." i told him. i shouldn't be doing this to be honest. a guy wearing all black, hooded and his face covered with a black mask? doesn't it seem too risky? but he seems nice so why not?

he gripped onto the rim of his hood before looking around. he then grabbed my wrist and started pulling me to a more secluded area. i furrowed my brows and gave him a slight glare, "what was that for?"

he looked at me in the eyes, "i'm from the castle. i shouldn't really be out at night– neither should i be allowed outside the castle but i decided to sneak out and it lead me here! please help me." he said.

i nodded, quite shocked that i accidentally bumped into someone with a high status here in our place. i mean, i didn't think of bumping into someone.. especially someone that lives inside the royal palace!

"i know a way, i used to have a friend that works in the palace!" i exclaimed and grabbed his wrist, gently dragging him somewhere. "hey.. this looks familiar." he mumbled as he tilted his head and scanned the area. that's when it clicked to him, "this is where the garden is at!" he pointed at the high bushes in front of us.

"i think this is where i got out." he said and pushed the bush aside and it revealed an opening to the palace garden. "wah! it is! thank you so much for helping me.. i don't know how to repay you." he said.

"n-no need to repay me!" i mumbled.

"may i have your name?" he asked.

"my name?" i knitted my brows in confusion, "my name is min jaeyoung." i uttered.

i could feel him grin behind his mask, "thanks a lot jaeyoung-ssi. if i ever
manage to get out again, i hope we meet." he said and was about to enter the secret entrance when i stopped him.

"wait! what's your name?" i asked.

"just call me.. nana." he winked before closing the entrance.

i turned around and tilted my head a bit, "nana..?" i hummed before walking back to the bakery. "jaeyoung! i thought you ran off or something. where did you go?" mrs. kang asked me.

i shook my head and gave her a small smile, "i just ran into someone and helped them."

"are you okay?" she asked and run her hands through my hair. i nodded, "i'm fine, mrs kang."

"you should go home and get some rest okay?" she told me. i nodded and walked back to home.

    

. . .

       NA JAEMIN。

"hyung! where did you go? you almost missed sword fighting lessons." chenle told me as he found me after i closed the door of the garden. he grabbed my wrist and started pulling me to the training room. i saw all my brothers there, waiting for me. "oops, am i late?" i widened my eyes.

"no. you're just in time, jaemin." taeil hyung said.

i released a relieved sigh, "phew. i don't want to get scolded by father again." i mumbled.

"where did you go anyways? chenle and jisung had been looking for you." taeyong hyung raised a brow as he placed his hands on he side of his hips.

"nowhere? i just checked out the castle. nothing new." i answered.

"that's just straight up lying, jaemin." johnny hyung chuckled.

"i don't think our mentor will be here for a few more minutes, just tell us." ten hyung looked at his watch. i shook my head, "i told you guys, i just roamed around."

"okay then." taeil hyung shrugged.

after training, i walked back to my room with renjun. "where did you go anyways?" he asked me.

"huh? oh.. i just.. i went out okay?" i spilled.

he gasped, "but, we aren't allowed to go beyond the gates!" he exclaimed as i covered his mouth with my palm and dragged him in my room. i closed the door and gave him a glare, "shush! i sneaked out because i wanted to. i missed hanging outside the palace, i missed the old times." i mumbled.

"well, if it weren't for her wouldn't we be still outside?" renjun bitterly spat.

"she just had to ruin everything." i grunted.

"how did you manage to get out?" renjun furrowed his brows.

"you're lucky you can get out the palace by the gates– i had to get out by the
bushes." i told him.

he widened his eyes, "hey, it's not like that. mom only lets me out just because i want to go to the library, other than that. i completely locked in."

"at least you can get out." i sighed.

"what happened anyways?" renjun asked.

"i just met someone, someone so kind even if i was dressed up like someone who could hurt her." i muttered.

"oh, so it's a her." renjun raised a brow.

"she's different. she's nicer." i told him.

"who's this kind lady then?"

"i'm not going to tell you." i squinted my eyes at him.

he chuckled, "alright then jaemin. i'll have to go now, good night!"

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