𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 [ b.c. ]

005

As Jiwoo approached the two tall, broad-shouldered boys, she realized how intimidating they looked and suddenly had second thoughts about even confronting them in the first place.

"Hey." She called out, receiving attention from the two who turned their heads to face her.

"Hey, Lil Stray." The boy, who Chenle had called Yugyeom, spoke up first throwing her a welcoming smile as she walked up to them. She was beginning to like the nickname they had given her. Although she wasn't little, she found the nickname comforting.

"Glad you're not another one of us." Jungkook joked, referring to the boys, "have you seen the way they eat? Especially Seonho and Jeongin." He shook his head before letting out a loud chuckle as Yugyeom joined in the laughter.

Jiwoo laughed. "Do you still not know your name?" Jungkook asked, crossing his arms across his chest.

"That's actually what I came here to talk about." Jiwoo paused, a little hesitant.

Yugyeom's brows furrowed and he tilted his head in confusion.

"I want answers." Jiwoo sighed, frowning a bit.

"We can't tell you too much on the first day, Lil Stray." Jungkook warned, "it's a part of the rules."

"See that's the thing!" She yelled out frustrated, "what rules? what is this place?" Her eyebrows furrowed. She has had enough of this. "And why am I the only girl here?" She asked as her eyes scanned the boys near her.

"Look, we can tell you the basics, but that's it. No details." Yugyeom replied, straight to the point and Jungkook nodded in agreement.

"But why not just tell me now instea—"

"All I'm saying is that we've each got a reason to be here. You're given a job that you're required to do and you just gotta stick to it."

"Why? What's with the jobs? What if I don't want to?" Jiwoo crossed her arms. Jungkook raised his eyebrows surprised by her sudden confidence.

"Let's say I don't like the job I'm given. Then what happens—"

"It doesn't matter." Jungkook replied coldly, his gaze focusing on the group of boys playing near the bonfire. He seemed like he didn't like the topic she was asking about.

Jiwoo noticed a sudden change in Yugyeom. He began twiddling with his fingers and the color from his face was drained. He became pale and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

He sighed deeply before speaking up again, "if you don't stick to you're job, you're banished." Yugyeom explained in a soft sad tone, his voice cracking at the end.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jiwoo knitted her eyebrows, her curiosity pulling her deeper into the conversation.

"You don't wanna work? We get rid of you. It's a simple as that." Jungkook shrugged as if it meant nothing to him. More like he didn't like the topic of the conversation.

"How? What do you mean?" She asked, shivers running up her spine just thinking about what they meant.

"No details." Jungkook reminded, shaking his head at her as he let out an annoyed sigh. He seemed impatient.

"Why not?" Jiwoo raised her voice.

"Those are the goddamn rules!" Jungkook scolded with irritation in his voice before storming off the opposite direction of where Jiwoo and Yugyeom stood.

"C'mon Lil Stray. You made him upset." Yugyeom frowned, turning to look at the group of boys tackling each other.

"Look, I'm sorry okay? I-I'm just scared.." She stammered, looking down as she fidgeted with her hands.  "We're all scared." He blinked a few times before looking into Jiwoo's eyes.

She wanted to ask, of what?

But she didn't want to irritate Yugyeom like she had done to Jungkook seconds ago. So she sighed in defeat, taking in the fact that she would have to wait until the following day.

"What've you tried so far?" Yugyeom asked, interrupting Jiwoo's thoughts.

"Jobs?"

He nodded.

"I was with the Builders today." Jiwoo replied.

"Oof, tough work on the first day, huh?" Yugyeom let out a small laugh.

"It wasn't so bad, the boys were nice. Except the Keeper." Jiwoo shrugged.

"Kino?" Yugyeom looked down at the girl beside him.

"Yeah."

"Don't mind him. He's always been harsh. I remember Chenle coming to me crying after his day with Kino. He had already tried out all the jobs and didn't fit any of them. At that time, there were no Sloppers yet, so the lil kid was stressing about how he was no good at any job and Kino didn't like him and how he was no good." Yugyeom's lips formed a small smile, looking back at the memory.

"So what happened?" Jiwoo asked.

"I spoke to Chan. And that's when he began calling him a Slopper. From that day on, Chenle spent his days cleaning and he became Keeper of the Sloppers." Yugyeom said, letting out a small laugh.

Jiwoo nodded, smiling at the thought of Chenle who she had just met but cared for already.

"Once you've found a job you're good at that Chan introduced you to, you just gotta stick to it, and that's how you'll get by around here." Yugyeom finished as he watched the other Strays tackle each other near the bonfire.

"Yah! Park Woojin you're better than that!" Yugyeom scolded the younger boy, an amused smile playing at his lips.

Jiwoo turned her attention to the group of boys, where two of them were fighting in the middle of the crowd.

"Get him, Jihoon-hyung!" She heard Seonho cheer him on from the back of the crowd.

"Boys." Jiwoo rolled her eyes playfully.

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sorry for the long wait! but i'm back on wattpad, so don't worry. there will be none of that anymore :)

— ale 💛