Eccedentesiast |NCT MARK LEE| ✔

Chapter 9: Quatervois

|Quatervois|

(Noun) - A crossroad; a critical decision or turning point in one's life

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Blah - A/N

'Blah' - Thoughts

"Blah" - Dialogue

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"I expect you to give me a call once you've reached home. If I don't receive one in thirty minutes, I'll take it that you are playing truant. Am I clear?" The stern school nurse peered at them over her wired glasses with her steely black eyes and one arched eyebrow.

"Crystal," Felix and Saeyoung chorused, accustomed to her no-nonsense attitude.

"Good, now get out. You nearly drowning almost sent me into cardiac arrest and to be honest, I don't know why I'm still alive when I have to deal with you teenagers' idiocy every day."

With that said, the school nurse's attention returned to the medical records she was sorting out so the two siblings took it as a permit to be excused.

Saeyoung trailed after her brother who had a bounce to his steps as they exited the school compound and into the bustling street outside. Felix was clearly gleeful that he could escape this hellhole slightly earlier than usual, judging by his humming of an upbeat song. On the other hand, Saeyoung couldn't even find it in herself to feel the slightest ounce of joy when her head was spinning with a bucketload of information which was dumped haphazardly on her. Her mood worsened when Jisoo's words kept replaying themselves in her mind like a broken record tape.

'I like you, Seo Saeyoung.'

'Saeyoung, you do realize that I have never ever ostracized you because of your parentage, don't you?'

'Please get better soon, Saeyoung.'

An unamused snort left Saeyoung's lips unconsciously.

'There's no way she could have a crush on someone like me.'

"What's wrong?" Felix piped up, slowing down so that Saeyoung's and his pace could match. It was impossible to ignore the metaphorical cloud of gloominess hovering over her.

Saeyoung shifted her gaze to him and she resisted the urge to sigh upon noticing how his face was screwed up with a deep frown.

"Just mulling over some things. Not important. Drop the topic," Saeyoung answered shortly, adorning a tight-lipped smile on her poker face as she picked up her pace to walk past Felix. As expected, the Australian blond caught up to her with a few strides ('curse his longass legs') and grabbed her by the elbow.

"Sae-"

"I'm serious. This is none of your business."

"I'm your brother! It automatically becomes my business if my sister gets hurt!"

"Guess what? You're not even my real brother so stop being so goddamn annoying and fuck off," the girl spat venomously, her voice coming out in a harsh command. She proceeded to snatch her arm out of her brother's vice-like grip, causing him to jerk back at her fury.

Saeyoung felt a morass of guilt when she witnessed how tears welled in his soft doe eyes, threatening to cascade down his cheeks. Nonetheless, his face stayed impassive as he turned away and continued walking like nothing had occurred.