COFFEE BREAK | NCT.

- EIGHTEEN -

doyoung;

"look at this." seulgi pointed at the dirt road.

the five of them all gathered around her. the mud was freshly imprinted with a pawprint.

an animal's pawprint.

a large one.

"damn, is it just me or does that look like it belongs to a lion or something?" taeyong muttered.

"i guess this means it's not a virtual world. we're here. for real." doyoung reddened, realising that he was rambling. however, he glanced at jungwoo and saw that he was listening attentively.

"so should we go this way or not?" sooyoung asked impatiently.

taeyong winked at her. "sure. if there is a lion, i'll protect you."

sooyoung rolled her eyes.

doyoung watched her intently. she was decidedly pretty, and of the two girls he liked her better. seulgi's attitude would piss anyone off, and it was very trying to endure her fights with taeyong. taeyong... he had seemed alright when they were chatting on the app. who would've thought he'd turn out to be such a jerk? you really couldn't trust people these days.

"u-um, it's getting dark. i think we should camp for the night." jungwoo met everyone's gaze for the first time, then quickly averted it.

"what, you're tired already?" seulgi asked contemptuously.

"no... i mean, yes, i am a bit sore-" jungwoo began, but was quickly interrupted by a smug taeyong.

"fine, we'll camp. shall i get you an iced drink while we're at it?" he jeered, but everyone ignored him, knowing he was secretly relieved that he wasn't the one to suggest a break.

doyoung sneaked a peek at jungwoo. he was so much cuter in real life, especially when he was embarrassed. he had tried talking to him a few times, but every time their eyes made contact jungwoo would look away instantly, rejecting all his advances.

doyoung shook his head. he didn't understand, but jungwoo must have had his reasons.

"you, new guy! get your ass over here!" seulgi shouted.

doyoung sighed and trudged up the hill.

.

doyoung scooped the last bite of tuna into his mouth and exhaled, far from satisfied.

he had a feeling it would be a long time till he would be.

"let's sleep in shifts," seulgi declared more amiably than earlier, dinner having restored her spirits.

taeyong snorted, unsurprisingly. "think you'll get kidnapped out here? dragged to the caves of some wild creature?"

seulgi glared at him, "i'd thank you not to interrupt unless you have a better idea."

for the first time that day, taeyong fell silent.

"so, 11 to 1 is me, 1-3 is taeyong, 3-5 sooyoung, 5-7 doyoung, and 7-8 jungwoo. any objections?"

unexpectedly, jungwoo spoke up. "why is my shift only an hour?"

taeyong snickered. "should've kept quiet. idiot."

seulgi answered as if she hadn't heard. "this isn't a holiday resort. we're not sleeping until 9. we'll be rotating your shift every day. complaints?"

jungwoo didn't reply, so seulgi turned with an air of confidence.

"go to sleep, everyone, unless anyone's got a good ghost story."

everyone ducked into their tents almost immediately, so it was likely that no one did.

.

"hey. wake up." sooyoung was shaking him roughly, "your turn."

"o-oh." doyoung stumbled out of the tent and collapsed behind the fire, his keen eyes scanning the horizon. the first streaks of pink were beginning to creep up the dark sky.

the night was eerily silent, except for jungwoo's gentle snores and the occasional chirping of a cicada. doyoung had loved the sound ever since he was a kid, and now it seemed more surreal than ever.

he couldn't quite comprehend it.

he was here.

in the jungle.

just then, his eyes fell on something in the distance.

some sort of writing.

doyoung wanted badly to get up and check it out, but an odd fear seized him. he wasn't cowardly, but he felt tiny amongst all the looming trees, and who knew what wildlife was lurking in the shadows.

so he sat in his spot, and was reasonably calm until he heard the rustling of the bushes.

it's just the wind.

was what he told himself.

and then,

he saw it. a dark figure slipping out of the foliage and strolling on the dirt path.

a shape that wasn't remotely animal.

it was human.

and it was coming towards him.

doyoung heard a piercing scream.

a muffled thump, and then the stars blinked out of his vision.