𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘂 || 𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗸

dix-sept.

each four of them dropped their jaws the minute they heard those words come out of their sajangnim's lips. they weren't expecting a news like that much less something big for all of them.

"w-w-wait. hold on. you mean to say that four of us will be in a permanent group?" kun stuttered. his heart was beating so fast. never did he ever expected the news but he was excited at the same time. he could finally show the world of his talent and what he could be capable of.

the other three began to theorize on what group their sajangnim had planned for them. could lucas finally join nct dream like how he had dreamt of ever since he was a trainee? could sicheng finally get the lines he knows he deserve to have? and could ten finally debut along with the nct members he debuted with back in 2016?

well...no.

after lee sooman began discussing his plans for the group and what they were about, it wasn't what they had expected. lucas, especially, was struggling a bit with his feelings. he didn't know if he was happy that he could finally be back home and speak comfortably in his mother tongue or if he was upset and hesitant because of the other members he had become close to and of course, a certain blonde he couldn't forget about.

ten was also struggling with his feelings as he wasn't sure if he would be accepted as part of a chinese group because he was thai but his optimistic side convinced him he could do it and when an opportunity comes that he could finally live his dream, he would take it.

"i figured that it's about time you four debut in a permanent group. deciding about this with the board wasn't tough. they all agreed with me." their sajangnim uttered.

ten scrunched his eyebrows in confusion as he pointed at sicheng who was sitting beside him. "wait. isn't he already in a permanent group?"

"he is. but seeing as sicheng is still struggling with his korean, maybe putting him in a group where he'll be more comfortable won't stress him out too much." lee sooman explained before looking at the tall chinese male.

"worry not, son. i'm not kicking you out of 127. you're still part of the group, however, you'll be promoting more with this new group for now. you four know how nct works as a whole...a lot of sub-units. since, there's still a hallyu ban in china (a/n: i think they've been lifted? idk. i heard news about it. correct me if i'm wrong T.T)...i'm afraid we can't confirm if this group will be a part of nct.

the four sighed in unison. being in nct was now a big part of their identity as artists. hearing their sajangnim say he wasn't sure if they'll be part of the group as a unit crushed them a bit. they were also going to be away from the other nct members.

it was such a bittersweet news to them.

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after their meeting with their boss, the four quietly made their way back towards the company van with their manager in tow. he was also silent as he wasn't sure what to feel about the four leaving to china to debut. they already became like family to him despite the small amount of time he spent with them.

"i should be jumping for joy right now. i don't want to look and sound ungrateful. but...i'm not sure if i wanna leave the others." sicheng muttered.

"it's okay...you're not the only one sicheng. i think the others feel that way too." their manager wrapped an arm around the male, rubbing his arm in comfort.

the ride back to the dorms were silent. it felt weird for the driver and the manager as every car ride with any nct members were noisy and hyped up. this was a complete contrast of what they were usually used to.

⋅︓︒︑∘∗✧∘︑︒⚬∙︓⋅⠄✯∘⠄✧⠄

lisa waved goodbye to taeyong as the male left their dorms. as she closed the door and turned, she jumped and squealed as she found her unnies in front of her with their arms crossed. they all had an indecipherable look on their faces.

the maknae gulped.

"h-hi u-nnies." she greeted, nervously. were they mad she let a male inside their dorm?

"you had a boy inside our dorm, lalisa?" jennie questioned with a raised brow.

"uhmm...h-he's a good f-friend of mine, j-jennie unnie. i swear! i-i'm not dating him or a-anything! a-and we weren't doing anything. w-we were just eating!" lisa stuttered as she attempted to explain, silently praying her unnies wouldn't scold her or wouldn't get mad.

the other three paused, lisa squeezed her eyes shut as she expected to be hit and scolded but the three girls had other plans. they all broke out in wide smiles and squeals, taking their maknae in their arms.

lisa opened her eyes as she was suprised.

"what..."

"yah! you finally had a boy in the dorms! i thought you were afraid of them! we all thought you would never have a boyfriend and die alone." jisoo smirked.

lisa rolled her eyes in response. it wasn't that she was afraid of boys. she just hasn't found her type. she also preferred to be the person to watch over her unnies as they each get involved with their own love lives. she was perfectly fine hearing jennie speak so highly about kai, she loved to tease jisoo with her recent attraction to jinyoung and she loved giving chaeyoung advice on her growing relationship with jimin.

having a boyfriend never crossed lisa's mind. she was always either too busy or would always be spending time with her unnies or her other friends. for her, having a boyfriend seemed pointless at the moment.

"it's just taeyong. he's only a good friend of mine, unnie. you guys are exaggerating." lisa squeezed through the three, walking back towards the kitchen to clean up which taeyong had insisted on doing but before he could beat her to it, she was already pushing him out towards the door.

"mhm...good friend, my ass. i know a smitten boy when i see one and he definitely doesn't want to just be friends with you." chaeyoung spoke, watching their maknae clean up.

"every guy you become friends with ended up having a crush on you. didn't hanbin, bobby and jaewon confessed to you at one point?" jennie sat on a stool, resting her chin on her hands as her gaze followed lisa.

the blonde sighed and started to wash the plates, avoiding her unnies' gazes.

"that was in the past, unnie. no need to remind me of that. i felt bad turning them down...and you're wrong. not every guy. bambam and ten never had a crush on me." she mumbled.

"lisa, all bambam knows is how to dab and ten 'playfully' flirts with every guy he talks to. that would probably be the reason why they would never see you as more than a good friend." jisoo replied.

"wait...ten-ssi is gay?" chaeyoung spoke from the dining table.

"look...i appreciate that you guys are trying to help me out but i'm fine without a boyfriend right now. someone has to be single in this group in case someone gets their heart crushed...and no, chae. ten isn't gay. it's his attempt of making friends." lisa responded as she dried her hands with a towel.

"fine. but this isn't over, manoban." jennie jumped down from the stool and glared playfully at the maknae as she passed over her, walking back towards her room.

lisa rolled her eyes at jennie's remark before making her way towards her room as well, wanting to get some sleep.

"ah. just as i expected. lisa would be the oblivious one between the four of us." jisoo sat down next to chaeyoung.

"about ten-ssi being gay? i know, right?!" chaeyoung turned her body towards jisoo, shaking her arm lightly. a wide innocent smile on her face.

jisoo blinked in response before rubbing her forehead.

"maybe not..."