𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚢𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 ⁿᶜᵗ

three.

the boy stood in utmost confusion, then asked,

"nct?"

"the mafia gang, hon, weve all done things like this before." the one with bangs explained. the words alone sent an array of emotions flaring in minhyung's heart. his eyes widened in pure shock, and his hands shook from the realisation of what he had become. looking the speaker in the eye, he detected not a single trace that what he said could have been a lie.

"i'm a monster," he stifled, his arms wrapping around his torso. he seemed so vunerable, it made the boy with the mullet empathize with him.

"you're not a monster," the one with a cap comforted, wrapping an arm around minhyung's shoulders, "if you are then what are we?"

minhyung trembled. the thought of the things the four sitting in the black car with him had done sent shivers down his spine.

but what he had done could not be undone. breathing ragged, minhyung followed the 4 back into the car.

this time, the car was filled with the excited chatter of the other 4. it then dawned on minhyung that he had no idea what any of their names were.

"um... what are your names?"

"oh, im taeyong. lee taeyong, the leader," said the male with the mullet.

"youngho aka johnny. you can call me either." the one with bangs added.

the boy with the bowl- cut introduced himself. "nakamoto yuta. y-u-t-a, not u-t-a-h." that elicited some laughter from the others.

the last boy, the one with the cap, said that his name was hansol.

introductions over, minhyung was starting to get curious about this entire mafia thing, in spite of himself. after all, he had done it already. he had killed someone.

"so will i accompany you guys and stay at where you stay?"

"yeah, unless you actually have a family-" replied yuta. a tinge of sadness glowed in his watery eyes, a rueful smile playing at his lips.

"you... are like me?" minhyung pointed hastily at himself, eyes wide open in shock.

"well, if youre saying that youre an orphan... that means youre like us-" hansol shrugged, as though that was a casual statement. however, a hint of heartbreak still showed through in his voice.

minhyung was stunned, yet relieved that there were actually people who were like him. the ones without guiding lights in their lives. the ones with their parents torn from them. he smiled sadly and proceeded to ask if they could return to his old dwelling so he could retrieve his items.

with that, the driver, taeyong, turned in the direction that minhyung pointed to, floored the pedal and began driving.