𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 | nct dream

1.2

❝ so you dreamt about this place? this basketball court? ❞ renjun calmly dribbles the ball with the palm of his hand, as they go against each other in a game of four versus three.

❝ i dreamt about being here. i dreamt about playing. ❞ chenle quickly shifts towards the latter, attempting to strike his focus astray. ❝ i dreamt about winning. ❞

❝ false! ❞ donghyuck prances from behind, easily stealing the ball. he runs to the side of court without any interest of passing it.

❝ donghyuck-ah!—❞ jaemin calls him out to pass it along to him.

but the latter didn't listen. he shoots a three pointer from the side, unshaken by the awkward angle. the ball easily falls into the ring.

❝ no need to lie about your dreams, cabbage. ❞ donghyuck smirks. ❝ it's obvious that i'm gonna win. ❞

jaemin laughs. ❝ you do realize that you and chenle are in the same team, right? ❞

❝ rookie mistake. i don't play teams. ❞ donghyuck points out. ❝ he might have assumed me winning as a team achievement. another rookie mistake, by the way. ❞

renjun sneers. ❝ is he always like this? ❞

jaemin shrugs. ❝ trust me, you'd get used to it. ❞

❝ you know, i used to think that i was good at sports, ❞ mark voice cracks, desperate for air. ❝ but ever since i started playing with you guys, let's just say i'm.. a standardized version of failure. ❞

❝ this isn't the first time you played sports with us? ❞ jisung's eyes brighten, filled with hope.

❝ oh yes, as far as i'm concerned. we did lots of outdoor activities, too many even— i almost injured my back because of that one bicycle ride—❞ he coughs to stop himself. ❝ anyway, i've gotten used to the fact that i'm not the best in the bunch. do you guys usually play together after school, or..? ❞

❝ please, i really have no time to do that after school, ❞ renjun sighs. ❝ wah, now i can't bare to think of all the extra classes i'm gonna miss, after this crazy catastrophe. ❞

jeno sneers. ❝ also, bold of you to assume i have friends. ❞

❝ yah, lee jeno! ❞ mark throws the ball with no directions, simply because he's offended by the latter's statement. ❝ don't say things like that! i am most certainly your friend! ❞

donghyuck grabs the ball that was last left by mark and scores another point. ❝ i'm not. ❞

❝ don't need for the constant reminder, but thank you. ❞ jeno rolls his eyes in insult.

❝ wow, guys. we definitely gotta work out on our teamwork. ❞  mark stares at the both of them in disbelief. ❝ i knew you weren't the best of friends, but i didn't know you guys were this distanced with each other, i am seriously baffled. ❞

❝ i didn't come here to make friends? i just want to make sure that i go home. ❞ donghyuck snaps at him.

❝ and you will, ❞ mark heads towards him slowly, his eyes shifting at the ball the latter is dribbling. ❝ but there's no way you could do it yourself. we have to go through it. together. ❞

for a moment, donghyuck freezes to reminisce his sentence. but also in that short moment, mark swiftly steals the ball from donghyuck's grip, dribbling it cross-court. "jeno!"

hearing his name getting called, jeno quickly grabs the ball passed by the latter, and after that he finishes it off with a perfect lay-up, gaining two points for the team.