village girl › nct 2018

58

i stayed up until eight am to write chapters, and i fell asleep while writing this one ;-;

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3RD PERSONS VIEW。

ten was in utter shock. he wanted to say something, but he didn't have the voice to even say anything. he felt so lost for words. the only thing that kept repeating in his brain was the last words taeyong told him.

he was in the gazebo with kun and jungwoo, trying to ease his mind from what had just happened.

"hey, we're all afraid..." jungwoo manages to say, "...you're not alone. you never were, you know that, hyung."

ten bit his bottom lip, feeling guilty that he was neglecting them again. he was so used to the whole new rules they made that every time a lady just gets close to them, it scares him so much.

overthinking every night, looking out for his flaws, all his mistakes. he was surely messed up.

"i know... i'm sorry."

"we're not the ones you should be saying sorry to." kun told him and ten sighed.

"is she really? the lost princess?"

jungwoo pursed his lips, "we're not sure yet, but we hope to receive some answers later."

kun nodded, "exactly."

"answers from who?" ten chuckled dryly.

"jung miyeon."

ten nodded, "ahh... a friend of hers?" both boys replied with a faint, "yes."

"have you cooled down yet?" youngho walks into the gazebo, placing a hand over ten's shoulder.

ten stifled a laugh, eyeing the tall boy, "well, you're unusually calm about her."

"i have my own doubts, but i didn't want to create a scene, especially after knowing she's someone special to my brothers."

"special? tsk."

youngho deadpanned, "what's up with you?"

"i just– just... don't trust her okay?" ten uttered, "i can't just trust her because my brothers do, it doesn't work like that anymore."

the tall boy sighed, "well, if you insist. you should apologize to her sooner or later, you still haven't apologized to her at the exhibit, you owe her two apologies now."

ten gasped, "how dare you!"

youngho stuck out his tongue at him, looking down, "not my problem."

meanwhile, jaeyoung was now seated on a chair with one of the boys, particularly next to renjun who kept sighing, he also expected that something like this would happen.

"we're so sorry for his behavior–" jaehyun uttered, taking glances at doyoung and taeyong, who were busy in their own conversation.

"it's fine, jaehyun." she chuckled, "i told you, i understand why he's acting like this."

a pout formed his lips, "b-but... it's not fine, jaeyoung."

"yeah," yuta nodded, "he pushed you."

"a prince shouldn't do that... even if he hated the lady."

"speaking of." renjun cleared his throat, his eyes landing on ten who walked back in the pavilion.

jaeyoung raises both brows and followed renjun's direction and saw the familiar boy walk towards her, his head hanging low, lips pressed into a thin line.

renjun held the girls hand and lightly pulled her on her feet as he stood up.

the two came face to face again, this time ten felt guilt bothering every inch of him as he stared at her. his eyes would avert its attention onto something else whenever they locked gazes, feeling both uneasy and sorry for her.

"u-um... look..." he sighed, stretching out his arms to create tiny gestures with it. "i'm sorry–" he then stops, looking at his brothers who were listening to their conversation.

his face twists in discomfort and jaeyoung noticed how uncomfortable he must've felt, especially having more than ten pairs of eyes staring at you while you talk.

jaeyoung reached out to hold his hand, taking it in hers and she smiled, facing the others, "we'll talk outside, just us, please?"

taeil furrows his brows, "well... as long as everything will go smoothly this time." he muttered, looking at ten who avoided his eyes. "was that clear for you, chittaphon?"

ten coughed nervously, "of course!"

doyoung pats the girl's head, "take your time, daisy."

the two went outside the pavilion, now standing in front of the mini lake the castle had. jaeyoung's eyes brightened, seeing the flower fields surrounding the lake again.

"as i was trying to say earlier..." ten fiddled with his fingers, looking down at his clear reflection on the water. "...i'm sorry."

"i understand you, ten." jaeyoung spares a glance at the prince, sending him a sweet smile, "even some of your brothers were suspicious and scared of me."

ten frowned, "you know that it's because of trauma... we don't want to repeat the same mistakes."

"i know," she hums, "can you do a favor for me?"

the prince cocked a brow, "what?"

"to always love and understand your family."

he pinched the bridge of his nose, chuckling, "that's like automatic already."

"i know." she chuckles along with him, "but i want you to know how lucky you are to have them by your side."

ten blinked, a frown replacing the little grin he had awhile ago, "and you?"

"i lost my family–" she looks down, "but it's okay!" the once long face she had was thrown away as a bright expression replaced it.

"i always told miyeon what family meant to me, and for me, family meant the people who i cherish my heart with." grinning, she turned to face the stunned prince. "you guys are my family now."

ten's lips trembled as he stared down at her.
she's too innocent for this cruel world, too nice even!

he swallowed the thick lump forming in his throat as the corner of his lips curved down, "you don't deserve to get lost." he whispered, inaudible for her to hear, "you've been found, princess."

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