𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 | nct dream

2.2

"yah hyung, hyung, HYUNG!!!!" jisung barely feels his feet against the hoverboard as donghyuck pulls him closer, taking over his controls godspeed. "hyung, let me go!"

the boys have spent too much fun with these new hoverboards they have presumably 'borrowed' for entertainment purposes. because this particular mark seems as carefree as ever, the younger and less experienced tend to follow his steps. chenle takes his skills to another level as he successfully attempts to spin around on top of the hallowing trees, proving his skills above everyone's. mark cheers him on like a proud older brother he is, followed by a very ecstatic jaemin who hugs everyone every time he gets the chance. jeno's the one to make sure that donghyuck doesn't cross the line when he's teasing jisung, though that doesn't eliminate the chances of him incorporating the mischief of his same-age friend. renjun subtly follows the group from the back, his hands gliding back and forth as he slowly flings over with his hoverboard, trying to observe his surroundings.

mark lee said that the earth just went through another war? the hell happened here? also, how did we survive global warming.. how did the human race survived at all? renjun passes by the pink clouds, the air feeling a lot more unfamiliar as he did so. i wouldn't really bet much to believe that the human race has enough brains to be as advanced as this!

mark nudges his shoulder, sending him back to reality. "anything you got in mind?"

renjun flutters his eyes in surprise. "yeah, uh, when did the world end? because from the looks of it, it seemed like we were already dying in the 21st century." he sighs. "hard to believe that we were still striving ever since then."

"who said you were still striving? humans are awfully lenient and primitive beings, if nature chooses to restart itself, we do not have any other choice but to follow where it takes us." mark purses his lips. "this floating island? built over the ashes of mass burials. mid 25th century was the worst time to be alive, with your descendants facing the consequences your generation has concurred. the world was in its fragile state. but like the skin of snakes, it reveals itself anew, with the appearance of a rebirth. the peak of the aftermath. the light whom pictures the start of a new day. look!"

he points at a levitating billboard with the words '뉴서울' glowing above them like real life fireflies. the boys stare at the never been seen before technology in astonishment, unable to understand how anymore fourth dimensional could it ever get.

"new seoul! we've changed the name of this lovely city into something lovelier after the second enlightenment era," mark grins. "or just like what some people also like to call it, neo seoul. makes it sound cooler, right? we prefer to call them that on textbooks."

"neo seoul... i don't think i won't have a problem staying at the place like this." donghyuck smiles faintly.

"too bad lee, this place's occupied." jaemin rests his arm on his shoulder, admiring the view of the place he supposedly was originally in.

"haechan-ie? expecting a 29th century type of era as his origin?" mark shakes his head. "not an intended spoiler, donghyuck-ah, but please don't expect too much."

donghyuck sighs. "never had been. my dreams are more like a compilation of nightmares, so i might consider myself grateful that i'm not living in an era like that."

"hyung, how about new york?" chenle asks as he glides above them, unintentionally showing off as he grabs their attention. "do they now call it new new york?"

mark moves his index finger. "more like new, new new york. the new new york era ended after the abolishment of the statue of liberty — yikes, i'm talking too much. let's just move forward, shall we—"