CATastrophe | WayV |

[4] Secrets

The room was quiet and awkward. Everyone has questions they wanted to ask, but no one spoke a word. They all sat hurdled in one couch while Kun stood beside them; hand on his hips, trying to process what the morning had brought. They watch with amazement and curiosity as "Louis" sat on the floor, eating his second plate of leftover chicken tenders and chugging down his third carton of milk. The milk dripped down his chin, leaving stains on his white shirt.

"Why's he wearing my clothes?" Lucas spoke for the first time that morning.

"He wasn't wearing anything when we found him. He wouldn't fit into our clothes so we took yours." Ten answered. "You were asleep so we didn't ask you."

Lucas' gaze didn't move as he said, "Why does he look better in them than I do? It would've been perfect if you gave him the black shirt to match the pants instead of-"

"Can we keep him? Please? He'd be the perfect roommate. No one would question it since he looks the same age as us. Then we can all divide ourselves into groups of two." Yangyang went on as new ideas start to sparkle in his eyes, they grew wider and wider as he continued.

"Wait a minute. Are we just going ignore the fact that he tried to EAT me?" Xiaojun frantically looked at his members expecting someone to back him up.

Yangyang's face darkens, "Would've been a light meal."

"Don't overreact, he only smelled you." Winwin replied bluntly.

"How can you say that? He even attacked you!"

"To be honest, I was the one who attacked him, remember?"

Xiaojun shook his head in defeat.

"Kids, kids, would someone please care to enlighten me again on how this boy is our "Louis"?"

Kun's question made their heads turn towards Ten.

As the members waited for his explanation, Ten began to wonder how exactly he realize that the boy before them was Louis. The moment he was pulled into the hug, his first instinct was to push the stranger away. Then it hit him, the familiar scent of lavender shampoo he'd use on his cats. There was a warm touch of someone close in him as he buried his face on his neck. Then something in him flipped, like a light that had been switched on in the dark. But that wasn't a good enough reason to clarify his identity. Although it was unexplainable, something in his heart told him it was Louis.

"I don't know," his voice started low, "I can't prove it but I just know it's him. Besides, he looks exactly like Louis."

"Ten," Kun snapped his fingers in front him, "Louis is a cat. This is a young man. They do not look alike in any possible way."

"I know but he smells exactly like Louis."

"Are we seriously going to-" Kun couldn't finish his sentence. He ran his hands through his hair as he sign in frustration.

"He's so handsome." Lucas blurted out. "Look at his body, he's just like me. I bet he can beat Johnny-hyung in arm wrestling."

There was someone among them who had been silent the entire morning. He, too, was taken aback by the situation but there was something else that occupied his thoughts. He strongly believed that the old man had tricked him but there was also a part of him that wondered if this was the only way Louis could survive his sickness. He blamed himself for not inquiring more about the medicine and its side effects. He watched his friends argue back and forth when he should be the one to blame. Hendery felt someone staring at him; it was Yangyang eyeing him with suspicion.

"How about we ask him personal questions that only Louis would know? Then we can prove his identity." Ten suggested.

"Yes, I agree. We should give it a try." Winwin and Lucas nod in agreement.

Kun sat down beside them, "Okay, you go first." He motioned his hand to Ten.

They cautiously watch as Ten sat down in front of the young man. He pushed his food aside and smiled brightly at Ten while moving closer.

"Louis?" there was hesitation in his voice, "Do you remember the day I made the silver fishing toy for you?"

He nodded.

"Good, now who was the person who helped me made that toy?"

All eyes were fixed on him as he lifted his arm and pointed out.

"Hendery."

His voice sounded like someone who would order people around in an underground gang. It was deep, smooth and clear. The look on everyone's face was priceless; especially Hendery since he looked directly at him while saying his name.

"Okay." He thought of another question. "Who was the person that cried when we watched the Hachiko movie?"

"Xuxi."

Lucas' eyes widen in amazement, "He knows my real name. Incredible."

"Ask him something harder. He could've guessed those." Hendery piped in. "Ask something confidential."

"Alright, who has the biggest di-"

Xiaojun slapped Lucas so hard you could hear it from the NCT Dream dorm.

"What's the name of the drama that I'm going to star in?"

"Dark Prince: The Awakening." He thought for a moment. "You're going to play the role of Prince Liang."

Winwin was taken aback, "How could you know that? I haven't even told the members."

"I think I remember you striking poses in front of the mirror while practicing your lines."

The members made fun of Winwin as he hung his head low in shame. They asked some more questions and received the exact answers they wanted. Everyone was pretty satisfied with the new Louis. However, Kun still fined it hard to accept that their cat had magically turned into a human overnight. It was especially weird since it was the day after they found out about Louis' sickness.

"Enough." He stood up. "This still doesn't explain how Louis turned into a human. We can't solve this by ourselves, I'm going to call our manager."

He made his way towards the door.

"Kun-ge," Louis called out, "I know you don't believe that I'm Louis, but I am. What can I say to make you believe me?"

"Nothing. There's nothing you'd know about me to make me believe you."

Although Kun wanted to believe him, he was scared inside, but he didn't show it. He was scared that something might happen to his members, their safety was his first priority, and having an unknown man so close to them was a big risk. He knew that all the answers he gave were true, but it was his duty as a leader that prevented him from accepting him.

"Would you believe me if I say something that you hide from your friends?"

The room fell silent as they glance back and forth between Kun and Louis.

"You came home early from practice one day, you looked angry and sad, but you smiled so softly at us when we welcomed you home. You went straight to your room, I followed you. I was wondering why you didn't pet us but then I saw your hand. Your fingers were bruised and your hand was bleeding. Then you called you mom and told her everything. You told her-"

"Stop!" Kun turned around, tears forming in his eyes. "Stop, please."