Captive | NCT

Chapter 14

"Chenle, help me." Jisung said, leaning back on the lockers. The two of them had decided to go to school early for once, partly because Jisung desperately wanted to avoid Nari but also because they were always a fraction from being late for class.

"Sup?" Chenle asked as he went through his locker for his books. Jisung looked around.

"Jimin's been avoiding me." Jisung told him. Chenle let out a loud laugh before Jisung covered his mouth. Chenle gave his best friend sparkling eyes. "Yah, what was that for?"

"I mean, I would avoid you too if you kept hanging around someone like Nari." Chenle told him with a shrug. Jisung let out a sigh.

"It's not like I can get rid of her. She just tags along everywhere I go." Jisung told him.

"Maybe you should tell her to leave you alone because you don't like her." A female voice said from the other side of Jisung, making the two boys glance over. The locker door closed, revealing Naeun.

"You were eavesdropping?" Chenle exclaimed. Naeun gave the boys a shrug.

"I mean neither of you were being quiet either." Naeun said beforen turning to Jisung. "I'm serious though. I used to do the same thing to Jaemin but I took the hint once I realized he liked Rena. Some people are just slow." Naeun told him.

"Yeah, especially Nari." Chenle mumbled.

"I don't know, I don't want her feelings though." Jisung admitted.

"You would probably hurt her feelings and Jimin's too if you allow it." Naeun pointed out. Jisung glanced at Chenle who shrugged.

"She has a point."

"Ugh." Jisung said, pulling at his roots. "I hate this."

...

"Doyoung!" Renjun called out, chasing the male. Dammit, Doyoung thought, putting on a smile before turning around.

"Hi, what's up?" Doyoung asked. He mentally cursed as he saw that Renjun wasn't alone. He was with Jeno, Jiwoo, and Rena.

"We had a few questions for you." Jeno told him. "Do you have some time for a meeting?"

"Um, I actually have a board meeting." Doyoung lied.

"But we had one yesterday." Rena said, crossing her arms.

"Did I say board? I meant a meeting with the leaders." Doyoung said with a small chuckle. Just his luck, Ten had just gotten off the elevator, walking past them. He gave them a wave before entering his office, closing the door behind him.

"Meeting with the leaders, huh." Renjun said, completely unconvinced. Doyoung let out a sigh, knowing he had no other choice.

"Will my office suffice?"

...

"Nari, focus. Please." Yuri said as she picked up the sword she had knocked out of Nari's hand for the fifth time. Nari simply gave her a pout.

"Yuri, this is hard." Nari told her. Yuri let out a sigh. Yuta was giving the three youngest members of the agency a lesson on sword fighting and Nari was struggling more than usual. Yuri noticed that she would occaisionally glance at the other two, who were doing perfectly fine.

"Nari, you just need to take a deep breath and focus. Stop looking at the other two." Yuri instructed as she picked up the sword from the ground, passing it back. "Let's try again."

"Alright." Nari said, taking her stance. They duelled again but a moment later, the sword fell again. Nari sat down on the mat. "I can't do this."