Captive | NCT

Chapter 40

Renjun and Haechan were seated at a table in the human town where the Witch Coven resided. They were waiting for an update from Minjee and Naeun on convincing the council.

"Have you ever considered being nicer?" Haechan said to his friend as he stirred the straw of his iced coffee.

"Nicer? To who?" Renjun asked, sipping his hot lemon tea instead.

"You know who. There's only one person that you spite on a daily basis." Haechan said.

"You?" Renjun said, making Haechan roll his eyes. Renjun giggled.

"You do annoy me on a daily basis but that's because we're friends. Someone else, someone you're brutally mean to." Haechan said, hoping his friend would know who he was referring to now.

"Hm..." Renjun said, tapping his finger against the table.

"Let me give you a hint, she's a witch."

"Kang Minjee?" Renjun exclaimed, earning a stare from the librarian. "Sorry."

Once the librarian had turned back around, the two boys continued their conversation.

"Yes, Kang Minjee, you idiot." Haechan said. Renjun shrugged.

"Sometimes I think you're only saying this because you like her." Renjun said, resting his chin in his hands.

"No." Haechan quickly replied. "I'm just saying this because I'm seriously mean it. You already know her parents are hard on her, don't you think you should go easier?"

"I don't know." Renjun admitted. "We've never really been kind to each other, ever since we were little."

"Maybe it's time for a start." Haechan said. Their conversation was cut short as the two girls entered the library, joining their table.

"So, how did it go?" Renjun asked, sipping his tea. Naeun shook her head while Minjee let out a long sigh.

"It was no use, my mother refuses to talk to the dead, especially since it's her sister-in-law."

Well, this is about to get complicated, Haechan thought as Renjun's face darkened.

...

Jisung lied down on the bed of the guest room in the Vampire Castle, a hand over his stomach. It had finally settled down after the brutal car ride.

"Are you okay?" Jimin asked, bringing over a glass of water. Jisung narrowed his eyes as he sat up, noticing that it was tinted pink.

"Is it just me or is the water pink?" Jisung asked. Jimin shrugged her shoulders.

"The glasses are just stained, we don't exactly serve water that often." Jimin told him. "Just close you eyes and drink it."

Jisung chuckled as he took the glass from her hands. "Alright"

Jisung could feel Jimin's eyes on him as he drank his water. He put the glass down once he was done but the girl was still looking.

"Do I look funny or something? Why are you staring at me?"

Jimin looked down shyly, shaking her head. "No, I was just... worried about you."

Jisung patted the empty space beside him on the bed and Jimin sat down. "I'm fine now. To be honest, I'm actually really hungry."

"Dinner will be soon, I promise. Jaemin... well he's in a conversation that no one would ever want to be having." Jimin said, twiddling her thumbs.

"What do you mean?" Jisung asked, confused.

"Well, you know how my mother wanted Jaemin to break up with Rena?" Jimin asked.