Flames | NCT

Chapter 32

Minjee couldn't help but wonder what Renjun and her mother could have possibly discussed inside her study. Minjee had tried to listen in, but had no luck as she knew her mother would cast a spell to prevent that from happening.

When they had returned, Renjun had gone straight to Doyoung's office to report his findings and refused to tell Minjee any of it. This frustrated Minjee, but knowing Renjun, it had to had been her mother's orders.

"Oh my gosh, have you seen the boy Haechan's been showing around?" Naeun said, poking Minjee as they entered the classroom together. Minjee blinked as she tried to recall why her friend had just said.

"Who?" Minjee asked. She had gone straight to her room to rest after her mission so she hadn't see Haechan either.

"There's two new guys." Chenle informed them as they took their seats. "Shotaro and Sungchan. Shotaro is in the senior class and Sungchan's in ours. He's also Haechan's new mentee, if you could even call it that."

"I see." Minjee said, glancing at her phone. She had ignored Haechan's text messages since she was studying for her spells test last night, so that must have been what Haechan was texting her about.

"And here," Minjee looked up to see Haechan entering their classroom. "Is the junior class."

Chenle and Naeun waved at Haechan as he made his way towards them, a tall boy with red hair and round eyes following him.

Minjee gulped as they stopped at the empty seat beside her, the seat that would soon be Sungchan's.

"Here's your seat. Beside Minjee." Haechan said, motioning to the space beside Minjee. Minjee moved her bag, giving Sungchan some space.

Minjee could feel Sungchan's eyes on her the entire time as he got settled down, and uncomfortable feeling for her. Chenle's next words didn't help either.

"Minjee is Haechan's girlfriend." Chenle said with a cheeky grin. The attention turned towards Haechan, who was clearly avoiding Minjee's eyes.

"Right." Haechan said, forcing a small smile on his face.

As Haechan waved goodbye to Sungchan, heading towards his own class, Minjee couldn't help but feel guilty as she held her phone in her hands. She opened up her messages, seeing what Haechan had sent her last night.

Haechan
Hey, I'm waiting for the lounge for you!

Haechan
Renjun's back, where are you?

Haechan
Hello? Are you there?

5 missed calls from Haechan

Haechan
I guess I'll see you tomorrow then.

Minjee's stomach dropped as she saw the messages, and knew that she had messed up big time. This didn't go unnoticed by the boy beside her.

"Is everything alright?" Sungchan asked her.

"Yup." Minjee lied. "Just a little stressed for my test next period."

"Good luck." Sungchan said, giving her a smile.

Minjee felt her phone vibrate in her hands and froze as she saw the message.

Haechan
Let's talk.

...

Rena watched at her classmates surrounded their newest addition, Shotaro. Renjun had introduced her to him the night before, so she was already familiar with the boy. That morning, instead of joining the group, she was seated at her own desk, her thoughts elsewhere.