OOF Hotline - the sequel |【NCT】

•5•

"Y-you do?" I stuttered, thinking that maybe they saw after all
"Yeah, I do... you guys were planning Taeil hyungs birthday party, weren't you!!" Jaemin accused, and I sighed deeply in relief
"Taeil's birthd- RIGHT! Yes, that's what we were doing. Exactly!" Jaehyun said, pretending to be caught
"Why weren't we invited to help! I wanna help!" Chenle pouted
"We were actually just about to gather everyone else, so we could uh.. plan together! Yeah.." I continued, looking to Jaehyun while nodding, urging him to nod along
"Yes, right! That's where we were heading right after we finished unpacking" he agreed, nodding along awkwardly
"Oh okay! Yay!! Let's go then! Or do you plan to have everyone come in here?" Jeno questioned
"Oh yeah, real smart, because it seems like everyone can fit in here" Renjun scoffed, rolling his eyes
"Renjun.." I spoke in a stern voice
"Sorry noona.."
"Okay! Let's go, everyone out!" Jaehyun said, herding everyone out of the room, as he followed behind them. As he exited, he turned his head around slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, and gave me a wink, before shutting the door.
《 Dammit Azumi, get it together 》

"What. The. Hell.. was that about. Jaehyun likes me?? Since when??" I asked aloud to myself, as I finished unpacking the last couple items "this makes no sense.. what am I supposed to do?? I don't like him that way.. do I? Don't I like Lucas? Omo.. what am I saying.. Taeyong would be so upset to hear this conversation.. oof I need to stop talking" I finished, tapping my lips lightly twice. As I wrapped up, I tidied and cleaned off everything that needed it, and headed downstairs. Upon my arrival, I noticed the house was unusually quiet, as I looked around for someone to appear.
"Guys?? Hellooo?" I spoke softly, when suddenly someone grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a room. Once inside, I realized everyone was present, minus Taeil.
"Finally! You took long enough" Yuta scolded, shutting the door behind me.
"So this is where everyone was.. what's going on?"
"We're planning the surprise party, remember?" Jaehyun said, looking at me with raised eyebrows
"Oh right, duh. My bad! Scatter brain" I chuckled awkwardly, before noticing Yuqi was in the room as well "but why is she here?"
"Well, she's part of the house right now so she should help plan too, is that not okay?" Johnny questioned, looking at me with a concerned expression
"No, it's fine. I just wondered.. proceed"
"Okay, so Taeil is in the shower which gives us about 20-25 minutes to plan"
"20-25 minutes??" I asked, shocked
"Yeah, he likes to sing in the shower so it's like a whole show" Sicheng confessed
"Oh, noted"

We began planning, and within 15 minutes we had a whole party ready to go, and all that was left is to buy the supplies
"But wait, how are we gonna get stuff if we can't leave. We're in like a weird quarantine" Haechan realized, causing us all to sigh
"You're right. Uhm... maybe the guards can make the run for us?" Taeyong suggested
"That could work! A couple of us would have to go too though, so we can find what we need. If we have them with us, we'll be protected, right?" I stated, and everyone agreed
"Shouldn't we clear it with Dad first though?" Yuta said, looking to me for an answer
"No, I think it'll be okay. I'll go, who else wants to?" I offered, looking for another volunteer
"I'll go too!" Haechan volunteered immediately
"Absolutely not" Doyoung said, shutting him down completely
"Hyuuuuung!" Haechan whined, but the rest agreed with Doyoung
"Older members only. It's more dangerous for younger members. Taeyong, Yuta, Lucas, Winwin, Johnny or Jaehyun. One of you should go" Doyoung stated
"Woah woah woah, what about you??"
"I have to stay and babysit with Taeil hyung"
"That's accurate.. okay, I'll go too. Give me the list" Lucas said, grabbing the list from Haechan, as he pouted.
"Okay, you guys be safe. Stay alert" Jungwoo said
"And use voice commands while driving" Jeno mocked in a GPS voice
"Oh shut up"
"Yes we'll be safe, stay alert, and use voice commands while driving. See you soon!" I joked back, nudging Lucas to follow me, as I left the room.

We met with a couple of the guards and drivers and they agreed to take us to the party store for supplies. The three guards carried handguns, and the driver carried a knife, with my father and the police on speed dial in case anything were to happen. We soon reached the store, and we headed inside, followed by one of the guards, as the other two stood outside on either side of the door. Lucas and I began searching for proper party supplies listed for Taeil's birthday, things that we thought would suit his taste
"I think he'd like this one better honestly, that one is more.. I dunno, something Doyoung would like" I said, as Lucas and I bickered like an old married couple over paper plates
"What are you talking about! This is so Taeil hyung" he argued, holding a shiny and glittery plate up, while I held a black and gold plate up
"Lucas, do you even know him at all? I've known him for less time and even I know his favorite color" I tsked, shaking my head and placing the plates I was holding into the cart.
"Fine fine. Whatever. I think these plates are more fun though"
"They can be fun all day, but they don't match his taste"
"Pardon me?" the guard who came into the store with us interrupted
"Yes?"
"I need to use the restroom, will you guys be okay for a moment?"
"Yeah, no problem. Go ahead! The other two guards are out front" I smiled, and he departed to the bathroom as Lucas and I continued our shopping. Suddenly, I heard the click of a gun being cocked behind us, and I froze, peering over at Lucas who was frozen as well.
"Put your hands behind your back and neither of you will get hurt" the person said
"Look, whoever you are, we don't want any trouble. Just take what you want and go, okay?" I tried to reason
"It's not what I want, it's what boss requested. Now, hands behind your back!"
"Okay okay.. calm down" I said, attempting to calm the man down, as we placed our hands behind our backs. I heard the clanking of handcuffs being taken out, and soon felt them clamp around my wrists

"You're coming with me. As for you, stay turned around with your hands behind your back and don't move or I'll shoot you. Got it?"
"You're not taking her anywhere without me" Lucas protested, starting to move his hands anxiously
"I said don't move! I will shoot!!" the man threatened once more
"I said you're not taking her!!"
"Let's go!" the man shouted, grabbing the cuffs around my wrists and beginning to drag me away. In the blink of an eye, Lucas whipped around and began to vigorously follow behind, but the man was too quick to react..
BAM!
A shot sounded through the store, and my eyes grew 3x their size as I watched Lucas fall to the floor.
"LUCAS!!!!!" I screamed in anguish, as the man continued to pull me away by the cuffs restraining me. With every step I watched him, lying on the floor. With every step I prayed he would get up. With every step I hoped he'd be okay...
With the last step, I couldn't see him anymore, and he never got up...

(A/n: new chapter!! #prayforNCT. How's everyone's quarantine?? Stay home and stay safe my little bubbles!!💜💜)