Warnings: swearing, reference to a physical altercation (non-descriptive), Jay is an asshole, crude language
Short Chapter
Bold=Sign Language
Italics=Inner Monologue
The atmosphere in the room was tense and awkward, to say the least. The only movement came from a brown-haired boy spinning a basketball on his fingertips.
"Well, since it seems like no one wants to talk. I'll start things up. What are we doing here?" Sion started while perching himself comfortably on the teachers desk in the front of the room next to Ni-ki.
"I'm not sure about you guys, but Hoon and I are probably here for that fight that happened yesterday." Jungwon replied while gesturing towards his friend. Who was still seated next to him.
Sunghoon was currently slumped down in his seat as if he were trying to escape through the floor. There was too much going on for the quiet boy. New face, new places, and this random "project" that was suddenly sprung on to him. It was a cocktail of unfavorable stimuli, and Sunghoon was already trying to calculate how to get out of this situation.
"Oh shit there was a fight yesterday, and I didn't know about it?" Sion questioned as he leaned forwards slightly.
"Yep between James and Matthew," Jungwon replied. Eager to share the gossip.
"Wait, which, Matthew?"
"Matthew B." a new voice answered.
Everyone turned their heads to look at the long-haired male who was leaning back in his seat.
"You were there too?" Jungwon asked while pointing a finger at the older man.
"No. I just know what happened." The dark-haired man replied while glaring at Jungwon.
His tone was sharp, like he didn't appreciate being questioned. However, the unprovoked attitude only pissed Jungwon off instead of deterring him.
Who the hell does this guy think he is? He thought before speaking out loud.
"Do you have a problem or something?" Jungwon asked.
The phrase was simple. If written out on paper, someone would even think the younger man was being caring. However, everyone in that meeting room could tell that it wasn't his intentions. Consideration was not the goal here, warning though, that was the intention buried carefully under the neutral phrase.
Jungwon remained seated as his glare met the dark-haired mans stormy gaze. An awkward silence fell over the room as Ni-ki let out dramatic whistle.
"Fighting already?" Ni-ki teased. "Here, I thought we were all going to be friends."
The taller male then threw his head back as a condescending laugh bubbled up from his chest.
Jungwon's eyes briefly flickered over to the younger male before he let out a sharp exhale.
"Fighting? Nah, I'm cool." Jungwon said as he turned around in his seat. In an attempt to appear unbothered.
However, his tone was clipped and he could feel his fingers rapidly tapping on the desk in front of him. A gentle nudge on his right shoulder dragged him out of his raging thoughts. Jungwon turned his head to see Sunghoon looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Dude, really?" Sunghoon signed to him.
Jungwon let out an annoyed tsk before replying.
"He was being an ass." He signed. "How do you force your way into a conversation then catch an attitude when people talk to you?"
Sunghoon rolled his eyes in response before the door opened. Eight heads snapped in the direction of the sound as Mr. Frost strolled in with confidence that only someone who has always been in charge could possess. The group watched as the Dean walked over to his podium as he addressed the students.
"Now that everyone is here, I will explain what you're going to do. I have chosen you all to represent the school in a district board meeting two months from now." Mr. Frost announced as he opened up his laptop. "We need to show the board that we are capable of integrating students from various backgrounds and that you all can form meaning full bonds."
"Um, sir, what exactly does that mean?" A young woman with curly brown hair asked.
She was seated on the far side of the room and had clearly been painting her nails. The sharp smell of chemicals had been slowly filling the lounge.
"This, Miss.Darling," The Dean began slowly. "basically means that you all have two months to become friends, and make project reflecting it worthy to show the school board."
His voice was dripping with something close to annoyance. Which was absurd as this entire meeting was his doing.
As if on que there was a sea of complaints and disagreements arose the moment Mr. Frost stopped speaking.
"Hell no, Frosty. You're insane if you think I'm going to spend two months around these pricks." Ni-ki refused as he stood up sharply.
"Hey, if Ni-ki isn't staying, then neither am I," Sion friend chimed in as he gestured between himself and his friend.
Across the room, the brown-haired boy finally stopped spinning his basketball.
"Mr. Frost not to be rude, but I can't do this project of it interferes with basketball games and practices." The athlete began while looking at the young woman across from him. "I think the same also goes for Rania since she's a cheerleader."
"Jake is right, sir. You might want to choose other people, " Rania quickly chimed in as she let her eyes linger a little too long on the basketball player.
Unfortunalty, the Dean seemed unphased by the complaints as he closed him laptop with a definitive click.
"Well, it's amusing to see how you all believe this is a choice." Mr. Frost mused while picking up his electronic. "You have all been hand-picked for a reason, and I'm not changing my mind."
The older man then briefly turned to face Jake.
"The meetings will take place before practice times, so you have nothing to worry about, Mr. Sim." He explained to the basketball player before continuing towards the exit.
"Mr. Haberack will be overseeing this project starting tomorrow, and your meeting will be one hour in length." And with that, the Dean was out of the door.
"Well, this is stupid."
"It might not be that bad."
"You can't force people to be friends."
"I don't want to be your friend anyway." Sunghoon signed as he rolled his eyes.
Jungwon, finding his friends remark, entertaining, let out a carefree laugh. Gaining the attention of the other college students.
"What's so funny? Was it something that guy said?" Sion asked while pointing a curious finger at Sunghoon.
Jungwon let out a small sigh before speaking. "That guy has a name. It's Sunghoon." The younger man informed while leaning back to cross his arms.
"How about we introduce ourselves then." Rania suggested. Her voice was light as she spoke as it was clear that the cheerleader was trying to keep the mood positive.
Sion was the one to take the lead as he slapped his hands onto his thighs dramatically.
"Alright, I'll go first then! My name's Sion. I'm a sophomore, and I'm allergic to pickles." He finished with a dramatic bow, from where he was still seated on the desk.
The group then looked to the brown-haired man sitting to his right.
" My name's Jake Sim. I'm a junior, and... play basketball, obviously." Jake spoke calmly.
His eyes briefly flicked over to Sion before he added.
"...and I have no allergies." The athlete ended with a smile as he set the ball onto his lap.
"My name's Jungwon. This is Sunghoon. I'm a sophomore, and he's a junior." Jungwon then let out a thoughtful hum as pursed his lips together.
"I guess if we're doing fun facts; I didn't learn to tie my shoes until sixth grade." The younger man then slapped a playful hand on Sunghoon's shoulder. "and because of a dare, Sunghoon once dressed up as Darla from Finding Nemo for Halloween."
There was a slight pause as everyone waited for the next student to introduce themselves. It was the same one who had interrupted Sion and Jungwon's conversation earlier. A curtain of dark hair fell over his eyes before he roughly moved them out of the way.
"Heeseung. Senior. That's all you need to know." His response came out clipped as he slouched even further into his seat.
Across the room, Ni-ki and Sion shared a knowing look before they rolled their eyes in disbelief.
Beside Heeseung sat a male who had been studying course material the entire time. However, he seemed to notice that the attention in the room had landed on himself as he set down his book.
"Jay Park. I'm also a senior. I plan on attending MIT next fall." Jay then reopened his bookmarked page and continued annotating.
Finally, it was time for the only female student in the room to introduce herself as she leaned forward slightly. Her nail polish materials were long gone, as she had packed them away while her peers were speaking.
"Well, I guess it's my turn then. Hi everyone, my name is Rania Darling. I'm twenty-four, and I like to read poetry in my spare time." She finished her introduction with a bright smile before a snicker from her right side wiped it clean off.
"What's so funny?" She demanded as her head turned to face Jay. Rania's voice was still light, but there was something sharpening behind her gaze.
" It's nothing." Jay said dismissively while refusing to look up from his books. "I'm just surprised you actually know what a book is, let alone actually read one." He criticized.
Rania's face scrunched up at his harsh words as an angry groan bubbled in her throat.
"Watch it, asshole." Sion chimed in from his seat. The blonde man no longer had his usual playful aura has he felt like Jay's comment was uncalled for.
"Exactly." Raina said as she turned her body so that he was now fully facing Jay. "I don't know who pissed in your oatmeal, but I know it wasn't me. Contrary to what you might think, not everyone around you is stupid."
Rania defended herself fiercely as she pointed a freshly painted finger at the side of Jay's head.
"I'm well aware of that. I was just surprised because you seemed to be one of those women who like to coast by on their looks alone." Jay countered dully, still refusing to look at the woman sitting next to him.
Ni-ki let out a quiet "Damn." While Jungwon, on the other hand, told Jay to chill out. The older of the two was already halfway out of his seat.
"So you're admitting you think she's hot," Jake chimed in. The basketball that had been in lap was now on the floor. "To bad dude, she was never going to fuck you anyway."
A sharped laugh escaped Ni-ki's chest as he praised the situation as being better than television. Even Sunghoon was heard letting out a quiet snicker.
"Jake, chill." Rania sighed before turning back to Jay who was no longer interested in studying.
His focus was now on Jake as the two men where having a battle of piercing stares.
"Besides," The young woman continued. "Everyone already knows I don't fuck incels. This is about him thinking he's hot shit because he's on the Dean's list."
Jay's jaw ticked slightly as his eyes flickered to Raina.
"Ah, you're right. My bad Nia." Jake said sarcastically as he threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Maybe our new friend here should know that he's not the only one here on the list."
"Is that so?" Jay challenged from his seat.
"Yes, Rania's ranked 12th, and I'm also on the list." Jake responded smoothly.
"Oh shit really? What a plot twist!" Sion exclaimed as he hopped down from the desk and walked over to dap up Jake. "What's your rank?" he asked as was finding this whole conversation amusing.
"23." Jake answered as his hand met Sion's. "Which just furthers my point that you're not special." He finished while looking at Jay
"That means nothing to me. It's merely good optics for the university to have it's top athletes to also be view as academically competent." Jay replied as picked up his book again.
"Christ, you're a piece of work."
"Jungwon and Ni-ki are on the Dean's list too." Heeseung revealed causally while scrolling on his phone.
Sunghoon then faced his friend with wide eyes before hitting him on the shoulder.
"Ouch what was that for?" Jungwon puzzled as he brought a hand up to touch the offended shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were on the Dean's list " Sunghoon demanded.
"Because I didn't think it was important." The younger man explained. "And how did you even know this?" Jungwon asked while pointing at Heeseung.
The male in question just shrugged and turned his head away.
"What number are you?" Rania asked, her voice floated to Jungwon's ears softly as her fire from earlier had disapated.
"33rd, I could be higher, but I suck at math so..." He answered shyly while scratching the back of his head.
"Yeah, yeah that's cool and but we're ignoring the elephant in the room." Sion interrupted loudly. "My man Ni-ki, actually being good at something!" He cackled while hitting is friends shoulder repeatedly.
"Dude, chill out." Ni-ki groaned as he swatted the blondes hand away.
"I don't see what there is to be proud of he's 59th he barely made it." Heeseung pointed out as he looked at Sion in a rare moment of eye contact.
"Yeah, but he's still on the list right? Besides being the 59th smartest person in a school of like, 15,000 sounds good to me." Sion defended.
"Are you sure his mom didn't pay for him to be on that list?" Jay accused from his seat.
Sion face fell flat as he looked at Jay.
"Are your sure your daddy didn't pay for yours?" The blonde countered quickly.
That sentence shut Jay up as he opened his mouth only for no words to come out.
"Guys, we're off topic we need to figure out the "project" because I don't think this is going to work." Rania spoke while using finger quotes.
"Surprisingly I agree with Barbie over there." Jay muttered as he packed his materials into his backpack. "We have nothing in common and yet Mr. Frost expects us to become best buddies in 2 months, and no offence but I don't see myself becoming friends a bunch of stoners and people who care more about free throws and how their hair looks." The man finished he rant with an aggressive zip of his bag.
"Wow, looks like someone has a real problem with Rania." Ni-ki's observed outloud. "Look dude if you want to fuck her being a dick isn't the way to go about it. Trust me I tried." He continued while laying across the desk and placing his head on Sion's lap.
"Can you not talk about me like I'm not here, and just to be clear I wouldn't let anyone in this room do that." Rania said while fixing her powder blue dress.
"No one?" teased Sion while subtly playing with Ni-ki's hair.
"No one." Rania confirmed shifting slightly as she noticed Jake and Sunghoon's intense gazes.
"You say that now baby, but two months is a long time" Ni-ki mused.
Ring Ring
The sound of a phone alarm went off causing the student's to all check their devices. Only for the sound to be coming from Jake.
"Well it's time for me to go to practice, so I'm leaving." Jake announced as he stood from his seat. All while his eyes never left the curly hair woman across from him.
"I-I also have practice, so I'm going to go too." Rania stammered while quickly getting up and grabbing her purse.
The two left room swiftly with only Rania mumbling a small 'bye' to the group before Jake closed the door behind her.
"And thus Barbie and Ken have left us." Sion said sadly while wiping his eyes dramatically.
"Then that means it's time for us to leave too. I don't have any eye candy to stare at anymore so there's no point." Ni-ki stated while sitting up.
"By 'eye candy'...do you mean Rania or Jake?" Jungwon asked curiously.
"Both." Ni-ki and Sion replied at the same time.
The two boys left the lounge, followed by Jay saying something about this being a waste of time. Only Jungwon, Sunghoon and Heeseung remained. With the oldest of the trio appearing to be sleeping face down on his desk.
"Dude how are we supposed to become friends with these guys." Sunghoon asked while looking at his friend.
"I'm not sure but we need to figure it out, because two months will go by fast, and I don't want to get in trouble for embarrassing Mr. Frost in front of the board. " Jungwon replied.
After their quick sign language conversation the two boys left the "sleeping" male alone in the lounge room.
-Mya has spent her entire life just trying to stay out of the way. It's easier for her that way. Easier to avoid disappointment and being hurt. Eventually, the solitude became normal, and finding the quietest corner to sit in was instinct. That's why the manor was the perfect place for her to move to. Mya saw its potential as a secluded refuge and believed it was the perfect place for her to heal from the trauma of her boyfriend cheating on her with her younger sister. However, what she believed to be her quiet escape instead became so much more. Within the manors' looming walls, seven men are waiting and unwilling to let her shrink into the shadows.
Warnings: taxidermy animals because Heeseung is a freak, references to sexual experience, references to cheating ex-boyfriend and sister, blasphemy I guess (Ni-ki thinks he's a God), lore hints if you squint.
A/N- I am choosing to respect our leader Jungwon's words and continue supporting Enhypen as 6. That being said, I will also support Heeseung/Evan as a soloist, and he will continue to be in my current and future projects. If either of these facts bother you, then feel free to keep scrolling ¯_(ツ)_/¯
How does Mya view Jay?
Mya thinks that Jay came straight from a fairy tale novel. He's charming, well mannered, handsome, not to mention the fact that he can cook. The list goes on and on. When Mya was still a child, she had conjured up an imaginary boyfriend (don't tell anyone). It was this made of prince who became the highest standard of what a partner should be. However, this fake boyfriend was never intended to exist in the real world. Because of this, Mya is 70% certain that Jay is not real. (she's not entirely wrong). When she first encountered him standing timidly outside the office door something red hot traveled through her veins instantly. Everything became brighter and a pressure that she didn't even know was being carried, left her shoulders. Although, looking back at it, maybe it was her first instance of feeling the blood bond.
"What? You can play the guitar too?
"Of course, Dove. I-I have written a song for you. It would be an honor to pl-"
"Yes! I-I mean, yes. I would love to hear it Jay."
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How does Mya view Jake?
Mya finds a lot of comfort in Jake's presence. The other members aren't the most emotional people, which is fine, don't get her wrong. However, it is nice to have someone in the manor who gets it. Jake is the the main one Mya vents to about school work because the young man apparently used to be a nursing student. It's a small fact that makes her heart ache every time she thinks about it. All of her mates had their futures stolen from them by her own grandfather, but it's Jake that remembers not only what was before, but also what could have been. So Mya indulges him the most when it comes to stories about her life before they met. She loves the way his smile lights up when she enters the room, but sometimes...sometimes Mya thinks she's seen that smile before. Lit up by the summer sun and on a much younger, chubbier face.
"Jake~...please help me with my math homework. You know I suck at numbers."
"Yeah, sure! Did you know that the number zero was not used by ancient Romans?"
"Huh? Really, what did they use then?"
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How does Mya view Sunghoon?
She was very intimidated by him at first. After all, they did not have the best first impression. Sunghoon's visuals also make Mya extremely shy. I mean, just look at him, his face was literally hand sculpted. Because of this, the two are actually pretty awkward around each other. Interactions mostly consist of Mya yapping about God knows what because she's nervous. While Sunghoon is more than happy to just stare at his mate silently and admire her. Although, what Mya finds most intriguing, is his love for the arts. There is a certain spark that flickers in his eyes whenever Mya discusses her photography classes. This has led Mya to start seeking out Sunghoon when she has projects, under the guises of wanting his opinion. When really, she just wants to talk to him.
"....and for the record it wasn't even my fault! Because respectfully, how is it my fault that he dumped her after she got pregnant-...Hoon, are you listening to me?"
".....Continue."
"Oh...uh, so yeah, like he cheated on me with her. Did she actually think he was going to stay?"
"..."
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How does Mya view Sunoo?
Sunoo makes Mya want to jump off a cliff, and she means that with love. She feels as though the pink-haired man's mission in life is to flirt with her constantly. Which gives Mya lots of problems because she has spent most of her life running in the opposite direction of men who have shown interest in her. No literally, one time in high school a boy said she looked cute today, and Mya bolted down the hallway without saying a word back. However, Sunoo never lets her run. He's always there with an arm around her waist and a smirk on his lips. Mya often wonders how he hasn't given up yet. Her clumsy attempts to redirect his affection must be disheartening, right? Is it because of the bond, or is it simply in Sunoo's nature to enjoy seeing people squirm. These are the questions Mya asks herself during moments of doubt. Although, those moments are quickly interrupted by Sunoo sneaking a quick kiss to her cheek, and suggesting ways to "empty her pretty mind".
"Y-you can't just say that and walk away, Sunoo! What is wrong with you?"
"Ah~ well for starters."
"No. Don't answer that because you not being serious right now."
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How does Mya view Jungwon?
Duality, is the first word that comes to mind. When she first met Jungwon she had been half-asleep and convinced he was a murder. Then after talking to him in the garden, she got to know him as a young man with fluffy hair and cat eyes. Although the age difference does make her a bit nervous. She knows she older than him (wrong), so she wants to make sure he's always comfortable. Mya always hesitates when the topics of Jungwon and skin-ship come together. She doesn't want to push any boundaries. While Jungwon on the other hand, frequently claims he has none. A sentence that launched Mya into a tangent about how everyone should have boundaries in order to protect themselves. Unfortunately, she's sure that spiel when in one ear and out the other as Jungwon only smiled softly once she had run out of steam before boldly stating, "Noona, I believe you're under the impression that I am inexperienced sexually. That is not the case." Mya is unsure what happened after that because next thing she knew, she was blinking up at her bedroom ceiling with a damp cloth on her forehead.
"Jesus, Jungwon you scared the crap out of me! Don't sneak up on me like that. I could've whacked you."
"Hmm, it would be fine if you did. Think of it as re-enactment of our first meeting, Dove."
"No! I'm not hitting you."
"..."
"No."
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How does Mya view Ni-ki?
Mya has honestly never met a more delusional person in her life. She listens to Ni-ki's tangents about being a God forced into a human body with a mixture of amusement and weariness. On one hand, she believes that these grand statements are clearly the mans coping mechanism. Yet, on the other, she has also seen him rip a car door right off its hinges with only one hand (long story). She tries to handle Ni-ki with the same gentleness that she uses with Jungwon, but he rejects it completely. As he believes she find him incapable. Ni-ki does have a strange habit of spoiling Mya rotten while simultaneously teasing her for "sitting there and looking pretty". However, what exactly is she supposed to do? Ni-ki says she is a Goddess and shouldn't have her feet touch the floor. Then he turns around and pouts about carrying her, and full on sulks if she decides to walk around the manor herself.
"You don't know how to make toast?"
"God's have no need for human food."
"Well that sucks. Toast is my favorite sn- Hey, where are you going?"
"To find Jay. I will return later."
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How does Mya view Heeseung?
Mya, often calls Heeseung a weirdo (affectionate). She is very much like, "My almost-boyfriend is a freak, but he's my freak." When Heeseung first showed her his collection of taxidermy animals Mya was extremely thrown off. However, she quickly realized that this strange collection made perfect sense for the young man, and left it at that. Very much, you like it then I love it. Mya knows in her heart that Heeseung would never harm her. Maybe it's the bond maybe she's stupid, but if he can take the chance to trust her. Then she can do the same thing. Mya also appreciates the way that he wrangles in the other men. He understands that Mya sometimes needs some space, and one look from Heeseung is enough to make the other back off. The pair are often in the garden together. With Heeseung searching for bugs as Mya watches from a safe distance (she hates bugs).
Q.What's something that genuinely attract you to Mya, and without the influence of the bond? Also, what do you feel about her by any chance ending up liking someone else not within the group despite the bond?
(Question 1)
Jake: "Mya's most attractive feature? Hmm, well, her lips for starters- ow!"
Jungwon: (Elbows Jake) "What Jaeyun means is that our Dove is incredibly well spoken even when she is upset. I find her ability to communicate well extremely attractive."
Jay: Jake, you shouldn't reduce our Dove to merely physical features.
Jake: Weren't you staring at her as-
Jay: As I was saying! My feelings for Mya are as pure as milk. Much like her heart.
*:・°❀.ೃ࿔**:・°❀.ೃ࿔**:・°❀.ೃ࿔**:・°❀.ೃ࿔**:・°❀.ೃ࿔*
(Question 2)
Sunoo: Is that supposed to be one of those joke things that Jake does? What makes you think that anyone besides us would catch our princess eye?
Sunghoon: If another were to catch her eye...
Heeseung: He would die. That is the only probable outcome.
Sunoo: (claps his hands together) Agreed! It shall be a slow death.
Ni-ki: A quick one.
Sunghoon: Another catches her eye...
Electricity starts to fill the air
Sunoo: Butchering a raw pig takes 2-3 hours and is a process that can not be rushed.
Ni-ki: Why would I waste time-
Sunghoon: Who caught her eye?
Heeseung: It was a rhetorical question...right?
Ni-ki: Mya was already promised to me by fate. Anyone choosing to go against that will face the wrath of a God.
jay if u had to rate urself from 0 to 100 how good of a hugger are u??
Jay: A hugger? I'm not quite sure what that term means. ... Ah, Jake has just informed me of the definition.
I'm am not a fan of physical contact unless it's from Mya, and I have not received any complaints from her. So I suppose 100 would be an appropriate answer.
Q&A!! For Mya: girl, how are you surviving it all? I’d have lost it at this point. Also if you could choose a major what would it be (since you mentioned going to college). I hope you get to rest well and find a way to heal the bond.
Also a question for Sunoo since he’s my fave: what’s the thing about Mya you like the most?
[Is this how this works? Sorry I kinda asked like an RP. Lots of love, Pixie❤️❤️]
Mya: Thanks for checking in! Mistwood has a really good photography program that I would love to apply for.
As for everything at the manor, yeah, it's....a lot to say the least. Honestly though, it's nothing compared to the house I grew up in. Trust me, if you'd met my sisters, they'll have you running towards the nearest exit.
That being said, boys are very sweet. Well at least they try to be lol. I have a feeling I'm in good hands, and it may sound weird but I trust them completely. Don't worry I plan on taking the fattest nap when this is all over lol.
Sunoo: The thing I like about Mya the most? How could I choose just one? My princess is the most beautiful, kind-hearted person. Truly to good for this wreched earth. However...if I had to choose, they way she gets flustered whenever she receives compliments is extremely endearing. It just makes me want to scoop her up and hide her away forever.
Q: Ni-ki, will you ever stop resisting Mya? You definitely want to hold her hand and gaze lovingly into her eyes.
Ni-ki: What a ridiculous statement. If anything, Mya should stop resisting me. Her time is constantly monopolized by that idiot Jake. She should be grateful that I'm her mate. As a matter of fact, Mya should be gazing lovingly into my eyes-uh, wait, that's not what I meant.