I Am: NOT

11. I Am: Ready

"So you mean, you planned on breaking away from this place long ago?" Jeongin asked Woojin. The older nodded. "Even if we don't voluntarily leave, we might be executed sooner or later -"

"No!" Seungmin hissed, "Don't say things like that. I don't know about others, but I will definitely support you."

"You do know it's dangerous, right?" Minho suddenly interrupted. "It's actually a miracle no one reported about me, really. I am a huge outcast in terms of behaviour." 

"They obviously like you because of your disgustingly pretty face," Changbin pointed out. Hyunjin laughed as Minho glared at the shortest boy.

"Actually, shouldn't we properly introduce ourselves?" Chan asked quietly, "We barely know one another."

"Wait for a little bit longer, I told a friend to come. He should be here by any second." Minho dismissed.

The door banged loudly.

"Anyone here?"

"Coming!" Felix stood up immediately upon hearing the voice when Woojin and Changbin were visably alarmed. So the others assume it's probably Minho's "friend" he's talking about.

"Took you long enough, Min - Wow. Are you guys throwing a party?" The young-looking boy widen his eyes in surprise.

~

"Alright, now that we won't have any more people joining, let's introduce ourselves as you say," Woojin addressed to Chan, "I'll start first. My name is Kim Woojin, 19 years old, and obviously I am a library assistant who took advantage of his job, and I know a bit of hacking."

"Um, I am Bang Chan, 18, and currently undergoing last training of engineering." Chan said, still not quite used to being part of a runaway plan.

"Seo Changbin, same year and status as Chan and Woojin hyung." 

"Lee Minho, also same year as those two but training as an editor. Hate it." Minho said, "And also, Felix's protective brother."

"And that's...me." Felix said, "Training as a necessities manufacturer. 16."

"I am 16 too," Jisung didn't hesitate a bit to introduce himself despite being the last to the party, "I am Han Jisung, these two guys' best friend. Training as an observer."

"Seungmin, 16, training as illustrator." Seungmin pointed at Woojin, "My cousin."

"I am Yang Jeongin and same age as Seungmin, and training to be messenger."

"...Hwang Hyunjin, also 16 and...soldier trainee."

"So we are nearly all specialized in different fields. Great." Changbin promptly declared. "So, let's talk about why we should leave this hell hole."

~

"So, let me summarize," Jeongin said, trying to sort out all the information received, "First, we cannot really be ourselves despite they tell us that we are different, because indeed we have different careers waiting for us. Second thing is thing is that we are actually under surveillance so we don't have freedom - which I don't really understand why it is so important. Lastly, this place is actually poorly maintained. Am I missing anything?"

"Basically speaking, yes." Woojin replied, "Those things you don't know why it's important - you'll know once we leave this place."

"I want to go," Chan said, "I want to see if the rain, clouds, snow, rainbows are real."

"I don't really mind living here, to be honest," Jisung said, "But if Minho hyung and Felix wants to leave so badly, I am in."

"Me too, like I said, I am always supporting Woojin hyung." Seungmin raised his hand.

"If you go, then so do I," Jeongin said. "Hyunjin?"

"I guess I don't have any choice but to go with you." Hyunjin shurgged, "And I...actually don't want to be trained for fighting."

"That's important for you to embrace this thought," Changbin said contently. "So we are all in. Here's what I gathered. Actually, I saw a vehicle dissembling centre near the fields, but there's one bus which is fairly intact. We can use that to break the glass now that we know it's so fragile."

"I know how to drive," Woojin said, Changbin gave him a thumbs up.

"Once we break it, where do we go?" Chan asked.

"I know that there's one particular road which lead to the actual exit, which is a long tunnel." Changbin said, "Once we arrived at there, they can't do anything about it because that tunnel is neutral grounds and not only we can go there."

"So, simply speaking, we will leave the capsule, then enter the tunnel, then?" Minho asked.

"I actually saw an unoccupied empty land after exiting the tunnel. We can go there to see what we can do." Woojin said. "It's really empty, so before we get on the bus we will need to gather everything we want."

"When do we gather again?" Jisung asked enthusiastically.

"How about three days later, midnight, at the dissembling centre?" Changbin suggested, "I will send you the address later."

Others nodded in agreement. Chan said, "Guess what, we are becoming stray kids."

"That is a terrible joke, Chan," Changbin deadpanned.