Trinity Six | NCT DREAM

021

Jeno was doing great considering, well, everything. I tended to his wound every day, cleaned it, and changed the bandage around his chest. We didn't talk about what had happened, and he usually let me work in peace, a comfortable silence hanging over us. It had made him slower, getting shot, that was, which was why the other's had been dragging him to the gym every day to get him back in shape. I had tagged along as well. Jisung had been teaching me self-defense, and I was feeling rather proud at myself as I currently sat on top of the man, having jerked his arm behind his back as I looked down at him with a bright smile. He tapped the ground three times, letting out a breathy laugh as I let go of him so he could roll onto his back, taking me with him as we both collapsed on the floor of the boxing ring, sprawled out and breathing heavily.

"You've improved, y/n. Gotten a lot better, to be honest. I'm really impressed," Jisung said in between breaths.

"Well, it certainly helps to have a good teacher," I said, turning my head so that I was looking at him, giving him a small smile, "And what an improvement you have been. You actually want to teach me, and not just beat me up."

"I know that what Jaemin did was wrong, but he's not always like that."

"I honestly couldn't care less. Unless he gives me an apology, I don't see a reason to treat him any differently from how his currently acting towards me." I said, letting out a little huff as I got up, dusting off my clothes before reaching my hand out to Jisung as well. "So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?" he asked, accepting my hand as I hauled him up from the floor.

I looked across the gym to where Haechan and Jeno were both training, the slightly younger one circling the other as he struggled to lift the weights. Both of them were covered in sweat, having long discarded their shirts on the floor. Well-trained bodies and muscles on full display. For a moment I felt as if my stare was intrusive, looking away again, "Well, Jeno seems do be doing a lot better today, so I might just have some alone time," I said, the words sounding almost wrong as they slipped past my lips, foreign, even. "I haven't had the chance to take care of myself for the last week. All of my attention has been on him; treating, cleaning, and dressing his wound, making sure that he ate well. But it seems like I'll finally be able to take a break."

"You deserve that much," Jisung agreed, "We're all really thankful that you helped him. Saved him."

I gave him a pat on the shoulder before jumping over the red roped lining the boxing ring, my feet bouncing off the floor underneath as I made my way towards the exit, giving Haechan a little wave as I looked back at the other two before heading out. I moved my hand to the elastic that had been holding my hair in a ponytail, pulling it out and letting the sweaty locks fall onto my shoulders as I made it to my bedroom, dragging my tired body into the bathroom and closing the door after me with a deep breath. Exhausted. That was the only words that could describe how I had been feeling since this whole ordeal began. I hadn't been able to relax since returning from Venice, but at least I had the rest of the day to myself. Walking over to the big bathtub in the middle of the room, I ran my fingers along the smooth edge before turning on the faucet, letting the warm water splash into the empty basin, slowly filling it up as steam began to rise. I poured all kinds of soap into the tub, enjoying the aromatic smell that filled the room, watching with an almost childish glee as foam began to form, growing at a rapid speed and creating colourful reflections in the smooth surface of the bubbles where my reflection was staring back at me in all kinds of distorted shapes. Stripping of the sweaty clothes and discarding them on the floor in careless heaps, I shivered for a moment as my bare feet touched the cold tiles on the floor. The brief moment of discomfort was quickly replaced by one of content, though, as I lowered my body into the bathtub and let out a sigh of relief as the warm soapy water engulfed me.