"and that's a wrap!"

both their manager and dance instructor said, looking at the kpop group through the mirror, "you guys did well today," one of their managers told, "let's do well tomorrow." he smiled at all of them.

waving his hand in the air, bidding goodbye as he walked out of the dance practice room, "thank you, manager-nim!" taeyong—nct 127's leader—shouted back as a thank you.

"tomorrow would be our last practice," their dance instructor told, packing up his things as he slings his backpack on his shoulder, "and then after that, you guys are going to be preparing for your encore stages."

all of them nod at the statement, as they eye him walking out of the room, bidding goodbye for the last time.

seeing that they're the only ones left inside, they all let out a heavy sigh as they plopped themselves flat on the floor while their sweats continuously flow down their body.

this is their everyday routine—their managers and dance instructors are very strict, especially when their comeback is near. so this specific day is really exhausting for all of them.

"pizza?" johnny asked, looking at all of his members whose bodies are one with the cold floor. "my treat."

as soon as they heard the taller's last statement, all of them said yes in unison without even thinking twice. "the last one in the room will pay half of the bill though!" johnny told, as he dashes out of the dance practice room.

the hyung line looked at each other before pushing their bodies all at once on the door. jungwoo purposely pushed jaehyun's shoulder and gave him a teasing smile, "oops, sorry." jungwoo challenged jaehyun and the older gladly accepted it as he tails behind jungwoo. 

leaving mark and haechan inside the room, too tired to work their feet. 

donghyuck grabs his hoodie and bag and looks at the older who's already making his way towards the door. hurriedly walking beside the older, he clings his arms around the older while rubbing his cheeks on mark's shoulder, "hyung..." donghyuck said in a cute tone while he rubs his cheeks on mark's shoulder.

"ugh, donghyuck-ah..." mark moves his shoulder, away from the younger, "your sweaty." mark told, his eyes not leaving his phone as he continues to walk leaving donghyuck behind.

donghyuck pouts, but a smile immediately makes its way back. he's just guessing that maybe mark is too tired to receive affection from him, well, their dance practice is hard so he knows how tiring it is for mark—and for all of the members.

snapping out from his thoughts, he followed behind the older, as clutch mark's shirt so he could catch up beside him, "wait for me!"

------

thank yous were heard once the food has been settled on their table, as they drool at the sight. taeyong looked at everyone on the chairs and raised his brows, "haechan?" he asked, still looking for the younger, "where's haechan?"

"here!"

the tanned male shouted across their dorm, skipping his way towards the table. just when the younger was about to sit beside his mark hyung, he saw the seats beside the older being occupied, "sit here, haechan-ie." jaehyun told, patting the seat beside him.

donghyuck had no other choice than to just sit beside the older, with a pout.

the moment donghyuck sat beside him, jaehyun ruffles the younger's head while chuckling. he knows how donghyuck always wanted to sit beside mark and everyone knows that too, "let's eat?" jaehyun asked.

all of them nods, although some of the members already took a bite before jaehyun even asked to.

"everyone," taeyong started, with his mouth full of pizza, "tomorrow's our encore stage so we need to sleep early since we're going to wake up early too. understand?"

all of them nodded, too busy munching their food but their ears are there to listen, "i know you guys are tired too, so i suggest you guys get enough rest for tomorrow." their leader finished, as he took another bite of his pizza.

"ah, hyung~" mark said, while smiling looking down at jungwoo who's snuggling on his arm, more like teasing him, "hyung seriously, stop." mark continues, still had the smile like before. 

after swallowing his soda, taeyong looked at the younger of the group, "also, did you check up on the dreamies?" he asked haechan. dreamies, the word that taeyong likes to use to the nct dream members.

"manager-nim told that they're going to watch us tomorrow." expecting a reply, taeyong looked up from his food when he still hasn't heard a word from the younger, "haechan?"

the said male, still had his eyes laid towards two specific members, expressionless. how can his mark hyung reject his affection from earlier yet he's here gladly accepting jungwoo's teasing? donghyuck thought, while he looks at the two older, unintentionally pouting.

he didn't even notice that someone is talking to him.

dusting the pizza crumbs on his hands, donghyuck stood up from his chair, "i'm full, hyung." donghyuck said, dusting his pants too, "i'm going to take a quick shower too."

all of them nods—except for mark and jungwoo since they're too busy teasing each other, and this did not go unnoticed by donghyuck—following the younger with their eyes, confused by his sudden act.

they really thought donghyuck will eat more than a half pizza.

"check up on the dreamies for me okay?" taeyong shouts, eyes following donghyuck who's now already making his way towards his room.

"maybe he's just tired," taeil comments, even though he too, is confused. "our choreography is hard, i can understand that."

on the other hand, jaehyun leans back on his chair with a smirk on his lips, eyes landing on both jungwoo and mark—maybe the two did not even notice donghyuck leaving their table as they were too busy teasing each other.

oh, he surely knows why donghyuck is acting this way. it's not just because he's "tired" or "just taking a shower". he knows donghyuck, too well.