CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE MCODE!

❝ THAT'S LIKE... COOL COOL!
I FEEL LIKE I'M APART OF SOME
SECRET SPY SHIT ❞

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"Did you live with other people before, Jisung? People other than Jungwoo?" Yuta opened up a topic, glancing over at the younger boy who sat tense beside him. Yuta cocked an eyebrow up in amusement, his one hand loosely around the steering wheel while the other simply fell limp by his side.

"Yoo-hoo? Earth to Jisung?"

The skies... are so glum. People... those morose faces.

Yuta kept his eyes steady on the boy who was quite agog, his quizzical gaze explained it all. The way he stared out at the dark skies not to admire them but to ponder why it was like that. His eyes peered over walking citizens as if noticing a pattern with how they moved and walked. One thing was certain in Jisung's mind; they look like robots.

Yuta, however, had enough of Jisung's quietude. Though he didn't want to disturb the boy's train of thoughts, he had a gut feeling he had to. His brows instantly furrowed down as he reached out to smack the boy's arm, jumping him out of his little reverie.

Jisung's eyes grew wide in an instant, a yelp to escape his mouth. "W-What was that for!?"

"You kept ignoring me," Yuta replied, rolling his eyes and went back to focus on the road. Jisung shifted uncomfortably in his seat, lips zipped tight after Yuta's monotonous reply. A few minutes of silence and Yuta groaned, alarming Jisung who panicked.

"D-Did I do something w-wrong?" Jisung struggled with his words, eyes hastily crossed over the car's air conditioning. "Was I hogging the AC? Omg—"

Expecting to receive some sort of glare or annoyed reply from Yuta, his eyes widen once more when all he received was a laughing Yuta. The blonde man chuckled at how cute the boy was with his mouth agape, staring at Yuta with his usual perplexed face.

"I-Is it something I said?" Jisung murmured, scratching his head, cheeks turning pink from the embarrassment that took over him. He didn't know why but Yuta laughing at something he possibly did, yet he had no idea what made him embarrassed for how clueless he was.

After a moment of Yuta's laughter, he shakes his head and outstretches his arm to ruffle the boy's hair; the latter flinching. "You're such a cute boy, Jisung."

"I was asking you a question and you were busy daydreaming, when I snapped you back into your senses I expected you to talk to me but you kept silent- that's why I laughed," Yuta explained simply, a few sniggers here and there occasionally. He sighs in relief, a smile to creep up his face. "So, will you answer my question now?"

Jisung laughed awkwardly, not knowing what Yuta's question was. He fiddled with the hem of his uniform's sleeve, puffing his cheeks out habitually. "What... what was your question again? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

Yuta chuckled once more, still finding Jisung cute. It almost shocked him how Jisung was able to fit in with the thousands of robot-like people that lived in Neo-127. Everything felt so dull in that city, it was as if everyone was genuinely accustomed to the protocols and orders that were given to them. Yuta hated it. But then again, analyzing how Jisung acted upon him earlier, the young boy had his shared doubts and anxious thoughts.

"Did you live with other people before? Other than Jungwoo, that is." Yuta repeats his question from earlier and Jisung tilted his head, trying to recall if he had actually lived with someone else. A few memories and scenarios that played in his head was a blur, he tried his hardest to remember but he just couldn't force it.

"I remember living with another boy, someone around my age, I think. But it was only for a short amount of time." Jisung recalls, his tone unsure if his memory was correct but as far as he remembers, he did in fact live with someone else before.

He then hears Yuta mutter something in a low, a bit inured tone, "Chenle."

Eyebrows furrowed together, he turns to Yuta who's eyes laid in front of the roads. Jisung scrunched his nose, "Who?"

Yuta realized that he accidentally said it out loud and tried to cover it up by clearing his throat and shifting in his seat to distract the boy. The corner of his lips slightly tugs up into a tight, forced smile. "Nothing." He shakes his head.

However, Jisung is caught up in this little act but decides to brush it off, not wanting to make the atmosphere all dull and tense. The least he could feel before entering a whole new city was anything but volatile.

≫≫≫

"There aren't a lot of people here in Neo-116..." Sera said as Mark parked at a nearby cafe. It seemed like it was the only available place for them to stop by as there were no other shops open. Hopping out of the vehicle, her wary gaze ran over the same, dull-colored buildings that weren't much of a surprise to her. A gush of wind blew past them, lightly pulling Sera's pitch-black hair backward.

Mark inserted the keys into his pocket before placing a hand on Sera's shoulder, gently guiding her into the store. Her wary gaze remained; scanning over the unknown area, trying to familiarize herself with her surroundings. Mark raised a brow at her suspiciously, looking over the places her eyes scanned over then flicking her forehead to knock her out of it. "What are you doing?"

"Ow?!"

Mark rolled his eyes, ignoring the fact that his actions created a reddish splotch on the middle of her forehead. "What are you doing?" He repeated.

"Looking around? Duh." Sera replied nonchalantly, giving him the same attitude eye-roll. "What are we doing here anyways—" her sentence gets cut off as Mark pushes her down to take a seat, a yelp to leave her lips at the forced action. Glaring up at the male who simply sat down beside her, he cleared his throat, nodding forward.

Confused, Sera craned her head to look, only to recoil in her seat once she noticed the man seated in front of her. Fear washes over her quickly, a hand creeping under the table to jab Mark's thigh. The latter frowned deeply, glancing at her weirdly. "What are you doing now, infant?"

"Stop asking me and start explaining who the fuck is this man?!" She whisper-shouted, eyes growing wide as if to signal Mark something but alas the boy got nothing.

"Mark," the man called out in a deep voice causing Sera to zip her lips and press her back against the chair's backrest all of a sudden. The man takes off the hat that nearly covered his whole face, revealing himself to the young girl. A wide grin to tug up the corner of his lips before giving Mark his signature teasing smile. "I can't believe you seriously call Seraphine 'infant'."

"It was that or the word 'baby' itself." Mark sniggered, watching Sera's face contort from fear to shock.

Her shaky finger voluntarily raised to accuse the man in front of her. "Y-You know me?!"

"Why of course, Sera, right? I heard you preferred to be called Sera. Anyway, the name is Seo Youngho."

They stopped at the checkpoint, handing out the cards for confirmation, and afterward, the huge gates slowly opened.

"Here for... Mr. Seo Youngho?"

"Yes," Mark answered monotonously and the guards immediately let them in after saluting.

Right. Mark agreed that they were meeting up with someone named 'Seo Youngho' and this man right here that sat in front of him had the same name. Sera pursed her lips shut, contemplating whether to trust him or not. Youngho sensed her chary behavior and let out a laugh. "Sera, you don't have to worry." He smiles faintly at her before eyeing her, making sure she follows his gaze as he looks down at his own hands.

Dumbfounded, Sera did in fact follow his gaze to his hands, seeing him tap against the table. Sera furrowed her brows, shaking her head and looking back up at Youngho's face who's clearly as perplexed as she was. "Umm... are you gonna say something or what?"

Youngho's mouth went agape, glancing at Mark who straightened his posture. Mark nudged Sera, quickly eyeing Youngho's hands. Sera frowned, "What... is there supposed to be something?"

Mark deadpanned and leaned close to her ear, whispering faintly. "You don't understand MCODE?"

"The fuck is MC—" Mark slaps a hand over her mouth to muffle her words, a menacing glare sent to shut her up. "Don't. Don't say a word. Just- do you understand it or not?"

Sera shakes her head sideways and Mark sighs, sitting back down on his seat. Youngho eyes him, "Well?"

"I'll just have to tell her along the way. Speaking of, where's Yuta and that boy Jungwoo always talks about?"

Sera hummed, "There's another one?" Mark nodded as a response, waiting for Youngho to answer him. The man glances down onto his wristwatch, "They'll be here, riiiight now." As if on cue, the automatic doors to the cafe glide open and a blonde man walks in with a towering boy behind him.

Sera looks over her shoulder and locks eyes with the blonde man. Something about him felt like she was being hit with a sense of familiarity. The blonde man locks eye contact with her and smiled fondly, raising a hand to wave hello. Sera flinched at that and hastily faced front, ignoring the fact that some handsome young man just waved at her.

Mark squinted his eyes at the blonde then at the girl, sneering at the interaction they just made. Rolling his eyes, he waits for the two newcomers to sit down. Once they did, Youngho did the same thing to Jisung—introducing himself before making sure the boy follows his gaze before tapping a certain way onto the table. Sera notices the patterned tapping and furrowed her brows.

Is it some sort of code? What did Mark call it again... M... MCODE! But what does it mean? How come they know and I don't?

Holy fuck what if they are signaling each other when to kill me? Shit, I need to get out—

Sera snaps out of her trance, another yelp to come out of her lips as Mark once again flicks her forehead. She hissed, narrowing eyes at Mark who just scoffed at her. "Now, what was that for!?"

"Snap out of it. We've been calling you for the last three minutes and you just sat there staring at the table as if it would kill you." Mark told her and she sheepishly smiled, patting down the table with her hand. She looks up to find them anticipating her response, averting her gaze out of discomfort. Mark sighed, "Aren't you gonna introduce yourself, you infant?"

"Oh- uhh right. My name is Sera." She said, a small smile plastered on her face.

"I'm Yuta." The blonde man introduced himself simply, ruffling the tall boy's hair. "And this is Jisung-ie."

Jisung forced up a smile on his lips, still not fond of hanging around with new people. Though he does enjoy venturing out of their apartment, trying to find anything new around the city, eventually he got fed up at how generic everything was; not only his surroundings but including the people. Everyone quite scared him, he always saw them untrustworthy.

Youngho cleared his throat, hands clasped together. "So, meeting adjourned?" He rose from his seat and Sera instantly looked up, his towering height making her gulp and shift in her seat.

"W-Wait... that was it?" She turns to Mark who also got up from his seat. The latter hummed, nodding his head. "Yep. Let's go, infant."

Before she could even say anything, Mark hoisted her up and dragged her out of the store. He then uttered in a low voice, "We don't have much time until the skies turn dark, we need to leave."

"But the skies are already dark..."

Mark shot her a look and she sighed, not wanting to cause a scene in an unknown place. Once everyone got into their respective cars, they all drove into separate ways, as if trying to trick someone and make them believe that they were all going separate ways. But were they really?

"I can't believe you don't know MCODE."

Sera scoffed, "What is that stupid thing anyway? And sorry that I wasn't born knowing everything."

"It's not stupid, Sera. It's a way for Irregulars to meet up and talk without actually talking."

Sera's eyes widened, "You mean-" she taps her fingers above the glove compartment, "that guy! Uhh... Youngho? Was it? H-He was talking to me!? That tapping thingy was like a message?" Mark nodded and she gasped in awe. "That's like... cool cool! I feel like I'm apart of some secret spy shit."

"Yeah, but it would be much cooler if you understood it."

"Tsk, as if that young boy could understand that code."

Mark gives her a knowing smile, causing her to nearly choke on her saliva. Her cocky expression dropping alongside her jaw. "No way could that kid understand that?"

"Look, Jisung's guardian is Jungwoo and Jungwoo may have kept a lot of secrets from Jisung but it doesn't mean he wouldn't indirectly try to get him to join us. He basically taught Jisung everything he needs to know- leaving a few little details out here and there, but yeah. That kid knows." Mark explained briefly, wiggling his eyebrows at Sera who was greatly impressed.

"But, why would you even assume I know that code?"

Mark wanted to say everything then and there but he just couldn't. He wasn't the one who should be telling her and he only had little knowledge about Sera's background. He bit his tongue to suppress the urge to say everything and just threw the girl a meek smile.

Sera scoffs at his ignorant attitude, crossing her arms above her chest. "Dude, you know something don't you?"

"Infant, it's not my place to tell. Everything has a reason and everything will clear out eventually when the right time comes." Mark said in the softest way possible. He didn't want to taunt and scare her away, nor did he want to ruin her impression of him more. "Just know, Sera. You're here for a reason."

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