The unknown assailant carried Moon Taeil into a bright room that looked like a library. There were dark, varnished, oak-paneled walls; leather-bound books on shelves; an expensive wooden globe; a cigar humidor; a fully stocked bar. Above the bar, a signed collector's baseball hat was lit like a painting in a gallery.

But instead of furniture, in the room's exact center was a massive four-poster bed. The incongruity of it reminded Taeil of the gurney he'd been strapped to in the death chamber during footage for one of NCT 127's music videos. That wasn't the only similarity, he realized. From all four posts dangled dark metal circles.

Handcuffs, Taeil realized, as he was dropped on the bed. Great.

"Welcome to the Jungle Room," the unknown assailant said, boastfully. "This is where all the magic happens."

Taeil noticed what he was wearing for the first time as his wrists and then his ankles were cuffed. He stared down at himself and began to weep. He was in some kind of see-through boxers and that was all.

His arms and legs had been moisturized with a sickeningly sweet cherry-scented lotion. Taeil realized then that he was wearing his stage-makeup too. But gobs of it were greased onto his cheeks, smeared on his lips, caking his eyes. More than usual.

Gross.

"Please," Taeil said, through his slimy lips. "Please don't...don't kill me."

"That's funny. That's exactly what they ALL say to many over the years and years, Moon Taeil. Or maybe I should call you Taeilie. Right before I strangled all my previous victims to death with their own belt or you know--" the strange guy says, folding his meaty arms. "Maybe if you'd been smart and let Haechan take the fall for it, you wouldn't be in this pickle. But you like this deep down too, don't you?"

Before he could speak, Taeil noticed that there was another door in the room's corner. From behind it suddenly came pop music, loud, frenzied racing horns. There was the clop of stamping feet, excited voices, drunken laughter. The music was cut short to howls and then a rap song started up and there was more stomping and howling.

"What is this? Who are they?" Taeil asked.

"They're drug dealers," the wicked man said. "Top Korean cartel guys. Real big shots. I get their mates for them. Don't worry. You're going to get to know them all very soon, very intimately."

Taeil's mind whited out for a moment. Sizzling fuzz filled his head like a lost TV signal.

"I'm not a prostitute!" Taeil cried.

"They don't want a prostitute, silly," he said. "This is a special celebration. These boys just closed a huge deal for very, very big money. They risked their lives, their freedom, and came out on top. They're ready to party until they drop. In your case, party till they get sick of playing with you and drop you dead in the water."

There it was. The most horrible thing of all. It explained why there were so many disappearances, why some of the missing bodies had never been found.

"You wouldn't believe the amount of money these guys spend. Not that I don't deserve every penny, with all the cleanup. Sometimes I think some of these fellas must be half Mayanor Aztec because after they're done, you'd think it was a human sacrifice in here with all the blood. I have to wash the damn sangre off of the ceiling." The guy smiled, twistedly.

"I'm getting your attention now. I can see it in your face. You're a little long in the tooth for them, but I'm offering you as a special, a half-price appetizer. Those are my orders, and I'm not going to screw them up this time. After all, they came straight from the big man himself."

Orders?

"What are you talking about?" Taeil mumbled. "From who?"

The guy started laughing then. "You still don't know what the hell is going on, do you? Even now. Of course not. Precious little Moon Taeilie always kept in the dark. Your Donghyuckie doesn't tell you anything, does he?"

Just then the door burst open. Smoke flooded into the room.

Taeil could see a figure standing there. A welcome figure.

"Donghyuckie!!" Taeil screamed.

"Don't worry, Taeilie, I'm here to save you!" Haechan's voice cut through the smoke.

Moon Taeil blinked awake. He didn't want to, he was just getting to the good part of his dream. But his alarm, 'Starlight' was going off. Grumbling, he reached over and pressed the button on the side of his phone.

"Donghyuckie..." Taeil sleepily whined.

As if on cue, his phone lit up with an incoming phone call. An image of him and Haechan appeared on his screen, signaling that it was Haechan calling him. He slid his index finger across the screen and answered the call.

"Hey, Taeilie, I'm not waking you, am I? I know you need your beauty sleep."

Taeil chuckled, rubbing his eyes and stifling a yawn. "Nah, you're good. What's up?"

"Well, I just wanted to let you know that I'm going to be hanging out with a close friend of mine today. I wanted to see if you'd like to tag along, but you have to play nicely," Haechan's voice said through the phone's speaker.

Since when was he not nice?

"Who is it?" Taeil asked.

There was a brief period of silence, before Haechan's sighing response came, "Boo Seungkwan of Seventeen."

Taeil groaned and rolled his eyes. He knew Seungkwan all too well. But he also knew that he was no threat to his relationship with Haechan. Seungkwan was in a relationship with Vernon, one of his fellow Seventeen members.

"That's fine! I'll come along and play nicely." I'll have no issue being friends and being warm toward Seungkwan-nim. "Maybe Vernon will come along too? A sort of double date kind of thing."

"It's actually just going to be Kwanie-sunbaenim. Three of us, Taeilie."

Taeil's blood went ice cold. Three?! Well...Seungkwan still was in a relationship with Vernon, so he couldn't be a threat to "Hyuckil."

"Anyway, I'll be there in five to get you and then we'll go meet up with Seungkwan-nim."

"Uh, okay, Donghyuckie, I'll be ready," Taeil said. "I have to tell you all about my dream too!"

"Sounds like a plan. See you in five!"

They hung up and Taeil jumped out of his bed to get dressed and ready. He made sure to pick out one of Haechan's favorite colors and outfits. Just in case. He wasn't playing around and he'd make Seungkwan keep his place.

Lee Haechan was not for sale in the romantic relationship department.

Roughly an hour later, Seungkwan, Taeil and Haechan were gathered together, sitting at a small three-person table at one of Haechan and Taeil's favorite restaurants in Seoul. Taeil was staring at Seungkwan, a fake-forced smile on his face.

"So, how are things with you and Vernon?" Taeil questioned, blinking profusely.

Haechan snapped him a playful glare.

Seungkwan faced Taeil. "I'm sorry, do you have a problem with me? I'm sensing some hostility."

"No, it's a simple question, man. I'm genuine curious and concerned I guess. I was hoping he could join us."

Seungkwan jumped up to his feet, anger flooding off of him. "Do you have feelings for my man?!"

Taeil's eyes shot wide. "What?! No!"

"Hansol is MINE!" Seungkwan shouted and slapped his hands down on the table.

Haechan looked around him. "Hey, Kwanie...settle down."

Seungkwan closed his eyes and then plopped back down into his chair. He sighed and pinched his nose. "To be honest, Hansol...he's...we had a big fight. I needed to get away, that's why I asked to meet up with you, Haechan-ah." He dropped his hand down and looked at Taeil. "I didn't expect you to come along."

Taeil's hand shot up to his chest and he gasped. "I'm offended. Here, I'm showing concern for your bandmate and you're accusing me of non-existent feelings toward him and showing dislike toward my presence. Donghyuckie asked me to come along, thank you very much."

Seungkwan leaned forward, resting his head on the top of his hands. "You think you're always welcome to come along wherever Haechan goes."

Taeil frowned and narrowed his eyes at Seungkwan. "He. asked. me. to."

Haechan slapped a hand to his forehead. "Taeilie! Kwanie-nim! Stop it!"

"At least I don't enjoy being a damsel in distress to get saved by my man," Seungkwan snapped at Taeil, jumping up to his feet.

Taeil was on his feet too, sticking his face to Seungkwan's. "Well, I don't get into fights every week with MY Donghyuckie!"

"You claim ownership of a person, that's pitiful," Seungkwan laughed. "Hansol and I are perfectly fine and healthy."

Haechan got to his feet and came around the table to step in-between the two bickering power vocalists. "Alright you two, that is enough!"

Taeil looked at Haechan. "Which one of us is prettier?"

"You can only pick one, Haechan-ah."

Haechan stepped back, the two staring at him. Waiting for an answer. The maknae for NCT 127 looked around him at the restaurant setting. Thankfully, they were the only three outside and there was no one else around, except for a small group of five idols, who sat at another table closer to the door.

Even the five were so locked into their own conversation that they didn't seem to mind the trio.

Haechan finally flung his arm down to his sides. "I'm not picking! I'm going home!" With that, Haechan stormed out of the outdoor seating area for the restaurant and down the sidewalk, leaving Seungkwan and Taeil standing awkwardly.

Haechan hurried back to the dorm, pulling his cell phone out of his pocket in the process. He couldn't do this anymore. He hated people who got super jealous for no reason. Maybe it was time to move on from Moon Taeil, find someone else. He shoved open the door and stumbled into the living room.

Kim Doyoung was sitting on the white sofa, reading a James Patterson book. He glanced up, over the rims of a pair of stylish pink reading glasses. "Back so soon from your date?"

"It...wasn't...a...date...it...was...horror..." Haechan growled out through clenched teeth.

"What did Taeilie-hyung do this time?" Kim Jungwoo asked, walking into the room, carrying a glass of ice water in his hand.

Haechan leaned against the closed door. "I need Dong Sichen."

Jungwoo looked at Doyoung and they locked eyes with one another. Who doesn't need Dong Sichen nowadays?

"Was it really that bad?" Doyoung questioned.

Haechan answered him, by stalking across the living room, passing by Jungwoo and justly entering his room before forcibly closing the door behind him (not quite slamming it).

"You get Taeil-hyung, I'll wait and talk to Donghyuck," Jungwoo said, setting his water glass down.

Doyoung sighed. "Why do I have to get Taeil-hyung?"

"Because he likes you," Jungwoo said and plopped down onto the couch. "Now go get his stubborn ass."

Doyoung sighed again and closed his book. He put it and his reading glasses on the table to the side of the couch, before getting up to his feet. "You're a pain in the ass, somedays Snoopy."

"I know, but you love me, Dodo," Jungwoo smiled at Doyoung.

Doyoung rolled his eyes. "I'll be right back." He walked over to grab his jacket and keys by the door and then vanished outside.

Jungwoo looked at the door. "Calm him down and make my work easy, WinWin-ah."

In his room, Haechan threw himself down onto his bed. He didn't even have any feelings for Boo Seungkwan. Just as a friend, but of course, he should have known that Taeil wouldn't feel the same way and would start something.

Haechan called WinWin's number in his phone. After a few rings, the WayV member picked up.

"Haechan-ah, what's up? You only call me when you need emotional support, so what's happened?"

"Taeilie..." Haechan sighed.

"What'd hyung do?" WinWin asked, letting out a heavy sigh.

Haechan told WinWin everything that had happened at the restaurant.

Meanwhile, back at the restaurant, Taeil and Seungkwan eventually deflated, seeing Haechan's figure running away and vanishing from sight.

"Are you happy now?" Taeil questioned, folding his arms. "Donghyuckie ran off because of you."

Seungkwan blinked and took a step backward. "ME?! I'm the one at fault here?"

"You started it," Taeil said, looking disgustedly at Seungkwan.

"I did not!" Seungkwan snapped. "You egged me on. YOU started it."

"Moon Taeil does not start things. Only finishes them," Taeil snarled, getting back into Seungkwan's face.

"I sing twice as good as your nasally ass," Seungkwan remarked.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah!"

They were nose-to-nose now, fists clenched at their sides. They didn't see Doyoung skipping to a halt at the fence line, his eyes wide with shock.

"Hyung, don't! Back down now, Taeil!" Doyoung shouted out. He dashed to the door and slipped inside, passing by the group of five idols. He apologized quickly to them and made his way over to the furious duo.

"You want to have a sing-off and test that?" Taeil inquired as Doyoung halted and grabbed Taeil's arm.

"No you're NOT!" Doyoung snapped and yanked Taeil fiercely to the side with him. "Hyung, you're blind with stupidity!"

Seungkwan put his hands on his hips.

"You know that right now, Haechan is on the phone with WinWin," Doyoung said.

That seemed to do the trick. Taeil calmed down and looked at Doyoung. "He called WinWin?! He only does that when he's mad or frustrated."

"Yeah, I know, you'd better come back and apologize to him right now. I'd also suggest that you apologize to Seungkwan-ssi. I mean, you don't have to make out with him, but, at least say you're sorry to him."

"Why? He started it," Taeil whined.

"I'm not locking lips with him," Seungkwan called out.

Doyoung snapped his head up. "Shut up, I called Hoshi-ssi to come and collect you. Be thankful I didn't call Vernon. How do you think he'll feel hearing about you getting into a fight with NCT's lead power vocalist?"

Seungkwan opened his mouth to say something, but closed it instead. "Fine, I'm sorry for accusing you of having feelings for Hansol."

Taeil yanked his arm free from Doyoung and grumbled, "It's okay. I'm sorry for getting your face and retaliating like I did."

"Shake hands, children," Doyoung said, shoving Taeil back toward Seungkwan.

Taeil and Seungkwan reluctantly shook hands.

"Now, Taeil-hyung, come on and let's go home," Doyoung grumbled, seizing Taeil by the shoulders and yanking him back away from Seungkwan. "You make this seem like it's way worse than it actually is. Sorry about him, Seungkwan-ssi. Hoshi should be here any second. I'll buy you flowers or something. Bye."

Doyoung dragged Taeil to the door and away from the restaurant, just as Hoshi walked up, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his hoodie.

"Kwanie, tsk tsk tsk, I hear you're picking fights with NCT members," Hoshi called out.

Seungkwan looked down at his feet and grumbled to himself. "Moon Taeil started it..."