trapped. part five

"okay, she's still highly sensitive.. please, no loud noises around her."

the five sat on the floor nodded in unison.

"she's also very sad about the hiatus thing.. she mentioned how she wants us to make it seem like everything is fine.. and to imagine that she isn't in the group at all-"

"hell no."

"JAY!"

Jay looked at the leader, anger beginning to shoot through his insides. "what? you're okay with pretending like one of our members didn't just go through one of the worst situations ever? you're willing to pretend like we're a seven membered group? you're okay with pretending like we don't have Mireia in our group? hm?" he emphasized the girl's name, glaring at his leader.

JungWon frustratedly huffed, his boiling anger quick to calm down as he knew the older was just frustrated, mind consumed with NaRi's situation. "no, of course i'm not okay with it, hyung. i've wanted to post the selfies she's sent us on SNS for days to let ENGENE know she's okay, i've wanted to do so much, but if it's what she wants then i'll go through hell and back to make sure it's what she gets."

the elder looked at the leader for a few seconds longer, noticing the fury mixed with sadness burning in his orbs. he nodded, sighing, "i'm sorry, Won."
JungWon sadly smiled, "we're all frustrated. and stressed. and want to act like everything is okay in the world, but it's not. but we're getting our NaRi back today, so it's a step closer."

the boys all nodded at his reassurance, heads jolting up as they heard a car pull into the driveway.

"okay, that should be them.. remember what we agreed on, okay?"

the boys once again nodded at his question, anxious to see the girl after what felt like hell.

the six held their breaths as the doorknob twisted open, their manager being the first one to step inside the house.

the older smiled at the idols, stepping to the side after placing a bag down on the ground. as he walked further inside the house, the boys heard a car door close, nervousness once again shooting through the roof as they weren't exactly sure of how they'd react to seeing their girl.

a few seconds passed by, sounds of three sets of footsteps getting closer.

finally, HeeSeung was the first to come into view, body held slightly back by the light purple sweater-covered arm they got a peek of. the eldest looked up at the members, sending a knowing smile before returning his attention to the slightly hesitant girl.

he smiled fondly at her, "it's okay, Mire.." he whispered, nodding his head as a way to encourage her to walk further into the home.

the girl just barely held her breath as she walked into the living room, of course aided by HeeSeung and YeonJun's tight grips on her arms.

she kept her eyes on the floor, taking still slow, steady steps as to not fall or injure herself further.

she attempted to keep her breathing steady as she made her way to the smaller couch they owned, the two sitting on either side of her as well.

she let go of their grasps, soon gaining the courage to look up.

the boys' eyes had all followed her being throughout her journey to the couch, noticing how even that had been difficult for the girl. though she wore a sweater on the baggier side, they were able to see how much thinner she'd become, as her wrists peeked through her rolled-up sleeves, and her biker shorts showed off her way-thinner legs they'd all loved the "plumpiness" of. because of her unmasked face they were able to see her sucked in cheeks, which had sadly become an all-too familiar scene for them over the course of the past year. on the brighter side, when they noticed her eyes, they seemed worlds brighter, seeing as she'd actually been able to rest.

the boys all concurrently sent her a smile, NaRi returning it before moving her gaze back away from the boys and onto her lap. she played with her charm bracelet, YeonJun quick to notice, replacing it with his own hand as he leaned back, draping his arm around her neck.

JungWon decided to make the first move, "hi, Nanie," he quietly greeted, his dimple appearing, causing the girl's to appear as well.
"hi, Wonie hyung," she returned the greeting, head slightly bowing forward.

the boys all noticed it, confused at her proper greeting.
she was able to notice their expressions immediately, softly chuckling. "i wanted to say something to you all, even if you don't want to hear it and even if i can't speak that well right now, please just hear me out?" she lightly said, the boys having to lean in to be able to hear her clearer.

they nodded, signalling the girl to begin.

she sighed, YeonJun feeling her body just barely begin to tremble under his touch. he gave her shoulder a light, reassuring squeeze. she was quick to relax, the boys patiently waiting to hear what she needed to say.

she looked at them, a small smile ghosting over her face before she began.
"i've felt.. guilty this past week— or, however long i've been out of the house.. to you all.. i've felt really, really sorry."
the boys let the words sink in, eyebrows furrowing out of question. they wanted to reject her seemingly apology, however decided it'd be best to bite their tongue.

"i've repeated the phrases 'i'll take better care of muself' and 'i'll recover' and 'i'll work hard to fight my demons' countless times to you all, i feel sorry for making a promise seem like a lost cause because of my selfishness," she took a small breath in after her rapid words, catching it before speaking again.

"i've never directly talked to you all about my father, either— and i thank you from the bottom of my heart for being so good to me and being so.. understanding. i'm difficult to deal with a lot of the time and, you guys all deal with it.. but i'm also sorry to you all, because you never signed up to deal with an emotional, sometimes unstable 16-year old girl.. i'm sorry for making your lives difficult and for, adding another load of issues on top of your own. you're all too great to be dealing with me and my problems,"

she sadly smiled, the boys' eyes having turned into morphs of sadness— she felt as if she was burdening them in a way?

though stray tears had began trailing down her cheeks, she continued. "my father.. was my best friend. when we still lived in the US, i went everywhere with him. he's where i found my love of traveling, and helped my discover my love for music.. he always encouraged me and pushed me to do new things and find what i liked.. he was scared when i called him from Korea, saying i was thinking of auditioning for a company to become a trainee," she paused to breathe in again.

"he told me he wanted to see me again, but he knew that wouldn't happen for a few years since i'd obviously pass the audition," she chuckled, a sense of bitterness underneath, "and he was right. i didn't see him in person for years, and i was in Japan with BangTan hyungs when i got the news," her still quietened voice cracked, "i flew from Japan to the states by myself to send him off with Samuel oppa, and i just recently saw him again,"

she looked up, noticing the boys' gazes turn confused as they also attempted to hide their tears.

"when i was still asleep, i saw him and got to talk to him.. i was so, so close to leaving with him. i felt so done with everything, nothing besides going with him felt right," she sniffled, looking down as the boys did the same, realizing they were so close to losing their girl, forever.

"but he told me to stay with my members. told me, he was happy with you all and saw how you guys treated and loved me, and he gave me the closure i've been.. searching and praying for since that day," she sadly smiled, playing with YeonJun's hand in an attempt to calm down. the members smiled at her fathers' indirect approbation.

"i'm sorry for keeping this part of myself away from you all for so long, i just never really, knew how to? or if you wanted to hear about it? but i decided maybe keeping it wouldn't be the smartest idea ever, either.. " she trailed off, thinking of what else to say as the boys remained quiet.

"i'm sorry for causing you all trouble for letting myself get this bad, and for ending up in the hospital.. and i'm sorry for being the first in the group to go under hiatus, and for it being so early into our careers," she said, apologetically bowing towards all of them. "i sincerely, sincerely promise to try and better myself and not let this happen again," the girl finally let out all she felt, the boys still saddened at her unnecessary apology.

Ni-Ki so desperately felt the need to hold the girl in his arms at that moment, having gone what felt like an eternity from doing so.
"Mitsuki?" he called out, catching the girl's attention. "hm?" she looked up, seeing the boy standing from his spot on the couch. she lightly smiled, standing up as well.

he opened his arms, NaRi meeting him in the middle, allowing her being to be encased in his warmth.
the pair slightly swayed back and forth, the girl feeling his tear's falling on her shoulder.
"jagi~ don't cry," she whispered, slightly chuckling.
he let his first, choked sob escape, "i missed you so fucking much, Mitsu," he continued to cry, "i was scared for my life that i'd never get to see you again. that i'd never get to hold you, touch you, hear your laugh, watch you dance, hear your voice, rap with you, go through life without you by my side, that you'd ever get to formally meet my mom and sisters.. i was so fucking scared, love." he ranted, hands gently running through her hair through it all.

NaRi, hating being vulnerable in front of people at all times, including this one, had to go through war to hold her tears back. feeling the boy's trembling body beneath her caused her maternal instincts to escape, her hand soothing his back up and down, pressing light kisses to his chest— as it was where she reached.

"Dannasan~" she cooed, shhing him. "it's okay, love.. i'm still here, you didn't lose me.. you can still do all those things, hm? i'm sorry for worrying you,"

he continued his lulled cries, the two eventually feeling more and more arms around them.

though the boys felt worlds of words to say to the girl, wanting to reject her apology, to tell her everything was okay, to tell her how much they cared for her, to tell her so many things, they couldn't find the exact way to articulate their feelings. they simply felt the need to be together again. just as it should be.

the eight all together again, complete.

through the course of the next few days, NaRi had to get in the habit of being alone at home for a few hours. their second, unknown, comeback was around the corner, consequently filling the boys' schedules up even when they all wanted to stay home and look after her.

the company had made the decision to keep the girl away from the company, besides her mandated meetings with Miss Hwang, though the professional had had the chances to meet her in their dorm, instead.

their female manager, NaRi's favourite ( don't tell hyungs ), had taken the responsibility of staying in the dorm with the girl, making sure she'd eat and do her daily assigned recovery exercises.

the boys sent her videos of the newly-added details to their Tamed-Dashed choreographies, knowing she'd be able to add them on without physically practicing it for herself. they also frequently facetimed her during their group and individual lessons / trainings, not wanting her to feel too left out while still allowing her to rest.

and, as she'd wished, the boys kept silent— acting as if everything was fine, posting their selfies, going on an occasional live,

hurting themselves as they unwillingly ignored ENGENE's comments asking for NaRi, where she was, how she was doing,

if she was still in the group.

of course, that seemed a bit extreme— but after a month and a half of complete radio silence from both the members and the company, ENGENE and lil moon began to get concerned.

as their second comeback was announced, confusion mixed with excitement— mainly confusion— sprung through the ENHYPEN world—

as the boys' EN-LOG's were posted, fans patiently awaited the 'NaRi DAY' notification to pop up— yet it never did.

as a few more days passed, the boys' SCYLLA and ODYSSEUS concept pictures were posted, still no sign of the girl.

____________________________

𝗞-𝗣𝗼𝗽 • 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
WHERE'S NARI

__________________________

𝗞-𝗣𝗼𝗽 • 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
BIGHIT SPEAK

__________________________

while the seven's individual concept photos were posted, the group never were— leaving ENGENE some, however weak, hope of the group still being eight.

파트 프아이브
🦇 ... 끝!