❝ have you ever stolen a car before, mark-hyung? ❞

❝ car? that's really out of my league. i prefer hoverboards. ❞ the black haired boy winces. ❝ stealing? uh.. i suppose i've stolen dozen candies or so from an old man who claimed himself as santa claus. wait, or was he legit santa claus? i can't bring myself to remember. ❞

renjun overreacts with his 'disappointed' face. ❝ and i thought we're here accompanied by an expert.. ❞

❝ yah, we do have one! ❞ mark says in defense. ❝ look at that, we got full-sun! lee donghyuck with his full attires and scary face! ❞

❝ donghyuck-ie? ❞ jaemin laughs. ❝ he may look like an absolute rebel on the outside, but in reality he's just a big softie who likes to show off his fancy motorcycle because he wants to intimidate everyone. he doesn't vandalize nor trespass anyone's private properties. ❞

❝ yeah, but i do look like the type, do i? ❞ donghyuck smirks. ❝ clockwise 20 degrees. i suppose we have found our target. ❞

the boys have left the building and are now sneaking towards the location of the car wash, awaiting for their moment to smuggle in. the place looks fairly empty, with only 3-4 cars parked alongside the venue. a man in his sixties sits in front of the terrace, his hands gripping a handful amount of screwdrivers, his eyes barely awake. to some extent his clothes turned out to be quite extravagant for someone with such a simple job, but they assume it's probably a normal thing to happen in 1992.

❝ for this grand idea, i assume you've already planned it? ❞ jeno asks cautiously, no means to offend the latter. ❝ considering how confident you look now? ❞

❝ step number one: do everything with confidence even if you have no plans. ❞ donghyuck says without hesitation. ❝ step number two: jisung chenle, would you mind to stay out of this one? our operation is only open for five. ❞

chenle gasps. ❝ but this is my mission! ❞

❝ i agree on having the hyungs do the work. ❞ renjun coincides. ❝ especially for something this wild, i really have no interest of staining our younger members. ❞

❝ we're barely even a few years younger than you guys! ❞ jisung is also disappointed. ❝ ah, i don't want to sit this one out.. ❞

❝ of course you won't, after the coast is clear and we gain his trust, you can come along, ❞ mark assures the dongsaengs. ❝ besides, trust me when i say that you should not invite chenle when you attempt on trespassing, the boy can't even keep a straight face. ❞

❝ yah, perhaps i've improved since the last time you saw me! ❞

❝ considering this is the earlier version of you and who i saw a few missions back is definitely you in the future, so no, your argument is invalid. ❞ he says nonchalantly.

chenle frowns as he's out of reasons to defend himself.

❝ renjun, grab chenle's camera, you'll be the camera guy. jeno, jaemin, mark-ssi, come with me. please remember that this really depends on your ability to lie. ❞ donghyuck gives them a sharp look. ❝ if you can't lie, don't say anything at all. just stand there and look pretty. ❞

mark nods. ❝ make sure you look convincing, kids. any likely scenarios? ❞

❝ i like doing things freestyle, ❞ donghyuck stands up from the place he's hiding and fixes his crumpled shirt. ❝ let's go, ❞

jaemin knows for sure donghyuck's spontaneous adventures usually fails before it even starts, but he has some sort of a good feeling for this one. the five boys approach the man in the car wash, with renjun fully indulging his role as the 'camera man', holding it up as if he's actually filming for something serious.

❝ show us what you got, full-sun. ❞ mark pats him in the back. donghyuck flinches, but he did not elaborate.

jaemin shifts closer to jeno who looked as nervous as ever. ❝ you know, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. ❞ he whispers to the latter.

jeno shakes his head. ❝ i want to. ❞

❝ is it because you want to prove it to donghyuck or you just want to prove it to yourself? ❞

❝ this is the only time i can hang out with anyone other than jisung, ❞ he mumbles. ❝ i would like to make use of this chance. ❞

jaemin couldn't help but feel bad about him, considering that he hasn't done a great job at making him feel included in school either (it's jaemin's either too busy or jeno's too unapproachable, perhaps it's both) but now he's glad that he has the time to make it up to him. perhaps if this continues on, donghyuck will finally 'tolerate' the school's supposedly biggest loner.

❝ hello, young man. anything i could do for you kids? ❞ the man greets us kindly, his visible wrinkles stretches as he smiles.

❝ yes, hello. we're here to ask permission to film your lovely carwash for our new television program, would you mind? ❞ donghyuck starts off with a pretty strong alibi.

❝ television? ❞ the man gasps. ❝ oh my. from which channel are you from? ❞

donghyuck hesitates. ❝ uh, tvn. ❞

jeno shoots him a surprised look. he quickly takes over. ❝ kbs! we're from kbs. ❞

stupid, tvn hasn't even been created yet! mark looks at the both of them confusedly, clueless of what mistake they had actually made. jaemin, noticing it the second hyuck opened his mouth, covers his face with his hands to hide the cringe.

❝ kbs? ❞ the man's eyes widen.

❝ yes! we're from a new show, it's called 'return of the carwash.. man.'❞ jeno's definitely doing great at this bullshitting thing. donghyuck on the other hand keeps his mouth sealed shut.

❝ ah really? ❞ the man nods in awe. ❝ honestly, i have no idea what you guys are talking about. i barely watch any television, mostly my wife takes over it for the daily family dramas, hehe. ❞

❝ yeah, um.. ❞ mark continues on the montage. ❝ our program revolves around the history of carwash. you know those conveyor belt system with polycarbonate car wash doors that western people are developing? ❞

❝ ah, yes, yes. you know, my wife encouraged me to install those complex machines, ❞ he opens up without concerning the fact that he was talking to adolescent strangers. ❝ but i don't want to. we do have the money to develop it, however i would like to keep this place the traditional way. i want treat each and every car with love and attention. ❞

the boys nod along like a bunch of seals.  ❝ hehe, yeah, i really agree with you. ❞ mark says a little too excitedly. ❝ that's why we wanted to include your carwash to our program, to prove that oldschool still works. ❞ he pauses for a moment before correcting himself. ❝ wait, not that i'm saying that you're too old or anything—❞

❝ i am an old man, you don't need to deny it. thank you, though. ❞ the man laughs. ❝ you guys really look like those celebrities on tv, strangely familiar handsome men.. ❞

jaemin nods and points at jeno. ❝ yeah, some people say he looks like lee donghae. ❞

he raises his eyebrow. ❝ i'm sorry? ❞

❝ he means ahn sungki, ❞ mark grabs jeno by the arm and ruffles his hair, chuckling uneasily. ❝ he's close relatives to ahn sungki. ❞

❝ ah really? ahn sungki in deep blue night?❞ the man stares at jeno in awe.

❝ yes! such a great movie, i watched it as soon as it came out, ❞ mark replies enthusiastically.

donghyuck and jaemin glance at each other. car washes and old movies, this boy sure knows everything.

❝ ah, i see it! it's definitely the eyes! ❞ the man gazes at jeno, taking a good look of his features. ❝ wah, no wonder you're a tv star. you have it in your blood, kid. ❞

jeno smiles widely, his eyes suddenly disappearing as he did so.

❝ come, kids! just do as you like! ❞ the man welcomes them in, opening the gate for them. ❝ don't hesitate to tell me what you need, the convenience store is just a few blocks from here. do you need to set up your camera equipments or anything? ❞

it's easy. it's seriously that easy. ❝ no, we're fine thank you! ❞ mark gestures at chenle and jisung to come out. ❝ we'll be inviting a few of our crew, is that alright? ❞

❝ sure thing! lucky for you, the place is quite empty today, ❞ the man skids towards the blue car parked at the further side of the area. ❝ if you need practical footage, you can try washing up one of these cars if you like, to experience the real thing. ❞

❝ hyung, ❞ chenle sprints towards mark, whispering to him from the back. ❝ the blue one, the car i saw in my dreams. ❞

❝ ah, that's such a great idea! thank you. ❞ mark says to the man with a nod. ❝ we'll start off with the blue one. ❞

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