SOPA: '00 Liners [NCT DREAM + SR17G]

Distracted Minds

Mark's POV
"Hi oppa! How was practise yesterday?" Herin asked me cheerfully as we were walking to school, but I was far from happy.

After shouting at Donghyuck and Jeno, I kept thinking I had been too harsh on them, but at the same time, I felt like they deserved it after all of the trouble they caused. I had to show them my scary, serious side for them to listen to me, right?

"Umm not good, the guys kept messing around..." I told her vaguely. "Oh, well I'm sure they'll make up for it today, they don't usually mess around" she reassured me, but I was still unconvinced.

"Anyway, let's talk about something else oppa!" Herin said since she noticed that I still looked concerned. "Oppa?" she asked again since I hadn't replied. "Huh?" I said as I glanced over at her. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. "Yeah... I'm just thinking..." I mumbled quietly.

She simply nodded and remained silent for a bit, until she suddenly spoke again. "I know what will cheer you up!" She said excitedly before shyly holding my hand. We had never had any skinship like that before and I should have been happier, but my mind was so distracted by Jeno and Donghyuck that I didn't even process or react to her action.

"You know it would be nice if you actually paid attention to me..." Herin muttered sarcastically before running up to Lami to talk to her instead. I looked up as she left, what did I do wrong? I sighed, I hope I didn't annoy her, I just zoned out and now I have no idea what she said or did...

Herin's POV
"Why aren't you walking with Mark oppa?" Lami asked. "He hasn't been listening to anything I've said, he just keeps talking about how the boys weren't practising yesterday." I said rolling my eyes. "Aww, I'm sure he didn't mean to ignore you, he's probably just stressed." Lucy reassured me.

"I know, and I tried to cheer him up by holding his hand, but his hand didn't even flinch. It was the first time we had ever done that, and I had to build up a lot of courage to do it, but he didn't even smile or anything." I said sadly. "Don't worry, I'll talk to him about it" Lucy said turning around to walk to Mark but I quickly stopped her. "Wait unnie! It's too embarrassing, please don't say anything!" I begged her. "Okay..." She mumbled reluctantly.

Mark's POV
It was finally lunch time and I quickly ran to the cafeteria, grabbed my lunch, and then went straight to the girls' table. I sat down opposite Herin but she just ignored me. Uh oh, whatever I did must have been really bad...

"Hey Herin, how were your morning classes?" I asked her smiling. No reply. "Umm... Herin?" I asked again. Still no reply. I looked up at the other girls, but they all had the same reaction. "Oh c'mon, you're all ignoring me?" I said laughing, but no one joined in. "Err... look, whatever I did, I'm really sorry... Can you please forgive me?" I asked desperately.

Herin's head quickly snapped up to look at me, "You don't even know what you did?" She asked, clearly hurt. "Umm... Am I supposed to know...?" I asked nervously, but it was obviously the wrong answer because she just glared at me before she stood up and left to go sit on the boys' table.

I sighed, "Can't you tell me what I did wrong?" I asked looking at the others. They all shook their heads and continued having their own conversation. I felt a small kick under the table from someone next to me. I looked up surprised. "Talk to her when she's alone, she's too shy to say anything while everyone's watching..." Lucy whispered to me before turning back to the others. I nodded gratefully.

Herin's POV
After storming off, I realised I still had some food left to eat but I didn't have anywhere to sit, so I awkwardly walked over to the boys' table. "Umm can I sit here? I won't be long..." I asked shyly. They nodded and Renjun pulled out a chair for me. "Yah, did your friends kick you out?" Jisung laughed jokingly, but I wasn't in the mood for jokes.

It was really embarrassing considering I was surrounded by six guys, but I couldn't hold back a small tear that slowly began to roll down my cheek. "Yah, did they really kick you out?" Jisung asked surprised. I shook my head and wiped my face with a tissue that Jaemin passed to me.

"Mark oppa... he doesn't like me anymore..." I mumbled trying to stop more tears from escaping. "Huh? What makes you say that?" They all asked shocked. "He kept ignoring me this morning. He said he was too busy worrying about you guys because he said you wouldn't practise or something like that." I explained to them. I missed out the holding hands part though, since I was too embarrassed...

Jeno and Donghyuck exchanged nervous glances since they knew it was their fault. "Erm don't worry about Mark, I'm sure he'll be back to normal by tomorrow" Donghyuck reassured me.