Day 896 - D6-06, 19:55

  “…Is this true?” Taeseok incredulously asked.

  “What would it be if not the truth? Seohwa won’t lie about this.” Hwayeon interjected.

  Taeseok rebutted, “We pretty much gave her a no when she asked us if we wanted to leave early… she could be saying this so we can escape earlier.”

  “What? Is that what you think?” Seohwa glared.

  “I’m just saying… you were pretty heated up during dinner.” Taeseok analysed.

  Yerin scoffed, “That’s BS to me, Taeseok-oppa. You know more than anyone Seohwa isn’t that type of person.”

  Jiho agreed, “I’m sure you’re just saying that because you’re afraid of leaving the cafeteria.”

  Taeseok paused as he lowered his head. He looked really pitiful all of a sudden.

  Everyone realised it then.

  He really was sad about leaving the cafeteria!

  Minggu sighed, “So? Should we leave now or…?”

  Hwayeon took control temporarily since Taeseok was out of commission at the moment, “I think, let’s give it a week.”

  “Didn’t you hear what I said?!” Seohwa yelled unintentionally as she froze. She realised she shocked them when she yelled, “I… I’m sorry… I just…”

  She clenched her fists as she spoke softly, “I… don’t want to lose anyone else.”

  “…” Taeseok heard her trembling voice as he sighed, “We’ll leave much earlier than planned. But, Hwayeon suggested a good idea to stay a week. We need to form a plan on how to exit this building.”

  Yerin comforted Seohwa’s trembling shoulders as Seohwa exhaled to calm herself, “Once the week is over, we should head to 77 Hanju-ro, Pyeongtaek Warehouse…”

  Yerin calmly asked, “Why there?”

  “Stretch gave me the address secretly… she knows we’re trying to escape.”

  Hwayeon crossed her arms, “What’s the likely chance she is brainwashed into reporting an escape?”

  “None… the fact we’re still here is proof of it.” Seohwa bit her lips.

  Jiho listened to the group talk as he sighed, “This is why you guys are amateurs.”

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  Yerin who was about to retort was stopped by Seohwa. Seohwa nodded at Jiho to continue.

  “It’s been a long time since I tried an escape. Hehe!” Jiho smirked.

  “What’s your plan?” Taeseok raised his brows.

  “Simple. Remember what I said when we first came, Seohwa?”

  “Escape is all about spontaneity?”

  “And?”

  Seohwa paused, “You would’ve escaped if you had a friend.”

  “And you kindly corrected me by saying ‘We would’ve escaped if I had a friend’. Aren’t I lucky then? To have 5 friends with me?” Jiho chuckled.

  His innocent words cheered up the mood as Yerin smirked, “So I’m a friend?”

  “Yep, you too, you distasteful noona.” Jiho rolled his eyes

  “Wow, you should remove ‘distasteful’.” Yerin rolled her eyes back, “Though I’ll forgive you for now since you actually called me noona.” Yerin smirked arrogantly.

  Jiho was baffled.

  Maybe I should just call her noona more so she can do what I say.

  Minggu who patiently waited couldn’t anymore as he asked, “Sorry to interrupt, but what’s the plan, Jiho?”

  “Right,” Jiho coughed, “To be honest, we should exit through the Airway Gate. I heard Hawk would secretly go through it and immediately reach a town nearby.”

  !!!

  Everyone was sincerely baffled as Jiho actually gave a decent idea.

  “Why didn’t you say anything all this time?” Hwayeon pinched the bridge between her eyes.

  “No one asked.” Jiho shrugged, “You know, I may look a little dumb but I do think.”

  He’s aware too!

  Taeseok’s jaw dropped as he clasped Jiho’s cheeks, “Who are you? What have you done to our Jiho?!”

  “HYUNG!” Jiho’s brows twitched at the fact they underestimated him this much.

  Yerin nodded, “Yes, it must be… You’re an alien right? Disguised as a buffoon. No wonder you called me ‘noona’. The buffoon would never!” She then showed an icy glare as she got her hands ready to freeze Jiho, “Taeseok-oppa, hold him!”

  “With pleasure~” Taeseok smirked as he held Jiho firmly.

  “What?! No! Seohwa! Help me! And stop them!” Jiho screamed.

  Seohwa then asked, “What did I do before coming to the LAB? If you’re really Jiho, you would know this answer.”

  “Not you too?” Jiho felt aggrieved at their bullying.

  Minggu joined in as he made vines to tickle Jiho.

  Hwayeon sighed, tiredly, “You guys…”

  ***

  A few moments later.

  “You… haa… jerks… haa.” Jiho lay on Seohwa’s bed after being tickled and frozen repeatedly.

  Yerin placed a hand on her cheek as she smiled, “Sorry Jiho.”

  “You don’t look sorry!”

  Seohwa then interrupted, “Anyway, we know our exit point. But we have two problems: the surveillance and how tall the airway is.”

  “Right.” Minggu affirmed, “How are we supposed to get through it with many Grey Agents practically guarding it?”

  “…”

  Grumble… grumble… grumble…

  Taeseok’s stomach growled, “Ah, It’s time for my evening munchies.”

  Everyone rolled their eyes at him.

  As Taeseok ate the Munchies chip packet, he said, “We have a week to figure out how to get through the surveillance. And as for the airway itself, Seohwa and I could swap alternatively to go above while carrying everyone. Minggu would have to replenish our stamina though. Or if not, Yerin could just make a staircase.”

  Yerin frowned, “I can but I can only go up to 20 metres.”

  “Well then, I guess it’s just you and me Seohwa.” Taeseok sighed, feeling weary already.

  Yerin then thought of an idea, “There is a surveillance room, right?”

  “Yeah, every LAB Sector does.” Hwayeon nodded.

  “Perhaps I can hack into it? Turn the lights off and close their comms. Then, you guys cause panic in another corner.”

  Jiho smirked, “I guess I can do that since I’m the fastest among us.”

  “And the loudest.” Minggu added. Jiho glared at him.

  Hwayeon sighed once more, “You can’t do it alone, Jiho. I’ll come with you.”

  “Taeseok-oppa, Minggu-oppa and I will wait near the Airway Gate as you guys come as quickly as you can after your roles.” Seohwa finalised the plan.

  Taeseok licked his salty fingers, “Guess we have a plan then?”