seventy-three

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
jiae jumped up to help hyeyeong carry the multiple bowls of popcorn she'd just made for the large group of girls (and miles) in her living room. when soyi said "jiae protection squad, assemble!", jiae should have taken her more seriously. 
the group showed up ready to raise fists. eunjin even brought a katana, for some reason. 
"guys," jiae managed after successfully hiding her laughter of disbelief. "you're being ridiculous."
her words didn't have much seriousness behind them, so the others didn't pay her much mind. yuxi and miles were sparring in the living room, with sosuke and soyi as the referees. only lin and hyeyeong were on the couch with her, since eunjin and minsu were struggling to make dinner for everybody. 
hyeyeong tossed an arm around jiae's shoulder, and the jiae leaned her head into the older. "this was their entire plan," hyeyeong explained in a patient voice. "they know you were panicky, so they came over to have some fun and calm you down."
miles yelled when yuxi kicked him in the stomach and swept her legs out from beneath her as he went down. jiae rolled her eyes as the two began to wrestle. 
"i think it's working."
——
the night was peaceful after that (excluding the ten seconds of panic when someone burned the second round of popcorn and set the fire alarm off.)
the crew were splayed across the couch, and those who didn't fit slept on the floor. they'd formed a barrier of bodies around jiae, who, apparently, was the only one that couldn't fall asleep. 
slowly, she sat up and looked around to see if anyone else was awake. once the coast was clear, jiae carefully removed her covers and tiptoed over her sleeping friends. she had to cover her mouth when she saw eunjin and lin holding each other in their sleep before finally making it to her room and shutting the door. 
checking her phone, she saw that it was almost four in the morning. if it was anyone else she was trying to talk to, they'd be asleep. hyuck, just like most of the nct members, was a night owl.