Chapter 2
February 2017. SM Entertainment announced Jaemin’s temporary withdrawal from NCT Dream’s promotions due to health concerns. The news hung heavy, a silence punctuated by awkward glances.
“Jaemin-hyung… I’ll miss you,” Chenle murmured, his voice barely audible.
Jaemin, midway through packing, turned and pulled Chenle into a tight hug. “I’ll miss you too, you dolphin. Even if your laugh grates on my nerves.” A chuckle escaped him.
“Hyung~” Chenle whined, his voice muffled against Jaemin’s shoulder.
“Why are you crying? It’s not like I’m dying! I just need back treatment. It won’t be long, guys… you won’t even notice I’m gone…” He released the hug, resuming his packing with brisk efficiency.
He scanned the room. Jisung and Chenle were openly weeping. The other members wore sullen expressions. Renjun approached him, offering assistance. “Jaemin-ah, let me finish packing for you.”
Jaemin handed Renjun the last few folded hoodies. They moved to the living room, waiting for the car’s arrival.
“Hyung, don’t forget us…” Jisung sobbed, clutching at his own hair.
“Maknae, I won’t be gone long. I’ll be back soon. I promise,” Jaemin ruffled Jisung’s hair and forced a smile.
“Hyung, don’t get sick again after this, alright?” Chenle asked, his voice thick with emotion.
Jaemin simply nodded, unable to speak.
“Goodbye guys, see you soon! I’ll miss you!” He waved from inside the car as it pulled away, a small gesture of defiance against the sadness.
***
“Dream, can my sister stay here until she gets assigned her own dorm?” Mark asked, turning to his bandmates.
A quick exchange of glances passed between them before Jeno spoke. “Yeah, sure. Why not?”
“Your sister? What’s she like?” Renjun inquired, his curiosity piqued.
“Don’t even think about making a move on her,” Mark warned, his brow furrowed. “I’m serious.”
“I wasn’t even thinking about it!” Renjun retorted, quickly.
A wave of laughter rippled through the room, but quickly died down. They had all felt the absence of Jaemin keenly these past three days. The dorm felt strangely empty without him.
“She likes someone already,” Mark continued, adjusting a stack of books on the table.
“Really? Who?” Haechan asked, leaning forward.
“You’ll find out soon.”
Jeno called the others to dinner. Mark surveyed the dorm, silently hoping his sister’s arrival wouldn’t be a disaster. He knew she was messy, and he feared their already chaotic space would descend into utter chaos.
“Mark-hyung, Haechan-hyung, aren’t you supposed to be at 127’s dorm?” Jisung asked, tilting his head.
“They ran out of food. That’s why we’re here. What are you asking like we’re not in the same group?!” Haechan snapped, his tone defensive.
“Mark-hyung, when will your sister arrive?” Renjun asked, gently.
“Honestly, I have no idea. The last time we spoke was two days ago. Roaming charges are insane in Canada.” Mark laughed, shaking his head.
“I will eat well!~”
***
Mark’s eyes fluttered open. It was 3:00 AM. He wondered who would be calling at this ungodly hour. He reached for his phone.
“Hello?”
“Minhyung-oppa!”
“Haejin-ah, what the heck? It’s three am—"
“Oppa, I’m here!!”
He sat bolt upright.
“WHAT?!”
He scrambled out of bed, pulling on a sweater and sweatpants, grabbing a face mask and gloves.
***
“Mark?” Taeyong asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes as he emerged from his room.
“Hi, hyung!”
“Where are you going at this hour?” he asked, concern etched on his face.
“My sister. She landed. She’s going to be a trainee at SM.” Mark explained, already halfway out the door.
“Wait, what?”
“I’ll explain later, I have to go fetch her. Bye hyung!” Mark said, grabbing his coat and rushing out.
***
“Haejin-ah!!” Mark called out, waving to his sister.
She saw him, her face lighting up with a smile. She waved back and then ran towards him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace.
“Minhyung-oppa!!!! I missed you!!”
Mark hugged her back fiercely. “I missed you too!!! Wait, you’re the same age as Jisung… right? How have you gotten almost as tall as me?”
Haejin laughed, "You're just short."
"Yah! How’s hyung?” Mark asked, teasingly.
Haejin smiled, "The same. Nothing changed, honestly."
“Good to hear that. Let’s go, it’s cold. How dare you interrupt my sleep.”
“You love me, though.”
“Really? Who told you that?” Mark said, earning a playful slap from his sister.
“Yah!”
***
From: 지성이 (Jisung) Hyung, are you seriously waking us up? It's 4 am, what's going on?
Mark sighed in frustration. Interrupting children’s sleep was a terrible thing. Wait, the one who interrupted *his* sleep was a child.
He looked at his sister in the backseat. She was wide awake, scanning the street with bright eyes. Right, this was her first time being here.
“Aren’t you sleepy?”
Haejin looked at him and shook her head. “No.”
Mark smiled. “Oh right. Time zones.”
To: 지성이 (Jisung) Jisung, I’m serious. We’re on our way now.
Mark sighed and put his phone back in his pocket.
“Minhyung-oppa…”
Mark looked at his sister, who was gazing out the window.
“Hmm…?”
“Is he… by chance… still there…”
“Jaemin?”
Haejin nodded, her voice barely a whisper.
Mark didn’t respond.
“No…”
Haejin’s heart sank. She knew. But a small part of her had hoped that maybe… just maybe… Jaemin would still be around.
She wanted to meet them all. She was dying to meet them.
“Oh…”
“B-but, he’ll be back!! Don’t worry!” Mark said quickly, trying to reassure her.
Haejin managed a weak smile.
Although she knew he’d return, she couldn’t shake the disappointment.
I should have arrived earlier.
If only my flight had been last week.
I would have seen him.
What a pity.
“Oppa, will they be able to bond with me? What are they like?” Haejin asked, adjusting her coat.
“Trust me, they will. Especially Jisung. You’re the same age. I’m sure you two will get along well,” Mark laughed.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Tomorrow—I mean later, we’ll give you a tour of the SM Building. I’ll introduce you to the staff and everyone.”
“Really?”
“Yup, we’ll have a tour with Dream and Taeyong-hyung later!!”
“Wouldn’t you be recognized?”
“Right… I have to think of another way, then…” Mark’s eyes traveled outside. He flinched. “Wait. Hold up, we’re here.”
***
They arrived at the dorm at 5:47 AM. Mark should have gone back to sleep, but he was wide awake now, thanks to his sister.
‘Wait, that’s Mark-hyung’s sister. She’s adorable, what the hell.’ Renjun thought.
‘She’s Mark-hyung’s sister?! Really?! They don’t look alike, though. Mark-hyung is ugly.’ -Jisung.
Jeno rushed to the door to help Haejin with her bags.
“A-ah, thank you ~” Haejin sang sweetly.
“Where is Chenle?” Mark asked, turning to his bandmates.
They exchanged glances before shrugging.
“Wake him up. Jeno, call Haechan.”
They complied without protest.
Haejin nudged her brother on the shoulder. “Wow, they’re listening to you.”
“Yes, they are. You’re the only one who isn’t.”
Jisung came downstairs with a sleepy Chenle trailing behind him, clutching a pillow.
Chenle is so adorable in real life omg!' Haejin really tried not to fangirl in front of her idols. Aaaaa he’s slowly climbing up my bias list!!! Hajima !!! ~
After a few minutes, Jeno returned with a groggy Haechan.
“What the heck do you want, Mark-hyung? Why did you have to disturb our sleep?” Haechan asked, his voice laced with annoyance.
“Look, my sleep was disturbed too, okay?!”
He shouldn’t be shouting right now.
“Anyways, it’s six in the morning. You guys should be awake now.”
“Whatever,” they glared.
Mark grabbed Haejin’s wrist to pull her off the sofa.
“Dream, meet my sister. Lee Haejin.”