𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧ˡᵉᵉ ʲᵉⁿᵒ

10

"Chenle had an older sister, someone who was one year older than him." Jaemin started the story once he had entered their private club room. He tossed away the cushions lying on the ground and sat on the carpet, grabbing his phone from the coffee table to check the time.

Jeno sat next to him, and soon the rest followed, taking seats to hear the tragic truth. Even Chenle, who didn't want to be present, sat on a couch cross legged.

Although they knew this story ever since that day, they've barely spoken openly about it. Especially in front of Chenle or Yuhwa. 

"Her name was Ivy." Chenle continued. His heart shattered into millions of other pieces, finally allowing himself to speak her name out loud. "Zhong Ivy. She was my sister and she died a few years ago."

"Oh..." Jeno whispered, afraid that he might say something stupid to hurt his friend's feelings. And he certainly didn't want to ruin the mood.

Knowing Jeno was curious of the reason, Chenle didn't bother hiding it. "She killed herself on her birthday two years ago. Ever since then thing's haven't been the same."

"I really liked her." Jaemin smiled unknowingly. There was a hint of sadness in his deep voice, as if there were things he wished to say, to her. "She and I made all kinds of bets. The last one was spending a day in the dark forest, with me of course, but she...we didn't have the chance to do it."

"You were mean to her." Chenle snorted.

Jaemin blushed. "Was not!!! She teased me for having a crush on Jinhee."

"Idiot." Chenle muttered under his breath, hoping no one had heard him say that his sister had a special place in her heart for Na Jaemin.

"Jinhee, Ivy and Yuhwa used to be best friends." Renjun butted in, getting comfortable on the sofa. "And they were a team, especially in underground racing."

Jeno's eyes widened. He didn't expect all three of them to do something so...illegal.

"I know what you're thinking." Donghyuck chuckled. "Jinhee, school's most loved girl, racing? All three of them have brothers who do racing. Kim Jungwoo, Jinhee's older brother who ran away from home three years ago, Johnny Suh, Yuhwa's older brother and lastly Zhong Chenle, Ivy's brother."

"The girls were best friends since middle school until Ivy's death drew the other two apart. They blamed each other and eventually broke ties." Chenle sighed, remembering the chaos the whole team had to witness during last year's racing season.

"I loved racing. My sister loved it more than I did and whenever I sit behind my steering wheel, I can't bring myself to cross the finishing line anymore. In other words, I lost my love for racing on the same day I lost my sister." Chenle did his best to keep his voice from cracking up.  "That's why I quit. I'm sorry guys."

"Loser, you do know that you'll forever be NCT's youngest pride, don't you?" Jaemin asked, swinging an arm around Chenle's shoulders to show his support. "You've earned so many trophies under the 01's name. Take a break, I don't care how long it takes. Come back when you feel like it, and snatch back your spot."

"We'll wait for you." Jisung smiled. "You know I need you to coach me."

Chenle returned the gesture and nodded. "I'll think about it."

"Good boy." Jaemin patted Chenle's head.

"I really want to see you behind the wheels, Chenle." Jeno spoke. "Maybe we can race each other too?"

"Sure, but you're no match for me." Chenle chuckled, his dry tears no longer being visible. "My sister would have beat your ass in the 00 liners race. Just so you know, she used to be the best."

"He's right." Renjun chuckled nervously. "She barely let Yuhwa win and she never let Jinhee come in first place either. Jaemin, Donghyuck and I always had to listen to Mark's lectures for being too slow."

"Oh, can you tell me more things about her? Only if you're comfortable with it." Jeno turned to Chenle, who shook his head, signaling that he was, in fact, completely fine with talking about his sister. After two years of keeping the memories all to himself he wished to set them all free.

"For starters, she loved bullying Jaemin." Donghyuck smirked. "And Jaemin loved—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence." Jaemin threatened.

"—getting bullied and teased. It's his guilty pleasure." Donghyuck acted as if Jaemin's warning went unheard.

"I just know that Hyuck has to sleep with one eye open tonight." Jisung mumbled while studying Jaemin's flustered yet angry face. "Maybe he shouldn't sleep at all."

"She's not academically smart." Renjun spoke, unaware of the fact that he was roasting a dead girl. "But we always studied together, and I really had great time with her."

"Oh, since we're all exposing our greatest feelings and memories regarding our angel, I might as well just say it. I had a crush on your sister, Chenle." Donghyuck spilled. "It only lasted for two months though."

"She liked you too." Chenle groaned. "But only for a while until she found herself falling for someone else."

"Who?" Everyone chorused.

Chenle gulped. He knew it was a secret Ivy took to her grave. "I won't tell any of you."

"Better keep that a secret then." Jeno agreed wholeheartedly. Despite only knowing a few things about Chenle's late sister, he already had a guess who it might be. "We don't want to make that person any sadder." He spared a glance at Jaemin, who was already looking down in guilt.

"She's loved by many people." Jeno smiled, his crescent eyes blocking his sight.

"Which is why her suicide is a mystery to us." Jisung sighed. "We still have no idea why she did it. She seemed happy all the time."

Jeno's smile fell. "She could've been faking it. All those smiles and laughs..." He, out of everyone, knew how it had felt.

After all, he hated to admit that his failed attempt in suicide had left a permanent scar on his soul. 

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Readers who read Rewind, I'M SORRY DON'T COME FOR ME GUYS—