The Friendship Equation | NCT DREAM

Chapter 6: The Party

/MELODY AND MARK/

Melody’s car hummed as she pulled into the parking lot of the street racing track, the early afternoon sun casting long shadows on the asphalt. The track was a hive of activity, with cars roaring by and mechanics shouting instructions, but her focus was solely on Mark. She spotted him near the edge of the track, leaning against his car, his expression a mix of concentration and mild annoyance.

She walked over, her steps confident yet laced with excitement. Mark looked up as she approached, a grin spreading across his face. “Hey, mama,” He greeted her, his eyes lighting up.

“Hey, dude?," She responded playfully, giving him a quick kiss. “How’s it going?”

Mark sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. “It’s alright, I guess. Dad’s been on my case all day. You know how he is about the racing.”

Melody nodded sympathetically, sitting atop the car hood. She knew how passionate Mark’s dad was about street racing. He was a legend in the underground racing world, and he had high hopes for Mark to follow in his tire tracks. “Yeah, he can be pretty intense,” She said, leaning against the car windshield while he stood. “But you love this stuff, right?”

Mark shrugged. “I do, don’t get me wrong. Racing’s in my blood, and there’s nothing like the adrenaline rush. But sometimes I feel like it’s all about him, you know? He pushes me so hard, and it’s like I don’t have a say in it.”

Melody sat up reaching out to touch his arm gently. “You should tell him that. Stand up to him more. You have your own life to live, not just his dreams to fulfill.”

Mark sighed, a mixture of appreciation and admiration in his eyes. “My girl's right. I know I should. It’s just… complicated.”

“I get it,” Melody said softly. “But you deserve to follow your own path. Like me with law. I’m so into it, and I love studying it. It’s my passion.”

Mark’s face lit up with pride. “You’re gonna be such a sexy lawyer, you know that?”

Melody laughed, a light, carefree sound that cut through the noise of the cars on the track. “Thanks, Mark. But seriously, you have to think about what you want. Not just what your dad wants.”

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “You’re right. Maybe I do need to have that talk with him. I’ve been so focused on racing because it’s what he wants. But I’ve got other interest too. Like songwriting. It’s a huge part of who I am.”

Melody’s eyes widened in surprise, slapping his arm playfully while sitting upright. Palms holding her up. “I didn’t know you were into songwriting!”

Mark chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t really talk about it much. But it’s something I really love. It’s my escape from all this,” He gestured to the track around them. “It’s like my way of expressing everything I can’t say out loud.”

“That’s amazing,” Melody said, genuinely impressed. “You should pursue it more. Do what makes you happy.”

Mark looked at her, his eyes filled with affection. “You always know how to make things seem so simple. Remember when we were in high school in Vancouver? Life was so much easier then.”

“Yeah,” Melody sighed nostalgically. “Those were good times. No pressure, no big decisions. Just us and our dreams.”

Mark smiled, a wistful look in his eyes. “Yeah, just us. I miss those days sometimes. But I guess we’re growing up now, huh?”

“Yeah, we are,” Melody agreed. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t still chase our dreams. It just means we have to work a little harder for them.”