To All The Boys I've Loved Before [NCT DREAM]

CHAPTER FIVE : The Case Of The Missing Envelopes

EVERY TIME HAECHAN'S AUNT returned from her 'expeditions', which was once or twice a year, she always brought treasure for her nephew along with her. The first time she went on one of her expeditions, Haechan was five and far too young to understand why his favorite and only aunt had to leave so urgently, but he was excited when she told him she'd go on amazing adventures and bring him even more amazing treasures from her trips. And boy, the treasures were worth the months of wait.

She'd gifted him a variety of things throughout the years, from beads she'd collected to antique time pieces and many more. Haechan, naturally, was grateful for each souvenir despite having no use for them besides flexing on the kids in his neighborhood. Most of the gifts ended up in the attic save for one.

It was a circular, turquoise container made of satin. There were beautiful flower prints decorating the sides, and it had a ridiculously large bow attached to the lid. When his aunt had returned home with it, he had gone almost an entire year without seeing or hearing from her. He remembered that night clearly. It was two weeks after he'd turned thirteen, and she looked somewhat defeated and hopeless the night she'd given Haechan that particular gift. It was a bit underwhelming that she'd disappeared for such a long time only to return with such a somewhat useless gift - in Haechan's honest opinion - and no explanation as to where she'd disappeared to. Shortly after dinner with his aunt, his father had asked that Haechan excuse himself to his bedroom. Shortly after retreating into his room, Haechan heard his aunt and father erupt into a heated argument over the turquoise container.

Why the hell would he fight her over a container instead of asking where she was?

Although he hadn't shown any interest whatsoever in the box, the argument happening downstairs made him want to know what it was that was worth arguing over in this ugly coloured box - again - in Haechan's honest opinion.

The second he opened it, it all made sense to him.

His aunt hadn't been going on expeditions those past years. No sane person would leave a well paying job, a stable life, and a chance to start a happy family just to go on overpriced expeditions around the world in search of treasure. There were no expeditions. In that moment, he could bet his left toe that those gifts were just random things she'd collected in order to keep her lies in check.

Park La-el.

The name was written on a piece of paper that had clearly been glued to the lid but had fallen off.

The second he opened that container, he knew his aunt's expeditions had actually been hopeless searches for Park La-el. His mother.

Was he angry at his aunt?

Definitely.

But he understood why she'd gone looking for her, although it was useless. The woman had left nine years ago, and she showed no signs of returning or wanting to be found. Haechan, despite being quite young at the time, had grown to accept his mother's choice, but it seemed like his aunt refused to accept the truth. The truth was that her younger sister had abandoned her husband and her family. She'd abandoned her four-year-old son, and she hadn't looked back ever since that day. Haechan chose to do the same.

Why would the author be describing a random container and its sad origin? Some readers might be wondering, and trust me, there's an explanation behind that.

That turquoise box contained the first Bruno Mars album he ever bought, the first K-Pop album he ever bought, a few Polaroid pictures, and six envelopes. In each envelope, there was a handwritten letter written by Haechan himself. Six letters for six of the boys he once loved. He was the only person who knew of those love letters, so he had to protect them with his life for two reasons: 1. No one knew he's into boys, and 2. He couldn't risk the possibility of those love letters reaching their recipients.

Imagine how bad things could go if those letters got out?

Now imagine you wake up alone on the floor with twelve empty soju bottles around you. Imagine the hangover you have is so bad that you have to run to the bathroom to puke. Imagine you want to call your best friend for comfort, but remember you drank to forget about what had happened between you two.

Haechan didn't have to imagine because that's how his morning was going so far.

To put the cherry on the cake, imagine Haechan's reaction once he slowly came back to his senses and realised that a particular turquoise container was wide open with no trace of the six envelopes that were supposed to remain in there at all times.

He screamed.

It wasn't an intentional scream, but it was all he could do because the letters were gone. Mia. He didn't know where to start in terms of looking for them. And he definitely couldn't ask for help. What would he even say?

"Hey, I'm looking for six identical envelopes, and I really need to find them because no one knows I'm gay yet and those envelopes contain letters to the boys I once loved, one of them being my current best friend."

"I'm fucked." Haechan groaned, hands running over his face frustratedly. His head was pounding from his hangover and his throat ached from how much he'd puked.

In moments like these, Haechan usually had Jeno by his side to help. Jeno definitely couldn't help this time. Jeno actually wasn't even supposed to find out about those letters. AT ALL. Not even by mistake.

So he called his second option in scenarios like these.

Dialing Johnny Hyung

"Hey buddy."

"I fucked up really bad."

A chuckle sounded from the older.

"I know."

"What do you mean, you know?"

"Last night you called me sounding weird and I figured you went for a drink or two. Then you asked me how long it takes for letters to get delivered."

"I did what?!"

"Yeah, and then you ranted about envelopes and getting the letters delivered, then you rudely hung up on me."

Oh no.

Haechan let out a scream. This time, it was fully intentional and portrayed every emotion he felt at that moment.

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Writing this chapter took forever, and it's still so short 🥲

I had another chapter written but it was WACK so yah, this is a much better version

Hope yall enjoy🫶