Always by your side | Zhong Chenle

𝒯𝑒𝓃

The rest of the class passed in a blur of whispered conversations, laughter, and quiet moments of understanding. Renjun, who had spent so much of his life guarded, found himself easing into their warmth.

By lunchtime, Ara had already introduced him to Belle and Julie. The budding friendships felt natural, as if they had known each other far longer than just a few hours.

And for Renjun... that wasn't far from the truth.

Ara, however, couldn't shake the feeling that Renjun seemed familiar. His mannerisms, the way he spoke, even the way he laughed, it all triggered something deep within her memory, like a song she had once known but could no longer recall.

Yet no matter how hard she tried to place it, the answer remained just out of reach.

Renjun, on the other hand, remembered everything.

But he kept that knowledge locked away, unsure of how or when to reveal the truth.

Their school had one peculiar rule: boys and girls had to sit separately during lunch. While Chenle usually found ways to sneak over to Ara and Belle's table, today he pulled Renjun toward a different corner of the cafeteria.

"Come on," Chenle grinned. "Time to meet the Dreamies."

As they approached the table, Renjun was met with pure chaos.

Jaemin and Haechan were locked in a dramatic tug-of-war over a cookie, their voices rising in mock outrage. Jeno and Mark, the supposed peacemakers, were failing miserably at stopping them. Meanwhile, Jisung, the youngest, sat completely unfazed, scrolling through his phone.

"Ahem," Chenle cleared his throat loudly, drawing their attention.

The chaos froze as the group turned toward the newcomers.

"You must be Huang Renjun!" Haechan exclaimed with his usual enthusiasm, already throwing an arm around Renjun as if they'd been friends for years.

"Y-Yeah," Renjun said, a little startled, but he quickly relaxed. The welcome was so warm, so genuine, that his nerves faded almost instantly.

Within minutes, they were laughing, teasing each other, and talking as if Renjun had always been part of their circle.

By the end of the week, he felt at home.

One afternoon, as they lounged in the music room after school, Mark suddenly turned to Renjun.

"Hey, Renjun, I heard you're good at singing."

Renjun blinked in surprise. "Uh... I guess?"

Mark grinned. "Perfect. Because we're starting a band."

Renjun raised an eyebrow. "You're... what?"

"It's a high school dream of ours," Mark explained. "We've got Chenle and Haechan as vocalists, but we need another voice, someone with your talent. Would you join us?"

Before Renjun could answer, Haechan threw an arm around him. "We need you, man! Think about it, Haechan, Chenle, and Renjun, the dream trio!"

Renjun couldn't help but laugh. Their energy was infectious.

"Alright," he said sincerely, "I'd love to."

The group erupted into cheers, already brainstorming names. The moment someone suggested NCT Dream, inspired by their shared ambition and love for music, it just felt right.

As the weeks passed, their bond deepened. They practiced tirelessly, pouring their hearts into their music. Their first original song, We Go Up, was coming together, a song that symbolized their journey, their struggles, their dreams.

But amidst the laughter, the music, and the overwhelming joy of belonging somewhere, Renjun couldn't escape one lingering question:

What if Ara remembers me?

For now, though, he let himself enjoy the present.

Even as he carried the weight of their past.