stray letters | nct jaemin.

one | home.

I told them I'd be gone for a month. Turns out it was four. My back had been in an even worse condition than I'd thought, and I blame it on Chenle for always making me give him piggy-back rides. I get that he's a legend, but, it's still his fault. The doctors told me that in order to be able to participate in NCT Dream again, I'd have to have surgery. And I accepted.

I hadn't been able to talk to my members as frequently as I thought I could, with their busy schedules and my painful ones. I decided to stay quiet and maybe use this time for myself, but whenever I'd get lonely, I'd read Renjun's letter. The members never got to visit me since my surgery, as I had to be moved to a hospital in Jeju to have it done. Donghyuck came by maybe once or twice, when he had the chance. 

I didn't tell them that I'd be coming home today, it would be a surprise. I can't wait to see them...

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The viridescent landscape of Jeju I have come to love was now instantly replaced by the basic streets and city panorama of Seoul. Although I'm glad to be home, I do miss the tranquil and composed aura of Jeju. The strident noises of odious car horns pierce my ears and the rushing of people make me feel sick to my stomach. I'm so used to the peaceful and serene qualities of the island and I suddenly wish to go back, but I can't. I need to resume my duties as an artist. 

I finally reach the dorm and inhale anxiously, and my heart feels as if it's doing hurdles with each step that I take towards the door. I pound on the firm, wooden entrance with my soft knuckles and hear I faint shuffling from the other side. They'll be so happy to see me... I hope.

The door is yanked open and I'm greeted with a familiar face, but with different hair. 

"Taeyong-hyung? You're pink now?" I smile at him knowingly. 

His eyes broaden at the sight of me and he jumps onto me- carefully, and embraces me into a tight hug before calling the other members. They all gather together and when each of them sees me, they let out different exclamations depending on their temperaments. The most perceptible one was Chenle, of course, with his sonorous screeches and turbulent laughter. However, a new but similar voice joins him. My ears perk up in dubiety. 

"Jaemin! While you were gone, we gained two members!" Jaehyun-hyung explains.

"But we lost another." A low, forlorn, voice pipes in. I look around to see who was missing, also looking out for the new members, when someone makes the job easier for me. 

"We lost Hansol-hyung." Chenle remarks dolefully. "But we now have Lucas and Jungwoo-hyung!" He slightly cheers up. 

Hansol-hyung? My favourite older brother? He left me?

Their voices are drowned out by my loud thoughts. I barely acknowledge the new members and eventually trudge to my room- or at least, what was my room.

"What happened to my room?" I turn around abruptly. 

"Oh, Lucas and Kun-hyung took over it. You're with me now!" Renjun illuminated. 

"FAT KUN!" I hear Lucas' blatant and gruff voice scream out. 

"Kun-hyung isn't fat!"

"Mhm, that's a fact." Ten-hyung joins in. 

Lucas just laughs and slaps Kun-hyung on the back before clarifying that it was a joke. I raise my eyebrows as Renjun grabs my things and takes me to my new room. 

"You look good in blond." I point out. Renjun blushes and he hides his face in his hands. 

"And you look good... in general." He side-hugs me and puts my things down. I smile mischievously at him and start to unpack my things when Jeno and Jisung come in to help. 

"Have you had dinner, hyung?" Jisung asks, concerned. 

"Yes, on the plane. I'm not hungry now, I just want to sleep."

 I make my way to the top bunk above Renjun's while Jeno goes to his single bed next to ours.

"You're here too?" I question, gaily.

"Is that a bad thing?" He retorts. 

 I shake my head dynamically and send him a reassuring grin before pulling up the same, silky blankets I have longed to touch ever since I left. They still hold the same flowery scent from before, and I know that I'm finally home.

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A/N: Most of the things in here aren't true, I just made it up for the story's sake. I'm pretty sure Jaemin didn't have surgery and it was definitely not because of Chenle, lmao. I also don't know how long he was hospitalized and when Hansol left, etc. Just keep that in mind.