lose you | jenyong

one.

Loud.
Drumsticks on drums tattered with skillful hands, voices warming-up in harmony, a keyboard somewhere in the background, and Lee Taeyong's own electric guitar being strummed in his hands.
But nothing was louder than his own thoughts.

"You alright?"

Taeyong was broken out of his daze, turning to meet eyes with his longtime best friend and bandmate, Jung Jaehyun. Jaehyun held a water bottle in his hand, beads of sweat already appearing on his forehead, his black long sleeves rolled up.

Taeyong could only shake his head. "I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."
"Like?"
Taeyong tapped his fingers along the strings of his guitar, shrugging.
"Same old relationship shit. Doesn't seem to be getting any better." He lets out a dry laugh, avoiding Jaehyun's eyes.
Jaehyun can only nod. It was obvious Taeyong was feeling off. As the leader, lead guitarist, and lead rapper of their band, he's always been pretty serious before they'd go on stage, but he'd kept to himself the entire day, which wasn't like the free-spirited, charismatic leader. Especially before a Battle-of-The-Bands night.
Taeyong's current relationship situation was no secret, either. Things have been off for awhile, and it was clearly taking a toll on the silver-haired leader.

Jaehyun rocked back and forth on his heel. "Hm, I'm assuming she's not coming tonight?"
Taeyong turns behind him to glance at the curtains, leading to the big stage and where the audience was held, the loud chatter of fans coming to support their favorite bands was heard, and a competitor band about to begin their set.

"No. Of course she isn't." Taeyong scoffs softly.
He lets out a long sigh before turning to Jaehyun.
"But it's okay. She's busy." Taeyong pauses, before forcing a smile. "I just want to jam out tonight. I've been stressed." Taeyong throws his head back, eyes closed.
"And that, we will!" Taeyong feels a pair of heavy hands clap onto his shoulders. Nakamoto Yuta, their second guitarist , a main vocalist, and their band's main source of energy had appeared. "We're gonna kick some ass tonight. Feels so good to be back here."

Their band, NCT was signed with one of the top entertainment companies. It was getting more and more popular for bands to be signed with companies, given they were well-rounded. Their band had a strange concept, with many members available for rotation and having joined after NCT had been signed to the company. The band had originally been formed by Taeyong, years ago in high school, just for fun. It was a way for Taeyong to get away, to de-stress from his parents dreams of him following in his politician father's footsteps...

So, the class president, Taeyong had shocked the school when he'd dropped out of all his speech and political based clubs, switching out for guitar and music lessons, instead. He had stopped hanging out with the preppy kids, his longtime girlfriend being the only exception, keeping to himself, instead.

He'd always been into music, but it wasn't until his Junior year of high school that he'd taken it seriously. His parents hoped it was just a high school, rebellion-type phase. His girlfriend, who was the school's 'it-girl' and president of the drama club didn't know what to think. Only to keep quiet and support her boyfriend of three years through it all.

The spring break of his Junior year, he'd decided to form a band. Becoming close to the music teachers of the prestigious school, they had allowed for Taeyong to utilize the music rooms for the band. As it was another extracurricular ran by the former class president of his grade, it was permitted.

Plastering up sign-up sheets on every wall and corkscrew board available, Taeyong had got to work on his dream. People were quick to chatter, wanting to sign up as it was the most interaction the once connected, and well-respected Taeyong had with the student body.
But Taeyong was serious. Only looking for peers with actual musical talent.
His first recruit, hadn't even happened by audition.