Cards - NCT Fanfic

#9 - Go Back

Suddenly, in one day - I've gotten used to it

Just my two legs.

My dirty feet that cut through the wind

And the clear urban lights of a city.

The more you know, the more you don't know

Where did I come from?

I am just going further away

Where am I going back to?

If I go back, where should I go back?

I don't know, I don't know, I can't go home.

School was over for the day. The bell rang, and while the teacher was trying to finish up the lesson, the students hurriedly stuffed their supplies into their backpacks. The teacher complained about the students slinging on their bags, heading towards the door.

"The bell doesn't dismiss you; I do!" The teacher tried to yell over the sounds of chairs scraping over the linoleum tiles. Helplessly watching as the students exited, he gave up. "Or not. Whatever."

Our little protagonist was different, though. He took his time placing his pencil, led, pens, and eraser back into his pencil pouch. Straightening out his papers, then placing them in the folder of his binder. Putting his binder strategically inside so that when he would wear his backpack, it would be flat, and placed his pencil pouch behind the binder. He grabbed his textbook from the desk and held it close to his chest, wrapping both arms around it as he made his way towards his locker.

He turned his lock three times and pulled the door open. Placing his textbook inside, he stared at his polaroid for a few seconds before pulling away and walking out the exit. He strolled towards the front gate, aiming towards the group of boys he saw gathered there waiting for him.

"Mark!" One of them yelled, waving for his attention. It was awkward as they waited for him to reach them. When he finally got to them, Chenle spoke up.

"Today, it'll just be me and you walking home. These losers," He said, pointing over at Renjun and Jaemin. "Want to walk home aLoNe~."

Renjun rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I hope you don't mind, Mark, but we'll get going now." Mark smiled at them and nodded. He and Chenle watched as they walked away and waited until they were out of hearing distance.

"So? Did they finally get together?" Mark asked excitedly.

"I don't know, I guess. I went to try and find them at lunch, and I saw them kissing." Chenle said, gagging at the last part. Mark laughed.

They started walking off the campus, changing the subject to some small talk.

The city slowly faded into a suburban neighborhood with convenience and grocery stores spread in between. Trees lined the roads, and fewer cars passed by as they started approaching Mark's street. Chenle's house was a little farther away, so Mark would always be the first dropped off when they walked. As they neared, Mark noticed his brother's car was in the driveway. Oh shit. He quickly turned toward Chenle and gave him a strained smile.

"You can head off now. Thanks for walking with me." Chenle thought that the way Mark's smile was forced was suspicious, but didn't want to pry, so he nodded, bid farewell, and headed towards his own home.