(a/n: Mark is so smol I just wanna put him in my pocket)
*two years ago*
Chenle was a freshman in high school. He got along with just about anybody, or so that's what he thinks. The people at his school despised him. Despised him to the point that they'd make an edited video clip of something personal Chenle has said and done.
Or maybe it wasn't something he's done at all and possibly a rumor instead. Either way, the younger wasn't aware as it was uploaded on social media since he didn't have any of that yet.
Chenle happened to know a lot of things about the people he went to high school with. And it's not because he's some stalker, it just happened to be a coincidence that he's seen and heard all of these things.
Sure he could've done stuff to prevent it, like leaving the area or simply blocking everything out so that he can mind his business. But he didn't. What could he say? He is a curious teenager.
There was one specific group of friends he'd always try to stick around. And that group consisted of four boys: Kun, Lucas, Ten, and WinWin. They were a year older than the smaller boy and Chenle has always found their friend group to be fascinating, he was very fond of them.
He actually had his first crush on one of the them, Lucas. He doesn't know why, but he always found himself invested in the older and his friends.
The group of boys were very talented in the arts. Chenle happened to attend an assembly, where different clubs and activities would perform in the beginning of the school year.
That was also the same day, Chenle had discovered that Kun, WinWin, Ten, and Lucas were part of the dance team. So when applications and submissions were available, Chenle made sure he was one of the first ones to grab it and sign up.
His parents were a bit hesitant to forward their signature on the dance team application since they didn't think Chenle would be interested in something like this. Nonetheless, they agreed to sign him up if it made the boy happy and Chenle made sure to hand in his form the next day.
Throughout the first semester of his freshmen year, Chenle has been pestering the older boys and following them around because he wanted to be apart of their friend group. He just wanted to fit in and make friends.
During dance practice, which Chenle surprised himself with a talent that he didn't know he had, the other boys would make excuses to not be around him. Chenle knew too much, too much personal information that they didn't like.
They felt exposed, open and they didn't like it one bit. They didn't want their secrets and information they keep private to be exposed to the public because Chenle couldn't keep his mouth shut. But what they didn't know is that Chenle would never do something like that on purpose.
"Hi guys! Can I join your groups dance routine?" Chenle said, extra bubbly that day since he heard about a performance coming up for their club.
The four boys, who were getting ready to start practicing, looked at each other.
"Sorry, our team is full. Try there's," Kun, a boy who's passion was to produce music, shut him down while pointed to the other students.
The group of boys walked over to the other side of the gymnasium, which was where their dance practices were held. But Chenle didn't give up, he skipped over to the boys once again.
"I was thinking we could practice after school and hang out together afterwards," Chenle eagerly said with a wide smile.
Another thing that people didn't like, his clinginess and the way he gives himself an invitation to join others and their conversation without anyone's consent.
Before one of the boys could respond, Chenle was already speaking up again. "I'll go get us some water bottles!" And Chenle ran to the bleachers to pull out the water bottles he had stored in his bag just for them.
Chenle was known to be very loud when he speaks. The young boy doesn't mean any harm, it's just the way he is. He gets overly excited easily and never really let's anyone finish what they are say as he speaks fast.
Chenle sprinted back and reached out his hand to give out the bottles of water, which the boys didn't grab and just stared at his hand. Chenle, completely oblivious, happily sat the bottles down next to each of the boys.
"One for Ten, one for WinWin, one for Kun, and one for...Lucas," Chenle blushed as he clasped his hands behind his back, staring up at the older with sparkly eyes.
Everyone knew the younger boy had a crush on Lucas, even the said boy himself. Lucas doesn't like him that way, but doesn't know how to tell him as he doesn't want to hurt the boy's feelings so he's only been at it hinting it.
After practice, which the group excluded Chenle from their dance routine but that didn't stop Chenle from practicing from a distance, Chenle took a sip of his water and approached the group again with a cheeky smile.
"You guys are amazing!" Chenle jumped while shaking WinWin, the poor boy didn't know what to do as he was never the social type and most certainly did not like affection.
"Thank you, bu-" Ten got cut off by the younger.
"By the way, Ten. How is your sister? Is she out of the hospital, yet?" Chenle curiously asked with no evil intentions.
Everyone on the dance team in the gym gasped and faced their attention on them, specifically Ten because of how loud Chenle had spoke. People weren't supposed to know and somehow Chenle knew it.
Ten was furious. Nobody should have known that. That was his own personal information to keep between himself and his family. His sister happened to be in the hospital because she had to get surgery for a tumor that was growing in her brain and to prevent it from spreading any further, it had to be removed.
"How did you know that?!" Ten snapped, stepping closer towards the younger. Chenle didn't know why the older was angry.
'Maybe he's tired' Chenle thought.
"I-" Chenle was interrupted.
"Are you following me around?!" Ten yelled, everyone's attention still pierced on the scene. Chenle shook his head vigorously, putting his hands up in surrender.
"No, why would I do that?" Chenle wondered why the male would think like that. He just happened to be visiting the hospital one day because YangYang fractured his ankle from walking on the edge of the side walk, his foot happened to roll over, and he noticed Ten was there, but the other didn't see him.
He heard part of the conversation he was having with the receptionist at the desk as he was trying to find Yangyang's room to deliver him some food.
"My sister? Is she okay?! What room is she in? Can I go see her?" Ten interrogated impatiently, panicking about his older sibling. He was worried for her. After hearing the news that she was in the hospital, he skipped detention, which was only because he was a minute late to his class, and ran straight there.
Chenle was thinking about saying 'hi' to the older, but thought YangYang would get grumpy because his food was getting colder by the minute so he decided not to.
'If I see him later, I'll buy him a muffin!' Chenle thought to himself. He could see how stressed and worried the older looked and though maybe a snack might ease some of it.
"What kind of person are you? Some creep?" WinWin poked in with his hand on his hip. It was obvious that it was only the four of them that knew about Ten's older sister and Chenle didn't know what to say.
Chenle's heartbeat increased, as the group of boys surrounded him. "You like to stalk people?" Kun provoked. Chenle looked at Lucas as a signal for help, but the older just glared at him.
Chenle was scared. He didn't know why this way happening. He was just being sincere and was genuinely concerned for his sister.
"I swear I wasn't stalking anyone. I was ju-"
"Save it! You're a creep! You pester everyone and won't leave them alone. You're always around. It can't just be coincidental. You're a stalker!" Ten growled pushing the younger by his shoulder who had tears in his eyes.
Everybody was gaping at the sight. They believed it, believed that Chenle actually stalked and followed people around in the school. But that wasn't Chenle's intentions at all.
All he wanted was to have friends and get along with everyone. He wanted people who he could hang out with and have a good time. Everyone had their own little groups, not letting anyone new join and Chenle was the only one left out.
Ten stormed off in anger, with WinWin trailing behind to make sure he was okay as Lucas and Kun stood there. Kun pushed the younger on the ground, the hard surface coming in contact with his bottom.
"Don't ever come near us," Kun spat, turing around to go find Ten and WinWin while Lucas stood their with his arms crossed. Chenle's eyes were leaking tears as he looked up at Lucas, lips quivering, "I-I really d-didn't do it. T-that wasn't m-my intention."
Lucas shook his head and lowered himself to Chenle, giving him apologetic eyes, "I didn't think you'd be like that. I'm disappointed." Lucas stood up and jogged his way over to catch up with his friends.
And that was all it took for Chenle to burst out into sobs right there, in the middle of the gym floor while everyone gave judgemental looks. They were disgusted with him and if we're being honest, Chenle was disgusted with himself even though he didn't do such a thing.
This was the day, Chenle had his 'friends' leave him, his crush was disappointed in him, he quit the dance team, punished himself from speaking to anyone in the school since they were all against him anyway, and stopped trying to pry and meddle in with other people's business, even if it meant losing sincerity.
-🎨-
Pretty dramatic am I right? Haha poor lele though :(
I wrote this chapter while waiting for the rice to finish cooking on the stove LOL😂
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!! Thank you so much for reading!
Also be on the lookout for a new book coming out in the next week or two!
Please stay safe, happy, and healthy<3
Much love..xx