Rumor Has It | NCT DREAM

Chapter 14

"Look I'm sorry." Soojung said to the boy sitting beside her. The two of them had found a park bench, far from the crowd of people.

"Whatever." Haechan said, standing up. Soojung grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"I'm serious Haechan." Haechan looked down at the girl before sitting back down.

"Look, ever since the rumor came out about me, nothing has been the same. All my friends left me and I could barely even enjoy my role as the musical lead." Soojung confessed. Haechan sat quietly, listening to her words.

"It's been hard and I was really surprised when you started being nice to me. It was like I could finally be myself again, especially during our musical theatre class." Soojung continued blabbering while Haechan tried to hide his smile.

"Aish, I don't even know what I'm saying anymore, but I'm sorry alright." Soojung said. Haechan nodded slowly looking straight ahead.

"Alright, I forgive you." Haechan said, standing up.

"What?" Soojung exclaimed, surprised.

"I said I forgive you." Haechan said again, taking a few steps forward. He turned around to face the girl who was still sitting on the park bench.

"Didn't you say you wanted a friend?" Haechan asked. Soojung remained frozen.

"C'mon, come out with me and my friends." Haechan called out to girl. A smile spread on Soojung's face as she began making her way towards the boy.

...

Renjun sighed as he looked at the blank canvas in front of him. It was his art class, his favourite period of the day but today, nothing was coming to his mind.

He looked out the window, at the sun shining outside. Fall had arrived faster than he expected, the leaves falling down the trees. He saw the tree that his friends normally sit around after school, its leaves on the grass around it.

Renjun started preparing his palette, deciding to paint the trees outside. As he was painting, the head of the girl sitting a few rows in front of him caught his attention as she spoke with the people around her.

"Areum, how did you do so well on your math test?" The girl asked Areum.

"Ah, Renjun helped me a lot." Areum told the girl, smiling.

"You're so lucky. I'm way too scared to approach him, he's so intimidating." The girl said. Areum let out a small chuckle.

"He's actually pretty nice once you get to know him." Areum said.

"Ah, so he's handsome and nice. I wish I was in your shoes." The two girls giggled to each other. Renjun smiled at himself as he painted, amused by the conversation between the two girls.

Suddenly, Renjun felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He looked at the teacher who was sitting at her desk, marking their projects. Renjun hid behind his easel, taking his phone out.

Rumor has it that Shin Areum is only asking to be tutored by Renjun for popularity points. Is she really even friends with Chenle and Jisung?

~ Anonymous

Renjun noticed the girl's face fall as she saw the post as well. Renjun sighed as he returned his phone to his pocket, ignoring the post to focus on his artwork.

...

"This social media page is so stupid." Haneul said as she put her phone down. She was in a practice room with with Jeno, working on their music project.

"Rumor has it?" Jeno asked. Haneul nodded.

"They're attacking this poor girl and your friends." Haneul told him.

"Ah, these people have nothing better to do. I wished they would just quiet down." Jeno said.

"Yeah, these people need to open their eyes." Haneul added. Just then an idea popped into her head.

"You have an idea?" Jeno asked her as the girl furiously took out a piece of paper.

"Yeah, give me moment." Haneul said, writing down a few notes on the sheet. She then made her way to the piano, playing a few chords.

"I like it." Jeno said, giving the girl a smile.

...

"Guess what loser?" Soojung called out as she entered the classroom.

"What?" Haechan asked the girl as she took her seat beside him.

"They're announcing the winter musical today." Soojung told him.

"Okay." Haechan said, putting his head back down. Soojung gave him a pout.

"Why don't you care?" Soojung asked him.

"Too tired." Haechan responded. He turned his head so it was facing her, giving the girl a small smile as she leaned back in her seat. Haechan heard footsteps enter the classroom so he sat upright to pay attention to the teacher.

"Hello class, as many of you are aware, today I will be announcing the winter musical. So let's get that over with before we start the class." The teacher said to them. Haechan watched as Soojung eagerly leaned forward in her seat.

"We will be doing Beauty and the Beast." The teacher annouced, clapping her hands. Cheers and groans erupted from the class.

Haechan crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the beaming girl beside him.

...

"Jaemin, don't you have class?" Mina asked as Jaemin waltzed into the newspaper room. By now, the faculty advisor was used to Jaemin entering the newspaper room. Mina noticed the camera around Jaemin's neck.

"New assignment for photography." Jaemin sung, showing the girl his camera.

"What is it?" Mina asked, looking away from her computer screen.

"Theme is 'Around our School.'" Jaemin told her.

"So why are you here?" Mina asked him.

"I want to help you take photos for your articles." Jaemin told her, taking his regular seat across her desk. Mina sighed.

"I really don't have much for you." Mina told him. Jaemin smirked before showing her his phone.

"I think you do."

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Just a little filler :)