I wish that I could wake up with amnesia
And forget about the stupid little things
Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you
And the memories I never can escape
'Cause I'm not fine at all
________________

Taemin and Baekhyun indeed kept their promise and took Taeyong to the doctor the next morning, and it turned out, fortunately that he didn't suffer any fractures. His ribs were only sprained and bruised and would continue to hurt quite a bit for a while. The doctor gave Taeyong an ointment to put on his hematoma several times a day to counteract the bruise and he was very relieved to have no permanent damage. Especially not now, when the debut of SuperM is coming closer and closer. Taemin and Baekhyun were also very relieved about the diagnosis, as they both were worried about their new friend. They didn't know Taeyong for a long time, yet both had the urge to protect him as if he were their little brother. Of course, they met before SuperM from time to time at award shows or ran into each other in the SM building, but they only became friends through SuperM. Although Taemin promised him not to tell anyone the truth, he couldn't help but tell Baekhyun directly. He was sorry to break Taeyong's trust like this, but he alone didn't know how to help the younger one. Yet, Baekhyun didn't know what to do either. His first suggestion was to tell the management about it, after all Lei had physically injured Taeyong and thus endangered the SuperM debut as he also made himself liable to criminal prosecution. But Taemin directly said that Taeyong had forbidden him to do so. He had really begged him not to interfere and Taemin didn't want to break another promise, even if it tortured him a lot. Baekhyun and Taemin agreed in the end to just be there for Taeyong, and if it would really come to that point, they would even go with him to the management and testify for him. They tried to distract Taeyong during the days they all spent together in America. To make him happy and to make him laugh a lot, which they also succeeded in doing quite well from time to time. However, Taeyong was not nearly as cheerful as when they first met him. He retreated slightly, didn't laugh nearly as much as before and also became much calmer in general, while on the other side of the world Lei started more and more rumors and manipulated more and more people. He faked text messages and made it seem like Taeyong threatened him that, if he didn't leave NCT he would make his life a hell. Luckily Taeyong didn't hear about all these rumors until Mark and Lucas started to behave differently towards him. Mark and Lucas both fell for Lei's stories and accordingly turned away from their Hyung, which only made Taeyong's mood drop even more. He didn't know what to do about it. He had hoped that one day everything would get better on its own, but it only seemed to get worse day by day and he lost more and more friends. Mark and Luca's behavior didn't escape the attention of the others either and especially made Taemin and Baekhyun despair as they are in the middle of trying to cheer Taeyong up again.

Especially at their last breakfast together in LA the mood was a bit down. Mark and Lucas tried to ignore Taeyong as much as they could, even when he asked to pass him something from the other side of the table. But they both ignored the request completely, causing Kai to stretch slightly and handed the glass over to Taeyong. But before Taeyong could thank him or Kai could even answer, Baekhyun hit the table with his hands. " Hey... What's with this childish behavior? "This is our last meal together, can't we just enjoy it?" His statement was mainly addressed to the two youngest members. "Not if he sits at the same table." Mark's voice sounded slightly bitter and he briefly gave Taeyong a cold look. Taeyong himself flinched slightly at the harsh words of the SuperM Maknae. Immediately all eyes were on Mark, who cleared his throat slightly uncomfortably. Baekhyun drew in the air, but before he could say anything else, Mark stood up. "I'm sorry but I can't bear his presence." With these words he left the kitchen and Lucas followed him with an uncertain look a few seconds later. Baekhyun exhaled hissingly. "Are they serious?" Kai as well as Ten looked confused from the empty seats to the others. Of course, the two of them had noticed the changed atmosphere in the last few days, but both had no idea what had happened. Baekhyun was still complaining about the disrespectful behavior of the younger ones until Taemin nudged him slightly and pointed at Taeyong, making Baekhyun immediately silent. Taeyong felt as if Mark had punched him right in the face. His hands immediately began to shake and he hid them slightly under the table, trying to control his breathing. "Taeyong?" Taemin gently touched the purple-haired boy on the shoulder. He flinched a bit before he raised his gaze and looked at Taemin for a moment. "l..." With one quick movement Taeyong jumped out of his chair. I "m sorry. I... I'll go pack the rest of my stuff." With these words he also disappeared from the kitchen and left the other 4 boys behind. Baekhyun frustratedly buried his face in his hands and sighed up, while Kai and Ten sat there completely overwhelmed and confused.

After the successful SuperM debut it was time to go back to Korea, back to the NCT Dorm and Taeyong would be lying if he had to say that he was not afraid to return. He was afraid to meet Lei and to face his hatred every day. He also felt uncomfortable at the thought of running into Jaehyun again. His heart contracted painfully every time he saw his ex-boyfriend and he wished nothing more than to be close to him again. He missed him. He needed him! Jaehyun had always been there for him, even when they weren't in a relationship before. He could always rely on him and always lean on him. He also missed Jaehyun's love. They hadn't been together for long, but Taeyong had never been as happy as during their relationship. Taeyong actually had feelings for the younger one for a long time and when the music video for the English version of Highway to Heaven came out he couldn't deny and hold back his feelings anymore, so he panicked and confessed his love to Jaehyun. He had been incredibly afraid of ruining their friendship, but no sooner had Taeyong poured his heart out to him Jaehyun pulled him closer and kissed him. Jaehyun had also been in love with his leader for quite some time. The Cherry Bomb era, had completely turned his head and now to discover that his crush had the same feelings for him made him the happiest man in the whole world.