It was a Tuesday ,Nicky was given the day off and she was resting in the dorm. The boys were at SM recording and rehearsing for a new album.  The cleaning ahjumas were working in the dorm and Nicky decided to help so she won’t get bored.

“Hi! Can I help you?” Nicky asked YuRa. “Nicky-shii! You awake! Ani! Ani! Rest.” Said YuRa while walking to the laundry room.  “But I want to help! I’m bored” she said following her. “Arasso. Here” she gave her a bunch of clothes which Nicky placed in a table to fold.

Nicky started sorting the clothes and realized that it was the boy’s underwear. She tossed the one she had in her hand to the table. “AHjuma!!!!!!!!!!!!” she shouted  “Bwo??” Yura responded moving closer to her. “You deal with that! I’m too close to the boys to be handling their underwear!” Nicky said moving away from the table and blushing a little. Yura just laughed and gave her a bunch of bed sheets while she sorted the underwear.

“You no see boys in underwear?” Yura asked Nicky teasingly.  “What!?! NO!” Nicky answered a little flustered. She was lying, she have seen some of them in underwear. Not on purpose of course but they were extremely comfortable with her and most of them didn’t care.  “Aigoo!  You shy!” said YuRa laughing.  “I’m here to control them, not to make them go crazy!” Nicky replied.  “They handsome boys…..you pretty girl……… you no like them?” YuRa kept asking while dealing with more clothes.  “You have work with them for a longer time, do you like them?” Nicky asked back with a smirk.

“Ah! Me old!” said YuRa laughing covering her face. “Well I’m older than them too, so we are even!” Nicky said laughing. They kept putting clothes away and cleaning around until YuRa left. Nicky was now alone in the dorm, and she didn’t like it. “My goodness! I’m so used to their noise that I can’t be here by myself!” She then grab her things and left to SM.

“Nicky Noona!” a deep voice shouted as she entered the building. Nicky looked up and saw Yunho with a big smile and open arms walking, no wait, running towards her. “Yunho?” she said a little confused as he hugged her and lifted her in the air. “Oh my goodness! Sweetie, put me down please!” She said laughing and trying not to fall from that height. He was taller, a lot taller than her and that was not very common since she moved to Korea.

 He put her down laughing, “You good?” he asked with a gorgeous smile.  “I’m perfect. Thanks for asking” she answered. Yunho was always nice to her, they met at the company and he have always been very friendly. “You work?” he asked.  “No, today is my day off. But I got bored so I came to see the Juniors.” Nicky answered.  “We eat!” he said and grabbed her by the wrist. “Yunho,wait! “ Nicky said laughing while being pulled by him.

“5, 6, 7, 8……go” the choreographer counted and gave instructions while the boys danced. It was a new album and they where practicing new steps. “Damn it!” shouted Yesung  a  little frustrated with one of the steps. The others where exhausted and trying to remember all the steps as well. “Let’s stop here, ok. Go eat, rest a little” said the choreographer. “You will go to the recording studio later on so make sure you’re ready” Jung Hoo said. The boys sat around the practice room, tired and sweating.  “I need water” said Kyuhyun standing up and leaving the room.

He went to the little eating area to get some water and he saw Nicky with Yunho and Changmin. They were laughing and eating something. Kyuhyun decided to move closer to them. “Noona, why you here?” he asked Nicky with a mischievous smile. “Kyu! Hi sweetie! I came to see you guys. But I got kidnapped!” she answered. “I see” Kyuhyun said smiling and looking at the other two guys on the table.  “I’ll go with you” Nicky said standing up “Thanks for everything boys! See you later!” she said to Yunho and Changmin. “Bye Noona!” they said.

Nicky was walking behind Kyuhyun to the practice room. “You like them now?” asked Kyuhyun turning around and facing her. “Am I not allowed talk to them? I work for SM, they are part of SM. I’m just spending time with coworkers” Nicky answered. Kyuhyun laughed and kept on walking, opening the door for Nicky as they reach the practice room.

“Look what I found!” he shouted entering the room. “Noona!” Sungmin exclaimed. “Hello Juniors!” she said smiling and waiving. “Why you here?” Shindong asked her. “You don’t want me here?” she asked  “We like you here! But you free today!” Shindong said laughing. “She was with Yunho and Changmin.” Kyuhyun told the others. “Yah! You cheating us?” Heechul said sitting on the floor. “Am I exclusive?? I interact with all SM artists, ok!” She said crossing her arms. “I’m pretty sure Yunho wants to interact with her” Kyuhyun said laughing next to Leeteuk.

Leeteuk looked at Kyuhyun with a questioning face and Kyu just smirked. “We love you more!” Ryeowook said. “Hug! Hug!” said Sungmin moving closer to her. “Wait! You guys are all sweaty!” Nicky said. “Grab the Noona!” Eunhyuk said and they all run to hug Nicky. “Oh my goodness!!! “ Nicky laughed trying to escape all the arms that were trapping her.

Jung Hoo entered the room and laughed as he saw what was happening.  “Guys! Are you trying to suffocate her?” Jung Hoo said.  “Help! I’m being crushed by sweaty kids!” Nicky screamed . The guys let go of her and she just stood there with her eyes closed. Leeteuk stayed by her side laughing. “Nicky-ah, you ok?” Leeteuk asked her laughing and shaking her arm. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. “You guys stink!” she said laughing and they all threw small towels at her. She took cover behind Leeteuk and they both laughed.

“Jung Hoo, do you have my copy of the schedule?” Nicky asked moving closer to him. “Oh, I think I left it at Lee Soo Man’s office” Jung Hoo answered looking at his papers.  “It’s OK. I’ll go there myself. She you tonight boys! Work hard!” she said to them and left the practice room.

Nicky entered Lee Soo Man’s office and he was walking around. “Good afternoon, Sir!” she said  “Nicky-shi! Hello. How are you?” he said once he saw her.  “I’m great. I came to pick my copy of the schedule.” She said.  “Sure, I have it right here. Did you know Leeteuk was invited to be on the ‘We got married’ show?” Mr Lee asked her while looking for the papers.

Nicky felt weird as soon as she heard ‘Leeteuk’ and ‘We got married’ in the same sentence. She didn’t know why but hearing that make her uncomfortable.  “Really? I was not aware of that. When will he start recording?” she manage to say once the information sink in.  “He denied the invitation. I thought that you would know why since they tell you everything” he said. 

Nicky felt a huge relief once he said he denied the invitation, “They don’t tell me everything sir. I’m pretty sure they don’t tell me much.” She said with a little smile. “But why are you telling me this? Do you want me to persuade him to do it? To find out the reason he didn’t?” she added.  “No, no it’s ok. They are very busy with the new album anyway. I was just…curious.” Mr Lee Soo Man said with a smile, giving her a portfolio with the schedules. “Thanks Sir” Nicky said grabbing the papers.

Nicky left the office thinking about what just happened. Why was she uncomfortable with the idea of Leeteuk participating in that show? Why was she relief when she found out he denied the invitation? And why was Mr Lee Soo Man  so curious? She forgot about it and decided to return to the dorm. On her way out she bumped into Leeteuk. “Nicky-ah! You still here!” he said with a smile. “ I’m leaving already.” She said. “Stay” Leeteuk said with a pouty face. Nicky just laughed and messed his hair. “No, you guys are busy recording. And today is my free day, so I’ll see you guys later.”

“Please!” Leeteuk insisted using some aegyo. “You never give up, do you? Nicky replied laughing and he just  smiled. “Hey……why did you refuse to be on ‘We got married’?” Nicky asked him.  “You know?” he said, surprised that she was aware of it. “Mr Lee Soo Man asked me if I knew why you said no.” she told him. “Why play marry. I prefer real marry” Leeteuk answered looking straight into her eyes.  “That’s a…..a valid reason……. I have to go. Work hard, ok?” she said  “Arasso” Leeteuk said and playfully poke her nose.

Nicky returned to the dorm and sat on the sofa to watch some TV. She was bored. Suddenly she heard the front door opening. It was Siwon.  “Siwon? You are done already?” she asked him.  “My part is done. I came to pick the script I left here.” He said sitting next to her.  “Good. I’m bored!” she said and Siwon laughed. “Call Michelle.”He told her. “I can’t call Michelle all the time. She’s married, she must spend time with Min Woo. I can’t bother her!” Nicky replied. “Then you get a husband” Siwon said laughing. “Gee, thanks for the idea Mr. Choi. It never occurred to me!” Nicky said with sarcasm.  Siwon just laughed.  “Do you have an older brother?” she asked him.  “Yes” he answered after thinking for a moment. “Is he single?” she asked.  “Yes” Siwon answered.  “Will he be willing to go out with me?” she asked again.  “Yes” he answered. “When can I meet him?” She asked excited.  “You know him already!” Siwon said excited.  “What?” Nicky said confused.  SIwon just smiled and pointed at Leeteuk’s room.  “Oh goodness! Siwon, that’s not funny!” Nicky said standing up.

“What!? You already date!” Siwon said. “That was for a TV show and I wouldn’t call it a date!” Nicky said  “You had a wonderful time!” he added.  “Of course! We are friends, we get along, that’s all!” Nicky said standing behind the sofa. “You just say excuses to deny that you really like him!” Siwon said standing up and grabbing the script.  Nicky was caught off guard by his comment, she just stood there with open in disbelief. “This conversation is over!” she managed to say. “See you later, noona!” said Siwon laughing and grabbing his keys.

Nicky was now alone again. She was still processing what Siwon just said. Was she really in denial? And even worse, was it noticeable? She had some hard thinking to do……….and she must do it sooner or later.