Chapter  18

The new album was almost ready! The boys were given new looks and now they were ready for the cover photo shoot. Nicky was with them in the studio and was helping the designers with their clothes. “Noona! Hello!” said Eunhyuk jumping in front of Nicky. “Hyukie! You’re a blonde!” she said touching his hair. “You like?” Eunhyuk asked.  “Yes! I love it! You look very handsome!” Nicky responded, making him blush , showing his gorgeous gummy smile.  Nicky’s smile was just like his, as Heechul always mentioned trying to make her mad.

One by one the guys greeted Nicky and then proceeded to change into the shooting clothes.  It was a very colorful concept and the boys were dressed in exotic clothing. Suddenly Siwon came out of room wearing just a pair of boxers and tennis shoes. “Siwon, where are your clothes?” Nicky asked him. “I’m wearing this!” he answered. “Just that?” Nicky asked looking at him. “Neh, I’m going to hair and makeup now.” Said Siwon smiling. “Well, I see  the company wants to kill a couple thousand fans with your picture!” Nicky added laughing and Siwon laughed as well.

Eunhyuk came out of the hair and makeup room and with the hair covering his eyes. Heechul and Kyuhyun started making fun of him and Nicky heard them. She saw Eunhyuk’s face expression and knew they were bothering him so she decided to get closer.  “What are you doing? Leave him alone!” Nicky told Heechul and Kyuhyun. “They know he ugly, they cover eyes!” said Heechul and Nicky hit him on the back of the head. “Yah!!! Why you do that?” said Heechul rubbing his head. “I said stop bothering him!” she replied   “But is true” Kyuhyun said and Nicky hit him too.  Both Kyuhyun and Heechul moved away mumbling some things that Nicky didn’t  understand. Eunhuyk just looked down, and Nicky got closer to him. “Don’t listen to them. You are an amazing, handsome man.” She told him. He just looked up and gave her a half smile; she pinched his nose and he smiled big. “There! That’s the smile I wanted. Sweetie you are gorgeous! Don’t ever listen to what others say, ok. They are just jealous of the Dance Machine!” Nicky added. “Thank you noona!” Eunhyuk said, hugging her and then left to take his picture.

Nicky walked closer to the photography sets. Each guy was being photographed individually; the clothing and makeup were perfect.  She just stood there watching when she suddenly felt somenone standing next to her. She turned and saw Leeteuk right by her side. “Teukie! Look at you!” she said touching his hair. “HI! You like?” he asked turning around so she could see him fully.  “That’s…quite an interesting look! Are those ropes?” she added touching the colorful ropes around his abs. He had no shirt under his blazer, just a bunch of ropes covered part of his abdomen. “Neh, original.” Leeteuk replied opening more the blazer so she could fully see the ropes.  As he moved, Nicky’s hand slipped a little and lightly touched his belly button. “Sorry!” she said rapidly removing her hand and feeling a little embarrassed.  Leeteuk just smiled and when he was called for posing he winked at her.  “What’s with his winking at me lately?” Nicky said to herself while moving a little away. She sat on a chair close enough to watch the photo shooting. They all were really professional, knowing exactly how to move and where to look at for the pictures.  Leeteuk was perfect during his shooting and Nicky was mesmerized looking at him.  His eyes met hers for a moment and he smirked, making the photographer look back to see what was he looking at. “Are you getting distracted Leeteuk-sshi? You are not suppose to smile in this photos.” The photographer said teasing Leeteuk and making him smile a little embarrassed.  “Aniyo” answered Leeteuk and the rest of the boys that were around started laughing.

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The pictures were taken and the music video was done. The days were chaotic and the boys were really exhausted. One night,  Nicky returned to the dorm before the rest of the guys and started cleaning the big kitchen mess they all left there in the morning. She was washing the dishes when Leeteuk arrived and stood in the dinning  table looking at her. “You no clean, ahjumas clean” he said to her. “Well, I live here,  we all live here so we must help.” She replied not looking at him. “I help” Leeteuk said moving next to her and helping to clean the dishes. They were silent just washing the dishes when Leeteuk flicked some soap bubbles at Nicky. She just looked at him surprised. “Don’t do that!” Nicky said smiling. Leeteuk just smiled and did it again. “Teukie! You are not helping!” she added laughing. He smiled and grabbed some more bubbles but she surprised him by throwing a big bunch of bubbles at him, wetting his hair. He just stood there in disbelief while Nicky laughed. “You started it!” She said laughing. Leeteuk smiled and tried to grab her hand but she just went running. He followed , trying to catch her and they kept laughing and running around the dorm. He got her cornered around the dinning table and she kept moving trying to escape. She tried to past by him but he got her arm and they both fell to the floor; Nicky on top of him. They kept laughing until their eyes met and they just stayed there looking at each other. Nicky’s hands where on his chest, and she could feel his heartbeat. Leeteuk’s hands were on her waist, shyly caressing her sides with his fingers. She just froze and he just smile as he looked deeply in her eyes. “Now is your chance Jung Soo” Leeteuk thought to himself as he looked down to her lips and up to her eyes again. Nicky felt his hands on her waist and started to move, getting up. “umm………I think we make a bigger mess” she said once she was up again and moved to the kitchen.

Leeteuk just remained on the floor, confused. He believed they just had shared a special moment right there but she just stood up and left. “Damn it! How could you waste this opportunity, babo!” he said in a low voice to himself. “Are….are you ok, Teukie?” Nicky asked from the kitchen not looking at him. “Neh, you?” he replied standing up and moving to the kitchen. “Ye……Yeah, I’m……I’m fine, just tired. I’m….I’m going to bed, ok?” Nicky answered looking down. Leeteuk tried to look at her face but she kept looking down. “Nicky-ah. You  ok?” he asked again bending down to look at her face. She looked up a bit and he saw her cheeks tinted with a light red tone. “Is she blushing?” he thought smiling. “I’m tired. You should rest as well. From now on is work, work, work! Good night!” she said while moving to her room. She got inside and closed the door. “What was that?” she said resting her back on the door. She could feel her heart beating really fast and her cheeks were burning. “Veronica, you can’t risk it! You have to focus on your job! That’s why you’re here! But……ugh! He’s so perfect!!”  she said covering her blushing face. “I have to move out. I….I can’t let this happen”

Leeteuk entered his room and laid on his bed. He was smiling, he was more than certain that Nicky felt the same way. He was still mad at himself for not making a move but he now knew that he had a chance. Her eyes were telling what her brain was trying to ignore…. and that’s all the encouragement he needed.