Chapter 13

“Where is he?” their manager grumbled for the 5^th time.

He and Ricky were standing in TOP media’s parking lot, leaning against the car. After the meeting Niel had ran off somewhere and they assumed they would meet him soon by the car but when they got there he wasn’t there yet. It had already been 15 minutes and Manager was starting to get irritated.

“Where could he have run off to? He knows we have things to do!” manager grumbled.

Ricky didn’t know what to say. He could tell that manager was really stressed ever since the incidents from earlier in the day and that he wasn’t content with the terms they came to in the meeting.

“Hyung, if you want I can go look for him,” offered Ricky.

Siho looked at Ricky and smiled sadly, “No it’s ok. I’m just stressed and taking it out on him. I really shouldn’t be. I know this is even worse on him and… well, Ricky how are you doing?”

“What do you mean?” Ricky tilted his head.

“Well I can’t say justice was served today. They threatened you with assault—“

Ricky cut the manager off, “It’s fine, hyung. As long as Niel stay safe from here on out. Hyung, did they ever tell you why Dongwook got switch to 100%?”

Siho shook his head, “No. I was a new hire and they told me I was going to be working with 100% since they were about to debut at the time but then suddenly they switched us out. They said 100% needed a manager with more experience.”

Ricky frowned, so even their current manager didn’t know everything? But then again how could Ricky even trust his word, or anybody’s word anymore. But really, he wanted to trust Siho. He never gave Ricky any reason to doubt him after all.

“Hyung… I’m sorry if we caused you any troubles. I know it must be really hard for you since you’re new to this job and we’re such bad kids and even members dating and now this mess.”

Siho laughed and patted Ricky’s head, “Aw I wouldn’t trade you kids in even if I had the choice. I don’t regret a thing, not even after today.”

Ricky smiled and nodded and turned his attention back to the door and what’s when Niel came walking out.

“Daniel hyung!” Ricky ran forward and Niel waved.

They walked back to the car together.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting! I saw Sanghoon in the hallway,” Niel apologized.

“It’s ok. You don’t see them enough so I guess it’s understandable. Let’s go,” manager replied.

They three got into the car, Ricky and Niel in the back, and manager in the driver’s seat.

“Do you think the other 4 have the house clean yet?” Manager asked as he pulled out of the parking lot.

“They should! We’ve been gone forever,” said Ricky.

“Then how about we surprised them with some fried chicken? We can pick it up now before heading back.”

“Yay!” Ricky cheered. “Let’s keep it a secret. Hyung, don’t message them about it.”

“I won’t,” Niel said.

Ricky sat back in the car and clicked his seatbelt on because he forgot to beforehand. After settling in his seat he looked at Niel. The other was typing something onto his phone. Ricky could see from where he sat that he was using kakao to chat with C.A.P. Ricky couldn’t help but smile a bit at that.

Despite all the arguing, it was really obvious that the two really cared about each other. Niel seemed to gain a lot of strength from C.A.P. Ricky had to say it seemed nice. Friends were good and amazing but having a lover… that seemed even more special.

Ricky had always said that he didn’t understand why C.A.P and Niel had to be lovers. What made their relationship so different than the others? All the members loved each other! But Ricky had to admit as lovers, you create a world where only two of you exist. With friends there can always be a ton of friends but a lover there was only one.

How did it feel to like someone so much and to know they only liked you as well?

Ricky wanted to know.

‘If I had to kiss one of the members… I wouldn’t mind if it were you,’ Changjo’s words echoed in his ear.

Ricky felt his face heat up. He was thinking about love and relationships so why did that thing Changjo said pop into his mind?

‘If you wanted to kiss me all you had to do was ask.’

More of Changjo’s words came to mind and Ricky couldn’t help but wonder. What would it really feel like? Would Changjo think he was so weird if he just wanted to see what would happen if they kissed?

“What are you thinking about?” Niel’s voice cut through Ricky’s thoughts.

“You’re all red and you look kind of happy.”

“W,what!?” Ricky gasped.

“Is it about Jonghyun?” teased Niel.

“N,no I mean WHAT!? Hyungg,” whined Ricky.

Niel stopped laughing, “I was just teasing.”

But Ricky was still completely red in the face. He was so emabrassed. Why did it have to be Changjo that Niel guessed. There was so many other people they knew like Girl’s Day and 4Minute!

“Aw but you’re so red-- wait do you have a crush on Jonghyun!?”

“NO! Hyung it isn’t like that,” Ricky said with a pout.

“But you’re turning redder. It’s ok if you like him. You can tell me. I won’t judge. Plus I think he likes you too.”

“Hyung,” Ricky whined. “I don’t like him. I like girls!”

“If you say so,” Niel said but Ricky doesn’t trust the way the other is still smiling.

----

“Kids, we’re home!” Manager yelled as they returned back to the apartment.

He was carrying a bag holdng the fried chicken while Niel held a jug of tea and Ricky a tub of salad.

“YAY CHICKEN!” Chunji, L.Joe and Changjo came running out of the back rooms.

“How did you know there’s chicken?” manager asked.

“I smelled it!” Chunji said.

“Where’s Minsoo?”

“I’ll find him,” Niel said and he put the tea in Chunji’s arms and went into C.A.P’s room.

Manager had them follow him into the kitchen and they set the items down on the counter.

“I’m so hungry,” Changjo said. “Thanks for bringing back food.”

“It’s the least we could do. It was hyung’s idea because you guys cleaned the apartment while we were gone,” Ricky clarified.

“Thanks! I thought you were mad at us,” L.Joe said.

“Yeah but I thought of it and I figured the broadcast getting cancelled wasn’t Niel or Ricky’s fault. I shouldn’t punish you for MNET’s actions. So let’s eat!”

“Ok!”

L.Joe and Chunji brought out some dished and each person grabbed some chicken and salad as well as a bit of tea before going to eat on the living room floor. Ricky and Changjo were the last to get their things because the hyungs were so fast. But that was ok, because Ricky was sure Changjo was going to eat most of the food regardless. When the others went into the kitchen Ricky and Changjo were left alone.

“Hey, so you’re going to be on a show with SECRET?” Changjo asked.

“Yeah,” Ricky said, but he couldn’t look at Changjo in the face because it reminded him of the thoughts that popped into his mind in the car.

“you don’t sound too happy about it,” Changjo noted.

Ricky shrugged, “I’m happy. I’m just not happy about how it happened.”

Changjo said nothing to that and loaded his plate with another piece of chicken before going out into the living room. As he left Ricky stayed behind and started to eat his chicken while standing up in the kitchen. On some level he was a bit annoyed that Changjo didn’t want to stay and talk with him a little more. They were friends, right? But at the same time Ricky was used to it.

Not only was Changjo not aware of everything that really had been happening in the background that day, but he wasn’t a naturally nosy person. Even if he was curious he wasn’t going to pry into your life. He was content to hear only as much as you were willing to tell him. In a way that was part of Changjo’s charm.

Ricky finished one piece of chicken and threw the bone in the trash when he noticed C.A.P and Niel hadn’t come to get food yet.

‘Aren’t they hungry?’ Ricky wondered.

He set his plate down and went out to get the two lovers. He walked by the living room where the others were chatting and laughing while eating and went down the hall. As he approached C.A.P’s door he could hear the telltale murmur of conversation.

He was about to knock on the door when he heard a loud slam and Niel’s voice.

“You don’t even think about how I feel?”

Ricky’s hand fell and he backed away from the door.

He didn’t hear what was C.A.P’s reply but suddenly there was a sound of something, books? CDs? Crashing to the ground.

“Don’t you walk away from me!”

The door opened and C.A.P was standing right there and he froze when he saw Ricky standing in front of him.

“Uh… ,hyung,” Ricky stuttered. “I…”

Suddenly a book was flung from behind C.A.P and hit him in the shoulder.

“Ow,” C.A.P stumbled a bit forward.

“Get out!” Niel yelled.

Ricky could see in the room that C.A.P’s book shelf had fell and everything was on the floor and Niel was just sitting in the middle of it.

“Get out. I ing hate you! Get out!”

C.A.P bent down to pick up the tossed book and Ricky looked in at Niel.

“What are you doing here, Changhyun? Here to tell me how much of a ing I am too?”

“N,no. Hyung I—“

“Get out!”

Niel crawled to the door and slammed it shut in Ricky’s face.

“I…” Ricky began, and he tried his best to hold back the tears.

He knew Niel was just upset and he didn’t really mean to yell at him but Ricky couldn’t help but be hurt. He looked over at C.A.P who was setting the book against the door before standing back up.

He smiled oddly at Ricky, scratching the back of his neck, “So... I smell chicken.”

-to be continued-

AN-  there ya go! next chapter: maybe some ricap, maybe some changrick but definitely ricky will want to talk to someone about relationships and the nature of relationships.  thanks everyone for reading!

ALSO! i saw this on twitter it from a fanmeet:

fan: "do you watch ?" ricky: "yeah.. do you want recommendations? ㅋㅋ"