Changjo sighed heavily as he sat casually on the couch; one cola in his right hand and his hand-phone on his left. Problems are coming on his way because of his father’s business. He doesn’t really care about their business in the first place, but he tries his best to help his father even though their relationship is a bit tough and distant.

He leaned his head back on the couch and sighs again.

“This is giving me a headache.” He rubbed his temples in annoyance and took a sip from his cola.

“Someone’s gloomy today.” L.Joe smirked as he appeared from the front door with Niel and Ricky trailing behind. They left the dorm to buy groceries with L.Joe dragging Niel and Ricky with him.

Changjo rolled his eyes and ignored them.

Niel dropped the grocery bags on the floor and let out a frustrated cry. “Man, those are heavy!” He whines as he made his way to sit next to Changjo, slightly slapping his shoulder to give way and space for him. Ricky shook his head and took the grocery bags to the kitchen without a word. He’s unbelievably silent today.

Niel sat comfortably on the couch and closes his eyes. L.Joe chuckled and walked towards them, standing behind Niel. “You didn’t even do anything, Niel-goon.” L.Joe shook his head at his dongsaeng in disappointment.

Changjo only blinked and leaned his back on Niel; purposely leaning all of his weight on him to . He wants to have fun. And he only has it with Niel around.

Niel seems to notice the sudden wait placed on him and he started to struggle free.

“Niel hyung! Help me organize these!” Ricky yelled from inside the kitchen. L.Joe turned his head and glanced at the kitchen door when he heard Ricky’s call.

Niel tried pushing Changjo away from him with his fragile and smaller frame.

“Yah, get off! I have to help my girlfriend!” He whines, referring to Ricky. He calls Ricky his girlfriend for fun and to annoy him. Everyone knows that. It all started when they once played a roleplay, an act where Ricky and Niel are boyfriends and girlfriends.

 Changjo chuckled and shook his head, obviously enjoying teasing his hyung. He turned his head and looks up at Niel, challenging him.

“Make me.”

Niel pouted and glanced up at L.Joe for help. He knows it’s useless if he only uses his own strength over the maknae. Changjo is much more stronger than him.

“Hyung, help me?” The way Niel had said those words with his unresistable pout on his lips made the other two boys cackle and just want to take the fragile boy away. Niel is the most feminine one in the group and they see this as a reason to take care of him and protect him.

Well, that doesn’t mean it’ll stop them from bullying him for fun.

Changjo watched L.Joe carefully, trying to see if he’ll be on Nie’s side; occasionally giving him side glances and warnings by his eyes. He knows how L.Joe is when being around Niel. How bright his eyes were whenever it landed on Niel, Changjo couldn't help but notice this and it did bother him a bit. He's not the only one who wants Niel's attention, but everyone of them and it seems as though Niel is oblivious about it.

L.Joe just shrugged and turns around, not even noticing the maknae's stare. He doesn’t want to get involved.

“Ricky-ah! I’ll help you.” He said instead before walking away to help Ricky.

Changjo couldn’t help but snicker at how powerful he can be around his hyungs. He glanced up at Niel  again and grins in triumphant. Niel looked down at Changjo and frowns disapprovingly. The way Changjo is grinning at him makes him think that he'd lost again. Which he really did.

“Get off, pabo.” Niel ordered firmly when L.Joe disappeared to the kitchen. Removing his kind and caring mask. He’s the hyung in between Changjo and him so he thought he should be more superior and be the boss around him. But with Changjo’s stubbornness for wanting to be the dominant one, the one who’s leading, he wouldn’t let Niel control him. He wouldn’t let anyone control him. Cause he wants to be the one in control.

Changjo remained still and frowns. He’s not in the mood to quarrel with Niel right now so he thought of something to make his hyung stay. To make him stay without using words or anything at all.

Without so much thought, Changjo let a pout cross his lips. The side of him he only shows towards Niel.

“But.. let me use you as my personal pillow even just for this moment, please?” He asked sweetly. Niel looked at him blankly; completely troubled at Changjo’s sudden innocent and kind aura he's giving him. Niel stubbornly shook his head and refused. He knows Changjo is up to something and he knows he have to refuse say--

“No.”

Changjo widened his pout and blinks cutely, not even affected by his hyung's firm refusal. “Please, hyung?” He purposely put emphasize on the word ‘hyung’. He knows Niel wanted him to call him that so bad. He knows how badly Niel wanted him to respect him by using that honorific. But calling him that doesn’t mean he’s already letting Niel be the boss of him. He just wanted Niel to be with him and do what he asks for. A way only a scorpio has, making you do things for them without you realizing it and wanting it. How genius and mischievous of them.

Niel tried his best not to fall for the maknae’s trap but it’s useless. Changjo knows very well what Niel’s weaknesses are and he will use it and take advantage of it. Niel hated it. He hated how a person could know him more than he knows his self.

Changjo waited for Niel and kept his pout on his lips. He knows it wouldn’t take long before Niel will give in. ‘Just a little bit more,’ Changjo thought in his head and made a countdown.

Sam

I

Il

“Fine.”  Niel let out a sigh and gave in. Just as what Changjo has expected. He can’t really refuse Changjo’s irresistible charm. He always wins him over.

Changjo cheered in his head.

Won again.

But before Changjo could rest, he receives another call from his father.

He fished out his phone from inside his pocket and answers the call.

“Hello, dad.” He answered grimly. Niel watched as Changjo’s playful side slowly slips away.

Changjo slightly moved and placed his head comfortably on Niel’s lap. Niel by instinct, gently Changjo’s hair comfortingly.

“Yes … No, but— I can’t. Dad, please liste— alright.” Changjo sighed and ended the call. Niel just blinked, lost. Changjo sat up and straightened his jacket.

“I have to go and meet my father.” He frowns. Niel only nodded and pats Changjo’s arms.

“Be careful not to yell at anyone today. You’ll be able to fix this if you stay calm.” Niel advised, knowing Changjo’s relationship with his father. He’s the only person who Changjo could share his problems and secrets with. Like a best friend and a brother he had never have.

Changjo shook his head at how impossible for him not to yell or fight with his father .

“Only you can do that.” He fixed his hair and stood up to leave. He’s not as calm and reserve as Niel when it comes to matters like family or emotions. Changjo couldn’t control his deep emotions and sometimes it just drowns him. But with Niel around, he’s the one who pulls Changjo up from under these emotions and let him breathe and come back to life. And Changjo is aware of that.

“Well at least try,” Niel sighs and stood up as well before going to the kitchen to join Ricky and L.Joe.  Giving advices with a stubborn Changjo can be a pain sometimes specially knowing that Changjo never follows it.

Changjo pulled his lips to the side and thought about it.

“Just do it!” Niel suddenly yelled from the kitchen, surprising Changjo.

 Changjo only chuckled and nods.

“Arasseo!”

--

Changjo is fixing his bangs when he turned to a corner in the hallway of his parent’s mansion. He made his way to the living room where his parent’s and Mr. Kim’s family is sitting across them. Changjo made a halt when he saw Mr. and Mrs. Kim with their daughter; Kim Haemi. Noticing Changjo’s presence in the room, Haemi waved at him excitedly. She flashed Changjo her charming smile and gently bowed her head in acknowledgement.

‘That girl.’ He thought as he rolled his eyes. He knows how obsessed this girl can be. He knows her all too well since their childhood days. The one who’ll be always on his side, sticking her nose to him and asking him lots of things that completely annoys him.

He doesn’t like her, even one bit.

Changjo shifted his gaze back to his parents, who now, had noticed his presence. He just sighed and took his sit beside his mother.

“Good to have you here on time, son.” Changjo’s father greeted before facing Mr. Kim.  Changjo looked up when he felt his mother’s hand on his. She had a look of worry on her eyes. She nodded encouragingly at her son before focusing her attention back towards her husband.

“Now that he’s here, let’s start.” Everyone nodded except for Changjo who had a scowl on his face. Haemi couldn’t help but giggle at the lad in front of her. She had always has a crush on him. Since day one. And this conversation will really put endless happiness to her once the deal is on.

Throughout the conversation his father had with Mr. and Mrs. Kim, Changjo’s mind was off somewhere. He wanted to go back to the dorm so bad. He wanted to play with his hyungs. Pull pranks on them. He wanted to escape this place.

He did listened a bit but as expected, it’s all about their business where he knows all too well.

He doesn’t even have interest on what they were talking about. The only thing he knows is that he has to be present on this meeting and nothing else. They wouldn’t take his opinion anyway if he tries to.

His attention was shifted back to his mother when she started talking to him.

“Are you okay with this, Jong Hyun?” She asked him softly. Changjo only looked at her and tilted his head in confusion.

He heard his father sigh and he can’t help but feel he has disappointed his father, again. He looked away from his mother and glanced at Mr. Choi. ‘I’m not doing anything, yet he’s being like that.’ Changjo thought inside his head, looking at his father. Everything about Changjo disappoints his father. –He thought.

“Can you repeat that?” It doesn’t even sound like a request when the words escaped Changjo’s lips, it sounds like he’s ordering them to go over again on their discussion.

The giggling coming from the girl across him is starting to annoy him.

He moved his eyes to look at her, or more like, glare at her.

“Son, I’ve been telling you this since last week.” Mr. Choi rubbed his forehead.

“Ah, I get it.” Changjo clicked his tongue and looks away. Remembering their previous discussions, and fights. ‘So this is what he wanted me to do.’ He straightened up  before facing the Kims.

“I can’t do it. Find another man to have your daughter’s hand in marriage. I’m not interested.” He said, looking straight at Mr. Kim’s eyes. He wanted to make sure the Kims clearly understand him. He doesn’t have plans on getting married yet. He wanted them to know that. He wanted to make his self-clear.

“JONG HYUN.” Mr. Choi warned dangerously, standing up from his seat. Mrs. Choi holds her husband’s arm to calm him down.

“Yeobo, calm down.”

Changjo looks at his father lazily. He doesn’t even look frightened at his father’s tone of voice and the look his father is giving him. He’s not scared anymore like how he is ten years ago when he is still an innocent, weak boy.

He doesn’t care anymore. He never did.

“I’m not getting married.” He announced before standing up to leave.

“Sit down. We’re not finished talking.” Mr. Choi barked. Changjo just rubbed his ear and shows off an annoyed attitude. He doesn’t want to waste more of his time discussing something he knows that will never happen.

“But I’m done here.” He says before leaving the room.

Mrs. Choi tried her best to hold her husband down.

Kim Haemi, who has been silent all this time, watched Changjo’s back as he leaves. She made a cute pout while she plays with her fingers.

‘Rude.’ She sighed sadly but smiled. ‘That’s what I like about you, Choi Jong Hyun.’

--

Changjo made his way to his motorbike parked outside their mansion. He took his helmet and wears it on his head.

‘At least I didn’t yell at anyone today.’ He thought as he rides on his bike. He let out a frustrated sigh and looks at the horizon. Really, he doesn't get why his father would do something such as getting him involved in an arranged marriage. Giving him enough bussiness problems is too much for Changjo to take despite his young age. The only thing that is keeping him from disobeying his father is his mom. He loves her too much and he'll be willing to endure the pain his father will cause him but today... he went a bit too far and he won't let his father have it.

He kicked the engine alive and balanced the bike underneath him. ‘Niel will be glad I didn’t yell at my father.’ He remembered Niel's advice. He chuckles lightly as he pictures Niel’s reaction when he breaks the news to him. The thought of Niel lightens his down mood. He's his best friend after all.

He then frowned again when he remembered his discussion with his father and the Kims. And the scene he caused to them.

“Arranged marriage?” He looked back at the mansion and shook his head. “What a pain, I’ll never agree to this.” He smirked before finally driving away.