Niel bit his thumb in concern as Changjo plays on his phone beside him on the couch. It had been a day already but the incident back at the mall still kept playing in his mind. The way they broke the girl’s heart really bothered him. He felt like he had done something really wrong and guilt is slowly eating him up.

“Changjo?” He calls and glanced at the boy next to him. Changjo made no move but responded with a hum to let his hyung know he have his attention.

“You think what we did back there is right?” He asked with so much hesitation. Changjo knows to what Niel was referring to.

He blinked and stopped playing on his phone. He stopped tapping on his screen as the game continues to play. He just stared into space as he let Niel’s question sink in. Did they? Changjo’s doesn’t really care much about it.  As long as he made his self clear to that girl, that he doesn’t have any interest on her, everything is alright.

“Of course.” He finally answers. He slightly groans when his character died in the game. Switching his phone off, he leans his back on the couch.

“Does it still bother you?” Changjo asked without looking at Niel. He knows how soft and kind Niel’s heart is. Even by just small things, it affects him.

Niel looked down and sighed. He’s glad he could help Changjo in a way, but he just couldn’t get the girl’s pained expression in his head.

“I’m sorry I got you in that mess.” Changjo sighed and turned his head to look at Niel. He doesn’t really understand what has gotten to him that moment. Why would he use his hyung without asking for his permission first?

“I guess.. I was just desperate that time.” Changjo looked apologetic. Niel glanced at Changjo and let out a soft chuckle. He doesn’t want to bother Changjo too. He doesn’t want their maknae to feel as though he had used him. He just wanted to clear his mind.

“No, it’s okay.” Niel looked away and played on his hands. Changjo looked down at Niel’s hands and sighs again.

“It won’t happen again.” Changjo promised and took Niel’s hand on his, softly caressing his hyung’s hand in comfort. Niel looked up and smiled back.

“So… you’ll tell her the truth now?” Niel brightened up. Changjo blinked blankly at Niel. The hell why would he do that?

“No.” Changjo let go of Niel’s hands and frowns, crossing his arms. As much as he wants Niel to feel better, taking back what he said to Haemi is impossible for him to do.

“Yooo, guys! I heard something really interesting happened while we’re gone~” Chunji grins playfully as he enters the living room, ruining the couple’s mood on the couch.

He purposely squishes down in between Niel and Changjo.

Changjo growls in annoyance. Why does his hyungs always have to come at the wrong moment?

“Nothing interesting happened.” Changjo counters. It’s clearly obvious that he doesn't want to talk about it.

L.Joe entered the scene with pockey in between his thin lips. He went out with Chunji to buy a box of pockey at the nearby store, and since he thought everyone was still asleep except for Chunji, he asked him to come along.

“What happened when we’re gone?” L.Joe asked, interested.

“Someone has a girlfriend~” Chunji singsongs and sits on one of the single couches, wearing a wide grin.

Changjo buried his face on his palms. The all-out teasing is going to start soon, he knows it.

Niel scratched his pink ears in embarrassment.

L.Joe raised his eyebrows at this. Niel blushing is a rare sight; either it’s from embarrassment or something else, L.Joe finds this very amusing.

“Niel, tell me what happened.” L.Joe asks, intrigued now. Niel looked up at L.Joe with a worried glance. He doesn’t know if he should tell him or not. Should he dodge and avoid the question or answer?

Changjo stood up and crossed his arms. It was his fault and he doesn’t want them to question Niel. He knows Niel is already feeling down about it and he doesn’t want to worsen the situation.

“Don’t blame Niel. It was my idea.” He said, taking full responsibility. Everyone looked up at Changjo with questioning gaze.

“What exactly happened?” Chunji asked, his grin widening every moment. This is seriously making him grow thrilled and excited.

“Haemi saw us.” He started with a serious tone like as though his father saw them doing something bad.

“I told her I was with my girlfriend to make her leave, and then she saw Niel with me.” He continued and sat back down on the couch, crossing his legs. Chunji leaned closer to him and nods his head, urging their maknae to go on. “She mistook Niel as my girlfriend, so I just ride on it. Telling her that indeed, Niel is my girl.”

They suddenly heard a dramatic gasp from the kitchen.

They turned their head towards the sound, wondering to who would let out a sudden breathless noise.

“Whose girl is who?!” Ricky asked with wide eyes, dying of curiosity as he ate his cereal in his bowl. He had over-heared their converstation in the kitchen while eating, and at the mention of ‘girlfriend’, his ears perked up.

He made his way in the living room and stood beside L.Joe, waiting for anyone to answer his question.

“Someone has a girlfriend?!” He asked again, eyes widening every second. His hyungs are having a girlfriend? He wants to know. Ricky felt thrilled at the idea and he grins in excitement.

“Aye calm yo cereal down, Ricky.” Chunji laughs. Changjo chuckles and shook his head. Ricky is indeed their visual maknae.

L.Joe blinked as he let Changjo’s story process in his mind, left eye twitching. The thought of it bothers him. He felt troubled at the idea of Niel getting involved. He doesn’t want Niel to get hurt in the end. He just couldn’t let it happen. Not  Niel.

“You told her Niel is your girlfriend?” He couldn’t help but ask again.

Changjo returned his attention back at L.Joe and nodded.

“She thought I was a girl.” Niel finally says, pulling his lips to the side. It wasn’t surprising anymore since he’s always mistaken as a girl.

Ricky let out a loud laugh, purposely to annoy Niel. He knows how Niel doesn’t like it when someone mistook him as a girl. He gently put his cereal on the round table and tackles Niel on the couch.

“My guuuuuurl~” Ricky singsongs and sits on his lap, hugging Niel around his neck tightly. Doing it on purpose to get Niel have troubles getting air.

“Get off! You’re heavy!” Niel cries as he pushes Ricky but he refused to let go.

Changjo chuckles and glanced at the two in amusement.

Chunji clapped his hands when he thought of an idea.

“That’s good then!” He chirped.

Everyone looked at him, clueless. Niel stopped struggling as he looked at Chunji with questioning gaze.

“What’s good?” L.Joe asked monotony.

“Remember when CAP hyung once mentioned that Niel can pretend to be Changjo’s girlfriend? I guess, that’s what we’ll do.” Chunji smiled widely when he remembered what their leader had told them.

“Really, Chunji. Can you hear yourself?” L.Joe asked, clicking his tongue.

“Uh uh. This fake-girlfriend thing is your idea so shut up.” Chunji says, flipping his bangs to the side.

“I thought I said he can pretend and ask for a girl to be his pretend girl.” L.Joe says, crossing his arms.

Chunji rolled his eyes at him. “Babo. As you can see, the girl—“ Chunji glanced at Changjo, raising his eyebrows questioningly.

“Kim Haemi.” Changjo informed him. He bit his tongue at the mention of the girl’s name.

Chunji nodded and returned his attention back to L.Joe.

“The girl, Haemi already knows that Niel is Changjo’s girlfriend.” He trails as he waves his hands for effect. “And besides, I don’t see any problem why Niel wouldn’t do it.” Chunji glanced at Niel. “Right?” He asked for confirmation, grinning.

Niel thought about it as he remained quiet. He couldn’t decide if he would or would not. He doesn’t find anything wrong why wouldn’t he, but the thought of breaking someone’s heart makes him have second-thoughts. But Changjo needs help. What should he do? He couldn’t decide.

“But still, it would be better to get a real girl. This would lead to another problem if Haemi finds out.” L.Joe just shook his head. He does have a point. So what if Haemi finds out? It would cause another problem. He’s just thinking what would happen in the future, calculating all the things that’s possible to happen and to him, it all leads to Niel getting hurt. He couldn’t tell why Niel would get hurt, he just felt it and he couldn’t get himself clear his point to them.

“You’re over-thinking things, Byungari.” Chunji rolled his eyes.

Changjo just blinked, clearly getting the idea Chunji is trying to say. He couldn’t help but notice L.Joe’s disapproval of the idea. He doesn’t get L.Joe’s point. Why would it lead to another problem?

Ricky pouted sadly. It’s not that he doesn’t want Niel to help Changjo, he just thought that Niel will play with him less when he get together with their maknae.

“It’s not that bad I guess…” He agreed sadly. Chunji snapped his fingers at L.Joe like a sassy girl, proud for having Ricky at his side.

Niel noticed the sadness in Ricky’s voice and lets out a soft chuckle. He wrapped his arms around Ricky’s waist and cuddles him for comfort.

“Since we can’t find a girl to act as Changjo’s girlfriend, Niel will fill in for the spot!” Chunji exclaimed happily. Changjo just watched as Chunji declares his idea. Thinking about it, Changjo doesn’t find anything wrong but he’s slightly worried at what might Niel think. Would he agree?

“Yah~ I don’t know if I can do this.” Niel mumbles. Chunji just shook his head. L.Joe rethinks about it and sighs, massaging his forehead. Chunji does have a point and they don’t have any choice either. He removed all the negative things in his mind and starts to concider Chunji’s idea.

 “But you’re so lucky the girl already knows your face.” Chunji said as he waves a finger at Niel.

“Like she’ll even remember my face...” Niel fought, murmuring.

“Look here, Niel. Women have their own camera in their mind. Yes, scary. When they caught sight of their enemy or their rival, they picture them in their mind and never, I say never forgets their face. So you don’t have a choice. You’re already involved.” Chunji smirked. Win.

Niel didn’t respond and looks down. Changjo looked away and sighs. It seems that Niel doesn’t want to get involved in this. He doesn’t want to force Niel if he doesn’t want to.

“Niel, you’ll be perfect for the spot.” L.Joe suddenly says after a moment of silence. Chunji does have a point even though the idea is a bit childish and complicated.

Changjo sighs. He doesn’t want them to force Niel do something he doesn’t want.

“It’s okay. I can just take—“

“Fine. I’ll do it.” Niel suddenly says, cutting Changjo in between his sentence.

Changjo looked up and met eyes with Niel worriedly.

“Besides, I’m a great actor.” Niel grinned at Changjo. Changjo smiled in relief and nodded.

“That’s it then.”Chunji made a final announcement, clapping his hands once. Problem solved.

“So after today, L.Joe will teach you two how to act as a couple.” Chunji informs and gives L.Joe a wink. L.Joe was about to protest but Chunji’s firm gaze made him stop. “You’re an expert in acting here so it’s only proper for you as their hyung to give them lessons and advices, right?” Chunji says under his breath, challenging L.Joe to decline.

L.Joe just sighed and nods in defeat.

“I will.”

Chunji brightened up and returned his attention back at Niel.

“Then I will teach Niel on how to act as a girl since I'm always around with my pretty ladies.”

“Why the hell do I need to act as a girl?” Niel interjected and whines. He pushed Ricky off his lap all of a sudden. Ricky was caught off-guard and he landed on his .

“OW!”

“And Ricky will give you a make-over.” Chunji added with a smile. Ricky’s ears perked up at the mention of his name and he grins.

“I will!” He beamed.

Niel sulked down in defeat.

"Fine..."

-0-

At night, everyone settled into their own rooms. Everyone had already fallen asleep except for the two. Niel and Changjo both stared at their ceiling as they lie on the bed side by side. The silence was deafening until Changjo chose to break it.

“Niel?”He doesn’t know how to start. He doesn’t know how to say his concern to his hyung. He doesn’t want to force Niel to do a thing he doesn’t want to do.

Changjo slightly turned his head to look at the older beside him. Niel only blinked and kept his eyes locked on the ceiling.

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?”Changjo almost hesitated. He saw a smile crept upon Niel’s lips and he couldn’t help but smile too.

“Of course, my best friend needs help.”Niel turned his head and looks at Changjo. Eyes bright and honest.

“You know you don’t have to if—“

“Shut up and let’s just sleep.”Niel laughs and turns his back on Changjo. He knows perfectly what Changjo was gonna say and he doesn't want to hear it since he's too tired to talk about it all over again.

Changjo let out a soft chuckle and nods in understanding, slightly punching Niel's backl shoulder for interrupting him.

“Arasseo.”He said and smiled as he watch Niel’s back. ‘I hope everything goes well.” Changjo thought as he let sleep take him over.

Niel still had his eyes open when he felt Changjo’s breathing calm as he slept away. This pretend thing still bothers him, specially at the thought of the girl they gave a broken heart. He doesn’t like hurting people but at the sake of his best friend, he’ll do what it takes… to protect him.

He turns around and faced Changjo, staring at his peaceful face.

“Don’t worry, Changjo.” Niel smiles and gently removes some of Changjo’s bangs covering his eyes. Changjo on instinct, leaned on Niel’s touch. Niel’s smile remained on his lips as he closed his eyes.

“I’ll be here for you.”

Ya’ll so great people! And since you guys are giving me lots of love and support, I’ll start to give a quick preview on the next update every chapter I’ll post. ^^ And thanks for reading. :)

Preview on the next update: How to be a couple; L.Joe’s guide

“If you want to be a convincing couple, you’ll have to kiss.” L.Joe instructed seriously.

Niel gaped at him. Changjo spat the juice he’s drinking and looked at L.Joe with wide, surprise eyes.

“What?!” They exclaimed in unison.