11

Niel: Hyuuuuuuuuuunnnggg.

Niel: Hyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnngggggg…

Niel: HYUNG!

Niel: Text me back. I know you aren’t working today!

Niel: Lee Byunghun is stupid.

Niel: And stinks

Niel: And is a shortass.

Byunghun: you! I am not

Niel: I knew you were there hyung.

Byunghun: .

Niel: Ha. Anyway let’s hang out. I’m bored with my single-person life.

Niel: I am lonely.

Niel: I’ve been left all alone.

Niel: I am a poor lonely flower.

Byunghun: Will you shut up?!

Niel: Let’s hang out!

Byunghun: Fine, I’m at the courts.

Niel: Law or basketball?

Byunghun: Very funny. Are you coming or not?

Niel: I’m leaving noowwww~

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Changhyun: Hey. I love you

Jonghyun: Hey! I love you too.

Changhyun: Yeah, but like, I love you more.

Jonghyun: Is that what you think? Because I’m pretty sure I love you more.

Changhyun: No. No. I love you more.

Jonghyun: You must be delirious from all the lately. Because I 100% love you more.

Changhyun: Dammit. That was sneaky Mr Choi. You could be a lawyer

Jonghyun: Hahaha, I win. What are you doing? Why aren’t you working?

Changhyun: I’m on lunch. Mr W hasn’t said anything about Evan yet. I guess he was all talk

Jonghyun: Good. I hope he gets herpes in his eye

Changhyun: Wow. Just… wow. Jong, what the hell hahaha

Jonghyun: Seriously, he’s scum.

Changhyun: I know… Anyway what are you doing?

Jonghyun: Hanging out with Minsu. He got the afternoon off.                            

Changhyun: Oh good. I feel bad for monopolising your time.

Jonghyun: It’s ok. He understands. He’s a good hyung

Changhyun: I’m glad. I’d better get back to work. I love you

Jonghyun: I love you more

Changhyun: I love you most.

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Byunghun: Hyung, why do you keep rostering me with Jonghyun?

Youngjin: He wants to be a barista. You’re going to teach him

Byunghun: Why can’t Feng? Or you?

Youngjin: Because Feng doesn’t sass me, or ask silly questions or try and wheedle out of it.

Byunghun: Then it sounds like she should be the one to train him.

Youngjin: You would think… But you keep pissin me off. So you can do it.

Byunghun: I’m not going to win am I?

Youngjin: Not even a little bit. See you tomorrow! Bright and early! For your first buddy shift. With your buddy.

Byunghun: Hyung, do you feel a warm sensation in your head?

Youngjin: No, why?

Byunghun: Because I’m trying to explode it with my mind.

Youngjin: Good luck with that. Until then, See you tomorrow my darling dongsaeng!

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Youngjin: Hey kid, you have a buddy shift tomorrow morning with Byunghun.

Jonghyun: Great. Thank you. But I thought you said I wouldn’t start on the machine until next week?

Youngjin: Byunghun was annoying me. So you can start tomorrow.

Jonghyun: Ok. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Youngjin: Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he doesn’t eat you. See you tomorrow!

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Chanhee: Nielie!

Niel: Hyungie!

Chanhee: What are you doing?

Niel: Going to play basketball with your lover!

Chanhee: Ah, lovely. See if you can get him to actually talk to you.

Niel: Woh, did something happen?

Chanhee: Yes

Niel: Do I ever get to find out what the hell is going on with you two!!

Chanhee: When I know I’ll tell you.

Niel: Hyung?

Chanhee: I don’t know Niel.

Chanhee: We keep going around in these big circles. He wont talk to me, he avoids me, then he seems to almost go back to normal, and then it happens again. He’s never done this. He always does this to other people but not me.

Niel: I’m sorry hyung, I didn’t know it was this bad.

Niel: Hyung?

Chanhee: Can you please just try and talk to him? I’m worried about him. You’re the only other person in the world he would talk to about anything like this.

Niel: I’ll try hyung. It’ll be ok. It’s you and Byung. You guys are soulmates.

Chanhee: Mm. I’ll text you later. When I finish work.

Niel: Ok, talk to you later.

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Raz: Hey! Lazy-! You should come out this weekend. I’m spinning at No Joke.

Minsu: Insulting me really sells it.

Raz: Just ing come out! You’re so mopey these daysssssss

Minsu: Get ed, I’m not mopey! I just don’t like you.

Raz: Oh thank god I can stop pretending.

Minsu: Go for it Baldy.

Raz: I’m not bald! It’s just the back half of my head has no hair! And anyway its better than those gross braids! They probably stink.

Minsu: My hair doesn’t stink. Tell you what does though… Your music.

Raz: Aww I’m so hurt. At least my stinky music gets gigs. .

Minsu: HEY! I GOT A GIG! TOMORROW!

Raz: I know. Grats man. I’ll be there

Raz: But seriously, come out Saturday as well. No Joke will be fun. It’s like a regular people club. Crazy huh?

Minsu: Maybe. I’ll let you know what I’m doing.

Raz: I already know what you’re doing. Moping about your long-lost fish, moping about your music, moping about never getting laid or drunk or having any fun at all! SO COME OUT!

Minsu: Bye Raz. I’m not replying anymore.

Raz: Come out, punk .

Minsu: Get ed.

Raz: Come ouuuut….

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Niel pushed through the chain-link gate onto the court and dropped his bag beside Byunghun’s. Byunghun wasn’t shooting or playing at all, but sitting on the low brick wall scowling at the ground. Niel pranced over and hopped onto the wall beside him. He picked up the basketball and turned it over in his hands.

“Hi.” Niel began simply. He knew how Byunghun worked, you had to start small; lull him into a false sense of security.

“Hi.” Byunghun replied, not looking at Niel.

“What’s up?”

“Stupid work. I have to do a buddy shift tomorrow morning.” Byunghun complained.

Niel smiled and looked at the blue afternoon sky.

“Those bastards. Don’t they know you’re an antisocial grouch?” Niel sighed with fake pity.

“I know.” Byunghun smiled a little, “What on earth is Youngjin thinking?”

“Maybe, just maybe, he thinks you should grow up and stop acting like a 7-year-old around new people.” Niel commented before standing and bouncing the ball a few times.

“Hey!” Byunghun’s head snapped up and he glared at Niel.

Niel simply continued to dribble the ball, acting as though he hadn’t heard Byunghun. Byunghun pushed himself off the wall.

“Come on hyung, you know you’re being ridiculous about this.” Niel pointed out, trying for a shot (and missing).

“No, I’m not.” Byunghun grouched.

“Yeah, you are.” Niel jogged over to retrieve the ball. “Why are you so annoyed about this new guy?”

“I’m not!” Byunghun yelled. Niel simply looked at him in surprise. Byunghun’s fists clenched and he scowled at Niel fiercely.

So much for a false sense of security, Niel thought bitterly.

“Hyung… What’s going on?” Niel tried again, his voice soft and concerned.

Byunghun’s face blanched, he looked away from Niel: towards the sky, the ground, the neighbouring buildings and finally back to Niel.

“I just don’t want to work with this guy.” He said quietly.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Niel asked, coming closer.

Byunghun shrugged.

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Changhyun was just returning from a meeting on his own when Mr Worthington poked his head out of his office door and caught sight of him. The Englishman’s eyes were dancing with delight and he was trying to hold back a grin. Changhyun’s eyebrows raised and he tilted his head in a silent question.

“Ricky! Step in here a moment my boy!” Mr Worthington cried, barely containing his laughter.

“Yes sir.” Changhyun replied, highly confused.

Mr W retracted his head and Changhyun crossed to the door. When he entered, his boss was already seated behind his hulking desk trying once more to look serious. And failing. Changhyun took a chair across from him and waited, completely nonplussed.

“I just…” Mr Worthing started and then stopped to get hold of himself, “I just had a very interesting conversation with Evan Coultlier.” A smile broke through and Mr W smothered it again.

Changhyun’s mouth popped open in surprise and he began to stammer an apology. His cheeks were burning and his stomach turned.

“So…” Mr Worthington paused ominously. “You finally ditched him properly? I’m bloody proud of you!” He beamed.

“S-Sir?” Changhyun still felt rather ill. He had been moderately sure that Mr Worthington would support him but he hadn’t expected such enthusiasm.

“That bloody fool you’ve been mixed up with just called to tell me that you are… Well, I won’t repeat the word he used, but he seemed quite put out with you and rather negatively disposed towards your uality.”  Mr Worthington made a peak with his fingertips.

Changhyun’s eyes widened. He was dumbfounded. How dare Evan bring his personal life so blatantly into this.

“He requested I drop you from my service immediately.” Mr Worthington continued seriously, peering over his fingertips at Changhyun.

Changhyun gulped.

“Uh, I apologise sir?” Changhyun replied, unsure what he should say.

Mr Worthington sighed and leaned back in his plush office chair, he turned to gaze out the window into the afternoon sky.

“Do you want to know what I said?” Mr Worthington replied.

Changhyun nodded.

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