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Let Riki preface this: he’s known, for quite some time, that he’s in love with one Kim Sunoo. Like, I-LAND long time. As in, Sunoo-held-Riki’s-hand-and-Riki-fell-in-love-right-then-and-there. There was simply no warning, it just happened and Riki’s still trying to figure out if it was a good thing to fall in love with someone who is now your best friend. (Riki will never admit that out loud though….He’d rather die than tell Sunoo he wants to, I don’t know, sweep him off his feet? Riki’s only sixteen -- give the kid a break).
But, of course, Riki has been using the excuse that’s young and stupid (which is true on some occasions -- not every day, like Jake tells him in a teasing tone) to prove that his feelings towards Sunoo were just a mirage.
That idea is thrown out the door once Riki sees Sunoo in black hair for their upcoming comeback.
Riki loses it.
Like, he wants to cry.
He wants to run out of the room and possibly never come back.
Please don’t call for Riki back because he’ll never come back. Why should he? Sunoo exists and therefore Riki thinks he should give up his life for Kim Sunoo.
Well, this is bad.
Really bad.
“Hyung,” Riki collapses beside Jungwon. “I want to give up on life. Thoughts?”
“As long as I’m not involved, go for it.”
“Stop staring at your phone hyung! Pay attention to me .”
“Sorry, but beating Jay-hyung at this stupid word game is more important.”
“No it isn’t.”
“Yes it is. Now shut up, I’m trying to focus.”
Riki snatches Jungwon’s phone. “Look at me, hyung. I want to die, shouldn’t you be stopping me?”
“Give me my phone back, Ni-ki!”
Riki stands up and holds the phone above his head.
“Fuck you, Riki-ya.”
“Woah! Heeseung-hyung! Jungwon-hyung said a swear word!”
Heeseung doesn’t come running like Riki thinks he should. Maybe he should’ve yelled something about Jake?
Jungwon sighs. “Don’t die Ni-ki, life won’t be as exciting and happy. We will all be depressed and never go a day without crying over you and wondering what we did wrong. We will set a shrine up in our dorm and dedicate all our songs in your memory.”
Riki wonders what will happen if he ‘accidentally’ chucks Jungwon’s phone out the window.
“Was that what you wanted to hear, Ni-ki?”
“You could’ve been more sincere about it, hyung.”
Jungwon glares at Riki. “My phone. Now.”
Riki huffs and chucks Jungwon’s phone back to the older boy. “No one cares about me.”
Jungwon doesn’t even look up at Riki storms out of the room they share. Clearly, Jungwon was going to be no help to Riki. This was all so stupid, Riki thinks, he helped Jungwon and Jay admit their love and longing for each other, so why couldn’t Jungwon do the same for him? It’s that how friendship works? Just acts of kindness for the other?
“Oh,” Riki mutters to himself, “I haven’t told him I like hyung yet.”
Riki stops in his tracks and turns back to look at the bedroom he just left. Should he enter the room? Or, should he just. .Not. He doesn't think he’ll be able to handle any more Jungwon. Sure, the leader is mature and nice and does what’s best for the team, but Riki can’t handle Jungwon during their downtime.
Let Riki clarify himself; he doesn’t hate his Jungwon-hyung.
Well. . . .
No. He doesn’t.
He just finds him annoying. (Sometimes).
Like; shut-the-fuck-up-about-your-perfect-romantic-life-that-I-helped-you-out-with-annoying.
Riki is still considering murder whenever Jungwon and Jay lay about together on the couch. Seriously. Couldn’t they get their own room? Riki is trying to play Animal Crossing next to Sunoo who is taking selfies, but he’s getting distracted by Jungwon’s annoying giggles and Jay’s stupid laughter that haunts Riki for the rest of the day. Beside him, Sunoo just sighs happily, and sometimes, hearing that sweet in-love sigh is enough for Riki to decide he doesn’t mind Jungwon and Jay making out next to him on the couch. Maybe, if he watches them for long enough, he’ll pick up on some tips.
Actually. . . Nevermind.
“Get a room,” Riki always tells them.
“No,” Heeseung always says, somehow entering the room whenever Riki encourages them to leave the couch and allow him to have some one-on-one time with the love of his life, Kim Sunoo. “They are not getting a room.”
Riki then glares at Heeseung who glares back. It goes on for a few minutes before their manager comes in and herds them all into the van. Riki then turns on his emo music and stares out the window in such an emo way, he doesn’t notice Sunoo, Jungwon, and Sunghoon snickering out loud (Jay, Jake, and Heeseung are too nice for that).
Wait -- why is Riki even talking about Jungwon and Jay? This is about him and Sunoo . Sunki. Whatever their ship name was. This is about Riki and his love for the sun to his sunflower. Or, something like that. Jay and Heeseung are better with words.
“Jake-hyung,” Riki flops onto Heeseung’s bed. “What would you do if I died?”
Jake pauses the video game he was playing with Riki’s eldest hyung. “Huh?” Jake was rightly confused.
“I feel like death.”
“That’s not good, Ni-ki,” Jake sounds concerned.
“It happens every day.”
“What?” Jake was still confused. “Hyung, do you know what Ni-ki is talking about?”
“No,” hums Heeseung, “I don’t, baby.”
Jake giggles and Riki feels death creep upon him more.
“I don’t feel happy.”
“Why, Ni-ki?” Heeseung asks.
Riki shrugs, his face still shoved against the pillows on Heeseung’s bed. “Just ‘cause.”
“Fair.” Heeseung turns back to the game and reaches to unpause it, but Jake stops him, giving him a soft and gentle look that would make Riki throw up if he were looking.
“Does this have to do with Sunoo, Ni-ki?” Jake asks lightly.
“Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know.”
“He’s fine, Jake.”
“No he isn’t, hyung.”
“Yes he is, look at him, he’s moping over Sunoo! When does he not do that?”
There’s silence.
“Okay. . . Maybe you are right.”
Riki gasps offended and faces his two hyungs. “What the fuck?!”
“ Language !”
“Don’t language me, Jake-hyung, you swear all the time in English!”
“No I don’t!”
“Yes you do! Just yesterday you said, ‘you stupid dickhead,’ to some cat!”
“Don’t repeat my words , Ni-ki!”
“I say what I want to say, Jake-hyung.”
“Hee, help me out here,” Jake begs the older boy.
Riki gasps again, “ he doesn’t have to use honorifics but I do?”
Heeseung looks tired.
“Ni-ki --”
“You two are both cun--”
“ RIKI !”
“What?! You said that word too! Why can’t I? ”
“Because. . . Because. . . Just because.”
“Nice save, Jake-hyung. I’m gonna go call Jay-hyung a cu--”
Jake tackles Riki back on the bed and smothers him with Heeseung’s pillows. Riki then dies.
Riki sits at the dinner table, his body burning with anger as he glares at Jake who is getting fed by Heeseung. Why the fuck are they doing it right in front of him? Beside him, Sunoo sits who giggles away with Sunghoon who is purposefully spilling food all over himself like the fucking loser he is.
“Sunghoon-hyung you’re a loser -- oops did I say that out loud?”
Sunghoon throws his Tteokbokki in Riki’s direction.
“Hey! This shirt costs more than your life , bitch.”
“Don’t ‘bitch’ me, bitch.”
“ Heeseung-hyung !”
“Don’t fight, boys,” Heeseung pipes up, still looking at Jake while feeding him some food.
“Yeah, listen to hyung, you cun--”
“ RIKI!”
“Shut up Jake-hyung and go back to being fed by your boyfriend.”
“At least I’m being fed .”
Sunghoon snorts. “That’s not the flex you think it is, Jakey.”
Jake raises an eyebrow and initiates an intense staring match with Sunghoon.
Gym bros. Riki will never understand them.
“Sunoo-hyung, can I feed you? Or can you feed me?”
“Um, Riki --” Riki doesn’t even wait for Sunoo’s answer he just shoves food into Sunoo’s mouth with a big grin. He continues to smile away even as Sunoo chokes and his eyes bulge not really expecting food to be shoved into his mouth.
Jungwon thumps the Sunoo’s back as he passes by. He also gives Riki a very disappointed look but Riki rolls his eyes and shoves more food into his mouth. No one understands him and it’s getting very annoying. Maybe he does want to be babied! No one has ever asked Nishimura Riki about what he truly wants.
Yes, he wants to see his family more than anything. He misses them every day. Sure, he might cry himself to sleep most nights after saying goodbye to his mom on the phone, but he doesn’t let any of his hyungs know because they have other things to worry about. (Yeah, Riki is selfless like that!)
But, Riki also desperately wants to be heard. He wants his hyungs to appreciate and take time out of their day to truly understand him, because there are some moments where he feels totally alone. And yeah, it’s been a year since their debut and Riki will say that they have grown closer but sometimes, he feels lonely.
“Riki?”
“Yeah, hyung?”
“Why are you pouting?”
Riki sighs and turns to Sunoo, “because no one is feeding me.”
Sunoo’s face is incredulous before he laughs, his bright smile warming up Riki’s heart. Man, Riki loves Sunoo much he’s almost glad he cries himself to sleep. (Because he falls asleep right after and it leaves no time to think about Sunoo. Riki overthinks about Sunoo a lot ). (Like so much, he sometimes forgets what they’re doing on variety shows or what they’re filming for their ENGENEs. It’s really bad).
“I’ll feed you. Open up, Riki-ah!”
Now, this is what Riki’s been talking about.
Being fed by the love of his life.
Ha! Beat that, Jake! He can also be fed too!
Riki smiles broadly and happily allows Sunoo to feed him some yummy meet.
Meat always tastes better when it’s being fed to you, Riki soon realizes. “Feed me more, hyung!”
Sunoo rolls his eyes, but Riki knows Sunoo can’t say no to him. The last time Sunoo said no to Riki, he cried for a couple of minutes. It was a very dark moment in time and Riki would rather not rehash the memory.
Riki remains content and happy for the rest of the dinner time spent with his hyungs because Sunoo (sometimes, aggressively) feeds Riki their dinner.
“Do you think I should tell Sunoo-hyung that I like him?”
It was just Riki and Sunghoon in their shared room. Jungwon was most likely hanging out with Jay and Sunoo was in the shower. And singing quite loudly. (Riki would ask Sunoo to shut up, but he doesn’t think he has the heart for Sunoo’s pouting tonight).
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
“Sunoo’s dumb, Riki-ah.”
“Hey! Don't call my soon-to-be-boyfriend, dumb , hyung! We’re not talking about you!”
“I’ll let what you said about me slide tonight. But, Riki, you are so obvious it gives me hives watching you cling to Sunoo like he’s Meth or something. Like, how the hell does Sunoo not know you’re hopelessly in love with him?”
“Meth?”
“Methamphetamine. A Class A drug. It’s highly addictive and can ruin your life.”
“What are you talking about, hyung?”
“You don’t know what Meth is?”
“No? I don’t do drugs in my spare time?”
“I don’t either, Ni-ki.”
“Then how come you know what Meth is and I don’t?”
“Because I graduated high school.”
Riki scowls. “Real low, hyung, real low .”
“Fine. Let me dumb down my words for you.”
“ Hyung !”
“Sunoo is a drug and you are a drug addict.”
“I mean, yeah, I’m addicted to Sunoo, but who isn’t?”
Sunghoon raises his hand.
“Put your hand down, hyung. Lying gives you hives.”
“Does not.”
“Does too!”
“Does not .”
“Does too! ”
Sunghoon wakes up with hives in the morning and Riki cackles super loudly, Jungwon and Sunoo wake up.
“What’s so funny, Ni-ki?” Jungwon was half-asleep as he sits up in bed. If Jay were here, he would be all over the sleepy boy.
“Sunghoon-hyung has hives!”
Sunghoon grumbles to himself.
“Sunghoon-hyung is such a loser. He never listens to what I have to say, and now look at him!”
Jungwon was finally awake and alert. “What gave you hives, hyung?”
Sunghoon refuses to answer.
Serves him right, Riki thinks. Why did Sunghoon have to lie? It’s not a bad thing, being addicted to Sunoo! He should’ve trusted Riki because Riki is the #1 addict when it comes to Sunoo and his saccharine nature.
No one ever listens to Riki and it’s starting to get annoying.
Like, sure, Riki doesn’t have a high education because he gave up his teenage years to be an idol, but that doesn’t make him any less stupid. (Well, there have been a few idiotic moments but Riki won’t delve into them today). In fact, Riki thinks he’s pretty well-versed in Sunooology! (Or is it Sunoology?)
“Sunghoon-hyung got hives because he’s a big fat liar.”
“You can’t get hives for lying , Riki,” Sunoo sighs exasperatedly.
“Yes you can! Sunghoon-hyung is proof!”
“Go wake up the others, Ni-ki. We need to take Sunghoon-hyung to see a doctor.”
Riki cackles once more before gleefully skipping out the door. He loves the world. He loves seeing Sunghoon like this. Suddenly, the world is brighter and maybe today he can finally admit his true love for Kim Sunoo and they can ride off into the sunset together.
That doesn’t happen.
It’s two weeks after the whole Sunghoon-hyung-had-hives-LOL! Fiasco and Riki is still being not-so-subtle about his love and appreciation and endearment for Kim Sunoo. Sunghoon is also refusing to speak to Riki, but Riki doesn’t mind. More silence for him! He’s hasn’t had any migraines at all these past few weeks and he thinks he owes Sunghoon some food for that. (Maybe he should get Sunghoon to ignore him more often).
“Earth to Ni-ki.” Choi Yeonjun sat in front of Riki.
Choi Yeonjun is so awesome. He’s the best dancer Riki knows. (Don’t tell Heeseung that. Or Jay. Or Jungwon. Or anybody else in ENHYPEN and SHINee). (Also do not tell Michael Jackson that.) (Riki thinks he should add his siblings onto that list as well). (But J-hope…..)
Okay, Choi Yeonjun is one of the best dancers Riki knows. But, he’s still pretty awesome and Riki would give up everything to hang out with someone like Choi Yeonjun for the rest of his life.
“Why did you call me in here?”
“I was about to ask that question.” Choi Soobin was also in here.
“I didn’t invite you, Soobin-hyung. Yeonjun-hyung just brought you with him.”
“So I can go?”
“Yeah.”
“No. You’re staying, Soobinnie.”
“Don’t use that nickname, hyung.”
“Would you rather me use baby? Darling? Honey? --”
“Ni-ki, what’s up?” That was Jay. He sat beside Riki and looked thoroughly bored.
“How do I admit my feelings towards Sunoo-hyung? -- Oh, Yeonjun-hyung and Soobin-hyung, I like Sunoo-hyung.”
“We know. It’s easy to tell,” Yeonjun replies with a smile.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not exactly subtle about it, Ni-ki,” Jay responds with an amused grin.
“That’s what Sunghoon-hyung told me.” Mutters Riki.
“You and Sunoo-ah are just like Soobin and I,” Yeonjun muses, “when we were in the honeymoon stages of our relationship.”
“Wait, you and Soobin-hyung are dating ?”
Yeonjun gives Riki a look. Riki instantly shrinks down his chair and feels dumb. “Yeah, we’ve been dating for a couple of years -- we’ve literally kissed in front of you, Ni-ki?!”
“He has eyes only for Sunoo, hyung,” Jay pipes up casually. “It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Shut up, Jay-hyung. You can’t talk when all you eat, sleep, dream, breath, and think about is Jungwon-hyung.”
Jay flicks Riki’s forehead for that remark.
“Anyway, back to my dilemma -- Ha! Dilemma! -- Sorry, just found that funny.”
No one laughs and Riki thinks his hyungs are pathetic.
“Do I just go for it?”
“Practice on me, Ni-ki,” Soobin says. “What will you say to Sunoo?”
“Yeonjun-hyung, is it okay if I practice on Soobin-hyung?”
“No.”
“Okay. So, I’m Ni-ki and you’re Sunoo.”
Soobin nods his head and beams brightly at Riki. It’s like he can see Sunoo. Riki gulps and straightens his back, ignoring a snickering Jay beside him. (Why did he even bring Jay? Oh, right, Heeseung and Jake were probably making out in the bathrooms and Jungwon was doing his leader duties and Riki couldn’t exactly bring Sunoo to this meeting).
“Hey, Sunoo-hyung, I like you. Date me, please. I’m literally dying over here. It’s like I’m in the desert and you’re my source of water. I will die without you, hyung, please date me. If you say no I think I might ki --”
“Okay, maybe don’t say that.” Soobin cuts Riki off, his smile wiped from his face.
Riki pouts. “Fine. You be Ni-ki and I’ll be Sunoo-hyung.”
“What? No, we don’t have to do that --”
“ Please .”
“Fine.”
Riki grins. He loves Soobin. He can also feel Yeonjun glaring at Riki and Riki swallows his snort. What’s Riki going to do? Steal Soobin? Soobin’s not his type, sorry hyung!
“Hey, Riki-ah, do you want me to feed you some meat today?” Riki loves cosplaying at his hyung. He feels superior. (Sunoo, for some reason, often calls Ni-ki ‘Riki,’ and every time he does, Riki feels all warm and giddy on the inside. It’s better than when anybody else calls him that). (Riki also ignores the look Soobin gives him).
“Sunoo, I like you.”
“You’re supposed to say Sunoo- hyung .”
Soobin sighs and gives Jay a look that screams ‘please-help-me’ but Jay just shrugs. “Sunoo-hyung, I like you.”
Riki waits.
And waits.
And waits.
But nothing more is said and the group of four sit in silence.
“Is that it ?”
“Yeah. What else am I supposed to say?”
“I don’t know. Something more romantic, like, ‘when I look at you, I burn,’ or something like that.”
“Why would you want to burn while looking at someone?” Soobin asks, confused.
Riki sighs. His hyungs are dumb, stupid, and pathetic He’s going to have to ask Sunoo out without the help of anyone else around him.
“Sunoo-hyung?”
It was late at night and Riki was feeling alone. He had just gotten off the phone with his mom.
“Yeah, Riki?”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?”
Sunoo’s smile is blinding. It’s too bright. Usually, Riki would feel warm. All he feels is his loneliness. “Of course, Riki.”
For some weird reason, Riki doesn’t feel warm when Sunoo calls him by his real name. But, still, Riki climbs into Sunoo’s bed and easily wraps himself around the older boy’s body. There, he finally feels the warmth he’s so used to feeling.
Sunoo begins to threads his fingers through Riki’s hair and Riki moves closer, his eyelids falling shut.
“Are you okay, Riki?” Sunoo asks in a hushed voice. Sunghoon was already asleep. Jungwon was probably sleeping with Jay in Jay’s room, which meant Jake was probably in Heeseung’s room. (Sunghoon should start dating someone and then spend his time in their room so then Riki could have this room for only him and Sunoo -- or maybe Sunghoon should just join Jake and Heeseung’s relationship because he’s not sure Jay would want to share Jungwon with someone else).
“No.”
Riki recently found out it’s impossible to lie to someone like Sunoo.
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I just feel lonely, hyung.”
“Care to explain why?”
“I don’t know how to explain it. I know I shouldn’t be feeling lonely, but I just. . . I miss my family so much, that I begin to feel lonely.”
“Riki--”
“I know I shouldn’t feel lonely, but I do hyung.”
“Riki, it’s okay to feel lonely,” Sunoo’s voice was like a gentle lullaby. Riki wants to swim in his voice. “Just know that if you ever feel lonely, it’s okay to tell us -- your hyungs. We’ll do everything we can to make you feel a little less lonely. We all care about you, Riki.”
Riki’s heart swells.
“ I care about you.”
Riki’s heart explodes.
If possible, Riki moves closer to Sunoo.
Riki is sure he wants this to be his forever.
“I love you, hyung.”
Do you get the meaning, Sunoo-hyung? Can you hear it? Can you feel it?
“I know you do, Riki.”
“Are you going to say it back?”
“I love you too, Riki.”
Can we spend our forever, together, hyung?
Instead of asking, Riki falls asleep feeling less lonely.
A week later, Riki barges into Jay’s room, finding him and Jungwon making out on the former’s bed. Riki doesn’t care though and leaps onto Jake’s bed that probably hasn’t been used for the past three weeks.
“Why is Sunoo-hyung avoiding me?”
Jungwon sighs.
“We were in the middle of something, Ni-ki,” Jay says, but he doesn’t sound as angry as he should.
“I don’t care. I’m more important. Why is Sunoo-hyung avoiding me?”
Sunoo’s been avoiding Riki for the past week. It started the night after Sunoo made Riki feel less lonely. Did Riki say something wrong? Did he smell -- oh maybe he should’ve worn socks because he’s pretty sure his feet made the whole room smell. (Or maybe that was just Sunghoon coming back from the Gym like the Gym Bro he is).
Riki’s been having a meltdown over this and he wants to uncover the truth -- why was hanging out with Sunghoon more enticing than hanging out with Riki? I mean, Riki certainly knows a lot more about K-dramas than Sunghoon does! Riki honestly feels a little offended, I mean, since when was Sunghoon Sunoo’s first option for anything? It has always been Riki.
“Is Be:Lift making him avoid me? If it is, I will not hesitate to walk into Bang PD’s office and ask him to fight.”
“Bang PD isn’t in charge of Be:Lift, Riki,” Jay tells Riki, clinging to Jungwon as if his life depended on it.
“Who is?”
“Why the hell would I know?”
“It’s not important anyway. Why is Sunoo-hyung avoiding me? I haven’t been using honorifics with him and he still refuses to look at me. Am I that ugly? Do I smell that bad? I’ve been washing my face more often so it’s not oily but nothing compares to Sunoo-hyung’s face masks. I asked to use one last night and he straight up ignored me and went on TikTok! What’s more important than me on TikTok ?”
“A lot of things, Riki.”
“Shut up Jungwon-hyung.”
“It’s hard to confess to the love-of-your-life if he’s avoiding you. Should I corner him and force him to love me back? What about love spells? Or do those only exist in books?”
Jay rubs his temples. “This is too much.”
“Well, you two are the only ones in an actual relationship, so give me advice. I can handle any kind of advice whether it be good or bad.”
“Jay-hyung gives out bad advice so I don’t know why you’re asking him.”
“Do not!”
“Yes you do, hyung. And Riki, Heeseung-hyung and Jake-hyung are also in a relationship! I thought you knew?”
“No? Why would I know? I get tunnel vision whenever Sunoo-hyung is around.”
“Go ask Heeseung-hyung and Jake-hyung, okay, Riki?”
“You just want to continue making out.”
“And we deserve too. Goodbye, Riki.”
“You two both suck.”
But, Riki does leave them alone to suck each other’s face off. Riki seriously doesn’t want to be single anymore. It’s too much for him to handle, being around couples like Jay and Jungwon. (Soobin and Yeonjun are far more obvious about their love for each other, now that Riki is aware of their relationship. He’s surprised Bang PD hasn’t asked them to get married or something).
“Why is Sunoo-hyung avoiding me?” Riki says as he throws open the door to Heeseung’s room.
“Riki! Hey!” Jake smiles brightly.
“Hey hyung -- oh.”
Heeseung and Jake sat on one bed, while Sunghoon and Sunoo sat on the couch Heeseung had bought for his room. (His hyungs are weird). (Riki never questions what they do).
“Well, this is awkward.” Riki chuckles.
“Yeah, you think?”
Riki scowls at Sunghoon.
“I can’t believe you would rather hang out with Sunghoon-hyung over me , Sunoo-hyung. That’s just straight-up offensive.”
“Riki, what the hell?”
“I used to cry over not being able to see my parents at night, but now I cry because Sunghoon-hyung is being picked over me .”
“Wait, you cry over not being able to see your parents?”
“It’s not the time for that, Heeseung-hyung. Sunoo-hyung, what is going on? Do I really smell that bad?”
“Well --”
“Shut up Sunghoon-hyung. Your name isn’t Sunoo-hyung.”
“And what if it is?”
“There’s only one Sunoo-hyung in this world, sorry.”
“Whatever.”
“Sunoo-hyung, what’s going on? I feel awful. Why are you avoiding me?”
Riki watches Sunoo look to Sunghoon for help. His hyung shrugs his shoulders, “you’re on your own, Sunoo.”
Sunoo pouts and Riki physically holds himself back. “You’re not helpful in any way, hyung.”
“Wonyoung would say different. She thinks I’m very helpful.”
“Mm, okay.”
Sunoo finally looks at Riki for what feels like the first time in a millennia and Riki’s knees almost give away. He’s so glad Sunoo is finally looking at him. Riki doesn’t know how he survived this long without Sunoo’s stare.
“I feel refreshed. Thanks for finally looking at me, Sunoo-hyung.”
“Riki. . .”
“Oh, was that too harsh?”
“We should go,” Jake says, nudging Heeseung.
(Riki can now see how close Jake and Heeseung are. Huh, so maybe he’s too obsessed with Sunoo).
Jake, Heeseung, and Sunghoon all file out of the room.
“Why are you avoiding me, hyung?”
“Straight to the point, huh?” Sunoo’s laugh sounds bitter and Riki’s heart threatens to claw itself to the surface. Riki can’t have that though, because if his heart breaks through his skin, he’ll die and that means he won’t be able to look at his Sunoo-hyung for the rest of his life.
“Yeah. . Are you gonna answer my question?”
Sunoo looks away and Riki’s heart drops to his feet. Oh no. This is the end of all things Sunki related. Riki has a feeling he’s going to die soon. Reason? Lack of Affection by Kim Sunoo.
“Riki. . .”
“Whenever you trail off like that I get rejected.”
“Riki!”
“Is it not true?”
Sunoo doesn’t respond.
“Hyung,” Riki’s voice was hushed now. “What’s going on? If you want me to, I can shower more often!”
“No, no -- it’s not that.”
“What’s going on, hyung?”
Sunoo finally looks back at Riki and he notices how tired Sunoo looks.
His heart drops to his feet again, but this time, he picks it back up just as easily.
Seeing Sunoo all sad and tired and mopy makes Riki tired, mopy, and sad . They are basically the same people -- Soulmates, if you will. Where Riki ends, Sunoo begins. Where Sunoo ends, Riki begins.
Oh wow, Riki can’t believe he’s this in love with someone. It doesn’t make him shudder like it used to.
“Fine,” Riki caves in, “I’ll say what I’ve been meaning to say.”
“Riki? What’s going on?”
Riki pouts and dramatically throws himself onto Heeseung's bed -- but making sure to put a careful space between him and Sunoo.
“I’m hopelessly in love with you Sunoo-hyung, like, romantically and it’s killing me to see you avoid me. I don’t think I’ve put on that much deodorant and stolen Jay-hyung’s perfume to use every hour just to have you look at me. Or be near me.”
The silence is loud.
Riki musters up the courage to look at Sunoo.
Riki gets a fright when he sees Sunoo’s shocked face. Why is his mouth hanging open like that? Why is he looking at Riki like that? Oh no, did he suddenly grow a pimple? How do pimples even work anyway?
“Do I have a pimple on my face, Sunoo-hyung?”
Sunoo doesn’t respond and Riki freaks out further. “Is it that bad? Should I pop it? Ew, no, that’s gross.”
Sunoo’s still shocked and Riki grows worried. Oh no, did he accidentally freeze Sunoo in that position somehow? How does he unfreeze Sunoo?
“Uh. . .Earth to Sunoo? Abracadabra, unfreeze my hyung? Did it work? Sunoo-hyung? Helloooo?”
Sunoo finally moves. His mouth shuts and he gulps.
Riki sighs in relief. “Thank God. I thought I had accidentally frozen you or something -- do you want to watch Frozen with me after this?”
“Ni-ki, you love me?”
“Why are you calling me Ni-ki? I like it when you call me Riki.”
“You -- you can’t just say thinks like that, Riki!”
“Like what ?”
“Riki -- I--”
“Why are you so flustered right now?”
“Riki, you love me? Romantically?”
“Isn’t that what I just said?”
Riki thinks Sunoo lets out the biggest sigh he’s ever heard.
“I love you too, Riki.”
“Romantically?”
“Yeah.”
Riki grins and reaches out to hug Sunoo. “So, is that why you were avoiding me?”
“I thought it would make these feelings go away.”
“You’re stupid, hyung. Just like Sunghoon-hyung said before he got hives!”
“Riki, what?”
“Don’t worry, hyung. Does this mean you’re my boyfriend now?”
Sunoo blushes and Riki thinks he looks pretty. “Do you want me to be your boyfriend?”
“There’s no one else I’d choose over you, hyung.”
Sunoo grows more flustered.
Riki falls more in love.