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“Hey,” Jungwon asked, putting down his phone, “have any of you’ve seen Riki?” Riki’s phone message was what Jongwon heard for the nth time. He paced around the room, looking out the window making an illusion of Niki walking up the steps and into the house.
The 5 of them looked at each other, shaking their heads thinking of the last time they saw him. Sunoo mentioned, “I think he was hanging out with friends after school, maybe he’s still out with them?” He wasn’t that worried, Riki was a smart kid and independent, he would be able to walk home.
There was a silence before, “Yeah, it’s just like wouldn’t it be weird if he would stay longer than school hours without telling anyone?” Jake commented, they couldn’t help the aura of worry surrounding the boys, but they could try and calm their minds. Jake and Niki had a bond that some people seemed to overlook, Jake always took care of the younger in some shape or form.
“Rikis probably late,” Jay stepped in, always coming in when the boys seem to make everything 10x bigger than what they actually are, “he’ll be home soon, don’t get too worried.” Jay sat down, letting his leg shake. It wasn’t often that Niki was left alone much less missing. Naturally Jay was worried, but he was like Sunoo, trusting the kid would show up and be perfectly safe, he wouldn't get himself into trouble.
Sunghoon was like Jake in a way, an overlooked bond but caring nonetheless. He was worried, but not in the way the others worried because last time he remembered, Riki was complaining about not having any friends. The feeling he had was not a good one, it resided deep inside making itself known. He didn't say anything, like Heeseung, probably feeling the same as Sunghoon. He was also there for Rikis rant session.
Sunghoons phone lit up and buzzed from inside his pocket. He grabbed it with his hand, flipping it right side up to check what the notification.
'I'm behind the school don't bring anyone else'
'please'
Sunghoon reread the message, it was from Niki and even though it was just a text, Sunghoon felt the emotions that radiated from it. Sunghoon's mind thought of different ways to get to the school without the other members knowing. If they knew where Niki was and was possibly mentally or physically hurt, they would be there.
He raised his phone to his ear, pretending to be on phone, "Hi Riki," they all turned towards him, eyes filled with curiousity, "Fine I'll get you it, see you in a few." He turned off his phone, "He is with some friends and he's being cheap right now so I'm going to give him some drinks. I lost a game with him and now I have to do what he says for a week, I'll be back soon."
Temporarily, he saw Heeseung stare at him, Heeseung had to know that Sunghoon was lying, because Niki didn't have friends, as mean as it was to say, and how Sunghoon was getting ice cold water, a beverage that was usually free was confirming his suspisions. Heeseung watched as Sunghoon waved goodbye, shutting the door behind him.
Sunghoon sighed, trying not to feel to guilty for lying to all of them. His phone buzzed once again,
'I know you were lying, what's really happening?'
Of course it was Heeseung, he thought about how to respond.
'I don't know, he just gave a location and told me to not bring anyone'
'Call me if you need anything'
Heeseung was often a fake maknae but when he needed to be, he was the most responsible, always knowing what people needed. And right now, he knew that Niki wouldn't want to be crowded, so he offered support from the sidelines, being there if the situation was dire and Sunghoon couldn't do it alone but he has all faith that Sunghoon would deal with it.
Sunghoon raced down the streets, going towards the school, he gripped on the bottle of water that started to have condesation, his heart paced faster and faster a mixture of the rate he was running and the anxiety.
He arrived at the school, going around the back, no one really went to the to the back of the school, its where the gangs hung around during school hours. He raced to the back, looking around, and then he found him, it wasn't the worst thing that but seeing Niki hurt wasn't something that Sunghoon ever wanted to see.
"Riki, can you stand up?" Sunghoon asked, putting a hand behind the youngers back, he put his other hand on Niki's wrist as a support.
Niki wasn't to beat up, he had a couple of bruises and probably a sprained wrist, Sunghook only guessed it was sprained for when he did try to help him up, grabbing onto the wrist, Riki hissed in pain, retracting his arm and hugging it to his chest
"I think I can, thank you for coming," Niki told, raising himself from the ground with the support of Sunghoon.
"What happened?" Sunghoon asked on the way back to the dorm. Niki was leaning on Sunghoon as he limped. He thought of an answer, "It was just some kids you know, born in the wrong family," Niki told. It was the truth, kids born with parents who don't deserve kids and took it out on others.
They stayed silent for a minute or two, "Riki, if you were being bullied you could've told us." All Sunghoon wanted was to comfort and help him, how could he if Niki wouldn't tell them he was hurting until he got seriously inured. Riki told, "I'm not being bullied it's just name calling, besides I don't want you guys to do anything about it, I don't care about it, it's not on my mind." Sunghoon sighed, "You're strong, we know that, and you're too independent but why not be strong with us? We're your Hyungs for a reason."
They arrived to the door, before thinking about opening the door it opened by itself. Not by itself, Jungwon opened it, looking at the two, "Riki," he commented, seeing that Niki was there, he was relieved, “we were so worried about you, Heeseung told us about the messages, you didn’t have to lie Sunghoon, and Riki, don’t feel like you have to hide, we care about you.” Riki had walked in, Sunghoon following soon after. When Riki found the couch, Jake and Jay were beside him looking over him to apply ointment to the bruises and wrap his hand in bandages after putting ice on it.
"What happened?" Sunoo asked, coming up from behind the couch. He had placed a hand on Nikis' back, gently messaging it. Riki answered, making sure not to move to much, "Nothing I can't handle." Sunoo sighed, "You shouldn't have to, you're 15."
They checked him into a hospital, getting a splint for his wrist, and a doctors note to not practice for a few weeks.
All was right, Riki was doing his thing, meaning he was on tiktok on his bed, enjoying his little break when Sunghoon comes to his room, which wasn’t unusual because it was their room, except he sat on his bed.
“Riki, can I talk to you?” He asked, Riki put his phone down, sensing a serious conversation to be made, “Why would you keep it a secret?
“I don’t know,” Riki muttered, “I didn’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re never one, tell me the name, please.”
“Kim Minseo.”
“Okay.”
The next day, Minseo was nowhere to be found, not in the halls or his usual classes.
Riki could feel loved, knowing that there were 6 people in his corner, always able to help him.