Chapter Text
Shen Ricky and Kim Gyuvin used to be quite close friends. Back in secondary school, that is. They had quite a bit in common. Like how they enjoyed video games, spoke English (albeit, there was a clear gap between their skills), both of them were briefly in the same primary school but don't really remember each other and how both of them were on the basketball team, so it wasn't all that shocking to hear that they became friends after being in the same mathematics, science and gym classes.
they naturally drifted apart is what Ricky likes to think. its what he tells people.
Now that he thinks about it.. Ricky has seen him around campus. But not much. it was more like a maybe-Gyuvin maybe-someone else.
It was honestly expected, if he barely bumped into his friends on campus, how the hell was he gonna bump into an ex(?)-friend he hasn't talked to in a year?
Ricky finds himself reminiscing until he snaps back into reality and presses the red button on the vertical railing to indicate his stop was near. Once he got out of the bus and started walking towards the college, he dove back into la la land while his music blasted in his ears, his body moving on autopilot as he's walked this path hundreds of times.
Hmm, should i ask Zhang Hao to get lunch with me? Yeah, why not. I mean, i only have one class today and then i"m free.. I should text him. Ricky leans on to a stop sign that's close to the entrance of his college and pulls out his phone.
LoveLicky: Yah
LoveLicky: Zhang Hao
Neul: yah!??
LoveLicky: you free?
LoveLicky: lunch at 12
Neul: noo sorry
Neul: i have a project
LoveLicky: w/ Taerae?
ZHneul: nuuu
ZHneul: guy in my course, i don't think u know him
LoveLicky: k
LoveLicky: imma ask Taerae n Matthew
LoveLicky: since you dont love me
Neul liked LoveLicky's message
Neul gave a thumbs up to LoveLicky's message
Ricky pouts a little. How dare he deny LoveLicky's lunch request? What a fake friend..
LoveLicky: Mashu
LoveLicky: lunch at 12?
OppaMashuu: i have a a course at 12, sorry :/
LoveLicky: why does everyone hate me?
LoveLicky: how could anyone deny THE LoveLicky?
OppaMashuu: ...
OppaMashuu: jus ask Taerae
OppaMashuu: or get new friends
OppaMashuu: idk, fighting !
Read by LoveLicky
fuck my stupid baka life. Ricky doesn't bother texting Taerae. Getting rejected thrice would be too big of a hit to his narcissistic ego.
☆
Ricky finishes his first and last course of the day. He packs his laptop into it's case and then he puts it into backpack along with his notebooks and other supplies. After doing that, he halts his movements to check his phone, you know, just incase one of his friends decided to make plans or just chat.
there were no significant notifications though. Most of them were just likes on his Instagram posts or replies to his tiktok comments. Hmph.
Ricky finally leaves the classroom and strides his way outside campus to a nearby bench. He sits down and contemplates about for a bit. to message first or not to message first? .As much as it hurt his pride, he decided to text first, though in the group chat this time.
GC- DO NOT LEAVE
LoveLicky, Neul, OppaMashuu, Taerheaaa, Woongie
LoveLicky: anybody free today?
read by ZHneul
OppaMashuu: no <3
LoveLicky: hbu Ji woong hyung?
Woongie: sorry! I'll be meeting up with some friends so i can't for a while
LoveLicky: Seriously??..
LoveLicky: NO ONE??
Taerheaaa: depends
Taerheaaa: can i bring a friend?
LoveLicky: ...
man. Ricky doesn't feel like socializing right now. All he wants is to talk with his friends over lunch after an exhausting day but the universe is punishing him for whatever reason. I'm sorry mother nature, for whatever i did wrong
He really hopes Taerae gets the memo and doesn't ever ask him that again. Disappointed, he takes to tiktok to heal his crappy mood. @Rwi205 checks his notifications which are almost entirely Matthew and Taerae bombarding him with random tiktok slop. He doesn't watch a single one, of course. Clicking on his profile instead, he realizes there's a few account that have checked out his profile. Curiously, he clicks on the foreign accounts
@Hanbinini and @Qub1ng30. Wait, @Qub1ng30? isn't that Gyuvin's account? why is he suddenly viewing my profile? Ricky remembers barely ever seeing Gyu online. But suddenly viewing Ricky's alt account? it's a recipe for disaster for his poor little overthinking heart. But doesn't this mean Gyuvin only knows this account and not his main? That's a relief. He doesn't want his ex best friend, or anyone for that matter to see his main account that's just full of thirst traps. And yet he keeps it public. Pat yourself on the back, Ricky !
The username brings back memories though. Love Licky remembers when he changed his username to the nickname that Gyuvin uses for him. Gyub's username is also a nickname. Cute. though its less obvious. It used to be @Rwicky205 but he changed it a month after setting it without Qubing noticing since he was barely on tiktok anyways. But then how did Gyuvin re-find the account ,even though he changed the username, without them following each other? Aigoyaa
Wait wait wait. I totally forgot. WHO the hell is @Hanbinnie ? I don't know any hanbins. Well, other than Park Hanbin, but i barely know the guy.
Headaches. Headaches i'm telling you. Only Ricky could hyperfixate on something as minor as Tiktok profile views of all things.
Eh, maybe it's just some rando viewing his profile. Ill think about this later because i need to go home now ! He forces himself to think that because he's tired and doesn't want to miss the bus
Ricky takes out his airpods and places each one in the corresponding ear.
Now playing Soap by Yves (feat. PinkPantheress)
☆
Ricky sat on the bench in the bus stop shed thingy. He arrived a bit too early, there's still 23 minutes until the bus arrives so he's just been listening to music while messing around on his phone the whole time until he notices someone enter the bus shelter.
The guy halts at the doorway of the shelter and squints his eyes at Ricky a little as if he saw someone familiar yet distant.
-Are you ricky? He says while lightly poking Ricky's shoulder
-Hmm? Ricky hums obliviously as he didn't really hear what the other said
-Are you..ah, perhaps Ricky?
-Ah.. yes, why?
-Omo! You're Hao-hyung's friend, right? He beamed a smile that reached his eyes
-Yeah.. I am this is a little awkward and the guy is a little creepy
-wah, dont look at me like that! he waved both his hands as if to repel any weird vibes Ricky is getting -I'm in one of his courses! He told me a bit about you
-Ah, i see.. Can people nowadays take a hint?
-You're just as handsome as he said!
-Haha, thank you.. Man, Ricky just wanted to go home at most and listen to music at least
-Do you mind if i sit next to you? He points to the seat next to Ricky
-I don't mind
Surprisingly, the conversation turned slightly engaging after the guy, Hanbin as Ricky just learned, sat down. In the Shen Quan Rui apartment, Ricky was thinking back on the conversation he had with Hanbin, instead of relaxing as he had planned.
- What's your major?
- Visual arts. and you?
- Oh i'm doing Child and Adolescent Mental Health program
- I didn't know he had that here
- Yeah, most people don't, but it's really interesting!
- Are you planning to be a like.. School..therapist thingy?
- Close enough! A school Psychologist
- Ah.. cool, i guess.
awkward silence for a few dozen seconds
- Ricky-ssi, if you don't mind..uh Could you give me Hao's phone number?
- Eh?
- I forgot to ask him last time, sorry!
At the time Ricky pabo panicked a little and gave the guy(total stranger btw) his best friend's phone number before he promptly left, leaving Ricky alone in the bus shelter. Sure hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass!
He then, as if nothing happened, just plugged his airpods back in and blasted his music again.
Now playing Mumbai by Rhea Raj
☆
2:28
notifications:
- Tiktok
-@CanadianOppa replied to your comment
- New messages
-New messages by Neul
- New messages
-New messages by OppaMashuu
Ricky woke up confused after his unwarranted 2 hour nap. He slowly lifted his upper body off the sheets before looking around with half closed crusty eyes. After gaining a bit of strength, he began wiping the dried drool on the corner of his mouth with his left hand and checking the time with his right.
Love Licky blinked slowly to let his eyes adjust to not only the lights in his room, but also the blue lights that his phone emit.
Zhang Hao messaged him first? a bit strange. Let's see..
Neul: Ricky.
Neul: Answer me.
!?
Neul: Ricky.
Neul: Answer me.
LoveLicky: SORRY
LoveLicky: accidentally fell asleep
Neul: oh ok
Neul: now tell me why you gave my phone number to a complete stranger?.
LoveLicky: ... but like.. dont you kno him?
Neul: that's not the point.
LoveLicky: Sorry mama i panicked..
Neul: Don't let me catch you doing that again.
LoveLicky liked Neul's message
Aigoyaa... Ricky pabo !