Pov Ricky

He was looking at Jiwoong running towards him. He seemed worried and scared rather than happy to finally see him again.

He stopped in front of him, and reached out to grab him by his shoulders, but Ricky stepped back, with an annoyed, grumpy 'ah' escaping his mouth.

"Where were you?"

"Did I have a reason to come back home? Did you give me a reason to come back home?"

Ricky lowered his head, and took a deep breath, trying to find a way to tell Jiwoong what he wanted to say.

He looked behind the elder, knowing that he'd see Hao. He knew they were together, so he told Hao that he was outside Jiwoong's house.

"Can we talk?"

Jiwoong looked behind him, and when they motioned him to go, he nodded, and followed Ricky through the park.

Once they sat down, Ricky looked at Jiwoong in the eyes, and sighed, not knowing what to do.

"I know, this might hurt you, but... I think I was- no, I actually was better, before meeting you. Before meeting you, I didn't have any problems. No one threatened me, no one beat me up, no one bullied me... I mean, calling me gay is not bullying but... If it is for them, it's for me, too. "

Jiwoong looked away, biting his bottom lip to avoid letting the tears roll down his face.

"We can't interact again."

Ricky added, and Jiwoong immediately turned his head to look at him, trying to understand what he meant.

"I- how's that possible? We're in the same class, in opposing teams in P.E, the same school, the same neighbourhood."

"Yeah, uh... I'll change class."

Jiwoong closed his eyes, not believing in what he had just heard from Ricky. It couldn't be real.

"But, still, we're in the same school. And the same neighbourhood."

"Right, um.. I didn't say it rightly. I'll change class... School, neighbourhood and uh.. City... Country."

He couldn't stand it, and Ricky knew it. But he had to tell him. Jiwoong teared up, and nothing could stop that.

"I'm going back in China. To my family."

"Wow. You're gonna see them again. And I'm sure they'll be really happy to see you. Both your parents are doctors, they can't come and see you. And I bet that Matthew, Hanbin, Hao, Gyuvin, Yujin, Gunwook... Even Taerae, who always used to defend me when you were bullying me, will be happy for you."

"Of course he will, he hates my guts."

Ricky said, the phrase followed by a little chuckle, while he was playing with his ring, ready to cry.

"Oh, sure he does."

Jiwoong laughed, not letting his smile fade away from his face. He didn't want to look sad, at all.

"I'll leave everyone behind. My friends, my childhood friend, my best friend the person I care about and love the most, and... You. The most important person in my life. And I'll miss you. A lot."

Ricky placed his hands on the bench that they were sitting, and Jiwoong looked at them, confused.

"Give me your hands."

Jiwoong did as Ricky told him, and the younger took a deep breath. He would really miss Jiwoong.

"I want you to come to the airport with me. I want you to be there when I'll leave. I want you to be the last person I see before leaving."

The elder smiled, and nodded slightly, reassuring Ricky that he'd be there. And Ricky trusted him.

"I promise I will."

Ricky yanked his hands back, and wiped his tears away, while standing up, breathing heavily.

"It's uh.. Time for me to go. I need to pack my stuff. Be there at eleven o'clock in the morning."

"As you wish, sir Shen."

Jiwoong smiled, and turned around, slowly leaving. Usually, that was the part where Ricky hugged him before leaving, but not this time.

The elder had already left, so even if Ricky tried to hug him, he wouldn't be able to do so. Not anymore.

He just went home, locked the door behind him, and started crying the moment he sat down, on the floor.

He was crying hard, loudly, with his legs bent over his chest and his arms wrapped around them.

He raised his head, and looked at his bedroom. He wished he could see Jiwoong sitting on his bed.

It was all his fault. It wasn't Jiwoong's fault that he had an ex like that. An ex that was still obsessed with him and threatened anyone next to him.

He had to pack his stuff. He had to find at least two big boxes for his NCT things. They were a lot.

But not even their music could make him calm down anymore. It was supposed to be the only thing that could make him forget all of his problems and make him feel whole again.

But once Jiwoong got into his life unexpectedly, he stole their job. Since then, Jiwoong was that someone who could make him forget his problems.

But when his problem was Jiwoong himself, how could he forget him? He couldn't do that. He didn't want to.

He didn't want to forget him anyway. It was, if not the best, one of the best things that had ever happened to him.

He meant so much to him, and he did so much for him, that Ricky couldn't leave it all behind him.

But, now that he was leaving, who would protect Jiwoong from his ex? Who would be there for him?

Ricky immediately stood up, grabbing his phone, to call Matthew. He had to call him, it was important.

"Matt! No, I'm not leaving yet. Listen, I want you to be by Jiwoong's side, always, like you were for me. If anything happens to him, you'll be responsible. I want you to take care of him like as if he's me, got it?"

He cared so much about Jiwoong, he couldn't let him get hurt ever again.