~ time skips ~

"great job today. i'll see you two soon!" the producer said, giving the two of them hugs. the two trainees and hyungwon walked out of the studio, all of them feeling relieved. it was already getting dark, which made the three of them a little surprised.

"would you two like a ride home?" hyungwon asked, getting out his car keys from his pocket.

"we're good; we will just walk from here." jooheon replied. kihyun was about to disagree, but jooheon gave him a look to shut up.

"okay, stay safe, boys!" hyungwon said, walking in the opposite direction of the two. they both waved and continued to walk home.

"why didn't you wanna ride with him?" kihyun asked.

"i wanted to talk to you, and i figured that this would be a good time to do so."

"about what?"

"y/n; i know that we both like her, but i don't know. rapping those lyrics that they gave me put me in thought if those are things i would do with her, and i don't think i will. and i know you were thinking about her when you were singing, don't even lie to me."

"i was, but what we were singing and rapping today doesn't mean-"

"take the hint, hyung, i don't like her anymore."

"just like that? you couldn't have dropped her that quickly."

"well, too bad. i did."

"that sounds a bit suspicious. why would you stop liking her out of the blue? i know it's not only about the song."

"fine, i'll tell you the truth. knowing that you like her now, it makes me, i don't know, a bit stressed? if i wanted to like a girl, then i want to like someone that my friend doesn't like. and i can see that you two get along pretty good, so i decided to let her go."

"are you serious?"

"dead serious."

"wow, i don't know if i should be happy or not."

"be happy. there are a lot of other girls for me to like anyways."

"are you gonna be alright?"

"i think so. it'll be tough at first, but i know i'll get through it."

"i don't know if i should thank you. what should i do now?"

"i have no idea. first, you should tell the others and get their opinions. especially shownu hyung, because he is smart."

"okay. wanna stop at the convenience store real quick?"

"yes."

the two finally arrived at the dorm, with bags of junk food in their hands.

"we're home!" kihyun announced, closing the door behind him. the other boys poked their heads out of their bunks and saw the two.

"home late much?" shownu asked, jumping out of his bed. "i'm hungry. where's dinner?"

"right here." jooheon replied, taking instant ramens out of the bag. the others' faces lit up and rushed to the bag.

"let's eat?" kihyun asked, getting all of the ramens and putting them in a pot. the others nodded, sitting at the table where they usually eat.

"so, i have something to say." kihyun announced to everyone. everyone else looked at him, with noodles in their mouths.

"you can do it." jooheon whispered to him, giving him a small thumbs up. kihyun was a little hesitant and afraid of how they would react to his sudden confession.

"i like y/n." kihyun finally said.

changkyun almost spit out his noodles. "you what?"

"i like her."

"kihyun likes hyungnim's daughter. that is tough," shownu added on.

"why?"

"well, you know, the company bans dating. and you like his daughter, that's like plus ten points of getting kicked out."

"you have to watch out, or she'll pull the kwangji on you." minhyuk joked. everyone else glared at him.

"what are you saying, hyung? that is not something to joke about." jooheon told him, shaking his head.

"it was just a joke. chill."

"anyways, there's something else i wanna know." shownu said. "why were you and jooheon so mad at each other last night?"

"because i liked her, too." jooheon replied confidently. changkyun and minhyuk then burst with laughter.

"that's the funniest thing ever!" minhyuk exclaimed, hitting changkyun's arm.

"stop laughing." kihyun nagged. "the only thing i'm asking from you guys is advice. i don't know what to do."

"well, you can tell her." shownu suggested. "but if you fear rejection, someone else should talk about it with her."

kihyun's phone dinged all of a sudden. everyone stopped talking and eating and looked at kihyun, who looked at his phone.

so, how was today?

"it's her." he said, showing all of them the message.