Rikki

[22nd December]

We returned to the ground level hand-in-hand to see students gazing out the windows with wonder-filled eyes. Even some of the teachers were around to watch the snow.

Of course, snow was also a sign that Christmas was approaching.

Our group waved us over from a few meters away, they had hogged one of the huge windows to themselves. We walked over and saw Rikki and Silas crouched down with their hands crossed on the window sill, silently watching the snow. They were so adorable.

"Hey," I greeted and some of them turned around. Silas looked over his shoulder and his eyes instantly went over our intertwined fingers. He gasped out loud and abruptly stood up, gaining the attention of the students around.

"Are you guys-?" he looked back and forth at us. We exchanged glances before nodding with huge grins.

"What?!" Ethan pushed innocent Nick aside before lunging at us with his arms open wide.

"Congratulations!!" he gave us a bone-crushing hug and I wheezed at the sudden impact. Jay grinned and stroked Ethan's back.

"I was seriously rooting for the both of you!" Ethan pulled away to wipe a tear.

"Dude are you crying?!" I laughed and gave the eldest another hug.

"Thank you for supporting us," the eldest cried harder. I didn't know I was such a softie.

"Oh my God, they're gay?" students whispered around us but we didn't really bother. They were bound to know anyway.

"...you're gay?"

Dylan questioned with a small voice as he approached me. I suddenly recollected what Johnny had told me and hesitantly responded. I was caught off-guard when he wrapped his arms around me. He was sobbing too. I laughed and caressed his back.

It's not like I died! Why was everyone crying?!

"Ugh, why didn't you tell me?!" Dylan furiously wiped away his tears, scoffing in incredulity.

"I didn't tell anyone in particular," I admitted. Dylan rolled his eyes and smiled at me.

I noticed how it didn't really reach his eyes.

"Congratulations," I thanked him and looked down in embarrassment.

"Hey, hey!" Jay suddenly sped to stand next to me, having previously been pushed around by the twins.

"Why is Johnny getting all the congrats? What about me?" Jay pouted and pointed to himself. You could almost see the deflated puppy ears on his head.

"Congratulations, Jay!" they shouted in sync. A smile immediately crept up Jay's face and he lightly rocked in joy. He looked so lovable I wasted no time pinching his cheeks.

"Hey!" he yelled but made no effort to push my hands away. I cooed at him with a wide grin on my face.

I can't wait to tell Johnny that we now have a shared boyfriend.

-

"So, I was thinking," Jay whispered from beside me in class.

The others made Dylan switch seats with Jay after we announced our relationship. Dylan was unmoving at first but when Jay said it was only for today, Dylan huffed and stood up before pointing a finger at Jay, yelling at him to keep his promise.

"I'm still your best friend, you get that?" Dylan suddenly turned and his finger was pointed at me. I laughed with a nod, assuring him that he will always be my partner-in-crime.

I hummed and turned to look at Jay, who was secretly using his phone under the table. "Jay, what are you doing?!" I hissed at him, peeping at the teacher who had his back on us.

"It's only for a while. I was thinking we could go on a date tonight," he suggested with an excited grin. A blush crept up to my cheeks.

"Aren't we moving a little too fast...?" I muttered, still keeping a close eye on the teacher. He was still oblivious.

Jay's smile faltered. "Oh, are we?" he rubbed his nape and lowered his gaze.

"It's okay then,"

"No! We can go. I'm just kidding!" I couldn't stand seeing him so down, especially when I was the cause of it. I just wanted Johnny to be the one on a first date with him. Jay beamed at that.

"Okay, how about we meet after school?" Jay was bouncing in his seat like a little kid. I almost agreed but then I remembered.

"Sorry, Jay. I'm accompanying Rikki back to his place for pictures after school," I winced at the bad timing.

There was no way I could postpone it too; Ethel and I's presentation was tomorrow.

Jay seemed to understand and he rubbed his chin in thought.

"I can come to pick you up after you're done. Just ring me up!" I blinked.

"But I'll be in my uniform for the date?" he shook his head in an instant. "No Johnny,

we'll go back to my place first and have you change into something fancy," he winked at me.

His place? What could happen? "Oh, okay,"

The school bell rang just in time and Rikki immediately rushed over to my seat, a little too eager. His bag was already packed. "Let's go!" the others stared at us with raised brows.

"I'm going over to his house to get pictures!" I announced before getting dragged out of the classroom by the youngest. I barely even got to zip my bag! Ugh, the hormones in this kid!

"Call me when you're done!"

-

"Should we get some hot noodles, Johnny? It's amazing in the snowy season too," Rikki suggested with a giggle as we passed by a small noodle truck parked by the pavement.

"If you want to," I grinned at him. He grabbed my arm before pulling me to the semi-crowded truck.

To be honest, Rikki had been acting unusual ever since Jay and I have gotten together. I didn't miss how he turned and glanced at us during class earlier. I told myself not to overthink and studied the menu.

"Oh, the curry noodles look great," I muttered, subtly rubbing my palms together for warmth.

"You've always liked spicy food," Rikki smiled at me before ordering for the both of us. We even bickered afterward on who was going to pay.

"Don't we have a routine on who pays for the meal? I'm pretty sure I was next after the twins!" I argued with him, wallet squished in my hands.

"That's only when the seven of us are together, dumbass! Let me pay, please. It's freezing out here!"

He ended up paying and we raced to his house with the takeout in hand, craving for some heat in this sub-zero weather. We were also laughing like little children when we briefly paused to shape snowballs to throw at each other, our cheeks blushed red from the cold.

"I'm home!" Rikki announced as we stepped into his house. We immediately removed our boots and shook the snow off our coats. It was dark and Rikki hummed in confusion before swiping on his phone to dial his mum. After a while, he sighed and looked at me.

"My mum will be back in an hour. She's out running errands," Rikki scuffled to the dining table, and with a flick of the switch nearby, the little fairy lamps that hung on the walls illuminated the area. His house was small but it was really cozy, especially with the warm lighting.

Soft piano tunes began playing and I looked around for the source, baffled. Rikki chuckled as he watched me. "It's been so long since you've visited that you forgot everything, huh?" he turned and walked to me, the mini disco ball above him reflecting tiny beams on his face. Am I in a movie? This is enchanting.

"My mum installed the automated music box. It turns on when the lights are as well," grabbing the takeout in my hands, he nudged me over to the table before disappearing into the dim kitchen. I took a seat near the table and glanced around in awe, the soft melody of the music box filling my ears.

I turned around when I heard footsteps approaching the table. Rikki came over with two bowls of soup and set them down on the glass surface. I snickered at him.

"We could've just eaten the noodles out of the paper bowls they came in,"

"Where's the class in that?" he gave me a look before delving into his noodles. For the next fifteen minutes, we ate in complete silence. Well, not really. The pink-haired brat tried to steal my soup four times and I almost poured it on his face.

-

"It's done!" Rikki turned around in his purple swivel chair with a small drive between his fingers. He moved to sit next to me. I sat up straight on the edge of his bed and let him drop it on my palm.

"Thank you so much for the pictures!" I grinned as I turned away to stuff it in my backpack.

"You have no idea how appreciative I am for-" I glanced back at him and my breath hitched at the sudden proximity of our faces.

Rikki stared at my lips through his hooded monolid eyes with an undecipherable expression on his face. What was happening? I licked my lips, feeling self-conscious.

"Uh-Rikki...?"

Suddenly, he inched closer and pressed his lips onto mine. My eyes widened in hysteria. My hands were frozen at my side, not able to shove him away. He pulled away slowly and scanned my face for any reaction. He attempted to go for another kiss but I quickly laid my hands on his chest to restrain him. I sighed softly in relief that my limbs started working again.

"Rikki! What are you doing?!" I raised my voice, distraught. He hung his head low and I swore I heard a soft sob. I retreated my hands and glanced around in panic when I heard another cry escape him, his shoulders shaking in the slightest.

"Rikki-"

"Why?" he choked out and I furrowed my brows.

"...what? Rikki, I don't think you're feeling that well-" I assumed he was having a fever as I sought to lay my hand on his forehead.

He suddenly snatched my wrist before gazing up at me through his pink bangs with tears streaking down his reddened cheeks. My mouth opened and closed as I stared at him in slight fear. I've never seen Rikki cried before.

"Why Jay?!" he screamed and held my wrist tighter. I winced in pain.

"Why does it have to be Jay, out of all people?!" he lowered his gaze and cried harder. I gulped and remained speechless.

"He was like a brother to me! I'd always go to him when I needed advice. Now, I can't even look at him without thinking he stole you from me!" Rikki bawled out in difficulty and finally let go of my wrist.

"What-" my brows knitted in realization. Rikki liked me.

"Rikki," my hands hovered over his slouched form as I tried to think of a way to comfort him.

Shit, I did not come to Earth for this crap!!

"Just go," Rikki suddenly muttered through sobs, shoulders dropping in defeat.

"Rikki..."

"Please, just go." he let out a trembling sigh and glanced at me. With a final look, I grabbed my backpack and coat before stepping to the door. I hesitantly twisted the doorknob and turned to look over my shoulder. It was heart-wrenching to see the usual lively pink-headed male so dejected and broken. It was even worst to know I was the cause of it.

"I'll...return the drive to you tomorrow," he gave me a feeble nod and I shut the door quietly. I turned around and marched down the stairs with mixed feelings. I should try and clear things up with him tomorrow. I didn't want Johnny to come back disoriented.

Keys jingled and I froze on the last step of the stairs. Shit! It's Rikki's mum-

"Rikki?" Ms. Yamamoto summoned as she unlocked the door to silence. She looked around the house and beamed upon seeing me.

"Ah, Johnny! How nice of you to come by!" she quickly got in and took off her coat.

"I was concerned to see the house so empty! Usually, Rikki would tell me if he was going out with you boys!"

"O-oh! I see," I didn't really know how to respond to that.

"Are you leaving soon?"

"Yes, Ms. Yamamoto. It's a shame I can't stay for long," she sighed and nodded understandingly.

"Where's Rikki? How barbarous of him to not walk you off!" Ms. Yamamoto huffed and was going to walk around me up the stairs but I immediately stopped her.

"Rikki's not feeling well!" I blurted out.

"He's not feeling that good, so I insisted on walking myself to the door. It's okay," I forced a smile to my lips and puffed out my chest.

"I'm a big boy after all," that was absolutely embarrassing to say but I needed to stop her from checking in on Rikki, especially not when I was still around. Ms. Yamamoto squealed and clapped her hands in delight.

"Ah! You're such a role model for Rikki!" she praised. I winced at that but quickly bowed and made my way to the house door.

"See you soon, Ms. Yamamoto!" I waved and rushed out.

I groaned exasperatingly and rubbed my face in disappointment as I strolled along the pavement back to my house. I can't believe Rikki liked me! And for how long!? Did Johnny even know??

This was terrible, I'd have to ask Johnny about this. My fingers subconsciously went to my lips and I felt guilty for having kissed someone else. Oh god, how do I tell Jay?

My phone suddenly rang and I paused in my steps to pick it up.

'Jay <3' how cheesy. I smiled when I remembered how he forced me to change his contact name on my phone during class.

"Hello?" I continued pacing, studying my surroundings in the process.

"Are you done with the pictures yet? Can I come to pick you up now?" he asked and I sighed softly.

"It's okay. I'm already walking myself home," I exhaled, a puff of white mist escaping into the air.

"Home? Johnny, did you forget?" I raised a brow. Oh, wait-

"I'm bringing you to my place."