𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 [ 𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐚𝐮 ]

flashbacks .16

"i don't really think that's a good idea," ricky told lily as he made the door gap smaller so the girl couldn't push herself through, "besides what is possibly so important that you had to come here so late?"

"it's only nine."

"whatever, it's night time," ricky argued back. lily let out a deep breath and gave ricky a stern look.

"i think you're making a big mistake breaking up with me, ricky."

"lily... i..i don't know what else to tell you," ricky told the girl, "it wouldn't be fair to both me and you if we got back together. i just don't love you like that anymore and you'd just be in a one-sided relationship. is that really what you want?"

"okay but ricky, i.. i didn't do anything wrong?!" lily argued back as she chuckled in disbelief, "you broke up with me for no reason?"

ricky shook his head, "it wasn't for no reason, lily?? you were acting kinda crazy—"

"no, i wasn't! i think i was acting pretty calm as a girlfriend, considering how much the whole internet and you were drooling over your ex, nini," lily pointed out. ricky's body stiffened at the sound of nini's name coming out of lily's mouth. the boy looked down to the floor as lily continued, "i have loved you unconditionally this whole year and as soon as nini comes in the picture, you wanna drop everything for her? like what was i doing wrong? why wasn't i enough, ricky?"

nini felt her heart drop and suddenly felt sick to her stomach. the same words and cries that were once coming out of her mouth were now coming out of lily's. nini looked around the pantry, taking in the fact that ricky really took her in there to hide her. the girl shook her head with disappointment and leaned against the wall.

"lily, come on. you know that i loved you just as much as you loved me."

"but not as much as you loved nini, right?"

ricky shook his head and sighed, "nini and i didn't even last for that long and we're not even like that. the only reason we're talking is for the collaboration — that's it," ricky explained to lily, cringing at his words knowing nini was hearing every second of it.

"if that's true, then give me a second chance," lily challenged as she crossed her arms over her chest, "give us a second chance."

ricky's face fell and he hesitantly shook is head, "lily.. i can't do that."

"why.not?"

"i don't love you like that anymore... i'm sorry."

"well then, how do you think your fans are gonna act when they find out that you dated nini and then cheated on her with me," lily challenged the boy, "and how you cheated on me with nini??"

ricky scoffed and shook his head, "i never cheated on you with nini?? that literally never happened, what are you on?"

"yeah well with all the shit i got on you, who do you think they're gonna believe?"

"are you seriously blackmailing me just so i could be your fucking boyfriend again...?"

"i'll give you two days to think about it," was all lily said before giving ricky a snarky smile. without another word, lily turned around and made her way back to her car. ricky watched the girl with disbelief as she happily got in her car and drove away. the boy finally closed the door and locked it.

once nini heard the front door shut, she immediately stepped out of the pantry. the kitchen lights started to burn her eyes from the sudden change. by the time, nini readjusted her eyes — ricky was in front of her.

"hey...." ricky shyly said as he studied nini's face to see what mood she was in.

"i didn't like being trapped in there."

"i know, neens, i'm sorry. it's just lily—"

"being trapped in there, reminded me of all the reasons why you were embarrassed of me."

ricky scoffed, "what? i'm not embarrassed of you."

"yeah now... because i'm rich and famous.."

"what? what are we even talking about here?"

"you're not embarrassed of me now because i'm successful," nini said in a stern voice, " but back then, you were embarrassed of me because i was poor .. and people didn't see value in me like they do now — like you."

"nini, that's not even close to being true," ricky argued back with desperation in his eyes. the boy wanted this night to go so well and it actually was until lily came. now, it was stating to feel like old times when all they did was constantly fight.

"so you mean to tell me that if nothing changed in my life — if i was still poor, a nobody, a barista .. you would be okay with being with me again?"

"yes, nini," ricky quickly answered, "i told you that i've changed! you even said it yourself!"

"yeah, that was until you locked me in a closet and i heard lily saying the same exact words i said to you about not being enough!"

ricky fell silent and felt a lump go through his throat. even now, when nini proves the boy's point wrong — his automatic response is to stay silent. nini shook her head and looked away from ricky's eyes, "i don't even know why i was setting myself up like this in the first place... i should of never came."

"what? no, why?"

"because this — us.. isn't gonna go anywhere."

"how can you be so sure, nini?"

"because you literally just said it to lily, ricky," nini argued back in annoyance, "besides! we all know you're gonna get back together with lily anyways."

"no, i'm not."

"yes, you will. for your career and now my career," nini told the boy. ricky looked down at nini with guilt and shook his head.

"nini ... i ... i'm sorry.."

the girl looked at ricky's eyes one last time before focusing on the floor, "uhm ... thanks for the donuts, bowen but i should probably go."

nini started to make her way to the front door with ricky following close behind her, "you only ate one half though."

the girl stepped out of the house and turned around to see ricky one last time, "i uh.. it's okay. i'll see you on monday about the song," was all nini said before sticking out her hand for ricky to shake.

ricky glanced down at her hand and sighed, "i'm gonna figure out a way to handle lily, i promise."

the girl only pulled her hand away and forced a smile at him, "goodnight ricky," nini quietly said before turning around and leaving his house.

ricky let out a sigh, "night nini..."