The third ballad (Kingdom's Louis Fanficiton)

6 - Game Olympics

Leedo opened the door for me as I rang my neighbour's doorbell an hour later. "Katy, so good to see you again. Come in", he greeted me and made way for me. "Thanks", I smiled as I stepped inside. "We decided to order since Seoho was too lazy to cook today", he apologized right away and I laughed. "All good. I like delivery too", I assured him and made my way to the living room, finding all of them sitting there. "Hi guys", I greeted them and let myself drop on the couch next to Keonhee and opposite Leedo who also sat down now. "Nice, only one left to wait for", Xion said, "I am starving and the guys won't let me eat until everyone's here." I grinned as I saw his pout. Xion was all about food. "Poor baby", I teased him as the doorbell rang again. "I'll open", Seoho said and jolted up. I was pretty sure I knew who was invited. And I was right: As usually Jacky strolled in, Seoho still holding her jacket. I raised an eyebrow as he threw it on the pile of clothes in the corner. Jacky either ignored it or really didn't see it while I sighed. They had been back for two days now and the place was a mess already. "Katy, you're here too?", the last one to come greeted me and I nodded, making some space for her.

I knew Jacky for quite some time now. We met each other in a school club and became friends. When she heard about me searching for a job, she introduced me to the mess that these guys were. They had been an idol group known as ONEUS back then already and were lacking a staff member. Now, that wasn't what I was thinking of doing at first and definitely not for life, but before I knew it, I got accepted to the job. Overall, it was more of an accident. I went into the wrong room at first. All I could make out was Seoho sitting on top of Xion, complaining about how the latter one had stolen his snack while Leedo was trying to defuse and the rest just stood at the side and watched amused. I wanted to sneak out again, confused and unsure if I really wanted to do this as they spotted me. We looked at each other with big eyes. Xion used his chance and shook Seoho off to escape again. Leedo tried to catch him but hadn't been fast enough, so without thinking, I almost tackled their youngest and took the snack from him, handing it over to Seoho instead. That's when their CEO came in on the search of the applicant gone missing. Up to date, Xion still is hesistant to steal snacks when I'm around.

"Enjoy your meal!", Ravn said and we replied likewise. Except Xion who was already digging in. I looked at him scoldingly and he swallowed his food to guiltily say the same thing. "And that", Hwanwoong grinned, "is why we're glad you're back." I laughed. "Too bad, you're not their babysitter anymore", Jacky said. I shrugged my shoulders. "I guess I missed it, too", I confessed, "I mean, I still take care of you now, but I also have new... kids, if you wanna call it like that." "You mean Mr. Handsome and his friends?", Xion asked in between his bites and everyone turned to me in an instant. I blushed and nodded. "They asked me to join the staff team in order to not be too suspicious because I actually lived with them", I explained. "That makes sense", Leedo thought out loud and I nodded again. "Was it fun?", Hwanwoong asked curiously. "It is, yes", I answered. Once again, everyone stared at me. "It IS?", Keonhee spoke up first, "You're still on it?" "Yes?", I replied. I knew what was coming next. "Katy, I don't think-", Ravn started but I cut him off: "I'm fine and I know what I am doing. It's not the same. I feel... I mean, I liked you guys, too, and I loved being on your team as well, of course! But it's just... It's..." "You have Seungbo and Yunho who know and keep an eye on you", Hwanwoong concluded. I nodded. "So, you're sure you're fine?", Jacky reassured. "Absolutely", I said firmly. "Well", Ravn sighed, "I guess, we'll have to believe you." But do promise you will take good care of yourself, you hear?", Keonhee added. "Always", I smiled and nudged him, "And guys? Thank you. Seriously, I know when I cross my limit. It won't happen again." The others nodded but as I looked at them, I knew they weren't too convinced. That's when another thought struck my mind.

"Do you still think you're guilty?", I asked half-loudly. It went silent. Finally, Leedo gathered the courage to look at me: "A bit?" I sighed and put a hand on his arm. "Guys. If it hadn't been for you, I wouldn't even have realized it. You aren't the ones guilty. You are the ones who took care of me in time. I actually owe you", I said softly. "But how did we not realize earlier?", Xion asks quietly. "Well, I am good at pretending, I guess", I sighed. "Oh, cut it out", Jacky chimed in, "Even I didn't realize and I know her longer than all of you. It's no one's fault. Maybe the circumstance's but that's about it. I mean, do you all forget about what was going on back then? It just was a lot to take in and we didn't even know all of it. And now let's not dwell in the past and enjoy our meal. Katy knows what she's doing and I know Seungbo. He won't let it happen again for sure." I sent her a thankful look and nodded. "She's right", I said. "How about reviving our old game Olympics later instead? I think I got better while living with the others", I changed topic. "That sounds good", Hwanwoong agreed, "I still haven't given up my hope to win against Keonhee." I chuckled. "It's on then", Keonhee said. "Let's first finish the meal", Xion reminded them.

After we did, we started playing. We developed a whole routine by now which allowed us to play a variety of games, common ones like Halli Galli but also our very own versions of UNO or Guess the song etc. The first five rounds were for warming up and starting from then on, one of us was eliminated every round. "You guys are on fire today", I said, shaking my head after getting eliminated in the eighth round. I squeezed myself between the other two who were out: Leedo, probably the one that was the least competitive and Ravn who happened to be unlucky. I watched Keonhee and Hwanwoong starting to bicker over small little details. "Good thing, Jacky was here while I wasn't", I added, shaking my head. As always, she managed to defuse between the two and only one look from her to Xion made the latter one decide to not mock Hwanwoong who had lost in the discussion by now. "Definitely", Leedo sighed.

"Hey, Katy, I have a serious question", Ravn spoke up and straightened himself. I looked at him curiously. "This guy accompanying you today... He does look good, don't he?" "No need in denying that", I shrugged. "Soooo... Do you like him?" I rolled my eyes as I saw the teasing smirk on his face again. "He's nice", I answered, "And I would lie saying I am completely uninterested, but I know him for two weeks now. Do you really expect me to be able to tell if there's more to it? I was interested in Xion at first, too, remember?" Ravn jolted up, looking at me with wide eyes. "For real?", he asked puzzled. "Did you not know?", Leedo wondered. The other one shook his head. "Gosh, you two would have been a terrible couple!", he exclaimed afterwards. "I know right?", I sighed, "That's why I said 'at first'. Someone can make you feel flustered without actually being the one. I figured pretty quick that I didn't have feelings for him, just liked him a lot." "Good thing", Ravn said and leaned back again. Leedo and I nodded in unison.

In the end, Jacky won the Game Olympics. And as usually she was granted a wish. We had squeezed ourselves on the couch waiting for her to decide on something. "Actually", she began while I was trying to keep Xion away from annoying Seoho. Everyone turned to her. "I have an idea. There's this new bar that I would love to go to with you", she started. "We're idols though", Leedo said cautiously. Jacky raised her brow: "Do your really think I would forget that? It's literally impossible to go anywhere public with you. But they have a private area that people can rent. Nobody will disturb us there." "That could work", I agreed. "Objections?", Ravn asked. "I would like to inform myself about it first", Leedo chimed in. "We'll keep this as your wish for now and decide it after maybe also talking it out with our manager. And if it doesn't work you can still think of something else, deal?", Seoho suggested. Everyone nodded.

"Alright, guys", I said a few minutes later and yawned demonstratively, "I don't want to be a spoilsport, but I am getting tired. I should slowly head to bed." "Me too", Hwanwoong agreed and Keonhee nodded: "Sleep is very important." "After you, ladies", Seoho smiled and motioned Jacky and me to get up. One after the other, we did so and it wasn't long after that when Ravn, Xion, Jacky and I said goodbye to the rest of the guys. It was a tradition that at least one of them accompanied us home, even if it was just down the stairs for me. At my door, I wished everyone good night and while Xion returned to his apartment after coming long downstairs, Ravn walked Jacky home. Half an hour later I cuddled into my blanket, happy that I was home again and thankful for my friends. Completely satisfied, I fell asleep.