The Contract // Ricky X OC // ZB1 ✔️

32. The Big Slip

Today I was going to do a live. I'd spent all day in the studio recording one of the b-sides on the album. We hadn't thought of anything that would be title track worthy yet. Meaning we'd only choreographed our b-side we were to promote. It was Neutral and although it had a title track flair. It just wasn't it. I got prepared in the writing room and pressed play. "Hello everyone it's Aella! I was thinking that today we could have an advice day but you can all ask me questions." I said and that's when I started to read the comments. I smiled at some of them.

'Have you eaten?'

"Yes, I have eaten. I had some spicy tteokbokki. It was really nice. When I finished it I felt sad that I'd eaten it all. I wanted more." I said to them all and it was something that I could eat everyday if I had the chance to.

'Who's your dream collab?'

"I have so many but it'd probably say DPR IAN, I'm a big fan of his work and I'd love to do a song with him. I love everything about his art style and I feel like we'd be a good blend on a song together." I said with a smile and I kept looking at the comments.

'Any spoilers for the comeback?'

"What's the best way to stay this. We've gone with an old school kind of vibe for the beat. We took a lot of inspiration from 2Pac's music along with Dr. Dre, Wu-Tang clan and The Notorious B.I.G. So hopefully it'll turn out really well but for now we are still working on the title track. But trust me it'll be sorted soon." I said with a smile and I just wanted to play some music now. "Should I put some music on for us all to listen to?" I asked and they were all in agreement. That's when I started putting my playlist on. "This is on my playlist. If there's any songs on there you don't like tell me and I can skip them." I said with a nod. I understand that my music wasn't for everyone.

'Who's your NMIXX bias?'

"Thats a hard question as I get on with all of them. We're all friends so I have to say all of them. I was very lucky to train with them. I remember when Lily found out I was debuting she called me and went. 'Aella, you made it. I'm so proud of you that your finally debuting.' It was nice and then we got to meet up for dinner when I'd made me debut. I'll cherish my favorite with them all forever." I said to them all with a smile. That's when I heard that Crush started playing and I smiled. I just started to read the comments. "I love this part. If you want me, I'll be there, you're my destination." I said as I sang Ricky's part with a smile. That's when people started to comment.

'Talking of crushes. I want to ask mine out, what do I do?'

"Well, I don't know that much about asking out. My crush did that and I didn't have to worry again. But the best thing to do is be prepared for anything. It's a 50/50 thing. Be confident and be creative. But your a Startrix so I know that you are beautiful and your are sweet and kind hearted. So you will definitely get a good outcome. But if not. Take this virtual hug and watch it back." I said before I hugged the camera. And that's when I realized. I never said what happened with that crush.

'What happened with the crush? Are you still friends?'

"We are still friends and we'll always support each other no matter." I said and that's when I read the comments they were saying it's either Ricky or Nemy. That's when my phone rang. "It's ZeroBaseOne's Ricky." I said before I answered. "Hey, I'm live currently. Is everything okay?" I asked him.

"Everything's all okay. I'm watching your live. You looked adorable whilst Crush was on." He said and I started to smile.

"Stop that. Your going to make me blush. Can I put you on speaker?" I asked and he heard him chuckle.

"Of course you can. I'll gone some things down." He said to me and I put him on speaker. I had people already commenting on what I was saying.

"You're on speaker." I said to him.

"Hello Starlights, this is ZeroBaseOne's Ricky. I saw that Aella listened to Crush." He said to them all.  I shook my head.

"It's like when you played So Sweet on your last live. I heard you singing along." I said to him and that's when I noticed the comments.

"It's a good song what can I say. Especially the bridge part." He said and that was my part. Well some of it. We then kept talking together and soon it was time for him to go.

"We'll talk later okay." I said to him and I went to put my phone off of speaker but it was too late.

"Okay, I love you baby." He said to me and I felt my heart-stop everyone heard that. Everyone knew now.

"I love you too." I said and we hung up. I then said goodbye to Starlights and ended the live. I didn't know what else to do. I then went back to the dorm.

"Ae, tell me the truth and I won't get mad. Are you and Ricky dating?" Geuroo asked me and I looked at Nemy. "Don't look at Nemy. Look at me." She said to me and I looked at her.

"Yes, I am. We've been together for years. No one knew apart from Nemy and Zhang Hao. Now Zerose's and Starlights." I said and I was panicking. That's when Dalrae appeared.

"Well so far, only a few articles have posted about. There's mixed reviews. Some people knew for a while somehow and others are angry. But it's okay. We will bounce back." She said and that's when I saw Katsuki.

"Oh no, that Gerry guy. He posted a video." She said and we all walked over to her. We then started to watch it.

"The cat is out of the bag. And it was released by the scandal couple themselves. Ricky and Aella are a couple. I don't know how many of you know that. But if you don't believe that. Here's some pictures. This is from Ae's private Instagram account. As you can see they are a happy couple. Especially this one with them at Huntington with their friends. Happily kissing and cuddling. I don't know what you all think about this but I'm glad their airing their secrets. This is the next big scandal and I'm here for it." He said and I never hated it more. That's when our manger came in.

"Aella, we need to discuss the articles and everything. We are currently getting in contact with WAKEONE. We need to make a statement. Clearing this up." He said and I nodded before heading out with him. The car journey was silent. "Aella, we are going to ask you one simple question. You need to answer it honestly. As you know we don't have a dating ban here and if this news is true. It's never affected your work. So we will accept it for the rest of your time here at MOD. Aella, are you and Ricky dating?" He asked me and I looked at him and nodded.

"Yes. Ricky and I are dating." I said to him and he nodded before looking at the company manager. Park Seoah. Seonghwa from Ateez's sister. Wooyoung's girlfriend. She'd left her company which was Glasshouse and made her own company. She still acted but she was independent now. She wanted to help other people with dream's as well.

"Aella. We will get your team to write up a statement and I've already seen this Gerry guy's video. We will take legal action. He's been posting malicious things as well. I know what you're going through and my office door is open. When the news got out about Wooyoung and I. We were angry but people settled down after a while. It'll happen here. Put the anger into the new album. You've got this Ae. We believe in you." She said to me and we kept talking. Once WAKEONE had confirmed as well. There was no turning back now.