Chapter Text
Even if it’s only 12:07PM, it’s already been such a long day for Kamden. With it being the day after the eliminations, he barely even had time to breathe with the realization that eight of his former team members were taken out, and that four more were added all in the same morning.
Now he’s at lunch, steadily chewing away at what he could get ahold of. Most of the Switch team seemed pressed to get through the choreography, but he didn’t want them to miss out on getting some necessary nutrition and both physical and mental rest. After all that’s happened in so little time, he feels it’s more than needed. If it wasn’t for his gentle pushing, it’s likely that all of the team would have stayed in their practice room with no breaks in between. This is the least he could do as the leader.
Though, if he’s guessed right, despite his insistence Park Hanbin is most likely still in there practicing— even though he is probably the one who needs it the least out of the new members. But Kamden trusts Hanbin to take care of himself, with this being the third group mission he’s ended up with the trainee. He knows first hand his spartan training style, and Kamden will be joining him soon enough. He’s realizes that he’s grown kind of fond of it by now, the results speaking for itself despite how tired it makes him by the time they’re done for the day.
While lost in his thoughts, Kamden heard the clatter of two plates landing on the table he’s sitting at. He blinks out of his unfocused staring to see Matthew waving a hand at him from his left, Ricky settling across from the Canadian with a small, satisfied smile as he sits down. Kamden swallows the food he was chewing, and lowers his fork before speaking.
“Hey, I was wondering if you guys were gonna make it to lunch.”
Ricky picks up his fork, poking at his rice, “I almost thought the same thing, but Jeong Hyeon’s stomach rumbling was what finally convinced Zhang Hao and Kuan Jui to let us go.”
He then looks up at Kamden with a knowing look in his eyes, “And by the way, Jay requested if Zhang Hao could stay back a bit longer to practice the choreo together. So he’ll be over later.”
Kamden doesn’t really know what that look in Ricky’s eyes mean or why they’re directed at him. Instead, he just nods and lets out a hum, trying not to sound too disappointed at how he’ll have to still wait to see Jay with the limited time they already have.
Matthew lets out a small laugh at the statement. “I was actually let out earlier than this, but I got too absorbed in cleaning myself up in the bathroom. So much has changed this morning, I kind of wanted some time to myself before coming back out.”
“Ahh, I feel you. I was thinking of maybe leaving lunch early just to rest for a while more,” Ricky says while finally picking up some of his food.
“Its’s been really stressful.” Kamden lets out a heavy sigh, “I just hope we all get out of this okay,” he murmurs before resuming his eating.
They all spend a moment just eating their food, the atmosphere comfortable while allowing their built up tension to unwind. The clatter of plates and utensils resound in the dining hall, mixed amongst the clamor of various trainees and staff filing in and out. The smell of the day’s lunch floats around, while the AC proves soothing after a long morning of heated rehearsal.
Just when Kamden is back to zoning out while he eats through his food, he hears a suspicious chuckle from across the table.
“Well, not all of the events this morning were too bad…” Ricky lowers his fork as he draws out a pause.
“… In fact I think they were pretty eye opening,” he says cryptically, raising his head with the hint of a smirk in his tone and on his face.
Kamden looks in his direction, none the wiser of where Ricky’s words would lead. Matthew just cocks his head to the side mid-chew, asking, “Now what do you mean by that??”
Ricky’s eyes flick towards Kamden for a second, before leaning towards Matthew. Raising his left hand in a pinching gesture, pointer finger and thumb just barely meeting, he brings his voice to a mock-whisper (which Kamden can still most certainly hear).
“Did you know Kamden was this close to confessing his love to Jay when Switch and Supercharger were appealing to the Over Me members, in front of everyone?”
Kamden nearly spits out his food at the statement, incredulous.
Ignoring his floundering, Matthew drops his fork entirely, eyes wide.
“No way—“
He then whips his head towards Kamden at a speed that is certainly not good for his neck.
“—NO WAY!!!! REALLY??”
Matthew’s eyes somehow get even bigger as he slams his palms on the table. And Kamden does not like the fact that as he makes eye contact with the Canadian, he can see something that almost looks like respect in his eyes.