melancholy bliss || rini au

14. two can keep a secret

nini arrived at work the next day, deciding to walk and get there early since she needed to clear her head.

she realized that it was probably not the best idea to go through the comments or that fan account after all, because it was stirring up some feelings she thought she had gotten rid of years ago.

after a whole morning of being distracted from that, nini sat down at her desk at lunch and rested her hands on her keyboard, playing around with a melody in her mind as she sighs and runs her hand through her hair

"hey neens,"

she looks up to see ej walking in with a smile and returns the gesture

"what's up?" she asks

"i was going to ask if you wanted to go get some lunch," he tells her

nini checked her files and blinked a couple times, pushing down the exhaustion from staying up half the night with her mind full.

"are you okay?" ej asks, concern filling his face

nini forced a smile and nodded "yeah! of-of course!"

"you just stuttered." ej points out "what's wrong?"

nini's smile faded and she sighed loudly, leaning forward on the desk for a few seconds before lifting her head up

"did you know people ship me and ricky?" she blurted out

ej raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth in slight surprise and the sudden bluntness in her tone

"uh-i-i guess?" he says wearily

nini widened her eyes "what?"

ej chuckles "well, it's not really that far-fetched neens. two best friends since kindergarten who know each other through and through, plus you had that crush-"

"what crush?" she asks suddenly, standing up nervously

ej opened his mouth and laughs nervously "uh-d-did i say crush? i meant to say-bush! that-day you fell into a bush." he lies

nini walks towards him "gina told you didn't she?"

"what?" he squeaks "no!"

"don't lie to me ej!" she exclaims

the boy groans in defeat and nods "okay-fine, she might have mentioned it- but i've kept the secret since the fifth grade!"

"wait-she told you when i first told her?!" nini questions

ej opened his mouth once again, figuring he should probably just stop talking and scratched the back of his neck

"uh-so-lunch?" he asks with a sheepish smile, earning a glare from nini

nini sighs as she puts her phone down and leans her head against her hands, looking at ej who was in the midst of eating his food

"you don't think i like ricky right?" she asks

ej stops chewing and looks up at nini for a few seconds before putting his hand in front of his mouth

"iths not polithe thoo thalk with my mouth full." he gets out, making the girl sigh

"why don't you or gina believe me?"

ej swallows his food and shrugs his shoulders "i mean-a first childhood crush never just goes away. especially when they stay in your life."

nini exhales and leans back against the chair "i'm happy for maya and ricky. plus i really like lucas!"

ej nods "me and gi just don't want you to pressure yourself into being forced to feel one way. you're allowed to have feelings for who you want."

nini looks down at the table and takes a deep breath, something in herself slowly making its way out against her will