니키. love language

chapter ten.

x.

Trying to keep the erratic beating of your heart at bay, you dismiss his words. "Says who? I'll pick a partner who I can comfortably dance with without having the demonizing urge of stepping on all their toes every five seconds. Why are you even here in the first place? The dance started thirty minutes ago."

"It's not like you have any choice, dumbass. I bet you won't even be able to find a partner at this point." He states matter-of-factly, and he's completely right. Today was shitty enough, and you didn't want to add to it any further.

An eerie silence fills the atmosphere, like the last conversation you had with him on the way home from that event. But this time, your mind randomly flickers back to the time of your first encounter.

Emulating the same emotions that you felt that day, the sky was grim, with no possible way for any sunlight to gush through. Your eyes were blurred with tears while you firmly pressed a palm to your mouth, trying to mute the whimpers that were bubbling in your throat.

Needless to say, it wasn't a good day for you at all. No matter how much you tried, the tears streaming down your cheeks were endless.

As much as you tried to hold yourself together, as much as you tried to contain all the pressure constantly building up within you, the attempts seemed to be futile.

It was tiring, trying to keep up with your facade.

Suddenly, you feel a shadow weighing above your figure, cutting you off from your thoughts. And as you look up, you see him.

Nishimura Riki was it? Part of the journalism club?

Turning away, you swiftly try to dampen the tears that were quick to flood your eyes. But you honestly couldn't help it, you couldn't swallow the lump settling in your throat.

You couldn't turn to face him as if nothing had happened.

In the corner of your eye, you see him attempting to shuffle through his pocket, and when he finally retrieves it, you see a handkerchief from his hands.

He hastily tosses it towards your direction, catching you off guard.

Looking into the teen's eyes, your gaze was filled with utter indignation. "I don't need it."

He scoffs at your stubborn reply. "You don't need it? When your eyes look that puffy and snot is basically running down your nose at this point?"

"I said I don't need it." You firmly reply.

He sighs in exasperation. "Fine, suit yourself then, president." Almost as if mocking you entirely.

But before you could even hand him the handkerchief back, he walks away, not even leaving you room to reply.

You didn't know what to think of him.

He could've just frankly left you alone. Why did he have to seem so offended over you not accepting his help? What now then. . .? Was he going to do something? Possibly take advantage of the vulnerable state that you were in and hold it against you?

Whatever it was, what you weren't aware of beyond that point was that:

. . . it was just the beginning.

Although that day you vowed yourself to never cross paths with him, it seemed that he was everywhere that you were. You tried and tried to push him further away from your vicinity, but the universe kept pulling him closer to you like an obstinate magnet.

It was an amusing thought, to say the least. The same person, which you used to look at with utter indignation, was now the presence you seemingly found slight solace in.

It was strange. You would've never thought that those string of events would lead to this very moment.

Just like your first encounter with him, you were a mess. A complete contrast to your composed facade. Is that how it was always going to be now? Him always being the person that will see you at your lowest point? Him that will be the one to unravel the layers of yourself that you have been trying to keep in the dark for the longest time?

You speak up once again, breaking the eerie silence weighing above your heads. "So, you're really going to be my partner? No take backs?"

Ni-ki sighs amusingly, "I might want to rethink my offer if you keep stalling."

"Please remember that you're the one who suggested this in the first place." You blink, unamused.

The teen snorts. "You really are a pain in the ass. But then again, I wouldn't know of anyone who could tolerate it more than me."

He once thought of the universe as vicious for making both of you cross paths. For making your fates entangle with one another.

But through your somewhat bitchiness and stuck-up personality, he's learned to see past through it. You are more than that and it barely even scratches the surface.

No sweet words, no intimate gestures. Just an earnest gaze, striking past the borders you have continuously tried to build around your heart.

After those words fall from his lips, you could notice the slight pink tainting his porcelain cheeks. And you knew it wouldn't be soon until your world would crash and burn, and your whole universe would spin around him like it was simply heaven's wish.

"Just take my hand, dumbass." You mumble, reaching out your palm, and he grins. "We are going to be really late now."

Thankfully, both of you were still able to catch up at the last second. It was the exact moment where the student council members were supposed to dance with their respective partners.

The rest shoot both of you with teasing glances, occasionally bursting out in random spurts of laughter. Both of you try to ignore them, pretending as if they weren't there.

With his hand on your waist, he tries to lessen the tension by sparking up a casual conversation. "So, it's a truce now?"

"A truce?" You repeat. "You're the one who asked for this." You utter, not wanting to be stripped of your pride.

He retorts. "Thank me for being the bigger person then."

"Fine, okay we're good. Just stop talking, idiot. I might step on your feet if you keep distracting me too much." With rosy cheeks, you attempt to avert your gaze elsewhere, trying not to seem flustered by his presence.

You still would've never thought that things would turn out the way that it was, but you might have to thank the heavens for this one.