✔︎ unrequited flowers | nishimura riki

III

The next day, Sunoo didn't come to school. Ni-Ki and Ayano were on the rooftop eating as usual but Ni-Ki felt that the whole atmosphere was weird. Ayano wasn't chatty as usual, she was awfully quiet today. As they were eating, Ni-Ki poked Ayano's arm to get her attention.

"Ayano, you good ?"

"O-oh ? Yeah ! I'm good hehe thanks for the food Ni-Ki-san."

Ayano smiled as she took a bite of rice and her smile slowly faded away. She looked the other direction feeling distracted. Her eyes were still red and puffy but worst of all, she couldn't sleep at all last night. The girl felt something tearing her throat apart and blocking it, making her unable to breathe. Dozen cups of water were drunk but that still couldn't fix it. Ayano was trying her best to chew her food properly and tried swallowing it.

Ni-Ki looked at Ayano worried, not knowing what to do. They would usually laugh around a lot even if Sunoo wasn't here. They both heard a whistle and looked down the railing to see the baseball team playing. Ni-Ki dragged Ayano's hand and sat closer to the railing so they could see the baseball game.

Ni-Ki looked at Ayano to see that she was staring at a specific person on the field, smiling. Ah, it was Park Sunghoon, the senior heartthrob of the school. Ni-Ki knew Ayano was a fan of his and always wanted to meet him. Ni-Ki knew Sunghoon personally because they were in the same club, also thinking Ayano might have a crush on him. The girl would always talk about the guy during classes.

Ni-Ki giggled and nudged Ayano's shoulder. "Why don't you confess ?" Ayano's face turned quite dull but quickly tried to fake some sort of embarrassment. "Ah, stop it !! I don't have a crush on him !!"

Ni-Ki really has no idea how much I like him... does he... ?

Ni-Ki laughed at Ayano's 'reaction' and called her cute. "Don't laugh !! ISHH-"

Ayano suddenly coughs, making her throat burn in pain. Ni-Ki quickly opened her tumbler and handed it to her. Ayano quickly drank the water as Ni-Ki patted her back slightly. "Ayano..." Ni-Ki mumbled, feeling worried. His best friend was not telling him something.

"You're really not... 'you' today. Something's wrong, tell me."

Ni-Ki asked slowly and quietly. Ayano was panicking, not knowing what to say to the boy. She didn't want to lie but... what is there to even do now ? "Ah, my throat just really burns today. Maybe I'm not drinking enough-" "It's not that Ayano- I mean what's up with you being all sad now ?" The girl quickly made a reason as she put her bottle down.

"Maybe it's because Sunoo isn't here ? I'm not really be cheered up if he's not here..."

Sorry Ni-Ki. As much as I love you, I'd rather see you happy than break our friendship by confessing.

"Ah... Let's eat up then. Hang out at my place after this and cuddle up together. How does that sound ?"

Making me question right now, do 'best friends' cuddle and come over to your house almost everyday ?

Ayano couldn't reject his offer so she smiled and nodded, mumbling a small thank you. They finished up lunch and went back to class together as Ni-Ki tried cheering her up.

.

School ended but they still had to stay back for curricular activities. The two had promised to wait by the gate and walk back to Ni-Ki's house together. Ni-Ki went to his club meeting while Ayano stayed in the student council meeting room to help her senior with something. Most of the students were helping in the other room so Ayano was in the room with Heeseung discussing school funds.

Heeseung snapped his fingers in front of Ayano as she dazed out for the nth time. "Girl, something's up. What is it ? Forget these papers for a second." Heeseung pushed the papers aside and took a seat closer to Ayano. The two were on the higher board so it was fine. Ayano suddenly teared up as she coughed out, her throat feeling extremely itchy.

Heeseung panicked trying to find a water bottle somewhere but couldn't. He patted Ayano's back as she cried out loud, pain striking her throat. The boy pushed Ayano's chair towards the wall as he took out his phone. Ayano stopped coughing but was still holding her throat as it was painful. "I'm gonna look inside your throat okay ? Making sure you're actually not choking on something."

Ayano hooked the corner of her mouth with a finger as Heeseung saw inside was, surprisingly, ineffective for what he wanted to accomplish. Even with his cellphone's flashlight it was still hard, but the thing poking out seemed to be green. "Ayano, there's something down your throat !!"

Heeseung exclaimed when he saw it. Ayano was now lying down on two chairs as Heeseung laid his coat on top of her legs, making sure she was covered just in case someone came in. Heeseung only twisted his nose as he looked at the mysterious thing. Heeseung's phone suddenly died as he threw it on the table. "Give me your phone, I'll take a picture."

Ayano reaches into her pocket and hands it to him, keeping her mouth open - she doesn't have an option since Heeseung is holding her jaw. Heeseung turns on the flashlight, pointing it to Ayano's eyes accidentally for a moment, which makes her grunt, annoyed. "Calm down, it was an accident" Heeseung apologised and then he looked carefully into Ayano's mouth

"Oh,"

he says, after a moment, letting go of Ayano's face, and he stares at him with a surprised look, spooked, almost.

"You're in love."

*plays inception by ateez*