first snowfall | sunki

25: shouldn't have existed

"Riki, everyone else already went outside to meet their parents. Aren't you going to come with them?" The coach asked as he approached Ni-ki. "You've been practicing since dawn here."

"It's okay! I'll stay here a little longer. I've missed many practice sessions, so this is my only way to catch up." Ni-ki replied, trying to catch his breath after so much dancing. "Plus, I have no parent to meet outside, anyway."

The coach ruffled the latter's hair, feeling bad for him. "Don't worry. Just do your best, okay?"

"Yes, sir." Ni-ki waved his coach goodbye as he watched him leave the studio. "Jeez, there's no time for me to be emotional! I have to practice hard right now!" He immediately came up to his senses and continued dancing. 

"Riki, catch!"

Ni-ki turned around and quickly caught the milk thrown in his direction. "Oh, how did you know this is my favorite milk?" Smiling brightly as Jungwon walked closer to him.

"I don't know. I just chose whatever." Jungwon bluntly replied, sitting next to him. "I'll be watching you later, so make sure you don't disappoint me!"

"I was practicing already but you came all of a sudden." Ni-ki tried staring at Jungwon but he knew he'd be killed if he did so. "Anyways, why did you come here?"

Jungwon shrugged. "I felt like you were alone so I came and Woah, I was right."

Ni-ki hung his head low as he drank milk with Jungwon. Soon, silence filled the room. They knew they weren't close to each other, but they expected to have a light conversation at least.

"Gosh, it's so quiet!" Jungwon stretched his body, yawning. "Do you want to hear something while we're at it?"

"Oh, okay." Ni-ki leaned closer to Jungwon as he finished his milk. "I bet it has something to do about how amazing I am!"

Jungwon snickered, locking eyes with the latter. "I sometimes wished that you didn't exist."

—

I had never been that jealous of someone before. I thought I'll always be content with what I have. But then...

"Oh, why did he give me his phone number? Are we that close now?" Ni-ki muttered, watching Jungwon trip from running too much. He then smiled, placing the paper in his pocket as he walked away in his direction.

Jungwon stood up from the floor and looked back at Ni-ki.

I saw how happy you were whenever you were with me. You didn't seem to be annoyed nor jealous of me either.

"Sir, don't you think Yang Jungwon should be in detention with me too? I wasn't the only one who laughed at Sunoo!" Ni-ki whined before their teacher opened the detention room. "This is so unfair! He was the one who started everything!"

Jungwon scoffed, placing his hands against his waist. "You're just pulling the victim card again! Do you think Sir will bring me in with you—"

"Now that I think of it, it seems like Yang Jungwon is a part of this mess too!" Their teacher wrote on a new detention slip, handing it to Jungwon. "Both of you, go inside the room now!"

"What? Sir! I'm not part of this, I swear! How could I laugh at my best friend?" Jungwon tried pleading with their teacher however, he already shut the room close. He then sighed as he turned to Ni-ki. "You must like dragging me around with you, huh?"

Ni-ki pulled out a comic book from his pants, making sure no one was around. "I thought it'd be boring with just me in here so I brought you with me! We can read this together if you want, hehe."