★﹐니키 𝗡𝗜𝗞𝗜．﹗
❝ Your boyfriend or Enhypen? ❝
❝ You're in Enhypen, Niki... ❝
✦ ─ When Sim Nari moves to Korea to be with her brother Jake, she temporarily stays at the Enhypen dorm while her apa...
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004 : home
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"SHALL we head home?" Jake asked, his arm draped around my shoulder. I nodded, a small smile on my face, but it quickly faded when he playfully pinched my cheeks.
As we settled into the car, I felt a warm sense of companionship. I was sitting between Jake and Niki, and their presence felt comfortable and familiar. In the back seat, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Heeseung were laughing and joking with each other. Jungwon took the front seat, ready to help navigate, while Jay, our dependable driver, got behind the wheel to drive us home.
We all piled into the car, chatting excitedly and catching up on everything we had missed. The car hummed softly as we drove through the familiar streets. The city passed by in a blur, but I was focused on my friends beside me. It felt incredible to have everyone together again. The atmosphere in the car was filled with laughter and stories from the past three years.
Jungwon turned around from the front seat, eager to join in. "So, Nari, what have you been up to?" he asked, a playful look in his eyes.
I smiled, feeling excited to share. "High school has been crazy. I joined the debate club, started taking photos, and even traveled for a national competition. And guess what? I won first place!" I said, my pride shining through.
Sunoo laughed and gave my shoulder a friendly pat. "Sounds like you've been busy. It's great to see how much you've grown," he said, his tone warm.
"Speaking of school, what are you going to do? Your senior year isn't over yet, and you still need to experience graduation," Jay asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror as he drove. His voice was calm, but I could sense the concern behind his words.
"Yeah, that's been on my mind too," I admitted, letting out a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of uncertainty. "To be honest, I'm not really sure what to do next." I felt a mix of anxiety and confusion swirling inside me. Graduation was such a significant milestone, and the thought of missing it made me uneasy.
Niki, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke up. "You're in the same grade as me. You could come to my school." His voice was eager, and the shy and awkward demeanor he usually had seemed to fade a bit as he offered his suggestion. It was nice to see him open up, and I felt a spark of hope at the idea. I looked at his face as he offered a soft yet shy smile. My eyes traveled to his, admiring his features before Jake replied, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"Yeah! That way, Niki can look out for you too," Jake chimed in, his face lighting up with enthusiasm as he backed his friend's proposal. I could see the excitement in his eyes, and it made me feel a little more optimistic about the possibilities.
I pondered the idea for a moment, feeling my heart race at the thought of being back in a school environment. "Sounds good! Can you help me enroll tomorrow, Jake?" I asked, turning to my brother. I was eager to get started, but I also wanted to make sure I had his support.
"Of course, Riri," Jake replied, his smile softening as he nodded. There was something comforting about the way he said my name, a reminder that I had family by my side. I could sense his genuine excitement about the idea, and it made me feel a little more at ease.
As the car continued to glide through familiar streets, my mind raced with thoughts of what it would be like to attend school with Niki. I imagined walking through the hallways, sharing classes, and possibly even sharing a few laughs together. The idea of experiencing my senior year alongside a friend filled me with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
I glanced out of the window, watching the world pass by, and felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was the fresh start I needed.
As we shared more stories and laughter, the car approached our old neighborhood. Memories rushed back, and I felt a wave of nostalgia. The streets seemed smaller, and the houses looked familiar yet a bit different, as if time had changed them just a little.
Jake turned to me, smiling. "Do you remember how we used to ride our bikes around here?" he asked, his voice filled with nostalgia.
I nodded, a smile spreading across my face. "Of course! We would spend hours exploring. Those were the best times," I replied, lost in those happy memories.
Finally, we arrived at my new home, a cozy apartment that welcomed me, even though it was still being renovated. I could only admire it from the car window since it wasn't quite ready for me to move in.
"Jay, can you drop me off at a hotel?" I asked, my voice practical.
Before Jay could answer, Jake jumped in. "No way! I just got you back, and I'm not letting you go," he said, a mix of playfulness and sincerity in his tone.
Confused, I looked at Jake, wanting him to explain. "What do you mean, Jake? Did the staff say I could stay?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
A mischievous smile spread across Jake's face as he revealed his plan. "Yep! They said you can stay with us in the dorm until your apartment is ready." His eyes sparkled with excitement.
I hesitated, unsure. "I don't want to intrude. I'm not sure if that's okay with everyone," I replied, my voice hesitant.
Jake's smile widened with determination. "I promise I cleared it with everyone, and they all said yes. Trust me." His enthusiasm was hard to resist.
Before I could say more, Jake turned up the music in the car, filling the air with an upbeat song. Instantly, everyone's voices blended into a lively chorus, drowning out my worries. Laughter and singing filled the car, creating a joyful atmosphere that made me feel like time had stood still.
In the midst of the laughter, Niki grabbed my hand, pretending it was a microphone as he sang the lyrics to their song, "XO (Only if you say yes)". I watched him sing happily along with the others in the car. He looked so happy when he sang. His cute smile shined as lyrics spilled out of his mouth.
"Kiss me! Don't say no!" he belted out, making me burst into laughter.
Seeing everyone singing made me want to join in. I couldn't help but laugh and sing along with them, feeling grateful for this moment of togetherness that felt like a dream. It was just what I needed—being surrounded by people I cared about, ready to create new memories together.
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( A\N )
✦ ─ I hope you guys enjoyed and liked this chapter. Please FOLLOW VOTE and COMMENT to show your support. I am going to post new books soon so FOLLOW to get updated on when I post them. I also have other books, so go check them out if you'd like!
