The Heroes

It Wasn't Me! I Swear!

Ni-ki stepped into his hushed home, the quietness enveloping him as his parents had already departed for work. With a sigh, he trudged over to the couch and let himself collapse onto it, the fatigue of the day sinking in. He absentmindedly turned on the TV, the screen flickering to life as he stared at it without much interest.

Amid the monotony, his phone suddenly emitted a ping, causing his heart to leap within his chest. As he glanced at the screen, his breath caught when he saw the name of the person who had sent the text.

Ni-ki's eyes remained fixed on the screen as he read the message from Jay. "Hey, how did the interview go?" The words glowed on the display, and for a moment, time seemed to slow down as he took in the message. His heart raced, and he felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty. With trembling fingers, he managed to type out a reply, "Good."

He couldn't help but roll his eyes at his own response. It felt inadequate, as if he couldn't express himself properly in just one word. But then, a new message popped up, and it was from Jay again. "How are you?" the text read. Ni-ki's heart skipped a beat. What should he say? How should he respond to Jay, the person he missed so much?

After a brief pause, he decided to be honest. "I'm okay," he typed, feeling a sense of relief after hitting send. It was a simple response, yet it conveyed the truth of his emotions. He waited anxiously for Jay's reply, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness, unsure of where this conversation might lead.

As Ni-ki stared at his phone, waiting for Jay's response, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. Memories of their time together, both the lighthearted moments and the more serious ones, flooded his mind. He missed Jay more than he had realized during these past few weeks. It was as if a part of him had been missing.

Finally, a new message notification broke the silence in the room. Ni-ki quickly opened it, and Jay's words filled the screen: "I'm glad to hear you're okay. I've been thinking about you a lot."

Ni-ki couldn't help but smile. His heart warmed at the thought that Jay had been thinking of him too. It was a bittersweet feeling, knowing that Jay was far away, but at least they could still connect through messages.

"Same here," Ni-ki replied. "I've been missing you."

The conversation continued, and for a while, it felt like they were back to their old selves, sharing their thoughts and feelings without reservation. It was a small comfort, a reminder of the strong bond they shared, even when they were physically apart.

Ni-ki's fingers trembled as he pressed the call button. He swallowed hard, trying to quell the nervousness that had settled in his stomach. "Just do it," he silently urged himself, taking a deep breath. His eyelids drooped as he closed his eyes, blocking out the room around him.

The dialing tone played on, each second ticking away like a drumbeat in his ears. His heart raced, and his palms grew sweaty. Then, finally, he heard it—the voice he longed for. Jay's voice, deep and soothing, filled his ear.

"Hello?" Jay's voice echoed, a hint of curiosity and warmth in the single word.

Ni-ki's eyes snapped open immediately as he held the phone closer to his ear. His voice trembled slightly as he replied, "Hello?"

For a brief moment, the world outside that phone call faded away, and all that mattered was the connection between their voices, bridging the gap that had separated them.

Ni-ki's emotions played like turbulent waves as he heard that familiar chuckle, like a melody that had been missing from his life. "Ni-ki, did you miss me that much?" Jay's teasing voice washed over him, stirring a mixture of irritation and longing in his chest. He scoffed, trying to mask his vulnerability. "I'm hanging up now," he threatened, his words trailing off.