𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓 | 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒊 𝑭𝑭

Blue hair

My stupid alarm yanks me out of dreamland, and I'm like, "Really?" Roll out of bed, do my usual routine, then catch the smell of pancakes. Mom's all cheerful, "Breakfast is served!"

"These pancakes are so good, Mom! You're a great cook," I say, digging in. She just grins like she knows she nailed it. After my pancake feast, I hit up school and run into Olivia, Ariana, and Audrey.

"Hey, Eunji! What's good this morning?" Olivia greets me.

"I'm living a pancake dream , my mom made the best pancakes today!," I reply, and we all crack up.

Ariana chimes in, "We need to hang out more , Since we have a new student , EUNJI."

We shoot the breeze until the bell rings, rudely ending our chill session and dragging us back to reality.

As we find our seats in class, I lean over to Ariana and quietly inquire, "Hey, where's Niki? I haven't seen him anywhere today."

Ariana glances around the classroom and replies, "Yeah, you're right. I haven't spotted him either. Maybe he's running late or something."

We both shrug it off, figuring Niki will show up eventually. The teacher begins the lesson, but my curiosity about Niki's whereabouts lingers throughout the class.

After what feels like an eternity of wondering, the bell finally signals the end of the class. Ariana and I exchange glances, both puzzled by Niki's absence. As we gather our belongings, I suggest, "Let's check with Audrey, maybe she knows where Niki is."

We head towards Audrey, who's chatting with some other classmates. I ask, "Hey, have you seen Niki today? He's been missing the entire day."

Audrey looks thoughtful for a moment before replying, "Now that you mention it, no."

As we make our way to the next class, the mystery of Niki's whereabouts hangs in the air,

As the teacher calls out the names, the usual responses echo through the classroom. "Lia here, Eunji here, Jaein here, Jake here, Mia here, Audrey here, Ariana here, Olivia here, Guwon here," and then there's a pause when Niki's name is called.

"Niki... Niki, where is Niki, everyone?" the teacher inquires, looking around the room. The silence amplifies the concern in the air.

Feeling a sense of responsibility, I raise my hand and speak up, "We haven't seen him all day, even though he would usually come and annoy me. It's not like him to miss class." The unease among my classmates grows as the realization of Niki's unexplained absence sets in.

The teacher, sensing the need to move on, starts discussing the intricacies of physics. Despite the attempt to focus on the lesson, the worry about Niki lingers in the back of our minds, creating a subdued atmosphere in the classroom.

As the teacher delves into the subject matter, my thoughts intermittently drift back to Niki, hoping for any news or explanation about his unexpected absence. The physics lesson becomes a background hum as concerns for our missing friend weigh on the collective consciousness of the class.

As the class finally concludes, the break provides a momentary reprieve. Ariana, Audrey, Olivia, and I gather our things, exchanging glances that convey shared concern about Niki. We head to the cafeteria, hoping to find some distraction in food and conversation.

Amidst the buzz of the cafeteria, we find a table and start discussing various topics, attempting to lighten the mood. Still, Niki's absence casts a shadow over our usual banter, making it a somewhat subdued lunchtime. The mystery of where he could be lingers, adding an air of uncertainty to what would otherwise be a routine break.