people pleaser | nishimura riki

32. their hearts

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

"Little Miss Aira skipping class." Riki chuckled as he noticed the girl trailing behind him like a lost puppy. "What a role model."

"Thanks to you." She rolled her eyes. "You have great influence on people after all."

"Pleased to hear that." He smirked. As he opened the roof top door for her to walk in first. "But are you sure you want to follow me?" He suddenly stopped her path with his hand on the door frame, blocking her way.

"What?"

"It's not too late to go back to class." 

Aira really considered it but she was already here. 

It was go big or go home...or class.

"Why? You're going to eat me up or something?"

"Maybe." he leaned down as she was now pinned against the wall. "Still sure?"

He was only inches away, close enough that she could catch the cool, refreshing scent of peppermint from his gum just moments before he spoke.

"You wouldn't dare to." Aira disguised her nervousness with confidence, causing a smug look on Riki's face.

He leaned in even closer, his free hand gently tilting her chin up, his gaze steady and intense as his breath mingled with hers.

Yet Aira kept her gaze steady, looking directly at him. If anything, her eyes couldn't help but drift down to his lips—so close, so tempting.

"God, Aira. You're supposed to push me away and call me a jerk or whatever." He pulled back slightly, but still loomed over her, his expression torn between frustration and something deeper. 

"Why?"

"What if it wasn't me." He whispered. "What if it was some other loser who was infatuated by you."

"That wouldn't happen."

"It could." He groaned in agitation. "Do you know how many of those males like you?

"Doesn't matter. It wouldn't happen." She looked at him with those eyes. "Because you wouldn't let that happen." 

"Fuck Aira," Riki cussed, his voice thick with frustration. "Why are you like this. You should go." He looked away, struggling to keep his composure.

"Do you want me to go?" She asked, challenging his cool.

"Please Aira." Riki pleaded. "Stop trying to play smart with me. I'm serious."

"So am I." Aira then tugged on the collar of his hoodie. "So answer."

This caught him off guard. Aira, so confident, so bold... it was a side of her he really sees. 

Though it was new and unexpected, he found himself drawn to it, captivated by her boldness.

"Aira." Her name slipped from his mouth, as if saying it aloud made everything feel more real. "Please don't do this."

"What Riki?"

"Everyone else can play mess with my heart, but not you." he murmured.

"Why." Aira leaning closer as she began to tip-toe.

"I can't afford to lose you." 

It was as if his playful yet at the same time cool demeanor had completely crumbled in front of her. 

This was the true him.

"You won't." She whispered. "Because I like you too." 

"Wha-" But before Riki could even respond to the sudden confession, he felt a sweet and soft sensation his lips that sent electric down his spine. His mind raced, struggling to process the feeling, as his breath caught in his chest, unable to look away from her.

That was it.

His cool composure had finally being destroyed by no other than Aira.

He wasn't going to play nice anymore for he had been concealing his emotions for too long. His desires, his affection, his love.

For so long, he had always reminded himself that she was delicate and he should not do anything to change that.

Yet so ironically, when it came to emotions, he always felt that she had the upper-hand.

How could one person make him feel this way?

So so deeply in love.

Aira on the other hand, was not as experienced as Riki. She knew she still had a lot to learn but in  this moment, she didn't care. All she knew was that temptation won.

Who could blame her?

Just like how most peoples' ideal type was Riki, she was no different.

However, the only difference was that while everyone else admired him from afar, some never even getting the chance to get close, she was the one being consumed by him, pulled into his world in a way no one else ever could.

Where both reserved individuals opened their heart for each other.

________

HOLD ME CONSOLE ME AND THEN ILL LEAVE WITHOUT A TRACE