Bubble Tea

Stage lights to Study nights

Song for the chapter: Gone by Rosé (Blackpink)

Andres' POV:

I stepped through the front door, my heart still buzzing with the echoes of the concert. My mom greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Welcome back, Andres! How was the concert?" she asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

I couldn't help but grin as I recounted the highlights of the evening to my mom. I painted a vivid picture of Enhypen's electrifying performance and the unforgettable moments shared with Stella, Jaemin, and Audrey.

After exchanging goodnight wishes with my mom, I made my way to my room, eager to revisit the memories captured on my phone. Slipping into my nightdress, I felt a sense of comfort wash over me, the fabric a familiar embrace after a long day.

With a flick of my finger, I unlocked my phone, my heart beat grew faster as I scrolled through the photos from the concert. Each snapshot captured a moment of pure joy!

As I sifted through the images, I couldn't help but smile at Audrey's infectious laughter and Stella's radiant energy. Stella and Jaemin were looking so perfect with each other which made me wonder could me and Audrey ever be like them?

With purposeful intent, I selected the best photos to share on my Instagram story and feed. Adding witty captions and playful emojis, I shared all the content I filmed.

Within moments of posting, a flood of comments poured in, from my friends and followers. They were all in awe of how we met them personally.

But amidst the sea of compliments, one reply to my story stood out like a dark cloud on a sunny day. Nicoli's words pierced through the screen, his bitterness palpable even from a distance.

"You and your girlfriend both have a thing for gays, huh?" Nicoli's comment read, a cruel jab at my heart.

A wave of anger and hurt washed over me as I read the words, my mind reeling with memories of Nicoli and our fractured friendship.

FLASHBACK

I remember the early days, when Nicoli would come over to my house after school, eager to escape the chaos of his own home. Those afternoons were filled with laughter as we indulged in our favorite activities and went to tuition class together. Nicoli's family ran a bustling law firm, leaving him to fend for himself most days. His parents were always buried in work, their attention consumed by the demands of their clients. As a result, Nicoli often sought refuge at my house, where my parents welcomed him with open arms.

Nicoli's family ran a bustling law firm, leaving him to fend for himself most days. His parents were always buried in work, their attention consumed by the demands of their clients.

We would often start by raiding the fridge, searching for snacks to go fuel out hungry stomachs.

Nicoli had a knack for finding the most haunted movies and he made me watch those with him.

I remember how Edvin, would often get jealous at how close Nicoli got with me in such a short time. He would often tease us about our close relationship, his playful jabs tinged with a hint of jealousy. But we paid him no mind, too lost in our own world to care about anything else.

With my help, Nicoli's grades began to improve, and for a while, it seemed like nothing could come between us.

Despite his cheerful facade, Nicoli carried the weight of his family's expectations on his shoulders. His father, a stern man with little patience for failure, constantly berated him for his shortcomings. I watched as Nicoli's confidence withered under the weight of his father's disapproval, his once-bright spirit dimming with each harsh word.