𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬 | niki

25 | the big day

"Oh my god guys I think I'm going to faint. I really am." Jake says breathlessly as Hana tries to calm him down.

The nine of us stand outside the Great Hall, Sunghoon pacing back and forth, Sunoo filing his nails, Jungwon and Jay both trying to cram in last minute revision, Heeseung singing a random song and myself and Niki stood beside one an other, anxious as hell.

The day of the exam has finally arrived and everyone is losing their minds, since this isn't any normal exam, but actually determines whether we'll be able to pass on to our seventh year at Hogwarts, to test if we're capable enough to take the NEWT exams.

"I think I'm going to throw up." Niki says suddenly and I turn to look at him extremely concerned. "I've never been nervous for an exam before, why am I nervous Nari?"

"Because you've actually revised." I laugh. "You've put hard work in and you don't want it to go to waste."

"Right." He nods, beginning to pace back and forth now too, just as Sunghoon is doing.

Suddenly the doors start to slowly open, and Niki stops in his tracks, and looks at me with his eyes widened.

"You'll be okay Niki." I give him a reassuring smile.

"Mhm. I think you should kiss my cheek for good luck." He says, leaning forward and pointing to his cheek.

My jaw drops at his shamelessness, but I look around and realise practically no one is looking, and are instead focused on getting inside the Great Hall. I quickly peck his cheek and step away, and a smirk forms on his face.

"That never happened." I say quickly to him, and begin to follow on with the rest of the herd into the exam hall.

This is going to be so so fun.

***

Time moves fast during the exam, and I'm almost nearly done. My writing hand begins to cramp up so I pause for a moment and stretch it, looking around the large hall with desks set up in neat rows, spanning across the whole room.

Some students are scribbling away, some looking confused and others with their heads on the desk, accepting their troubled fate.

One boy however, whom my attention is most drawn to, is Nishimura Riki, who sits there spinning his pen between his fingers as he looks down at the question paper deep in thought.

Why am I more nervous for him than for myself?

Niki and I had been revising everyday in the library at seven o'clock on the dot, testing each other on the content and also completing countless mock exam papers to maximise our practice and improve our exam technique efficiency.

It had all been going well, and we'd both been scoring highly. But at the actual exam, in a different environment, anything could go wrong for either one of us.

I continue to scribble away on my paper, locking in for the last twenty minutes. Just one final push, and then after that, I'll be out of here.

***

Everyone rushes out of the Great Hall before sprinting through the hallway, shouting and cheering at the top of their lungs.

I run beside my friends, who laugh and smile in celebration, the wind blowing through our hair whilst we make our way back to what seems like the Slytherin common room.

"It's over! We're done!" Jungwon exclaims in happiness.

"We've got the rest of the year left Wonnie." I sigh. "But at least the exams are over." I smile and he runs up to me, spinning me around in a hug with my feet off the ground.

"Party tonight lads!" Niki announces to everyone. "And ladies." He looks at me and I furrow my brows.

"Sorry guys, I can't make it." I tell them and they look at me disappointed.

"Nari, yes you can." Hana looks at me seriously.

"No I seriously can't."

"Why not?" Sunghoon asks and my eyes glance over to Niki before he looks around to see if there is anyone else in the common room other than our group.

Once he realises there's nobody else here, he pulls me to a side and looks down at me worriedly.

"Why don't you want to come to the party Nari?"

"It's too risky... if I'm caught that's it for me. I already tried it once the last time and it wasn't my thing at all." I try to explain to him and it looks like he's thinking about something.

"The last time you came to one of these... we had a blast, no?" He raises a brow and my jaw drops.

Seven minutes in heaven.

"That's another reason why I can't go. Never happening again Nishimura."

"You say that now but..." he takes a step closer to me. "When we're in those situations, your body tells me otherwise."

I don't even know how to respond to his extremely flirtatious remark and instead my heart races and my face burns red.

I clear my throat. "Anyway, those parties are dangerous regardless. All those drugs going around, alcohol. It's not where I want to be."

"I can sort that out, no worries." He says and I look at him puzzled. "There won't be any drinks or drugs involved tonight, Nari's command." He raises his hands and I look at him in disbelief.

"How are you going to make that work? The withdrawal symptoms from some of the students here will be severe."

He laughs at my statement. "I have a lot more influence than you think Nari. I basically run this house."

He stands there looking pleased with himself and I just laugh.

"Hmm, sure Mr Riki. Whatever you say." I nod and I swear I see his ears turn red.

"You should call me that more often." He tells me, not looking directly at me, but instead looking elsewhere as if he's talking to the air to get rid of his shyness.

"Riki?" I ask and he nods, his lips turning up into a smile.

"Oi! Pack it up love birds." Heeseung calls out and I quickly walk back in embarrassment, Niki coolly following on from behind with his hands in his pockets.

"So, about that party?" Jake asks, glancing back and forth between me and Niki hopefully.

I look around at the boys and Hana who wait for my response in anticipation and I almost feel total guilt if I say no.

"I'll be there." I finally say and they cheer in celebration, whilst I take note of Niki looking over at me before quickly looking away once I catch him staring.

Hm. This is different.