Only if you say yes!! (En-drama)

Broken trust (Ni-ki)

Ni-ki had always been sentimental when it came to the little things in life. Whether it was a favorite keychain, a playlist full of nostalgic songs, or the soft, purring stray cat that lingered around the school grounds. The stray, whom everyone fondly called Cheese, was a golden tabby with bright, inquisitive eyes. Every afternoon after school, Ni-ki would sneak out to the small patch of greenery behind the building, where Cheese would usually be waiting for him. He'd bring bits of leftover food or canned cat treats, kneeling down as the cat rubbed against his legs, purring loudly. It was their little routine, and to Ni-ki, it was something sacred.

Ni-ki had always wanted his first to be his last. His first love, his first friendship, his first bond with anything meaningful—it mattered to him. Cheese was no exception. Feeding her every day became part of his routine, a quiet little moment of happiness amidst the chaos of high school life.

One afternoon, he arrived at his usual spot, holding a small can of tuna, only to stop short. Someone was already there. Eunjin, the girl he'd seen hanging around with Sunoo and the others recently, was crouched down, petting Cheese. Ni-ki's eyes widened in surprise—he never thought anyone else cared enough to feed the stray. Eunjin looked up and smiled sweetly when she saw him.

"Hey," she said, her voice light and pleasant, "I didn't know you came here to feed Cheese."

Ni-ki blinked, taken aback. "You know Cheese?" He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride—like he'd stumbled upon a secret that was now shared between them.

Eunjin smiled again, her eyes soft as she scratched behind the cat's ears. "Yeah, I found her here yesterday. She seemed hungry, so I brought some food."

Ni-ki's heart warmed at the sight. Maybe Eunjin wasn't so bad after all. Despite the subtle warnings he'd heard from Sunoo about her, seeing her with Cheese made him think that maybe there was more to her. After all, how could someone who took the time to care for a stray be anything but kind?

He knelt down beside her, his smile widening. "Cheese is really special, huh?"

Eunjin nodded, though there was something calculated in her smile that Ni-ki didn't catch. They continued to feed the cat together, sharing a few laughs and stories about their day. For Ni-ki, it felt like the start of something new—a connection that felt easy and natural.

But Sunoo saw it differently.

That evening, as Ni-ki was packing up to head home, Sunoo approached him, his expression serious. "Hey, Ni-ki, I saw you with Eunjin earlier."

Ni-ki glanced up, a bit confused. "Yeah, she was feeding Cheese. What about it?"

Sunoo hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "You need to be careful around her. I've seen how she operates. Eunjin... she doesn't even like cats, Ni-ki. I've heard her say it herself."

Ni-ki frowned, his brows furrowing. "What are you talking about? She was fine with Cheese today."

"I'm telling you," Sunoo insisted, stepping closer. "She planned this. I don't know what her endgame is, but she doesn't care about that cat. She's using you."

Ni-ki looked away, clearly uncomfortable. "Sunoo, I think you're overreacting. She was nice. Maybe you've got the wrong idea."

Sunoo felt a pang of frustration. "I know what I heard, Ni-ki. Just... be careful, okay?"

But Ni-ki didn't respond, his eyes downcast as if he didn't want to hear anymore. Sunoo sighed, knowing that he wasn't getting through.

The next day, Sunoo was sitting alone in the school courtyard when Eunjin approached him, a sly smile on her lips. "You know, I don't actually like cats," she said casually, like she was revealing a secret.

Sunoo's eyes widened. "Then why—"

"You should feed Cheese from now on," Eunjin continued, her voice taking on a mocking tone. "Since I hate cats, I wouldn't want to take care of it. You're better suited for it, don't you think?"

Sunoo, not thinking much of it, nodded. "Sure, I guess."

He took over feeding Cheese that day, a little unsettled by the conversation, but not entirely sure why. Eunjin was strange, but Sunoo figured she was just bored.

The next morning, everything changed.

Ni-ki's heart broke when he found Cheese lying lifeless near the bushes. Her small body was stiff, cold, as if the life had been drained out of her overnight. The sight of the stray—his stray—lying dead on the school grounds was enough to send a crushing wave of grief through him. He had loved that cat. Cheese had been his small escape, and now she was gone.

A crowd gathered as news of Cheese's death spread through the school. Eunjin was there, standing beside Ni-ki with tears streaming down her face. She sniffled, her voice cracking as she cried, "I don't know what happened. Sunoo... Sunoo was the one who insisted on feeding her yesterday."

Sunoo, who had been standing in the back, froze. He stepped forward, his voice loud and clear, "That's not true. You told me you didn't like cats and handed her off to me. I only fed her because you said you didn't want to."

Eunjin's crocodile tears only intensified as she shook her head. "But Sunoo, you've always said I hate cats. Why would I feed her if I hated her?"

Ni-ki looked between them, confusion and hurt painted on his face. He wanted to believe Sunoo, but the conflicting stories made his head spin. And he couldn't ignore the fact that Sunoo had mentioned before that Eunjin didn't like cats. It was all too much.

"Ni-ki," Sunoo said softly, his voice laced with desperation. "You know I wouldn't hurt Cheese. You have to believe me."

But Ni-ki's gaze remained fixed on the ground, his fists clenching at his sides. His silence spoke louder than words.

Sunoo's heart shattered. "You don't believe me?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Ni-ki didn't respond. He couldn't bring himself to.

Without another word, Sunoo stepped back, his face a mixture of shock and betrayal. Eunjin gently placed her hand on Ni-ki's arm, leading him away as her lips curled into a smirk, hidden from everyone but Sunoo.

Sunoo stood there, alone, his heart heavy as he watched them walk away together. **She got to him too.**