ᴡʀᴏɴɢ ꜱᴇɴᴅ ┆|| ┆ni-ki

~forty six~

They sat in silence for a while, before Niki gently guided Eunha back onto her feet, his hand never leaving hers as he led her down the quiet path to where his car was parked.

As they reached his sleek, black car, she hesitated for a moment. "Niki... I don't want to be a burden to you. You've already done so much."

Niki squeezed her hand, opening the passenger door for her. "You're not a burden, Eunha. I want you to be safe, and right now, that means coming with me. Just trust me, okay?"

She nodded slowly and slid into the passenger seat, her mind still reeling with everything that had happened.

Niki got in beside her, starting the car with a smooth hum of the engine.

Eunha's thoughts were scattered as she watched the city blur past, but then the roads began to widen, and the buildings turned into large, gated houses, each more luxurious than the last.

She glanced at Niki out of the corner of her eye, a small furrow in her brow.

Eventually, the car turned down a private road, lined with tall trees that swayed gently. At the end of the road stood a large villa, its modern design softened by the warm lights that glowed from within. The front yard was perfectly landscaped, with a fountain trickling softly in the middle of a stone pathway.

Niki parked the car and turned to her with a small smile. "We're here. I know it might seem a bit... much, but make yourself at home, okay?"

Eunha's eyes widened as she stepped out of the car, taking in the sight of the sprawling villa. She'd never seen a place like this outside of magazines.

The house stood tall, its windows reflecting the starry sky above. It looked almost unreal, like something out of a dream.

Niki led her up the stone steps to the front door, unlocking it with a small keypad. As the door swung open, she found herself standing in a grand foyer, the floors polished to a shine and the ceiling stretching high above them.

The living room beyond was filled with modern furniture, yet it had a cozy feel to it, like it was meant to be lived in rather than just looked at.

Niki glanced over at her. "I know it might be different from what you're used to, but I promise, it's just a house. It doesn't have to change anything between us."

Eunha managed a small smile, her shoulders relaxing just a little. "It's... beautiful, Niki. Thank you, for everything."

He nodded and led her further inside, showing her to a guest room down the hall. The room was spacious and tastefully decorated, with soft lighting that cast a warm glow across the plush bed and a window that overlooked the moonlit garden outside.

Niki turned on a bedside lamp, filling the room with a gentle light.

"You can stay here for as long as you need." he said, his tone gentle. "I'll be just down the hall if you need anything, okay?"

"And, I already called the school to let them know you're not coming today. So you don't have to worry about that."

Eunha's eyes widened in surprise. "You did that... for me?"

Niki nodded, a soft warmth in his expression. "Yeah, I did. Someone has to look out for you, right?"

She stared at him, her heart swelling with a strange mix of gratitude and disbelief. No one had ever taken care of her like this before, not without expecting something in return. It was overwhelming, but in a way that made her feel she wasn't as alone as she thought.

She nodded, feeling a tightness in her throat that wasn't entirely from sadness this time. It was the overwhelming kindness that he was offering, the thoughtfulness behind every little gesture.

She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall again and gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, Niki. Really. I don't even know how to begin to repay you."

He gave a small smile. "You don't have to repay me, Eunha. and just... rest. You've been through enough for today."

With that, he gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before turning to leave.

As he closed the door behind him, Eunha sank down onto the bed, before reaching for her phone as she typed out a quick messages to her bestfriends.

"Hey, I'm not coming to school today. Something happened, and I just need a day off." She hesitated, adding a small heart emoji at the end before sending it off, hoping it would be enough to keep them from worrying too much.

She stared out the window, and it felt like a different world, one where she wasn't constantly looking over her shoulder or waiting for the next harsh word.

In the hallway, Niki paused outside her door for a moment, listening to the quiet of the house. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of everything he'd heard from her today. He was determined to protect her, to make sure she never had to go through that kind of pain again.

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