Nɪ-Kɪ Oɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs

-33-Hʏᴜɴɢ ʟɪɴᴇ ×Nɪ-ᴋɪ(💗)

The sun hung low over Seoul University, casting long shadows across the bustling campus. Students rushed between classes, laughter mingling with the chatter that filled the air. In the midst of it all, Niki stood with his map in hand, a frown creasing his forehead. Fresh from a quiet town, the chaos of the university was overwhelming, but he was determined to find his way.
“Hey, you lost?” A voice broke through the noise, smooth and inviting. Niki looked up to see a tall boy with tousled hair and a confident grin.
“I—uh, yeah,” Niki stammered, glancing at the map again. “I’m trying to find the Arts building.”
“Easy. Just follow me.” The boy waved him over, and with a hesitant step, Niki followed. “I’m Heeseung, by the way.”
“Niki,” he replied, feeling a warmth spread through him.
As they walked, Heeseung pointed out various buildings. “That’s the library, and over there is the cafeteria. Watch out for the food fights, though. They’re brutal.” He chuckled, and Niki felt himself relax.
“Do you always help lost freshmen?” Niki asked, trying to keep the conversation flowing.
“Only the cute ones,” Heeseung said with a wink, making Niki’s cheeks flush.
Just then, a group of boys approached, each one exuding an air of mischief. Jake, with his dark hair and sharp features, grinned as he caught sight of Niki. “What’s this? Heeseung finally found someone he can’t scare off?”
“Shut it, Jake,” Heeseung shot back, but Niki couldn’t help but smile at the banter.
Sunghoon stepped forward, a playful smirk on his lips. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“NNi-ki,” he stuttered, suddenly feeling shy under their combined gaze.
“Nice to meet you, Niki,” Jay said, his voice deep and steady. “Just a word of advice—stay away from the rooftop. Bad things happen up there.”
“Yeah, like love confessions,” Jake added, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“What do you mean?” Niki asked, intrigued despite himself.
“Nothing,” Heeseung said, shaking his head. “Just a rumor.”
“What kind of rumor?” Niki pressed, wanting to know more about these boys who seemed to command attention effortlessly.
“Let’s just say, the rooftop is a place for secrets,” Sunghoon replied cryptically, his gaze lingering on Niki.
“Anyway, you should come hang out with us later,” Jake suggested, nudging Niki playfully. “We can show you the real Seoul University.”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun,” Heeseung added, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Niki felt a rush of warmth. “Okay, I’d like that.”
As the day turned into evening, Niki found himself at the edge of the campus, where the four boys were waiting. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
“Ready for an adventure?” Sunghoon asked, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Sure!” Niki replied, feeling a flutter of nerves and excitement.
They wandered through the streets, laughter echoing around them. Jake recounted ridiculous stories of their previous exploits, while Jay chimed in with dry humor. Niki felt like he was part of something special, a feeling he hadn’t experienced before.
“Alright, let’s hit the rooftop,” Jake declared suddenly, and Niki felt a thrill.
As they climbed the stairs, Niki’s heart raced. Heeseung walked beside him, their shoulders brushing occasionally. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this group than met the eye.
“Here we are,” Sunghoon said, pushing open the door to the rooftop. The city sprawled beneath them, lights twinkling like stars.
“Wow,” Niki breathed, taking in the view.
“Pretty great, right?” Heeseung stood closer, his arm casually resting against the wall.
“Yeah,” Niki replied, his gaze drawn to Heeseung. There was a magnetic pull between them, something he hadn’t expected.
“Hey, Niki,” Jake called out, breaking the moment. “What’s your type?”
Niki’s eyes widened. “My type?”
“Yeah, like who would you date?” Jake pressed, a teasing smile on his lips.
“Um, I don’t know…” Niki mumbled, feeling heat rise to his cheeks.
“C’mon, be honest,” Jay urged, leaning against the railing, arms crossed.
“Okay, okay,” Niki relented. “I guess someone kind and funny?”
“Sounds like Heeseung,” Sunghoon smirked, nudging his friend.
“Shut up,” Heeseung shot back, though he was clearly amused.
“Does Niki have a crush on Heeseung?” Jake teased, grinning widely.
Niki’s face burned. “I don’t—”
“Relax, we’re just messing with you!” Sunghoon laughed, his voice easy and carefree.
Niki tried to laugh along, but his heart raced. Maybe he did have a crush, and maybe the way Heeseung looked at him made it more complicated.
As the night wore on, the group shared stories and jokes, the tension of unspoken feelings lingering in the air. Niki found himself gravitating towards Heeseung, their conversations growing more personal.
“What about you?” Niki asked, curiosity piquing. “What’s your type?”
Heeseung paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Someone who’s real, you know? Not afraid to be themselves. Someone who can make me laugh.”
Niki’s pulse quickened. “I can be funny.”
“I bet you can,” Heeseung said, his eyes sparkling.
The moment stretched between them, and Niki felt a rush of courage. “I like being around you. You make me feel… comfortable.”
Heeseung’s smile softened. “You know, you’re not bad yourself, Niki.”
Suddenly, the door to the rooftop swung open with a loud bang. “What are you losers doing up here?” Jake shouted, his voice breaking the moment.
“Nobody was doing anything!” Niki replied quickly, but his heart sank.
“Liar!” Jake laughed, causing Niki to roll his eyes.
As the night wore on, the playful atmosphere began to shift. Niki noticed the looks exchanged between the others—something unspoken that he didn’t quite understand.
“Hey, we should get going,” Jay said finally, breaking the tension. “It’s getting late.”
“Yeah, let’s head back,” Sunghoon agreed, pushing off the railing.
Niki felt a pang of disappointment. He wanted to stay with Heeseung, to explore whatever this was between them.
As they made their way down, Niki caught Heeseung’s gaze. “Can we talk?” he asked quietly, just loud enough for Heeseung to hear.
“Yeah, of course,” Heeseung replied, his tone shifting slightly.
Once they reached the ground, the others drifted ahead, leaving Niki and Heeseung in the dim light.
“What’s up?” Heeseung asked, his expression open and attentive.
“I just—” Niki hesitated, the weight of his feelings pressing down on him. “I really like you, Heeseung.”
Heeseung’s eyes widened slightly. “You do?”
“Yeah,” Niki admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I know it’s crazy, but I can’t help it.”
Heeseung took a step closer, his gaze intense. “It’s not crazy. I like you too, Niki.”
Niki felt a rush of relief mixed with joy. “Really?”
“Really,” Heeseung confirmed, a smile breaking across his face. “I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you.”
“Then why didn’t you?” Niki asked, a teasing lilt in his voice.
“Because you’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever met, and I didn’t want to scare you off,” Heeseung replied, laughter dancing in his eyes.
Niki felt his heart soar. “You could never scare me off.”
As they stood together, the world around them faded away. Niki’s heart raced as Heeseung leaned in, their lips brushing softly.
“Wow,” Niki breathed, his eyes fluttering open.
“Yeah,” Heeseung said, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “Wow.”
The moment was electric, and Niki felt an overwhelming sense of happiness.
“Let’s get back before they start a search party,” Heeseung said, grinning.
“Okay,” Niki replied, feeling lighter than air as they walked back towards their friends, hands brushing against each other.
“Hey! What took you so long?” Jake shouted as they approached.
“Just discussing important matters,” Heeseung replied, a smirk on his face.
“Like how Niki’s got a big crush?” Sunghoon teased, earning a playful punch from Niki.
“Shut up!” Niki laughed, feeling the warmth of acceptance wash over him.
As they made their way down the bustling streets of Seoul, Niki realized that he had found more than just friends—he had found a place where he belonged.
And as Heeseung walked beside him, their shoulders brushing, Niki knew that this was just the beginning of something beautiful.