Nɪ-Kɪ Oɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs

-36-Jᴀʏᴋɪ(💗)

Title: Opposites Attract

Ni-ki slammed the door of their shared dorm room, his heart racing with frustration. The fluorescent lights flickered above, casting a harsh glow on the small space filled with mismatched furniture—a small desk piled high with textbooks, a few personal items strewn haphazardly across the floor, and two beds, each claiming its own half of the room.

“Why do I have to live with him?” he muttered under his breath, throwing his backpack on his bed. His roommate, Jay, was the embodiment of everything he loathed: cocky, arrogant, and annoyingly charming. They’d had a rivalry since the first day of freshman year, competing in everything from academics to sports. But this? Sharing a dorm was like signing up for a daily nightmare.

Jay, already sprawled on his bed with earbuds in, looked up, a smirk on his face. “Just think of it as an intense roommate bonding experience. I know you love being around me.”

“Yeah, right,” Ni-ki shot back, rolling his eyes. “I’d rather live with a cactus.”

But as the days turned into weeks, the initial hostility began to soften. The tension was still undeniable; they often clashed over the tiniest things, from the thermostat settings to social plans. Jay was the type to host wild parties, while Ni-ki preferred quiet nights with his coding assignments.

One night, while Jay was thumping along to the latest pop hits, Ni-ki found himself desperately trying to concentrate on his project. With a sigh, he snapped.

“Can you turn that down? I’m trying to work!”

Jay paused the music and leaned back on his bed, arms crossed. “Work, work, work. When are you going to let loose a little?”

Ni-ki bristled. “I don’t need your ‘let loose’ philosophy. Some of us take our futures seriously.”

Jay rolled his eyes and suddenly sat up straight, eyes twinkling with mischief. “You think you’re so much better than me, huh? Why don’t we make a deal? I’ll help you with your project if you join me for one night of fun. No studying, no homework. Just one night.”

Ni-ki hesitated. The thought of spending a night at one of Jay’s infamous parties sent shivers down his spine. But then again, he could use a break. “Fine,” he said finally, trying to sound indifferent.

That Friday night, Ni-ki found himself in unfamiliar territory—surrounded by flashing lights, pulsing bass, and laughter that drowned out all worries. He remained hesitant, but Jay was a force of nature, dragging him into the pulsating heart of the party. As the evening wore on, Ni-ki began to relax, surprised at how much he enjoyed himself.

To his horror, he found that Jay was not only entertaining, but genuinely funny and surprisingly kind. During a break from dancing, they found themselves in a quieter corner with drinks in hand, discussing their lives in a way they’d never dared before.

“I guess I misjudged you,” Ni-ki admitted, taking a sip of his drink. “You’re not all bad.”

Jay chuckled, a flicker of something softer in his eyes. “And I thought you were just a nerd. There’s more to you than that, huh?”

As the weeks passed, their antagonism started to dissolve like ice melting in the sun. They found themselves working on projects together, challenging each other to be better, but in a more supportive, less competitive way. Late-night talks turned into shared secrets, and as the layers peeled back, they discovered they had more in common than they first thought.

One evening, as they both frowned at a difficult assignment, Ni-ki’s pencil snapped with frustration. “Ugh! Why is this so hard?”

Jay glanced over, his expression softening. “Sometimes you just need to step back, you know? Why don’t we take a break, go for a walk?”

Ni-ki felt a surge of warmth at Jay’s suggestion and found himself nodding. The night air was cool as they strolled through campus, the stars twinkling playfully above them. They talked about their dreams and fears, the weight of their expectations lifting with each shared laugh and knowing glance.

Suddenly, Jay stopped, turning to face Ni-ki. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I… really like you.”

Ni-ki’s heart raced. Did he hear that right? The rivalry, the bickering, the late-night talks—they all came crashing together in a dizzying realization. “I like you too,” he whispered, meeting Jay’s gaze.

In that moment, surrounded by the laughter of their peers and the beauty of the night, everything changed. What had started as a nightmare became the beginning of something beautiful—a love story that blossomed from the ashes of rivalry.

As they stood side by side, hearts racing and breaths mingling in the cool night air, they knew they had turned their opposing forces into something entirely new: a love that neither had expected, but both were grateful to have found.