Nɪ-Kɪ Oɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs

-39-Hᴇᴇᴋɪ(💗,👀 sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ)

The bass thudded through the walls of the nightclub, a pulsing heartbeat that matched the energy of the crowd. Ni-ki wiped down the bar, the rag gliding over the polished surface as he surveyed the room. Laughter and shouts mingled with the music, creating a chaotic harmony.
“Another round, Ni-ki!” a customer shouted, raising an empty glass.
“Coming right up!” Ni-ki shot back, his voice cutting through the noise effortlessly. He poured a shot of soju, the liquid glistening under the dim lights, and set it down with a flourish. “Here you go. Just don’t blame me if you end up dancing on the bar again!”
“Only if you join me!” the customer laughed, downing the drink in one go.
As he turned to grab another bottle, his gaze landed on a newcomer—a tall, lean figure with tousled hair and an expression that screamed ‘out of place.’ Ni-ki’s lips curled into a teasing smile.
“Hey, fresh meat!” he called out, leaning over the bar. “You look like you just walked off a campus tour. What’s a good little law student like you doing in a den of iniquity like this?”
Heeseung’s eyes narrowed, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “I could ask you the same thing, Mr. Bartender. Shouldn’t you be in school instead of mixing drinks?”
“School’s for suckers,” Ni-ki shot back, pouring a cocktail with practiced ease. “I’m a genius behind the bar. You’re just a genius behind a pile of books.”
“Touché,” Heeseung replied, crossing his arms. “But I’m not here to debate academic merits. I just need a drink.”
“Then why are you still standing there?” Ni-ki quipped, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You look like you need more than just a drink. You need a whole damn bottle.”
Heeseung chuckled, the tension easing a bit. “Make it a strong one. I’ve had a long day.”
“Long days call for strong drinks, and strong drinks call for a strong bartender,” Ni-ki said, winking as he filled a glass. “Here’s to the chaos of life.”
Heeseung took the drink, their fingers brushing against one another—a spark that sent an unexpected thrill through Ni-ki.
“Cheers,” Heeseung said, raising his glass.
“Cheers,” Ni-ki echoed, their eyes locking for a moment longer than necessary.
As the night wore on, the bar filled with laughter and shouts. Ni-ki glided from one table to another, each interaction infused with his trademark charm. Heeseung found himself drawn to the bartender, their banter a welcome distraction from the weight of his studies.
“Why do you even bother with school, anyway?” Ni-ki asked one night, leaning against the bar as Heeseung nursed his drink. “You could be out here, living it up like the rest of us.”
“Because someone has to keep the world in order,” Heeseung replied, a hint of seriousness creeping into his tone. “Not everyone can just run away from their problems.”
“Running away isn’t always bad,” Ni-ki countered, tilting his head. “Sometimes it’s the only way to find yourself.”
“Or lose yourself completely,” Heeseung shot back, frowning. “You can’t just avoid reality forever.”
Niki shrugged, a flicker of something deeper flashing in his eyes. “Reality sucks. But you know what doesn’t? This.” He gestured to the bar, the music, the people dancing and laughing. “Here, we can forget for a while.”
“Maybe,” Heeseung conceded, though uncertainty lingered in his gaze.
Days turned into weeks, and their encounters became a nightly ritual. Ni-ki pushed Heeseung’s buttons with playful taunts, while Heeseung’s responses grew sharper, the tension between them electric.
“Are you always this uptight?” Ni-ki asked one evening, his brow arched as he mixed a drink.
“Maybe if you weren’t so obnoxious all the time, I wouldn’t have to be,” Heeseung shot back, but a smile crept across his face.
Niki laughed, the sound bright and infectious. “Obnoxious? Me? I prefer ‘charismatic.’”
“Charismatic, sure,” Heeseung replied, shaking his head. “More like a headache.”
“Just admit it, you love me,” Ni-ki teased, leaning closer, their faces inches apart.
A blush crept up Heeseung’s neck. “Hardly.”
“Liar,” Ni-ki whispered, his voice low and playful, a challenge lingering in the air.
It was a game they played, the lines between teasing and something deeper blurring with each encounter. But beneath the surface, both were grappling with their own insecurities.
One night, as the club pulsed with energy, Ni-ki caught Heeseung staring into his drink, the usually confident student looking lost.
“Hey,” Ni-ki said softly, leaning against the bar. “What’s up?”
Heeseung sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just… I don’t know if I can keep up with everything. School, family expectations—it’s all just too much sometimes.”
Niki’s expression softened, the teasing façade slipping away. “You don’t have to be perfect, you know. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”
“I feel like I’m drowning,” Heeseung admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “And I don’t know how to swim.”
“Then let me throw you a lifeline,” Ni-ki replied, stepping closer. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
Heeseung looked up, their eyes locking with an intensity that sent a shiver down Ni-ki’s spine. “And what about you? You’re just… being you. Don’t you ever want more?”
“Sometimes,” Ni-ki confessed, his bravado fading. “But I don’t know how to reach for it.”
“Maybe you should try,” Heeseung urged, vulnerability creeping into his tone. “You’re capable of more than just bartending. You’re… you have a spark.”
“Yeah? And you’re stuck in your head all the time,” Ni-ki countered, a teasing lilt returning to his voice. “Let’s trade places for a night.”
“Not a chance,” Heeseung laughed, but the tension had shifted, the air thick with unspoken possibilities.
As the weeks turned into a complicated dance of flirtation and frustration, the stakes grew higher. Ni-ki found himself wanting something more, something real. But the fear of vulnerability held him back.
Then one night, Heeseung showed up with a storm brewing behind his eyes, his usual calm demeanor shattered.
“What happened?” Ni-ki asked, concern etching his features.
“My parents… They want me to take over the family firm,” Heeseung said, his voice tight with anger. “They don’t care about what I want. It’s all about their plans.”
“That sucks, man,” Ni-ki replied, leaning against the bar, arms crossed. “But you’re your own person. You don’t have to follow their path.”
“I don’t know what else to do,” Heeseung admitted, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. “I feel trapped.”
“Then break free,” Ni-ki said earnestly, stepping closer. “You can’t let them dictate your life.”
Heeseung met his gaze, the walls he’d built around himself beginning to crack. “And what if I fail?”
“Then you fail,” Ni-ki replied, fierce determination in his eyes. “But at least you’ll be living for yourself.”
Silence fell between them, the air thick with tension. Ni-ki took a step closer, their faces inches apart.
“Sometimes it’s worth taking the leap,” he whispered, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.
Without another word, he leaned in and pressed his lips against Heeseung’s. It was tentative at first, a question, and then deeper, igniting a fire that neither of them had been prepared for.
Heeseung’s hands found their way to Ni-ki’s waist, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss as the world around them faded away.
When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Heeseung looked at Ni-ki, surprise mingling with something softer. “What was that?”
“A leap,” Ni-ki replied, a lopsided grin on his face. “Don’t you feel alive?”
Heeseung shook his head, a mix of disbelief and exhilaration written across his features. “You’re insane.”
“Maybe,” Ni-ki said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “But I think we’re both a little insane in our own ways.”
As the night wore on, they found themselves lost in conversation, their fears and hopes spilling out alongside laughter. For the first time, Heeseung felt a sense of freedom, and Ni-ki, for all his bravado, felt anchored.
But as the sun began to rise, reality crashed back in.
“I should go,” Heeseung said reluctantly, glancing at the door. “My parents will be expecting me.”
“Hey,” Ni-ki said, reaching out to touch Heeseung’s arm. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
Heeseung hesitated, torn between his past and the potential of something new. “I don’t know if I can just walk away.”
“Then don’t walk away,” Ni-ki replied, his voice steady. “Take it one step at a time. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
Heeseung nodded slowly, the weight of his decision hanging in the air. “I’ll… I’ll think about it.”
As Heeseung walked away, Ni-ki felt a mix of hope and uncertainty. He’d opened a door, but he didn’t know if Heeseung would step through.
Days turned into a week, and Heeseung didn’t return to the bar. Ni-ki kept busy, pouring drinks and bantering with customers, but the absence of the law student left a hollow ache in his chest.
Then one night, as the club pulsed with energy, Heeseung walked through the door.
“I’ve got something to say,” he announced, striding toward the bar, confidence radiating from him.
Niki’s heart raced, the familiar thrill of their banter flooding back. “Oh? Do tell, Mr. Law Student.”
“I’m not taking over my parents’ firm,” Heeseung said, his voice steady. “I’m going to study what I want.”
“Really?” Ni-ki’s eyes widened, a grin spreading across his face. “That’s amazing!”
“Yeah, and I want you to be a part of it,” Heeseung added, his expression softening. “If you’ll have me.”
“Of course I will!” Ni-ki exclaimed, leaning over the bar. “But you have to promise to take your own advice. No more being trapped in your head.”
“I promise,” Heeseung said, a smile breaking through. “And you? You need to let yourself be open to more than just chaos.”
“Deal,” Ni-ki replied, heart racing. “So, what’s next for us?”
“Let’s find out together,” Heeseung suggested, stepping closer.
Niki leaned over the bar, their lips just inches apart. “Together.”
The world outside faded away as they closed the distance, the kiss igniting the promise of everything yet to come. In that moment, it didn’t matter what had been or what lay ahead. They were two souls entwined, ready to navigate the chaos and calm of life together.