Nɪ-Kɪ Oɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs

-41-Wᴏɴᴋɪ(💌)

The dorm room was cramped, filled with the remnants of two lives colliding. Posters of boy bands peeled at the corners, and a stray sock lay abandoned on the floor. Ni-ki lounged on his bed, scrolling through his phone, laughter bubbling up as he watched a silly video. He glanced over at Jungwon, who was hunched over his desk, buried in textbooks and notes.
“Hey, Jungwon, you still alive over there?” Ni-ki teased, a smirk spreading across his face.
“Barely. These formulas are trying to kill me,” Jungwon replied without looking up, adjusting his glasses.
“Come on, it’s just math. Just add a little charm, and it’ll work out,” Ni-ki winked, flipping his hair dramatically.
“Charm doesn’t solve equations,” Jungwon said, his tone flat but the corners of his mouth twitched upwards.
“Not yet, but it will,” Ni-ki shot back, popping a piece of gummy candy into his mouth.
Jungwon finally turned, his serious demeanor cracking. “I should’ve known you’d be a distraction.”
“Guilty as charged!” Ni-ki laughed, tossing a candy at Jungwon, who narrowly dodged it. “You need to lighten up. Want to order some ramen? My treat!”
“Just for you to distract me while eating? You’re terrible,” Jungwon replied, but he couldn’t hide his smile.
“Just think of it as fuel for your genius brain.”
Jungwon sighed, relenting. “Fine. But you have to promise to help me study later.”
“Deal! Ramen first, studying second. I’m still trying to figure out how to make you laugh more,” Ni-ki said, eyes sparkling.
As the days turned into weeks, their late-night ramen dinners became a ritual. Ni-ki would often catch himself stealing glances at Jungwon while he animatedly recounted stories from his day. The way Jungwon’s eyes lit up, the way he would laugh at Ni-ki’s terrible jokes—it was intoxicating.
One evening, as they sat cross-legged on the floor, bowls of steaming ramen between them, Ni-ki finally mustered the courage to ask the question that had been gnawing at him for days.
“Jungwon, what do you look for in a boyfriend?” Ni-ki’s voice came out casual, but inside, his heart raced.
Jungwon paused, chopsticks hovering mid-air. “I don’t know. Someone smart, I guess. Kind. Understanding.”
“Sounds like you’re describing yourself,” Ni-ki quipped, trying to mask his growing anxiety with humor.
“Ha, very funny.” Jungwon rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the blush creeping up his neck. “But seriously, someone reliable. You know, who can handle life.”
“I think you’re more than capable of handling it on your own,” Ni-ki said softly, almost as if he were revealing a secret.
Jungwon met his gaze, the atmosphere shifting. “Thanks, Ni-ki. That means a lot coming from you.”
Days passed, and the laughter that once filled their room began to fade as Jungwon started dating Minji, a girl from their study group. Ni-ki found himself watching from the sidelines, pretending to be happy, but the hollow ache in his chest grew heavier with each passing day.
“Niki, you okay?” Jungwon asked one evening, concern etched on his face as he noticed Ni-ki’s distracted demeanor.
“Yeah, just tired. Long day,” Ni-ki replied, forcing a smile.
“You should get some rest. You’ve been working hard,” Jungwon said, shifting slightly closer, but Ni-ki felt an invisible wall between them.
“I’ll be fine. Just need to recharge,” Ni-ki muttered, turning back to his phone, avoiding Jungwon’s gaze.
The latenight talks dwindled, replaced by Jungwon’s whispered conversations with Minji. Ni-ki felt the warmth of their friendship cooling, replaced by a bitter chill that seeped into the corners of their tiny room.
One night, after a particularly tense study session, Ni-ki exploded.
“Why are you always with her? Can’t you see you’re pushing me away?”
Jungwon blinked, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re always busy with Minji! You used to talk to me about everything!” Ni-ki shouted, his voice breaking.
“Niki, it’s not like that. I just have a lot on my plate,” Jungwon replied, frustration creeping into his tone.
“Right, because Minji is obviously more important than our friendship,” Ni-ki snapped back, his heart pounding.
“Don’t twist my words! This is just a phase,” Jungwon said, his voice rising.
“Is it? Or is it just how you really feel?” Ni-ki's breath hitched, the vulnerability spilling from his lips.
“Niki, I—”
“Just forget it!” Ni-ki shouted, pacing the room, anger mixing with pain. “I can’t do this anymore.”
“Wait—” Jungwon began, but Ni-ki stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
The silence that enveloped the room afterward was suffocating. Days turned into a week of icy glances and unspoken words. Jungwon tried to reach out, but Ni-ki remained distant, burying himself in music and late-night outings with friends.
When Jungwon finally mustered the courage to approach Ni-ki, he found him sitting on the floor of the common area, headphones on, eyes closed, lost in a world where Jungwon couldn’t follow.
“Niki,” he called softly, but it only made Ni-ki’s expression harden.
“What do you want?” Ni-ki asked without looking up.
“I want to talk,” Jungwon said, his heart racing.
“About what? How you’ve moved on?” Ni-ki’s voice was sharp.
“About us. About what happened,” Jungwon replied, taking a breath. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Then why did you?” Ni-ki shot back, finally meeting Jungwon’s gaze.
“I didn’t know you felt that way,” Jungwon admitted, his voice faltering.
“Of course, you didn’t. You were too busy with Minji to notice,” Ni-ki spat, anger and hurt mixing painfully inside him.
“Niki, please. Just listen to me,” Jungwon said, desperation lacing his words.
“I don’t want to hear it!” Ni-ki shouted, tears brimming in his eyes. “I thought we had something special. I thought you could see me.”
“I do see you!” Jungwon exclaimed, stepping closer. “I value you more than you know. I just—”
“Just what? Don’t say it if you don’t mean it!” Ni-ki interrupted, his heart pounding painfully against his ribs.
“Niki, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you felt this way. I thought we were friends,” Jungwon said, his voice breaking.
“Friends? You don’t just treat friends like this!” Ni-ki cried, his chest tightening.
“I know! I know, and I’m sorry. But I don’t feel the same way,” Jungwon confessed, his expression pained.
Niki’s heart shattered, the words sinking deep. “Then what’s the point? I can’t pretend anymore. I can’t just be your friend while I feel like this. It hurts too much.”
“Niki, please don’t say that,” Jungwon pleaded, his eyes wide.
“I need to go,” Ni-ki whispered, the resolve hardening inside him. “I can’t stay here. Not like this.”
“Where will you go?” Jungwon asked, panic rising in his voice.
“Anywhere but here,” Ni-ki replied, his heart heavy as he turned to walk away, leaving Jungwon standing there, frozen in shock.
Weeks passed, and the absence of Ni-ki echoed through Jungwon’s heart. He tried to fill the void with studies and friendships, but nothing felt right without Ni-ki’s laughter and lightness.
One night, late into the semester, Jungwon found himself rummaging through drawers, searching for a forgotten textbook. His fingers brushed against something crumpled and familiar. He pulled out an old note Ni-ki had left behind, the handwriting slightly messy but full of warmth.
“𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫.”
Tears pricked at Jungwon’s eyes as he read the words again and again, each syllable striking him like a hammer to the heart.
“Niki...” he whispered to the empty room, the weight of regret crashing over him.
He realized, too late, that he had taken for granted the bond they shared. Ni-ki had been more than a friend; he had been everything Jungwon didn’t know he needed.
With a heavy heart, Jungwon stared at the note, his mind racing with memories of laughter and warmth. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured, wishing he could turn back time, wishing he could find Ni-ki and tell him what he truly felt.
But the dorm was silent now, the space that had once been filled with love and laughter now echoing with the sound of regret.