Nɪ-Kɪ Oɴᴇsʜᴏᴛs

-48-Sᴜɴᴋɪ(💗)

"Why did they pair us together for this project? I can't even handle my own life, let alone anyone else's," Ni-ki muttered under his breath, staring at the sprawling library that seemed to swallow him whole. The scent of old books mingled with the faint aroma of coffee from the nearby café, a comforting chaos that felt miles away from his anxiety. He was in his oversized hoodie, the fabric swallowing him whole, wishing to melt into the shadows of the shelves.
"Hey, Ni-ki! You ready for this?" Sunoo's voice rang through the library, bright and full of energy. He stepped into the light, impeccably dressed in a tailored jacket and crisp shirt, eyes twinkling with mischief. "We've got a project to ace, and I'm here to make sure we don't just scrape by!"
Niki looked up, startled, fumbling with his camera strap. "Um, yeah. I guess..." He glanced at the table where their group was supposed to meet, half-dreading the idea of being in the spotlight.
"Great! Let's assign roles, shall we?" Sunoo clapped his hands together, drawing curious glances from nearby students. "I'll take lead on the presentation. Who's good with visuals?"
Niki hesitated, his heart racing. "I can do the visuals..." His voice was barely a whisper.
"Perfect! And what about the rest of you?" Sunoo continued, already moving on, making eye contact with the other group members. Ni-ki felt himself sinking deeper into his hoodie, wishing he could disappear.
"Niki, don't hide! Your visuals are going to be amazing." Sunoo shot him a wink, sending heat rushing to Ni-ki's cheeks. "We'll meet here every Friday until the due date. We'll make it fun!"
"Fun," Ni-ki repeated quietly, a mix of confusion and dread swirling in his mind.
The weeks rolled on, and each study session felt like a tug-of-war. Sunoo was persistent, his laughter echoing through the library as he playfully nudged Ni-ki whenever he zoned out.
"Come on, focus! You're the visual genius here!" Sunoo teased one evening, leaning closer to peer at Ni-ki's screen, their shoulders brushing. "Hey, did you add that cutaway shot I suggested?"
Niki glanced sideways, flustered. "I was working on it! Just... give me a second." He forced himself to concentrate, but the warmth radiating from Sunoo's presence made it difficult.
"Right! But you know, if you need help, I'm just a snack run away." Sunoo grinned, and Ni-ki couldn't help but crack a small smile.
"Snacks make everything better, I guess."
"Exactly! Now, let's add some flair to this project. It's going to be legendary!" Sunoo proclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious, even if Ni-ki fought to contain his nerves.
As the project deadline approached, the late-night library sessions became more frequent. One evening, the clock ticked past ten, the world outside dark and quiet. Sunoo arrived, arms laden with snacks, a steaming cup of coffee in hand.
"Your late-night fuel is here! I brought you a mocha. Extra shot, just like your visuals need!" Sunoo declared, setting everything down with a flourish.
Niki blinked in surprise. "You didn't have to..."
"Of course I did! You're my partner. And besides," Sunoo leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "I can't have you falling asleep on me while editing. I need your genius."
Niki felt his heart flutter, warmth blooming in his chest. "Thanks, Sunoo."
They worked side by side, the atmosphere charged with unspoken tension as they edited and critiqued each other's work. Sunoo's teasing became softer, his glances lingering longer than necessary.
"Niki, you have to trust yourself more. Your ideas are gold," Sunoo encouraged, nudging him playfully. "Stop downplaying your talent."
Niki bit his lip, a mixture of apprehension and gratitude swirling within him. "It's just... I don't want to mess up."
"You won't. You've got this." Sunoo's voice was steady, and Ni-ki felt reassured, the warmth of Sunoo's presence wrapping around him like a cozy blanket.
As the project neared completion, Sunoo insisted on dragging Ni-ki to a campus gala. "You need to network! Plus, I'll be there to protect you from the wolves."
"I don't know, Sunoo... I'm not really a gala person," Ni-ki stammered, fingers fidgeting with his camera strap again.
"Trust me. You'll have fun. Just stick by my side." Sunoo flashed that charming smile, and Ni-ki felt a flutter of something he couldn't quite name.
"Okay, but if I embarrass myself, I'm blaming you," Ni-ki finally agreed, half-laughing.
The night of the gala arrived, and Ni-ki felt out of place among the crowd of impeccably dressed students. Sunoo, however, was a beacon of confidence, effortlessly navigating conversations while keeping Ni-ki close by his side.
"See? Not so bad, right?" Sunoo grinned, handing Ni-ki a drink.
"I guess... it's not terrible." Ni-ki scanned the room, his heart racing as he spotted a group of students eyeing him.
"Just ignore them," Sunoo said, catching Ni-ki's gaze. "They're not worth your time."
Suddenly, one of the students approached, a bold grin plastered on their face. "Hey, you're Ni-ki, right? I've seen your work; it's impressive! Want to grab a drink together?"
Niki felt the panic rise. "Uh, I-"
Sunoo stepped in, wrapping an arm around Ni-ki's shoulders with surprising ease. "He's with me," he declared, a possessive edge in his tone that made Ni-ki's heart race.
"Right, right. My bad!" The student backpedaled, eyeing Sunoo warily before drifting away.
Sunoo turned to Ni-ki, a smirk dancing on his lips. "See? I've got your back."
"Thanks," Ni-ki whispered, his cheeks flushed.
They spent the evening together, Sunoo's laughter ringing in Ni-ki's ears and easing the tension in his chest. The more they talked, the more Ni-ki found himself drawn to Sunoo's warmth and confidence.
As they walked back to the library afterward, the moonlight cast a soft glow on the campus. "I had fun tonight," Ni-ki admitted, glancing at Sunoo.
"Good! I knew you would." Sunoo nudged him playfully. "And you looked great, by the way. That hoodie is basically your signature look now."
Niki chuckled, feeling the tension in his shoulders ease. "I'm just trying to blend in."
"Blending in is overrated. You should stand out more." Sunoo's gaze turned serious, locking onto Ni-ki's. "You know, I see so much potential in you."
"Really?" Ni-ki's heart raced, warmth flooding his cheeks. "You really think so?"
"Absolutely." Sunoo stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You drive me crazy, Ni-ki. In the best way."
Niki's breath caught in his throat. "I-"
Sunoo gently brushed Ni-ki's bangs away from his eyes, causing a shiver to run down his spine. "You're talented, smart, and way cooler than you give yourself credit for," he said softly.
Niki stammered. "I don't... I mean..."
"Shhh." Sunoo silenced him with a finger over his lips, a teasing smile dancing on his face. "Just let it sink in."
They stood there in the soft glow of the library lights, the air thick with unspoken words. Ni-ki's heart raced as he took a step closer, drawn in by Sunoo's unwavering gaze.
"Are you saying what I think you're saying?" Ni-ki finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm saying you're amazing, and I'd like to see where this goes," Sunoo replied, his smirk softening into something genuine.
Niki's breath caught again, a mix of hope and fear swirling in his chest. "I'm not... I'm not very experienced..."
"Neither am I, honestly," Sunoo admitted, his expression earnest. "But I want to learn. Together."
Niki nodded slowly, heart racing. "Okay. Together."
Sunoo's smile lit up the dim corridor, and with a gentle pull, he leaned in closer, their foreheads barely touching. "Let's make this our first project then."
"Yeah... our first project," Ni-ki echoed, feeling a warmth spread through him as Sunoo's lips brushed against his, a tentative exploration that quickly ignited into something deeper.
As they pulled away, both breathless, Sunoo's grin widened. "See? Not so bad after all."
Niki chuckled softly, the tension in his heart melting away. "Definitely not bad."
"Now, let's get back to work on our next masterpiece," Sunoo teased, taking Ni-ki's hand and leading him back into the library, where the world outside faded into a distant memory.
And as they walked together under the soft glow of the library lights, Ni-ki felt a newfound sense of belonging, a spark of hope ignited by the unexpected partnership that had flourished amid late-night study sessions and playful banter.
"By the way," Sunoo said casually, glancing sideways at Ni-ki, "you owe me another coffee run soon."
"Deal," Ni-ki replied, a smile playing on his lips.
As they settled back into their rhythm, the future seemed a little brighter, and for the first time, Ni-ki felt ready to embrace whatever came next.