Dance Partners || N.NK ||

Part 55/S2

And just like that, Months went by unnoticed, the time slipping away like a quiet footstep in the dark.
Each day ended the same—the paparazzi trailing behind or you being recognised by them.
The people never seemed to let their eyes stay far away from where you lived, which soon led you to move houses with Ni-ki to a different town.

The place surrounding your new home was rather quiet and oddly familiar to you.
The smell of the place—the sweet floral scent of wisteria that flowed through the air, it was all familiar.
Familiar—like a memory tucked away in the back of your mind, awakened by the floral scent of freshly blooming flowers that surrounded itself around the town.

"Wanna go for a walk?" Ni-Ki spoke, a warm smile plastered on his face as he spread the curtains of the living room wide open.
"Mhm, I'd love to, I don't think I've ever gone for a walk with you in such a quiet town before" you said, taking the last sip of your morning coffee.

Ni-ki chuckled, the echo of his quiet laughter warming up your heart like never before.
"It might seem like a town at first...until the city actually starts unfolding while you wander through the place" he spoke, heading to the kitchen that was connected to the living room.

He opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of cold water, while he twisted the lid open, the door clicking shut behind him.
His actions became a reminder of that night, when you were chased by the paparazzi for the first time in a while.

"Come on, let's go" Ni-ki said, walking back toward the couch where you were sitting on.
He extended a hand for you to hold on.
"Sure" you smiled, wrapping your hand around his in a tight hold as you stood back on your feet.

"But first go grab a hoodie, it's a little bit chilly out today" he added, his voice gentle.

You nodded your head and let go of his hand, quickly running up the stairs to your room.
You grabbed the handles of your wardrobe, pulling the doors open.

A black hoodie hanging right in the middle of the closet caught your eye.
Sure, you had worn it before, but it somehow tugged at your heart.
Which you had no clue of why it felt so—like one of the most valuable things.

You just slipped it on, and ran back down the stairs.

Ni-ki stood by the entrance, leaning against the doorframe of the already open door.
He looked pretty—attractive, his sharp eyes meeting with yours as you walked over to him.

"Shall we go now?" you asked, a bright smile plastered on your face as if you were having the best day of your life.
"You seem more excited now than you did just a few minutes ago" Ni-ki remarked, noticing the sudden rise in your energy.
"Mhm, I know. This hoodie somehow lightens my mood, I don't know why though" you giggled tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie as you pulled him on the sidewalks
"Hmm really? Take a guess" he spoke, his voice matching the excitement that filled yours.

"What do you mean guess?" you turned around, facing him with confusion laced all over your face.
"Guess why you suddenly feel energetic wearing that hoodie" he explained, flashing you a soft smile that made your heart race—in a good way.

"Hmm" you dabbed a finger over your chin, pretending to think for a long moment.
"Maybe someone important...and special gave it to me?" you guessed, your arm now tangled with his.
"Who could that special someone be?" he teased, making you take a another guess.
"Hmm...maybe a childhood friend?" you replied.
"No silly, you stole it from me when we were still back in Highschool" he chuckled, while flicking your forehead like he did back then.

"Ahh! THATS WHY-yAhhHh" you suddenly spoke out loud, the realisation hitting you hard, but you felt a hand cover your mouth almost immediately—muffling your voice.
"Shh" Ni-ki silenced your excitement down.
"You're no fun" you folded your arms, pouting your lips as he took his hand off of you.

"Oh, don't pout those pretty lips... you're making it hard to resist kissing them" he suddenly said, his voice teasing.
"What?!?!" you exclaimed, your eyes widening at his sudden teasing.

He chuckled, the echo of his laughter filling your heart with warmth once again.
You could hear his laughter all day long—like an instrument playing in your ear.

"Run if you can in the next 5 seconds, or I'll steal your first kiss of the month." he challenged.
"Yah, I ain't no kid to play these games" you fired back, but to him, you just looked like another kid trying to win the conversations over.
"It's not that bad to be one—you know?" he said, messing with your soft black hair.
His actions actually made you feel like a child for a moment.

"FINE, YOU SAID IT!!" you said, speaking out loud again, but before he could even quiet you down like he did earlier, you had already ran away from him.
"You know what? Screw the 5 seconds" he murmured, immediately chasing after you.

You were so lost in the moment, walking and talking with Ni-Ki, having the best time of your life, that you hadn't even noticed your surroundings.
You stepped on the soft ground of a tunnel structured with a load of violet flowers—the Wisterias.
And that's when it hit you again—the familiar floral scent that reminded you of a certain place nearby.

"So pretty..." you whispered, your voice barely audible, yet still loud enough for Ni-Ki to hear—who was not even meters away.
And before you knew it, your rapid steps had slowed down, making it easier for Ni-Ki to catch up to you.

"Ain't they stunning?" Ni-ki mumbled, pulling you in a sudden back hug, which at first—you didn't notice.
"Mhm, they are" you replied, taking a moment to stare at the flowers that bloomed under the warm sunlight.

There was a moment of silence.

Until Ni-Ki spoke again.

"You know what's more prettier?" he questioned, his words making you think longer than needed.
"There can't be anything prettier than this" you mumbled, looking at him puzzled.
"You sure?" he asked.
you nodded your head at him.
"Hmm, you might be wrong on that" he said, as the confusion laced all over your face once again.
"How?"
"Because the prettier thing around here is..." he stopped mid sentence, testing your patience.
"Just say it~" you rolled your eyes, turning around to him, face to face,  sounding annoyed—clearly impatient.

He leaned closer, bending to your level.

"YOU" he finally said it, but before you could process the only word he said, you felt a pair of soft lips on yours.

You froze.

The sudden touch of his lips on yours made a shiver run down your spine.
It was the first time you were kissing him ever since your memory loss.
It felt unreal—impossible.
It felt like a dream.
But here you were, kissing him—for real.

"The prettiest" he mumbled, smiling against your lips.

Heat rushed to your cheeks, as you found yourself eventually kissing him back—melting into the moment.
Your hands traveled to his neck, while his pulled you closer to him by the waist.

The wind whispered through the empty tunnel of the wisteria flowers, the petals blown by the wind dropping on the floor.
As the kiss deepened—passionate yet tender—a single petal landed on your shoulder.
A kiss you would never forget.

~ To be continued
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