The Revel Heart || Ni-ki

12

It had been a few days since the awkward kiss, and nothing had been the same since.

Ni-ki hadn’t been able to stop replaying it over and over in his mind. The way their lips had brushed together, how his heart had skipped a beat, and how, for just a moment, he had felt a connection he wasn’t quite sure how to handle. It was like a rush of emotions he hadn’t prepared for. They hadn’t talked about it since, and now every time he saw her, that tension was hanging between them, palpable and thick like fog.

As for Celine, she had been walking around in a haze, half-confused and half-excited. Part of her wanted to brush it off act like it was nothing. After all, they hadn’t exactly defined what they were, and their interaction had been just an accident, right? Or had it been more than that? She hadn’t told anyone about it, hadn’t even brought it up with Ni-ki himself. But the more she saw him, the more she started to question her own feelings.

She had always kept things light. Casual. She wasn’t the type to get attached easily. But Ni-ki there was something about him. He wasn’t just another guy she could write off or forget. He had this way of keeping her on edge, making her care more than she’d ever wanted to.

But now? Now, every glance from him sent her heart racing. And she hated that she was beginning to wonder if the kiss meant something more, something real.

---

The day started off like any other, but by lunchtime, the air felt heavier than usual. Ni-ki was sitting at the cafeteria table with his friends, but he wasn’t really paying attention to them. His mind was elsewhere on Celine, to be exact. He had seen her earlier in the hall, and they had exchanged a brief, almost awkward smile. But it wasn’t enough. There was a tension between them that couldn’t be ignored, and it was driving him crazy.

“Yo, man, you okay?” Heeseung’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Huh?” Ni-ki blinked, looking up at his friend.

“You’ve been staring off into space for the last five minutes. What’s up with you?” Jay raised an eyebrow.

Ni-ki sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing. Just... thinking."

“Thinking about what? That girl?” Heeseung teased with a grin.

Ni-ki frowned. “What girl?”

“Come on, man,” Sunghoon said, chuckling. “Celine. You’ve been hanging out with her a lot lately. Don't even try to deny it.”

Ni-ki shifted uncomfortably, his stomach knotting at the mention of her name. “It’s not like that. We’re just... friends.”

Jungwon gave him an exaggerated look, as if to say, "Really?"

“I mean it, dude,” Ni-ki said quickly, but he could feel the lie hanging in the air. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to convince them, or himself.

“Yeah, okay,” Sunoo said, though he didn’t look convinced. “Just be careful, man. You don’t want to mess things up. You’ve got a thing with her, don’t act like you don’t.”

Ni-ki didn’t respond, staring down at his food. He wasn’t sure what he had with Celine anymore. All he knew was that she had gotten under his skin, and now every time he saw her, he felt this weird mix of anticipation and dread. He wasn’t ready for any of this, and yet he couldn’t stay away.