The Revel Heart || Ni-ki

16

The days after that night felt different brighter. It was as if a veil had been lifted between Ni-ki and Celine, revealing a new layer of their relationship that neither of them had been willing to admit before. They were no longer just two people who clashed, but two people who were learning how to build something together. The tension between them had softened, replaced by an unspoken understanding, a sense of mutual care that they both seemed to be nurturing with every passing moment.

But even with the newfound clarity, their relationship was still in its early stages fragile, uncertain, yet filled with promise. The kind of promise that made Celine’s heart skip a beat when she saw his name on her phone screen. The kind of promise that made her smile for no reason at all when he brushed his hand against hers as they walked together.

Still, there was a lingering feeling like a small, quiet question that had yet to be answered. Where were they headed? And how long would it take to get there?

---

It was a bright Saturday morning when it all started to shift again.

Celine had made plans to meet up with her friends for brunch. It had been a while since they’d hung out outside of school, and she’d been looking forward to catching up. But just as she was about to leave her apartment, her phone buzzed with a message from Ni-ki.

“Hey, want to grab lunch later? I know a place you’ll love.”

Celine stared at the message for a moment, her heart racing in her chest. She had just seen him yesterday, and now he was asking to spend more time together. It felt a little… unexpected. They’d been together so much in the past few days, and part of her wondered if it was too much too soon.

But before she could think too much about it, another message came in, this time with a photo attached. It was a picture of a cute café, the kind that had a cozy, artsy vibe a mix of vintage furniture and indoor plants.

“How about here?”

She smiled, her fingers hovering over the keyboard as she typed back.

“Sounds perfect. I’ll meet you there at 1?”

Ni-ki’s response was quick.

“1 it is. Can’t wait to see you.”

A warmth spread through her chest, and she put her phone back in her bag with a sigh. It was a simple message, but it was enough to make her day feel a little brighter. There was something about his words that had a way of making her feel special like she was the only one in his mind at that moment.

---

When Celine arrived at the café later that afternoon, she found Ni-ki already waiting outside, leaning against the brick wall with his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked casual, relaxed like he had no reason to be nervous, even though he was about to spend time with her in a more… intimate setting.

Celine approached him, a little unsure of what to expect. She hadn’t really thought about how things would go beyond their late-night talk in the park.

“Hey,” she greeted him, her voice light and warm.

Ni-ki straightened up as soon as he saw her, a smile tugging at his lips. “Hey, you made it. You look great.”