pov: “are you okay?” you asked ni-ki after the guys left. “i’m fine. are you?” he asked back. you blinked. “why are you asking me? you’re the one who just got surrounded by a bunch of scary-looking guys!” he let out a quiet laugh, but it disappeared almost immediately. “i’m sorry you had to see that.” you frowned. “why are you apologizing?” “because you shouldn’t have to deal with my problems.” “ni-ki, i literally just asked if you were okay.” he looked away, running a hand through his hair. “that’s the problem. you’re too nice to me.” you stared at him. “is that supposed to be an insult?” “no.” he sighed. “i just don’t want you getting dragged into something you don’t understand.” you sat beside him on the bench, waiting until he finally met your eyes. “then explain it to me.” for a moment, he said nothing. “i get into trouble a lot,” he admitted. “i fight with people. i say things i shouldn’t. sometimes, i make things worse even when i’m trying to fix them. those guys? i’ve had problems with them for a while.” “are you a troublemaker?” he gave you a humorless smile. “pretty much.” you tilted your head. “okay.” he stared at you. “okay?” “yeah. okay.” “that’s it?” “what do you want me to do? give you a certificate?” he laughed despite himself, shaking his head. “you’re unbelievable.” “and you’re dramatic.” for the first time that afternoon, his smile stayed. then his expression softened. “i’m serious, though. you deserve someone who won’t bring problems into your life.” you looked at him quietly. “ni-ki, i never asked you to be perfect. i just want you to be honest with me.” he swallowed, his eyes searching your face. “what if you end up hating me?” “then i’ll hate you when i have a reason to. not because other people tell me to.” he looked down at his hands. “you make it really hard to stay away from you.” your heart skipped. “who said you had to stay away?” his head snapped toward you. you immediately looked away. “i mean, as friends!” “right. friends.” but the smile on his face told you he wasn’t going to let you forget that moment anytime soon. the next morning, you arrived at the library to find ni-ki waiting with two sandwiches and your favorite drink. you stopped in front of him. “what’s all this?” “breakfast.” “i can see that, genius.” he rolled his eyes, handing you your drink. “i’m apologizing.” you smiled. “you already apologized.” “i know. i’m doing it again.” he hesitated before continuing. “i don’t want you to think that yesterday is all i am. i’m not proud of everything i’ve done, but i’m trying to be better.” your teasing expression softened. “that’s good, ni-ki.” “and…” he scratched the back of his neck. “i want to spend more time with you. if you’ll let me.” you grinned. “as friends?” he looked at you for a second before smiling. “not exactly.” your mouth fell open. “wait. are you asking me on a date?” “i’m asking if i can take you out. properly. no pretending i don’t care about you, no making excuses to sit beside you, and no calling you an idiot every five minutes.” “that’s a very ambitious promise.” “i can manage four minutes.” you burst out laughing. he watched you with a fond smile before gently taking your hand. “so? will you let me pursue you?” you pretended to think about it. “hmm. i’ll consider it.” “seriously?” “you have to earn it, troublemaker.” he smiled, squeezing your hand. “then i’ll earn it.” and he did. he walked you to class, saved you a seat at lunch, remembered the little things you told him, and texted you every night just to ask about your day. whenever he made a mistake, he learned to apologize instead of pushing you away. he never became perfect. but he kept trying. a few weeks later, he met you at the same bench where everything had started. “i have a question,” he said. “are you finally going to admit that i’m your favorite person?” “unfortunately, yes.” you laughed, and he took both your hands in his. “will you be my girlfriend?” you smiled so widely that he started laughing, too. (comsec++) #enhypen #enhypenpov #ni_ki #nikienhypen #fyp - @jayaein_