if it's meant to be | ni-ki

hana rushed around her room, grabbing her jacket and trying to gather everything she needed before she left. she had been planning to go to the hospital to visit yejin, but she was running late—again. it wasn't like her to be disorganized, but today had been hectic.

"where are you going?" niki's voice came from the doorway, startling her. he leaned casually against the frame, his arms crossed, a curious expression on his face.

hana paused, looking up at him. "i need to drop these textbooks off to yejin," she explained quickly, a little flustered as she adjusted the pile of books in her arms. "she's probably waiting for them, and i don't want her to have to deal with it while she's in the hospital."

niki tilted his head, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "i can do it if you want," he offered unexpectedly.

hana blinked, surprised by his offer. she had been expecting to head over herself, but now that niki was offering, she didn't want to turn him down. "can you?" she asked, her smile small but genuine.

niki nodded, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "yeah, i was about to go out anyways. it's no trouble."

"okay, thank you," hana said, relieved that she wouldn't be running behind any longer. she handed him the textbooks, feeling a little lighter knowing that niki would take care of it for her.

he accepted the books with a nod, then gave her a quick wave as he turned to leave. "i'll make sure she gets them," he said, his voice easygoing.

hana watched him go, heading back to her own tasks, knowing that yejin would get her textbooks soon enough.

                                   ★

niki walked through the hospital halls. he wasn't entirely sure why, but he found himself smiling slightly as he thought about yejin.

he could picture her sitting up in her hospital bed, probably working on another one of her paintings or sketching in her notebook.

as he got closer to her room, he adjusted the books in his grip, his mind wandering. he thought about how she always seemed to notice the little things—like the way he laced his shoes or the music he hummed under his breath. she was unique to niki, not in a loud or obvious way, but in the way that she had slowly grown on him without him even realizing it.

he paused for a moment outside her door, staring at the small plaque with her name on it. his heart raced slightly, and he couldn't quite understand why. shaking his head with a quiet chuckle at his own nerves, he straightened up and knocked lightly on the door before stepping inside.

"yejin?" he called softly, his voice low as he peeked into the room. his smile grew a little wider when he saw her sitting up in bed, her head tilting curiously as she looked up from her canvas.

there she was—just as he'd imagined.

yejin got up from her bed, smoothing her hospital gown as she walked toward the door. she wasn't expecting anyone besides her brother.

when she opened the door, her breath hitched slightly. there stood niki, towering over her with the textbooks hana must have sent him to deliver. for a moment, she almost forgot how tall he was—how his presence seemed to fill the room without him even trying.

"oh," yejin said softly, her voice almost a whisper as she looked up at him. "niki."

his neutral expression softened at her voice, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "hey," he greeted simply, his tone quiet yet warm. he shifted the books in his arms, glancing down at her. "hana asked me to bring these to you."