if it's meant to be | ni-ki

in that fleeting moment, as everything around me blurred. fortunately, the last moment i had in this life was with you.

✩ ★

niki leaned back in his chair, his earbuds in his ears as he listened to yejin's soft, tired voice on the other end of the call. his desk lamp cast a faint glow over the papers and books scattered in front of him, but his focus was entirely on her.

"how's yaong?" yejin asked, her voice a little raspy but carrying warmth.

niki smiled, glancing toward the window as if the cat might magically appear. "he's getting bigger," he replied, his tone light. after a moment of thought, he added, "you want me to get him vaccinated for you? then, when you're back, he can stay in your room."

there was a brief pause before yejin answered, her voice tinged with gratitude. "yeah... i'd like that."

niki could hear the way she exhaled, tired but content. "don't you have school tomorrow?" she asked suddenly, her tone gentle.

he chuckled, tilting his head back to rest against the chair. "i do."

"then go to sleep," yejin said softly, a faint smile audible in her tone.

niki smirked, shaking his head even though she couldn't see him. "i will. just not now."

yejin let out a small sigh, her voice dropping to a more serious note. "pay attention. your graduation will come sooner than you know it."

niki sat up a little straighter at her words, glancing at the photostrip of them from the photo booth sitting on his shelf. "will you take a picture of me on your camera?" he asked, his voice quieter, more vulnerable.

yejin smiled on the other end, the sound of it carrying through the call. "of course. i have to be there," she replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

niki's lips curled into a soft smile. "then i'll make it worth it," he said, his voice low but filled with meaning.

niki sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbow on the desk as he ruffled his hair. "ahh, yejin, it's bad. i miss you," he admitted, his voice tinged with both a playful whine and genuine longing.

there was a pause on yejin's end before she responded simply, "okay."

niki raised a brow, giving his screen a mock side-eye even though she couldn't see it. "i miss you," he repeated, dragging out the words like he was trying to make a point.

yejin's response was calm but teasing. "so?"

niki huffed, shaking his head as he leaned back again. "i was going to say i'll visit you tomorrow, but i guess n—"

"no, no, no!" yejin cut in quickly, her voice rising with urgency.

niki smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. "oh, so now you care?" he teased, leaning his chin on his hand.

yejin groaned on the other end, and he could practically picture her rolling her eyes. "you know i care," she said softly, her tone gentler now.

niki's smile softened as he leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "good. because i'll see you tomorrow," he said quietly, his voice carrying a promise.

yejin let out a small laugh, and though she didn't say anything.

★

niki was leaning against his desk, lazily scrolling through his phone when sunghoon strolled over, casually draping an arm over his shoulder. "basketball today?" sunghoon asked, his tone light but expectant.