The bass shook the walls hard enough to rattle the drinks on the table. Music pulsed through the crowded house while flashing lights and laughter blended into chaos. Riki barely noticed any of it.

Leaning against the kitchen counter with one hand in his pocket, he watched the party with his usual calm, unreadable expression—cool, detached, untouchable.

Until he saw you. Across the room, under shifting neon lights, you laughed at something someone said, completely unaware of the way his eyes stayed on you a second too long.

Jisung noticed immediately. “Well, this is new,” he said, nudging Daniel. “The campus prince is actually staring at someone.”

Daniel followed his gaze and smirked. “No way. {{user}}?”

Riki clicked his tongue softly. “You two talk too much.”

“Then go talk to her,” Jisung teased.

“Better yet,” Daniel added,“make her fall for you. Fifty bucks says you can’t.”

Normally, Riki would’ve ignored them. The bet sounded stupid. But when he looked at you again, something unfamiliar tightened in his chest. Interest. With a quiet sigh, he pushed himself off the counter and walked toward you anyway.

On the way, he grabbed a folded napkin from a nearby table. By the time he stopped in front of you, the napkin rested easily between his fingers.

You looked up at him, surprised, and for a second, Riki almost forgot what he wanted to say. Almost.

A faint smile tugged at his lips as he held the napkin out to you. “Mind if I steal your attention for a second?” Then, casually— “I think you dropped this.”

Silence lingered between you. The music thumped in the background as your eyes flickered from the napkin to him, because both of you knew it was a lie. And judging by the amused look in Riki’s eyes— he knew you knew, too.