nickole is your high school friend and he likes to joke around when he talks to you

one day you were in a group with him to do an assignment, then while discussing it suddenly nickole said something

"I like you"

he said it in a low tone and hoped that you wouldn't hear it because you was taking care of the assignment but you listened to him and pretended not to hear him, You think it's just a joke but it seems it's not..