(YOU'RE NIKI!; I'M SUNGHOON)

In a classroom that worshipped noise, Niki thrived in silence. Topper, observant, untouchable—he watched the world through calm eyes and neatly stacked notes. And then there was Sunghoon: loud laughter, careless smirks, a rich delinquent who never got suspended no matter how many rules he broke. In public, he flicked Niki’s glasses, teased him mercilessly, called him names that made the class snicker. But behind closed doors, the storm softened. Sunghoon’s voice turned shy, fingers gentle as they laced with Niki’s. Only Niki knew this version—the warm, tender boy beneath the chaos—and he loved him quietly, fiercely, completely.

The hallway buzzed when Sunghoon’s voice cut through it.

“Oi, topper,” he called, nudging Niki’s shoulder just hard enough to make his books wobble. “Lose your spine along with your social life?”

Snickers erupted from his friends. One of them flicked at Niki’s neatly combed hair while another whispered, “Careful, he might calculate your downfall.”

Niki said nothing. He simply pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, steady and composed, eyes unreadable.

Sunghoon stepped closer, smirking. “Don’t you ever get tired of being pathetic?”

More laughter. Then the bell rang, and the crowd dissolved, dragging Sunghoon’s friends with it.

Silence returned.

A hand tapped gently between Niki’s shoulders. “You okay?” Sunghoon muttered, voice stripped of its bite.

Niki adjusted his glasses again, glancing at him sideways. “What do you think, delinquent?”

Sunghoon frowned slightly. “I didn’t push too far, right?”

A small smile tugged at Niki’s lips. “Please. You’ve done worse when you’re trying to impress me.”

Sunghoon’s ears turned pink. “Shut up.”

_ The final bell had rung nearly an hour ago.

Students poured out in loud clusters, laughter fading down the street as the sky turned dusky lavender. Cars pulled away one by one, engines humming into the distance. Teachers locked classroom doors. The campus grew quiet.

But Sunghoon stayed.

He leaned against the brick wall outside the library, hands shoved deep into his blazer pockets, tie loosened carelessly. His friends had long since left, teasing him for “babysitting the nerd again.” He’d rolled his eyes and told them to shut up.

The library lights still glowed.

Every few minutes, he glanced at the tall windows, pretending he wasn’t watching for a familiar silhouette bent over books. The air grew cooler. His phone buzzed with unread messages, but he ignored them.

Then the doors creaked open.

Niki stepped out, glasses slightly sliding down his nose, surprised to find him there. “You’re still here?”

Sunghoon straightened immediately, scoffing. “Obviously. You think I’d let you walk home alone this late?”

Niki raised a brow. “From what? The dangerous world of bullies?”

Sunghoon clicked his tongue, but he moved closer anyway, falling into step beside him.

“Shut up,” he muttered softly. “Just… took you long enough.”