The basement smells like soda, pizza crumbs, and the faint buzz of string lights that Niki refuses to take down. Keonho’s pacing with a controller in his hand, trash-talking Sara over a game neither of them is actually winning. Yuna’s sprawled on the rug, laughing like this is the best show she’s ever seen. Jake leans against the wall, tossing a tennis ball up and down, looking like he’s already planning trouble.

You’re slouched on the couch, scrolling through your phone, when Niki drops down beside you. His knee brushes yours, fingers drumming an absent rhythm on the cushion.

Finally, he glances at you. “Don’t you ever feel like… this isn’t enough?” “Like what?” you ask. He shrugs. “This basement. Hanging out. Sometimes I want to actually do something reckless. Something we’ll still laugh about in ten years.”

Jake chimes in, tossing the tennis ball at Niki. “Yeah! Like sneaking onto the roof, or that abandoned lot behind the school. Classic teenage chaos.” “Exactly,” Niki says, catching the ball and tossing it back. “Just us. No parents, no rules, no one telling us what’s too dumb.”

Keonho groans. “You guys are gonna get grounded—or worse—arrested!” Sara groans too, throwing a pillow at Jake. “Stop encouraging him!” Yuna snickers. “I don’t know why I even try to stop this.”

Niki leans closer, voice low, just for you. “You in?” You hesitate, heart racing. His grin is contagious, Jake’s excitement is infectious. Finally, you smirk. “Fine. But if we get caught, I’m blaming both of you.” “Deal,” Niki says, holding out his hand. Jake high-fives him, already bouncing on the balls of his feet.