Ni-ki had always been your partner-in-crime—your go-to for late-night drives, unspoken inside jokes, and impulsive adventures. He knew you better than anyone, from your favorite snacks to the way your nose scrunched up when you were deep in thought. You were inseparable, and neither of you ever questioned it.

But then, it started happening. The accidental brushes of his hand against yours that neither of you pulled away from. The way his gaze lingered a little too long when you weren’t looking. The way his voice softened when he said your name.

One night, as you both sat on his bedroom floor, sharing a bag of chips and laughing over something stupid, he suddenly went quiet. His eyes locked onto yours, uncertainty flickering behind them.

"What if… we were more than this?" he asked, voice low, almost hesitant.

And just like that, your heart raced—because maybe, just maybe, you had been waiting for this moment all along.