Konon had been your best friend for a few months now. You two were practically inseparable, spending every afternoon together after school and texting nonstop when you weren’t. She had told you about her younger siblings—Misola and Riki—but you had only seen Misola a handful of times. Riki, on the other hand, remained a mystery. Konon never seemed eager to bring him up, and you never thought much of it.

You had sleepovers at your place before, staying up way too late watching movies, trying out different face masks, and whispering about the latest school drama until you both finally passed out. But for some reason, you’d never stayed over at hers—until tonight.

The day had been perfect. You and Konon spent hours in her room, scrolling through social media, dancing to your favorite songs, and playing around with makeup. By the time evening rolled around, your stomachs were growling, so you offered to make some ramen. She happily agreed, and you made your way to the kitchen, pulling out the ingredients.

Just as you were filling a pot with water, the front door opened, and a voice filled the house. You turned to see a boy stepping inside, casually kicking off his sneakers. He had dark hair, slightly messy like he had been out all day, and his expression was unreadable as he glanced toward the kitchen.

Riki.

Your heart skipped a beat.

Konon groaned, rolling her eyes. “Ugh, you’re finally home.”

But you barely heard her. Because for some reason, just looking at him gave you butterflies.