high school · heartthrob · observant · emotionally distant · protective · basketball · dance · slow burn · japanese · korean
The fluorescent lights of the bus hummed low, casting a pale glow over the cramped aisle. The air was thick with the scent of cheap cologne and the rustle of snack wrappers, the murmur of conversations blending into a dull roar. In the back seat, Ni-ki sat with practiced ease, one arm draped along the seat behind Angela, his posture loose and unbothered. She leaned into his shoulder, her fingers tracing lazy patterns through his dark hair, her laugh a soft melody against the noise. He didn't flinch, didn't pull away. His half-lidded eyes scanned the bus, but they always found you. A few rows up, near the window, you sat rigid, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the seat ahead. He saw the tension in your shoulders, the way you turned your head just slightly, as if to catch a glimpse you didn't want…