- 24 : leave it (written) pt. 2
Y/N stood in front of the mirror, smoothing her hands over her clothes as she stared at her reflection, but her focus wasn’t really on her appearance. Her mind was wandering. At first, she thought was reading too much into things. But she wasn’t the only one who had noticed it. Everyone seemed to be catching onto Riki’s odd behavior tonight.
Had something happened earlier? Was he just carrying over a bad mood from something else? Had she done something?
The last thought made her stomach sink.
Maybe he had just decided he didn’t want her around anymore.
She shook her head. There’s no way, Riki wouldn’t just cut her off like that. She didn’t take him for that kind of person.
Still, the idea of walking back out there and having him brush her off again made her chest ache oddly.
With a reluctant sigh, she pushed open the bathroom door and stepped back into the warm atmosphere of the restaurant. As she approached the table, her eyes landed on her seat—occupied.
Jungwon chuckled at her expression. “Sorry, Sunoo and Jake needed to tell me something, and apparently, it’s secret, and needs to be done in a whisper” he teased, glancing at Sunoo, whose face held a guilty look. “Just take my seat.” Jungwon pointed, next to Riki.
Y/N hesitated. Her eyes landed on Sunoo, who was barely holding back a grin..
Still, she nodded, sliding into the chair beside Riki. The conversation swirled around them, but Y/N’s focus was on the boy next to her. She hesitated for a second before deciding to speak. “Thanks for earlier,” she said softly, playing with her fingers. “You know, with the shot.”
“It’s fine,” Riki replied smoothly, his tone more or less back to his usual. Y/N exhaled an internal sigh of relief.
“I knew you didn’t want to,” he added simply, his eyes never leaving the group in front of him.
She turned her head slightly, her gaze searching his face. Almost as if he could feel her staring, Riki finally turned too, locking eyes with her.
For a second, her throat went dry.
She didn’t even know why she was hesitating, but she forced herself to ask, “Riki… are you really okay?”
His gaze lingered on her for a moment before drifting back to the group, silence stretching between them. Then, finally, he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling.
“I’m fine now, really,” he said, voice quieter. “I was just being sensitive.”
Y/N wanted to ask what he meant, but something about the way he said it—like he was brushing it off even for himself—made her stop.
Instead, she hummed softly. “Okay.”
And just like that, the conversation picked back up.
Y/N found herself thoroughly enjoying the night, laughter bubbling up as she listened to everyone around her. It felt nice to be surrounded by such a big group. She loved her close circle, but something about this—more voices, more chaos—felt refreshing. Even more so because Riki was spending time with her friends.
Sangmi’s absence lingered in the back of her mind, though. Jay had made a joke to Jake earlier, and the pieces were slowly coming together in her head. A small part of her felt hurt—why was Sangmi hiding whatever this is from her? She made a mental note to bring it up later.
Riki had seemed to return to his usual self, but something was still off—a quiet distance that remained, even though they were sitting right next to each other.
And then, out of nowhere, Sunoo—who was now thoroughly intoxicated—dragged her straight into the spotlight.
“She was amazing, wasn’t she, Jungwon?” he exclaimed, turning to Jake and Jay with enthusiasm. “You guys should’ve been there. Honestly, the whole school should’ve been there.”
Y/N’s face went hot instantly, her ears burning pink. “Sunoo, stop,” she groaned.
“It was something,” Jungwon agreed with a nod, a small smirk playing on his lips.
Across from her, Riki shifted.
He rested his elbow on the table, chin propped against his palm, his gaze flickering to Y/N from the corner of his eye.
Y/N covered her ears, her hands pressing to the sides of her face as she shook her head in protest. “You guys are exaggerating.”
She was smiling, but when she glanced beside her, Riki was already staring at her.
Not in the casual, teasing way he usually did, this was different.
His eyes were sharp, studying her—searching her expression like he was trying to figure something out.
Y/N swallowed, chuckling awkwardly at his intense gaze. Did she have something on her face? Was he going to make fun of her?
And for some reason, she felt shy.
The night was finally winding down. Laughter was softer now, conversations slower, voices carrying a content kind of exhaustion. As the group trickled toward the front of the restaurant, Riki and Sunoo lingered behind, handling the bill. Riki had lost at rock, paper, scissors. Sunoo offered to split the cost since they’d been invited last minute.
Outside, the air was cool against Y/N’s skin, different to the warmth of the restaurant. Everyone stood in loose clusters, exchanging goodbyes.
“It was really nice to meet you all,” Jake said brightly, clapping Beomgyu on the shoulder before turning his attention elsewhere. His gaze landed on Y/N, and with a teasing grin, he added, “Especially glad I finally got to meet you.”
Y/N blinked, caught off guard by the comment.
Before she could react, Riki took a quiet step closer to her, closing the small space between them.
Jake, noticing immediately, gave him a pointed look before smirking. “You’re like a guard dog, man.”
Y/N’s brows knitted together in confusion, her eyes flicking between the two.
Riki didn’t react, but the air around him felt a little more dense.
“Jake, seriously, shut the hell up,” Jay said, smacking Jake’s shoulder before offering an apologetic glance in their direction. Beomgyu, unfazed by whatever tension had settled between them, pulled out his phone. “I’ll call a taxi.”
“Taxi? What about the car you came in?” Jungwon repeated, looking puzzled.
Beomgyu just sighed, shaking his head as he subtly gestured toward Sunoo, who stood off to the side with an innocent grin.
“Oops,” Sunoo chirped, sticking his tongue out. “I’ll pick up my car in the morning.”
Beomgyu rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Y/N, I’ll call you one too—”
Riki’s voice cut through the conversation, calm but firm.
Beomgyu paused, confused.
Jungwon turned his head slightly, but not before Y/N caught the barely-there smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
Y/N glanced at Riki, “No, no, Riki, it’s okay,” she assured him. “You know I live out of the way from everyone else.”
Riki crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly as if it were obvious. “Those two,” he nodded toward Sunoo and Beomgyu, “can go together. But you’d have to take a taxi alone.”
“I only took one shot,” Riki interrupted smoothly. “I’ll take you.”
There was no teasing in his tone, no smirk. Just quiet insistence.
Something about the way he said it—how easily he had decided for he—made butterflies appear in her stomach.
She swallowed, eyes searching his for a moment before nodding.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Jungwon shaking his head, an amused expression on his face. Beomgyu and Sunoo exchanged glances, both eyeing Y/N with mild confusion. “Text the group chat when you’re home,” Beomgyu said as the taxi pulled up, his tone laced with something unspoken—curiosity, maybe even concern.
Jake let out a stupid, drunken giggle, but before he could get a word out, Jay sighed, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and steered him away. Jungwon waved and followed behind them.
“Let’s go,” Riki said, his voice low as he turned toward his car.
Y/N followed, a few steps behind at first. The cool night air felt heavier than before, like it carried the weight of something unsaid between them. As if sensing the space between them, Riki glanced back over his shoulder, then slowed his pace to match hers. Hands buried in his hoodie pockets, he took a breath, eyes flickering to the ground.
The soft beep of his car unlocking broke the quiet, and without a word, Riki pulled open the passenger door for her.
“Thanks, Riki,” Y/N said, offering him a small smile as she slid inside.
He shut the door gently before rounding the car to the driver’s seat.
The drive started off the same way—thick with quiet, the only sounds coming from the faint hum of the engine and the occasional shuffle of movement. Y/N shifted slightly in her seat, glancing at him from the corner of her eye before deciding to fill the silence.
“It was really fun,” she said softly, staring out at the city lights passing by. “I like your friends. Jake is so funny.” She let out a quiet chuckle at the memory.
Riki shook his head, a smirk tugging at his lips as he thought about Jake. “He’s a dumbass,” he admitted, “but he’s a good guy I guess.”
And then—the silence crept back in, settling between them once more.
Y/N turned her head slightly, watching his profile as he focused on the road, his fingers tapping absentmindedly against the steering wheel. Just as she was about to talk again, his voice cut through the quiet.
“Yes?” she replied, her voice soft, hesitant. He didn’t speak right away. Instead, he kept his eyes on the road, exhaling slowly before finally glancing her way.
“Sorry about earlier,” he said, his tone measured. “I’ve just been busy. Ruined my mood, I guess.” He shrugged, like it was nothing.
Y/N studied his face in the dim glow of the dashboard lights. She knew him better than that. Knew that wasn’t the whole truth. But she didn’t push—just like earlier, when he brushed things off with the same dismissive tone. Instead, she offered him a warm, understanding smile. “It’s okay. I understand. I just… I was worried I upset you somehow.”
For the first time all night, something in Riki shifted.
His fingers tightened ever so slightly around the wheel, his jaw tensing before he exhaled again, shaking his head.
“I couldn’t be mad at you.”
The words were quiet, almost lost to the hum of the car.
Y/N pointed out her apartment building as they approached, her voice soft. It wasn’t like the sleek student complexes most of her friends lived in, but it was home. It was what her parents could afford, and she was grateful. Even still, a familiar flicker of insecurity settled in her chest whenever someone from school saw where she lived.
As if sensing her unease, Riki spoke.
“I’ll have to come over sometime.”
“Oh.” The sound left Y/N’s lips instinctively, surprise evident in her voice.
“With Jungwon or with your friends,” Riki quickly added, his tone casual.
Y/N let out a quiet chuckle, trying to hide the fact that—for just a second—she had assumed something else.
“Or just me,” he added, voice lower this time. “Whatever works.”
Her heart did something strange.
Riki pulled into an empty parking spot, the car rolling to a smooth stop. Y/N took that as her cue, unbuckling her seatbelt and stepping out into the cool night air again. She walked over to his window just as he rolled it down.
“Thank you, Riki. Sorry it’s kind of far,” she said, leaning slightly against the car door.
“All good.” His response was easy, a small smile playing at his lips.
“Okay, well… I should be fine from here. You don’t have to get out.” She straightened up, flashing him a reassuring smile as she turned slightly. “Goodn—”
Y/N took a step back as he pushed his door open, unfolding himself from the driver’s seat.
“Oh… okay.” She mumbled. “Thanks.”
Together, they made their way to the front entrance of her building. Once they reached the door, she turned to him again. “Thanks, really,” she said softly.
He nodded, but as she reached for the door handle, she suddenly felt something/
His hand, gently wrapping around her fingers and pulling softly.
“Tell me next time,” Riki said.
She turned to face him fully, eyes searching his. “Tell you what?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to ignore the way his fingers lingered on hers.
Her lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across her face. Was this why he had been acting off all night? That couldn’t be it. There was no way he was actually upset about that. He probably was just curious.
“Uhm… okay. Sure,” she nodded, trying to keep her voice light. “I just get shy, you know? I didn’t really tell anyone, honestly.” She let out an awkward laugh.
But his grip remained, soft yet firm.
His eyes met hers fully for the first time, dark and steady under the dim glow of the building’s entryway.
For a second, she didn’t know what to say.
“Oh—” she swallowed, her voice suddenly unsteady. “No, well… he actually just found out by accident.” The words tumbled out as she tried to explain, the air between them feeling heavier now. “I mentioned something about it in passing while I was venting in our class, and he just… invited himself, in a sense.”
Riki raised his eyebrows slightly, something unreadable flashing through his expression. Y/N swore she saw a flicker of embarrassment in his eyes before he glanced away, running a hand through his hair. A smirk ghosted his lips, a soft huff of air escaping as he shook his head slightly, almost like he was laughing at himself.
“Foreal?” His voice was quiet, almost as if he was speaking to himself.
“Yeah, so seriously, it wasn’t a big deal,” she reassured him, shaking her head. “Truly, I’m just shy about it.”
Riki’s gaze was back on her, this time with that teasing glint she was used to “You’ve played in front of me a thousand times.” He bit his lip slightly, his usual playful demeanor slipping back into place, but not completely.
Y/N let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “I guess I didn’t think about it that way, the formality makes me nervous,” she admitted. “I haven’t performed much for audiences. And now… going here, it feels a lot more real.”
Riki didn’t say anything for a moment, just studying her.
Y/n began shifting her hand in his grip, intertwining their fingers and lifting them up to shoulder level and giving his palm a playful squeeze, shaking their hands back and forth almost in a childish way. “Next time,” she promised, offering him a soft grin.
He grinned back, letting their hands linger a moment too long before finally—finally—releasing her fingers.
“Okay,” he murmured. “You better.”
Before she could respond, he reached up, lightly tugging at a strand of her hair. The gesture was playful.
Y/N nodded slowly, stepping back toward the door. “Yeah,” she said, her voice softer than she expected. “We are.”
They said their goodbyes, and as she stepped into the elevator, she leaned against the wall.
Her mind was a mess again.
The warmth of his hand still lingered on hers. And the word friend almost, almost, left a sour taste.
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author note; heyy, once again I love everyone's comments <3
Alsooo.. I hope the pacing is okay, I really love slow burn, so that's what I want to write. Haha, feedback is always welcomed. hehe, gn
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