"Just please don't answer him."

Saeyoung pursued her lips.  "I'm not promising you, anything." finally shutting the door, Saeyoung slid down and sighed. It has only been a day since she was gone and then her emotions no doubt, got mixed up out of nowhere after the small flashbacks of the recent events that has happened tonight.

This isn't what she was expecting at all.

Giving out a small breathe to release the stress, the girl stood up and went upstairs to go freshen' up and get ready for bed. It was one long night and one good relaxing sleep might help once she wakes up in the morning.

Following her nightly routine, Saeyoung couldn't stop thinking. Questions circulated her head, Doubts engulfing her mind and her heart ached. Now she was wondering if she should continue having feelings for Ni-ki, she wants to but it felt like she shouldn't because it was somehow wrong. Saeyoung does not wish to ruin the relationship Ni-ki has with Takara.

If she thinks it through and Saeyoung did end up with Ni-ki, Takara has something to fight for. Takara can give good reasons on why Ni-ki should have been with her rather than Saeyoung.

In Saeyoung's case, she was hopeless.

ring! ring! ring!

The sudden ringing of her phone, jumped Saeyoung out of her thoughts. There was only a few minutes left before 10pm strikes, making the girl wonder on who would even call her this late in the evening, knowing that she has school by the morning. Plopping down on her bed, she grabbed her phone near her lamp side, her eyes widening seeing the name of the caller.

Haku Shota is calling you. . . . .

Saeyoung did not hesitate to answer.  "H-Hello?"  she quietly cursed herself for stuttering.

"Saeyoung! Is there something wrong? I felt like you were arguing with someone earlier."  he said over the other line.

"U-Uh, you don't have to worry. It's nothing, I swear." before going to sleep, the last Saeyoung wanted to remember was her and Ni-ki arguing. Same goes to the scene on where he gets affectionate with Takara.  "Btw Soul, how did you manage to get my number?" she questioned.

Soul let's out a small chuckle.  "It's because of Nina. Earlier today at the awarding ceremony, she came looking for me and willingly gave out you're number. I don't really want to disturb you or anything so I decided to wait for you to call instead but Nina texted me earlier this evening saying that I should call you. She even said that it was an emergency. "

The girl smiled. Soul might not say it directly but she could feel that Soul is one of those people who would run to you whenever you need him.  "Oh she did? Well I guess I'm thankful, I guess?"

"Thankful? You're not mad?"

"Mad? No, I'm not mad at all. Actually, I'm quite thankful that you called earlier." she can't lie, the annoyed look on Ni-ki's face earlier, scared her. She wanted to leave him but Saeyoung's afraid he might block her way again. Thankfully, Soul's call butted in, calming the girl down from the situation she and Ni-ki was in.

"T-Then, I'm glad to hear that."

Silence enveloped the lines of the phone. The two isn't that close yet and they still felt shy and nervous whenever they'd meet. But it's normal, they just met a few days ago and Saeyoung wanted to get to know Soul more. It has only been a short while but she knew to herself, that she could trust him─probably even more than she is now with Ni-ki.

"By the way, Soul. . . . ."

The boy hummed in response. "Y-Yes?"

"Congratulations for winning second place. I'm proud of you and you're team."  she finished.

Thankful that he was on a call with Saeyoung than a video chat, Soul blushed at the girl's greeting. He tried his best not to smile, not wanting his Keeho hyung to suspect anything. "You're too sweet Saeyoung. H-Hey, m-mind if I-I ask you s-something?"

Saeyoung giggled, hearing him stutter.  "Sure! What is it?"

"A-Are y-you f-free t-this c-coming T-Tuesday?"

The girl grabbed her nearest pillow and hugged it, placing her phone right beside her.  "Haku Shota. Are you asking me out to hang with you?"

"Um, yes─ but! you don't have to go if you don't want to."

"And who said, I don't want to?" Saeyoung laughed.  "I'll see you on Tuesday, yeah? Again, congratulations on winning! Sleep well, okay?"  she said before finally ending the call. Saeyoung lay's down on her bed with a smile on her face, placing her phone of her chest.

"Thank you, Soul."

Three days has passed, ever since that night at Adroit's mini celebration at the pizzeria. Saeyoung has spent her weekends, trying her best to ignore and to stay away from Ni-ki's calls and messages he kept sending her. She would answer from time to time but she would usually limit herself and focus more on another topic. Saeyoung does not want to get herself involved to a situation on where she kept hoping for something to happen but won't.

As for Ni-ki, he was clueless. He isn't aware of Saeyoung and her feelings, so he tried his best to communicate with her. He tried to reach her every now and then, but all he gets was short replies leaving him unsatisfied. Ni-ki might be occupied, still coming up with the steps for their choreography on their next competition, but bothering Saeyoung is most likely to be part of his top list during the weekends.

"So hold up! Ni-ki likes Takara?"  Chaeji questioned, scoffing and rolling her eyes at the process.  "Lies. I can see it in his eyes that he likes you."

"Exactly! I don't know why you're thinking that he likes Takara but the way I'm seeing it, he obviously picks you. "  commented Mijin.

Saeyoung let's out a small breathe.  "Believe it or not, I know what I saw. Just please, let me take a break from him. I don't really think that I have ever right to face Ni-ki right now."  she said, slamming down her locker.

Ever since last Friday, Saeyoung decided to go distance herself a bit from Ni-ki, wanting to focus more on things that are important. If she kept focusing on Ni-ki's side, it's obvious she couldn't be able to get things done. Right now, Saeyoung likes to think that he's just a distraction trying to get her head to turn on down his way. But no, she won't easily give in.

Hopingly, she won't.

Mijin purposely coughed.  "Speaking of the dancing devil."

At the mention of those words, Saeyoung rolled her eyes and started walking away. Mijin and Chaeji laughed at their friend's action while Ni-ki chased after the girl.

"Saeyoung!" he called.

Not wanting to be obvious, Saeyoung walked on a normal pace pretending like she doesn't hear anything. For an extra cover up, she pulled out her earphones and placed it on her ear, pretending as if she were listing to music. At least that would give her a good enough excuse on why she's ignoring the boy's call from behind.

"Yah! Roh Saeyoung!"  Ni-ki ran fast, now standing in front of her, blocking her way like what he did before. Saeyoung just looked at him with a blank expression.  "Saeyoung, why are you ignoring me?"

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" she played coy.

"You never looked my way whenever I passed you yesterday and earlier, you won't answer my calls, you answer so shortly in my messages and you barely even talked to me. Is something happening?"

Saeyoung bit her inner lip and shooked her head.  "No. I'm okay. Sorry about that by the way, I spent the whole day studying during the weekends since my major subjects gave me and my class tests the other day."

Ni-ki looked down, scratching his head with disbelief.  "I don't how. And I don't know why but I could tell that you're lying. Saeyoung, are we having a problem?" he asked, his eyes piercing through hers. Saeyoung stood straight and didn't back down from his stare.  "And explain why Soul is out in the exit waiting for you?" Ni-ki added.

The girl rolled her eyes.  "That's none of you're business."

Ni-ki scoffed at her reply.  "Are you really sassing me right now?"

"And so what if I am?"

The blonde japanese sighed in frustration, massaging his forehead with his left arm. It has been 4 days since they last talked and he couldn't believe on how and why Saeyoung is acting so differently, when the last conversation they had wasn't really near an argument─well for him, to say the least.

Ni-ki turned to the girl, his softened.  "Look, I don't know what I did wrong but I'm sorry. Saeyoung don't be like this, we're friends."

Friends.

That's the only word that Saeyoung could describe their relationship.

Some kind of stupid she is, for admitting that she liked him. The girl was now doubting that Ni-ki's words back at the competition were nothing near real at all. Right now, it seemed fake.

Saeyoung sighed. "You're right. We are friends. And only friends." taking a deep breath, she gave him a small smile.  "I hope you're happy."  she said before finally walking to the exit, meeting Soul outside.

Friends.

That's all they'll ever be.