One week had passed, and the days seemed to flutter by in a haze of excitement and unexpected emotions. Ni-Ki and I had grown closer, our moments together painting a beautiful tapestry of friendship that seemed to wrap around my heart. We'd spent countless hours together, laughing and chatting like old friends who had been reunited after years apart. It felt like something out of my high school dreams, and though I'd once thought that ship had sailed, it seemed fate had other plans. Perhaps it wasn't too late to let my heart find its way back to him.

Today was the day of the party, a swirling mix of nerves and anticipation for both the performances and the chance to see Ni-Ki shine. The backstage area was abuzz with activity as everyone prepared for their moment under the spotlight. Ni-Ki's group was about to perform, and I could barely contain my excitement. I knew they would be amazing.

As I stood backstage, waiting for my turn, I spotted Jaehwan, one of Ni-Ki's group members. With a hopeful smile, I said, "Good luck!"

"Thanks!" Jaehwan replied, his smile wide and genuine, before he headed towards the stage.

Just then, I heard a soft, exaggerated cough that drew my attention. I turned around to find Ni-Ki standing there, his expression a mix of mock irritation and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Good luck," he said, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm, making me laugh despite myself.

Ni-Ki looked like he was about to march away, but I couldn't let him leave with that stormy look on his face. I reached out, catching his hand in mine. His touch was warm, and it sent a shiver up my spine.

"Don't get upset," I said gently, my eyes meeting his with an earnestness I hoped he could see.

"I am not upset," Ni-Ki replied, though his tone betrayed his true feelings.

I couldn't help but smile, a soft, reassuring smile that I hoped would ease his worries. With a playful glint in my eye, I pinched his cheek. "Do well, okay?"

"Okay, okay, fine," Ni-Ki said, his lips curling into a reluctant smile before he headed off to join his group.

As he walked away, I watched him with a heart full of affection and a fluttering feeling that made my chest ache with sweetness. The song began, and Ni-Ki's performance was nothing short of spectacular. I was completely absorbed by the grace and energy they brought to the stage. The entire time, I was on the edge of my seat, my heart racing with pride and excitement for him.

The performance ended with cheers and applause, but I barely had a moment to process how incredible they were before the host announced my name. With a deep breath and a flutter of nerves, I made my way to the stage, my heart pounding in my chest. I took my position, the spotlight warming my skin.

NI-KI P.O.V

After my performance, I lingered backstage, eager to watch Aecha's set. The anticipation was like a gentle flutter in my chest. The song began to play, and I was completely mesmerized. The stage lights danced around her, and her movements were nothing short of magical. I found myself lost in the rhythm of her performance, my jaw hanging open in awe.

Just then, I felt a nudge on my shoulder. I turned to see Hyunjae and Minho grinning at me. I could feel my face burning as they watched my reaction.

Hyunjae broke the silence with a cheeky grin. "She is hot, isn't she?"

I didn't even hesitate. "Very much so," I blurted out.

The moment the words left my mouth, I realized how they sounded. My eyes widened in embarrassment. "Wait— I..."

Hyunjae and Minho burst into laughter, clearly enjoying my discomfort. I tried to play it cool, but my cheeks were flushed.

"Yah, forget whatever I just said, okay?" I demanded, trying to salvage what little dignity I had left.

Minho just laughed harder. "You should have seen your face looking at her."

Hyunjae pulled out his phone, showing me a recording of my reaction. "Good thing I recorded your reaction."

"What?!" I was horrified. "Give me your phone. Delete it!"

Hyunjae's grin widened as he shook his head. "Nope!"

Before I could grab the phone, Hyunjae dashed off, laughing all the way. "Yah!" I shouted after him, but Minho held me back.

"You should get changed first. Beat him later," Minho advised with a smirk.

I sighed, feeling both embarrassed and defeated. "Fine," I grumbled, heading to the changing room.

After changing, I rejoined the group, my face still flushed. Hyunjae was proudly showing Taehee and Minseo the video of my reaction.

I snatched the phone from his hand, my heart racing. "Yah! Stop!"

Minseo laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I have never seen someone look at Aecha like that."

Taehee chimed in, "Me neither. Ni-Ki, you like her, don't you?"

I tried to stay composed, but my resolve was crumbling. "No," I said firmly, though my voice lacked conviction.

They stared at me, waiting for me to crack. I sighed, admitting the truth. "Okay, fine, maybe a little bit."

Minho raised an eyebrow. "A little bit?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling flustered. "Maybe more than a little bit."

Minseo's eyes widened as she pointed. "Speaking of Aecha, here she comes."

"Hi!" Aecha greeted us with a bright smile.

Taehee and Minseo responded, while I stood frozen, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. Minho opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off with a hasty, "Nothing!"

Aecha looked slightly puzzled but shrugged it off. "Oh, alright."

I shot a warning glare at my friends, but they were too busy laughing. Just then, Jaehwan approached.

"Hi, Aecha!" he said warmly.

"Oh, Jaehwan!" Aecha's face lit up as she greeted him.

Jaehwan's praise was genuine as he complimented her performance. "Your performance was amazing!"

Aecha's response was equally heartfelt. "Aw, thank you so much! Your performance was great too."

Their exchange was friendly and sweet, but I felt a pang of envy. After Jaehwan left, I stared off to the side, feeling a bit dejected.

Minseo broke the silence. "The way you were looking at them was something else."

I realized what she meant, feeling a mix of embarrassment and frustration. My friends continued to tease me, while Aecha looked on, bewildered by the commotion.

As the party continued, I tried to shake off the embarrassment and focus on enjoying the night. Despite everything, I couldn't shake the feeling that Aecha's performance—and my reaction to it—had left a lasting impression on me.

Ever since that fateful day, it's been impossible to ignore the fact that my friends are practically waving neon signs in front of Aecha, shouting that I have a crush on her. It's like they've all suddenly become love gurus with a mission to make sure she knows, whether I want them to or not.

I've tried to confront them about it, but they just brush it off with these overly enthusiastic grins and claim they're "helping" me. Yeah, right. It's like they've turned our little group into a sitcom where I'm the bumbling lead and Aecha's the beautiful guest star everyone's rooting for me to win over.

A few days ago, I came down with a nasty cold. It wasn't the worst thing in the world, but I definitely wasn't up for breakfast with the others. I stayed curled up in bed, hoping the fever would pass on its own. Little did I know, my absence was a cue for the entire crew to rally for a "Ni-Ki rescue mission."

Later that morning, the door creaked open, and there they were—my friends, along with Aecha. She was carrying that bright, worried smile that always seemed to make my heart skip a beat.

"Hi!" Aecha's voice was like a soft, warm hug.

I tried to sit up, my head feeling like it was stuffed with cotton. "Oh, hi."

Minseo, ever the concerned one, chimed in, "You didn't come for breakfast, so we decided to check up on you."

"Yeah, I think I caught a little cold," I mumbled, still feeling groggy.

Before I could say another word, Aecha's hand gently cupped my cheek. I blinked, completely taken aback. Her touch was like a soothing balm, and I could barely focus as she continued to touch my forehead and neck.

"Yah, you have a high fever," she said, her fingers lingering on my skin, which made my heart race in ways that had nothing to do with being sick.

I wanted to say something, but my voice seemed to have abandoned me as my heartbeat turned into a drum solo. Taehee, with impeccable timing, decided to clear his throat loudly, dragging me back to reality.

"What medicines does he need? We'll go get it," Taehee said, effectively breaking the spell Aecha had cast with her touch.

Aecha quickly listed off the necessary remedies, and they all bustled out to get them. But, to my surprise, she stayed behind.

"You're not leaving?" I managed to ask, still trying to process what had just happened.

"No," she replied simply, settling herself next to me with an air of determination.

"Wouldn't you fall sick as well?" I asked, trying to mask my delight at her unwavering presence.

"No. I am a doctor. Nothing can happen to me," she said with a playful grin that made my heart flutter even more. I couldn't help but laugh at her confident declaration.

As the others went off on their mission, Aecha took it upon herself to keep me entertained. She was a perfect blend of caring and playful, making me forget my discomfort for moments at a time. Her laughter was infectious, and her company was the best medicine I could ask for.

For the next few days, she was my personal nurse, my cheerleader, and the highlight of my days. She constantly reminded me to take my medicines and was there for every little moment of recovery. One day, while she was sitting next to me reading a book, my head began to throb with pain.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.

"My head hurts," I admitted, feeling utterly exhausted.

"It's okay. Take a nap," she said softly, gently guiding my head to rest on her shoulder. Her warmth and the gentle rise and fall of her breathing were incredibly soothing. I couldn't help but smile as I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of peace I hadn't felt in days.

After a week of Aecha's tender care, I was finally back to my old self. My recovery was largely thanks to Doctor Aecha, who had turned a miserable week into a time filled with care, laughter, and unexpected moments of closeness. As I looked back on those days, I realized something—my feelings for her had grown stronger with each passing moment.

AECHA P.O.V

As I lay in bed, the clock ticked slowly towards midnight, the anticipation making my heart race. It had been so long since that reunion, and in this quiet moment, I couldn't ignore it any longer—I liked Ni-Ki. People often say that you never really get over your first love, and I'm beginning to believe it's true.

Tonight was the night before my birthday, and I was brimming with excitement. Taehee, my ever-thoughtful friend, had already wished me a happy birthday. Though it was still a bit early, she had to go to bed, leaving me alone to revel in the quiet.

As the clock struck 11:59 P.M., I found myself eagerly waiting for the first birthday wish. I figured it would probably be my mom, but the anticipation was still palpable. The seconds ticked by, and as the clock finally marked midnight, my heart fluttered with hope.

The first minute passed without a message, and I felt a tiny pang of disappointment. Realizing everyone was likely asleep, I began to resign myself to the quiet solitude of my room when suddenly, my phone rang. I leapt from my bed, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. The screen illuminated with Ni-Ki's name, and I gasped.

"Ni-Ki?" I whispered to myself, my pulse quickening as I answered the call.

"Hello?" I managed to say, my voice slightly trembling.

"Hey. Happy Birthday!" Ni-Ki's voice was warm and filled with a special kind of charm that made my heart skip a beat.

"Thank you," I replied, my cheeks flushing with joy.

"Meet me in my room," he said, his tone carrying a hint of mystery.

"Why?" I asked, a bit taken aback.

"Just come," he urged, his voice carrying a playful insistence.

"Okay, fine," I said, my curiosity piqued. I hung up the call and took a moment to prepare myself. I glanced in the mirror, quickly applying a touch of lipstick and fixing my hair. I wanted to look just right for this unexpected but thrilling rendezvous.

"Okay, good," I said to myself, giving a final nod of approval before quietly slipping out of my room. I made my way to his door, my heart racing with anticipation. I knocked softly, and he opened it with a welcoming smile.

"Hi. Come in," Ni-Ki said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

I stepped inside, feeling a rush of nerves and exhilaration. "Why did you call me?" I asked, settling onto his bed.

"You like late-night noodles, right?" he asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

I nodded eagerly. "Yes!"

"Well, I know a place that stays open until 1. Do you want to go?" His proposal was unexpected, and the idea of a late-night adventure with Ni-Ki filled me with a thrill I couldn't quite contain.

"Really?!" I exclaimed, my excitement bubbling over.

He nodded, his grin widening. "I go there often. It's one of my favorite spots."

"But how are we going to get there?" I wondered, looking at him with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"We'll sneak out," he said with a wink. "Don't worry. I'm with you. Now come on."

He reached out and took my hand, and I felt a shiver of exhilaration run through me. We tiptoed out of the hotel together, the thrill of sneaking out adding a playful edge to our late-night adventure.

As we walked towards the noodle place, the night air was crisp and filled with a sense of freedom. The streets were quiet, and the only sounds were our footsteps and the occasional distant hum of traffic. It felt so wonderfully rebellious and exciting.

When we finally reached the noodle place, Ni-Ki ordered two bowls of steaming noodles, and we settled into a cozy booth. The rich aroma filled the air, and I couldn't help but savor every bite. The noodles were delicious, but what made the night truly special was being there with Ni-Ki.

We talked and laughed, our conversation flowing effortlessly. Each moment felt magical, the kind of night that made my heart flutter and my spirits soar. Ni-Ki's presence was like a comforting warmth, and I found myself cherishing every second of this spontaneous, heart-fluttering adventure.