NI-KI P.O.V

Three months. That's how long I've been dating Aecha, and yet, here I am, still keeping our relationship under wraps. It's not that I'm hiding her—I'm just not quite ready to share this secret with the other members yet. Though, let's be honest, they're already suspicious. The way they tease me about my phone habits, saying I'm glued to it all day, doesn't exactly help.

Tonight was one of those exciting, nerve-wracking days. We were all getting ready to hit the stage, and my heart was racing with a mix of excitement and... well, a little anxiety. As we stepped out into the glaring lights and roaring crowd, I couldn't help but feel a thrill. The energy was electric, and the anticipation of performing was a rush like no other.

As the music began, I was in my element, waving at the fans with a broad smile. But then, something caught my eye. Among the sea of faces, I spotted someone unmistakable—Aecha. My heart skipped a beat. There she was, looking as radiant as ever. Her presence in the crowd was like a beacon of light in the midst of our performance.

I must have looked completely stunned because she saw me and burst into a laugh, waving enthusiastically. My face lit up, and I waved back, trying to keep my composure. The performance felt even more exhilarating with her watching me.

The moment we finished our set, I was buzzing with a mix of relief and anticipation. The excitement didn't end there. It was time to announce the winners. The tension in the air was almost unbearable, but when they called our name, a rush of joy surged through me. Confetti exploded around us, and I couldn't stop grinning.

While the others were giving their speeches, I stole glances at Aecha. She was beaming, her eyes sparkling with pride. She even sent me a flying kiss, which made my heart flutter uncontrollably. I couldn't help but smile even wider.

After the performance, back in the green room, the staff were congratulating us, and the buzz of success was palpable. But I had something more pressing on my mind. I needed to see Aecha. I had already prepared a little excuse to escape the group's attention.

"Ugh... hyung," I started, catching Jungwon's eye.

"Hm?" he replied, looking up from his phone.

"I must go meet someone important, so I'll see you guys later," I said, trying to sound casual.

Sunoo raised an eyebrow. "Who are you meeting?"

"Someone important," I repeated, hoping they'd drop it.

Jay chimed in, his voice teasing. "Is this the same important person you text all day?"

I hesitated, then muttered, "I..."

Heeseung narrowed his eyes, suspicion evident. "Is there something you're hiding...?"

"No..." I said, shaking my head.

Jake gave me a knowing look. "Hmm... fine. Go, but come back quickly, okay?"

I nodded eagerly, barely containing my excitement. As soon as they left, I dialed Aecha's number with trembling hands.

"Hello?" her sweet voice came through the phone.

"Hey! Let's meet at the park," I said, trying to keep my tone casual but failing miserably.

"Okay!" she replied, her enthusiasm matching mine.

I rushed to the park, my heart racing with anticipation. I barely had time to catch my breath before I felt a warm hug from behind. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it was. I spun around, and there she was—Aecha, with a bright, beaming smile.

"Hi!!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with happiness.

I grinned, feeling my heart swell. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming to the show?"

She pouted playfully. "I wanted to surprise you."

Before I could say anything more, she kissed my cheek, sending a wave of warmth through me. "I missed you so much," she said, pinching my cheek.

"I missed you too," I replied, my voice soft with affection.

We spent the rest of the evening together, just enjoying each other's company. Every moment with her felt like a dream. When I finally headed home, it was late, and I knew I'd face a barrage of questions from the members. But as I thought about the night I'd just had, I couldn't bring myself to care. The joy of being with Aecha made it all worth it.

I knocked on the door, feeling my heart race a bit as I waited. When Sunghoon hyung finally opened it, a burst of relief washed over me.

"Finally. Come inside," he said, his tone light and welcoming.

I stepped inside with a grin, the warmth of his apartment making me feel at ease. Sunghoon's place had this cozy charm, with soft lighting and inviting cushions. I plopped down on the sofa, my smile as wide as ever.

But my mind wasn't on the cozy atmosphere or the friendly banter around me. No, it was entirely occupied by thoughts of her. Her laugh, her smile—everything about her made my heart flutter like a butterfly trapped in a jar.

As the conversation around me flowed, I barely registered the questions and chatter from Sunghoon and the others. My head was filled with daydreams of her, and I found myself lost in the haze of my own happiness.

Sunghoon noticed my distracted state and smirked. "Something is wrong with him. He needs to see a doctor."

Heeseung chuckled and added, "His monthly check-up is near too. I guess the doctor might help with this."

It was a joke, but they took it seriously.

The very next day, they actually took me to a doctor, and I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. 

"Hyung, why are we here?" I asked, trying to hide my laughter.

"To get you checked," Jay replied with a straight face.

"But I'm not even sick," I protested, though I already knew where this was heading.

"It's time for your monthly check-up. Plus, you've clearly lost your mind," Jay said, half-teasing and half-serious.

As we walked into the reception area, I was greeted with an unexpected twist.

"Actually, Dr. Kang is not here today," the receptionist announced.

"Oh, alright then," Jay said, seemingly prepared for this possibility.

"Thank God," I muttered, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.

But before we could turn around, the receptionist added, "But we do have a substitute doctor in his place. She is one of the best doctors."

Jay perked up, "Oh? What's her name?"

"Dr. Son Aecha," the receptionist said.

The name hit me like a bolt of lightning. I was shocked, my heart doing a little flip in my chest.

"What?!?" I blurted out, unable to contain my surprise.

Jay looked at me with concern. "What happened?"

"Son Aecha?" I repeated, barely able to believe my ears.

The receptionist nodded, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"She's free right now. If you want, you can get your check-up from her," she offered.

Without giving Jay a chance to protest, I grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the hallway. "Come on, hyung, let's go."

"Yah. You didn't want the check-up, right?" Jay questioned, bewildered by my sudden enthusiasm.

"Hyung, it's time for my monthly check-up. I can't miss it, right?" I argued, trying to sound as serious as I could.

Jay's disbelief was palpable, but he followed me anyway. "Where is her office?"

"Go straight and take a right," the receptionist directed.

"Okay, thank you," Jay said, and we made our way to her office.

I knocked on the door, my nerves buzzing with excitement.

"Come in," a cheerful voice called from inside.

As we stepped in, I saw her—Dr. Son Aecha. She was busy with some files, but when she looked up and saw me, her eyes widened in surprise. I offered her a warm, slightly mischievous smile.

"Hello!" she said, closing the files and giving us her full attention.

Jay cleared his throat. "Hello. Dr. Kang was supposed to take his monthly check-up today."

"Oh, okay," Aecha replied, her gaze shifting to me.

"Since he isn't here today, the receptionist said you could do it instead," Jay explained.

"Of course," Aecha agreed, though she looked at me with a hint of curiosity.

"You can wait outside. I'll take care of him," she said, directing Jay to leave.

I couldn't suppress my smirk as Jay exited, and Aecha's attention was now entirely on me.

"So, Mr. Nishimura Riki, ready for your check-up?" she asked, trying to maintain her professional demeanor.

"Yes, Dr. Aecha," I replied, my heart fluttering at the way she said my name.

She gestured for me to follow her, and I sat down on the examination bed.

"Now, before we start, this is my office. No funny business, understood?" Aecha said with a playful glint in her eyes.

"But what if—" I started, but she cut me off with a firm look.

"You must control yourself," she insisted, though her lips twitched into a smile.

"Fine," I said, trying to sound resigned, but I could hardly contain my excitement.

As she conducted the check-up, her professional demeanor never wavered, but I could see the corners of her mouth twitching with suppressed amusement. Finally, the check-up was over.

"Alright, you seem healthy," Aecha said, heading back to her desk.

I followed her, unable to resist the urge to be close to her. "I'm surprised I didn't catch a cold by now," I teased, leaning in closer.

"I take good care of myself, okay?" I added, giving her a quick, affectionate hug.

Aecha smiled, her eyes softening. "Good boy."

Before I could stop myself, I leaned in and said, "Won't I get something for being a good boy?"

Aecha's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Hmm... What do you want?"

"You know what I want," I said, my voice dropping to a whisper.

She looked at me, her gaze steady but teasing. "No."

"Why?" I asked, letting go of her and pouting playfully.

"You are my girlfriend," I reminded her.

"Yes, I am," she agreed, "but I'm at work right now."

Just as she started to walk away, I couldn't let the moment slip by. I grabbed her wrist gently and guided her back to the chair, making her sit down.

"If you won't give it to me," I said, "I'll take it myself."

Before she could react, I kissed her. The kiss was sudden but tender, filled with all the emotions I had been holding back. To my delight, she kissed me back, her lips meeting mine with a passion that made my heart race.

Just as we were lost in the kiss, the door swung open, and Jay hyung stood there, his eyes wide with shock. I pulled away instantly, my face flushing with embarrassment.

Aecha, equally surprised, quickly sat up and fixed herself. "I-I... The check-up went well. He is healthy. You can take him now," she stammered, pushing me towards the door.

Jay's gaze flickered between us, his expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "Hmm."

We headed back to the dorm in a stifling silence, the earlier excitement and laughter replaced by an awkward tension

Back at the dorm, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and curiosity. Jay hyung had just dropped the news, and I was left feeling a bit like a deer caught in headlights. I was still savoring the warmth of her smile and the soft brush of her hand against mine from earlier that day, but now my friends were all looking at me with wide eyes.

Jake, always the first to break the ice, was the first to speak up. "Yah, are you hooking up with a doctor?" His tone was teasing, but I could see the genuine curiosity in his eyes.

"What? No, hyung. She is my girlfriend—" I started, only to be interrupted by Sunoo's shocked exclamation.

"Girlfriend?!"

The realization of what I had just blurted out hit me like a ton of bricks. My face flushed a deep shade of red as I fumbled for words. "Umm... yes," I admitted, feeling my heart race.

Jungwon's eyes widened. "You have a girlfriend?"

I nodded, my cheeks still burning. "Yes."

Sunghoon, who had been quietly observing, suddenly spoke up. "Since how long?"

"Three months," I confessed, scratching the back of my head awkwardly.

"Three months?! Why didn't you tell us?" Heeseung's voice held a mix of disbelief and a hint of hurt.

I shifted uncomfortably, my gaze dropping to the floor. "I was going to tell you soon. I didn't expect you to find out this way."

Jay's curiosity was piqued. "How do you know each other?"

"We were classmates in high school," I explained, my thoughts drifting back to our carefree days in the classroom.

Heeseung's eyes widened again. "Are you dating ever since the reunion?"

I nodded, my heart fluttering at the memory of our reunion. It felt like yesterday when we reconnected and sparks flew.

Sunghoon's eyes narrowed playfully. "That's why you were acting crazy."

"What?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

Sunoo leaned forward with a smirk. "On your phone 24/7. Smiling 24/7. Etc."

Jungwon chimed in with a grin, "So, she is a doctor?"

I nodded again, feeling a bit like I was on trial.

Jake's eyes lit up. "That's cool, honestly."

"Right?" I said, my chest puffing up a little with pride.

But Heeseung wasn't done. "Jake. Don't be friendly with him."

Jake shrugged, his expression playful. "I know but like imagine saying 'My girlfriend is a doctor.'"

Sunghoon's tone was more serious as he added, "It is cool, but he hid this from us."

Jake agreed. "True. That's not cool."

"I am sorry, okay?" I said, feeling a pang of guilt.

Jay looked at me with a serious expression. "Is there anything else you hid from us?"

I shook my head vigorously. "No, that's everything."

Jungwon's curiosity shifted to practical matters. "When do you get the time to meet her?"

I smiled, feeling the warmth spread through my chest as I thought about her. "I must make time. I usually just FaceTime her at night."

Heeseung's tone softened, and he looked at me with a mixture of surprise and affection. "I never thought you would get a girlfriend. You have grown so much."

"I am not a baby," I said, trying to sound confident but feeling the butterflies in my stomach fluttering wildly.

-THE END-