Chapter 2 - Hate at first sight?

Part 3/6

It had been a while since Niko had stopped by the café. So long, in fact, there were new staff who hadn't even met him. Still, when he arrived, it was like he had never left. He entered the small shop, beelined to the back room, and said hello to everyone he saw. The sight gave Yuki a feeling of normality. So much had changed recently. It was calming to see Niko’s smile at work again.

It was the same smile, however, that Yuki had hated for almost a month when they’d first met. 

When Niko had started working at the café, Yuki did not like him in the slightest. It all happened in early fall of last year. Yuki had been practically working full-time at the café, and had multiple other jobs on the go. His father had just started at a new company, again, messing up their schedule on who would be taking care of his siblings. To top it all off, Yuki had been failing all his subjects in school. Well, more like purposely not attending in order to work as much as he could to help provide for his family. 

Everyday, things were becoming more intense for Yuki at home, which made it harder to keep up his persona at work. He had been tired; at his wits end. And like always, he kept it all to himself.

One fateful night, on the brink of falling apart, he’d gotten stuck with Niko closing the shop. Niko, the new guy, who had been messing up every one of his tasks since his first day. Who went around openly blabbing about how he was only working to buy limited edition vinyl for some guy friend who seemed extremely important to him. And, for whatever reason, the only person Yuki had ever met whom he could not handle being super nice to. 

Yuki was pulled out of his memories by the jingle of the front door. Another server greeted the new guest as he walked to the back of the café. 

“Almost done?” Niko asked when he saw Yuki.

Judging from Niko's outfit, he had managed to make it home before coming to pick him up. He was wearing a pair of dark navy jeans and a red jacket Yuki had seen many times before. What was new, though, was the mid 90’s rock band T-shirt he wore underneath. A crude drawing of a bomb being dropped by a fighter jet in the middle of a nonsensical crowd of people and animals fighting was printed to the front of the black shirt. It was nothing like the lighter colors Niko would normally wear. But Yuki knew it wasn’t Niko’s shirt to begin with. 

“Just need to sign out. Where is your boyfriend?” Yuki nudged Niko’s side as he walked by. 

“He's meeting us there,” Niko groaned. He shoved Yuki from behind. 

“Really? You actually managed to shake him off?” Yuki teased while putting away his apron. As usual, Niko didn’t respond. Picking on him was easy. Too easy, really. It had already been a few months since Niko and Kai had started dating, but sometimes, Yuki swore they acted like it all had begun just yesterday.

“Nice shirt, by the way,” Yuki smirked, winking at Niko, who blushed. 

“Shut up and let's go! The train ride isn’t short and it’s going to get busy soon,” Niko whined. Yuki chuckled in response.

 While he was signing out for the day, the café manager caught wind of Niko having stopped by. She began hounding him to return to work, if even only a few hours a week. Yuki watched smugly while Niko struggled to say no. After five minutes, the manager had still not given up. Yuki decided to intervene.

“Really, it's my third year. I'll need to study hard to make sure I get the grades I need for the school I’m aiming for,” Niko repeated for the third time.

“That,” Yuki said smiling, “and this boy needs free weekends for his love life!” He leaned onto Niko’s shoulder with his signature smile in place.

“Funny how you say that when you have been seeing Kai more often on weekends than I have.” Niko pouted.

“Jealous?” Yuki teased.

“Of course I am!” Niko retorted. “Even today! It's finally Friday, and we aren't spending it alone.”

“You don't want to see the soccer game?” 

Niko looked at Yuki sheepishly, glancing at his face for only a second. His cheeks were a very light pink. “I didn't say that.” 

No wonder Kai is always teasing him. Yuki thought to himself with wonder. He’s fucking adorable when he’s jealous and shy! 

Niko's cheeks remained pink, but his eyes became skeptical. “Whatever you're thinking, stop!”

Yuki smiled awkwardly and turned away. “Not sure what you mean.”

Gathering his things from his locker, Yuki recalled the conversation that had changed everything. That night, when they were closing the café alone, just as they were locking up, Niko had said something Yuki felt he had no right to say. 

“You don’t need to try so hard.”

It had made him so furious, Yuki had actually snapped. He had screamed at Niko, berated him for being nothing but a spoiled child who knew nothing about hard work or life. That working for extra spending money while fucking up his job as he went, was bad enough, but Niko had no right to judge others while expecting everyone else to pick up after his mistakes. 

Niko had just taken it all and smiled when Yuki had finished. As if the whole point had been to get Yuki to vent. The whole thing was overwhelmingly confusing.

That day, their relationship changed. Somehow, his strange dislike for Niko and the happy-go-lucky attitude he brought with him wherever he went started to charm Yuki. It suddenly didn’t seem so fake, and the boy genuinely seemed to care for others. Even if they weren’t close.

Yuki had never experienced that before. 

Shaking his head, he silently thanked the gods that Niko no longer worked there. He loved seeing the boy in the shop again, but it brought up emotions Yuki had never had a chance to deal with. Ones he’d rather avoid entirely. 

They said goodbye to the café staff and headed out the door. It had been a warm spring day, and the evening was supposed to be clear-skied. Perfect for an outdoor game. 

“You know that look you were giving me earlier?” Niko asked as they walked down the street towards the train station.

“Yeah?” Yuki said with a knowing smile and mischievous tone. 

Niko was avoiding looking at him directly. He seemed troubled as he spoke. “You really need to stop looking at me like that.”

Yuki pouted. “I just wanted to pinch your cheeks cause you were being so cute.”

Turning his head sharply, Niko furrowed his eyes and dropped his lips, his face becoming a dark scowl.

“Yeesh, you don't have to make yourself purposely ugly,” Yuki joked.

“Maybe I do,” Niko said, brushing him off.

Yuki groaned. “Am I still too much for you?”

“Always.”

They came to a street crossing and waited for the light to change. Cars whizzed by while the crowd around them tightened. The boys were forced together between the throng of people. Yuki didn’t notice how close they were until he found Niko’s face inches from his own, staring into his eyes. 

“W-what?!” Yuki blurted out, trying and failing to maintain his composure. “Do I have something on my face?” Yuki tried to sound calm, but his voice was erratic and high pitched.

Laughing, Niko pushed him forward as the light changed. “At least you don't use that extremely fake smile of yours on me anymore.”

“Hey!” Yuki protested. “All my smiles around you are real.” Mostly.

“Around Kai and I is what you mean,” Niko corrected him, as though it was extremely important to note he wasn’t the only one.

“I don’t smile that much around Kai,” Yuki muttered. Although he’s probably right. I have dropped my guard a bit.

“I forgot.” Niko laughed lightly, his face turning into a bright smile. “You two love to gripe at each other! That’s why you get along so well.” 

Yuki wasn’t sure how to respond. Lately, he was never alone with Niko. In fact, they had never really spent much time together outside of the café, unless Kai was with them. But at times like this, when Niko drew a very defined line in their friendship, he found himself lost. 

Sure, he was attracted to Niko. How could he not be? He was bright and bubbly, charming in his own way, extremely cute when shy, and breathtakingly handsome in the few moments when he acted assertive and bold. Niko was essentially everything Yuki pretended to be. But whether he was crushing on Niko because he liked who he was, or because he aspired to be the same, Yuki wasn't sure. 

At times, he got frustrated with Kai and how thick-skulled he could be about Niko’s wants and needs. It irritated him to no end when the two of them danced around each other, determined not to communicate about what they really felt or meant. But seeing Niko with Kai, it didn’t anger him. He wasn't jealous or malicious in his actions towards them. If anything, his friends’ relationship, which he affectionately called Nikai in his head, was something he treasured. 

Yuki would do anything to keep the two of them together. Even if it meant stepping on their toes and acting like he might steal Niko away were he to have the chance. Because they belonged together. If anything, it was the fact that they had found someone they could rely on so strongly that really made Yuki jealous.

The boys quickly made their way to the train station. It was crowded with soccer fans, all headed in the same direction. Piling into the train, they were lucky when a couple got up and they managed to snag the seats.

Yuki shoved Niko towards the window with a chuckle. Casually putting his arm behind Niko's shoulders, Yuki gave him a soft squeeze. Niko glared at him angrily. He flashed an innocent smile in response.

“Why do you always make this weird?” Niko complained, pushing him away.

“It's fun watching you squirm.”

Niko groaned. “At least I understand why you get along so well with Kai.”

“Oh?” Yuki asked. “Is he a sadist?”

“What? No!” Niko yelled, clearly louder than he intended. 

Several people turned toward where they sat. Niko ducked his head behind the seat in front of him, his cheeks a light pink again. Yuki burst into a laughing fit. 

“Just be careful with what you say at the game,” Niko said, rolling his eyes. “Not everyone finds your jokes funny.”

Yuki just smiled and replied, “Kai's used to it by now.” 

He wasn't sure if it was the look on Niko’s face or the awkward silence, but Yuki couldn’t quite figure out what Niko's response, or lack thereof, meant. The boy seemed distant and worried. More than once, Yuki caught him nibbling on his thumb nail.

Guess I stepped over a line? Yuki pulled his arm back and stared into the people crowded next to them. He observed the mix of briefcases and soccer jerseys. Guess this game is a big deal even if it is off-season, huh?

Glancing back at Niko, he found the boy staring out the window into the darkening skies above them. It wasn’t like Niko to overthink things. What could be causing so much stress that even Yuki noticed the strange behavior?

It's gotta be about Kai, right? Yuki clicked his tongue to alleviate his impatience. It didn’t help. What the hell did that idiot do now?

“So, why isn't Kai here again?” Yuki asked, hoping to get Niko to open up before the train arrived at their station. 

“Huh?” Niko hummed, staring back blankly, as though he’d forgotten Yuki was there.

Seriously, I know I’m not that important to you, but at least remember I am the one you're with right now. Yuki bit his cheek to calm his nerves before asking again, “You said Kai was meeting us there. Is there a reason why?”

“Oh,” Niko said. He seemed reluctant to talk about it. “Ren needed help taking home a project. We thought it would be better to just have us all meet at the stadium.”

“Okay,” Yuki said. Niko was acting as though everything was fine, but it obviously wasn't. Something was definitely worrying him.

Niko’s phone pinged more than once. He looked down at the screen, an anxious expression glazing over his face. Yuki fought the urge to look over his shoulder.

“So, how did you get the tickets again?” Niko asked, only half paying attention as he texted on his phone.

“It’s the new job my dad has,” Yuki said joyfully, unable to ignore the fact that Niko was replying to multiple messages from two different people, but decided to try and get his attention back. “The perks are pretty insane!”

Niko didn’t respond, staring at his phone intensely. Annoyed, Yuki purposely leaned into Niko’s shoulder so he would at least know what the boy was reading. However, there were only a few short messages between Niko and Kai.

Niko: I didn’t think this through.

Kai: You never do.

Niko: You’re not helping!

Kai: I’m sure it will be fine. Worse comes to worse, we go off on our own. 

“Thinking of abandoning me so soon?” Yuki asked, frowning.

“What?!” Niko's cheeks tinged pink as he realized Yuki had peeked at their messages. “No! Of course not!”

Yuki smiled. It must not be that bad if he’s still able to blush at the idea of running off with Kai. 

“Then why are you mopey?” Yuki teased. “Is it because Kai didn't cancel and you were hoping he would so you and I could be alone?”

“Enough,” Niko said firmly, shoving the palm of his left hand into Yuki's face. “You need to cool it with the flirting.”

Yuki jolted back in surprise. “I'm just joking.” 

“I know, but…” Niko trailed off, his face returning to his distressed state.

He felt like shaking Niko till he talked. Instead, Yuki asked as calmly as he could muster, “But…?”

“It’s nothing.” Niko sighed. He got another message, making him sigh deeper. 

Yuki didn’t want to pry—even though Niko wasn’t hiding the phone screen. But he couldn’t help notice how frustrated Niko seemed to be getting. And Yuki had always hated being treated like he wasn’t even there. 

“Is that Kai messaging you incessantly?” Yuki moped. “Does he not trust us alone anymore?”

“I wish that was the issue,” Niko droned, glaring at his phone. “It's the guy I invited to the game with us.”

“Oh.” Yuki’s tone was indifferent at first, but his eyes opened wide as Niko’s words registered. “Wait, why is he messaging you like mad? Isn’t he with Kai?” Yuki stared at Niko, puzzled.

“Yes.” Niko sighed, watching the buildings fly by outside. His eyes looked dejected. “I should have just listened to Kai.”

“Sorry, what now?” Yuki asked, now both frustrated and confused. “You can’t talk in riddles around me. Kai does that enough for the both of you.”

When Niko didn’t answer, Yuki started poking his side over and over, until he started swatting back at him. 

“Alright, alright!” Niko yelled, drawing the attention of the other passengers again. He ducked down again and lowered his voice. “Kai told you about Ren, right?”