Playboy's Soft Spot

Chapter 10

After Nani's unforgettable birthday, Sky and Nani became inseparable, and everyone couldn't help but notice the change in their relationship. Before, Sky was always the one following Nani around, but now Nani has started to become just as clingy with Sky, too.

In the hall, Groya clung tightly to one of Nani's hands.

"Please, Nani. I promise, this is the last time," Groya pleaded desperately.

"You said the same thing last year, Groya," Nani replied, his tone laced with annoyance.

Groya, the one responsible for the model student photoshoot, was determined to get Nani to join. Naturally, the F4 had to be part of the shoot too, but Nani refused every single year. Last year, Groya had promised him that if he agreed to the shoot, she'd never bother him about it again. And yet, here they are.

Groya tightened her grip, her eyes practically begging. "But Nani, this year is special! It's our final year. Just one photo shoot, I swear."

Nani sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You have no idea how bad this idea is. Every time my photo gets out, it causes chaos."

"Exactly why you should do it!" Groya said with a grin. "It's not a proper model student shoot without you in it. Think of it as doing the school a favor. Everyone looks up to F4, if you are not in it, it is not F4." Nani rolled his eyes.

Just then, Sky and his class walked into the hall, too. Since Sky class has to be in the photoshoot, too. his cheerful presence lighting up the atmosphere. He spotted Groya clinging to Nani's arm and raised an eyebrow.

"Sky! Perfect timing!" Groya beamed, releasing Nani's hand and running into Sky. "Help me out here. Tell Nani he needs to join the photo shoot!"

Sky tilted his head "Hmm... I don't know. Nani's pretty stubborn when he wants to be. What's in it for him?" Sky lead down a little to let Groya to whisper to him back.

Groya whispered, her voice barely audible, "I don't know what I can give him, Sky. He has everything, doesn't he?"

Sky glanced at her as he trying to think what kind of thing that Nani want.

Just then, Nani shot him a look, clearly catching part of the conversation. "What are you two whispering about?"

Groya quickly straightened up, pretending to busy herself with organizing the lineup of students. "Nothing! Nothing at all!"

As Nani walked out of the hell, Sky turned to Groya with a calm expression. He gave her a subtle signal, a quiet nod and a reassuring smile that seemed to say, Don't worry, I'll take care of it.

She nodded back, trusting him. She knew Nani was difficult to convince, but if anyone could change his mind, it was Sky.

Sky quickly ran after Nani, his energy high as usual. But Nani, sensing Sky's approach, suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned around, causing Sky to almost crash into him.

Sky stumbled back, catching himself just in time. Nani shot him a sharp glare.

"I've already told you," Nani said, his voice firm and concerned. "Don't run around. Look at yourself—there are bruises everywhere!"

Sky, a little out of breath, blinked at him in surprise, but then gave a small smile. "I'm fine, Nani. Don't worry so much."

Nani's expression didn't soften. "You never listen. You always act like this." He pointed to the marks on Sky's arms. "These bruises aren't just a joke."

Sky let out a soft sigh, his playful demeanor fading slightly as he met Nani's gaze. "I know, I know... but what's the point of being careful all the time? I'm used to it."

Nani crossed his arms, a deep frown still etched on his face. "I don't care if you're used to it. You need to stop before it gets worse."

"Then what if you agree to take the photoshoot," he said, his voice soft but teasing, "and I promise I'll be more careful."

"I've already told Groya I don't want to be part of it. There'll be a lot of mess following that, and I don't need the extra drama." His tone was sharp, each word clipped with irritation.

Nani raised an eyebrow as he saw Sky pouted slightly, his expression almost too cute to resist. Then, in one smooth motion, Sky wrapped his arm around Nani, resting his chin on Nani's shoulder as he leaned in.

Sky's voice low and almost too sweet. "Please, Nani? Just one photo shoot. For me."

Nani's heart raced, the closeness and the sudden affection catching him off guard. He tried to push Sky away lightly, but it was hard to resist. "You're really going to use this against me, aren't you?"

Sky grinned, not letting go, his voice softer now. "Maybe. But I'm not doing it just to get my way. I really want you to join. I want to take the photo shoot with you, too."

Nani let out a deep breath , he reached up, patting Sky's head gently as Sky rested on his shoulder. Then, he wrapped his arm around Sky's broad shoulders, pulling him in just a little closer.

"Then, let's do it, since it's what you want," Nani said, his voice soft with affection.

Sky's grin widened as he tilted his head, his face now inches from Nani's. "Really? ...You'll do it?"

Nani rolled his eyes, a slight smile tugging at his lips. "You're lucky I'm letting you get away with this," he muttered, the words laced with a hint of affection.

"And you promised me you'd be more careful. You better keep that promise." Nani shot Sky a glare.

Sky chuckled softly "I'll be more careful from now on, promise." He couldn't help but feel a small sense of triumph knowing he'd gotten Nani to give in.

Nani shook his head with a little laugh "You better be. I've really given in to you, idiot."

Tomorrow

Nani showed up at the photo shoot, his usual disinterest evident in the way he carried himself. As soon as he entered the room, heads turned, and a ripple of surprise swept through the group.

"I'm starting to wonder who managed to change your mind, Nani," Bright teased with his trademark smirk, leaning casually against the wall.

Nani shot him a glare. "Stop talking. You're really annoying," he snapped, making his way to the makeup table where the makeup artist was waiting to start her work.

But before Nani could escape the teasing entirely, Win chimed in, his laugh echoing through the room. "Who else could it be? It's gotta be his puppy," he said, grinning and nudging Bright as the two shared a laugh.

Nani rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he sat down in the chair. "You two never shut up, do you?"

"Okay, you two, stop teasing Nani already," Groya interjected, she gave Bright and Win a pointed look. "It's rare enough for Nani to show up on his own. Last year, I almost had to worship him just to got him to agreed to the photo shoot."

The room filled with chuckles as Goya's words drew attention to Nani, who was now glaring at her through the mirror.

"Do you have to bring that up?" Nani grumbled, shifting in his seat as the makeup artist tried to keep his face steady.

Groya shrugged playfully, a grin spreading across her face. "Just saying, it's a miracle you're here. And I'm pretty sure I know who to thank for that."

Nani let out a deep sigh, his patience thinning. "If you're done talking, I'd like to get this over with."

Bright leaned closer to Win, muttering just loud enough for Nani to hear, "Definitely Sky's doing."

Win nodded, a mischievous smile on his face. "No doubt about it."

Groya bit back a laugh but decided to let it slide, choosing instead to focus on preparing for the shoot.

After a while, as the photo shoot continued, the door  opened, drawing everyone's attention. Prim and Sky walked in, fresh from finishing their event together.

Prim greeted everyone "Sorry we're late! The event ran longer than expected."

Sky trailed close behind her, his puppy-like grin firmly in place as his eyes scanned the room. The moment he spotted Nani, a noticeable sparkle lit up his face.

Sky had to change into the outfit Groya had prepared for him, leaving the group as he disappeared into the dressing room.

Groya clapped her hands, directing her attention back to the team. "Alright, everyone, let's keep moving. Sky will join in as soon as he's ready, so let's make sure the next setup is perfect!"

As the staff busied themselves adjusting lights and arranging props, Nani stand in the corner, scrolling on his phone. but his gaze flicked toward the dressing room door every so often, as if waiting for Sky to return.

Sky stepped out of the dressing room as soon as he finished. Without hesitation, he walked straight toward Nani, ignoring everyone else.

As soon as he reached Nani, Sky dropped his body onto him, wrapping his arms around Nani in a tight hug. His weight pressed against Nani, who stiffened slightly at first but didn't push him away.

"I'm exhausted," Sky muttered, his voice muffled against Nani's shoulder.

Nani sighed, glancing around at the amused and curious faces in the room. "Do you ever think about how this looks?" he asked, his tone more resigned than annoyed.

Sky didn't move, only tightening his grip. "Don't care," he mumbled, nuzzling a little closer. "You're comfortable."

Bright let out a low whistle from across the room. "Looks like someone's really marking their territory."

Dew chuckled, crossing his arms. "At this rate, we should start taking bets on how long Nani can keep pretending he's not into it."

Nani shot them both a glare but said nothing, his hand  coming up to rest lightly on Sky's back. "Just don't fall asleep on me, idiot," he muttered under his breath, his voice softer than before.

Sky smiled against Nani's shoulder, satisfied. "I won't. I just needed this."

After the photoshoot wrapped up, the group decided to grab dinner together at one of the most popular Korean BBQ restaurants in town. The place was buzzing with energy, and the tantalizing aroma of sizzling meat filled the air.

To thank everyone for their hard work, Groya announced, "Dinner's on me tonight!" as she waved a sleek black card in the air.

Prim raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she flipped slices of meat on the grill. "Groya, you said you would pay, but we all know who's actually paying here," she teased.

Groya rolled her eyes dramatically, but a small grin betrayed her amusement. "Oh, come on, Prim! It's a shared expense. My boyfriend just happens to be...covering it with me."

"Covering everything," Win quipped from the other side of the table, earning a round of chuckles from the group.

"Well, it's the thought that counts!" Groya shot back, sticking her tongue out playfully before leaning over to snag a piece of grilled meat from the platter. "Now, eat up and stop teasing me!"

Sky kept putting meat to Nani's plate.

"Here, eat this before it gets cold," Sky said with a small smile.

"Stop putting things on my plate already. You should eat, too. Didn't you say you were exhausted?" Nani muttered, though he didn't make any move to stop Sky.

Sky shrugged nonchalantly. "You always forget to grab it when it's ready. And Bright keeps stealing the meat you put on the grill."

Nani glanced over at Bright, who grinned unapologetically while swiping another piece of meat that Nani had just placed on the grill. Nani let out a resigned sigh, shaking his head.

Before he could say anything, Sky handed another freshly grilled piece of meat onto Nani's plate. "See? That's exactly why I'm doing this," Sky said with a playful smile. "Someone's got to make sure you actually eat something."

Nani rolled his eyes, though there was no hiding the faint smirk that tugged at his lips.

After finishing their meal, Groya clapped her hands. "Alright, let's have some drinks and play a game together! It'll be fun!" she exclaimed, already pulling out a deck of cards and lining up bottles of soju and mixers on the table.

While everyone cheered and got into the spirit, Dew quietly slipped away, his energy already drained from the lively atmosphere. He needed a moment to recharge after watching everyone talk, laugh, and banter non-stop throughout the evening.

Nani noticed him leaving and decided to step outside as well, claiming he needed some fresh air. The lively buzz of the restaurant faded as the two found themselves standing in the cool night air, the faint sound of the city humming in the background.

Dew leaned against the wall, exhaling slowly. "They're a lot, huh?" he muttered, half-smiling.

Nani smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I thought Groya's energy was endless, but I guess it rubs off on everyone else, too."

Dew lit a cigarette, took a slow drag, then offered one to Nani. To his surprise, Nani shook his head.

"You quit smoking already?" Dew asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really," Nani replied, leaning against the wall with a faint smile. "I'm just starting to stop. Don't know how long I can hold out, though."

Dew studied him for a moment. "Why'd you suddenly decide to stop? Groya and Prim have asked you to quit a hundred times, but you always brushed their words out."

Nani hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground. After a moment, he sighed and decided to be honest. "Sky can't stand the smell of smoke," he admitted quietly. Dew blinked, caught off guard by the answer.

Nani's mind drifted back to that day at Sky's place. He had forgotten to close the door, and the smoke had wafted inside. Sky had started coughing uncontrollably, his face turning red as he struggled to catch his breath. Nani had panicked, rushing to open the windows and fan the air out, guilt weighing heavily on him.

Since that day, Nani had made up his mind. He didn't know why exactly—maybe it was the memory of Sky's watery eyes, or the sound of his painful coughing—but he never wanted to see Sky in that state because of him again.

Dew took another drag from his cigarette, blowing out a slow stream of smoke before turning to Nani.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but you've changed a lot since you met Sky. Like... you've changed too much, almost into a completely different person."

Nani glanced at him, frowning slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's just... before, you were the guy who did whatever he wanted, no matter what anyone said. You never cared about how your actions affected others. But now, you're... different. You think things through. You care. Especially when it comes to Sky, you care so much it's almost too much."

Nani stayed quiet, his gaze fixed on the faint glow of the city lights in the distance.

"I mean, quitting smoking for someone? That's not something the old Nani would have done," Dew added with a small chuckle.

Nani let out a soft sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm still the same. I just... don't want to make things harder for him, that's all."

Dew smirked, tapping the ash off his cigarette. "Yeah, sure. Keep telling yourself that."

Nani shot him a glare, but Dew's teasing grin only widened. "It's not a bad thing, Nani," he said again. "Sometimes, meeting the right person makes you want to be better. And from what I can see, Sky's that person for you."

Nani didn't answer, but the faint smile tugging at his lips said more than words ever could.