The following days, Nio found himself tagging along with Pee and the others. He didn't speak much, but he tried to observe the dynamics of the group. Tee was always at the center, his deep voice cutting through conversations, effortlessly charming everyone around him. Nio, meanwhile, remained the quiet observer, lingering on the outskirts, offering the occasional word or laugh but never really becoming a part of the group.
Then, one day, Pee invited Nio to lunch with them again. This time, the group was larger, and Tee was seated right next to him. Nio was hyper-aware of Tee's proximity - his cologne, the way his leg brushed against Nio's when he shifted in his seat. Nio's hands were clammy as he fumbled with his drink, unsure of what to say. His heart pounded as he tried to keep his gaze fixed on the table, but every time he dared glance up, he caught Tee's eyes watching him. Not in the passing, disinterested way of before, but with something more deliberate.
Nio's face flushed. Did Tee notice? Was he just being paranoid?
When Tee smiled at something Pee said, Nio couldn't help but feel a flutter in his chest. Was this real? Could it be that for once, someone was actually noticing him? Not just as a nameless figure in the background, but as someone worthy of attention?
After that lunch, Nio couldn't stop thinking about Tee. But more importantly, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't invisible anymore.