DOWNFALL -HIERARCHY

Chapter 8: The Kiss

Now playing... God is a woman —Ariana Grande
Narrator's POV:

Ri-an's hand dropped to his side, his jaw hanging open in shock. The place fell quiet, the only sound being the soft moan that escaped from Jae-i's lips, as she melt into the kiss.

Nabi was watching the scene unfold from her spot at the table, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Their plan had worked like a charm. She couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction watching Ri-an's stunned expression as he stood by, helplessly watching Kang Ha and Jae-i locked in a passionate kiss.

Minutes later the kiss ended as suddenly as it began, but the aftermath was immediate. Ri-an, livid and filled with anger, grabbed Kang Ha by his collar and landed a punch on his face without warning. Jae-i was standing there, shocked and speechless, unsure of how to react.

Nabi and the others watched on, stunned at the turn of events. Kang Ha, however, didn't fight back. He simply took the punch, his expression stoic and unchanging. He wiped the blood coming off from the side of his lip with his one hand.

Rian stumbled back, breathing heavily and still fuming with anger. He shot a final, seething look at Kang Ha before turning abruptly and storming out of the place, leaving a heavy silence behind him.

On the other hand, Nabi quietly made her way out of the bar following Ri-an, her footsteps soft and her movements stealthy. She found him standing in the parking lot of the bar, alone and still visibly upset.

Ri-an was standing by himself in the parking lot, near his car and his shoulders hunched while his fists was clenched. As Nabi approached, he didn't notice her presence immediately, his gaze fixed on the ground. But as she drew closer, he looked up, his eyes meeting hers with a mix of anger and surprise.

"What do you want?" Ri-an snapped, his voice sharp and aggressive. He took a few steps backwards, trying to create some distance between them.

Nabi stopped in her tracks, her eyes never leaving Ri-an's. She could sense his frustration and anger, but she didn't let it phase her. "I just want to talk," she replied calmly, her voice gentle.

Ri-an scoffed, running a hand through his hair out of frustration. "I'm great," he said sarcastically, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why wouldn't I be great?" He turned away from her, his body tense.

"Ri-an, come on," Nabi persisted gently. She took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them once more. "You're clearly not okay. Just let me talk to you."

Ri-an tensed up as Nabi took his hands in hers. He looked down at their hands, his expression flickering between anger and something else for a brief moment. But he didn't pull away.

Nabi held onto his hands, her grip firm but gentle. She could feel the tension in his body, the anger and hurt that was coursing through him. Her eyes held a mixture of concern and determination. "Ri-an, look at me," she said softly.

Ri-an took a deep breath, gathering himself before finally looking up to meet her gaze. His eyes were dark and intense, his jaw clinched. "What?" he asked roughly, a hint of impatience in his voice.

Nabi held his face with one hand the other still holding his other hand. Ri-an's body involuntarily relaxes, his eyes fluttering closed at the gentle touch. An electric current seemed to run through him, the anger and frustration in his expression starting to soften, only to be replaced by something else, something more vulnerable and open.

They stood there in silence for a moment, the only sound between them the soft hum of the night air. Nabi's fingers gently caressed Ri-an's cheeks, tracing the lines of his face, and Ri-an's body seemed to instinctively lean into her touch, his resolve slowly weakening.