He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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The year 2022
NI-KI SAT IN THE BACK OF HIS LIMOUSINE, WATCHING THE CITY LIGHTS FLASH BY LIKE GHOSTS IN THE NIGHT. He wasn't from this quaint city but was visiting to look for things to do with his friend.
Ni-ki and his friend Sunoo were kumihos—powerful, fox-like beings from folklore, known for their mystical abilities and often feared or distrusted by humans. Although kumihos were starting to blend into human society, their integration was still a work in progress.
Ni-ki was no stranger to navigating this delicate balance. His family's immense wealth and influence had helped them gain a foothold in the human world, but the undercurrent of prejudice was never far from the surface.
Luxury had always been his world—wealth so deep it bordered on absurdity. He'd grown up in a world of opulence: endless estates, sleek black cars, and lavish dinners in private restaurants that no ordinary person could afford. None of it impressed him anymore.
Sunoo stretched out across the leather seats, engrossed in his phone. "Man, I'm starving," Sunoo groaned. "I need food. Like, now."
"When aren't you hungry?" Ni-ki sighed, feeling the familiar weight of boredom. "I'm craving chicken," he muttered, barely caring where they ended up. To him, food was just another distraction.
"Chicken, huh?" Sunoo brightened, immediately tapping away on his phone. "Okay, let's see... Found one. Lee's Chicken House. Five stars, local, family-owned."
Ni-ki glanced at him, uninterested. Family-owned meant small. Humble. Probably a hole-in-the-wall kind of place. Still, it was something different from the pretentious restaurants he usually visited. Maybe it would be tolerable. "Fine. Whatever."
The limo turned down a quiet street, eventually stopping in front of a small restaurant with a flickering sign that read "Lee's Chicken House." It was unassuming, nestled between two other low-key shops. Not exactly the type of place that would turn heads—but that didn't stop his fans.
Before he even stepped inside, word had somehow spread. By the time he and Sunoo entered, there was a growing crowd outside, all eager to catch a glimpse of him. Inside the restaurant, the peaceful atmosphere began to shift. People whispered, pulling out their phones, snapping pictures. The noise grew louder with every minute.
Ni-ki could feel the familiar surge of irritation rise within him. He hated this. The constant attention. The way people always stared like he was some sort of rare exhibit. All he wanted was to eat in peace.
"Great," he muttered under his breath, catching Sunoo's attention.
Sunoo grinned, completely unbothered. "Guess we're still popular, huh?"
"With this face? Of course," the younger one couldn't help but chuckle.
As they settled in, a young girl with a warm, albeit wary, smile approached them.
"Hi, I'm Rhaine," she introduced herself, her tone polite but tinged with a hint of exhaustion. "What would you like to order?"
Sunoo looked up, his demeanor friendly. "Hey, Rhaine. We'll start with the chicken wings and some of your famous garlic fries. What do you recommend for the main course?"
Rhaine nodded, quickly jotting down the order. "We have a great special tonight—crispy fried chicken with a side of collard greens and cornbread. Would you like to try that?"
Sunoo's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect. We'll have that too."
She turned to Ni-ki, expecting a similar level of enthusiasm. Instead, Ni-ki looked up from his phone with barely concealed disdain. "I'll take the same thing, but make it quick. I don't have all night."
Rhaine blinked, momentarily taken aback by his tone. "Sure, I'll get that for you right away."
As she walked away, Rhaine could hear hushed whispers around the room, her ears picking up bits and pieces. "Is that Ni-ki? No way... He's really here..." The realization dawned on her—this was the Ni-ki, the one she'd heard about in the tabloids and social media. The one who had a reputation for being difficult.
She tried to ignore the murmurs and focus on her task. When she returned with their food, she was met with a scowl from Ni-ki. His impatience was palpable, and his curt remarks only added to her growing irritation.
"Here you go," Rhaine said with a forced smile, setting the plates down in front of him. "Enjoy your meal."
Ni-ki barely glanced at her, his eyes already on the food. "Finally."
Rhaine's smile tightened as she turned to leave. She grit her teeth and walked away, trying to keep her composure. She hated people like him. The wealthy had the privilege to complain.
When Rhaine returned with the food, Ni-ki didn't wait before digging in. He took one bite and immediately grimaced, setting his fork down with a thud. "This is awful," he said loudly, causing nearby diners to glance over. "The chicken is dry, and the sides are bland. I expected better."
Rhaine approached with a tight-lipped smile. "I'm sorry to hear that. Let me take a look."
She sampled the food, trying to maintain her professionalism despite his harsh criticism. "We take pride in our dishes. We'll gladly make adjustments if—"
"Adjustments?" Ni-Ki cut her off, his tone dripping with condescension. "The problem isn't just the food. It's that your so-called 'pride' doesn't mean a thing if your cooking is subpar."
"Riki," Sunoo sighed in slight embarrassment. He hoped his tone would signal him to stop.
The guy continued nevertheless, "I've eaten better at fast food chains. Maybe you should find a new job if you can't handle simple standards."
Rhaine's patience snapped. Her voice, usually gentle and accommodating, now carried a sharp edge. "You know what? I've had enough of your arrogance. This is a family-owned restaurant. We don't serve food to impress people like you who think they're entitled to perfection. If you think so little of our food, maybe you should take your business elsewhere."
The restaurant fell into a stunned silence. Every diner's eyes were fixed on the scene unfolding before them. Sunoo sat there, speechless, his eyes wide with shock.
Rhaine took a breath, her face flushed with anger. "I'm done here. If you have issues with our food, you can express them somewhere else."
She turned on her heel and walked away. Ni-ki's eyes followed her, a mix of surprise and something else in his gaze.
Shit, Rhaine thought to herself. WHY DID I DO THAY TO A CELEBRITY?! My dad is going to kill me.
A young woman at a nearby table, who had been capturing the scene on her phone, quickly uploaded the video to social media. Within minutes, the clip of the heated exchange between Ni-ki and Rhaine spread like wildfire.
To Rhaine's surprise, she received acclaim.
The footage showed Rhaine's fiery response, her voice filled with a rare, unfiltered anger, as she confronted Ni-kii's scathing remarks. The caption read: "Local restaurant gets a dose of celebrity arrogance. This waitress' response is everything!"
The post went viral, garnering thousands of views, likes, and shares. The initial shock of Ni-ki's rude behavior soon turned into widespread outrage as people watched the video. The comments section filled with support for Rhaine, praising her for standing up to a celebrity who clearly thought he was above everyone else.
As the video gained traction, news outlets picked up the story, further fueling the public's condemnation of Ni-Ki. The backlash against him intensified, and the restaurant saw a surge in support from locals who came to Rhaine's defense.
What started as a minor altercation in a quiet eatery had transformed into a viral sensation, changing the trajectory of their lives in ways they never expected.
