Faux Devotion | Nishimura Riki

IV

THE FIRST PRACTICE DATE WAS AT NI-KI'S HOUSE THE NEXT DAY, AND IT WAS FAR TOO EARLY FOR RHAINE'S LIKING. She had just finished her morning shift at the restaurant, her body aching from the usual rush. She was already running late so she quickly took a shower and got ready.

But none of that compared to the sight of the massive mansion in front of her now. It stood like something out of a movie—cold, towering, and a little bit menacing. She was trying not to gawk as the limousine pulled up to the front, her nerves twisting into knots in her stomach.

Mr. Jin, sitting calmly in the front passenger seat, must have sensed her unease. He turned back and offered her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Rhaine. It's just Ni-ki today. His dad is away on business, so it'll be quiet."

Quiet. That didn't sound reassuring at all. She was going to be stuck in a huge mansion with Ni-ki, a guy she still didn't fully understand—and certainly didn't trust.

The driver opened the door for her, and Rhaine stepped out onto the smooth gravel, staring at the sprawling estate. Even the landscaping was too perfect, every bush and tree manicured to precision. She took a deep breath and followed Mr. Jin inside, through the heavy oak doors and into a grand foyer that practically sparkled.

And there, waiting on the couch like he owned the world, was Ni-ki.

His sharp eyes flicked up to meet hers as she stepped in, and for a moment, she could've sworn his gaze lingered a little too long. He was lounging there, utterly relaxed, with a small smirk tugging at his lips.

"You're late," he drawled.

Rhaine stiffened, narrowing her eyes as she approached with Mr. Jin beside her. "Had work," she replied curtly.

"We should start the rehearsal right away then," Mr. Jin gestured toward the couch. "Please, sit together."

Rhaine's gaze flickered to the plush seating area. She chose the farthest end of the couch, hoping to put as much distance as possible between herself and Ni-Ki.

Mr. Jin, clearly displeased, raised an eyebrow. "Ms. Rhaine, closer."

With a resigned sigh, Rhaine shuffled a little closer, but still kept as much distance as she could manage. Ni-Ki's smirk widened at her obvious discomfort.

"This won't do," Mr. Jin said firmly. "Come on, closer."

Rhaine shook her head. "I'm fine where I am."

Annoyed, Ni-Ki stood up abruptly and settled right next to her on the couch, his side pressed against hers. Rhaine stiffened at the sudden closeness, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Mr. Jin looked pleased with the arrangement. "Perfect. Just so that no one runs away from the other..."

Rhaine glanced at Mr. Jin, confused. "What do you mean?"

Ni-Ki's eyes dropped, and he let out a scoff of disbelief. "You truly are diabolical, Mr. Jin."

Rhaine followed his gaze and gasped in shock. There, securely fastened around their wrists, were magical handcuffs, glowing faintly. Her eyes widened in horror.

"You're a kumiho too?!" she exclaimed, turning to Mr. Jin.

Mr. Jin's smile remained calm, avoiding her question. "This is necessary to ensure both of you stay committed to the role."

Ni-Ki chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Looks like we're in this together, whether we like it or not."

Rhaine's shock quickly turned to frustration as she yanked at the handcuffs, her voice rising. "What if this asshole tries to kill me?"

Ni-Ki leaned back, his smirk never faltering. "Guess you're stuck with me for the rest of the afternoon."

Should I be scared?

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

Hours later, Rhaine sat on the couch, boredom weighing heavily on her. She stared at Ni-Ki, who was completely absorbed in his video game on the large flat-screen TV. His fingers moved effortlessly across the controller as if he had nothing better to do with his day.

She expected his day to be more interesting than this.

Rhaine shifted uncomfortably, the cuffs reminding her that she couldn't move far even if she wanted to. She wasn't used to sitting still for this long—it was unnatural. At the restaurant, she was constantly moving, working, doing something productive. But here? She was just... stuck.

She shot Ni-Ki an annoyed glance, watching as he lazily leaned back, barely lifting a finger beyond what was necessary to keep his game going. "Are you seriously going to play video games all day?" she asked, unable to keep the irritation out of her voice.

Ni-Ki didn't even look at her. "Got a problem with that?"

Rhaine huffed and crossed her arms. "You're so lazy."

He chuckled at her frustration but remained focused on his game. "Welcome to my world. We're stuck like this until Mr. Jin comes back, so you might as well get comfortable."

Rhaine scowled. "Great. Just what I needed—a lazy afternoon with you. You know, privileged people like you need a reality check."

He shrugged nonchalantly. "It's literally not my problem if you can't handle a little downtime."

Rhaine's frustration only grew as she shifted in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. The longer she watched Ni-Ki's relaxed demeanor, the more she resented the situation.

Rhaine continued her tirade, her irritation bubbling over. "Do you ever do anything besides—"

Suddenly, she couldn't speak. Her voice vanished mid-sentence, and she felt an odd pressure over her lips. Her eyes widened in shock as she looked over at Ni-Ki, who sat there smugly, his red eyes briefly glowing.

"You talk too fucking much," he said with his eyes focused on the TV. She realized that he used his powers to shut her mouth. He continued, "You should be glad I took away your words. If you finished your sentence, maybe I would've killed you by now."

She tried to shout, but nothing came out. Instead, all she could manage was a muffled groan of frustration. She shot him a glare, furious.

Ni-Ki pretended to happily exclaim. His facial expression showed anything but happiness. "Peace and quiet. Finally."

Rhaine balled her fists, fuming. Being handcuffed to him was bad enough, but this? How dare he?