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RHAINE AND GARAM SWUNG BACK AND FORTH ON THE PLAYGROUND SWINGS THE NEXT DAY, the warm afternoon sun dappling the ground beneath them

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RHAINE AND GARAM SWUNG BACK AND FORTH ON THE PLAYGROUND SWINGS THE NEXT DAY, the warm afternoon sun dappling the ground beneath them. They both held ice cream cones, enjoying the sweet treat on a lazy Saturday. Rhaine took a big lick of her chocolate swirl, savoring the rich flavor as she watched Garam with her mint chocolate chip.

"Seriously, how can you eat that?" Rhaine laughed, wrinkling her nose at Garam's cone. "Mint and chocolate? It's like you're eating toothpaste with a side of chocolate chips."

Garam shot her a playful glare, rolling her eyes. "You just don't get it. This is gourmet! You should try it!"

Rhaine chuckled and pushed off the ground, swinging higher. "Nah, I'll stick with my classic. It's safe, just like my life." She paused, her feet touching the ground as her thoughts drifted to Ni-ki and their unexpected day at the mall.

Garam noticed Rhaine zoning out and nudged her shoulder. "Hey, what's up? You've been surging from chatty to silent from time to time the whole day."

Rhaine sighed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothing, really. Just... thinking about this week."

"Thinking about what?" Garam prodded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "The rich guy who thinks he's hot stuff?"

"How'd you know?"

"Girl, I don't live under a rock. I see the news."

Rhaine shrugged, trying to downplay it. "We just went shopping, that's all. It wasn't that big of a deal."

"Right," Garam said with a teasing tone. "And I'm the queen of England. Come on, you've got to spill!"

"King now, actually."

"Don't change the topic!"

Rhaine hesitated, not wanting to give away too much. "It was... different. We had fun, but then I remembered he's still Ni-ki. He kisses me like it's no big deal, and then he acts like it didn't happen."

"Wow, so you've had your first kiss. And it's with him," Garam look slightly worried, knowing her best friend took first times seriously.

"Yeah, I was pissed about it..." she trailed off.

Garam gave her a knowing look. "You're scared of getting hurt, aren't you? It's okay to admit it."

"Maybe," Rhaine replied, her gaze drifting.

It was silent for a moment. "Are you... starting to have true feelings for him?"

"Oh, no. I'm not," she waved her hands frantically. "But I don't want to be that girl who gets swept away by some guy just because he's cute. He's basically a playboy."

Garam nodded, her swinging slowing down. "You just need to keep your head on straight. Just because he's rich and famous doesn't mean he gets to mess with your feelings. Set some boundaries."

"I know," Rhaine said, taking another lick of her ice cream, "but it's hard when he's around. It's like he knows how to push all my buttons, and I don't know if I should be mad or amused."

"Both, honestly," Garam said, smirking. "Just enjoy the whole fake relationship thing for what it is. Have fun, but don't get too attached."

"Easier said than done," Rhaine mumbled, watching kids laughing and running around the playground, carefree and oblivious to relationship drama. "I just wish it wouldn't have to start feeling so... real."

"Welcome to life," Garam said, giggling. "It's messy and complicated. You can't control your feelings, no matter how much you try."

"Ugh, don't remind me," Rhaine groaned, swinging harder as if trying to escape her own thoughts. "Maybe I should just focus on school and my family. I'm not looking for a relationship anyway."

"Good plan," Garam said, digging into her cone with a determined look. "But just remember: You're allowed to have fun, too. And if he starts getting too serious, call me. I'll swoop in for moral support—preferably with more ice cream."

Rhaine laughed, feeling a little lighter. "Deal! Ice cream makes everything better, right?"

"Exactly," Garam replied, grinning. "Now, enough about Mr. Rich and Famous. What's our next adventure?"

*:・゚✧*:・゚

Rhaine and Garam settled into a cozy café, the rich aroma of coffee enveloped them. They ordered iced coffees, Garam opting for caramel while Rhaine went for a classic vanilla latte.

"Honestly, I think caramel's the best flavor," Garam declared, taking a sip and savoring it. "It's sweet without being overwhelming. What do you think?"

Rhaine nodded, leaning back in her chair. "I like vanilla, but sometimes I wish I was bold enough to try something adventurous, you know? Maybe like hazelnut or mocha."

"Mocha's great!" Garam exclaimed. "It's like a chocolatey hug in a cup. You should totally go for it next time."

As they chatted about flavors and favorite drinks, Rhaine's gaze drifted around the café. That's when she spotted Mr. Jin sitting at a corner table, staring out the window with a focused expression. Intrigued, she waved mouthed "one second" to Garam and made her way over to him, passing a busy line.

"Hey, Mr. Jin," she called, but as she got closer, she noticed he was on a phone call, his tone serious.

"...So you're saying you saw Ni-ki and Rei speaking during the ball from a few days ago? I thought he'd hate her for what she did!" Mr. Jin said, his brow furrowing slightly. "This is good news. If this relationship ends up being real, then when the deal with Rhaine is over, they could get back together and maybe even get married." He paused, nodding as he listened. "I was devastated when they broke up—business-wise, it was a hit for us. Rei comes from a good family, and their union would solidify our position even further. His parents would definitely support it."

Rhaine felt a knot tighten in her stomach. She had always known Ni-ki's family background was important, but hearing Mr. Jin talk about a potential relationship with Rei made her heart race in a way she didn't expect.

She also wondered what Mr. Jin meant about the "I thought he'd hate her for what she did!" part. What had Rei had done to Ni-ki?

She stepped back, not wanting to interrupt, her thoughts swirling as she processed what she'd just heard.

"Hey!" Garam called, pulling Rhaine out of her thoughts. However, when she saw that her best friend lost her precious enthusiasm, she softened. "You okay?"

Rhaine forced a smile, but inside, she felt a mix of emotions. "Yeah, just chatting with Mr. Jin for a second."

Garam hummed, her eyebrows raised. "What's up with him?"

"Nothing, just business stuff," Rhaine replied, trying to sound casual. "Let's just get our coffee and enjoy the day, okay?"

"Sure. But you know you can tell me if something's bothering you, right?" Garam nudged, her voice low and sincere.

"Yeah, I know!" Rhaine said, grateful for her friend's support.

They returned to their table with their drinks, but Rhaine's mind was still on the conversation she had overheard. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that to Mr. Jin, she was just a business tool—something to help secure a deal, nothing more. The way he talked about her relationship with Ni-ki made it clear that he saw her as a means to an end, a stepping stone to boost their standing in the business world.

While she tried to keep things light and fun with Ni-ki, it became harder to ignore the reality of her situation.

What would happen when the deal was over? Would Ni-ki really just move on, like she was nothing more than a fleeting distraction?

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