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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ALL SHE COULD DO WAS STARE AT HER PHONE, THE HARSH GLOW OF THE SCREEN CASTING SHADOWS ACROSS HER FACE. Each hateful comment felt like a punch, but she couldn't stop scrolling, her fingers frozen in place.
It had been a week later, and she was a mess, self-sabotaging by googling her name online.
"She's nothing but a wannabe," one comment sneered. "Why does Ni-ki even waste his time?"
"Of course he's still into Rei," read another, the words laced with an assumption that felt like a slap. "It's not like this...Rhaine girl could ever compete."
The comments were relentless, each more cutting than the last. Some mocked her looks, calling her plain, dull, "a discount Rei," and others implied she was only with Ni-ki because she had nothing else going for her.
She tried to tell herself they were just strangers hiding behind screens, people who didn't know her. But as the comments sank deeper, they started to unravel her confidence, leaving her feeling exposed and isolated.
Rhaine's hand trembled as she scrolled to the next.
"She's totally the Hailey Bieber to Rei's Selena."
"No wonder Ni-ki's still hung up on Rei. He downgraded big time."
"Why's she even with him? Probably wants the fame."
"Lol, she's got nothing going for her. Let her cling onto Ni-ki. She knows she's not worth much otherwise."
"Did she seriously think she could replace Rei?"
A hollow feeling settled in her stomach as she tossed her phone onto the bed, burying her face in her hands. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake off the feeling of inadequacy, of doubt.
The words lingered like thorns under her skin, making her question everything—why she'd agreed to this fake relationship, why she'd thought she could handle the scrutiny that came with it, why she'd believed for even a second that she could pretend none of this bothered her.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for her phone again, this time pulling up Garam's contact. Her thumb hovered over the screen, and then she typed out a message before she could overthink it.
rhairhai hey, are u free to grab a drink tonight?
It was time she got out of her head for a while. As she hit send, a small part of her hoped a night out with Garam might help her forget, even just for a little while.
rami sure
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
Rhaine leaned back in her seat, her head spinning slightly as she glanced across the table. Garam was slumped over, her cheek smooshed against the surface, hair spilling around her like a mess of tangled thoughts and alcohol-induced regret.
Rhaine snorted softly, feeling the pleasant haze of tipsiness settle over her, numbing the sharp edge of her thoughts from earlier.
"Garam," she slurred, nudging her friend's shoulder. "We're a mess."
Garam mumbled something incoherent in response, lifting her head just enough to give a bleary-eyed grin. "Messiest... duo ever," she muttered before her head dropped back down with a soft thud.
"Garam? Rami?" Rhaine poked her, but she didn't respond.
Rhaine chuckled, the laugh bubbling out before she could hold it back. For a moment, sitting there in the restaurant with her friend passed out across from her, she felt lighter, like the hateful comments online couldn't reach her here.
Wow, I suddenly need to piss.
Rhaine wobbled a bit as she got to her feet, steadying herself on the table. She mumbled something about needing to pee, but just as she was about to head toward the restroom, a small flash of movement outside caught her eye. A little bird was hopping around on the ground, pecking at crumbs by the entrance.
Without much thought, Rhaine wandered outside, entranced by the tiny creature. She crouched down, smiling to herself as the bird flitted a few steps closer before looking at her with curious eyes.
"Hey, little guy," she murmured, her voice soft.
But her smile faded when a figure emerged from the shadows nearby. A man with a strange, almost unsettling grin, his clothes slightly disheveled, and eyes a bit too focused on her.
The bird, disturbed, then flew away abruptly.
"Hey there," he said, his voice slick with a forced charm. "Need some help?"
Rhaine's brows furrowed, and she took a step back instinctively. "No, I'm fine. I have a friend waiting inside." She was still a drunk mess, but some of her consciousness was in tact.
He chuckled, glancing back toward the restaurant like he didn't believe her. "Oh, really? Doesn't look like anyone's keeping an eye on you. Lucky I'm here, huh?"
Rhaine's stomach tightened as he stepped closer, blocking her way back to the restaurant. His gaze was too intense, his smirk too disturbing. She forced a polite smile, hoping it would diffuse the tension. "Seriously... I'm fine. I just needed... some air," she slurred.
He tilted his head, his smile growing colder, more predatory. "C'mon, don't be like that. A pretty girl like you shouldn't be out here all alone. Let me take you home."
Rhaine swallowed, her throat suddenly dry as unease settled heavily in her chest. She shifted her weight, trying to sidestep him, but he only moved closer, his arm brushing against hers.
Panic was starting to creep in as she realized just how alone they were on this dimly lit street.
She tried to keep her voice steady. "I said, I'm okay. Please, just—"
Before she could finish, a new voice cut through the air.
