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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RHAINE SAT AT THE RESTAURANT, tired as she barely slept last night. She stared at her phone, the screen lighting up her anxious face as she scrolled through her messages. The memory of last night flooded her mind, and her heart raced with uncertainty.
"You okay, honey?" her father asked, stepping out of the kitchen to check up on her. She had told him what happened this morning, and he couldn't help but feel worried.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she sighed.
He nodded as he went back into the kitchen to continue with his task, "Okay."
"Come on, just text him already," she muttered to herself, biting her lip. It felt ridiculous, sitting there overthinking a simple message, but she couldn't shake off the guilt that had settled in since Ni-ki had left.
After a few failed attempts, she deleted another half-written apology. hey, sorry about last night. i didn't mean to push you away. Each time, her finger hovered over the send button, but doubt crept in.
What if he didn't want to hear from her? What if he was already regretting everything?
"Ugh," she groaned, slumping back in her chair. She glanced around the restaurant, trying to distract herself.
She couldn't believe she was struggling to message the guy she once found easy to argue with.
Customers were laughing, and the smell of fried chicken filled the air, but all she could focus on was the knot in her stomach rather than the food it lacked.
Just then, the door swung open, and Garam stepped in, her energy filling the room like a breath of fresh air. Rhaine looked up, wondering why she came.
"Hey! What are you doing here?" Rhaine asked, a smile breaking across her face.
"Your dad said something happened last night and told me to talk to you about it since he's busy." Garam plopped down in the chair across from her, her expression shifting to one of concern. "So, what's going on?"
Of course, her father had to ask her best friend for help. Rhaine sighed, fiddling with her phone. "It's Ni-ki. I messed things up last night."
"I figured." Garam raised an eyebrow, attempting to hide a knowing smirk. "What happened?"
Rhaine bit her lip, hesitating to share too much. "We were talking, and it just... got intense. I freaked out and asked him to leave."
"Well, why'd you freak out?"
"He... confessed?" she wasn't even too sure herself. "And I... felt the same."
Garam leaned in, her tone teasing yet understanding. "So you do have feelings for him!"
"I don't know! I guess?!" Rhaine exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "I just didn't want to admit how much he affects me."
"Did you tell him you liked him back?" she asked.
"Uh, no."
"Girl, it's not complicated if you like him!" Garam said, shaking her head. "You need to figure out what you want. It's okay to want him."
Rhaine opened her mouth to respond, but Garam interrupted, her tone casual yet watchful.
"Oh, by the way, I saw something on the news earlier. I think you should know."
Rhaine raised an eyebrow, curious. "What about?"
"Ni-ki was spotted leaving the hospital," Garam said slowly, gauging Rhaine's reaction. "He looked... really disheartened."
Her heart sank. "He was at the hospital?"
"Yeah, apparently he was visiting his mom," Garam continued, her expression serious now. "You know how most kumihos are; if something's bothering them, they are not going to talk about it. He's going to need you now more than ever, especially if he's feeling down."
Rhaine bit her lip. The urge to reach out to Ni-ki surged within her, but doubt crept in. "What if he doesn't want to talk to me?" she questioned, her voice shaky.
Garam paused, considering her words. "Look, I don't know what happened last night, but if you said it got intense, he probably wants to see you. I mean, he wouldn't have come to your window if he didn't care."
Rhaine bit her lip. The urge to reach out to Ni-ki surged within her, but doubt crept in. What if he didn't want to see her after everything?
"What if he doesn't want to talk to me?" Rhaine questioned, anxiety creeping into her voice.
"Trust me," Garam insisted, her eyes sparkling with confidence. "Go find him. Don't let this slip away."
Taking a deep breath, Rhaine nodded. "Okay. You're right. I can't let my fear get in the way."
As she stood up, Garam grinned. "That's the spirit! Let's go."
"Thanks, Garam," Rhaine said, feeling a rush of determination. "I really appreciate you pushing me."
"Anytime! Now, let's get you to him before I change my mind," Garam joked, watching her best friend run out of the restaurant.
Rhaine stood outside, and she typed out a quick message to Ni-ki, her fingers trembling slightly. where are you? She hit send, staring at her phone, willing it to light up with his response.
But there was nothing.
A wave of uncertainty washed over her. She didn't know where to look first. She considered the usual spots—his office, the PRADA event venue, even his favourite shooting range—but none felt right.
Just as she was about to go back inside, she remembered something he had said in passing.
The pool.
Without wasting another second, she headed towards the biggest pool in the city.
