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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SHE STARED AT HER REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR, taking in the sight of herself wrapped in Ni-ki's oversized hoodie and sweats. The clothes hung loosely, swallowing her frame but offering a strange comfort she hadn't expected. They smelled faintly of him, a mix of cedar and something crisp she couldn't quite place.
It was a good thing he'd brought extra clothes, but she hadn't anticipated needing them.
"Do they fit alright?" His voice broke through her thoughts. She turned to see Ni-ki leaning against the doorway of the pool's change room, a towel around his neck, drops of water still glistening in his hair.
"I look like I'm drowning in fabric, but it's not the worst thing." She tugged at the sleeves that reached past her fingertips.
He chuckled, a rare softness in his eyes. "Guess I should've picked something smaller."
"Well, clearly you don't plan for these situations," she sarcastically said.
He pretended to pout. "Is that a complaint, babe?"
She bit her lower lip, blushing at the nickname. "Don't start calling me that just because I'm wearing your clothes."
He looked at her, the smirk fading to a softer, more thoughtful expression. "Maybe I like seeing you in them."
She looked away, fiddling with the edge of the hoodie. "You're lucky I needed these tonight."
"Well. They're yours now... as long as you want them," he shrugged.
She felt warmth flood her chest, and this time she couldn't quite hide the smile that slipped through. With his clothes draped around her, Rhaine felt... safe.
She looked back at him, her voice quiet. "Thanks... for everything."
"I should thank you," he pointed out. Ni-ki threw a playful arm around Rhaine, pulling her close, and she couldn't help but smile.
She then thought back to how they had started—two people who couldn't stand each other, constantly clashing. Heck, she went viral years back for insulting him!
But now, everything felt different.
She remembered the way he had insulted her father's restaurant, how his arrogance had both annoyed and enraged her. She recalled their heated arguments, the way their dynamic had shifted from hatred to something more complicated.
After a moment, Rhaine turned to him, her expression turning serious. "Ni-ki, what are we?"
He paused, contemplating her words. "Something real," he finally said. "I want to belong to you."
Her heart skipped at his declaration, the words washing over her like a warm tide. "I... I agree," she replied softly, feeling a rush of excitement and fear all at once.
"So, you're my real girlfriend now?" he asked, a playful smirk returning to his lips, but the sincerity in his eyes gave it an entirely different weight.
She felt a flutter in her chest, a blend of joy and nervousness. "I guess I am," she said, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions.
"Good," he said, his smile widening as he leaned in closer. "Because I'm definitely yours."
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
As the limousine glided through the softly lit streets, Rhaine and Ni-ki sat side by side, their shoulders brushing against each other. The usual tension that filled the air between them was replaced by a comfortable silence, one that felt surprisingly warm and intimate.
Rhaine stole glances at Ni-ki, who stared out the window, his expression contemplative yet relaxed.
For once, there were no playful jabs or sharp retorts, just the soft rhythm of their breaths and the quiet understanding that lingered in the space between them.
When the limousine pulled to a stop outside Rhaine's house, she turned to Ni-ki with a playful grin. "Thanks for the ride," she said softly before leaning in and planting a quick peck on his lips.
Without wasting another second, she quickly turned away from him. The warmth of the moment engulfed her as she opened the door and stepped out.
She closed the door behind her and began walking toward her house.
However, just as she reached the front steps, she heard the car door swing open again.
Before she could turn around, strong arms wrapped around her waist, spinning her back to face him. Ni-ki's lips found hers in a kiss that took her by surprise.
When he pulled away from the kiss, Rhaine looked up at him with wide eyes. "You seem to struggle leaving me alone. Don't you live forever? What if I die?"
Ni-ki chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not a nine-tailed kumiho, dumbass. We have the same lifespan. There are different types of kumihos, you know?"
"Oh really? So what are you, then? A special edition?" she mocked.
"More like the deluxe package," he flexed.
Rhaine pretended to make a sour expression. "Right. And how's that working for you?"
"Pretty well, I'd say. I managed to snag someone like you," he shot back, nudging her playfully.
"Don't get cocky. I could easily change my mind," she warned.
"Yeah, right. You'd miss me too much," he raised his hand up in defeat.
"You really think you're that special? I mean, have you met yourself?"
"Absolutely. Just look at me," he exclaimed.
She scoffed, crossing her arms. "You've got the ego of a celebrity and the charm of a used car salesman."
"Hey, at least I'm selling something worth buying," he countered, his voice dripping with playful arrogance.
Rhaine scowled but couldn't suppress a laugh. "Didn't know you were something that could be bought. You're insane."
"Try to keep up," he said, winking at her.
As Rhaine and Ni-ki continued their usual battle outside, the limousine driver, Mr. Park, watched them from a distance with an unreadable expression.
He couldn't help but notice the way they interacted, the laughter shared, and the way their hands intertwined.
Feeling a sense of urgency, he pulled out his phone and dialed Mr. Jin. The call connected quickly.
"I have some bad news," Mr. Park said, his tone stiff.
"What is it, Mr. Park?" Mr. Jin's voice crackled through the speaker.
"It seems like the two are falling in love," Mr. Park reported, watching Rhaine as she laughed at something Ni-ki said, her eyes sparkling.
"Seriously?" Mr. Jin slowly replied, disbelief creeping into his voice. He would've never expected the two, whom he used to struggle to maintain in the same room together, begin to like one another.
He remembered how he had to handcuff them together!
Mr. Park sighed heavily. "Yes. They're getting closer. I don't think this is just a publicity stunt to them anymore."
"Oh no, this isn't good," Mr. Jin said, tension rising in his voice. "We need to keep an eye on this. It could complicate everything."
"Should we intervene?" Mr. Park asked, his brow furrowing.
Mr. Jin hesitated, contemplating the potential fallout. "We can wait it out and see if they're truly falling in love. But if it becomes too serious... we may need to take action."
"Understood," Mr. Park said, reluctantly agreeing.
As the call ended, Mr. Jin pulled out his phone again, scrolling through his contacts until he found Rei's name.
