The Revel Heart || Ni-ki

03

Celine's shoes hit the pavement with a steady rhythm as she strode through the hallway, her backpack slung over one shoulder, a carefree smirk etched on her face. The bell had already rung for the start of history class, but she had no intention of sitting through another monotonous lecture. The clock's hands pointed toward 11:30—perfect. She still had time to grab a snack from the vending machines before her next class.

The halls were almost empty, save for a few scattered students, and Celine's pace quickened as she approached the door to the snack area. But as she reached out to push it open, a familiar voice called out behind her.

"Celine."

She froze.

It wasn't the kind of voice that demanded attention it was the kind that made you feel like you'd been caught doing something you shouldn't have. And she had.

She turned slowly, a reluctant sigh escaping her lips as her eyes landed on Ni-ki standing by the stairwell. His usual icy demeanor was even sharper today, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreadable.

"Not again," he said, his tone flat but heavy with disappointment.

"Oh, come on, Ni-ki," she said with a hint of irritation, "I'm just getting a snack. It's not like I'm running away to another country."

"You said if I caught you, you would follow the rules" he said, stepping closer, his voice low. "If you skip class again, I'll report you. You're on thin ice."

Celine's smirk faded, but she couldn't let him see that. She shrugged, trying to play it cool. "I was just... taking a break. It's not a big deal."

Ni-ki narrowed his eyes at her. "I'll make it a big deal if I have to."

Her pulse quickened, the tension between them rising with each passing second. She could see it the unspoken threat in his words, the challenge in his eyes.

"Fine," she said, her voice sharp. "What are you going to do about it?"

He didn't say anything at first, just stood there, staring her down with that impenetrable look.

"Detention," he said finally, his voice firm.

"What?" Celine's jaw dropped in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding."

"Do you think I'm joking?" His voice was ice now, unyielding. "You're skipping class. Again. You're not getting away with it this time."

She glanced around, trying to muster some form of protest, but it was pointless. The hallways were silent, the lunch bell still a few minutes away, and no one was around to witness her rebellion.

"Fine," she grumbled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll go. But you better not think this means I'll start following every rule you throw at me."

Ni-ki's gaze softened just a fraction, his lips pressed tightly together as if resisting the urge to argue further. "You're already breaking enough rules as it is."

---

The clock ticked slowly. Too slowly.

Celine shifted in the plastic chair, the uncomfortable feeling of being trapped gnawing at her. The detention room was silent, save for the occasional rustle of papers and the quiet tapping of Ni-ki's pen as he scrawled notes on a clipboard at the front of the room.