Chapter 86
Hae-rin, usually the bastion of cool, gothic composure, was currently a jagged wreck of nerves and adrenaline. As soon as her boots hit the solid earth after the final harrowing drop of the Big Grizzly Mountain coaster, she turned on Se-hee with a string of creative curses. Her dark hair was wind-blown, and her face had gone a shade of pale that even her heavy eyeliner couldn't mask.
"You're a monster!" Hae-rin hissed, her legs wobbling as she tried to regain her center of gravity. "A literal, soul-sucking demon in pink knit!"
Se-hee, far from being offended, was practically vibrating with glee. She lunged forward, trying to wrap a conciliatory arm around the tattoo artist. "Oh, stop acting like a scared baby, Hae-rin! Your face on that camera was priceless. It's going to be the highlight of the vlog!"
Hae-rin didn't wait for the hug. She knew that once she was back in Se-hee's manic, high-energy clutches, there was no escaping the next ride. She pivoted and bolted toward the nearest exit, her black boots thudding against the pavement as Se-hee chased after her, laughing like a banshee.
Haru and Raiven trailed behind them at a more leisurely pace, the contrast between the two pairs comical. They navigated a few more of the gentler attractions, the whimsy of the park taking on a dreamlike quality in the twilight. They visited the zoo exhibits, where the sight of exotic animals under the soft park lighting provided a momentary, peaceful distraction. Haru found himself taking dozens of photos - not of the animals, but of the way the light caught the blue of Raiven's hair.
As the evening air took on a sharper, humid chill, Haru felt a sudden weight settle over his shoulders. He glanced back to find Raiven adjusting his own designer jacket over Haru's frame.
"You'll get cold," Raiven stated, his voice a low murmur that bypassed Haru's ears and went straight to his chest.
"I'm fine, Jae-wook." Haru protested, reaching for the lapels to hand the jacket back.
Raiven caught Haru's hands, his grip firm and warm. " "I'm fine, Haru. I'm actually running warm the shirt is wool-blend." he leaned in, his breath tickling Haru's ear,
A treacherous blush crept up Haru's neck. He looked away, pulling the jacket tighter around himself. It smelled overwhelmingly of Raiven. From the corner of his eye, he saw Se-hee watching them with a sharp, mischievous glint in her eyes, but to his immense relief, she kept her commentary to herself for once.
Now, only dinner and the night remained.
Hae-rin, perhaps fueled by the impending doom of her breakup or the lingering adrenaline of the rides, was adamant about the next destination. "We're going to a club," she declared, her tone brook no argument. "A specific one. My treat."
She promised them total discretion. She had a friend who managed a high-end, exclusive spot where the entrance was vetted and the paparazzi were strictly barred. Se-hee jumped at the chance, her eyes sparkling at the prospect of a world she only heard of in whispers. "Free food and a private booth? Haru, if you say no, I'm disowning you," she chirped.
"Go on ahead," Haru said, stepping back as he checked his phone. "I have to deal with something first. A quick errand. Hae-rin, pin the location. I'll meet you there in forty minutes."
Raiven's brow furrowed, his protective instincts immediately flaring. "I'll come with you."
"No," Haru said, giving Raiven's hand a reassuring, lingering squeeze. "It's a quick errand. Go with the girls. I'll hail a taxi and meet you later."
With a reluctant nod, Raiven watched Haru step toward the curb. Haru waited until their van disappeared into the neon-lit flow of traffic before hailing a taxi of his own.
"The Grand Imperial, North Wing," Haru told the driver.
The taxi dropped him off at a separate, equally opulent section of the hotel complex. This was where the rest of the Re-Draft members and the core TRace staff were staying. Raiven had insisted on moving his own stay to the other wing just so he could book private rooms for Se-hee and Hae-rin. The thoughtfulness of the gesture made Haru smile as he navigated the lobby. What a good boyfriend, he thought, a fleeting smile crossing his face.
He approached the receptionist, turning on a focused, polite charm that had served Sunghoon well for decades. It took a bit of gentle persuasion but he eventually secured the room number he was looking for.
He took the elevator to the penthouse floor, his heart doing a steady thud against his ribs. He walked down the hushed, carpeted hallway until he stood before the heavy mahogany door. He knocked.
In the background, he could hear a muffled voice asking if the room service order had arrived. The door swung open, and Ash stopped dead in his tracks.The idol was dressed in loose lounge pants, his hair damp.
He had clearly thought that Haru's invitation at the stadium had been a one-off pleasantry. He hadn't counted on Haru's relentless, quiet stubbornness.
"Hello," Haru said, offering a smile that was as innocent as it was dangerous. Since he didn't have Ash's personal number, he'd decided that a face-to-face follow-up.
"What are you… how did you even get up here?" Ash stammered, his usual guarded coolness evaporating.
"Remember what we talked about?" Haru asked, leaning casually against the doorframe. "The night isn't over yet."
"I didn't agree to anything," Ash lamented, his eyes darting nervously to the hallway behind Haru.
"You didn't say no, either," Haru countered.
Ash looked at him as if he were staring at a psychopath. He opened his mouth to protest, but just then, a figure walked into the frame of the open door behind him.
Haru's smile faltered for a fraction of a second. Standing behind Ash was the man from the stadium, the high-ranking executive with the chilling, arrogant gaze. But here, in the privacy of the suite, the arrogance was replaced by something far more intimate. The man's upper body was exposed, His upper body was exposed, a towel draped around his neck, the air in the room was thick with a heavy, unspoken tension.
"I… sorry," Haru apologized, his eyes widening as he registered the scene. "I didn't realize you had company."
Ash reacted with a frantic, jerky movement, stepping out into the hallway and pulling the door shut behind him, unintentionally pushing Haru a few steps back. His face was a frantic mask of panic.
"It's not what you think," Ash fumbled, his face turning a brilliant, humiliated red.
"Umm, okay…" Haru said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. He was an actor; he knew a bad performance when he saw one.
"Really, it's nothing," Ash insisted, his eyes searching Haru's face for any sign of judgment but found nothing.
Haru felt a wave of genuine awkwardness and a sharp pang of pity for the boy. He had his own mountain of secrets to climb; he wasn't about to go digging into someone else's closet, He wasn't a fool. He had seen this story a hundred times , and it always ended in a tragedy. "It's fine, Ash. Really. Maybe another time, then."
Just then, Haru's phone began to vibrate in his pocket - Raiven's caller ID.
"I have to go," Haru said. Before Ash could spiral further into his explanation, Haru gave him a small, reassuring wave and turned toward the elevators.
Ash watched him go, a cold dread washing over his body. He let out a silent, jagged curse, his hands shaking slightly. The secret he had guarded with his life had just been stumbled upon by the one person Raiven trusted most.
Haru didn't let himself think about it during the taxi ride. He followed Hae-rin's pinned location to an alleyway that looked entirely unremarkable until a massive, tattooed man stepped out of the shadows. After a quick exchange, Haru was ushered through a heavy steel door and up a flight of stairs that opened up into a sprawling, multi-level VIP lounge.
The club was a sensory assault. The bass was a physical entity, thrumming in his bones. But as he entered the VIP section, the noise muffled behind soundproof glass.He found them in a plush, circular booth overlooking the dance floor. a plush, velvet-lined sanctuary stocked with premium bottles and a spread of appetizers that looked more like art than food.
Hae-rin was already halfway through a glass of something dark, her eyes fixed on the dance floor below. Se-hee was bouncing in her seat, clutching a colorful cocktail, while Raiven sat at the edge of the booth, his eyes locked on the entrance.
The moment Raiven saw Haru, the tension in his shoulders vanished. He didn't say anything, but the way he watched Haru walk toward the table made the air in the booth feel suddenly very, very small.
"You're late," Raiven murmured as Haru slid into the seat beside him."What took you so long?"
Haru looked at the table, the expensive bottles, the steaming platters of dim sum, and the laughing faces of his friends. He thought of Ash in that cold, silent hotel room. He squeezed Raiven's hand, feeling the warmth of a man who didn't have to hide his soul in the shadows.
"Just taking care of some business," Haru whispered, leaning his head against Raiven's shoulder. "But I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere."