chapter 134
Chapter 134
Friday finally arrived.
Autumn had settled over Seoul with an unforgiving bite, the kind of cold that seemed determined to find every gap between layers of clothing. Haru stood outside the glass doors of his talent agency, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he waited.
He had checked his phone three times in the past five minutes.
Not because he was impatient.
At least, that was what he told himself.
Raiven had messaged him twenty minutes earlier, saying he was on his way. He had also very specifically instructed Haru not to leave the building until he arrived.
Apparently, this date was important enough that Raiven didn't trust Haru to make his own way there.
Haru pulled the oversized knit cardigan tighter around himself and tucked his chin into the collar. His breath escaped in a pale cloud before disappearing into the cold evening air.
He glanced toward the road.
Nothing.
He looked at his phone again.
Still nothing.
"You're going to wear a hole through that screen."
Haru looked over his shoulder.
Alice stood just inside the agency's entrance, one hand wrapped around a cup of coffee.
"I'm waiting for someone."
"I know."
"Then why are you commenting?"
"Because you've checked your phone at least six times."
Haru frowned.
"I have not."
Alice raised an eyebrow.
"You just did it again."
He looked down.
His screen was indeed lit.
Haru sighed.
"He's late."
"By twenty minutes."
"Exactly."
Alice took another sip of coffee.
"You're impatient."
"I'm cold."
"Same thing."
Haru gave her an unimpressed look.
She smiled.
"Go on your date. Try not to work tonight."
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
Haru's phone vibrated.
He immediately looked down.
I'm outside.
A second message followed.
Sorry. Traffic was worse than expected.
Haru's irritation disappeared almost instantly.
He looked toward the road just as a sleek dark car rounded the corner and came to a smooth stop beside the curb.
The passenger window lowered.
Raiven leaned across the console.
"Sorry. Did I keep you waiting?"
"Not that long."
Alice made a noise behind him that sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
Haru ignored her.
He opened the car door and slipped inside, throwing his leather bag into the back before fastening his seat belt.
Warm air immediately surrounded him.
He exhaled in relief.
"Better?"
"Much."
Raiven glanced at him before pulling away from the curb.
Then his eyes flicked toward the backseat.
"More scripts?"
Haru followed his gaze.
His bag was barely closed.
A stack of papers was already beginning to protrude from the opening.
"Unfortunately."
Raiven smiled.
"That's a good problem to have."
"Maybe."
Haru rubbed his hands together in front of the heater.
"Ever since the award show, they've been piling up. Every time I finish reading one, another arrives."
"You don't have to accept everything."
"I know."
Haru leaned back.
"But I don't want to miss something genuinely good."
Raiven nodded.
He understood.
Haru's career was changing quickly. Before the award show, he had been a promising newcomer. Now producers were actively looking for him. His name had begun appearing in casting discussions. Scripts were being sent to his agency specifically for him.
It was exciting.
It was also overwhelming.
"I'll help you choose."
Haru looked at him.
"You?"
"Why not?"
"You'll just tell me every script is good."
"I won't."
"You will."
Raiven glanced at him.
"If the lead has a romantic scene with you, I may become biased."
Haru laughed.
"There it is."
"What?"
"Your true motive."
Raiven smiled innocently.
"I simply care about your career."
"Of course you do."
They continued driving.
For a while, Haru watched Seoul pass outside the window.
The familiar congestion gradually disappeared. Buildings became fewer. Neon signs gave way to darker stretches of road, and the dense glow of the city slowly receded behind them.
Haru glanced at Raiven.
"So where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only answer you're getting."
Haru narrowed his eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
They drove for almost forty-five minutes before Raiven finally turned onto a quieter road.
Haru looked outside.
There were hardly any buildings now.
"Jae-wook."
"Hm?"
"Where are we?"
"Almost there."
"That isn't reassuring."
Raiven laughed.
A few minutes later, the car turned onto an unpaved road.
Haru stared through the windshield.
"You're kidnapping me."
"If I were kidnapping you, would I let you complain this much?"
"You have a point."
The road climbed gradually until they reached the top of a secluded hill.
Raiven parked.
The engine fell silent.
Haru stepped outside.
The first thing he noticed was the air.
It was cold, but cleaner than the city air.
The second thing he noticed was the view.
Seoul stretched beneath them.
The city glittered in the distance, thousands of lights scattered across the landscape like stars that had fallen to earth.
Haru stood still.
He hadn't expected this.
Then he noticed the setup.
A large blanket had been spread across the grass, layered with thick mats and several plush cushions. Heavy wool blankets had been folded nearby, along with a basket filled with food and snacks.
A portable projector stood several feet away, aimed toward a large pale rock that would serve as their screen.
Haru turned slowly.
Raiven was standing behind him.
"I thought we could watch your movie together."
His voice suddenly sounded less confident.
"I know it's not exactly a glamorous theater premiere."
Haru looked at him.
"Raiven."
"I just thought—"
"I love it."
Raiven stopped.
Haru smiled.
"Really."
Something visibly relaxed in Raiven's shoulders.
"I wasn't sure you'd like it."
"I do."
Haru walked over and took his hand.
"This is better."
Raiven looked at him.
"Better than a theater?"
"Much."
Haru glanced toward the city.
He squeezed Raiven's hand.
"Just us."
Raiven smiled.
"That's what I wanted."
They settled beneath the blankets.
The cold was sharp enough that they stayed close without needing an excuse.
Raiven started the projector.
The screen flickered.
Then the opening credits appeared.
Haru went quiet.
Seeing his name appear on the screen still felt strange.
There had been a time when seeing Sunghoon in opening credits had been ordinary.
He had spent years watching his name appear beneath titles.
He had watched audiences react to his work.
He had sat through premieres surrounded by reporters and industry executives.
But this was different.
This was Haru.
A career he had built after waking up in a world that should have been impossible.
And tonight, the only person sitting beside him was someone who knew exactly how extraordinary that was.
Raiven rested his head against Haru's shoulder.
Haru smiled.
The movie began.
They watched quietly at first.
Then the commentary started.
Haru elbowed him gently.
"Be quiet."
Raiven laughed.
A few minutes later, Haru caught him smiling at the screen.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're staring."
"I'm watching the movie."
"You're watching me."
"Maybe."
Haru rolled his eyes, but he couldn't hide his smile.
They shared snacks throughout the film, occasionally whispering comments about scenes Haru remembered filming.
Whenever the wind picked up, Raiven pulled another blanket over them.
Eventually, Haru found himself leaning against him, his head resting comfortably against Raiven's shoulder.
The city glittered below them.
The movie continued.
And for once, Haru didn't think about ratings.
He didn't think about critics.
He didn't think about whether his performance would be praised or criticized.
He simply watched.
When the final scene ended, the credits began rolling.
The screen faded into darkness.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Raiven turned toward him.
"That was incredible."
Haru immediately looked away.
"Here we go."
"I'm serious."
"You've already told me that."
"I don't think you understand."
Raiven sat up.
"You were incredible."
Haru laughed awkwardly.
"Raiven."
"The emotional shift in the second half—"
"Stop."
"And the final scene—"
"Please."
"You were genuinely—"
"Enough."
Haru covered his face.
His ears were burning.
Raiven laughed.
"You get embarrassed so easily."
"Because you're excessive."
"I'm proud of you."
That silenced him.
Haru slowly lowered his hands.
Raiven's expression had changed.
There was no teasing now.
Only sincerity.
"This is important," Raiven said quietly. "You've worked incredibly hard for this."
Haru swallowed.
Raiven reached for his hand.
"I want to be there for all of it."
Haru looked at him.
"For what?"
"Everything."
Raiven's thumb brushed across his knuckles.
"Your first major award. Your first big movie. The next one. Whatever comes after that."
His smile softened.
"I want to celebrate all of it with you."
Something tightened in Haru's chest.
He looked down at their intertwined hands.
Then back at Raiven.
"You make everything sound so simple."
"It doesn't have to be complicated."
Haru smiled.
"Maybe."
He reached up and cupped Raiven's face.
Raiven leaned into his palm.
Haru kissed him.
It was soft at first.
A quiet expression of everything neither of them needed to say aloud.
When they parted, their foreheads remained together.
Then Raiven smiled.
"Happy?"
"Very."
Another kiss followed.
This one lingered longer.
The cold seemed to disappear.
The world seemed to disappear.
There was only the warmth between them and the quiet hilltop surrounding them.
Then—
A drop of rain landed on Haru's cheek.
He blinked.
Another struck his forehead.
Raiven looked upward.
"Is that—"
Rain suddenly began falling.
Haru stared at him.
"You've got to be kidding."
Raiven laughed.
The drizzle quickly became heavier.
They scrambled upright.
"Save the projector!"
"I've got it!"
Haru grabbed the equipment while Raiven collected the food and blankets.
They rushed toward the car, laughing as the rain soaked through their clothes.
By the time they reached the vehicle, both were breathless.
Haru climbed inside first.
Raiven followed, slamming the door behind him.
For a moment, they simply stared at each other.
Their hair was damp.
Their clothes were slightly wet.
Their breathing was uneven.
Then Haru started laughing.
Raiven joined him.
"This was supposed to be romantic," Raiven said.
"It was."
"Until the weather ruined it."
"Still romantic."
Raiven smiled.
Haru looked at him.
The laughter gradually faded.
The car suddenly felt very quiet.
Rain hammered against the roof and windows, surrounding them in a steady curtain of sound.
Raiven reached over and brushed a damp strand of hair away from Haru's forehead.
Haru's expression softened.
He leaned closer.
Their lips met again.
This time there was no audience, no stage and no expectation.
Only the two of them, hidden inside the warmth of the car while rain blurred the outside world.
The kiss deepened naturally, their earlier laughter replaced by quiet affection.
Haru rested his forehead against Raiven's.
"You know," he murmured, "this is probably the strangest date I've ever been on."
Raiven smiled.
"Bad strange?"
Haru shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the rain-covered windows.
"Just... memorable."
Raiven wrapped an arm around him.
"Then I'll consider it a success."
Haru smiled against his shoulder.
"Next time, check the weather forecast."
"I'll do that."
"And—"
Raiven kissed his forehead.
"You can complain tomorrow."
Haru laughed softly.
He settled against him.
Outside, the rain continued falling.
The adrenaline transformed into pure, unadulterated desire. They crashed against each other hungrily, any lingering patience completely evaporating.
Raiven reached blindly for the lever, pushing his seat back to create more space as he kissed Haru relentlessly, his tongue tangling desperate with his. Haru straddled Raiven's lap, his hands clawing at Raiven's clothes as they frantically stripped away their layers.
Haru let out a breathless moan as he felt Raiven try to prepare him, but the hasty application of the lube Raiven kept in the center compartment did little to completely smooth the way. Raiven tried to take his time, trying to ease him into it, but Haru was entirely consumed by a feral, impatient horniness.
He tugged at Raiven's shoulders, urging him to just enter him instead.
In his desperate haste, Haru had momentarily forgotten the sheer reality of Raiven's size. He let out a low grunt as the tip of Raiven finally entered him, making it halfway before the intense fullness forced him to pause. Haru's head bent back against the roof of the car, his eyes closed tight as he tried to regulate his ragged breathing, forcing his muscles to relax as Raiven slowly, deliberately entered him further.
Haru's fingers dug deep into the muscles of Raiven's thighs, his grip tightening like a vise until he finally sank all the way down, completely burying Raiven inside him.
"You are so tight," Raiven praised in a strained, breathless whisper. He immediately showered Haru's face, jaw, and neck with frantic kisses, his hands gripping Haru's hips tightly as he began to move his pace upward.Haru groaned loudly, his head rolling back as his body quickly adjusted to the intensely familiar fullness.
Waves of overwhelming pleasure raced through his spine, completely replacing the initial stretch. He began to match Raiven's rhythm, lifting and lowering himself in a desperate, intoxicating dance.
Their sweat-slicked skin slapped rhythmically against each other in the cramped space, the windows completely fogged over as the car rocked back and forth under the intensity of their movements. Their groans and breathless cries were muffled by the heavy, rhythmic thudding of the downpour outside, completely insulated in their own private world of absolute bliss.