Chapter 135
The ride back to the penthouse was wrapped in a comfortable silence.
For once, neither of them seemed particularly interested in filling it.
The rain had eventually softened to a faint drizzle, leaving the roads glistening beneath the city lights. Raiven drove with one hand resting on the steering wheel while the other occasionally shifted gears or adjusted the controls. The quiet hum of the engine filled the car, accompanied by the occasional sound of tires passing over wet pavement.
Haru sat comfortably in the passenger seat, his head resting against the window.
The adrenaline from earlier had long since faded.
What remained was a pleasant heaviness settling over his body.
He was tired.
More tired than he had initially realized.
The day had begun with work, continued with the date Raiven had planned, and ended with them getting caught in an unexpected rainstorm followed by their heated lovemaking . It had been an unusually long day, but Haru couldn't bring himself to regret any part of it.
He glanced toward Raiven.
His boyfriend's attention remained fixed on the road.
The passing lights occasionally illuminated his profile, revealing the sharp line of his jaw and the focused expression he wore whenever he drove.
Haru smiled faintly.
He didn't want to fall asleep.
He wanted to keep Raiven company.
"You know," he murmured.
Raiven glanced at him.
"Hm?"
"Your date planning needs some work."
Raiven's mouth twitched.
"Why?"
"You took me to the top of a hill to watch my movie."
"You liked it."
"I did."
"And?"
"We almost got washed away."
"that's an exaggeration."
Haru laughed softly and shook his head as he settled deeper into the seat.
The silence returned.
A few minutes later, he reached toward the dashboard and switched on the radio.
A soft melody filled the car, low enough that it didn't disturb the quiet atmosphere. Haru listened for a while, occasionally humming along when he recognized a song.
They talked here and there.
Nothing important.
Nothing that needed serious thought.
They discussed the restaurant they should try next time.
Raiven complained about one of his upcoming rehearsals.
Haru mentioned another script that had arrived at the agency.
They debated whether they should go somewhere warmer when winter arrived.
At one point, Haru began explaining an idea he had for one of his characters.
He spoke for several minutes.
Then his voice became quieter.
Then quieter still.
Raiven glanced over.
Haru's eyes were closed.
His head had fallen slightly toward the window.
Raiven smiled.
He lowered the volume of the radio.
A few minutes later, Haru stirred.
"I'm awake."
Raiven raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I was."
Haru opened his eyes.
"I'm keeping you company."
"You can sleep."
"I don't want you driving alone."
"I've driven alone before."
"That's different."
"How?"
"Because I'm here now."
Raiven smiled.
"Then close your eyes."
Haru stubbornly shook his head.
"No."
"You're exhausted."
"I'm fine."
Raiven glanced at him again.
"You've said that about four times."
"And I'm still fine."
"You're falling asleep while talking."
Haru opened his mouth to argue.
Nothing came out.
Raiven laughed quietly.
Haru frowned.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"Go to sleep, Haru."
Haru sighed.
He turned his head toward the window again.
"Wake me when we get there."
"I will."
This time, he didn't fight it.
Within minutes, his breathing became slow and even.
Raiven continued driving.
Every so often, he glanced at Haru.
There was something peaceful about seeing him like this.
Without the constant tension he carried whenever he was awake. But he did love watching how his eyebrows creased when he was reading his scripts focused holding a highlighter and stationery on the side writing little notes and pinning them on the script.
Raiven had always wanted to protect this version of him.
Not because he thought Haru was incapable of protecting himself.
But because he wanted Haru to have somewhere he could finally stop being vigilant.
The rest of the journey passed quietly.
Almost an hour and a half later, the car finally descended into the private underground garage beneath the penthouse.
Raiven pulled into his designated space and switched off the engine.
The sudden silence woke Haru.
He blinked several times.
"We're here?"
"Yes."
Haru sat upright and rubbed his eyes.
"That was fast."
Raiven looked at him.
"You slept for most of it."
"I was resting my eyes."
"Of course."
Haru ignored the teasing.
He unfastened his seat belt and stepped out of the car.
The garage was quiet, the sound of their footsteps echoing faintly against the concrete.
Haru was about to head toward the elevator when something caught his attention.
He stopped.
His head tilted slightly.
There was an unfamiliar car parked a short distance away.
He stared at it.
It was a matte navy-blue BMW.
Haru's eyes narrowed.
The car looked brand new.
Its dark blue finish caught the overhead lights without being overly reflective, giving it a sleek and understated appearance.
Haru slowly looked toward Raiven.
"Did Mr. Kim buy a new car?"
Raiven stopped behind him.
"He did deliver it."
Haru turned.
"What does that mean?"
Raiven didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked toward the vehicle.
Haru followed, still confused.
Raiven reached for his hand.
"Come here."
"Why?"
"You'll see."
There was something suspicious about his expression.
Haru watched him carefully.
Raiven looked almost nervous.
That alone made Haru suspicious.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
Raiven smiled.
He stopped beside the BMW.
Then he reached into his pocket and produced a key.
Haru stared at it.
His eyes widened slightly.
"No."
Raiven pressed the unlock button.
The car responded with a soft flash of its lights.
Haru stared.
"Jae-wook."
Raiven bit the inside of his lip.
He looked strangely nervous now.
"Just look."
He opened the driver's door.
Haru remained where he was.
"Why?"
"Because I want you to."
Haru sighed.
"You know i dont like surprises."
"You liked the movie."
"That was different."
Raiven opened the passenger door.
"Get inside."
"Why?"
"Please."
There was something so earnest about the request that Haru finally gave in.
He walked around the car and sat inside.
The first thing he noticed was the smell.
New car.
Fresh leather.
The interior was spotless.
The seats were upholstered in black leather, the dashboard sleek and modern, with everything looking untouched.
Haru ran his fingers lightly over the steering wheel.
"This is nice."
Raiven stood outside the open door.
"Do you like it?"
"Of course I do."
Haru glanced at him.
"Why?"
Raiven smiled.
"So you don't have to rely on taxis as much."
Haru froze.
He slowly turned toward him.
"What?"
"You've been taking taxis everywhere."
"I can take taxis."
"I know."
"And?"
Raiven leaned against the door.
"I don't like you traveling alone so much."
Haru immediately understood.
His eyes widened.
He unfastened the seat belt and moved to get out.
"Jae-wook."
Raiven stepped aside.
"Wait."
"You bought me a car?"
"It's yours."
Haru stared at him.
For several seconds, he didn't say anything.
Then he let out a long sigh.
"You didn't have to do this."
Raiven's expression softened.
"I know."
"This is expensive."
"I know."
"Very expensive."
"I know."
Haru climbed out of the car.
He turned to face Raiven.
"Then why?"
Raiven slowly reached for his hand.
His fingers intertwined with Haru's.
"Because I wanted to."
Haru looked down at their hands.
Raiven squeezed them gently.
"It's my present for your first award."
Haru shook his head.
"This is a bit..."
"Too much?"
"Yes."
Raiven's thumb moved across his knuckles.
"Haru."
His voice was quiet.
"I wanted to do this."
Haru looked up.
Raiven smiled.
"Besides, you already gave me the ring."
Haru blinked.
Raiven continued.
"It's only fair that I return the favor."
Haru looked toward the BMW again.
The navy-blue paint caught his attention.
He walked slowly around the car.
He had to admit it.
It was beautiful.
And, perhaps more importantly, it was his favorite color.
Haru placed his fingers lightly against the hood.
"You really did choose my favorite color."
"I remembered."
"You remembered."
"Of course."
Haru walked around to the driver's side again.
He opened the door and looked inside.
He could already imagine himself driving it.
Going to work.
Leaving the agency.
Running errands without having to wait for a taxi.
It was practical.
That was what he kept telling himself.
Practical.
It was ridiculously generous.
but practical nonetheless.
Haru glanced toward Raiven.
"Well..."
Raiven waited.
Haru's lips curved.
"I suppose having a sugar daddy isn't entirely terrible."
Raiven stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"You are unbelievable."
Haru grinned.
"I didn't say I hated it."
Raiven stepped closer.
His arms suddenly wrapped around Haru's waist.
Haru laughed as he was pulled against him.
"You accept?"
Haru looked at him.
The teasing faded slightly.
There was genuine happiness in Raiven's expression.
He wasn't looking for praise.
He simply wanted Haru to accept the gesture.
Haru smiled.
"Yes."
Raiven's expression immediately brightened.
"Yes?"
"Yes."
He reached up and wrapped his arms around Raiven's neck.
Raiven hugged him tighter.
"Good."
Haru laughed as Raiven pressed a kiss against his cheek.
"Jae-wook."
Another kiss landed near his temple.
"Stop."
Another.
Haru laughed harder.
"You're ridiculous."
"I bought you a car."
"That doesn't give you permission to attack me."
"I think it does."
"It absolutely does not."
Raiven kissed his cheek again.
Haru tried to push him away, but his smile betrayed him.
Eventually, he rested his head against Raiven's shoulder.
His gaze drifted toward the car.
The BMW was still sitting there.
His car.
The thought felt strange.
He had never expected something like this.
Not because he couldn't afford transportation.
Not because he needed Raiven's money.
But because of what the gesture represented.
Raiven had listened.
He had noticed the little inconveniences Haru rarely mentioned.
The taxis.
The waiting.
The late nights.
The schedules.
And instead of simply saying he cared, he had done something about it.
It was excessive.
Ridiculously excessive.
Very Raiven.
But beneath all of that, it was thoughtful.
Haru tightened his arms around him.
"Thank you."
Raiven's expression softened.
"You're welcome."
Haru smiled.
Then he glanced at the car again.
"I really do like it."
"I knew you would."
"You sound very confident."
"I know you."
Haru laughed quietly.
Perhaps that was the best part.
It was the fact that Raiven had remembered something as small as his favorite color.
After everything they had been through, after all the complications surrounding their relationship, it was the small things that sometimes mattered most.
Haru pulled away just enough to look at him.
"Can we drive it tomorrow?"
Raiven smiled.
"Whenever you want."
"Good."
Haru looked at the car once more.
Then he smiled.
"Maybe I'll even let you sit in the passenger seat."
Raiven raised an eyebrow.
"Only the passenger seat?"
"It's my car."
Raiven laughed.
"Fair enough."
Hand in hand, they finally headed toward the elevator.
Haru glanced back once at the navy-blue BMW.
His first major award had given him recognition.
His boyfriend had given him something far more personal.
A reminder that someone was paying attention to the little things.
And somehow, that made the extravagant gift feel less like a luxury and more like a promise.
A promise that Raiven intended to keep finding ways to make Haru's life a little easier.
Even if Haru would probably complain about it every single time