Chapter 28
Hae-rin arrived exactly one hour late, dismissing Haru's concern with a sharp laugh. "Arriving on time to a party like this isn't punctuality, Haru,it's desperation. We arrive when the mood is already set."
They drove to a secluded mansion where the bass was vibrating the very pavement of the driveway. Music blared from every window, and the sprawling grounds were already littered with people in various states of intoxication and intimacy.
Haru shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at his reflection. He had let Se-hee dictate his outfit, trusting her knowledge of the 2026 social scene. She had dressed him in a tight, long-sleeved black crop top that clung to his frame, ending just high enough to showcase the sharp lines of his abdominal muscles. He wore baggy, low-waisted blue jeans and heavy black boots. A single silver earring dangled from his left ear, catching the light.
When he'd looked in the mirror at home, he was struck by the irony,the fashion of this century was so deeply haunted by the 90s that he felt both out of place and perfectly in style. Hae-rin's reaction had been immediate; she'd whistled and joked that if she weren't a lesbian, she'd have hooked up with him herself. It had left him flustered, but her point was made: he was undeniably attractive.
As they stepped into the mansion, the atmosphere hit him like a physical wall. Huge screens displayed erotic, abstract imagery that pulsed in time with the DJ's set. Haru watched with wide eyes as couples,and strangers,engaged in open displays of affection. Men with men, women with women, all without the hushed whispers or judgment he remembered from his previous life. The world was louder now, and much more honest about its desires.
"Where is Ravi?" Hae-rin shouted over the music to a passing guy.
"Upstairs!" the boy shouted back, his eyes lingering on Haru's exposed midriff. "Who's the new guy?"
"He's my friend!" Hae-rin pulled Haru along before the guy could say more. "And he's taken!" she added with a wink that Haru didn't quite know how to interpret.
She led him away from the "general" crowd and toward the stairs. Even in a house full of millionaires, there was a hierarchy. The VIP section upstairs was a different world—the noise dampened, replaced by the clink of crystal and the low, guarded laughter of the truly elite. This was the inner sanctum where public personas were traded for private vices.
Hae-rin pushed open one of the heavy doors. The room was a massive, repurposed master suite, now serving as a private lounge complete with a personal bartender and attendants. The air was thick with the scent of expensive liquor and the blue haze of high-end tobacco.
"Hae-rin!" a girl squealed, rushing over. "I thought you'd forgotten us since you got a girlfriend!"
"I'm kept on a short leash!" Hae-rin laughed, grabbing a glass of hard liquor from a passing tray and knocking it back in one go.
"Who's the friend?" someone asked, and suddenly Haru was the center of attention.
"This is Haru. Treat him well," Hae-rin warned, though it didn't stop a girl from stepping close and playfully trailing a finger over his abs. Haru instinctively stepped back, making her giggle.
"Oh, he's shy!" she teased.
"A handsome man like that... it's a waste if he only swings one way," a voice whispered dangerously close to Haru's ear, making a shiver run down his spine.
"Don't tease him!" Hae-rin laughed, pushing the man away. She leaned into Haru's ear, her voice barely a whisper. "Right corner. Go."
Haru's eyes scanned the room, moving past the velvet couches and the flickering lights. Finally, he found him.
Raiven was slumped in a leather armchair, a glass in his hand. He wasn't wearing his usual oversized hoodie; tonight he looked every bit the untouchable idol in a sheer silk shirt. His eyes were already locked on Haru. They held a dark, piercing intensity that made Haru's breath hitch in his throat.
Raiven didn't look away. He took a slow, casual sip of his drink, his gaze traveling from Haru's face down to the sliver of skin at his waist, then back up. The silence between them across the crowded room was louder than the music outside.
Haru's mouth went dry. He could turn around right now. He could leave this den of beautiful, broken people and go back to his quiet life that was slowly shaping itself. But he had come too far to be intimidated, plus he was no coward.
He walked forward, his boots heavy on the carpet, until he stood directly in front of Raiven's chair.
"Hello, Raiven."