Chapter 94
The sleek black Mercedes idling in the shadows of the theater's parking garage didn't belong to a manager or a car service. It was a vehicle Haru knew by its very silhouette - a sanctuary on wheels. As he pulled open the door and slipped into the passenger seat, the scent of expensive leather and that familiar, woody cologne enveloped him like a physical embrace.
Raiven was behind the wheel, dressed down in a simple black hoodie and a cap pulled low, his eyes bright with a mixture of pride and relief. He didn't say a word at first; he just reached out with his right hand, covering Haru's good hand and squeezing it tight, his thumb stroking Haru's knuckles in a grounding rhythm.
"What are you doing here?" Haru asked, turning his body as much as the seatbelt and the cast would allow to face him. His voice was still a bit raspy from the Q&A session.
Raiven shifted the gear to back out of the parking lot, his movements smooth and cautious. Since they were in a public garage, they couldn't risk a stray camera lens catching them together in a compromising position.
"I can't miss your big day," Raiven said, a soft smile etched on his face, though he kept his eyes on the rearview mirror. "I've been following the live updates on my phone. You were incredible."
"So where are we going?" Haru asked, leaning back into the headrest. The adrenaline of the premiere was beginning to ebb, leaving behind a comfortable, heavy exhaustion. He expected the drive back to the penthouse a quiet night of takeout and icing his arm.
"Alice warned me you have a heavy schedule the day after tomorrow, so I can't take you out of the country," Raiven said cheekily, casting a playful glance Haru's way. Haru shook his head, letting out a tired chuckle. Only Raiven would consider an international flight a "quick celebration."
They drove through the glittering, neon-soaked streets of Seoul, the city feeling alive and vibrant in the wake of the drama's release. When they arrived at the penthouse, they bypassed the usual entrance and headed straight for the elevator. Raiven reached out and pressed a button Haru hadn't noticed before, one that sat just above the penthouse floor.
Haru's face curled in confusion. He followed Raiven closely as the elevator doors slid open to reveal a floor he didn't know existed.
He felt his breath hitch as the warm, golden glow of lights hit his face. His eyes wandered around a rooftop terrace that felt like a secret garden suspended above the city. A smile slowly bloomed on his face as he stood in the middle of the setup. It was a bohemian dream: a thick, plush mat was laid out in the center, surrounded by an ocean of pillows.
Dozens of electric candles were scattered around, flickering like captive stars against the backdrop of the Seoul skyline.
Raiven stood in the corner, his hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, looking uncharacteristically anxious as he waited for Haru to say anything. On the right side, a low table was laden with baskets of snacks, finger foods, and chilled drinks.
"Do you like it?" Raiven asked, his breath held in anticipation.
Haru nodded his head, still taking it all in.
The cool night air, the smell of the candles, and the sheer effort Raiven had put into this was overwhelming. There was a high-end projector set up, aimed at a large white board spread out against the far wall.
"I thought I could do something small and intimate... if you don't like it, I booked a re—"
"I love it," Haru cut him off, turning to stare at Raiven with a look of pure, unadulterated affection. "I really, really love it."
Suddenly, the elevator doors binged again. Alice walked out first, followed by Se-hee and Hae-rin. They were all beaming, immediately surrounding Haru with congratulations and careful hugs, mindful of his cast.
"Someone is still behind us," Alice whispered as she found a spot on the pillows next to Se-hee.
Mae-rin walked in next. Haru could tell she was nervous; she held a bottle of wine tightly against her chest as she approached. She gave him a tentative but warm hug, her eyes shimmering with a pride that went beyond a business relationship.
Haru didn't know what to say. His heart swelled to the point of aching. Just having her there meant more to him than any box office number or rating share. He felt like he might actually cry.
She hadn't even been born when I had my first screening as Sunghoon, he thought, a wave of bittersweet realization hitting him. He looked at Raiven and mouthed a silent "Thank you." Raiven just smiled and took the wine from Mae-rin, setting it with the rest of the spread.
Last but not least, Suho and Grey stepped out of the elevator, both carrying massive bouquets of flowers. Suho happily handed them to Haru after a rather tight, exuberant hug that nearly knocked the wind out of him.
Haru looked around as the rooftop filled with the sound of chatter and laughter. This was vastly different from his first screening years ago. That had been a small-budget indie movie he had done as a favor for a friend. He remembered his mother and father seated in the tiny, cramped theater, watching the movie despite him telling them it wasn't good and they should skip it.
He remembered his mother's words- that they wanted to be there for him every step of the way. Thinking about her words now, a sharp, cold sadness crept into his heart. His father had passed away only a few years later. He hadn't been there when Sunghoon got his first major acclaim; he hadn't fulfilled his words. He hadn't been there to see his son receive praise, to watch him gain widespread fame, to tell everyone, "I told you he'd get famous one day."
And now, Haru was starting a new step. His mother wasn't there either.
He looked at the happy crowd, his eyes landing on Mae-rin. At least she was there. She was, perhaps unknowingly, fulfilling the promise their parents had made. He felt a fierce, protective surge in his chest. He wanted to be there for her, just like he had promised his past self. He would have followed her anywhere, if she had decided to be a lumberjack, he would have applied to be her apprentice just to watch over her.
"It's starting," Raiven's voice cut through his thoughts. Raiven's hand brushed softly against Haru's waist, a gentle pull that tethered him back to the present.
Haru nodded and joined the group on the mats. They sat down together, the silence of the rooftop broken only by the hum of the projector as the pilot episode of Gyeongseong High began to play. Although Haru had already seen the final cut, he savored every second of this viewing. This was the best moment of his new life ,a memory he knew he would treasure long after the cast came off.
Under the cover of a shared blanket, Haru's hand secretly sought out Raiven's. Their warmth mixed as they focused on the projection. Haru felt his heart expanding, a sense of belonging that he hadn't felt in either life.
He turned his head slightly to look at Raiven. The flickering light of the screen danced across Raiven's sharp features. He was focused entirely on the broadcast, watching Haru's performance with an intensity that showed he wasn't just watching a show he wanted to savour it. It was his boyfriend wasn't it he was watching the man he loved.
Haru couldn't believe his luck. That someone as amazing and thoughtful as Raiven was in a relationship with him was a miracle he didn't quite understand, but one he was finally ready to accept.
He couldn't help but fall deeper. It wasn't just "liking" anymore. It was the kind of love that made the ghosts of the past feel a little less heavy.
Raiven, sensing Haru's eyes on him, turned his head. Their eyes met in the soft glow of the electric candles. Raiven's smile widened, and he leaned in to whisper, "It's so good, Haru. You're so good."
Haru's smile deepened as the night wore on, the sounds of his friends' laughter and the sight of the man beside him making the world feel, for the first time, exactly where he was supposed to be.