chapter 132
Cheers erupted the moment Haru stepped through the restaurant doors.
"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations, Haru!"
"Look at him!"
The sudden explosion of voices startled him so badly that he stopped in the doorway.
For half a second, Haru simply stared.
Then the confetti cannons went off.
A shower of metallic paper burst through the air, catching the warm restaurant lights as it floated down around him. Someone had clearly gone overboard with the decorations. Balloons had been tied to chairs, ribbons hung from the walls, and the tables had been pushed together to accommodate everyone.
Haru blinked.
Then he laughed.
A genuine, helpless laugh escaped him as Alice, who had been walking beside him, covered her mouth to hide her own laughter.
"I told you they were planning something," she whispered.
"You said there would be dinner."
"There is dinner."
"You failed to mention the ambush."
Alice shrugged innocently.
"I wanted it to be a surprise."
Haru shook his head.
Before he could say anything else, Haerin and Sehee rushed toward him.
"Congratulations!"
Haerin threw her arms around him.
Sehee followed immediately, nearly knocking him backward with the force of her embrace.
"You won!" Sehee exclaimed.
"I know."
"You actually won!"
"I was there."
"I know, but you're holding the trophy!"
Haru looked down at the award in his hand.
A small smile tugged at his lips.
"I suppose I am."
Haerin grabbed his arm.
"Show us!"
He lifted the trophy slightly.
The two women immediately started cheering again.
"Put it up!"
"Higher!"
Haru raised it above his head.
The room erupted once more.
He couldn't help laughing.
There was something almost absurd about the entire situation.
Only a few months ago, he had been practically unknown.
Now he was standing in a restaurant surrounded by people celebrating his first major acting award.
And these weren't strangers.
They were people who had witnessed the beginning.
People who had seen him before the cameras had started following him.
Before his name had become something producers remembered.
Before strangers online had begun debating his potential.
Before journalists had started calling him one of the industry's rising stars.
These people had known him when he was simply Haru.
That realization made the celebration feel more meaningful.
His gaze slowly moved around the restaurant.
Members of the company were there.
Mae-rin stood near one of the tables, smiling as she watched the commotion.
The Kwons had made it too.
They were talking among themselves, occasionally joining the cheering whenever someone shouted another congratulation.
The restaurant itself belonged to them, which explained why they had been able to arrange everything so easily.
It wasn't an extravagant venue.
It didn't need to be.
It was warm, comfortable, and private enough that they could celebrate without worrying about strangers taking photographs or overhearing their conversations.
Haru appreciated that.
He had spent the entire evening surrounded by cameras.
For once, he wanted somewhere he didn't have to perform.
His eyes moved farther.
And then they stopped.
Raiven.
He was standing slightly away from the others.
He wasn't shouting.
He wasn't holding a confetti cannon.
He wasn't trying to draw attention to himself.
He simply stood there with his hands loosely tucked into his pockets, watching Haru.
And smiling.
Their eyes met.
Something inside Haru softened immediately.
Raiven's expression changed slightly when he realized Haru had noticed him.
There was pride in his eyes.
A quiet kind of pride.
The sort that didn't need to be announced.
Haru held his gaze for another moment before finally turning back toward everyone else.
He allowed himself to be pulled from person to person.
There were more hugs.
More congratulations.
Someone insisted on taking several photographs with him.
Someone else wanted a photograph of the trophy.
Mae-rin gave him a long speech about how proud she was of him before reminding him not to become arrogant now that he had an award.
Haru laughed.
"I won't."
"You'd better not."
"I promise."
"Good."
She patted his shoulder.
"Because this is only the beginning."
Those words stayed with him.
Only the beginning.
Haru glanced down at the trophy.
Perhaps she was right.
His career was only beginning.
His second life was only beginning.
And, unlike his first life, he wasn't standing at the beginning alone.
Eventually, the crowd around him began to thin.
People moved toward their seats.
Haru finally had a moment to breathe.
And that was when Raiven approached.
He walked toward Haru without hurry, his gaze fixed on him.
When he reached him, his expression softened.
"Congratulations."
Simple words.
Haru smiled.
"Thank you."
Raiven opened his arms.
Haru stepped forward immediately.
They embraced.
It wasn't an especially long hug.
There were too many people around them for that.
But it was warm.
Familiar.
Real.
Haru's arms slipped around Raiven's body, and for a moment he allowed himself to relax completely.
His face sank into the crook of Raiven's neck.
He breathed in slowly.
The familiar scent immediately settled something inside him.
Raiven's hand rested against his back.
Neither of them spoke.
For a few seconds, the noise of the restaurant seemed distant.
Haru closed his eyes.
He had been surrounded by people all night.
He had smiled for cameras.
He had bowed to seniors.
He had answered questions.
He had accepted an award beneath blinding lights.
Yet somehow, this was the moment that made everything feel real.
Raiven was here.
He had seen him win.
He had been waiting for him.
And Haru realized how lucky he was.
Not because he had won an award.
Not because his career was taking off.
Not because people were beginning to know his name.
He was lucky because this time around, he had people.
People who celebrated with him.
People who worried about him.
People who would tell him when he was being foolish.
People who knew him beyond the public image.
And Raiven.
Especially Raiven.
The person who had somehow become woven into every part of his new life.
Haru's fingers tightened slightly against his back.
He didn't want to let go yet.
But he eventually did.
They separated naturally, both aware of the people around them.
Their relationship was no longer something they could casually display in public.
Even among friends, there were limits.
Alice knew.
Sehee knew.
Haerin knew.
Those closest to them understood.
But there were still too many people around tonight.
The industry had taught Haru one thing very quickly.
Privacy was a luxury.
One careless photograph could become a headline.
One overly intimate gesture could become speculation.
One rumor could spiral into something neither of them wanted to deal with.
So they were careful.
Their hands barely touched.
Their conversations remained casual.
Their expressions were affectionate but restrained.
If it had only been Alice, Sehee, and Haerin around them, things would have been different.
They would have teased each other.
Raiven would probably have pulled Haru into another hug.
Haru might have leaned against him without thinking.
But tonight, there were too many eyes.
Still, Haru's hand lingered against Raiven's back for a second longer than necessary before he finally withdrew it.
Raiven noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He always did.
But he said nothing.
Instead, he gave Haru a small smile.
"Come on. Sit down before everyone starts complaining that the guest of honor is standing."
Haru laughed.
"I'm the guest of honor?"
"You won an award."
"That doesn't make me the guest of honor."
Everyone nearby immediately disagreed.
"It absolutely does!"
"Sit down!"
"Someone give him food!"
Haru laughed again as they guided him toward the table.
Dinner began shortly afterward.
The restaurant had prepared more food than they could possibly finish.
Plates covered the table.
Meat.
Vegetables.
Side dishes.
Rice.
Sauces.
And, most importantly, several plates of pork ready to be grilled at the center.
The moment the first pieces hit the grill, the table erupted into conversation.
The smell of sizzling meat filled the room.
Someone poured drinks.
Another person raised a glass.
"To Haru!"
"To Haru!"
Haru lifted his glass.
"To everyone."
They drank.
The atmosphere became increasingly relaxed as the night progressed.
People began telling stories.
Some were embarrassing.
Some were ridiculous.
Others involved Haru himself.
"You remember when he first joined?"
Someone laughed.
"He barely spoke."
Haru pointed his chopsticks at them.
"I was being polite."
"You were terrified."
"I was not terrified."
"You absolutely were."
Haru looked toward Alice.
"Tell them."
Alice immediately betrayed him.
"You were terrified."
The entire table burst into laughter.
Haru stared at her in disbelief.
"You're supposed to be on my side."
"I am on your side."
"Clearly."
Raiven was sitting nearby, quietly enjoying the argument.
Haru noticed him laughing.
"You too?"
Raiven raised his hands.
"I didn't say anything."
"You're laughing."
"I'm allowed to laugh."
Haru narrowed his eyes.
"You're lucky you're handsome."
The table went silent for half a second.
Then everyone erupted.
Haru froze.
He had said that out loud.
Raiven's eyebrows rose.
Sehee covered her face.
Haerin nearly choked on her drink.
Alice looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh.
Haru cleared his throat.
"I meant—"
"Don't explain," Raiven said calmly.
His smile was becoming impossible to hide.
Haru looked away.
"Let's eat."
That only made everyone laugh harder.
The alcohol continued flowing.
One drink became two.
Two became three.
Eventually, Haru stopped keeping track.
He hadn't intended to drink much.
He had a long day.
He was exhausted.
And tomorrow he would probably regret everything.
But tonight was different.
Tonight was worth celebrating.
He allowed himself to relax.
He laughed more than he had in weeks.
He listened to stories.
He told a few of his own.
He even joined in when someone started singing badly at the table.
By the time the evening was nearing its end, Haru's cheeks were warm.
His thoughts were slightly slower.
And the trophy in his hand seemed much heavier than it had earlier.
"I think I've had enough," he muttered.
Raiven glanced at him.
"You said that twenty minutes ago."
"I meant it this time."
"Of course."
Haru tried to stand.
That was his first mistake.
The room tilted.
He grabbed the edge of the table.
Raiven immediately stood.
"Careful."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"I am."
Haru attempted another step.
His body betrayed him.
He stumbled.
Raiven caught him around the waist.
"See?"
Haru frowned.
"The floor moved."
"The floor did not move."
"It did."
Raiven sighed.
"Sure."
Haru looked down at the trophy still clutched in his hand.
"I can't lose this."
"You're not going to lose it."
"It's important."
"I know."
Raiven took Haru's coat from the back of the chair and draped it over one arm.
With his other arm, he steadied Haru by the waist.
Haru leaned into him.
The restaurant had begun emptying.
Most people had already said their goodbyes.
Those who remained watched them with amused expressions.
Haru lifted the trophy slightly.
"I won."
Raiven smiled.
"Yes."
"I actually won."
"You did."
Haru's smile returned.
"That's good."
Raiven looked at him.
"Very good."
They slowly made their way toward the entrance.
Cold night air greeted them as they stepped outside.
Haru shivered.
Raiven immediately pulled his coat more securely around him.
The parking area was quiet compared to the chaos they had left behind.
Raiven guided him toward his car.
Haru's steps were unsteady, so he kept one hand around his waist.
The other hand carried the trophy and his coat.
Haru leaned against him, occasionally mumbling something that Raiven couldn't quite make out.
"Slowly," Raiven murmured.
"I am walking slowly."
"You're barely walking."
"Still walking."
Raiven laughed under his breath.
They finally reached the car.
Before opening the door, Haru stopped.
He looked down at the trophy.
Then at Raiven.
A soft smile appeared on his face.
"Today was a good day."
Raiven's expression softened.
"Yes."
Haru leaned against him.
"Really good."
Raiven tightened his arm around his waist.
"I know."
Haru closed his eyes for a moment.
There was no one around now.
Only the quiet night, and them.
The warmth of Raiven beside him.
And the weight of the trophy in his hand.
For once, Haru didn't feel like he had to think about tomorrow.
He had spent so much of his second life worrying about what could go wrong.
Tonight, he allowed himself to think about what had gone right.
He had survived.
He had rebuilt himself.
He had found people who cared about him.
He had found love.
And now, for the first time in a very long time, he had something he hadn't allowed himself to believe he could have again.
A future.
Raiven opened the car door for him.
"Come on."
Haru smiled lazily.
"Okay."
He climbed inside.
Raiven closed the door behind him.
And for the first time that night, Haru finally allowed himself to rest.