chapter 150
The weeks that followed passed faster than Haru could keep track of.
His schedule, which had already been demanding, became almost impossible to manage. Once the success of his recent projects began attracting more attention, brands started approaching him with offers for endorsements, campaigns, interviews, and appearances. His name was becoming familiar to people who had never watched any of his dramas, and his face seemed to appear everywhere he looked.
Then there was Nexus.
The filming schedule had become increasingly demanding as they approached the final stretch of production. Haru often found himself moving from the set directly into another appointment, sometimes barely having enough time to change before being driven somewhere else.
There were days when he barely remembered what time it was.
Thankfully, Nexus was almost finished.
That thought alone gave Haru something to look forward to.
Once filming wrapped, he would finally have a little room to breathe before taking on another project. He had only been acting professionally for a relatively short time in this lifetime, yet in just one year he had already completed four projects. For someone at his level, it was a lot. He had no desire to burn himself out simply because opportunities had suddenly started appearing faster than he could accept them.
He wanted to enjoy this career.
Not survive it.
His manager, Alice, had reminded him of that several times.
Haru had laughed the first few times she said it.
Eventually, he realized she was probably right.
The same could be said for Raiven.
After canceling several events to give himself time to rest, Raiven's schedule had gradually begun filling up again. His comeback was approaching, which meant rehearsals with the group were becoming more intense. Choreography had to be perfected. Vocals had to be recorded. Performances had to be rehearsed repeatedly until every movement was instinctive.
There were days when both of them returned home at nearly the same time, exhausted enough that neither had the energy to talk.
Sometimes they would eat something simple.
Sometimes they would shower and crawl into bed.
And sometimes they barely managed even that before falling asleep.
Their relationship had become strangely quiet.
Not unhappy.
Just busy.
They still sent messages whenever they had a free moment.
A picture of lunch.
A complaint about a long rehearsal.
A reminder to eat.
A photograph of something ridiculous one of them had seen.
Little pieces of their lives passed between them throughout the day.
Haru found himself appreciating those small things more than he expected.
They reminded him that even when they were apart, Raiven was still somewhere in the middle of his day.
Then an unexpected opportunity arrived.
A fashion house in China invited Haru to attend one of their events as a guest.
He had initially assumed it would be a relatively small appearance.
He was wrong.
The first indication came when he arrived at the airport.
Haru stopped in his tracks.
There were people everywhere.
Fans stood behind barriers, holding signs and photographs. Some were calling his name while others lifted their phones into the air, trying to capture a glimpse of him.
For several seconds, Haru simply stared.
He had experienced fans before.
He had stood in front of crowds.
He had attended premieres.
But something about seeing so many people waiting for him in another country made the reality of his growing popularity sink in.
He waved.
The response was immediate.
The noise rose around him, and Haru couldn't stop himself from smiling.
He bowed several times, thanking them as he walked.
Later, at the event itself, the response was even greater.
His name echoed through the venue.
Haru stood beneath the lights, surrounded by people dressed in immaculate clothing, cameras flashing from every direction.
He felt almost overwhelmed.
He had spent so much of his life chasing opportunities that he sometimes forgot what it meant when people actually wanted to see him.
The love was humbling.
More than anything, he was grateful.
He had also spent much of his spare time learning Chinese.
At first, it had simply been something useful to occupy himself with between schedules. He never expected it to become something that made such a difference.
When a few fans spoke to him in Chinese, Haru understood enough to respond.
His pronunciation wasn't perfect.
His sentences were simple.
But the moment he answered them, their faces lit up.
That made him smile even more.
It was one thing to have people admire his work.
It was another to be able to meet them halfway, even if only through a few sentences.
Throughout the trip, whenever Haru found a quiet moment, he messaged Raiven.
Sometimes Raiven replied immediately.
Other times, several hours passed before either of them had time to look at their phones.
Still, the messages continued.
Haru sent him photographs.
Raiven complained that Haru was enjoying himself without him.
Haru teased him for being jealous.
Raiven reminded him to sleep.
Haru told him he sounded like an old married man.
Their conversations were brief, but they were theirs.
Before leaving China, Haru bought gifts for everyone.
He even found a few things he thought Raiven would like.
By the time he returned, his luggage felt heavier than when he had left.
But Haru didn't mind.
He was tired.
Very tired.
Yet he felt happy.
He had missed home.
More specifically, he had missed Raiven.
So instead of informing him that he was back, Haru decided to surprise him.
Alice had already been warned.
She was to take his luggage to the apartment while Haru went somewhere else.
Haru pulled out his phone and opened the location-sharing application.
Raiven's location appeared on the screen.
Haru smiled.
He assumed he would find him at the agency.
Probably in a practice room.
Maybe exhausted and surrounded by members of his group.
It would be perfect.
Haru could walk in unexpectedly, watch Raiven's expression change, and then drag him somewhere for dinner.
He hadn't seen him properly in days.
He wanted the reaction.
He wanted to see his boyfriend.
The taxi stopped a short distance from the location.
Haru looked out the window.
Then he frowned.
This wasn't the agency.
He checked the address again.
A hotel.
He stared at the screen.
For a moment, he wondered whether the location had been inaccurate.
Maybe Raiven had left the agency.
Maybe he had gone somewhere for a meeting.
Haru paid the driver and stepped out.
He was about to call when the hotel entrance opened.
Someone walked out.
Haru's hand stopped halfway toward his phone.
His smile disappeared.
Chang-seo.
For several seconds, Haru simply stood there.
Chang-seo didn't appear to notice him.
He adjusted his coat and walked toward the pavement, his expression calm and composed.
Haru's mind raced.
Why was he here?
Why was Raiven's location showing this hotel?
He watched Chang-seo disappear around the corner.
Haru remained where he was.
He could have called Raiven.
He almost did.
Then the hotel doors opened again.
Raiven stepped outside.
Haru's heart dropped.
Raiven looked nothing like the man who had been texting him over the past few weeks.
His face was cold.
Unreadable.
There was no tired smile.
No familiar softness.
He looked distant.
Almost as though his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Haru stared at him.
Then instinct took over.
"Raiven!"
Raiven stopped.
His head snapped toward the sound.
For a second, he simply stared.
Then his expression changed.
Surprise came first.
Then disbelief.
Then something softer.
"Haru?"
Haru waved enthusiastically, unable to contain his smile now that he had finally seen him.
"I got back."
Raiven crossed the distance between them.
For a brief moment, it looked as though he might forget where they were.
Instead, he stopped just short of pulling Haru into a proper embrace.
They settled for a brief hug, careful of the people passing around them.
Raiven's hand lingered against Haru's back.
"You didn't tell me."
"I wanted to surprise you."
Raiven looked at him for several seconds.
"You did."
Haru smiled.
"When did you get here?"
"Just now."
Raiven glanced toward the taxi before looking back at him.
"You came straight here?"
"Of course."
There was something about Raiven's face that still bothered him.
Haru had seen him exhausted before.
He had seen him stressed.
He had seen him angry.
This was different.
But Haru pushed the thought aside.
He had just returned.
He didn't want their first proper moment together to become another conversation about worry.
Instead, he smiled brightly.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"I heard this hotel has a really good restaurant."
Raiven blinked.
"You want to eat here?"
"Yes."
Haru reached for his hand.
"We're already here."
Raiven looked down at their hands.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Then his fingers closed around Haru's.
"Alright."
Haru smiled and began leading him toward the entrance.
He talked about the trip as they walked.
He told Raiven about the fans at the airport, the event, the Chinese phrases he had learned, and the embarrassing moment when he had accidentally mispronounced something in front of an entire group of fans.
Raiven listened.
He even smiled at the right moments.
But Haru noticed something.
His smile never quite reached his eyes.
Haru glanced back at him.
Raiven was following quietly behind.
The hotel doors closed behind them.
And somewhere in the back of Haru's mind, the image of Chang-seo walking out of the same building refused to disappear.
He didn't ask.
Not yet.
For now, he simply tightened his grip around Raiven's hand and kept walking.
Whatever had happened here, Haru would find out.
But tonight, he wanted his boyfriend back.