chapter 133
Chapter 132
The first thing Haru became aware of was the sunlight.
It was far too bright.
A narrow gap between the heavy blackout curtains had allowed a merciless blade of late-morning sunlight to slip into the bedroom, landing directly across his face.
Haru groaned and immediately buried his head deeper into the pillow.
His skull felt as though someone had spent the night hammering against it. Every heartbeat seemed to send another dull pulse through his temples, while his mouth was dry enough to make him question whether he had swallowed sand in his sleep.
He remembered drinking.
He remembered laughing.
He remembered celebrating.
Unfortunately, he remembered very little after that.
With a miserable sigh, he shifted beneath the blankets, intending to escape the sunlight altogether. Instead, he became aware of something else.
Warmth.
A heavy arm was draped across his torso, the palm resting comfortably against his ribs. The fingers moved lazily, tracing an absentminded path along his side.
Haru's shoulders immediately relaxed.
Haru let out another low groan, but this time, the tension drained from his shoulders. He instinctively leaned into the touch, letting the familiar warmth anchor him against the dizzying spin of his hangover
"What time is it?" he mumbled.
His voice came out rough and sleep-heavy. He didn't dare open his eyes, choosing instead to bask in the comfortable, heavy silence that always seemed to blanket the bedroom whenever they managed to catch a what was becoming a rare morning together.
Beside him, the mattress shifted.
The arm disappeared for a moment, and Haru instinctively frowned at the sudden absence of warmth. A few seconds later, the mattress dipped again as Raiven settled back beside him.
"Eleven."
Raiven's voice was quiet, still carrying the softness of sleep.
Haru's eyes remained closed.
"Eleven?"
"Mm."
"You should sleep more."
Raiven's arm slipped around his waist again, drawing him backward until Haru's back rested against his chest.
"Close your eyes."
The words were accompanied by a gentle kiss against the back of Haru's head.
For several seconds, Haru considered listening.
The bed was comfortable. The blankets were warm. Raiven's body was radiating heat behind him, and the steady rise and fall of his breathing made it dangerously easy to surrender to sleep again.
Then a thought struck him.
"What about you?"
"Hm?"
"Don't you have practice?"
Raiven was quiet.
Haru finally opened one eye.
"Your performance is coming up soon, isn't it?"
"I know."
"And?"
"I wanted to spend more time with you."
Haru stared at the ceiling.
That answer was so simple that he almost laughed.
"Suho is going to call."
"I'll deal with him."
"He's going to think I'm holding you hostage."
Raiven hummed.
"Let him."
Haru laughed softly.
"You're going to get me blamed for kidnapping your group's center."
"I think I'll survive."
Haru finally turned within the embrace.
The movement brought them face-to-face, their noses almost brushing. Raiven looked annoyingly comfortable for someone who should have been preparing for a performance. Haru smiled sheepishly, his eyes finally cracking open to look into Raiven's dark, affectionate gaze. Endeared by the sheer fondness looking back at him, Haru lazily threw his leg over Raiven's hips
His dark eyes were soft, the corners of his mouth lifting when he saw Haru looking at him.
Haru studied him for a moment before resting his head against Raiven's shoulder.
"I can't believe you're this relaxed."
"I already know most of the choreography."
There was a faint trace of arrogance in Raiven's voice.
Haru lifted his head.
"Are you bragging?"
"Maybe."
"To me?"
"Especially to you."
Haru stared at him incredulously.
"While I'm hungover?"
Raiven laughed.
The sound was deep and warm, vibrating through the small space between them.
Haru couldn't maintain his annoyance for long.
He smiled.
For a while, neither of them said anything.
The world outside could wait.
There were managers and schedules and rehearsals and cameras waiting for both of them. Haru had learned that their lives now rarely allowed them uninterrupted time together. Even when they were in the same city, their schedules often pulled them in opposite directions.
So moments like this were rare.
And perhaps that was why Haru found himself reluctant to leave the bed.
Raiven leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
Haru returned it without hesitation.
The kiss was meant to be brief, a simple greeting to start the day, but as their lips met, the gravity of their shared space pulled them in deeper. They kissed for a long, unhurried while, their movements slow and heavy with residual sleep, before finally breaking apart just enough to rest their foreheads together, breathing in sync.
Just the two of them sharing a quiet morning.
Haru exhaled.
"You really do have to leave."
Raiven sighed.
"I know."
"I don't want Manager Kim calling me."
"Why you?"
"Because somehow I always end up involved in your excuses."
Raiven smiled.
"That's because you make them believable."
"Exactly. Which means I have responsibilities."
Haru pushed himself upright.
The room immediately tilted.
He stopped.
Closed his eyes.
Then slowly lowered himself back down.
Raiven watched him.
"Are you all right?"
"Perfectly."
"You look like you're dying."
"I'm experiencing a minor inconvenience."
"A minor inconvenience?"
"My head feels like it's splitting open."
Raiven tried not to laugh.
Haru narrowed his eyes.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything."
"You were thinking it."
"I wasn't."
"You were."
Raiven smiled.
Haru sighed and eventually forced himself out of bed.
If he stayed there any longer, he knew he would fall asleep again.
Besides, Raiven really did need to get ready.
"You have ten minutes," Haru announced.
"Ten?"
"To get out of bed."
Raiven didn't move.
Haru stared at him.
"Jae-wook."
Nothing.
Haru placed both feet against Raiven's side and pushed.
Raiven barely moved.
Haru frowned.
He tried again.
Nothing.
"You are unbelievably heavy."
"You knew that."
Haru grunted and pushed harder.
Raiven laughed as Haru attempted to shove him toward the edge of the mattress. It was an ungraceful, chaotic struggle, resembling a scene from a Saturday morning cartoon as Haru grunted and strained against Raiven's deadweight.
Eventually, Haru succeeded enough to send Raiven's feet onto the floor.
He celebrated far too early.
Raiven immediately caught him around the waist and pulled him back.
Haru yelped as they tumbled onto the bed.
"Cheater!"
"You started it."
"I was trying to get you to practice!"
"And I was trying to stay in bed."
Raiven pinned him beneath him for only a moment before releasing him, laughing at the indignant expression on Haru's face.
Then his expression softened.
He looked down at Haru for several seconds.
"Congratulations, my love."
The weight of the words, combined with the intense gravity in Raiven's eyes, was overwhelming.
Haru's expression immediately changed. The teasing disappeared. His ears warmed.
He looked away.
"Don't."
Raiven smiled.
"Why?"
"You know why."
"You don't like me calling you that?"
Haru stubbornly stared at the ceiling.
"I didn't say that."
"Then why are you embarrassed?"
"I'm not."
Raiven's smile widened.
Haru could feel his cheeks heating.
"It's warm."
"Of course."
"It is."
Before Haru could protest, Raiven leaned down and lightly bit the shell of Haru's reddened ear. The sharp, playful sensation sent a jolt straight down Haru's spine.
Haru immediately pushed him away.
"That's enough."
"Okay."
"You have to get ready."
"All right."
"And don't make me regret letting you stay."
Raiven laughed.
Haru escaped before he could be pulled back into another embrace.
He headed toward the kitchen.
Three seconds later, heavy footsteps followed.
Before Haru could even reach the refrigerator, familiar arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
Raiven rested his chin on Haru's shoulder.
"I said I would behave."
Haru tried very hard not to smile.
" I don't believe you for a second. like right now."
"And I've been behaving."
"You've been following me."
"That's different."
Haru turned within his arms.
Raiven looked completely unapologetic.
Haru raised an eyebrow.
"You really don't want to leave."
"No."
"You're an idol."
"I know."
"You have a comeback."
"I know."
"You're impossible.I know you. You will get in the shower, you will look at me, you will want more, and I am already too tired to stand upright," Haru pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
Raiven scoffed, a dramatic roll of his eyes accompanying the sound. "Anyone who hears you talk like that will think I am some kind of untrained dog."
"Well, you basically are one, considering the way you always want to fuck me up!" Haru retorted, a wicked grin flashing on his face.
Raiven gasped, his chest puffing out in mock outrage. "I pr—"
Haru sighed.
"Go shower."
Raiven's expression brightened.
"Are you joining me?"
"No."
The disappointment on his face was immediate.
Haru laughed.
"I'll make breakfast."
That finally got his attention.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Raiven reluctantly released him.
Raiven looked at the tempting offer, his eyes darting from Haru's face to the clean kitchen counters, before finally resigning to his fate. He knew Haru was right. Haru had been so drowning in work, promotional schedules, and awards season prep that they hadn't shared a proper, sit-down meal together in what felt like absolute eons. The prospect of Haru cooking for him won over his baseline desires. He nodded reluctantly, letting out a dramatic sigh as Haru playfully swatted his backside and pushed him toward the bathroom.
"Go."
"Fine."
As Raiven disappeared down the hallway, Haru turned toward the kitchen.
Cooking was oddly therapeutic.
The familiar routine gave him something to focus on besides his headache. He moved around the kitchen preparing breakfast while the apartment slowly filled with the smell of food.
By the time Raiven returned, Haru had already arranged everything on the dining table.
Raiven emerged with damp hair and dressed in an oversized grey tracksuit, looking considerably more like an off-duty idol than the man who had been clinging to Haru moments earlier.
Haru had stolen one of Raiven's pairs of black sweatpants. They were large, just the perfect size for him.
Raiven looked him over at harus exposed chest as he sat down. He reached out and took a fluffy pancake from the platter.
"You still work out?"
Haru paused.
"Are you seriously asking me that?"
Raiven shrugged.
Haru cocked his head to the side, a piece of fruit paused halfway to his mouth. "All the times you fuck me, you didn't notice?"
Raiven swallowed, a shameless, wicked smirk returning to his face. "Well, I was a little preoccupied with other things during those times."
Haru rolled his eyes.
"Of course you were." Haru let out a dry chuckle. "Well, I have to stay ripped just to handle how big you are."
"Thank you for the compliment," Raiven beamed, entirely pleased with himself.Haru rolled his eyes affectionately as he ate a forkful of his fruit salad.
He picked up another bowl and pushed it across the table toward him.
"This is for you."
Raiven looked down.
A carefully prepared high-protein meal sat in front of him.
His expression softened.
"You made this specifically for me?"
"You have dietary restrictions. Someone has to think about them."
Raiven smiled.
"Thank you."
Haru waved him off.
"Eat."
For a while, breakfast was peaceful.
They talked about the award ceremony, the people Haru had met, and the upcoming release of his film.
"Your movie comes out Friday, right?" Raiven asked.
"Yes."
"Are you nervous?"
"A little."
Haru considered the question.
"I'm more excited than nervous, though. I really liked working on it."
"You looked good in the trailer."
"thank you" a small blush appeared "It's honestly become a personal favorite of mine. The script was challenging, but the final cut is something I'm really proud of."
Raiven smiled.
"The acting was good too."
Haru gave him a skeptical look.
"You're biased."
"That doesn't mean I'm wrong."
Haru laughed quietly.
The conversation continued until Raiven suddenly placed his fork down.
His entire demeanor changed.
He straightened in his chair.
Haru noticed immediately.
"What?"
Raiven cleared his throat.
"Mr. Haru."
Haru blinked.
"Why are you talking like that?"
Raiven looked unusually serious.
"Would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"
Haru stared at him.
For a second, he wondered whether Raiven was joking.
Then he noticed the slight tension in his hands.
He wasn't.
Haru stared at him for a beat before a soft laugh escaped him. "I am your boyfriend already, Jae-wook. I think we can move past the old-fashioned formalities."
"Because we haven't actually gone on a proper date in months."
That wiped the teasing expression from Haru's face.
Raiven leaned forward slightly.
Their schedules had become relentless.
Haru's filming, promotions, interviews, and award schedules had collided with Raiven's rehearsals, recordings, appearances, and comeback preparations.
Whenever they managed to find time together, it was usually at home.
A few stolen hours.
A late dinner.
A quiet night before one of them had to leave again.
They had been together.
But they hadn't really had time to simply be together.
"I want to take you somewhere nice," Raiven continued. "I would really like to spoil you, especially after you just won a major award last night. You deserve to be celebrated properly."
Haru listened quietly.
"I want to buy you dinner. I want to sit across from you and talk without checking the time every ten minutes."
His smile softened.
Haru looked down at their hands.
There was something unexpectedly vulnerable about the request.
Raiven wasn't asking for anything extravagant.
He simply wanted time.
Time with him.
Besides... lately, it feels like all we do is hook up in secret whenever our schedules overlap for an hour, and then you have to leave immediately."
Haru watched him, the teasing light dying out of his eyes as he realized the genuine vulnerability behind Raiven's words. It was true. Their lives were a chaotic mess so much so their intimacy had become restricted to stolen hours in the dark.
"I thought that was your favorite part," Haru said softly, a gentle, understanding smile touching his lips.
"It definitely is a great part," Raiven admitted, a small smile breaking through his serious facade, "but I want more than just that. "
Haru reached across the table and placed his hand over Raiven's.
Raiven smiled.
Haru squeezed his hand.
"Yes."
Raiven's eyes brightened.
"Yes?"
"Yes, Mr. Park Jae-wook."
Haru smiled warmly.
"I'd love to go on a date with you."
For a moment, Raiven simply looked at him.
Then his fingers closed around Haru's hand.
"Good."
Haru laughed.
"That's all you have to say?"
"I'm trying not to look too excited."
"You're failing."
"I don't care."
Haru shook his head, smiling.