Chapter 27
Haru sat in the corner of the café, his fingers wrapped around a warm cup as he gazed out the window. He watched the city move,some people strolling casually, others rushing with faces etched in deep-seated worry. The modern world, as he was beginning to learn, felt strangely heavy, almost depressing. He was constantly surprised that people hadn't fallen into a state of total burnout from the sheer pace of it all.
He let out a soft sigh, his attention catching on a motorcycle that roared to a stop outside. He watched as the rider killed the engine and pulled off a sleek helmet. It was Hae-rin. She truly is badass, he thought with a flicker of admiration. It was no wonder Raiven kept her close; she had a grounded strength that was rare.
Hae-rin spotted him through the glass and offered a sharp, knowing smile. She headed to the counter first to place her order before weaving through the tables to join him.
"Hey!" she said, settling into the chair opposite him and resting her helmet on the seat beside her.
"Hello," he replied, a bit more reserved than usual.
An awkward silence settled between them for a few beats. Haru didn't know where he stood with her, especially after the explosion at Raiven's apartment. He'd spent the last few days trying to breathe, trying to draft texts to Raiven that he never actually sent. He was angry and disappointed, yes, but he was also scared. He was afraid that if he pushed too hard,if he tried to force his way past Raiven's walls,then he would simply retreat to a place where Haru could never find him again.
"So," Hae-rin broke the silence, "you got a role?"
"Yeah. It's a supporting role," he said, biting his lip.
"It's a huge deal," she countered. She reached into her pocket and slid a small, elegantly wrapped box toward him. "A small gift for the casting."
Haru was taken aback. In a box that size, most people in the industry expected jewelry or expensive trinkets. He opened it slowly.
Inside was a single, high-end ticket.
"What's this?"
"A free meal ticket for a luxury restaurant," she said with a grin. "For when you finally have your first cast gathering. You'll need it to impress them."
Haru smiled, tucked the ticket back into the box, and slipped it into his pocket. "Thank you."
"You didn't order any cake?" she noted, glancing at his lone coffee.
"Umm... I'm not really—"
"It's my treat. What's your favorite flavor?" She didn't wait for an answer before flagging down a waiter.
"It's really not necessary—"
"My treat," she repeated, her voice turning firm in a way that reminded him of a stern younger sister.
"Vanilla, I guess," he said with a shrug.
She ordered a slice of vanilla bean cake for the table and a whole one to be packed up for him to take home. Haru tried to protest, but she was adamant. He eventually gave in, thinking Se-hee would probably lose her mind over a cake this expensive.
"Actually," Hae-rin said, her voice dropping an octave as she avoided eye contact, "that's not the only reason I wanted to meet you. It's about Raiven."
Haru's posture stiffened instantly. His grip on his coffee cup tightened. "Did something happen?"
"He's fine," she reassured him quickly.
"Physically, anyway."
Haru let out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding. "Then what's wrong?"
"Did you two fight?"
"yes," he confessed, looking away at the passing traffic. "He... he said I used him."
Hae-rin swallowed hard. She wasn't surprised. Raiven tended to explode when he felt something unfamiliar,and what he was feeling for Haru was definitely unfamiliar. At their dinner, she had seen a side of Raiven that was lively and light. Having a friend like Haru was the best thing that had happened to him in years, but Raiven was a master at self-sabotage.
"Look, Haru," she said, her voice careful. "I can't apologize for him,that's his responsibility, but please don't hold it against him."
"I'm not," Haru said, but the smile he gave her was hollow. It didn't reach his eyes.
"He's incredibly stubborn, and he blurts out things he doesn't mean when he's cornered," she reasoned.
"Then why doesn't he tell me himself?" Haru asked, a trace of bluntness lacing his words.
"There's a lot that has happened to him... things I don't have the right to tell you. Please," she implored, searching his face, "just give him another chance."
Haru let out a long, weary sigh. He thought of Raiven's lonely apartment "I haven't given up on him. I just... I needed some space to think."
Hae-rin's face brightened with genuine relief. Her phone buzzed on the table, and she glanced at it before looking back at Haru.
"If you'd like to see him, a friend of mine is hosting a party tonight. You should drop in."
Haru frowned. "Does he really love parties that much?"
"Not the parties themselves," she said, a hint of sadness touching her expression as she stood up to leave. "But he likes the perks that come with them."
She grabbed her helmet. "I can come pick you up at eleven."
"Sure," Haru said.
He watched her pay the bill and walk out to her bike. As the engine roared to life and she sped away, Haru sat in the quiet of the café, the weight of the upcoming night settling on his shoulders.
He was going to see Raiven again. And this time, he wasn't going to let him hide behind his masks.