The morning sunlight spilled across the film set, warm and golden, catching on cables, props, and the excited chatter of students preparing for the day's shoot. Ren adjusted the camera lens, humming to himself, finally relaxed after the chaos of the past days. His powers were stable, his mind calmer.
But the moment he felt a familiar presence approaching—
His heart stuttered.
Harit. He walked toward Ren with a quiet determination, his hair slightly messy, his shirt not fully tucked in, and a soft frown of worry on his face. Harit, the usually perfect, polished, proud heir… looked almost *clumsy* in the way he approached, the concern in his eyes so obvious it was almost embarrassing.
Ren blinked. "Harit?"
Harit stopped right in front of him, voice low, rougher than usual.
"Are you okay? Noah told me you collapsed again last night. You scared me."
Ren smiled gently. "I'm fine now."
But Harit didn't look convinced—not at all.
He reached out, touched Ren's cheek with a hesitant hand.
"Don't say 'fine' when you were gone for hours," Harit muttered, gaze soft but trembling at the edges. "I thought— I was afraid something would take you away from me again."
Ren froze for a heartbeat.
The honesty in Harit's voice—it wasn't something he heard often.
Possessive, protective, raw.
Ren felt heat rise to his cheeks.
"Harit… I'm still here."
Harit exhaled shakily, his shoulders dropping in relief.
Then—He stepped a little closer.Too close.
Ren's breath hitched.
"You don't know what you do to me," Harit whispered. "I can't… I can't stop thinking about you."
Ren softly laughed—barely a sound, more like a breath escaping his lips.
Harit blinked. "What?"
Ren shook his head, smile small but bright.
"You're so bad at hiding your feelings. It's… cute."
Harit's ears turned red instantly.
"Cute?" he repeated, offended.
Ren nodded, teasing. "Very cute."
Harit looked away with a groan. "Don't call me cute."
Ren's laughter grew slightly louder, and Harit's heart melted at the sound.
Ren's laugh—soft, warm, genuine—made his entire day brighten.
Harit couldn't stop the tiny smile that appeared, no matter how hard he tried.
---
Khem Watches Quietly
Khem stood at a distance, holding a coffee cup meant for Ren.
He stopped mid-step when he saw the two of them—Harit leaning close, Ren smiling, their energy wrapped tightly around each other.
His chest tightened painfully.
Ren didn't look at him with the same warmth.
Ren's eyes… chose Harit without hesitation.
Khem lowered his head.
*So this is how it is.*
He exhaled slowly, forcing a small, sad smile.
"If Ren is happy… then I can accept it," he whispered to himself.
He placed the coffee on a nearby table and quietly walked away.
---
The Secret Kiss
Harit leaned in closer again, as if drawn by a magnet he couldn't resist.
"Ren," he whispered. "Don't leave me alone like that ever again."
Ren felt his pulse jump.
He swallowed softly. "I didn't mean to… my powers—"
"I don't care about your powers. I care about you," Harit cut in sharply, his voice trembling with sincerity he never showed anyone else.
Ren's breath caught.
Harit took Ren's wrist gently, thumb brushing over his skin.
His possessiveness wasn't harsh—it was protective, desperate, soft.
"Harit…" Ren whispered.
"Just for a second," Harit murmured.
He leaned in.
Ren's heart hammered.
Their lips were inches apart—
He didn't know who moved first.
Maybe both of them.
But their lips met—brief, soft, and impossibly warm.
A stolen kiss.
Not for anyone else.
Not for the world.
Just the two of them.
Harit's hand trembled slightly against Ren's cheek.
Ren's fingers curled in Harit's sleeve.
It lasted just a moment—
But it was enough to shake them both.
When they parted, Ren's face was flushed.
Harit whispered, breathless,
"I've wanted to do that for a long time."
Ren didn't trust his voice, so he only nodded.
---
Jun Sees Everything
Across the field—behind a lighting truck—
Jun froze.
His eyes widened, face twisting into shock…
and then fury.
He had come to check Ren's set, to make sure Ren wasn't stealing Harit from him—
But now…
The truth punched him in the chest.
Harit wasn't just protective of Ren.
Harit *loved* him.
And Ren kissed him back.
Jun's fingers trembled around the archery glove still on his hand.
Lucas stood beside him, watching quietly.
"That's why he doesn't look at you anymore," Lucas said softly.
"He's already chosen."
Jun's throat tightened in rage.
No.
No.
NO.
His voice cracked.
"How— How can Harit kiss *him*?"
His voice rose in anger. "He kissed *Ren* but he never—he never let me—!"
Lucas didn't respond.
Jun stepped back, chest heaving, eyes burning with hatred and betrayal.
"I won't let this happen," he whispered.
"I won't let Ren take Harit away from me."
His anger sharpened into something far darker.
The storm inside Jun finally broke.
---