Chapter 129
The slick, sleek black sedan pulled up smoothly against the curb just outside the bustle of the filming location, idling silently against the backdrop of Seoul's afternoon traffic. Haru reached for his seatbelt buckle, but before he could unlatch it, he turned to the man in the driver's seat with an exasperated sigh.
"You really don't need to come back to pick me up, Jae-wook," Haru insisted, leaning over to trace the line of Raiven's jawline. "The shoot is going to run late, the crew is going to be moving everywhere, and the last thing I want is for you to be sitting for hours waiting on me. Alice can easily take me back."
Raiven didn't budge. He kept one hand firmly on the steering wheel, his dark eyes fixing Haru with an uncompromising, ironclad resolve. "I'm picking you up."
"Jae-wook, be reasonable, "
"I am being reasonable," Raiven interrupted smoothly, a faint, stubborn smirk playing at the edge of his lips. He reached over, catching Haru's hand and bringing it to his lips to press a warm, lingering kiss against his knuckles. "I spent the entire morning letting you take care of me. The least I can do is make sure my boyfriend gets home safely after a long day on set. Text me thirty minutes before you wrapped. I'll be waiting."
Haru looked at him, trying his absolute best to maintain a stern face, but the sheer devotion burning in Raiven's eyes dissolved his resolve instantly. He let out a breathless laugh, shaking his head. "You are unbelievably headstrong when you want to be."
"Only when it comes to you," Raiven replied softly.
With a final, lingering look and a soft warning not to push his body too hard, Haru finally unbuckled, grabbed his jacket, and slipped out of the car. He watched as Raiven's car drove off before turning around to face the organized chaos of the production set.
The transition from Vietnam to Korea had been seamless, yet the energy on set today was palpably electric.
In Vietnam, the production had captured the sprawling, breathtaking outdoor sequences, the cinematic grandeur, the dramatic chases, and the raw, unrefined emotional peaks of the storyline. Korea, by contrast, represented the after. The scenes scheduled for today were designed to tie up the loose ends, wrapping up character arcs and securing the tender, intimate closing beats of the project.
Haru stepped into the hair and makeup trailer, stepping right into the rhythmic, well-oiled routine of the crew. Stylists hovered around him with brushes and hairspray, wardrobe assistants checked the crisp lining of his tailored suit, and light directors popped in to confirm blocking.
Despite the residual fatigue clinging to his bones from the night before, the moment the director called "Action," Haru flipped the switch. The hangover vanished, replaced by the razor-sharp focus of an artist wholly consumed by his craft. Every subtle shift in expression was delivered with chilling accuracy, and the dialogue flowed with an effortless, natural rhythm.
During a brief mid-afternoon break between scene setups, Haru was sitting in his collapsible chair while a makeup artist touched up the foundation along his nose. Across the room, his manager, Alice, was staring intensely at her tablet screen. Suddenly, her eyes widened, her hands froze, and a sharp, audible gasp escaped her lips.
"Haru," Alice breathed out, her voice trembling slightly as she looked up.
Haru glanced over, wincing slightly as the makeup artist stepped back. "What's wrong? Did the schedule get pushed back?"
"No," Alice said, her voice rising an octave, a massive, uncontainable grin suddenly breaking across her face. "The official shortlist for the Korea Arts & Entertainment Year-End Awards just dropped."
The trailer went completely still. Even the stylist holding a hairdryer paused.
"And?" Haru asked, his heart abruptly pounding against his ribs.
"You've been nominated," Alice practically shrieked, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she held the tablet out toward him. "Haru, you made the cut! You're officially nominated for Rookie of the Year!"
For a second, the words didn't compute. Haru stared at the bold print on the screen, his name sitting comfortably alongside established industry prodigies and breakout stars. Rookie of the Year. The most prestigious nod a rising actor could dream of a validation that his performance wasn't just a fluke of good casting, but a testament to sheer talent.
Before he could even fully process the sight, the door to the trailer burst open.
"Is it true?!"
It was Jane, his co-star, still clad in her elaborate costume drama gown, her face lit up with unbridled joy. Behind her, the director, the chief cinematographer, and half the floor crew came cascading into the narrow space.
Jane squealed, throwing her arms around Haru's neck without an ounce of caution for her meticulously styled hair. "I told you! I told you your performance was going to turn heads! Congratulations, Haru!"
"Congratulations, Haru!"
The chorus of cheers echoed through the trailer, instantly spilling out into the main studio floor. Cast members, lighting technicians, sound engineers, and production assistants rushed over, clapping him on the back, offering firm handshakes, and filling the air with high-pitched applause.
"Drinks are on the production company tonight!" the director shouted over the noise, beaming at Haru like a proud father. "Though considering our tight schedule, maybe we save the heavy drinking for after wrap! Outstanding work, Haru. This nomination is thoroughly deserved."
Haru stood in the center of the whirlwind, bowing repeatedly, his face flushed with deep gratitude. "Thank you, everyone. Thank you so much! "
Amidst the roaring congratulations, Alice thrust his phone into his hand. It was vibrating continuously, lighting up with a barrage of notifications, calls, and messages from the various people. But three specific interactions took center stage.
The first was an official video call from Maerin, she appeared on screen, practically glowing with pride, praising Haru's dedication and assuring him that the entire company was already mobilizing a promotional campaign to support his nomination.
The moment that call ended, another line rang through immediately—it was Se-hee.
"ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!" Se-hee's voice blasted through the phone speaker so loudly that Haru had to pull the device three inches away from his ear. "MY BEST FRIEND IS A NOMINEE! CAN SOMEONE GET THE CAMERA ON ME? I KNEW HIM BEFORE HE WAS FAMOUS!"
Haru laughed out loud, leaning back against the makeup counter. "Se-hee, breathe. It's just a nomination."
"'Just a nomination'?! Are you out of your mind?!" Se-hee practically screamed from the other end. "Do you have any idea how hard it is to get on that list especially this year?! You're competing against actors who have been training since they were twelve! I'm literally screaming in the middle of a coffee shop right now, people are staring at me, and I DO NOT CARE! You better buy me a five-course meal to celebrate when you get back!"
"Deal, deal," Haru grinned, warmth flooding his chest. "I'll buy you whatever you want."
"You'd better! Oh my god, Haru, I'm so proud of you. Seriously. You worked so hard for this."
Before he could even finish talking to Se-hee, a second call beeped through—it was Hae-rin.
Switching lines, Haru barely had time to say hello before Hae-rin's soft, emotional voice came through the speaker. "Haru... I just saw the news."
"congratulations!"
"Thank you, Hae-rin," Haru said softly, his voice thick with genuine emotion.
she told him warmly. "You earned every single bit of this recognition. We're going to be watching the awards ceremony together, screaming your name from the living room!"
By the time he ended the calls, Haru's heart was bursting. The evening flew by in a blur of heightened energy. Driven by the celebratory mood, the cast and crew operated at peak efficiency, slamming through the remaining scenes with enthusiasm, by 12 o'clock, the director officially called a wrap for the day.
When Haru walked out of the venue's rear entrance, slipping through the cool night air toward the parking bay, he spotted the familiar black sedan waiting precisely where Raiven had said it would be.
Haru opened the passenger door and slid into the warm, leather-scented interior.
Raiven was turning off the dashboard lights as Haru got in. As soon as the door clicked shut, Raiven turned to him. A soft, devastatingly handsome smile was playing on his lips, his eyes lit with a quiet, intense pride that immediately made Haru's stomach do flips.
"Look at you," Raiven said, his voice smooth and low. "The country's newest award nominee."
Haru let out a tired but radiant laugh. "Word travels fast."
"Alice sent me a message the second the list went live," Raiven admitted smoothly.
Because they were still parked in a semi-public area outside the studio, they couldn't indulge in anything too reckless. Instead, Raiven reached over, pulling Haru into a light, tender hug. He wrapped his arms around Haru's shoulders, burying his face briefly into the crook of Haru's neck, holding him close enough for Haru to feel the steady, reassuring thud of his heart.
"Congratulations, my love," Raiven whispered against his skin.
Haru melted into the embrace, resting his chin on Raiven's shoulder and inhaling his familiar, comforting scent of sandalwood and rain.
"Thank you, Jae-wook."
The drive back to Raiven's private luxury apartment was quiet and peaceful. The chaotic noise of the set melted away, replaced by the low hum of the car engine and the soft music playing through the speakers. Haru rested his head against the window, watching Seoul blur past, feeling a profound sense of contentment settle into his bones.
When they finally arrived at the apartment complex and rode the private elevator up to the top floor, Haru was practically dragging his feet with exhaustion.
Raiven unlocked the front door and stepped aside, gesturing for Haru to enter first.
Haru stepped over the threshold and froze dead in his tracks.
The wide, modern entryway was transformed. Set atop the marble console table, cascading down in an opulent, breathtaking display, was an impossibly massive bouquet of 999 fresh flowers. Deep red roses, pristine white lilies, delicate baby's breath, and soft pastel peonies were arranged in a towering, masterfully crafted arrangement that filled the entire hallway with a rich, heavenly fragrance.
Haru stared at the floral masterpiece, his jaw slightly slack. He had received fan bouquets before, sure, but he had never seen an arrangement this large, this lush, or this stunning in his entire life.
"Jae-wook..." Haru breathed, walking slowly toward the table, his fingers gently brushing against the soft velvet petals of a dark red rose.
"What... what is all this?"
Raiven closed the front door behind them, walking up behind Haru with a cool, nonchalant posture, though the fondness in his expression gave him away completely.
"It's a bouquet," Raiven said simply.
Haru turned around, looking at him with wide, incredulous eyes. "A bouquet? Jae-wook, this looks like an entire botanical garden! It's huge! I've never received so many flowers in my life!"
A bright, happy laugh escaped Haru's lips as he looked back at the breathtaking arrangement. "You really didn't have to do all this."
Raiven stepped closer, closing the distance between them until he was standing directly behind Haru.
"I did have to," Raiven murmured, his tone layered with a fierce, quiet devotion. "If I didn't spoil you on a day like today, I wouldn't be doing my job as a good boyfriend, would I?"
Haru turned his head slightly, a teasing, playful glint entering his eyes as he looked up at the man standing beside him.
"Jae-wook," Haru joked softly, leaning back against Raiven's chest. "If you're giving me a flower arrangement the size of a small tree just for a nomination... I honestly can't even begin to imagine what you're going to do if I actually win the award."
Raiven let out a low, rumbling chuckle that vibrated right through Haru's back. He wrapped both arms around Haru's waist, pulling him back tightly against his chest, locking him into a warm, protective embrace.
Slowly, tenderly, Raiven leaned down. His lips brushed softly against the side of Haru's neck, pressing a warm, deliberate peck right over his pulse point.
"If you win," Raiven whispered into his skin, his voice thick with unshakeable conviction, "I'll buy you the entire flower shop. I'll buy you whatever you want. Because there isn't a single reward in this world that is too grand for you."
Raiven rested his chin on Haru's shoulder, his arms tightening affectionately around his waist.
"I am so proud of you, Haru," Raiven murmured softly into the quiet room. "So proud."
Haru felt a wave of absolute warmth wash over him, melting away every last drop of stress, doubt, and fatigue from the past few days. He smiled softly, closing his eyes, and leaned fully back into the strength of Raiven's embrace, letting himself be held.