Rin didn't sleep.
He couldn't. Not after what happened in the car—not after Than's hands had been on his skin, not after his mouth had traced slow fire down the column of Rin's throat. But even more than that, it was what Than had said when he pulled away, eyes wrecked with confusion and want:
"If I keep touching you, I won't stop. And you deserve better than that... not like this."
Rin had replayed those words like a scratched record. They were soft. Hesitant. Honest. And they scared him more than anything.
So by morning, he sat on the edge of the bed in silence, his arms loosely wrapped around his knees, staring at nothing while the rest of the city stretched itself into daylight.
Tessa had called three times. He didn't pick up.
Mai messaged once. Just a simple, "You okay? You can talk to me, idiot."That made him smile a little. He replied with a thumbs up.
Leo, however, knocked on the door at 10:00 sharp.
"Open up, I brought coffee and judgment," he said through the door.
Rin let him in.
Leo didn't say anything for the first few minutes. He just handed over a cup of warm cappuccino and sat down beside him on the couch.
"You look like you haven't slept."
"Didn't."
Leo took a slow sip of his drink. "You and Than..."
Rin closed his eyes. "It's a mess."
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "But it always has been, hasn't it? Even when you wouldn't admit it."
There was no venom in Leo's voice. Just observation. Like someone stating the sky was blue, or that fire burned.
Rin glanced sideways at his friend. "Are you mad at me? For not telling you everything?"
Leo huffed. "No. I'm mad at Than for being a manipulative bastard. But you? I'm just worried. And... maybe a little jealous that I don't have a love story chaotic enough to inspire a K-drama."
That made Rin snort. Leo grinned.
"Now talk to me. What happened?"
Rin told him—not everything, not the deeper parts about the guilt and desire and how Than's voice seemed to rewrite all the codes in his brain. But he told him enough. About the night in the office. About the car. About the way Than had almost broken.
"And now?"
"Now?" Rin leaned his head back. "Now it's more complicated than ever. Because for the first time, I think he wants more. And I don't know if I do. Or maybe I do. But I don't want to get destroyed in the process."
Leo was quiet for a long time. Then he asked, "What do you want, Rin? Without all the fears. Without thinking about Jin or the media or your past or his parents. Just... what do you want?"
Rin looked at him.
And for the first time, he said it out loud:
"I want him."
Meanwhile, Than was spiraling.
He hadn't been home. He hadn't gone to work. He had ignored five calls from his assistant, one from his mother, and exactly zero from Rin—because he hadn't expected any.
He was staying at a hotel, sprawled out on a bed that smelled like nothing and no one, trying to pretend the ghost of Rin's lips wasn't still stitched into his skin.
There was a knock.
"I said I don't want room service," he called out.
"Good," came a female voice. "Because I'm not delivering pancakes."
He sat up.
Than's younger sister, Tara, leaned against the doorframe with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow.
"You gonna let me in or keep brooding like a villain?"
He blinked. "How did you find me?"
"Mom. She said you weren't answering her, so she used that creepy tracker app she made you install."
Than groaned and stepped aside.
Tara walked in like she owned the place. She tossed her bag on the armchair and flopped onto the bed beside him.
"So. What's the damage?"
Than didn't answer right away. But after a long pause, he said, "I messed up."
"You always mess up. But this one feels different."
Than exhaled. "It is."
She waited.
"I almost crossed a line," he said. "And I think he knows it. And the worst part? I wanted to. I wanted to lose myself in him."
Tara was silent for a moment. Then she said, "You still love him."
It wasn't a question.
Than looked at the ceiling. "I never stopped."
Back at the apartment, Rin's phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He hesitated. Answered.
A deep, calm voice: "Rin Hoshino? This is Ares Liang. I think we should talk."
Rin froze. "How did you get this number?"
"Connections. Don't worry, I'm not stalking you. I just believe we have some... mutual interests. Especially regarding Than."
Rin's spine stiffened. "What the hell do you want?"
"Coffee. Tomorrow. No threats, no games. Just a chat."
"And if I say no?"
"Then I wait until you say yes. Because sooner or later, you'll want answers. About Than. About what he's hiding. And maybe... about how you fit into all of it."
Click.
Rin stared at the screen, heart hammering.
Leo leaned over his shoulder. "Who the hell was that?"
Rin whispered, "Trouble."