"Time may linger cruelly, yet the moments we reclaim—
Define us more than the ones we lose."
—Kao Neptune
"Too long..."
"How have you been?"
Nil only stared. He had sworn that if Stranger ever appeared again, he would not speak, nor listen. Yet now, with Kao before him, his eyes refused to look away.
"Nil, you look pale. Have you been skipping meals?"
A silence stretched before Nil's lips curved into a sharp smile. "So, Stranger finally returns. Do you know how many days it's been? I counted. Then I lost track. Then I started again."
Kao sat back against the pastel balcony chair of the Ritz, porcelain coffee cup in hand, the wide Parisian skyline reflected in his dark eyes. His voice dropped, soft as dusk. "Sorry..."
Nil's laugh rang bitter, sharp as glass. "Sorry now? That's all? Not even a—' sorry for leaving you alone, Nil, I missed you every moment'? Hm?"
Kao leaned closer to the screen, the faintest shadow of a smile at the corner of his lips. "...Missed you. Every moment."
Nil faltered, then quickly masked it with a grin. "Ah, Stranger, you do know how to speak sweetly. You should practice more."
He added with forced lightness, "So, how's your trip going? Sleeping well? Eating on time?"
Kao set the coffee aside, rose, and carried the laptop inside. He placed it on the bedside table, fingers moving calmly to his shirt buttons. "The trip is going fine. I've been sleeping enough. And no, Nil, I haven't forgotten to eat."
Nil froze. "Stranger, what are you doing—"
Kao slid the loose white shirt from his shoulders, his tone flat, almost careless. "Changing. There's a meeting."
Nil's teeth clenched. "Stranger! Do you realize how cruel you are? Four days I haven't seen you—not even a glimpse—and another ten I won't get to see you at all. And now, the first thing you do is strip in front of me over a call! What am I supposed to do? Just sit here, helpless, while you tease me like this?!"
Kao's gaze did not waver. "I am not cruel. You're watching willingly."
Nil snapped back, "Willingly?! Who would willingly watch you undress like that?!"
A knock came at Nil's greenroom door. "Nil, sir, the set is ready. Kim sir asks you to come."
"Coming," Nil called back, his voice tight.
Another knock echoed through Kao's suite. "Sir, your car is prepared."
Their eyes met again across the screen.
"Stranger... eat well, sleep properly. And call me at least twice a day."
Kao's lips curved faintly. "I will. Take care of yourself."
Nil softened. "Mn. And don't forget to capture beautiful things for me."
Kao inclined his head, silent and steady.
After a while, Nil stepped onto the set. Light. Camera. Action. The lights fell upon him like shards of glass, illuminating every line, every flicker of thought across his face.
Far away, Kao's car moved through Paris, the wind brushing cobblestone alleys and tree-lined avenues, past elegant Haussmannian buildings and bustling cafés.
One week and four days had already passed.
"He says, 'I will return soon.' Yet what is 'soon'? When nights stretch endlessly and each breath aches, even a single day feels unbearable. By the time he comes back, my heart will have died a hundred times."
Nil's fingers traced a line across the calendar, marking the days with careful precision. "Only three more remain." A brief, crooked grin tugged at his lips.
This week had been relentless. Long hours on set, Thai lessons in the evenings, dance classes whenever he could spare a moment. Achara, meanwhile, had taken to wandering the city for shopping, and sometimes Nil found solitude in the quiet corners of cafés, nursing a cup of coffee as the hours slipped by.
Far away, Kao had crossed continents—France, New York, Japan, and Italy—and now he was in Seoul, his thoughts consumed by reaching Nil as soon as possible.
On the fourth day of the second week, Nil sat in a cab, city lights flickering along Silom Road. When the car passed the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, a sudden riot of color and intricate statues against the fading gold sky caught his attention. Without a second thought, he signaled the driver to halt.
Stepping onto the pavement, he adjusted the black cap on his head and pulled a mask over his face. The temple stalls overflowed with flowers, garlands, and offerings. Nil selected a brass plate, arranging a coconut, a scarlet hibiscus, a few fruits, and incense sticks upon it, then approached the main entrance.
The moment he crossed the threshold, a burst of color and light enveloped him. Garlands swayed gently, their scent mingling with curling wisps of incense smoke. Golden ornaments shimmered under flickering lamps, and devotees moved with hushed reverence.
Drawn inexorably toward the radiant shrine of Goddess Mariamman at the center, Nil murmured under his breath, "Why on earth have I never come here before?"
He stood before the deity, regal and serene, adorned in golden ornaments and vibrant silk. Her dark eyes were calm, watchful, as curling incense smoke drifted around her like quiet whispers.
Nil handed the brass plate to the priest.
"With whom would you like to dedicate this offering?" the priest asked.
A faint smile curved his lips. "Stranger."
The priest raised an eyebrow. "What kind of name is this? Are you certain?"
He nodded once. "Mn..."
After the veneration, the priest marked his forehead with a red dot. "May Goddess Mariamman bless you."
Folding to his knees, forehead touching the cool floor, he murmured his prayer. "Ma... watch over my family... and may Stranger complete his work and return safely."
He stepped out of the temple.
As he paused beside his cab, a black vehicle drew up silently at the curb. Before he could react, the rear door swung open, and a large hand clamped over his mouth from behind.
"Mpph—"
He was yanked forcefully inside. Kicking, struggling, he spat words that barely formed, "L-leave me—!"
A crisp white handkerchief pressed against his nose, and darkness claimed him.
On the other side of the world, Seoul.
A sleek high-rise conference room gleamed under the afternoon sun. At the table of BlueLine Entertainment, co-founders Lee Joon-ho and Park Min-seo were accompanied by Choi Hye-jin, their trusted aide, taking notes and observing every detail. Across from them, Kao sat with his lieutenants, Krit and Niran.
Lee Joon-ho and Park Min-seo sat with Choi Hye-jin beside them, poised and attentive. Across the table, Kao leaned back slightly, Krit and Niran beside him, silent and observant. Every gesture carried weight; familiarity softened the tension.
Lee Joon-ho began, "Kao, Neptune's growth in Southeast Asia is undeniable. But Japan, China, and Western markets—emerging competitors make strongholds harder to maintain."
Kao's gaze was steady, voice calm and measured. "Indeed. Markets are no longer centralized but fluid. Strength comes from understanding, not force. Each region has its rhythm; respect is offered where needed, leadership asserted where strategic. Neptune shapes trends, rather than chasing them."
Park Min-seo added, "Resource allocation across regions is increasingly complex yet essential."
Kao inclined his head slightly. "Complexity is guided by clarity. Talent and execution remain central. Branding is precise, partnerships deliberate. Expansion follows readiness, not ambition, ensuring impact is meaningful and sustained."
Choi Hye-jin spoke, "And cultural initiatives?"
Kao's tone softened, deliberate. "Support is strategic, identity preserved. By honoring local traditions and contributing purposefully, Neptune harmonizes influence with respect. Authority is nurtured, never forced."
Lee Joon-ho exhaled, a faint smile tracing his lips. "Balance remains: respect, influence, decisive leadership. What I like about you is that you do not bend to markets; you shape them."
Kao's lips curved slightly, serene. "Exactly. Alignment, foresight, and deliberate action maximize opportunity and eliminate hesitation. That is how Neptune thrives."
Park Min-seo nodded. "Clear and consistent. This partnership endures because of it."
Kao shook hands with everyone, lingering just long enough in each grasp. Then he hugged them lightly, a quiet warmth beneath his composed exterior.
"I have always valued you," he said, voice soft yet certain. "Youngest among us, yet you know what is best—for the company, and for everyone involved," Min-seo added.
held his hand, leading him to The Shilla Seoul for dinner. They sat together over soju, Hoe—sliced raw fish—and Sanjeok, the conversation easy, punctuated by laughter and subtle nods of mutual respect.
Kao's lips curved faintly. "Thank you for being our trusted ally. I assure you, this partnership will endure. BlueLine will never be disappointed."
An hour later, a black Genesis G90 glided across the Han River Bridge. Kao sat in the back, posture straight, eyes tracing the city beyond the tinted window. Neon lights from high-rises flickered across the river's surface, and the Banpo Bridge fountain shimmered in its colored streams.
Behind them, Krit and Niran followed in a second black car.
Kao exhaled softly, a hint of relief in his expression, lips curved,
"Hah... finally, I will see you again."
"Even one day... felt like a year," he murmured, gaze fixed outside.
"...But I will not let that emptiness weigh on the moments we will still create," he added, voice low, certain.
"Only you and me..."
Meanwhile, at the studio, Kim turned to Than. "It's getting late. Weren't you and Nil supposed to come together?"
Than's expression tightened slightly. "Mn... he said he had work, and after finishing, he would come." He tried calling Nil again, but the line remained unreachable.
Kob nodded. "Fine. Nil might be busy. Let's not stretch this. I have somewhere to go."
Everyone murmured agreement. "Mn..."
But Than's eyes narrowed, unease settling in. "...strange... he never does this. He always answers my calls."
At the café, the day had ended. Mary was cleaning plates when Techno arrived, stepping in to help after finishing his own work.
Mary blinked, astonished. "Are you... helping me?"
Techno did not look at her. "I have no choice. If I don't, you'll cry and complain to Nil again."
"You both have made your own team and conspired against me," he added.
Mary laughed softly. "Finally... you understand."
"You still shouldn't mess with me," she warned, smirking.