✨ Chapter 1 & 2 ✨
✧ Embr@c£ ✧
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☆ Ryo's House ☆
<~>
The living room was dim, lit only by the glow of the television and the city lights filtering in through tall glass windows.
Ryo Sullivan's apartment was exactly what people imagined a top actor's home would like ~ spacious, expensive, carefully designed.
He sat cross legged on the couch.
Blue pajamas. Warm socks. A ridiculous teddy bear hat resting loosely on his head.
In one hand, a can of alcohol already half empty. In the other, chicken feet from a takeout box balanced on his lap.
On the screen, Haru Morgan stood beneath white stage lights.
Ryo didn't change the channel.
He never did.
Haru's voice filled the room as he appeared on the TV singing :
♪ The lights are loud, but I hear your name
♪ In every silence, it's still the same
♪ Crowds like waves, they pull me far
♪ Yet somehow, you know who I am
~
♪ If you fall, will you stay awake?
♪ If I break, will you look away?
♪ I don't need the world tonight
♪ Just one truth under borrowed light.
~
♪ So bite your words, kiss the pain
♪ Hold me once, then let me change
♪ If this love is only sound
♪ Let it burn when no one's around
~
Rio swallowed, setting the chicken feet aside.
He watched Haru bow at the end of the performance, sweat damp hair clinging to his forehead, eyes bright under the lights.
For a moment, Ryo wondered what Haru was like when the stage went dark. When he sounded like when he wasn't singing for thousands.
The thought lingered longer than it should have. Ryo took another sip of the drink, gaze still locked on the screen.
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☆ Morning ~ Astra Sound Entertainment ☆
<~>
Morning sunlight spilled across the glass front of the company, reflecting off polished marble and tinted windows.
Haru Morgan stepped out of a sleek black celebrity van (Luxury Van ), the air cool against his skin. His blonde hair, slightly long, soft at the ends. Tall, striking and effortless handsome, he looked like someone born for the cameras even when he wasn't trying.
Beside him stood his female Manager, Sora Haya.
At 33, Sora is elegant and sharp eyed, her presence fun and social. She adjusted her sunglasses before turning to him, her heels clicking against the pavement.
" That annoying Director, still wondering why he sounded on serious on the phone" She said and Haru smiled.
" Let's find out from him. It won't be anything good but then, I'm curious" Haru replied.
" I still can't stand that b@$tard. He's not nice at all." She said and Haru touches her hair.
" Don't be angry, Pretty Lady." He joked and Sora glared playfully.
" You Kiddo, touching my hair cause you're taller, damn you!" She said and Haru laughed.
~
Inside the director's office :
Haru and Sora stepped into the office after giving a little knock.
" Ohayo gozaimasu, direkuta ( Good morning Director)" Haru greeted in mumbled words.
Sora rolled her eyes from the director's attention before greeting.
" Ohayo gozaimasu, sama (Good morning Sir ) Sora greeted.
The man didn't bother to reply ~ He's known to be rude always, so it's not a new thing not accepting their greeting.
The man in his early 50s leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled.
" Haru" He began, eyes assessing rather than admiring. " You're more than popular now. But popularity faded quickly in this industry."
Haru frowned slightly.
He knows the Director rarely says anything good to him but what the f**k.
" My last album and my concert last night was...
" Successful." The director completed." But success isn't enough. To remain the top singer in the country, you need a wider fanbase. More exposure."
Sora released a loud breath, clearly annoyed.
" Haru already has a wide fanbase, Sir. " She spoke and the man sent her a glare.
Haru's hand moved to touch her dress, giving her a smile to let him handle it.
He slid a folder across the desk.
" A drama " He said. " A bl series."
Haru stared at the file, frightening confusion.
" Bl? What's that?" He asked the director.
Sora chuckled inwardly at Haru's pretense before answering him.
" BL stands for Boy's Love. It's a genre that focuses on romantic relationships between men. Right now, it's extremely popular among younger audiences and international fans."
Haru looked up.
" So,two men in love?" He asked.
The Director scoffed.
" Exactly. It's a disgusting genre. I don't know fans are so crazy over something disgusting like that."He then waved his hand dismissively." But the numbers don't lie. Bl fans are loyal, obsessive, and loud. One role and your fame multiplies."
Haru pulled a chair and sat down, crossing his legs.
" If it's disgusting to you, why ask me to do it?"
" Because it works on those stupid bl fans" The director replied flatly." You act, you gain fans, and when it's over, you drop acting and anything that concerns the disgusting genre then, Singing remains your real career."
Haru glanced at Sora before gazing at the director.
" I'll have to think about...
The director clinked his finger loudly on the desk.
" You will do it."
Sora spoke up .
" You can't force Haru, Director Faye! He's a Singer not an Actor"
The director pointed at Sora.
" I've warned you severally to keep shut whenever I'm speaking with Haru. That's why I want no female manager to manage my artists!" The director slammed.
" You...
Sora stopped after Haru looked up to her again.
He faced the director again.
" I'll have to decide whether to act or not after seeing my onscreen partner. If he's not my type, I'm not doing it."
" Are you acting for the character or for fame! Stop being stupid...
" You're starting to annoy me!!" Haru's voice raised slightly, halting the director's word. " You know how I can't keep calm when I'm annoyed. And I'm repeating it, I will only decide after seeing him."
Sora smiled. He knows Haru's attitude and anger is not to be taken lightly.
The director handed an iPad to him.
" He's said to be the most popular and highest paid bl actor with the biggest fan base in the movie Industry. I spent a lot before his company decided to accept my offer of allowing my artist who has never acted to be paired with him as the main lead."
Haru's smile widened as he stared at the photo of Ryu, exploring every angle."
Meanwhile, Sora stood behind smiling sheepishly, she's a huge fan of Ryu of course.
" He's so handsome." She said out before stopping herself.
The director glared at her.
" What's handsome about someone who's not straight." he said.
Sora replied without a waste of time.
" Just because he's a bl actor doesn't mean he's g@y. I've seen bl actors getting married to women...
" I bet they marry the women to hide their homosexuality. Those disgusting things!" The Director cuts her off.
Sora tightened her grip as she imagined herself giving the man a punch. She always imagine it everyday and she can't wait for the day when she would punch the living hell outta him.
" I'm topping him right? I can't be bottom, I don't care if he's 32, I wanna be the...
" Quit the disgusting thing. They said you're the Top or whatever cause of your height, they want the height difference." The director replied.
" Then I'm in. I'm doing it." Haru said and dropped the iPad getting up. " I'm free to go right?"
He didn't wait for the director to respond before leaving, Sora didn't bother bowing as she's still annoyed, she followed him, her heels clicking sassily against the tiles.
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☆ XY Entertainment ☆
<~>
Ryo literally jumped rather than stepping down from the Van.
His male manager Mika chuckled softly beside him.
" In your sweetest mood today?" He asked and Ryo hummed.
" Maybe. " Rho replied.
Staff members greeted him warmly as they walked through the lobby, bows and smiles following his every step.
His hair dark and neat, emphasizing features that made him look far younger than his 32 years, he looks 18.
There's this softness in him, a boyish charm that often surprises people when they learn his age.
His height was unremarkable, he is neither talk or short, his height is just normal.
They entered the director's office :
They greeted in Japanese and the director as usual responded happily and kindly.
" You two sit" He offered.
" Arigato ( Thank you)" The two appreciated, sitting.
The director smiled before speaking.
" I'll get straight to it. We have an upcoming Bl serie, and you'll be the male lead of course."
Ryo nodded calmly.
" That won't be a problem. I'll deliver the best as usual."
" Your co star is a singer, he's well known. Haru Morgan."
" Huh!" Ryo exclaimed with open mouth.
Haru Morgan?
His favorite Singer.
The one whom he watched his concert last night.
Really?
Damn!!
The director chuckled.
" You seem unbothered" he said.
Mika, Ryo's manager chuckled. He knows Ryo secretly is Haru Morgan's fanboy.
~
As they left the office, Ryo's smile was wide.
" You're happy you're paired with your favorite singer" Mika said and Ryo smiled.
" Yep. He's a kid but he's amazing. His voice is angelic and his look, hot." Ryo said and Mika laughed.
" You're crushing on someone you just called a kid." Mika said and Ryo hummed.
" He's a kid and my idol not my type, I'm old enough to be his uncle" Ryo replied and Mika laughed.
They saw Ren entering through the door, looking down.
He's been this down ever since he broke up with his boyfriend a month ago.
" Ren"
" Hi Ryo, hi Mika" Ren greeted.
" You're not getting enough sleep, Ren. You plan on ending up at the hospital?" Ryo asked.
Ren smiled.
" I miss Shin so much, I'm dying." He muttered.
Mika held his arm.
" Ren" he called softly." Why don't you talk to Shin about the threat while we try to find a way to investigate whom the the paparazzi is"
Ren shook his head.
" If I tell Shin, he won't sit still. That would put him in danger, it's better we are this way."Ren mumbled.
( Ren was an actor but stopped acting a year ago, he's someone who's wealthy. He's now a movie director)
( Shin is two years older than Ren)
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☆ Astra Sound Entertainment ☆
<~>
Haru practiced along with Sora who's watching him.
Soon, he dropped the microphone and grabbed a bottle water.
" Why am I getting so worked up about this, it's going to be fun." Haru said and Sora chuckled.
The door opened and Shin, a singer who's also an actor.
" Looking pale again today! " Haru said.
Shin laid on the floor, his arms spread out.
Haru asked over to him, touching his cheek.
" Shin, Shin" He called.
Shin let out a little smile.
" I can't live without Ren." Shin mumbled.
" Yes you can live without that jerk who broke up without an explanation. He's a stupid jerk...
" Haru... Ren isn't a jerk. There's something he's not telling me..I believe he's hiding something from me.." Shin mumbled and sniffled.
Haru stood akimbo.
" Let's meet him, I need to talk sense into him and know why he broke up with you, stop crying. Don't cry for that jerk...oh, you said he's not a jerk. He's a punk then." Haru said and Shin chuckled softly, wiping his eyelids.
" I'm going to him tonight. I want to know why we broke up. If he doesn't tell me, I'll be the one breaking up with him." Shin mumbled and Haru nodded.
" Good."
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☆ Night ~ Ren's House ☆
<~>
Shin's car rolled to a stop in front of the building which looks like a penthouse.
He wore a hoodie, a hat and a nose mask as not to be recognized by anyone or paparazzi despite it being late.
He ran up the stairs and rang the doorbell. He didn't open the door despite knowing the door password.
Inside, Ren laid on the couch going through the photos he took with Shin.
He stood up wondering who it was. He walked over and opened his security doorbell camera.
His eyes widened when he saw the figure.
Despite Shin covering up, Ren recognized him immediately.
He quickly opened the door and pulled Shin inside, shutting the door.
Shin removed the nose mask and hat.
Ren's heart clenched when he saw Shin's reddened eyes. This means Shin cried.
" Shin...why are you here again? What if you were seen by a paparazzi? Or a fan? " Ren asked, pressing Shin gently against the wall.
" A..re you worried about them..or about me? Ren, why did..why did we broke up? Why are you not telling me?" Shin asked tiredly, a year falling off his eyes.
Ren's heart clenched at the sight.
Shin nodded in tears.
" Since you won't tell me. I hope you live happily... I'm leaving" Shin mumbled and tried leaving.
Ren's hand was still blocking him.
The words hit Ren like a physical blow. Shin's brokenness was hurting him the most and he of course still loves Shin deeply but the unknown paparazzi threatening him with several photos of him and Shin makes it hard for him.
He can't risk it. He knows Shin is too fragile and soft despite Shin being two years older than him.
Shin's tears fell faster now, his shoulders shaking.
" I'm sorry Shin, I'm Sorry." Ren whispered.
Shin's hand shook as he tried pushing Ren's hand off his way, choking on his sob.
Ren didn't hesitate anymore. He closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to Shin's.
The kiss was hard, urgent, desperate, everything, his guilt, his love, his fear flooded info that kiss.
Shin gave in , letting the tears fall into Ren's shoulder. Their bodies pressed together as if trying to make up for days of absence.
Every hurt, every word unspoken, every moment of longing collided in that embrace.
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To Be Continued