Chapter Text
“You know I love you, right?”
The male voice of the drama playing echoed throughout the spacious apartment. In front of the television, Zhang Hao, the apartment’s owner and a well-known Chinese actor who’s based in South Korea, was enjoying his precious day off indulging in his favorite genre of dramas: BL (Boys’ Love). Today, he woke up at five in the morning after six hours of sleep and immediately turned on the new series he had been waiting for over two years, ever since it was first announced to the public.
Half the day had already passed now, and Hao was still sprawled across the couch without any intention of moving. He was so focused on the series in front of him that he ignored even his hunger and the need to use the bathroom.
Right before the steamy, passionate kissing scene between the two leads, Hao suddenly heard the sound of his apartment door opening. Hao didn’t even need to look to know who had just burst into his apartment, as only one person knew the password to his home: his manager, Park Gunwook.
"Hyung, there's a new drama offer. I'll put the script in your desk drawer in the study, okay?" said the younger man, small in age but not in body size.
Gunwook was his junior back in college. Their first meeting left Hao thinking, He’s scary… are you sure this kid is younger than me? But after getting to know him better, Hao realized Gunwook was just a giant softie — a kid stuck in a big body. They have grown closer since then, and even now, despite his manager being the one taking care of him instead, Hao still sees him as a younger brother.
"Mmmm, I'll read it after I'm done watching." Hao ignored Gunwook's words. Today was his day off, so he had neither the obligation nor the desire to deal with work matters. Let his manager be busy and stress himself out, that was his problem by not appreciating the day off Hao had given him. Today, he just wanted to finish all the new BL series he hadn't watched yet and rewatch his favorite old dramas.
A sigh came from behind the couch, followed by the sound of footsteps slowly retreating. Hao grabbed the TV remote and rewound the drama to the scene he'd missed due to Gunwook's arrival.
How nice would it be if I had a chance to kiss Choi San, Hao thought, replaying the kiss scene between the two leads for the third time.
For him, what mattered in a drama was the plot and, most importantly, how handsome or hot the lead actors were. This BL series starring Choi San and Jung Wooyoung had both of those qualities. "I really never miss with my drama picks," Hao muttered quietly, eyes glued to the screen. "Now, when will I get to act with Choi San and taste those lips?"
The less-than-half-minute kiss scene he was now replaying for the fourth time was everything.
He especially loved the way San looked at Wooyoung before kissing his lips. It screamed love, desperation, lust, and again, LOVE!!! He looked at him as if Wooyoung was his entire universe. Like he’d do anything for him. And the way San devoured those lips was like a starving man who hadn't eaten in a month. Very eager. Yes, very keen. Very in love. And Hao liked it that way. Just like the way Sung Ha—
Nope, definitely not thinking about him, Hao inwardly thought, slapping himself lightly as he nearly thought of the forbidden topic he had managed to avoid for nearly five years.
Just then, Gunwook returned to the living room. Seeing him still standing by the couch, Hao patted the empty spot beside him, an invitation to sit down. Gunwook took a seat without hesitation and blurted out, “Hyung, you probably haven’t eaten yet, right? I’ll order something for you.”
Gunwook already knew Hao’s habits on his day off: he would ignore basic needs like food and sleep just to enjoy his long-delayed hobby — entertainment — until it was finished. And judging by the empty table in front of them that had become a footstool for the actor, Gunwook was certain he hadn’t eaten all day.
“Yeah. Order whatever you want, but use my card, Wookie.”
Hao hummed, glancing over to find the younger man fiddling with his phone, probably looking through the menu to order. “Don’t you think they’re too ‘real’ to be just acting?” he asked, drawing Gunwook’s attention to the large television.
After watching the actor's favorite kiss scene (somewhat against his will, though he was used to it by now), Gunwook took a moment before answering, "Yeah… I think so too, hyung."
"RIGHT? My gay radar has yet proven to be wrong. I’m certain. There’s definitely something going on between them." The actor speculated eagerly. His hand reached for the remote to rewind the kiss scene one last time today. But he suddenly froze when he heard a small murmur beside him, "Hm… they kind of remind me of your chemistry with Hanbin-hyung back then."
Hao immediately jabbed Gunwook's arm. How dare he compare San and Wooyoung's beautiful relationship to his with — cough — Sung Hanbin, his ex!?
“Don’t you ever mention his name ever again.” His eyes stayed downcast, a silent warning. Gunwook heard the drop in his voice and realized the direness of this situation. It seems mentioning Hanbin cuts deeper than he’d ever imagined.
Gunwook took one good look at the actors on the screen and couldn’t help but reminiscence the past again. Hao hyung and Hanbin hyung have always been tangled in something far deeper than the romances playing out before him. He couldn’t help but sigh, wondering what remained of them now.
Sensing he had ruined the mood, Gunwook quickly placed an order and showed Hao the order history to change the topic. And it worked.
The moment Hao saw what food it was, yachae gopchang, one of his favorites, his face immediately softened into a bright smile. As expected, Hao hyung was weak for food.
"When is it arriving?"
"In about twenty minutes, hyung."
Upon hearing that, Hao happily turned his attention back to the drama series. This time, he continues to watch the rest of the story without rewinding.
Gunwook watched quietly beside him, not particularly interested, but staying to please his hyung while waiting for the food. He planned to leave once it arrived. After all, he had only ordered a portion for one person, not two. He also had some work to take care of, especially preparations for the actor's meeting tomorrow with the company's management team.
“Wookie, do you know who my co-star would be in that new drama offer? If I take it, I mean.” Hao resumed the conversation as the ending credits of the episode he had just watched played, bringing the young manager out of his reverie. It seemed he had no intention of pressing next episode until he got the answer to his question.
Gunwook straightened up and pulled out his phone. He checked his notes before answering, “I don’t know for sure, hyung. But I heard they’re trying to recruit Choi Soobin. If he accepts, then he’ll be your co-star.”
Hao pouted at that, pursing his lips cutely, a small habit of his when thinking. “Hm, not bad. I’ll take that into consideration.”
“Yup, I’ve read the plot summary, and I think it’s really good, hyung. I think this new drama offer could be a big hit.” If Hao had long ears like Judy Hopps from Zootopia, he was sure they would be standing straight up and facing his manager, indicating interest and curiosity in the conversation. For one, Gunwook wasn't the type to compliment things so easily. And the younger man knew Hao’s preferences very well. So, if his manager said it was really good, then Hao would believe him.
Hao had just finished episode 14 of 24. It was a little over halfway through, but this was a web drama, meaning each episode was short, only about 15-20 minutes long. He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall above the TV and did a quick mental calculation of when he would be finished with Choi San's steamy drama. Hmm, I’ll probably finish around the evening. I should still have enough time to read the script and finish it before the day ends, he thought.
He had originally planned to rewatch his all-time favorite BL drama, Soul Ties from Another Universe, starring Kim Mingyu and Jeon Wonwoo, for the 230417th time. If asked, he could go on endlessly about the drama: why he loved it, its strengths and weaknesses, every scene in detail — even most of the script was practically memorized by now.
Unfortunately, that plan would have to be postponed because work had come up. Sigh, looks like he’ll be working today even though it’s his day off. "Then, I'll read the script after I finish watching this drama. I should be able to give you an answer tonight, Wookie.” Hao said, giving confirmation.
"Okay, hyung," replied Gunwook with a faint smile, already imagining the additional work he would have to do after getting an answer from his actor.
With that settled, Hao finally resumed the paused drama. He happily pressed next episode and sank back into his comfortable position. Not long after, Gunwook felt his phone vibrate. Hao paid it no mind at first — whatever was on his lil manager's phone was none of his business. But apparently, this time it was. It was a notification announcing his food had arrived.
"Huh, why is the food delivery so quick?" Hao asked, putting his legs down from the table as he moved to stand. Gunwook immediately stopped him and gestured him to stay in place. Hao smiled broadly and shouted a thank you as the younger one walked towards the apartment door.
Shortly after, Gunwook returned, holding a plastic bag in one hand and his phone in the other. He placed the plastic bag on the table, and the two of them quickly set everything up.
Once it was done, Gunwook immediately excused himself, "Hyung, I'll head back now. Please don't forget to get some sleep. We have an internal meeting tomorrow morning." Hao nodded in return, waving him goodbye until the apartment door closed again.
And now, he was alone again. He turned back around, facing the TV and the small table now filled with food. He paused for a moment, taking in the sight before him.
His favorite food and his favorite activity — two things that helped fill, even just a little, the emptiness in his heart that had been growing for the past five years.
So far, he had managed to survive like this. And he would continue to do so. Without him.
Hao refused to dwell on that person any longer just because Gunwook had mentioned him once. So, he picked up the chopsticks and spoon beside his plate and began eating. While, of course, he continued to binge-watch.
He ate quietly, occasionally commenting on the drama or fanboying over Choi San again. Before he knew it, hours had passed, and it was already evening. He had just finished the final episode. It deserved a two thumbs up. The series was truly excellent. Definitely worth spending almost three-quarters of the day on it.
It was only when Hao was holding the television remote, typing the names of other BL dramas he wanted to watch next, that he remembered that he had promised to read the script for his new drama offer. With heavy steps, he made his way to his study and opened the desk drawer to find the envelope Gunwook had mentioned earlier.
He took out the thick envelope and saw a sticker on the front side.
Where My Home Lies.
The title, huh? It sounded nice and meaningful. But also a little broad for him to guess what the story would be about. Still, not a bad first impression.
He immediately dropped into his ridiculously comfy reading chair, near the desk, where he could even bounce and sleep on. The entire study had been designed to be very comfortable and perfectly suited to his tastes since he had planned to spend a lot of time there. Unfortunately, he didn't come to his study as much as he planned. Only when he felt like it, or it was necessary. On most days, he would prefer to do his work in the living room, on the sofa where he had just sat down for hours.
Well, not everything goes as planned, and that's okay. Even if it hurts. That was what Hao had learned a long time ago.
With steady movements, he took his script, which was bound like a book, from the envelope and opened the first few pages. He read the names of the director and writer. Both were well-known figures in the BL/GL film industry. That alone was already a guarantee that this new drama would be good.
Then, Hao read the synopsis on the next page. "Oh, so it's a love story… about teenagers who are deeply in love but have to endure a long-distance relationship and ultimately break up… until they meet again as adults and start their journey together again." The overall storyline felt oddly familiar and closely related to him, yet in some ways, it felt distinctly different as well.
For now, he'll give it a shot to read the entire script in his hand and decide whether he'll accept the proposal or not.
Slowly, Hao felt excitement and anticipation build inside him. He had always loved diving into new stories such as scripts, novels, and comics, as well as watching movies and dramas. He loved how the world built within each story would always carry him away from reality and let him explore a new, fascinating world written by another person with different lives and experiences from his.
He had just finished one a few minutes ago, exploring the ups and downs of Choi San with Jung Wooyoung's world. And now, he's ready to step into another one. One that is delivered just for him, and maybe meant for him as well.
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Hao accepted the drama offer.
He had read the entire script and was completely captivated. Words alone weren’t enough to describe just how good and beautiful the story was. Without a second thought, he immediately texted Gunwook to inform him he was accepting the role offer and that he had to play the role of "Sunwoo." Hao didn't want, or rather, he refused to let anyone else get the role. It had to be him!
He had fallen in love with the character of "Sunwoo." The character felt strangely familiar yet foreign at the same time. Hao couldn’t really explain it himself.
The next day, Gunwook confirmed everything with the agency and the drama production team. Soon after, Hao received the revised script and immediately threw himself into preparation: diligently practicing acting, memorizing his lines, and studying the character “Sunwoo” deeply. He even contacted the director and scriptwriter several times to ask about Sunwoo and what kind of performance they wanted for certain scenes.
Hao was truly committed to the role of "Sunwoo." He always worked hard on every project he took on. But this time, he truly loved the character, and that motivated him to bring out the very best version of Sunwoo possible, better than the production team could’ve expected.
Two weeks after he first opened the script, he had almost completely memorized all of his parts. He practiced every single day tirelessly, and today was no exception. "Hao hyung, I just got a word from the production team. They said the script reading meeting is happening next week."
"Okayyy, noted." Hao gave a thumbs-up before returning his gaze to the script in his hand. He was engrossed in practicing one of his favorite scenes. The scene where Sunwoo is getting ready for school, happily dressed in his uniform, unlike any other normal school day, as it was his graduation day. And he’d be spending it together with his childhood best friend and boyfriend of two weeks, Sungwoon.
"I heard there are a lot of famous actors in this drama, hyung. It seems like they’re really going all out with the budget." Gunwook looked oddly nervous, his hands fidgeting restlessly, as if he wanted to say something but was too afraid or unsure how to say it.
Unfortunately, Hao was too busy highlighting and scribbling small acting notes for himself to notice his manager's unusual behavior. Only after he finished writing and put his pen down, Hao finally looked back at Gunwook and responded, "Who's in it? Anyone I know?"
Gunwook quickly masked his nervousness by feigning enthusiasm. "Ah, well… there's Kim Jiwoong, who'll be the second lead, hyung."
"Ohh, Jiwoong-ie hyung." Hao sounded genuinely pleased. They had worked together once back when Hao was still a rookie actor. At that time, he was just a minor supporting role, while Kim Jiwoong was the main lead. Even so, the older actor had treated him warmly throughout filming and became a great senior and older-brother figure to him. Jiwoong had even once told Hao that he saw huge potential in him, and was confident Hao would become successful someday. He had also given him plenty of useful advice and guidance. To this day, they still kept in touch occasionally, always greeting and chatting whenever they attended the same events.
"Who else?"
"Shen Ricky was cast as Sunwoo's best friend." The second Hao heard that, his face lit up with a huge grin. Finally, his beloved little brother (not his biological brother) would get to work together with him.
The main reason Hao and Ricky, or Quanrui as he usually called him, had become so close was because they came from the same country. Even though they weren't from the same city, simply being able to communicate in Hao's native language was enough to make him happy. Hao loved living in Korea, but sometimes, living in a foreign country and having to constantly speak a second, or even third language was truly exhausting. He needed to communicate in Chinese, a language he could speak effortlessly without using up energy. A language that would flowed out naturally, even when half-asleep or daydreaming. And the person he always turned to when he needed that comfort was Shen Ricky, the rapidly rising actor whose latest drama had become a massive success thanks to his incredible acting and godlike visuals. "Finally, I get to work on the same project with Quanrui. I'll text him now, hehe."
"Hey, Ricky's boyfriend is in it too, hyung. Kim Gyuvin got cast as one of the supporting roles," Gunwook’s tone sounded calmer and more controlled now, though only because he was trying hard to hide his uneasiness.
Slightly surprised and intrigued, Hao asked while typing fast on his phone, most likely spamming Ricky with messages already, "What role is Gyuvinnie playing?"
"Sungwoon's best friend," Gunwook said after checking his phone notes. An audible "ooooh" escaped Hao's mouth, and immediately his typing sped up even faster. Gunwook could practically guess what Hao was saying. Probably teasing Ricky to no end about how nice it must be to work on the same project as the love of his life, and about all the little dates chould have on set. Typical Hao behavior.
Gunwook quietly sighed out of relief as the actor still hadn't asked who would be playing Sungwoon, the other main lead. The person Hao would be acting with most of the time. However, his relief was short-lived. Just as he was about to leave living room, Hao suddenly called out again. "Ah, Wookie, I just remembered!"
He had a bad feeling about this. "You still haven't told me... who's playing Sungwoon?"
Shit. It's out. It was the exact question Gunwook had desperately been trying to avoid all day. Also, the reason he'd been all antsy from the start.
Hao looked at him with wide, curious eyes, round like boba pearls, and an innocent expression, like a child asking why the sky was blue. The kind of expression no one could ignore.
Gunwook's mind instantly scrambled for a way to deliver the bad news, a disastrous one at that. He forced a faint smile, though it clearly looked fake. This time, Hao noticed a slight oddity.
“Wookie, why are you smiling like that?”
Gunwook opened his mouth to reply, but what came out was a jumbled mess, instead of a proper sentence. “Uhm… well, how should I say it, ah, hyung, so basically, um, I don’t know, hm, so…”
Hao’s brows furrowed deeply as he watched his manager malfunction in real time. Something was definitely wrong. Gunwook rarely gets antsy like this; it’s just unlike him. And Hao knew his question was completely normal, so that shouldn’t be the problem. If not the question, then it’s the answer.
“Wookie…? Who’s playing Sungwoon?” Hao asked once more, his gaze becoming more wary yet determined.
Gunwook took a deep breath, bracing himself for what might come. And without further ado, he blurted everything out at lightning speed in one breath, “TheysaidChoiSoobinturneddowntheoffer,sogaveittosomeoneelse,andnowHanbinhyungisplayingSungwoon.”
“Huh?” Hao was in a daze. He blinked blankly as he couldn’t catch most of what Gunwook was saying, but he heard one name for sure. Hanbin hyung. “Repeat that again, Wookie. What did you say? I hope I heard it wrong, but did you just say ‘Hanbin-hyung’?”
Gunwook’s hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting. He even pinched the insides of his palms anxiously. “Ha ha… that’s right, hyung. Hanbin hyung will taking Sungwoon’s role. Yeah, that’s how it went… ha ha,” he laughed awkwardly as his right hand scratched the back of his neck, which wasn’t itchy. “I just found out last week, too.”
Hao was utterly speechless. The word Hanbin hyung echoed over and over inside his mind until everything else started fading into static. He could hear his heartbeat pounding violently in his ears, drowning out every other sound around him.
He desperately wanted to deny the fact that the one Gunwook meant was Sung Hanbin, his one and only ex. And so he did. "...You mean Park Hanbin, right? The musical actor who recently started acting in dramas? Or Kim Hanbin? That idol-actor?"
Gunwook shook his head. "No, hyung. I mean Sung Hanbin. Your Sung Hanbin. He's the one who's going to be the main lead with you."
And in that instant, Hao felt like his entire world collapsed.
His heart was shattered into pieces with no cure to heal it.
And the cause of his broken heart was,
Sung Hanbin. The person who had become a forbidden topic in his life. The person he wanted to erase completely from his life.
But soon, that person would walk back into his life again.
"I want to withdraw from this drama. I want to leave. Please convey my apologies to the production team, Wookie," his voice was so quiet it almost sounded like a whisper — but flat, without any change in intonation. His gaze remained fixed straight ahead, utterly lifeless.
Gunwook immediately got chills at the sudden change. Hao was an incredibly expressive person — everything from his face, his tone, and even his body language was always vivid and easy to read. A soulless Hao, who seemed to have no hope for life, was not normal. It was not a good sign. It was a warning sign.
"Hao hyung... you know that's impossible. You already signed the contract, and the first script reading is next week. You've practically memorized the entire script already. Are you really going to throw away all your hard work over the past few weeks?" Gunwook carefully pleaded Hao to take back his words.
He understood his hyung's feelings. He absolutely understood it; after all, he was there, witnessing how devastated Hao became after the breakup. He knew very well that seeing Hanbin hyung again would only be rubbing salt into the wound. But just this once, he hoped his hyung wouldn't run away from what’s in front of him.
"Please also think of the drama team too. They’ll struggle a lot if you suddenly leave on such a late notice. Think about me and the management team who’ll have to deal the aftermath,” Gunwook lowered his voice until it was barely audible as he said the last sentence. “And maybe… please think about the possibility of fixing things with Hanbin hyung." It was his small hope of seeing his hyung to be happy again with Hanbin hyung. He believed Hao hyung had only buried those feelings because letting them out would only hurt him more. But they were still there, somewhere deep in his heart.
Meanwhile, Hao was falling apart. His breathing turned uneven, his head felt dizzy, his eyes were welling up, his limbs were trembling, and his ears were ringing as the world around him grew distant and muffled. He could feel himself slowly slipping away from reality.
“Hyung! Hao hyung—” Gunwook quickly grabbed his shoulders and shook his body to bring him back to reality. He then calmly said, “Try to focus on breathing with me, okay? Now slowly inhale… and exhale. Again.”
The two of them repeated this until eventually Hao’s breathing gradually steadied. Gunwook got up from crouching and moved to sit beside Hao on the sofa. He wrapped an arm around and gently patting his side, comforting Hao, who cried silently against him. “I’m sorry, hyung,” he whispered softly into Hao’s ear. “I’m sorry.”
They stayed like that for a while before Hao finally tapped weakly against Gunwook’s knee with trembling fingers. With all the remaining strength he had, he murmured, “Please… give me some time to calm down and decide what I should do with this drama.”
Gunwook nodded in understanding, “Okay, hyung. I’ll get you some water.”
Hao no longer had the energy to respond — even nod or give the manager a thumbs-up, so he simply let him leave. While Gunwook disappeared into the kitchen, his mind kept spiraling endlessly through every possible outcome — every risk, every possibility, every scenario, from best to worst, if he stayed in the drama and also if he left.
When Gunwook finally returned with a glass of water after a long time, he had clearly taken his time on purpose, giving Hao space to think, just as he had requested. "Here. Drink slowly, ‘kay, hyung?"
Hao accepted the glass of water. After taking a sip, he spoke with a determined look, "Wookie, I've decided… not to leave this drama."
"Oh wow — that's great, hyung!” Gunwook looked relieved and sincere as he said, “I was going to support whatever choice you made, but I'm really glad you decided to stay. Thank you."
Hao gave him a weak smile. Yes, he had made his decision. And he's determined to go through with it. He wouldn't back out.
Now, all he had to do was practice his lines —
And prepare himself to face Sung Hanbin for the first time in five years.
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“Hyung, are you ready?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be, Wookie.”
“Don’t worry, hyung, you’re gonna be fine.”
“I hope so.”
The day Hao had been waiting for and dreading had arrived. The day of the script reading and first team meeting. The day he would meet, make eye contact, and most likely, even converse with Sung Hanbin again.
It was currently 9:45 in the morning. Hao was dressed neatly in semi-formal attire: a black button-up shirt, tailored black slacks, and matching accessories, such as a belt, luxury watch, necklace, and bracelets, all of which only made him look even more stunning.
The meeting would begin in fifteen minutes, and Hao was sure many of the cast and crew members had already arrived inside the conference room. He should’ve gone in already. And yet, for the past ten minutes, he had remained standing a short distance from the entrance with Gunwook, who had been trying to calm him down and offer him support. "Hyung, you should go in before you’re late."
Hao let out a shaky breath. He knew he had to get in as soon as possible, preferably right now, but his heart was still pounding so violently that even moving his legs felt difficult. He still felt like he wasn't fully ready to step inside. This morning, he had even meditated for 30 minutes just to keep his panic and anxiety under control. It worked pretty well — until he arrived at the building and was reminded of what may come.
Sung Hanbin. Whether you're in my life or not, you still manage to ruin my peace. Hao clicked his tongue in annoyance as he acknowledged the source of all his stress today.
"Okay, I'll go in now." Not long after, Hao finally made up his mind. Perhaps it was better to get this over with sooner rather than later. It may give him some time to adjust to Hanbin’s presence entering his life after years apart. After all, he would have to face him soon.
"I'll be right here if you need me, hyung."
"Okiee, thanks, Wookie."
With steady steps and a heavily annotated script clutched tightly in his hand, Hao walked toward the meeting room entrance. The staff waiting outside greeted him right away and opened the door for him. The moment he stepped inside, voices greeted him from around the room. Hao instantly put on his best smile and greeted everyone politely one by one.
As one of the main leads, his assigned seat was located near the end of the table, closest to the director and writer. It took him quite a while to get there due to all the small talk along the way with actors and staff he recognized.
Hao was an introvert who enjoyed socializing — but his social battery drained quickly. The endless greetings had already consumed most of his energy before the meeting had even begun. He was already starting to feel overwhelmed. His focus shifted from one thing to another until eventually, he found himself standing in front of his seat.
A nametag sat neatly before him. Zhang Hao - Sunwoo, it said. A sigh of relief escaped his mouth. He could finally sit down quietly and recharge a little before the meeting started.
But then — the moment his eyes drifted to the nametag directly across from him, the exhaustion instantly vanished, replaced by pure tension.
Sung Hanbin - Sungwoon.
That's what was written on the nametag.
Slowly, almost fearfully, he lifted his head to see whether the owner of that seat was there yet.
And,
Shit.
Hao instantly felt dizzy. Very dizzy.
There he was. In front of him. Across from him. Less than a meter away, sat Sung Hanbin, his ex. Still just as handsome, as charming, as captivating, as radiant as ever.
And when his soft, wistful eyes met his, Hao could feel his heartbeat racing.
No, it wasn’t because he was in love. His heart was pounding because he could feel another panic attack slowly creeping in.
How could he not…? When the reason for all of his misery was sitting right in front of him?
With every ounce of strength he had left, Hao abruptly stood from his chair and quietly excused himself, mumbling something about needing the restroom. An excuse, of course. Because right now, he wanted to run away. No — he was going to run away from that room. He needed to find Gunwook.
Before leaving, Hao glanced one more time towards Hanbin, just to confirm he wasn't imagining things. But Hanbin was looking straight at him too. Instant regret crashed over him as the throbbing pain in his head worsened.
Hao hurried out of the room, apologizing quietly as he asked the staff outside for directions to the restroom. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Gunwook jogging toward him worriedly. He walked towards the restroom, knowing his manager was following close behind.
Who said that time heals? No, it doesn't. The wound stays the same, Hao thought bitterly to himself.