Page 20 of Hamartia

“Of course! We haven’t met properly. Nice to meet you, finally.”

She’s smiling prettily, slipping her arm out of Jae’s to wrap it around me.

He turns then, eyebrows lifting in surprise, before his mouth pulls up in another of his shy smiles. I smile back.

“Congrats on the award,” I tell her. “Amazing performance too.”

She sighs, dreamily. “Wasn’t it. Wasn’t this boy INCREDIBLE?”

I look to see how Jae feels about being called aboy,but he just smiles, looking as shy as he did when I praised him earlier.

“I have been obsessed with that performance since he posted it,” Haven says.

Same.

“And I just had to see if he’d wanna do it live here. Imagine the scream I let out when he said yes! It was loud. Like a banshee, loud.”

“It was louder than that,” supplies Jack. Haven hits him playfully.

“Jaehyun, do you know Raphael? He’s from TheGrammy-Award winningDead Poets? That band with the incredibly hot lead singer? Well, that’s him.” She points at me.

I roll my eyes. Jae is laughing.

“We have met,” he confirms. “Just once.” His eyes flash me a private look that makes me want to grin stupidly wide. “I almost broke his nose.”

Haven’s eyes almost pop out of her head. Her friend—who I’ve just recognized is an actress called Nina something—gasps.

“That’s an exaggeration, he didn’t.” I shake my head unable to stop fucking grinning.

“Tell us what happened!” Haven is glancing between us, expectantly.

It’s me who tells the story, playing up my clumsiness and playing down Jae’s role in the incident entirely. Jae just looks embarrassed. My mouth dries up when he brushes a hand through his hair, sweeping the pale lengths back from his forehead.

“Listen, good to see you all again, I need a drink. Jack, I’ll hit you up when I’m back, man.”

“Sounds good, can’t wait, man.”

I lift my hand in a wave, looking in Jaehyun’s direction because I can’t not. He’s watching me with that small private smile on his face again.

“Hey, Raphael,” Haven calls out. “We’re having a party back at my place, pretty chill. Cool people, good vibes, great music. You should come?”

“Yeah? Sounds good.”

“Yay! Bring your band, whoever you want! Be cool to see you there.”

Jack is looking at me hopefully, Haven too. But it’s Jae I look at.

If he’s going to be there, then there’s no question. To have the chance to talk to him out of this fucking goldfish bowl again. To hear him say my name in that quiet way he does. To have his focus and his energy and his attention. It had been heady that day in the car. I crave it again.

“It will be good to see another friendly face,” he says so quietly I’m not sure I didn’t imagine it.

“I amnota friendly face??!” Haven looks suitably outraged.

Jae only gives her this charming smile that makes my breath feel funny.

“You will be busy hosting,” he replies. When he looks at me again, I am certain there’s a plea in his eyes and I find myself nodding.

“Yeah, sounds good. I’ll say to some of the guys. And Cleo.” I lie. “DM me your address?”