The next morning, Jet woke groggily, rubbing his eyes as fragments of last night's conversation drifted back into his mind. Han's voice had been so calm, so steady, that it had somehow lulled him to sleep.
Jet sat up abruptly, his cheeks flushing as the memory hit him in full.
"Your voice is just… really nice."
He groaned, running a hand down his face. "What the hell was I thinking?" he muttered to himself, cringing. 'Why would I say that out loud?'
Reaching for his phone on the nightstand, he hesitated before opening his chat with Han. His fingers hovered above the screen, itching to type out some kind of apology. But what could he even say?
'Hey, sorry for calling your voice hot and falling asleep mid-conversation.'
Jet shook his head, setting the phone down with a sigh. "That's not happening."
Sliding out of bed, he headed to the kitchen, Melon and Peach were already nosing at their bowls. Jet chuckled, grabbing their food and filling their dishes.
"Alright, alright. You're the boss," he said, watching the hamsters dig in.
Once they were settled, Jet threw together a quick breakfast for himself and wandered into the living room, plopping down in front of the TV. He flipped through the channels absently, his mind still lingering on Han's voice.
It wasn't until he heard the news anchor's voice that he snapped out of his thoughts.
"It's been announced that a new movie adaptation is set to begin filming soon," the anchor said brightly. "A detective mystery that fans are already buzzing about. While most actors haven't responded to casting rumors, one name has caught everyone's attention."
Jet perked up, his curiosity piqued. 'Who's in it? Jun Jane? Hao Ling? Tom Fellow?'
Then, a face appeared on the screen—a familiar face.
Jet blinked, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth.
"Yau Han has caught the attention of fans after auditioning for a role in the movie," the anchor continued. "Known for his reserved demeanor, this Alpha's subtle charm and genuine gestures have earned him even more admiration. Fans are even more thrilled at seeing him take on this role."
Jet stared at the screen, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Seeing Han's face there felt surreal.
"Well," he muttered, setting his plate aside. "Ain't that something?"
He reached for his phone, a sudden urge to congratulate Han welling up inside him. Unlocking the screen, he opened their chat, his fingers brushing the keyboard. But before he could type a word, a notification popped up.
His breath caught.
It was a text from Han.
"Morning, my sleepyhead. Had a good night's rest?"
Jet blinked at the screen, his heart skipping a beat. 'Sleepyhead?' He reread the message, a bewildered laugh escaping his lips.
"Seriously, Yau Han?" Jet muttered, shaking his head, though a small smile tugged at his lips. He couldn't deny the warmth spreading in his chest.
Still smiling, he tapped out a reply.
"Calling me names now?"
"Nah, wouldn't dare to do that, hun," Han shot back.
Jet scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Haha. Also, congrats on getting the role. Your fans are even more obsessed with you already."
"Can't lie about that," Han replied. "I've already got my script, but they're still casting the rest of the roles."
"Practice makes perfect, right?" Jet texted. "Good luck!"
Han took a moment before replying, and Jet stared at the screen, waiting.
"Are you free?" Han finally asked.
Jet frowned slightly, considering. He didn't have anything planned for the day. His friends were all working, and his mother was resting after yesterday's outing.
"Why?"
"Want to help me rehearse?" came Han's reply.
Jet blinked at the screen, confused. "What?" he muttered under his breath before typing, "How?"
"I'll pick you up."
Jet hesitated, his thumb hovering over the screen. After a moment's thought, he typed back, "Okay, but lunch is on you."
Han's response was almost immediate. "Deal. See you at noon."
Jet set his phone down, staring at it for a moment longer. The thought of seeing Han again made his heart flutter, but he shook it off, heading to get ready.
—
"Aren't you looking sharp today?" Han teased as Jet slid into the car.
Jet scoffed, buckling his seatbelt. "Still playing games? Gotta look good for my date."
They both chuckled at the joke, falling into easy conversation. Jet talked about his week, and Han shared bits about his own, their words making the 40-minute drive feel like mere minutes.
"So, an actor for a novel adaptation," Jet mused. "What's the book?"
Han hummed, his fingers tapping the wheel. "Haven't dug that deep yet, but if it's famous, you'd probably know."
Jet shrugged. Right as he did, Han pulled into the driveway. Jet glanced at the sleek bungalow in front of him—spacious, modern, but not over-the-top.
"You live here? Alone?" Jet asked, stepping out.
Han nodded. "Me, the cleaners, and sometimes my parents when they visit. But they're traveling right now."
Inside, the house was just as polished as the outside. Jet took in the minimalistic yet stylish decor before his gaze landed on a thick, stapled script resting on the coffee table.
"That the script?" he asked, settling onto the couch.
Han handed it over. "Yeah, I've skimmed through it. Take a look."
Jet flipped through the pages before his eyes widened with recognition. "Wait… I read this when I was younger! You're playing the villain?" He let out an impressed whistle. "Damn, this guy was incredible. The things he did—jaw-dropping."
Han arched a brow, the corner of his lips quirking up. "That so?"
"Not gonna lie, you fit the role." Jet smirked, handing the script back. "Quiet, mysterious, strong—plus, in the book, he made half the Betas and Omegas fall for him. With a face like yours, recreating that should be a breeze. I mean, I used to like him too—"
"So you'd like me?" Han interrupted smoothly.
Jet blinked. "Huh?"
Han tilted his head, leaning in just slightly. "You liked him, right? So wouldn't that mean you'd like me?"
Jet felt his brain short-circuit for a second. Han was way too close, his voice low and teasing, and for some reason, Jet could feel the heat creeping up his neck.
Then, realization hit.
"Bro—" Jet shoved Han's face away, standing up to walk away. "I get it, you're an 'Enigma'. You're taller, stronger, whatever. But if you dragged me here just to mess with me, I'm going home."
Han's eyes widened in panic. His hands came together in an exaggerated plea. "Wait, wait! I'm sorry! I won't say that again!"
Jet huffed a laugh. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
He grabbed the script, flipping through it absentmindedly. His eyes landed on a particular scene, and suddenly, a mischievous grin spread across his face.
"By the way, your character kisses a few girls in this. All different styles." Jet glanced at Han, feigning curiosity. "Should we practice that?"
"Sure—wait. YOU—!" Han's voice shot up, realization dawning too late.
Jet burst out laughing, his entire body shaking with amusement. He laughed so hard his knees nearly gave out, forcing him to grab the edge of the couch for support.
Han reacted instantly, catching Jet before he could actually collapse. "Oh, come on, Jet—"
But Jet was too busy wheezing to care, practically clinging to Han as he tried to recover.
"You're really enjoying yourself, huh?" Han muttered as he set the food down on the table.
Jet wiped away the last traces of laughter, still grinning. "What can I say? You make it too easy."
Han scoffed, sliding into the seat across from him. "Careful, Jet. Payback's a thing, you know."
Jet only smirked, grabbing his chopsticks. "I'll believe it when I see it."
The two dug into their meal, the sound of chopsticks clinking against plates filling the air. It was a simple but satisfying lunch—rice, stir-fried vegetables, and some kind of braised meat that melted in Jet's mouth.
"Damn, this is good," he muttered between bites. "Don't tell me you cooked this yourself?"
Han snorted. "What do you think?"
"Yeah, I figured." Jet chuckled. "Still, credit to whoever did. Guess being rich has its perks."
Han rolled his eyes but let the comment slide. They ate in comfortable silence for a bit before Jet glanced at the script resting nearby.
"Alright," he said, finishing his last bite and wiping his mouth. "What scene do you wanna practice first?"
Han took his time chewing, then swallowed. "The intense ones."
Jet raised a brow. "Intense like… action? Drama? Villain monologues?"
Han nodded. "Yeah. I need to work on delivering lines with impact. And since you read the book, you should know which ones stand out."
Jet grinned, flipping through the pages. "Oh, I know exactly which ones."
He scanned the script until he found what he was looking for, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Alright, let's start with—oh, this one's good. The interrogation scene. Your character's cornered the protagonist, threatening to destroy everything he loves."
Han leaned back, smirking. "Perfect. Let's hear it."
Jet cleared his throat, then deepened his voice, slipping into the role of the protagonist.
"You think you can just control everyone? That people will bow to you out of fear?"
Han immediately responded, his expression shifting. "Fear isn't control. It's respect, forced or not. And you? You're too blind to see that power isn't given, it's taken."
Jet whistled. "Damn. That was good."
Han smirked. "Of course. You expected less?"
Jet grinned. "Nope. But let's try it again, this time with more intensity."
They ran through the scene again, then another, working through Han's delivery and gestures. By the time they took a break, Jet was fully invested.
"You're really getting into this," Han noted, amused.
"It's fun." Jet yawned, stretching his arms.
Han's eyes sparkled a playful glint that returned. "Too bad we didn't practice the kiss scene though."
Jet, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly choked. "Hey—!"
Han chuckled. "What? I thought we were being thorough!"
Jet shot him a glare but couldn't hide the faint flush on his ears. "Alright, that's it. You're doomed."
Han, still laughing, jumped from his seat. "If you catch me, you'll get a kiss. If I lose, I'll get a kiss!"
And just like that, the rehearsal turned into something else entirely.
Han's maids watched from the side, exchanging glances.
"That's new," one of them murmured, eyes flicking to Jet. "A friend?"
The other hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe… but with how they're talking, I'd say it's more than that."
Her gaze lingered on Jet for a moment before she smirked. "And knowing Sir Han, if he's this comfortable with someone, then…"
The first maid's eyes widened slightly as she caught on. "An Omega?" she whispered.
"Or a Beta, he seems more stronger," the other shrugged. "But either way, I think we should be expecting an extra guest…" Her lips curled knowingly. "And maybe, sometime soon, something even smaller."
They both glanced at Han and Jet again, their race filled with laughter and teasing. Neither of them seemed aware of the assumptions being made about them just a few steps away.