By Zephyria 
Choi Hong-seo always carried a heavy burden of worry on his back, and even laughing freely and comfortably was a difficult task. He always kept a distance from the people he liked, and the idea of opening up his heart completely to mingle with them was unimaginable.
Now, all of that had passed.
Shortly after returning from Bali, Choi Hong-seo’s spots completely disappeared, and the fire at Jo Seong-hyeon’s villa was concluded as a suicide. CEO Myeong Do-hoon took his own life in a prison restroom just before a special pardon was to be granted.
After various twists and turns, <Cream Mansion> was successfully wrapped, and it was submitted to Cannes within the deadline.
Everything had passed. It was becoming the past, piling up while leaving behind traces that could not be identified for now.
Park Dong-ha, who had been considerably unstable immediately after Jo Seong-hyeon’s death, also gradually found his stability. It seemed that to him, Jo Seong-hyeon’s death now felt like liberation.
‘Still, a person died, so I hate myself for feeling relieved that it went well. Am I… not fully human, Hyung? Should I have hoped he wouldn’t die?’
One night, a drunken Park Dong-ha had asked that in agony.
To such a person, Choi Hong-seo had no choice but to answer that it wasn’t so.
Though the specific details differed slightly, Choi Hong-seo knew what it was like to be threatened and dragged around every single day by someone who held your weakness—what it was like for that to become your life and your daily routine.
Whether it was Lee Seo-kyung, Jo Seong-hyeon, or Myeong Do-hoon.
He was not such a saint as to pity the deaths of those kinds of people.
It was simply that the fact that it was a matter so dark and heavy that only death could resolve it—that he, Park Dong-ha, Go Ji-woon, and perhaps Yoon Hye-an, had been carrying burdens that heavy—hit him anew.
And matters of that weight were bound to leave something behind.
Whether it would become a fruit with rich flesh after enduring hardship, or filth that rotted black and emitted a stench, he couldn’t know for now. It depended entirely on how the time following this was spent.
As for what it left for him, he would naturally realize it someday in the distant future.
Just as one discovers many emotions they weren’t aware of at the time when reading through an old diary.
So, he decided to focus more on himself living today.
He and Park Dong-ha had made that vow together.
Park Dong-ha, who had once struggled with conflict, oscillating between resentment and affection for ‘Yoon Hye-an,’ had now become a comrade sharing the same secret and a reliable friend.
“Excuse me, Hyeon-seo Oppa.”
The voice of a stranger drifted down over the two of them, who were playing around like children.
“Could you take a photo with Dong-ha Oppa? I’m a huge fan.”
“Of course.”
Caught in an embarrassing moment, the two exchanged glances while suppressing their laughter and tidied their appearance.
The two women, who identified themselves as fashion bloggers in their early twenties, gave them flattering compliments, saying, ‘You’re both much more handsome in person.’
“Please release another song where Dong-ha Oppa sings a piece written by Hyeon-seo Oppa. I love it so much.”
“I want to sing more, but Hyeon-seo Hyung is such a popular composer now. Could you put in a good word for me with the composer?”
After the photo, the women, amused by Park Dong-ha’s banter, waved and left.
“Hyung, I really think changing your name was a great move.”
Park Dong-ha said as he moistened his throat with cold champagne.
“At first, I wondered if it would really have that much of an effect. But names really are important for people.”
It was Lee Hae-sung who had suggested that since he was leaving ENA, why not change his stage name as well.
In fact, the new agency that Choi Hong-seo was currently the sole member of was practically co-founded with him. Since ARA’s Lee Hae-sung could not be at the forefront, it was superficially a one-person agency for ‘Hyeon-seo,’ but in reality, a personal assistant team separately organized by him handled most of the practical work.
“I think it was a good move too.”
“That’s the name he gave you, right? Hyeon-seo.”
Choi Hong-seo nodded.
“Maybe I should ask him to give me one too. Things have been going so well for you since you changed your name, Hyung.”
“……”
Lee Hae-sung had said:
‘It would be too cruel for you to continue living while being called by the name of a specific other person who already existed, just because you borrowed the body.’
‘Even if you can’t reclaim the name Choi Hong-seo, just changing your name will allow you to feel that you are living a new life of your own.’
Since it was a good opportunity, he had actively encouraged him to change his stage name before more time passed.
‘Then, please give me a name, Ahjussi.’
‘Me? Is that okay?’
‘I’d like any name you give me, Ahjussi.’
Hyeon (晛) for sunlight, Seo (棲) for dwelling.
That was how he gave Choi Hong-seo a new name.
Another name that shared the same initial consonants as his previous one.
Lost in thought, Choi Hong-seo glanced over at Park Dong-ha’s peculiar laughter.
“Why, why are you laughing?”
“Do you hate it that much, the idea of me asking him for a name?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Do I need you to say it to know? It’s written all over your face.”
“What’s written there?”
“No, no, no. Ahjussi is mine. He should only give me a name.”
“Hey, Park Dong-ha. When did I ever make a weird voice like that?”
“At first, I thought only he was a fool for his lover, but that’s not it. You two are surprisingly a match made in heaven.”
Buzz, buzz.
While talking to Park Dong-ha, Choi Hong-seo’s phone, which he had placed face down, vibrated. Messages were arriving consecutively.
“Aren’t you checking it? Isn’t it him?”
“He knows I’m working. It’s fine.”
He didn’t want to check the messages in front of Park Dong-ha. Whether his expression became stiff or softened, the other would definitely tease him again.
“He’s busy lately, right? I heard ARA’s new collection is coming out soon.”
“Yeah, he’s busy. It’s almost an emergency right now… Even today, he came home briefly at dawn, slept for about two hours, and went back to work.”
“Ah… so that’s why you were depressed, Hyung. Like ‘that person’ withdrawal symptoms?”
“Let’s just stop talking.”
Though he denied it with a sigh, perhaps Park Dong-ha’s words weren’t entirely wrong.
The power of a lifetime’s accumulated experience of living without anyone to act spoiled with was immense, so he couldn’t even think of whining for more attention from the busy man.
However, he was a little—somewhat—upset that he wasn’t woken up when he returned home at dawn.
Knowing it was because of work, he would never say he wanted to spend more time together, but he really wanted to see his face, even for a moment.
For a while after returning from Bali, he had remained a light sleeper. But just how deeply had he been sleeping that he didn’t notice someone lying down and getting up right next to him… Or perhaps, it was because Lee Hae-sung had moved that carefully.
Park Dong-ha, having emptied his champagne glass and set it down with a clink, stood up.
“Don’t forget our appointment the day after tomorrow! If you stand me up like last time, Hyung, you’re expelled from Hyeon-Dong-Jae.”
The expression of the guy looking down at him was quite determined.
Hyeon-Dong-Jae was a monthly regular gathering of the three of them, named after Hyeon-seo, Dong-ha, and Yong-jae. However, the naming had not been agreed upon by all members.
“Hey, that was an unavoidable emergency. And I really don’t like that name, Hyeon-Dong-Jae…”
Park Dong-ha narrowed his brows with an expression of disbelief.
“Hyung, is ‘that person having a nightmare’ an emergency?”
“……Is it not?”
“Yeah, it’s not. That’s really not.”
After emphasizing it several times, Park Dong-ha stroked his lower jaw and muttered to himself.
“This… the symptoms are more serious than I thought.”
Then, as if it couldn’t be helped, he shook his head and patted Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder.
“Fine, I’ll leave you alone, so reply to him. He must be waiting with bated breath.”
While shaking his head at the guy who teased him until the very end, Choi Hong-seo’s hand reached for the phone. As expected, several messages had arrived.
Carrot Seller: It’s only been an hour since the article went up
Carrot Seller: But there are already over 100 comments
Carrot Seller: Your popularity is growing by the day
Carrot Seller: The plans for kidnapping, retirement, and imprisonment are drifting further and further away (10:12 PM)
Carrot Seller: Choi Baby
Carrot Seller: I know you’re at the after-party right now
Carrot Seller: Aren’t you going to reply? (10:21 PM)
Carrot Seller: Leaving me on delivered is too much
Carrot Seller: At least leave me on read
Carrot Seller: Are you angry because I’ve been busy lately? (10:28 PM)
No. I’m angry because you didn’t wake me up yesterday at dawn.
And Choi Hong-seo knew.
While he was pretending to be troubled by an angry lover, Lee Hae-sung on the other side of the messages was likely enjoying this situation as well.
A party staff member approached and poured champagne into Choi Hong-seo’s empty glass. After a slight nod, he typed a reply.
Me: Ahjussi is busy and tired, so it’s hard for you
Me: Why would I be angry
Me: The fact that you didn’t wake me up even though you came home yesterday at dawn…
Me: Was a bit… (10:31 PM)
Carrot Seller: I was going to go out after only two hours of sleep
Carrot Seller: How could I wake a sleeping person out of my own greed
Carrot Seller: Hong-seo has a schedule today too
Carrot Seller: I had to think about your skin and condition (10:34 PM)
Me: Were you watching me sleep again without sleeping yourself? (10:34 PM)
Carrot Seller: No
Carrot Seller: I watched for a bit and then I slept too (10:35 PM)
Me: I told you to make sure to wake me up when you get off work… (10:36 PM)
Carrot Seller: I was energetic today thanks to recharging with Hong-seo (10:37 PM)
Me: I didn’t get to recharge with Ahjussi
Me: I guess that’s why I looked angry (10:38 PM)