By Zephyria 
The terrace was filled with the soft air of late May. Walking toward the railing with Choi Hong-seo, Lee Hae-sung slowly looked around at the unobstructed view.
“This is a terrace worth boasting about. The view is truly wonderful.”
Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han’s terrace was as spacious as a small garden, and since there were few high-rise buildings in downtown Paris, the field of vision was wide open. The Luxembourg Gardens were right in front of them, and the Eiffel Tower was visible quite close by. Everywhere his gaze landed felt quintessentially Parisian.
Admiring the view, Lee Hae-sung turned to Choi Hong-seo, who was standing beside him.
“What do you think, Hyeon-seo?”
“It’s wonderful. It really feels like Paris.”
“It does. It really feels like we’ve come to Paris.”
At Choi Hong-seo’s answer, not only Lee Hae-sung but also Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han laughed pleasantly, as if finding him cute. Choi Hong-seo, however, pressed his lips tight, perhaps becoming embarrassed by his own answer at their laughter.
“You both must be tired, right? You probably haven’t had much time to rest since arriving in Paris. Perhaps I should have invited you for a meal tomorrow.”
At Jeong Ji-in’s concern, Lee Hae-sung shook his head.
“Our stay isn’t that long. Even if the schedule is a bit tight, the more time we spend together, the better. The purpose of this trip is to introduce Hyeon-seo to you two, after all.”
As he finished speaking, Lee Hae-sung gazed affectionately at his lover’s profile.
Having left Seoul a few days prior due to the film festival, the time Lee Hae-sung could spend in Paris was barely four days and three nights. The four of them had planned to see each other’s faces every day, even if only briefly. Today was dinner at Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han’s apartment, tomorrow was a meal hosted by Lee Hae-sung and Choi Hong-seo, and on the final day, they were scheduled to interview ‘Heterotopia’ in the afternoon and spend the evening at Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han’s weekend villa in Saint-Cloud, on the outskirts of Paris.
“It’s a shame the schedule is short, but Hyeon-seo, let’s get much closer during this time.”
At Jeong Ji-in’s warm words, Choi Hong-seo nodded, looking at him with a cautious gaze.
It was perhaps the first moment their eyes truly met.
Jeong Ji-in, who had met a boy who looked so much like Choi Hong-seo as Lee Hae-sung’s lover, and Choi Hong-seo, who could not tell Jeong Ji-in that he was Choi Hong-seo. Lee Hae-sung, watching them, also held his breath for a moment.
With a thin smile that felt slightly bitter, Jeong Ji-in was the first to drop his gaze. Then, to refresh the atmosphere, he suggested in a bright voice:
“Hyeon-seo, would you like to try this?”
Leading Hyeon-seo to a long buffet table set up on one side of the terrace, he began to make cocktails on the spot using the prepared ingredients.
“This is Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine. And this… is an Italian liquor called Aperol. If you put these two into a wine glass filled with ice like this, and pour in some sparkling water…”
Finishing it off with a thin slice of orange, Jeong Ji-in handed the cocktail to Choi Hong-seo.
“There are some simple appetizers, so please feel free to drink along with them.”
“Thank you.”
“The aperitivo is way too lavish, Ji-in. How is this a ‘simple appetizer’? It’s practically a dinner.”
Approaching the two, Lee Hae-sung placed a hand on Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder and looked over the abundant table.
“Haha. Did I get too greedy?”
“Hyung was so excited for the first time in a while because Hyung-nim and Hyeon-seo were coming. He kept saying he wanted to make this for them, and that for them… and that’s how it ended up like this.”
Yi-han, who had been perched on a high stool by the railing, stepped down from the chair and approached Jeong Ji-in. Wrapping his arms around his lover’s lower stomach from behind, Yi-han pressed a firm kiss to his cheek.
“Make me a spritz too. I want to drink one made by you for the first time in a while.”
Perhaps it was a level of skinship that was too intense for Choi Hong-seo, as he hurriedly looked away and gulped down the cocktail Jeong Ji-in had made. Lee Hae-sung gently wrapped his hand around the wrist of his lover holding the glass and pulled it down.
“If you drink it like juice because it tastes good, you’ll get drunk quickly. It may look like this, but it’s alcohol.”
While making two more spritzes, Jeong Ji-in looked over and spoke.
“Oh, Hyeon-seo, I heard your hobby is watching movies.”
“It’s just that Hyung knows movies well, so I watch them with him. I’m not yet at a level where I can call it a hobby…”
“By any chance, have you seen the ‘Before’ series? They’re works by director Richard Linklater.”
“No, not yet.”
“Then, I recommend watching them with Hyung-nim while you’re staying in Paris.”
“That’s a good idea.”
Lee Hae-sung nodded, agreeing with Jeong Ji-in’s recommendation.
“Especially <Before Sunset>, as it’s set in Paris. Watching it while staying here will become a memory later.”
While making two cocktails simultaneously, Jeong Ji-in continued to look back at Choi Hong-seo between sentences.
“Ah, don’t feel pressured; I’m not going to check it like a homework assignment. It’s just a recommendation.”
“I’ll definitely watch it. I’m very curious about what kind of movie it is.”
“How is the drink? Is it okay?”
“It’s delicious. It doesn’t feel like alcohol.”
“It’s called a spritz, a cocktail often drunk as an aperitif in Italy. I grew up in Italy.”
Having completed the two cocktails at once, Jeong Ji-in handed one to Lee Hae-sung and the other to Yi-han.
“The aperitif culture is more active in the north, but although I grew up in the center, it was a resort area. Perhaps that’s why the food culture felt a bit more abundant than in other central regions.”
“Hey, I’m sure Hyeon-seo already knows you’re from Italy.”
Picking up a cracker topped with cheese, Yi-han shrugged. As soon as he received the spritz, he gulped it down like beer and had already emptied half of it.
“How would Hyeon-seo know something like that?”
“He said he’s your fan. That’s what I heard last time. Right, Hyeon-seo?”
“Huh? Yes… that’s right.”
“He probably just said it out of politeness. It’s been so long since I left Korea.”
“No! It’s true! I’m a real fan!”
Choi Hong-seo even took a large step toward Jeong Ji-in. His expression was earnest, pleading for him to believe. This was the most active and clear expression of intent since he had stepped foot in this house, and both Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han seemed slightly surprised.
“I’ve seen all your works. I really love your… no, no, Seonbae-nim’s acting.”
“If you’re okay with it, Hyeon-seo, just call me Hyung. I’ve already left the Korean broadcasting industry, so ‘Seonbae-nim’ feels strange.”
“…Is that okay?”
He could call Jeong Ji-in Hyung. Just like before.
At that thought, a flush rose to Choi Hong-seo’s cheeks. His eyes sparkled as if shimmering with light.
From a few steps away, Lee Hae-sung silently watched Choi Hong-seo. Seeing Choi Hong-seo approach Jeong Ji-in felt somehow precarious, and Lee Hae-sung’s grip on his glass tightened repeatedly.
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be? Besides, we’re meeting in a private setting.”
“Then I’ll call you Hyung. Ji-in… Hyung.”
At the sight of ‘Hyeon-seo’ being shy yet openly happy, Jeong Ji-in also showed a soft smile. However, it was still a smile based on pain. While trying to treat the ‘Hyeon-seo’ before him without prejudice, he seemed unable to feel at ease due to the resemblance that inevitably reminded him of Choi Hong-seo.
Not only Lee Hae-sung, but Choi Hong-seo also seemed to read those subtle emotions in Jeong Ji-in’s expression. Because they were two people who had known each other well.
Wanting to comfort Jeong Ji-in’s sadness, Choi Hong-seo’s lips parted several times as he looked at that faint smile.
Suddenly, Lee Hae-sung felt a dizzying sensation beneath his feet. The Parisian sky stretching behind Choi Hong-seo seemed to become an abyss. He felt an anxiety that the moment Choi Hong-seo’s hand touched Jeong Ji-in, he would scatter and vanish into that void. Quickly drinking three or four gulps of the spritz, he urgently called Choi Hong-seo.
“Hyeon-seo, come over here and sit with me. It looks a bit dangerous.”
There was a sturdy railing that came up to the chest, and it wasn’t as if Choi Hong-seo was pressed right up against it. Since ‘Hyeon-seo’ wasn’t actually a small child, calling this level of height dangerous was clearly overprotection.
Yi-han said playfully with a laugh.
“Hyung-nim, that’s a bit over the top. Even by Korean standards, this is only the 6th floor.”
“Hyeon-seo is a bit afraid of high places.”
“Ah, really? I didn’t know.”
“No, this height is fine, but… Hyung…”
Choi Hong-seo looked at Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han as if making an excuse, wanting to say he wasn’t as much of a coward as Lee Hae-sung made him sound. Nevertheless, he moved to Lee Hae-sung’s side as requested.
The one who was actually afraid of high places was Lee Hae-sung. To be precise, he became anxious whenever Choi Hong-seo was in a high place. Knowing this well, Choi Hong-seo complied with his words despite being displeased.
Only after seating Choi Hong-seo first at a spacious outdoor table that looked like it could fit eight people did Lee Hae-sung take the seat next to him.
“I can guarantee that Hyeon-seo is a fan of Ji-in. Sometimes I’m even jealous.”
Telling him not to say such things, Choi Hong-seo lightly tugged on Lee Hae-sung’s arm. Fearing that Lee Hae-sung might make a slip of the tongue in front of Jeong Ji-in, beads of sweat had formed on his temples. Even though it was a pleasant May afternoon, comfortable as paradise, neither hot nor cold.
Lee Hae-sung, wearing a light blouson over a linen shirt, pressed a handkerchief from his inner pocket against Choi Hong-seo’s temple.
“Hyeon-seo has a gift he prepared separately, too. You can give it to Ji-in Hyung now.”
“Now… ? Give it now?”
Choi Hong-seo asked back in an uncertain tone.
“Wow, there’s another gift besides the one you gave earlier? Hyeon-seo is the one who should be receiving congratulations, is it okay for me to keep receiving gifts like this?”
As he placed a plate with a few selected appetizers on the table, Jeong Ji-in encouraged ‘Hyeon-seo’. Choi Hong-seo, while gauging the situation, rummaged through the bag beneath his chair.