By Zephyria “Oppa, what did he say? What did you talk about?”
“Talk about what? I just took his order.”
Though his legs were trembling, Song Hyun-soo answered Chae-young’s question calmly.
“What did he order?”
“Johnnie Walker.”
“Blue Label?”
“No, Double Black.”
“That’s surprising.”
Song Hyun-soo agreed. He’d thought a star like Yoon Joo-ho would drink the top-tier Blue Label from Johnnie Walker.
Double Black was the whisky with the strongest smoky aroma characteristic of Johnnie Walker. Yoon Joo-ho had intended to order Ballantine’s but changed his mind midway. He usually enjoyed Ballantine’s, but today he felt like drinking Johnnie Walker Double Black. That likely meant he wasn’t in a particularly good mood.
It would be better to dilute it rather than drink it straight and strong. There was no benefit in drinking hard liquor when one was in a bad mood.
As he opened a new bottle of Double Black from the storage, Song Hyun-soo glanced at Yoon Joo-ho intermittently. The few other customers, only three or four, also began to stir, noticing his presence. But no one dared to approach him. It was understandable. When someone so impossibly handsome exuded an aura that screamed ‘do not disturb,’ who would dare?
Yoon Joo-ho, with his head bowed low, seemed engrossed in a serious matter that shouldn’t be interrupted. One thing was certain: the response he’d get if someone approached him with ‘Excuse me, Mr. Yoon Joo-ho…’ would never be ‘Thank you. Shall we take a picture together?’
“I thought Jung Ji-in and Yoon Hye-an were radiant, but wow… someone who’s been a star since they were three is something else.”
Jung-ho whispered, sticking close to Song Hyun-soo.
“Come to think of it, being a celebrity really isn’t for just anyone.”
“Hyun-soo oppa is practically a celebrity too.”
Chae-young said, approaching the bar counter. Song Hyun-soo scoffed.
“What celebrity am I?”
“Why, you’ve already appeared in three movies this year.”
“They were all extras or minor roles.”
“All actors start that way.”
“What about Yoon Joo-ho?”
“……”
At that question, Chae-young hesitated and then shut her mouth tight. Song Hyun-soo, placing the drinks on a tray, gave her a playful smile.
“Just kidding. Yoon Joo-ho is an exception.”
“That’s right! Cases as lucky as Yoon Joo-ho’s are incredibly rare.”
Chae-young also laughed heartily and nodded.
Song Hyun-soo picked up the tray and headed towards B-12. His resolve was almost grim. As he got closer to the table, things he hadn’t noticed before came into view. For instance, a white bouquet of flowers placed on Yoon Joo-ho’s side table…
Did he get it from a fan on the way? Or… is he meeting someone here? Is he deliberately coming to a rundown, unpopular bar to avoid fans? Questions and curiosity swirled in his mind, but the bartender’s lines were fixed, regardless of the customer.
“Here is your whiskey.”
“……”
Yoon Joo-ho stared intently at the glass, noting its appearance—neither on the rocks with ice nor a straight pour in a shot glass.
“I’ve added a little lukewarm water.”
“Lukewarm water?”
“It seems like a day you’d be drawn to the smoky aroma of Double Black. When whiskey meets lukewarm water, its aroma becomes richer. You can enjoy the scent more while slightly lowering the alcohol content.”
After hearing the explanation, Yoon Joo-ho picked up the glass and brought it to his nose.
Now that he’d served the drink, he should return to his post, but Song Hyun-soo didn’t want to. He wanted to exchange at least one more word, anything. But he couldn’t think of a plausible topic to bring up with this seemingly cold man.
In the end, he had to resort to a cliché.
“Actually, I’m a huge fan.”
Though no one around me knows.
“You don’t need to say that just to be polite. I know male fans are rare.”
“It’s not lip service. I mean it.”
Why was he denying it so seriously and earnestly? Yoon Joo-ho looked up with a puzzled gaze. Then he said,
“They say my male fans are rarer than wild ginseng.”
“Then I guess I’m wild ginseng.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s brow furrowed slightly, and Song Hyun-soo grew anxious.
“Well, I’m also an actor… an aspiring actor. I even practice by imitating your acting.”
Song Hyun-soo, who had intended to introduce himself as an actor, changed it to an aspiring actor. In front of a popular actor like Yoon Joo-ho, the words ‘I’m also an actor’ wouldn’t come out of his throat.
“My acting?”
“Your foundation is solid. Your vocalization and diction are textbook perfect. And in the new coffee commercial, you were… incredibly cool.”
“……”
Yoon Joo-ho’s expression remained unchanged throughout. He looked as if he didn’t understand what was being said. What? Does he not know his own commercial?
With no other choice, Song Hyun-soo performed a voice impression.
“Forget that coffee. From now on, only drink NUBO.”
Pfft. Yoon Joo-ho, who had been like a cold marble sculpture, perfectly carved, laughed. It was a faint laugh, like air escaping, but a laugh nonetheless.
It felt like a small miracle. A lily blooming in the wasteland, a single star appearing through the rain clouds in a pitch-black night sky. A cool beauty, whose body temperature seemed at least three degrees lower than an average person’s. The impact of that beauty’s smile was immense. His heart contracted powerfully, then swelled as if about to explode.
Yoon Joo-ho, wrapping his long fingers around the glass, raised it and smiled again.
“You’re an interesting person. I’ll enjoy this.”
Song Hyun-soo, without realizing it, fumbled with his left chest, near his heart, and squeezed it tightly.
Mimicking him right in front of him was an impulsive act he hadn’t calculated, but seeing Yoon Joo-ho’s smile, his embarrassment vanished. By the time he returned to the bar counter, Song Hyun-soo was also letting out a silly grin.
“What were you talking about for so long, Hyun-soo?”
The manager, as if he had been waiting, grabbed Song Hyun-soo’s sleeve and asked. Jung-ho, standing nearby, joined in.
“Did Yoon Joo-ho complain about something?”
“Just talked about drinks.”
“But he’s so rich, why only a glass of Johnnie Walker Double Black? Not even a whole bottle. I thought he’d boost sales significantly.”
The manager winced and glanced towards Yoon Joo-ho.
“They say he’s incredibly extravagant and only likes high-end products. I saw on YouTube that he only drinks deep-sea water from the ocean in Hawaii or something like that?”
Jung-ho chimed in with what he’d heard, and Chae-young agreed.
“Huh? I saw that too! The water bottle was over 400,000 won, so I choked on my chicken.”
“What?? Water for 400,000 won?? He’s out of his mind.”
The manager clicked his tongue and glared at Yoon Joo-ho as if he were a criminal. Song Hyun-soo asked Jung-ho as he returned the tray to its place,
“You saw that on YouTube? Was it that YouTuber who got sued for spreading rumors that Han Se-jin and Goo Young-jae were dating?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Jung-ho mumbled uncertainly, and Song Hyun-soo shook his head firmly.
“Manager, that YouTuber can’t be trusted.”
“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. At least he smoked a cigarette to make smoke.”
“But why would someone who’s so particular about luxury come to a place like this?”
It was the moment Chae-young posed the question.
Jingle jingle.
The bell on the entrance door rang. It signaled a new customer. Everyone’s gaze shifted from Yoon Joo-ho to the entrance.
It was Jung Ji-in.
“Oh? Hyung!”
Song Hyun-soo’s face lit up instantly. Jung Ji-in, who had been looking around the room as if searching for someone, also spotted Song Hyun-soo, smiled back, and gave a short wave.
“Hyun-soo, I’ll have a coffee, please.”
“Okay.”
So that’s why Yoon Joo-ho was in this humble corner of Daehangno. The answer was surprisingly simple.
He came to meet his friend Hyung.
Jung Ji-in and Yoon Joo-ho were actors of the same age and were known to be close. They had also worked together on many projects, so there were plenty of opportunities to grow closer. It was a mystery how Yoon Joo-ho, a 30-year veteran actor who now spoke his mind freely in interviews, and the polite, introverted Jung Ji-in became friends.
They did share a common passion for acting. So, perhaps they would spend hours discussing acting over grilled pork belly and soju. Song Hyun-soo had imagined their rather unexciting drinking sessions.
Jung Ji-in walked directly to B-12 without hesitation and plopped down in the seat opposite Yoon Joo-ho. There was no pretense or hesitation in his manner.
I knew it, but these two are really close…
“Ah… if I take a picture of these two now and post it on SNS, I’ll gain thousands of followers instantly.”
Jung-ho kept glancing at the B-12 table while making coffee, licking his lips.
“Jung Ji-in is the real deal. Look how he’s not outshone next to Yoon Joo-ho even in casual clothes. How is his skin so good? Oppa, what’s Jung Ji-in’s skincare secret?”
“What do you mean? He probably pours money into dermatology.”
Before Song Hyun-soo could answer Chae-young’s question, the manager interjected. Song Hyun-soo bristled at the baseless speculation.
“Hyung, he doesn’t go to a dermatologist? It’s natural.”
Ignoring the manager’s bewildered gaze, he took the coffee Jung-ho had made and left the counter.
As he approached the table, Yoon Joo-ho and Jung Ji-in’s conversation, which he tried not to hear, became audible.
“I’m going to do a movie.”
It was Yoon Joo-ho’s voice.
“A movie?”
Song Hyun-soo was as surprised as Jung Ji-in, who echoed the question. After all, in his 30 years of debut, Yoon Joo-ho had only ever acted in dramas.
“It’s director Jung Joon-hee’s project, and I was lucky. Though I expect to be broken a lot during filming.”
“Isn’t he the director who only makes traditional melodramas?”
It was a serious conversation where it was awkward to interrupt. But as a bartender, the basic rule was to act as if one saw and heard nothing. Sensing someone approaching, Jung Ji-in naturally paused their conversation and looked this way.
“Hyung, here’s your coffee.”
“Thanks.”
After a brief exchange of glances with Jung Ji-in, Song Hyun-soo returned to the counter. One thought dominated his mind.
A movie. Yoon Joo-ho in a movie. And if it’s director Jung Joon-hee’s work…
It was the very project Song Hyun-soo was auditioning for next week.
About five minutes after bringing the coffee, Yoon Joo-ho stood up. He was around 188? 189? cm tall, but his presence made him seem even taller. The flowing, ankle-length long coat looked incredibly good on his slender frame and broad shoulders.
As Yoon Joo-ho approached the counter to pay, everyone pushed Song Hyun-soo towards the register again.
“How much is it?”
“Twenty-two thousand won.”
Jung Ji-in, following behind, grabbed Yoon Joo-ho’s shoulder as he took out his wallet.
“Hey, you came to see my play, so I’ll pay.”
“No. Can’t I even buy you coffee?”
“……”
Behind Yoon Joo-ho’s stubborn insistence, Jung Ji-in awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.
The movement of his hand signing the pad, the connection of putting the card back into his wallet and then the wallet into his coat pocket, his profile as he opened the door—nothing was ordinary. It was as if every moment was being captured on camera. The way he moved to create a ‘picture’ was ingrained in Yoon Joo-ho’s body.
He was a man who had lived under the public’s gaze since he was three, a true ‘born actor.’ It wasn’t just his looks; every single one of his actions, different from ordinary people, made him look like a real actor.
After the two left, everyone let out a sigh of relief, freed from the pressure.
“With the bouquet, it really looked like a scene from a movie. Like this place was a film set…”
Chae-young murmured with a dazed expression, gazing towards the door where Yoon Joo-ho had disappeared.
“He is quite cool, though.”
Jung-ho nodded and stood in front of the mirror, striking a pose.
“No. Can’t I even buy you coffee?”
He then mimicked what Yoon Joo-ho had said to Jung Ji-in.
“I should have asked for a picture.”
Chae-young, looking crestfallen, stared longingly at the closed door, clutching her phone. Jung-ho shook his head, looking at her.
“Didn’t you see his vibe? He looked like he’d smash your phone if you asked for a picture. He’s cool, but the rumors about him being rude seem to be true.”
However, Jung-ho’s criticism didn’t dampen Chae-young’s admiration for Yoon Joo-ho.
“Manager, can I keep this receipt with Yoon Joo-ho’s signature on it?”
“What would you do with that? You didn’t get it directly.”
“I want to keep this as a memento.”
Song Hyun-soo, who had been half-listening to their conversation, hastily untied his apron.
“Um, I’ll just go say hello to Ji-in hyung for a moment.”
He peeked outside through the small glass window above the entrance door. The two were still talking by the door. Soon, Yoon Joo-ho left first, and Song Hyun-soo quickly pushed open the door and went out.
“Hyung, is Yoon Joo-ho appearing in
Jung Ji-in turned around at Song Hyun-soo’s voice, raising his eyebrows.
“Dissolve?”
“I heard he’s in director Jung Joon-hee’s next project.”
“Ah… yes, I think so.”
“That’s amazing. I’m going to audition for it next week.”
Song Hyun-soo’s voice was filled with excitement. Jung Ji-in asked with pleasure,
“Really? What role?”
“I’ve built up some confidence, so I’m going to try for a supporting role. I’ve only done minor roles so far.”
“That feels promising!”
Song Hyun-soo completely agreed. The fact that the lead actor, confirmed for the same movie, had appeared at ‘Jessica’ today seemed like a good omen. Yoon Joo-ho was undoubtedly a lucky charm.
Song Hyun-soo’s giggling laughter suddenly subsided. The white bouquet Yoon Joo-ho had brought was now in Jung Ji-in’s hand.
The flowers… they were for Ji-in hyung. Ah, he said he went to see hyung’s play. He must have intended to give them after the performance. They really are close.
It was only the beginning of December, but the cold was fiercer than usual. Song Hyun-soo hugged himself and sniffled.
“Finish your performance well, and have a safe trip when you leave on Sunday.”
The day after tomorrow, Sunday, Jung Ji-in was scheduled to leave for Paris, France. It wasn’t a trip. He was packing up his life here and moving to Paris. Until the very last moment, he was performing in a play in Daehangno.
“Take good care of your health, and if you need anyone to monitor your audition tapes, send them to me like you always do… you know my email address, right? Your home has a landline, did I give you the number?”
“Why are you acting like we’ll never see each other again? In this day and age. I’ll see you again soon when I visit Paris.”
When Song Hyun-soo responded as if it were no big deal, Jung Ji-in finally smiled relaxedly.
“Okay, I’ll be waiting, so please come.”
“We’re almost at our target amount, so clean your room and wait for me as soon as I get there.”
Song Hyun-soo drew a V with his fingers and grinned.
After hearing Jung Ji-in’s plan to move to France, Song Hyun-soo had started saving for a backpacking trip through Europe. But it wasn’t easy for an unknown actor, who worked as a bartender three days a week and received barely enough for bus fare from his theater troupe, to save money. Still, Song Hyun-soo boasted that he was close to his target amount. He wanted to offer reassurance that they would meet again soon. To Jung Ji-in, and to himself.
He acted as if parting was no big deal, but his nose had been stinging constantly. It felt as if all the few people he liked were leaving him under this Seoul sky.
But he had no intention of hiding in a tiny room and lamenting his fate. Whether he cried face down or jumped up to fight to the death, time would flow the same. He realized then that it was more beneficial to at least try something. It was a realization he had gained only after paying a very steep price.
Song Hyun-soo rubbed his forearm, clad in a thin shirt, and peered into the interior through the glass window. As expected, the manager was glaring in his direction.
“I’m going in, hyung. The new manager is a real pain… I mean, he’s meticulous.”
Instead of shaking hands or hugging, he waved goodbye to Jung Ji-in with a smile, as if they would meet again tomorrow. Jung Ji-in, too, sent Song Hyun-soo off with his characteristic smile that put people at ease.
Song Hyun-soo pulled the entrance door, walked past Jung Ji-in’s shoulder, and stepped inside. Separated by the entrance door, Song Hyun-soo and Jung Ji-in crossed paths. Each walked towards their own time.
That was the last meeting between Yoon Joo-ho and Jung Ji-in, and the first meeting between Song Hyun-soo and Yoon Joo-ho. It would be much later, after a considerable amount of time had passed, that they would reflect on the significance of that day.
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