By Zephyria 
On a theater stage, all the lights suddenly dimmed, leaving only a single spotlight on him. He felt rejected by the entire world. He realized how genuinely he liked Yoon Joo-ho, how deep his feelings ran. He felt it more clearly now, standing before a closed door, than he had when confessing using methods found online. If Yoon Joo-ho were to stab me, I would feel pain from here to here, to this depth.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, Director Bang, glancing at Song Hyun-soo, hurried into the Master Zone. Like the room with the Bar, the door lock at the entrance to the Master Zone had also been replaced with a fingerprint scanner. It was probably due to the recent theft incident. The life of superstar Yoon Joo-ho, whom he had admired his whole life, wasn’t as super-super as it seemed up close. Of course, if material wealth was everything, it was super-super. But living in a life where you had to lock and unlock doors even within your own home. Honestly, Song Hyun-soo didn’t think he could live like that.
As he paced, unable to calm down, Director Bang returned sooner than expected, holding Song Hyun-soo’s clothes and bag in both hands.
“See if I missed anything.”
“You got everything. Thank you, Director.”
He slung the bag over one shoulder and clutched the clothes.
“But I have a script practice part-time job today. What should I do?”
Director Bang glanced back at the firmly closed door, shook his head, and patted Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen today. Your mood is very low.”
“Then I’ll just change and head home.”
“Feel free to use the practice room.”
After changing in the acting practice room, he found Director Bang waiting by the kitchen island, with strawberries laid out.
“I hope you have time to eat these before you go.”
Since it was his usual work time, he had no other plans. But even with the perfectly red and beautiful strawberries laid out, he didn’t feel much like eating them today. Yet, he also didn’t want to refuse the strawberries Director Bang had prepared for him…
As he went to sit on a stool, Director Bang noticed and picked up the plate.
“You’re not very hungry, are you? Then I’ll pack them for you to take home.”
“It’s okay…”
“There’s no one here who will eat this many if you leave them.”
Director Bang quickly put the strawberries into a Tupperware container and placed it in a small shopping bag.
“Thank you, Director. I’ll enjoy them.”
“Don’t be too discouraged, Hyun-soo.”
“……”
“Joo-ho might act like he’s used to these things, but he gets sensitive every time a similar incident happens. He’s always like that. It’s not your fault, so don’t feel burdened.”
“Yes.”
But Director.
There’s one more thing you don’t know.
I confessed to my senior. I told him I wanted to date, not just sleep together. He’s probably twice as prickly now because of that. Or, if my confession became insignificant because of the Cha Gyu-min incident, I’d hate that even more.
Even if he rejected my confession, there should be some change because of me.
“Director, may I just see the cat for a moment?”
“Of course, you can! I’m curious too, I haven’t seen it yet. Please introduce me, Hyun-soo.”
With Director Bang beaming, they quietly went to the room where the cat was sleeping. Monroe, who had woken from his nap and was chewing on a toy, perked up his ears at their arrival and looked over. In an instant, he hid inside his cage.
“It’s smaller than I imagined!”
Director Bang looked utterly charmed. He was a handsome man who had aged gracefully, and when he stood quietly behind Yoon Joo-ho during script readings or company dinners, he had a formidable presence. It was fascinating to see that face melt at the sight of a kitten’s cuteness.
“Isn’t he incredibly cute?”
Song Hyun-soo puffed out his chest as if Monroe were his own cat.
“It’s almost moving to see a small creature this close after so long!”
Keeping their distance from Monroe, the two leaned against the wall opposite the cage. The cat curled up in the farthest corner of the cage, gazing at them with large eyes. He held a toy carrot doll firmly with his front paws. His eyes, still wary yet full of curiosity, were the same as when they were at the vacant lot of ‘Honey’s place’.
“Hello, little meow. I’m the one who will be feeding you and cleaning your litter box from now on. Please take care of me.”
Song Hyun-soo let out an involuntary chuckle at Director Bang’s words, as if he were already accepting his future role, then quickly covered his mouth with his sleeve. Director Bang turned and smiled back.
“Does he have a name yet?”
“Monroe. Marilyn Monroe.”
“Marilyn Monroe? Why?”
“If you look closely, he only has black fur on his left cheek.”
“Where…”
To see the cat huddled in the back of the cage, Director Bang bent his back almost to the floor.
“Oh, that’s unusual! How did he get black fur only in that spot?”
“His body is ginger tabby. Maybe it’s because his mother was a calico.”
“A cushion, a litter box, a food bowl… he already has quite a few things? How many toys are these?”
“My senior bought about a million won worth from the animal hospital at dawn.”
Director Bang chuckled as he touched Monroe’s toys. “The Korean pet market is going to be lively from now on.”
Song Hyun-soo wholeheartedly agreed. The two chatted for a while about how Yoon Joo-ho would dote on Monroe, pretending not to, but being overly protective. Director Bang, with a slightly relieved expression, leaned his head back against the wall and sighed.
“I haven’t been shopping much lately. I thought things were getting better, but it looks like it’ll be a cold wind for a while again.”
“Director.”
“Yes?”
“That watch of Joo-ho’s, it must have been very expensive, right?”
“It’s not one of Joo-ho’s most exorbitant Rolexes, but yes, it’s an expensive watch. He could probably get at least fifty million won if he sold it.”
“F-fifty million won used?”
Having some experience with luxury goods, Song Hyun-soo had a rough idea of prices. He thought a Rolex might be around twenty million, but fifty million even used?
“It’s a Day-Date model. The dial is ice blue, and it was some kind of limited edition… Joo-ho cherished it.”
“Manager Cha Gyu-min, no, Cha Gyu-min sold it?”
“From what I’ve heard from people around him, that’s likely. He probably sold suits and shoes right away, but for high-value items like watches and jewelry, he probably entrusted them for consignment sale.”
The brief moment of joy brought by Monroe was replaced by a heavy silence between the two.
“Hyun-soo.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know what Joo-ho said when he found out the watch was missing?”
“……”
“He said it was fine because it was one he hadn’t worn recently. He said he lost it on a business trip and told me to forget about it too. Even though it was a watch he clearly cherished.”
“……”
“That’s Yoon Joo-ho’s way of defending himself. Whenever someone betrays him, or breaks a promise… he tells himself, It wasn’t precious to me, I didn’t really want it in the first place. He hypnotizes himself like that to minimize the damage.”
He wanted to ask if it was his parents who had failed to keep a promise to Yoon Joo-ho, disappointing him, but of course, he couldn’t. Director Bang turned to him and smiled warmly.
“The cat. You persuaded him, didn’t you?”
“……”
“Thank you.”
Was being thanked for recommending a cat adoption something he deserved? Why was he being thanked? Song Hyun-soo didn’t know how to respond.
“I hope I haven’t just made more work for you by pushing for this.”
“You might have. The owner is very busy.”
“……”
“When he’s busy, I might have to take care of him, but I’m sure he’ll dote on him terribly.”
“I’m envious,” Song Hyun-soo mumbled without realizing it. His inner thoughts had escaped as sound without any resistance. Song Hyun-soo’s face burned red with regret. Fortunately, Director Bang, who clearly saw it, didn’t comment further.
“Please continue to get along well with Joo-ho. It won’t be easy.”
“Yes, it’s not easy.”
Director Bang laughed aloud. Inside the cage, Monroe’s ears twitched back and forth.
“The strawberries, Joo-ho always takes care of them. You know that, right?”
Instead of answering, Song Hyun-soo pursed his lips and nodded.
By the time he left the mansion, the short winter sun was already beginning to set. The roads were not good due to the snow that had fallen all night. Song Hyun-soo, with his backpack on, slipped his hands into his jumper pockets, the shopping bag of strawberries hanging from his wrist. Lost in thought, he walked slowly, looking at the ground, and finally, his slow steps came to a complete halt. Standing still in the alley, he opened his phone’s contacts.
As soon as he opened his contacts, Yoon Joo-ho’s number, which he had prefixed with ‘G’ to keep it at the top of the list, appeared. He stared at it for a moment, then scrolled down.
Tae-yoon hyung.
He was a friend Jung Ji-in, who was from Italy, had been close with in her hometown, and was also Choi Hong-seo’s older brother. Tae-yoon, who had returned to Korea before Jung Ji-in, ran a restaurant called ‘Dom’ in Gangnam. Jung Ji-in had taken Choi Hong-seo and Song Hyun-soo there a few times to eat. Choi Hong-seo had passed away, and Tae-yoon had contacted him first. ‘Still, they’re people I’ve fed a few times. I could have asked Ji-in to pass on a message, but I felt it was my duty to contact them directly.’ At the time, Song Hyun-soo had thought of him as a scary older brother, but he was grateful to Tae-yoon for offering condolences to someone who wasn’t even a bereaved family member. ‘If you need anything, feel free to contact me. I might not be as reliable as Jung Ji-in, but I might be able to help with things she can’t.’ At a glance, Tae-yoon was clearly no ordinary person. Moreover, as he ran a late-night restaurant from dusk till dawn, he was a well-connected figure in Gangnam.
As the sun began to set. It was time for Tae-yoon to start his day. Before the phone could ring multiple times, Song Hyun-soo connected with Tae-yoon.
[Oh, Actor Song. Long time no see. What’s up?]
“Yes, hyung. Hello. How have you been?”
[I’m the same. You wouldn’t have called Kim Tae-yoon just to ask how I am. What is it? Something happened?]
As expected, talking with Tae-yoon was efficient.
“It’s just that I have something I’d like to ask you for…”
After hearing the explanation, Tae-yoon took a hesitant breath.
[The Gangnam used luxury market… that area has become so huge now. It would be like finding Antonio in Italy.]
“It’s a peculiar watch, hyung.”
[Ah, a watch? That changes things. It’s a narrow market, only high-value items.]
“It’s a Rolex Day-Date model, with an ice blue dial. It’s a limited edition. He probably left it for consignment within the last ten days.”
[Okay. So I just need to find the guy who left it to be sold?]
“Please, hyung.”
After ending the call, Song Hyun-soo turned and looked up at Yoon Joo-ho’s mansion. He took a deep breath, as if to clear his lungs. From his throat to his lungs. Wherever the ice-cold air passed, his senses came alive. From here to here, to this depth. Where the air pooled inside his body. Yoon Joo-ho was there too. He thought he had become quite sentimental since becoming aware of his love, and a sheepish smile escaped him, though no one was watching. He started walking again, hands in his jumper pockets, the shopping bag of strawberries hanging from his wrist.
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