By Zephyria The car, which had been driving along Hangang-daero, was now crossing the Mapo Bridge. Turning left from the northern end of Mapo Bridge towards Ichon-ro would lead to Bogwang-dong, where Song Hyun-soo had lived until a few days ago. Following the current road straight would take them to Sangdo-dong, where Jung-ho lived.
The navigation indicated about 10 minutes remaining until their destination. After checking this, Yoon Joo-ho shed the lighthearted atmosphere and began speaking in a serious tone.
“Jung-ho, you must have seen in the news that I’m currently committing the heinous act of suing my parents, right?”
Jung-ho seemed momentarily taken aback by the direct and harsh expression from the person involved, but he soon replied calmly.
“I believe you only sent a notice of claim, not a lawsuit.”
Yoon Joo-ho looked surprised.
“Most people don’t try to find out the exact details like that.”
“Hyun-soo Hyung… said you haven’t sued yet. That it’s a notice of claim. It’s hard not to know when it’s being talked about so loudly all the time.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s gaze, gripping the steering wheel, flickered towards the passenger seat. Song Hyun-soo, feeling the gaze, rolled his eyes and pretended not to notice. He felt awkward being caught defending Yoon Joo-ho behind his back. No, it was more embarrassing because it was the truth. Muttering something like, ‘Ah, it’s a bit hot. Jung-ho, aren’t you hot too? Is the heating a bit strong?’ he fiddled with the center console.
“Yes, that case where I sent the notice of claim. I’m currently fighting and being cursed at by the entire nation to make Look Planning entirely mine. Do you happen to know Look Planning?”
“Of course. They have so many major actors signed, including the currently popular Jeong Seong-won.”
“Well… that’s right. Anyway, once things are resolved, both Hyun-soo and Jung-ho will officially become affiliated with Look Planning. I’ll offer them the highest level of treatment in the industry.”
“Even if it’s Hyung, I don’t have any experience…”
“He’s someone Hyun-soo can trust. That’s a more attractive qualification than any experience. To me.”
“……”
This time, there was no hint of a joke in Yoon Joo-ho’s words. Despite the gushing declaration of affection for his lover, Jung-ho couldn’t frown or scoff this time.
Turning left at the Sangdo Station intersection towards Soongsil University, the area around the road suddenly became dark. Driving slowly up the gentle incline, Yoon Joo-ho looked around with interest.
“If Jung-ho is interested, I’ll prepare a specific proposal and draft a contract.”
“Hyun-soo Hyung said he’d be reducing his workdays from now on. If I quit too, it might be difficult for the shop…”
“Prioritize yourself over the shop’s situation.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s words were chillingly firm.
“I think the manager job would suit your aptitude. Opportunities to utilize your aptitude and receive good compensation don’t come around often, do they? Especially not these days.”
“……”
Was Yoon Joo-ho always this persuasive? Song Hyun-soo looked at him again. He had thought Yoon Joo-ho would just insist on getting his way because things always went easily for him. He expected him to push without seeming anxious. As proof, Jung-ho in the back seat seemed halfway convinced. He looked like someone facing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they absolutely couldn’t miss.
The sedan entered an alleyway forming a cluster of one-room apartments, common near universities. It stopped in the darkness, as if crouching, in a spot where the streetlight didn’t reach, diagonally in front of their destination.
“Please give me a few days to think about it.”
“Of course. And from now on, feel free to call me Joo-ho Hyung.”
Yoon Joo-ho, having stopped the car, turned his body completely to face Jung-ho in the back seat. He wore a charming and dazzling smile. This must be what it felt like when a top actor decided to charm someone. It was admirable. I don’t think I’ve ever tried to seduce someone like that. I’m always the one making the move. Such a frustrating thought.
“Joo-ho… Hyung?”
Jung-ho seemed more drawn to the fact that he could call Yoon Joo-ho ‘Joo-ho Hyung’ than to the offer of the manager job.
“Jung-ho, you’re a close dongsaeng to Hyun-soo. Whether you take the manager job or not, we’ll see each other again. And Yoon Joo-ho-nim is a bit…”
Yoon Joo-ho, resting his hand on the shoulder of Song Hyun-soo’s passenger seat and turning his body, wrinkled his nose and shrugged.
“Then next time, I’ll call you Joo-ho Hyung.”
“Alright, Jung-ho.”
“Thank you for the ride. Oh, and for the gift. I will truly, truly accept it gratefully. I’ll take your secrets, Hyungs, to my grave with this bag, so don’t worry.”
“You’re reliable. I’ll be looking forward to a positive answer about the manager job.”
Jung-ho, still seated, bowed his head to Yoon Joo-ho and opened the rear door. Song Hyun-soo also unbuckled his seatbelt and said to Yoon Joo-ho,
“I’ll be back in a moment after talking.”
Yoon Joo-ho, nodding as he searched for his cigarette case, had lost his radiant smile. Like an actor who no longer needed to act after receiving an OK from the director.
Click. Hearing the sound of him getting out, Jung-ho looked back this way. Song Hyun-soo rubbed the back of his neck and approached him. The two stood in the piloti parking lot of Jung-ho’s one-room building, looking side-by-side at Yoon Joo-ho’s luxurious sedan, which seemed out of place in this neighborhood.
“It was real, Hyung.”
“Uh… we worked together and things, and it just happened…”
“I’m glad it’s not some cult or pyramid scheme.”
Thwack. Song Hyun-soo elbowed Jung-ho in the side. The two became entangled and soon burst into laughter.
“Hyung, you were a Yoon Joo-ho fan, weren’t you? You’re an amazing successful fan.”
“Was my being a Yoon Joo-ho fan that obvious?”
“I didn’t even know you were trying to hide it.”
Turning to Song Hyun-soo, who was scratching his cheek awkwardly, Jung-ho said with a rather serious expression,
“Be careful not to get caught.”
“I have to. Like me, but Seonbae… your acting career, which you’ve done your whole life, is at stake.”
“That’s one thing, but Yoon Joo-ho, no, Joo-ho Hyung, has a lot of extreme fans, which is rare for an actor. I heard he even has sasaengs. If they find out you two are dating, they might try to assassinate Hyung.”
Jung-ho looked down at the shopping bag in his hand and then back at the sedan, saying,
“Yoon Joo-ho, no, Joo-ho Hyung, seems to like Hyung a lot.”
“More than half of that is act—”
Song Hyun-soo, about to deny that the image he saw was more than half acting, closed his mouth. The image of a kind and exemplary boyfriend might have been an act, but looking at everything Yoon Joo-ho had done for him so far, he couldn’t say that his feelings were also an act.
He was someone who loved his work and acting, and he wasn’t someone who could only be attracted to men, yet he had taken on immense risk to be with him. That alone was enough to guess Yoon Joo-ho’s sincerity.
Song Hyun-soo nodded.
“Treat him well, really well.”
Jung-ho also nodded seriously. Then, with a slightly puzzled look, he said,
“But Yoon Joo-ho has quite peculiar tastes too.”
“Kang Jung-ho, are you trying to do that again?”
“No, Hyung, honestly, put your hand on your heart and think about it. It’s Yoon Joo-ho. Y-O-O-N J-O-O-H-O. Whether it’s a man or a woman, anyone under the Korean sky, he could date whomever he wanted, so why you?”
“……”
“What? Why aren’t you angry this time?”
“Honestly, that’s a question for me too.”
When Song Hyun-soo admitted it so readily, Jung-ho instead winced as if feeling apologetic.
“But he definitely seems a bit dangerous. A different feeling from ordinary people.”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t encountered someone like that before, so I can’t explain it well. You know how when you see gangsters, you just get this feeling they’re different from ordinary people?”
“You think Sunbae is like a gangster? Hey, have you ever seen a gangster like that?”
“No, not like a gangster. Yoon Joo-ho, or rather, that hyung, he’s just… Ah, it feels like he doesn’t live in the same world or operate on the same common sense as me…”
“That’s only natural, I suppose. He’s been a star since he was so young.”
“Can you handle someone like that? He’s different from us.”
Song Hyun-soo mumbled, his gaze lowered like a dejected child, his fists clenched tightly in the darkness.
“I will. Somehow.”
This is the first time I’ve liked someone this much. I want to be by his side, no matter what.
Sigh. Jung-ho’s light sigh could be heard from beside him.
“If you cry later, don’t come to me. Even if you two break up, I won’t give back the bag.”
Watching him clutch the shopping bag containing the bag, Song Hyun-soo couldn’t help but laugh.
After seeing Jung-ho off and turning around, Yoon Joo-ho, who had apparently gotten out of the car, was leaning against the driver’s door, watching him. Even without intending to, Song Hyun-soo’s steps quickened, his lips curved, and a smile naturally bloomed. It was as if he hadn’t seen him in days; he felt a rush of joy and welcome.
At the sight, Yoon Joo-ho let out a faint chuckle. This smile felt much better than the dazzling one he had faked for Jung-ho.
When he stopped in front of him, Yoon Joo-ho ruffled Song Hyun-soo’s hair. Instead of protesting, he lowered his head and smiled slightly.
“Thank you. Today.”
“For what?”
“For being nice to Jung-ho.”
“I wasn’t exactly nice. I just threw out bait because I needed him.”
Why does he always say things like that after being nice to people, chipping away at his own score? Is being a tsundere also Yoon Joo-ho’s defense mechanism?
Yoon Joo-ho then ran his hands over Song Hyun-soo’s bare arms, as he wasn’t wearing a padding.
“Get in. Let’s go home.”
More than any act he had put on for Jung-ho, he preferred this affection in Yoon Joo-ho’s way. Even though it was late winter, the cold was still fierce, but Yoon Joo-ho’s words, “Let’s go home,” made his body melt from the core. He felt warm. He was happy. Happy to introduce Yoon Joo-ho as his boyfriend to someone precious.
And on the way home, Song Hyun-soo couldn’t help but think of another precious person.
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