By Zephyria “Don’t people usually watch movies on dates? I think everyone would like it if they came here.”
“Um… I mostly met foreigners. Even when we watched movies together, there weren’t many opportunities to invite them to my house and watch a movie here…”
“Ah…”
Stroking his arm beneath his short-sleeved shirt, Choi Hong-seo nodded.
I see. You mostly dated foreigners. Well, that would be safer.
The man I saw at the last party came to mind naturally. A foreigner, and a man who exuded an aura of having lived in a similar environment to Lee Hae-sung. Had Lee Hae-sung always met people similar to that man? If so, why did he choose me this time, someone who wasn’t a foreigner and whose life experiences were completely different?
Many questions arose. But they were questions too difficult to voice.
“Sit down.”
Lee Hae-sung gestured to the sofa in front of the screen. The sofa was deep, with a high, plush back, but it was just long enough for one or two people to enjoy a movie. It was clear this wasn’t a space designed for inviting many guests.
“But how did you choose that movie? It’s a very old film.”
“It’s a classic. I’ve always wanted to watch it at least once.”
“……”
“And the title…”
I couldn’t bring myself to speak, so I swallowed dryly and paused. Even mustering courage, it was still difficult to say things like this.
Lee Hae-sung, who was standing beside me connecting the OTT platform to the projector, looked down at Choi Hong-seo. His handsome eyebrows shot up, and he asked, as if in disbelief,
“You wanted to watch it with me because the title is
“Yes.”
Even if I couldn’t speak first, I wanted to at least answer properly when he asked. As I nodded affirmatively, a pleased smile spread across his face. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, his expression changed, and he furrowed his brow. Pointing at the screen with the remote in his hand, he asked as if to confirm,
“But you know the ending, right?”
“Yes, I know.”
He pursed his lips for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders playfully and said,
“Well, ours will be a happy ending.”
As Lee Hae-sung was searching for
It wasn’t another employee, but Manager Kang himself who brought the drinks. At Manager Kang’s appearance, Choi Hong-seo hesitantly rose from his seat.
“Excuse me.”
While Manager Kang placed the drinks on the table, I fidgeted, and then bowed my head after he straightened up.
“Thank you. I will enjoy them.”
“Not at all. Please let me know anytime if you need anything else.”
Both last time and this time, Lee Hae-sung had personally seen me in and out, so I had rarely encountered other employees. It seemed Lee Hae-sung had made arrangements so that Choi Hong-seo wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. However, I had met Manager Kang separately, so we were acquainted. Even so, the awkwardness was unavoidable.
Sensing Choi Hong-seo’s discomfort, Lee Hae-sung said with a smile,
“Get friendly with Manager Kang. You’ll be seeing each other often.”
“I will do my best to help you feel comfortable.”
Manager Kang’s perfectly polite greeting made Choi Hong-seo feel like he was breaking out in a cold sweat. He had no idea how to build a relationship with an employee who resided in his partner’s household. He felt like a more formidable figure than a partner’s parents.
“Yes… Thank you. I look forward to working with you.”
Choi Hong-seo found himself inching closer to Lee Hae-sung without realizing it. The distance gradually closed until our arms were touching, and then he was holding onto Lee Hae-sung’s elbow.
Perhaps finding Choi Hong-seo, who leaned on him in front of a stranger and difficult person, endearing, Lee Hae-sung suppressed a laugh as he looked down at Choi Hong-seo clinging to him.
“Why? Are you scared of Manager Kang? He does have a bit of a stern look.”
“No! I didn’t say that!”
Fearing Manager Kang might misunderstand, Choi Hong-seo vehemently denied it, even waving his hands. Yet, he didn’t detach himself from Lee Hae-sung.
“Yes, I know. If I had to say, I think the Vice President is the much scarier person.”
It seemed like a joke, but Manager Kang’s expression was perfectly blank, so Choi Hong-seo couldn’t laugh.
After Manager Kang left the room with the parting words, “Please treat me as you would a hotel butler,” I could finally relax my shoulders.
“You were clinging to me when Manager Kang was here…”
Lee Hae-sung murmured regretfully, looking at the empty space beside him. Choi Hong-seo, understanding his meaning, turned his head away shyly and said reproachfully,
“Why did you say that earlier?”
“Hm? What did I say?”
“That Manager Kang is scary…”
“Ah, Manager Kang doesn’t mind. Don’t worry. It’s better to joke around to become comfortable faster.”
He said it nonchalantly and placed the remote on the table. On the screen, the starting screen of
“Manager Kang said that Hong-seo-ssi has a schedule tomorrow, so he prepared a tea good for swelling. We both need to refrain from drinking alcohol today anyway.”
“Really? I feel bad for making you go to such trouble. I didn’t even properly thank him…”
Choi Hong-seo’s hips twitched as if he would run out of the room and chase after Manager Kang. Lee Hae-sung gently pressed Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder and handed him a large tumbler filled with tea. The tea was prepared in a generous, chilled amount, perfect for drinking throughout the movie.
“Manager Kang is very good at his job. He was just doing his job, so you don’t need to be so flustered every time. Here, try it.”
“Please tell him how truly grateful I am later.”
“Alright.”
“Really, Vice President. Please do.”
Seeing Choi Hong-seo, who rarely initiated physical contact, grab his collar to get a promise, Lee Hae-sung turned to him with a face full of laughter. He bent his shoulders and brought his face closer.
“Of course. Whose words would I neglect? Shall we play the movie now?”
As the tension caused by Manager Kang dissipated, the tension of watching a movie alone with him in the dark space took its place. The much denser, more intricate tension naturally lowered the volume of our breaths.
What do you think of a woman who died at 25?
The movie began, showing the back of a man gazing at a vast, snow-covered field.
It was a classic, considered the origin of melodramatic romance films, still mentioned today with its famous OST and appearing as archival footage on various broadcasts. Although the story was simple, the actors’ captivating performances that drove the simple narrative were worth studying, so I had included it in my ‘movies to watch’ list.
Contrary to my worry that it might be boring, the approximately 1 hour and 30 minute runtime passed surprisingly quickly.
The movie ended, returning to its opening scene. Although the technique of framing, where the end mirrors the beginning, might be considered somewhat old-fashioned in any genre today, it felt like an intimation that their love would endlessly repeat and never end, even if one of them was no longer in the world.
“It’s more lingering than I expected.”
There was a hint of surprise in Lee Hae-sung’s voice. Choi Hong-seo nodded enthusiastically in agreement. Having become quite immersed midway through, half of the tea Manager Kang had prepared remained untouched.
“I avoided it until now because I thought it would be a predictable movie that forced sadness upon you. Of course, it’s not a very fresh development by today’s standards, but it was different from what I expected. How was it for you, Hong-seo-ssi?”
“I was actually really looking forward to that famous scene where they run and play together in the snow. I was a little disappointed because it didn’t play a special role in the plot… but seeing the two of them in that scene, I felt that they were truly filled with happiness and love in that moment… Even though it was a scene without a significant role, I understood how much they loved each other. I realized that’s what acting is for, filling in the gaps of the story… and I was also amazed at how such acting could come about without them actually being in love…”
Lee Hae-sung, who had been listening intently, turned his body completely towards Choi Hong-seo and sat down.
“Maybe it’s because you’re an actor, but you do tend to watch movies with a focus on acting.”
“I’m still a bit far from being called an actor…”
The comments I saw earlier came back to me. The content that belittled and mocked my abilities as an actor, the accusations that I must have gotten roles through physical means, made my chest feel tight.
I had no choice but to sell my body as CEO Myeong ordered, but even if I received money for it, I never traded roles. In the first place, CEO Myeong didn’t even treat broadcasting officials as clients, no matter how high their position. However, I had no opportunity to clarify, even if it wasn’t the truth. What they wanted to know wasn’t the truth either.
“You seem too humble. Hong-seo-ssi’s acting skills are being recognized. Above all, Director Kang, who is uncompromising, chose you, so have confidence.”
Choi Hong-seo tried hard to focus on Lee Hae-sung’s words. He didn’t want to ruin this time.
Even after the movie ended, the two of them didn’t get up from their seats and continued their conversation. They were like any other couple lingering in the same spot, not wanting to part.
Lee Hae-sung, who had turned his body completely towards Choi Hong-seo and rested his right arm on the sofa’s backrest, gently clasped Choi Hong-seo’s fingertips with his left hand.
“If it’s okay to stay a little longer… could you help me choose a tie?”
“A tie?”
“I have an important schedule tomorrow, and I haven’t chosen a tie yet. Ah… I don’t think I can decide if Hong-seo-ssi doesn’t help.”
Choi Hong-seo glanced at his watch. His manager had already left for the day, and he had planned to take a taxi home anyway. There was no one to question him about returning late after meeting Lee Hae-sung. Most importantly, he didn’t want to part yet.
“Yes, it’s fine. I can stay longer.”
He said it clearly, without looking embarrassed, meeting his eyes.
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