By Zephyria ■
On days when there was a scenario study, Director Kang Woo-hyun’s house was always filled with stories. After the serious and passionate study sessions, the atmosphere would change, and lively chatter would ensue, moving between various topics.
“I went to the set with PD Song yesterday, and I was so excited because our mansion is being built so wonderfully! Look, I took pictures of every unit.”
Director Kang, showing the actors photos he had taken himself, looked proud.
As the title
“And our movie’s ritual! The one we talked about last time. It’s finally confirmed for next week. It was so hard to coordinate the time because the person we’re inviting is so busy.”
Director Kang continued, waving his hands and exaggerating.
“Next week, we’ll be skipping the scenario study because of the ritual, so everyone should be aware of that. Don’t neglect scenario research and acting practice just because there’s no study.”
When the ritual was mentioned, the actors’ interest shifted from the set photos to that. The director’s warning voice was no longer heard as two or three people began whispering to each other.
“Director, the person coming to perform the ritual. I heard they are a very famous person.”
Kim Yi-jung’s voice drew everyone’s attention.
“They say people like us can’t even get an appointment. They only take new clients through referrals from existing ones… Could you possibly give me a business card?”
“Oh, our Yi-jung is interested in that sort of thing? I thought the younger generation these days treated shamanism as outdated.”
Director Kang seemed pleased by Kim Yi-jung’s interest.
“My parents are both indifferent to that side of things, but a distant relative of mine is a shaman. Even though we’re distantly related, we live close by and have had some interaction. Strangely, I’ve always felt comfortable and liked that house since I was young. Of course, we move on days without bad luck, and I go to get my fortune told at the beginning of the year… Ah, when I have an important audition, I always ask the fortune teller what to wear and what to carry with me.”
“Did you? Then when you auditioned for
“They told me to wear blue and white shoes, so I did, and I got the part.”
A world, impenetrable to others, quickly formed between Kim Yi-jung and Director Kang.
That Kim Yi-jung was deeply interested in shamanism was somewhat surprising even to Choi Hong-seo. With her aloof and sophisticated image, she seemed more likely to enjoy tarot readings than to seek out a shaman.
“Ah, you didn’t get the audition because of that; it was because of your acting skills, Yi-jung. If you could get auditions based on things like that, there wouldn’t be a single actor in this business who wasn’t getting work?”
It was Seo Jun-yeong who cut into their conversation.
“Things like that are best enjoyed in moderation, for fun. If you believe too blindly, it gets a bit much. It’s not scientifically proven.”
Seo Jun-yeong, who seemed to have been listening to their conversation with eyes full of curiosity, shook his head, citing science. Kim Yi-jung, who had been watching Seo Jun-yeong with a bored expression, as if wondering if the neighbor’s dog was barking, suddenly tilted her head and grinned.
“Seonbae, you seem to know a lot about science?”
“……”
“From what I know, your academic performance wasn’t that outstanding.”
Kim Yi-jung’s retort had everyone, though they didn’t show it outwardly, looking on with interest.
Though she hadn’t learned it directly, it turned out Kim Yi-jung was dating the son of the owner of a famous car company. The scandal broke via paparazzi, and like most scandals between chaebols and celebrities, it could have passed by with silence. Instead, they acknowledged their relationship and were openly enjoying dates.
The reason Seo Jun-yeong, who wasn’t careful with his words, couldn’t completely treat the younger, junior Kim Yi-jung with disrespect likely included that. He was the type of person who naturally became humble before the powerful.
“Alright, does everyone have time afterward?”
It was the general PD, who had briefly left and returned, who broke the tension between the two.
“Vice President Lee Hae-sung… no, our Investor has contacted us, asking to have a company dinner.”
Choi Hong-seo, who had been watching for the right moment to leave, stiffened, startled, at the mention of Lee Hae-sung’s name. Conversely, the others were cheering and welcoming the news.
“The Investor is treating us to something delicious as encouragement, separate from the production budget, so please attend if possible. If anyone cannot attend, please let me know… I’ll send the location via messenger, so please make your way there individually!”
As soon as the words were out, everyone jumped up from their seats with excited faces. Some packed their bags, others called their managers to arrange cars, some debated canceling prior engagements… each person looked forward to the company dinner hosted by ARA’s Lee Hae-sung.
Amidst them, Choi Hong-seo, slowly packing his script into his bag, heard Park Dong-ha’s cheerful voice.
“PD-nim, so Vice President-nim will be coming to the dinner venue too, right?”
“Yes, he said he’d come straight there.”
“I was sad I couldn’t see him again at today’s study session, so this is perfect.”
“What, Dong-ha, have you become close with the Vice President in the meantime?”
“No, well… close? It’s just that last time I was invited to the Vice President’s house, we briefly talked about movies. I wanted to tell him how I watched the movie he recommended then, but I couldn’t see him last time.”
Even while denying they were close, Park Dong-ha subtly revealed a conversation he had alone with Lee Hae-sung, unrelated to the
A movie talk…
It must have been then, while grilling meat at the barbecue, that Park Dong-ha spoke to Lee Hae-sung for a long time, talking about movies. Inviting him to his birthday party was probably around then too.
It ached, as if someone had forcibly pried open his sternum. Even though he had seen and heard everything, and his mind and heart were still solely focused on ‘Choi Hong-seo,’ he felt ashamed of his jealousy over the fact that he had such a brief conversation with Park Dong-ha, while receiving such precious love.
If you didn’t want to share him, you shouldn’t have given up on him. You were the one who let go.
Even if he couldn’t help his heart feeling jealous, he had no right to show it.
Choi Hong-seo, with his bag strap slung across his chest, hesitantly approached the general PD.
“PD-nim, I don’t think I can attend the dinner.”
“Oh… Hyean, why? Are you not feeling well again?”
She looked intently at Choi Hong-seo’s face with a worried expression. Kim Yi-jung, who was passing by to head to the dinner venue, seemed to have overheard their conversation and sidled up to join them.
“Hyean, you’re skipping the dinner?”
“I’m feeling a bit unwell, so I think it’s better to rest at home.”
“That’s a shame. Hyean, you’re so frail, I can’t even push you to come.”
“I’m not frail.”
“Even though you collapsed in the restroom?”
“That was a very special circumstance; I’m usually strong.”
“Hmm…”
Kim Yi-jung snorted and clicked her tongue, looking unconvinced. Then, she patted Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder.
“If you even have a hint of a cold, you need to take care of yourself. Rest well, then.”
It felt funny not to say anything, so he told Park Dong-ha he couldn’t make it to the dinner, and then he rode in the car driven by Yong-jae down from Pyeongchang-dong.
Not feeling well wasn’t entirely a lie. Because one’s condition includes not just the body, but also emotions.
A few days ago, ARA Group had successfully completed its separation from Hanseo Group. Lee Hae-sung’s visit to the Hanseo Holdings building could be seen in news articles.
Lee Hae-sung was not wearing the tie that ‘Yoon Hye-an’ had gifted him.
Amidst the intense flash of the press, Lee Hae-sung, with a blank expression, buttoned his jacket and stepped out of the back seat of the sedan.
With a dark navy suit, almost black, the tie he chose was the one gifted by ‘Choi Hong-seo.’
No matter how many times he checked the photos and videos, it was undoubtedly that tie.
The tie he had bought at duty-free to gift him on his way back from a schedule in Ho Chi Minh City.
He knew that for someone who could obtain anything they desired, his gift might feel humble, but he also knew that Lee Hae-sung wasn’t the type to weigh the value of a gift by such things.
‘Did you pick this thinking of me?’
For just a tie, he had looked so moved, as if he had gained the whole world.
‘You’re so pretty I could die.’
And then, it was in his car that they had their first proper kiss.
A normal first kiss, like ordinary people experience, sharing and exchanging feelings with someone they liked.
On the day everyone said would be the most important moment in ARA Group’s history, he chose that very tie.
It felt like his answer to ‘Yoon Hye-an’s’ gift.
‘My heart is still only Choi Hong-seo’s, and there’s no room for you to interfere…’ Just as he had told ‘Yoon Hye-an’ for the first time, he didn’t need a replacement, a clearer answer than words.
‘My interest in you is only in parts related to Choi Hong-seo. ‘Yoon Hye-an’ apart from that means nothing.’
He thought about how happy that answer was. How overflowing with love it was.
Lee Hae-sung still loved Choi Hong-seo. He loved him so deeply.
So perhaps this pain in his chest was due to happiness. It hurt as much as his love was happy.
If you try to fit something too large into something too small, the small thing might tear or burst. That’s why it hurts. Because his love is too big for my narrow heart.
“Hyung, should we stop somewhere and get some dinner to go?”
Choi Hong-seo slowly closed his eyes at Yong-jae’s voice from the driver’s seat. He didn’t have the confidence to answer in a voice that sounded normal.
“Are you sleeping?”
When there was no answer again, Yong-jae quietly lowered the volume of the radio. After the DJ introduced a song in a pleasant, comforting voice, the clear, pure falsetto of a boy who hadn’t gone through puberty followed. Choi Hong-seo, who found himself listening to the fairy-tale-like melody and lyrics, smiled bitterly, trying not to let Yong-jae see.
They say if the lyrics of a pop song all sound like your own story, you’re in love. It seemed there were no exceptions. He wished he could pray, just like the lyrics he was hearing.
In this unbelievable dream, what must he do to protect him, and to stay by his side… asking for endless courage and wisdom.
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