By Zephyria 
“I wrapped it myself, so it’s a bit… clumsy.”
With that, he handed the gift to Jeong Ji-in, his expression hesitant yet filled with anticipation. Receiving the thin, A4-sized box, Jeong Ji-in didn’t open it immediately, instead tracing the edges with his fingertips.
“The wrapping is lovely. You have a delicate touch, Hyeon-seo.”
Just like Hong-seo.
The flickering expression on Jeong Ji-in’s face suggested he was struggling to swallow those words.
Lee Hae-sung knew that he was conflicted.
First of all, he wasn’t the type of person to shun or hate Hyeon-seo simply because he resembled Choi Hong-seo too much. However, he was likely worried about why Lee Hae-sung had accepted this person, Hyeon-seo, as a lover and what he intended to do moving forward. If they were dating simply because of a resemblance, it could never be a healthy relationship.
But the emotion currently enveloping Jeong Ji-in was simpler than that.
He simply missed Choi Hong-seo. Because of the Hyeon-seo before him, who made it impossible not to think of that boy.
“Hurry up and open it, Ji-in.”
“Yes, I will. I just feel bad ruining the wrapping…”
“That’s Ji-in’s gift. I told Yi-han not to take any of it.”
Approaching from behind Jeong Ji-in, Yi-han leaned over and draped an arm around his lover’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, Hyeon-seo. A gift for Ji-in is a gift for me, right?”
“Oh, really, Ji-in?”
Jeong Ji-in narrowed his eyes and looked back at Yi-han.
“Why? Doesn’t calling you that bring back old memories? Isn’t it nice?”
Watching Yi-han cock an eyebrow slyly, Jeong Ji-in let out a laugh as if he couldn’t help himself. Then, after unwrapping the package and checking the contents, he looked surprised.
“Huh? This is…”
The thin booklet in his hand was the original script of a Korean creative play that Jeong Ji-in loved.
“Thank you, Hyeon-seo. How did you know I’ve been collecting scripts lately? You chose this knowing that… right?”
“For the record, I didn’t give him any advice. I didn’t even know Ji-in was collecting scripts.”
After his explanation, Lee Hae-sung looked at Choi Hong-seo beside him. With a glance, he encouraged Choi Hong-seo to speak for himself.
“There was a translation on the fan cafe of your interview with the French magazine. I found out from that.”
“It’s a hobby I only started recently. Wow… I’m truly touched.”
While feeling proud seeing Jeong Ji-in flip through the script with a moved expression, Choi Hong-seo still found it difficult to say a word to him. Unable to watch Choi Hong-seo struggle any longer, Lee Hae-sung added one more thing.
“Actually, Hyeon-seo worried a lot after hearing that Ji-in was feeling down.”
“He did?”
The look in Jeong Ji-in’s eyes as he looked up at Choi Hong-seo across from him was tender.
“He agonized over it because he wanted to give a gift that Ji-in would truly like. So please, look kindly upon our Hyeon-seo.”
Jeong Ji-in lowered his gaze with an awkward smile.
“I feel like I’ve worried both Hyung and Hyeon-seo for no reason. I wasn’t actually that depressed.”
“Not ‘that’ depressed? You didn’t leave the house for a whole week. That was a first since you came to Paris.”
Yi-han, who had been standing behind Jeong Ji-in, said as he took a seat beside him. It was a voice filled with affectionate concern rather than a reprimand. Only then did Jeong Ji-in cautiously reveal his emotions.
“I tried to think that it wasn’t something to be sad about, since the cat lived a long, healthy, and happy life before passing. But it just didn’t work.”
“……”
“It’s strange, right? Strictly speaking, it wasn’t even our pet cat.”
It wasn’t. It wasn’t strange. It was Choi Hong-seo who stepped forward to defend Jeong Ji-in’s feelings.
“Even if it wasn’t Hyung’s pet, I heard the cat came and went from here every day. Then it’s only natural to be sad. I live with a cat too. So… I think I can understand.”
“Is that so? You have a cat too, Hyeon-seo.”
“Yes. If, just—really, really just in case—something were to happen to Tiffany…”
As if the mere thought was painful, Choi Hong-seo couldn’t finish his sentence and dropped his head.
“The cat’s name is Tiffany?”
“Yes. I thought about changing the name, but I felt it would only confuse Tiffany.”
“Why did you want to change it? It’s a pretty name.”
This time, Lee Hae-sung answered.
“Hyeon-seo didn’t name her. She’s a cat that Yoon Hye-an started raising a long time ago.”
“Ah… I see…”
Jeong Ji-in nodded, though he couldn’t hide a slight sense of bewilderment. Yi-han felt the same. They briefly exchanged worried glances.
It was perhaps natural for them to feel a sense of dissonance. Lee Hae-sung was describing the Hyeon-seo in this room and the Yoon Hye-an of the past as if they were completely different people. It was too much to be called consideration for a lover who had lost his memory. Expressions that seemed to completely deny his past self could not possibly be helpful.
Both Jeong Ji-in and Yi-han looked as if they had many things they wanted to ask Lee Hae-sung. Like, what is the real reason you took Hyeon-seo as your lover? That was likely their biggest concern.
However, they were not rude enough to bring up that topic in front of Hyeon-seo.
No, if it had been only Yi-han here, that brat might have dragged me to another room right now and interrogated me in a rage. Asking what on earth I was planning. But Ji-in isn’t that kind of person. And Yi-han is probably playing the quiet role because he doesn’t want to do anything that would make Ji-in dislike him.
“Hyeon-seo, would you show me some photos of your cat?”
Jeong Ji-in naturally changed the subject, and as he showed interest, a soft glow appeared on Choi Hong-seo’s face.
“There are so many cute photos. I even received photos and videos from Seoul this morning.”
His face was excited to receive attention from the Hyung he admired. Lee Hae-sung let out a low chuckle and sipped his spritz. It was evident that Choi Hong-seo’s tension was gradually easing thanks to Jeong Ji-in’s consideration.
Jeong Ji-in. He probably treated the past Choi Hong-seo this way as well. It made sense why the Choi Hong-seo of that time—who was defensive and closed-off, making it hard to open his heart—liked and followed only Jeong Ji-in so much.
Watching the two of them share photos of Tiffany from the phone gallery with their foreheads nearly touching, Lee Hae-sung drained the rest of his drink.
Just then, Yi-han’s phone rang, and he excused himself to step away for a moment. Lee Hae-sung went to the buffet table and refilled his glass with white wine. During that time, Choi Hong-seo and Jeong Ji-in remained completely absorbed in Tiffany’s photos and videos.
“Ah… because of the fur color. That’s why the name is Tiffany.”
“Hyung knows, you know it too. That one of the cats Freddie Mercury of Queen raised was named Tiffany.”
“I heard it somewhere and happened to know. Was it a documentary?”
“I… no, I didn’t know at all. So at first, I thought it was the name of a jewelry brand.”
Jeong Ji-in carefully observed the profile of ‘Hyeon-seo’ as he spoke bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck. Lee Hae-sung knew the meaning of that gaze. The way he lowered his eyes, pressed his lips tight, and smiled awkwardly. It was a expression unique to Choi Hong-seo.
A single bashful expression, a subtle speech habit, even the sound of footsteps created by a gait—everything was different for every person. That was why mimicry and imitation existed in the world.
But even while thinking he’s eerily similar, he probably wouldn’t dream of suspecting that this boy might be Hong-seo. Because I didn’t. Anyone would be the same.
Standing before the table and looking down at the two, Lee Hae-sung gave a bitter smirk and stroked Choi Hong-seo’s hair. Fortunately, the expression of the lover looking up at him had brightened considerably. He seemed to have become much more comfortable while talking about Tiffany. Lee Hae-sung had no choice but to smile back at the beaming Choi Hong-seo.
Just as Lee Hae-sung was about to sit back down, Yi-han returned to the terrace after finishing his call.
“Hyung, you remember Yu-jun, right?”
“Yu-jun? Of course I remember him.”
“Well, he does have an impression that’s hard to forget.”
Giggling in agreement, Yi-han walked toward the buffet table with his empty glass and continued.
“Yu-jun is going to stop by for a bit. He has something to deliver for work. Since I told him Hyung was here, he said he’d just come up to say hello and leave. Is that okay, Hyeon-seo?”
“Yes, it’s okay. Please don’t mind me.”
Having adapted to some extent to dealing with Jeong Ji-in as Hyeon-seo, Choi Hong-seo answered with fair confidence.
However, when Yu-jun actually appeared, he couldn’t be ‘okay’ at all.