By Zephyria “I’m busy, but… I’ve never been recognized this much since my debut. I’m still a bit dazed and more grateful than anything, so I don’t even feel like it’s hard.”
With both hands in his pants pockets, he walked slowly and turned to look at Choi Hong-seo.
“The Hong-seo on stage seemed like a different person from the Hong-seo when you’re acting.”
Choi Hong-seo had to turn his gaze to the right, where the night view unfolded, to hide his surprised expression.
Did the Vice President of ARA Electronics watch stage videos too?
“I saw you dancing last time, but that was because someone forced you to.”
“……”
“Your facial expressions change depending on the mood of the song, and though I don’t know much, it felt like you used your whole body when you danced, down to your hair and fingertips, so I found myself watching intently.”
He tilted his head slightly and spoke in a serious tone. As if discussing important business opinions.
Choi Hong-seo’s earlobes grew hot. He was used to the hollow compliments from staff at broadcasting stations or filming sets, but hearing such specific praise made him shy. Despite feeling happy, he sometimes failed to respond warmly and was later called arrogant.
“Then, on variety shows, you’re friendly, down-to-earth, and cute…”
Perhaps it was because he paused strangely after the word “cute”? The expression sounded somewhat unconventional. Even though it was a word he often heard from VIPs, it felt different from how others said “cute.” When Choi Hong-seo looked at him, he gave a very charming smile.
“While watching the videos, I found myself smiling without realizing it.”
He even watched variety shows…
When he searched for ‘Choi Hong-seo variety,’ a few famous clips that appeared at the top of the search results came to mind. The various aegyo and special talents he had prepared, like sexy dances and comedic dances that were popular at the time, the game where he contorted his face to peel wet paper without using his hands, and so on…
On broadcast, he never refused, whether he did well or not, and he didn’t feel embarrassed or unable to do anything if he thought of it as work. But now, thinking that this person, walking beside him, had seen it, made him feel a little ashamed. To people like him, who seemed like they would never compromise their pride in front of anyone, it must have looked like a pathetic struggle.
“For someone as uninteresting as me, those diverse expressions were very… intriguing.”
“Thank you for seeing them favorably.”
He put his hands back in his pockets and smiled, looking back at Choi Hong-seo.
At this point, he probably thought he was a cookie-cutter idol who only gave rehearsed answers and couldn’t even be cute.
“Ah, can I call you Hong-seo? I already have, but.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Didn’t you say your strength was diligence back then?”
“……”
“It really seemed so.”
“Yes?”
“You seem to have struggled alone for a long time due to your long period of obscurity.”
“Ah…”
Do they have to investigate that part for movie investment? Well, the production cost for this movie is indeed enormous…
“I heard that even the things you did alone are shared and accounted for by all the members. Doesn’t that feel unfair?”
“It’s the system of the industry, not just our team. If another member had done it, I would have received the same settlement…”
“I think I’m quite greedy and wouldn’t have accepted such an unfairness. It’s amazing that you sacrificed alone for the team for so many years.”
Whether you accept it or not… Not everyone has that kind of choice.
The Vice President of ARA Electronics calling a mere idol amazing.
“Is he being sarcastic?” I wondered, turning to look at him, but his profile, illuminated by the streetlight, was entirely serious.
“You said your only asset was diligence, Hong-seo, but your acting was impressive too.”
“……”
“Most importantly, once the acting started, you didn’t seem to care about anyone else. I personally think that’s a very important talent for an actor.”
At the fork where the sidewalk ended, he stopped walking and spoke as if punctuating, as if concluding the conversation.
My pulse quickened as I listened to his detailed praise. Whether for the movie or for any other reason, it felt like he had seriously monitored my activities up to this point. And he was acknowledging the process and the results. This great person…
“You must really like movies.”
At Choi Hong-seo’s words, he opened his eyes wide. Then, a smile spread across his entire face. I had seen him smile before, but this was the first time I had seen him laugh so openly, unable to contain it. His expression changed significantly when he smiled.
He bent his waist to meet Choi Hong-seo’s eye level. His face looked incredibly happy.
“This is the first time. Hong-seo, you’ve asked me a question first.”
“……”
Was he that happy just because of that?
I calmly met his joyful gaze.
Looking again, he was a considerable handsome man. While I had seen many handsome men during my entertainment career, his charisma was completely different from the slender, delicate types popular these days. He had a face that would be classified as handsome in any era, in any culture. A masculine, perfect face with no flaws or weaknesses possessed an overwhelming power in itself. Because of that, my first impression was not one of admiration for his looks, but rather a sense of intimidation, of finding him unapproachable.
But now, that same face looked soft and warm. Was it the streetlight…?
He paused for a moment, maintaining eye contact, then slowly blinked and said,
“That’s right, I like them. And I think…”
“……”
“I’ll like them even more.”
Over his shoulder, the pedestrian signal changed from red to green.
If we crossed the road and went a little further, it would be H Hotel, and if we turned right down the slope, it was the ‘Layered’ dormitory. After crossing the crosswalk, he naturally turned right. Choi Hong-seo looked at the direction of H Hotel with a puzzled expression, but he showed no hesitation. His steps were firm, his destination clearly decided.
The sidewalk became much narrower. As we walked side by side, our shoulders occasionally brushed. More precisely, Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder brushed his arm. Whenever the wind blew from behind, the faint scent of his cologne would waft to my nose before sadly drifting away.
“Can you make time next time?”
“……”
“I want to meet. Not like today. By appointment.”
“Next… time?”
“If Hong-seo doesn’t mind, I’d like that.”
“Ah…”
So that’s what he meant. Not today, but next time.
There could be reasons. He was a busy person, so perhaps he couldn’t make time today. That was all. It didn’t mean anything changed just because he didn’t like the atmosphere of people gathering and behaving crudely, or because he took off his jacket for some idol, or because we walked up Namsan and talked instead of going straight to a hotel…
It was for next time. Just not today.
In fact, it was the moment that made all his actions today understandable.
A VVIP, who held the key to whether the movie would be produced or not, proposing to meet separately. Choi Hong-seo knew all too well what that meant, and what it entailed.
I wasn’t so naive as to feel anticipation, disappointment, or bitterness. I wasn’t that weak.
Swallowing the bitter taste gathering under my chin, Choi Hong-seo composed his expression. With the most resolute expression of the entire night, he met his gaze directly.
“It would be my honor. I’ll be waiting for you to contact me through the company.”
“Ah… the company.”
The man nodded several times, savoring the word ‘company.’
“To meet someone like me, you need company approval, right?”
“……”
“Would someone like me be accepted by Hong-seo’s company?”
“I’m sure… you’d be welcomed.”
“Is that so?”
The man merely offered a strange smile. Choi Hong-seo grew anxious, unable to tell if he liked his answer or not.
The cafe, dark after closing, was just around the corner. Turning into the alley from there would lead to the dormitory. Choi Hong-seo called out to him in a slightly urgent voice, stopping him.
“Please take good care of the movie. Vice President.”
“……”
The man turned to look, his expression momentarily darkening, then turning cold. But with a faint, dismissive chuckle, the darkness and coldness melted away.
“So, you thought whether I’d invest in this movie or not depended on your answer?”
“……”
“Hmm… I don’t know where it went wrong.”
He muttered as if to himself. Rubbing his jaw broadly, he paused in thought for a moment, then gestured towards the alley.
“This way leads to the dormitory you’re staying in now, right?”
“Ah… yes.”
“I’ll see you all the way to your door.”
Saying that, he turned and led the way towards the dim uphill path. He found the way instantly, as if he had walked it before. He seemed to have studied it diligently, at least on a map.
What was it? What didn’t he like? Unable to fathom his intentions, Choi Hong-seo moved his legs with a sense of unease.