By Zephyria ■
Carrot Seller: Of course, I welcome meeting up
Carrot Seller: As long as Hong-seo isn’t too tired.
Carrot Seller: I’m resting at home right now, anyway
Carrot Seller: Since Hong-seo is the first one to want to meet
Carrot Seller: I have to meet you, no matter the time ^^ (9:10 PM)
Me: I’m okay too. 11 PM isn’t that late for me to finish.
Me: Where would be good to meet? (10:02 PM)
Carrot Seller: Hong-seo, why don’t you come to my place? (10:04 PM)
Me: To the Vice President’s house? (10:04 PM)
Carrot Seller: I’m at my home in Seocho-dong right now, and it’s not far from Hong-seo’s studio
Carrot Seller: I think we could talk more comfortably if we meet at home (10:07 PM)
Carrot Seller: Actually, I have to go on an early business trip tomorrow
Carrot Seller: I said I’d meet you no matter the time, but I feel a bit embarrassed
Carrot Seller: I’m a little hesitant to leave home late at night… (10:19 PM)
Me: Then it’s okay if we meet another time.
Me: I thought it might be difficult since you mentioned it so late (10:20 PM)
Carrot Seller: Oh no, my plan failed T_T (10:21 PM)
Me: What plan? (10:21 PM)
Carrot Seller: I tried to pull a trick to get Hong-seo to come to my place
Carrot Seller: It didn’t work (10:23 PM)
Me: Ah… (10:23 PM)
Carrot Seller: Would my place be uncomfortable?
Carrot Seller: You know you can tell me honestly, right? (10:25 PM)
Me: It’s not uncomfortable. I’m a little nervous, though…
Me: Then I’ll come to your place (10:26 PM)
Carrot Seller: I’ll be looking forward to it
Carrot Seller: Home date ^^ (10:27 PM)
Me: I just finished filming and got in the car.
Me: I’ll head straight to your place (11:12 PM)
Carrot Seller: It says it’ll take 23 minutes. Come slowly (11:14 PM)
As soon as filming ended, Choi Hong-seo washed his face and hurried into the car, reaching for his phone first.
As soon as he sent the message that he was leaving, Lee Hae-sung’s reply arrived as if he had been waiting.
His message telling him to come slowly weighed heavily on his heart. Letting out a long sigh, he sat in the dark back seat and shifted his gaze out the window.
This was the first time Choi Hong-seo had initiated wanting to meet. Because of that, Lee Hae-sung seemed to be looking forward to it, but he would likely be disappointed if he knew the reason for wanting to meet today. His heart felt heavy.
“But why are you going to Seocho-dong?”
The manager, who was holding the steering wheel, asked cautiously in a suggestive tone.
The glances he had been stealing in the rearview mirror since a while ago were not ordinary.
He was an older manager with considerable experience, not just a road manager responsible for driving or running errands. However, because he knew UB’s situation well and was loyal to the company, CEO Myeong often assigned him to Choi Hong-seo’s personal schedules.
“Because the kids are gathered there.”
“Which kids?”
“Just, other group friends you know, Hyung. Woo Jong-hyun and Go Ji-woon… I can get back to the dorm on my own, so don’t worry.”
“Are you acting suspicious lately? Last time you asked me to take you to a hotel. Which one of them lives in such a high-class villa? I know it all too well.”
“Ah, they said he’s a rich friend they’ve been hanging out with lately.”
The “last time” the manager was referring to was his meeting with Lee Hae-sung. After receiving a personal business card at P Hotel, they had met once more at another hotel, and the manager who took him there was the current one.
So, out of the five meetings Lee Hae-sung had proposed, one had been used, and this was the second.
“Are you perhaps… dating someone?”
“…What?”
“You’re always holding your phone these days.”
“When was I not?”
“Your face doesn’t look like you’re reading comments. When you read comments, you furrow your brow and keep peeling your lips, but lately, you’re just twitching while looking at your phone.”
“Twitching?”
“Yes, like you’re trying to suppress a smile.”
The fact that it looked that way to the manager was a shock to Choi Hong-seo. He thought he never showed it, even though he would laugh alone while looking at messengers in bed.
“If it were anyone else, it wouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re dating someone during this important period, I’d be worried.”
“Hyung.”
“Yes?”
“It’s not like that. The hotel last time and going to Seocho-dong today are things the CEO knows about. It’s just… to broaden my connections.”
“Really…? The CEO knows? Well, if that’s the case, it doesn’t matter.”
Only then did the manager nod as if he accepted it and focused on driving.
The fact that his recent behavior could look like he was dating to someone else strangely made his heart flutter.
He still didn’t fully trust Lee Hae-sung.
He wasn’t naive enough to harbor the vain hope that he could have a real relationship with Lee Hae-sung of ARA, not a sponsorship, and that such a relationship could continue.
Yet, there was a sweet flutter in his chest. Sweetness. He knew better than anyone that he wasn’t in a situation to enjoy that.
He tightened his grip on his phone.
Lee Hae-sung’s villa was comfortably located against the backdrop of a park that separated Seocho-dong and Bangbae-dong. Because of this, despite being only a short distance from the road, it felt secluded and quiet, as if embraced by the mountainside, unlike the city.
After getting out of the underground parking lot and sending the manager away, Choi Hong-seo notified his arrival through the gate screen in front of the elevator hall connected to Lee Hae-sung’s house. Each unit had its own elevator hall, making it feel like the entrance from there.
After a short wait, Lee Hae-sung appeared, riding the elevator, from beyond the transparent wall. As soon as he spotted Choi Hong-seo, his face lit up.
“Welcome.”
Choi Hong-seo bowed his head slightly, gripping the strap of his cross-body bag.
“Hello.”
“Did filming go well?”
“Yes, thanks to you…”
“What did I do? It’s thanks to Hong-seo.”
He playfully smiled as he lightly placed his palm on Choi Hong-seo’s back and led him towards the elevator. Very carefully, as if about to touch, he stroked Choi Hong-seo’s hair.
“Thank you for inviting me.”
“I’m grateful you made the difficult journey.”
Inside the elevator, Choi Hong-seo bowed his head to greet him, and he playfully returned the bow. He seemed to be in a very good mood.
“It’s my first time visiting your home, and I didn’t bring anything. I’m sorry.”
“All the shops would be closed at this hour. Why worry about something like that?”
Lee Hae-sung lightly placed his hand on Choi Hong-seo’s shoulder and slightly bent his back. Then he added,
“Between us.”
As if embarrassed by his own words, he turned his head and chuckled. His physical contact was more frequent than usual today.
“I’m very excited that Hong-seo is here at my place. Please understand.”
As the elevator door opened and he followed him into the entrance, a spacious hall-like area unfolded immediately. The structure was different from typical homes. The space, furnished with two sofa sets and a table for drinking tea or having brief meetings, was decorated like a hotel suite living room.
“This is the reception room, where we entertain guests from outside. So… with people we’re not very close to, we might have tea here, you know.”
Lee Hae-sung shrugged his shoulders as if to say this was just between them.
The mere existence of a separate reception room, where guests could be entertained without being brought inside the house, was astonishing to Choi Hong-seo. Even though he had dealt with many VIPs, no one had ever invited someone they treated as a mere plaything to their home. Therefore, it was his first time seeing the interior of a VIP’s home.
“Come this way.”
Following him as he opened a door to the right of the reception room, they entered what was truly the main entrance. Even that was on a different scale than the typical entrances Choi Hong-seo imagined.
Passing through a small hall with several rooms visible on either side and down a corridor, they reached the living room. Simple refreshments for two were laid out on the sofa table.
After sitting side-by-side on the plush sofa and taking a sip of tea, Lee Hae-sung seemed to finally notice Choi Hong-seo’s attire.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you dressed like this, you look even more like a Baby than usual.”
“Ah, this is… I came dressed casually because I didn’t know I’d be seeing the Vice President today…”
Choi Hong-seo felt belatedly embarrassed by his completely unadorned, casual appearance.
His outfit, with his heavy photoshoot makeup completely removed, an oversized t-shirt, loose jeans, and a hooded zip-up, was far from suitable for meeting a VIP. He lowered his head, thinking CEO Myeong would throw a fit if he knew.
“You look cute, why? It’s better than dressing up unnecessarily just because you’re meeting me. It’s not like you’re meeting your boss.”32nd CNC
“You look cute, why?” It’s better than dressing up unnecessarily just because you’re meeting me. It’s not like you’re meeting your boss.”
“……”
“It makes me feel a bit awkward, realizing we have quite a significant age gap.”
Pointing to his left chest, Lee Hae-sung briefly grimaced, then put down his teacup and turned more towards Choi Hong-seo.
“Are you hungry?”
“I had a snack during my break, so I’m fine.”
Even though Choi Hong-seo hadn’t said anything particularly funny, Lee Hae-sung rested his elbows on his knees, propped his chin, and kept smiling.
“…Why are you smiling?”
“Because Hong-seo is at my house, it’s surprising.”
“I… I’m even more surprised that I’m at the Vice President’s house.”
Unlike his expressionless demeanor on the news or his first impression, he had always thought of him as someone very honest with his emotions, but that day, he was exceptionally so. He was staring so intently and smiling that Choi Hong-seo didn’t know how to react. It seemed Choi Hong-seo was the only one feeling awkward, and the thirsty one had to dig the well.
“What were you doing?”
“I took advantage of leaving work early and was doing a hobby.”
“……”
“What is it? You look curious.”
At every little bit of interest shown, he would say it with a hint of surprise, which made Choi Hong-seo unconsciously pout a little. Then, he smiled and lightly touched Choi Hong-seo’s cheek.
“Shall I show you what I was doing?”
Choi Hong-seo didn’t have the nerve to bring up the topic of the new dorm right then. Thinking it was a good opportunity, Choi Hong-seo nodded.
Lee Hae-sung led Choi Hong-seo to a room deep inside on the upper floor. The small room, not very spacious, maintained a pleasant temperature and humidity despite having no windows.
Inside glass display cases packed from floor to ceiling, each one carefully exhibited, were cameras.
“This is my hobby.”
As if he had been spending time there until just a moment ago, two or three cameras, detached batteries, an air blower, and brushes were placed on the table in front of a single-person armchair.
“Cameras I don’t use often need to have their operational status checked periodically. I was playing by myself here while waiting for Hong-seo.”
“I didn’t know you liked cameras as much as movies.”
“Well, it’s a hobby that doesn’t appear on Wikipedia.”
Not only were there display cases lining the walls, but a low showcase was also placed in the center of the room. Choi Hong-seo, who was looking at the cameras enshrined like museum artifacts inside the transparent case, looked up at him.
Lee Hae-sung said, picking up one of the cameras from the table.
“It’s somewhat known that I like movies and personally invest in films by some new directors. But no one knows I collect cameras.”
“……”
The expression “no one knows” made Choi Hong-seo pause. Lee Hae-sung couldn’t have missed it.
“Why are you telling me such a secret? You look like you want to say something.”
He couldn’t say he was purely thrilled by the sharing of a secret. Vice President Lee Hae-sung’s secret that no one knew. Even if it was just a hobby, the fact that he was the only one who knew it weighed heavily on Choi Hong-seo.
From a short distance away, he met his gaze softly but seriously.
“I’m trying not to be returned, right now.”
“……”
“I’m trying to appeal that I’m serious about this relationship, to the point of sharing secrets with Hong-seo.”
“……”
“I know from experience that my sincerity doesn’t get conveyed well unless I go this far.”
At the end, a hint of bitterness could be felt in his expression.
Even if he wanted to deny it, he felt like he understood what he meant. His hobby, which no one knew about, which was not public. It was true that sharing it made him believe his sincerity a little more.
Running his hand along the edge of the showcase, Choi Hong-seo asked the question he had been wondering about.
“Vice President, what do you like about me?”
“……”
He froze as if he had been hit by an unexpected attack. For a moment, he seemed to have forgotten to even blink.
This time, Choi Hong-seo understood Lee Hae-sung’s reaction. Until now, Choi Hong-seo had mostly just listened to him, and the questions he occasionally asked were superficial.
His frozen expression suddenly relaxed, and his lips, shaped like a stoic straight line, curved into a smile.
“Are you finally starting to notice me a little?”
“Because there seems to be no reason for the Vice President to like me.”
“I thought I had explained in detail the reasons I’m drawn to Hong-seo.”
“I barely graduated high school… my family environment was also very difficult financially… we’re too mismatched, Vice President.”
ARA’s Lee Hae-sung, and an idol who only knew how to dance and sing. They both knew their levels didn’t match. If it were just a casual sponsorship for a bit of fun, perhaps. He couldn’t understand what about him, someone like Lee Hae-sung, could possibly be drawn to him enough to want a relationship. Honestly, no one would have believed his words were sincere.
“Hong-seo-ssi, do you happen to know what ‘out-of-focus’ is?”
Choi Hong-seo shook his head, and he smiled, holding the camera in his hand and raising it to eye level. In his large, neat hands, the camera felt smaller than it was.
The lens was aimed at Choi Hong-seo. He had been posing in front of cameras just moments ago, and no longer felt any tension from standing before them, but what was it about his camera that was different… He had to swallow nervously, his mouth dry.
The sound of the lens moving back and forth, busily focusing, could be heard, and click, he pressed the shutter.
“Simply put, it’s a technique where you focus on the subject you want to be clear, and shoot so that the background is relatively blurred.”
He stepped closer and showed the screen of the digital camera.
On the LCD, Choi Hong-seo was captured, looking at the lens, at Lee Hae-sung, with a slightly flushed expression. Just as he had explained, Choi Hong-seo was sharp, and his surroundings were blurred. He felt like he understood what out-of-focus meant.
From a much closer distance, he looked down at Choi Hong-seo with pleading eyes.
“The day we first met at Director Kang’s house.”
“……”
“Everything around me, except for Hong-seo-ssi, became out-of-focus. That’s the first reason.”
He calmly placed the camera down on the showcase.
“The second is…”
“……”
“Like I mentioned last time, I can’t stand seeing Hong-seo-ssi in difficult situations.”
He covered his entire lower jaw with his palm and swept it down roughly, then continued speaking in a deliberate tone.
“If it were my usual self, I would have just gotten up and left. But that day, I couldn’t help but get angry and say something. To the people who treated Hong-seo-ssi like that.”
“……”
“I’m usually not like that at all.”
He added as if making an excuse, lowered his gaze for a moment, then met his eyes again with a hint of a smile.
“That day, on the drive down from Pyeongchang-dong, I searched for an idol’s name for the first time.”
He hadn’t meant to, but a silly laugh escaped Choi Hong-seo’s lips without him realizing it. He tried to hide it by pretending to cough, covering his mouth with the back of his hand and turning his head, but his persistent gaze followed him.
“Why are you laughing? Can’t I even search for an idol’s name?”
“Honestly… you admit yourself that it doesn’t suit you, don’t you, Vice President?”
“That’s right. It was an unsuitable act. Because I’ve never done anything like it before.”
He ruffled Choi Hong-seo’s hair with a light sigh. It was a more daring touch than the one he had given so carefully in the elevator. Then his hand moved down, his palm broadly covering Choi Hong-seo’s nape. It was the widest skin contact he had experienced with him so far.
As if trapped within his gaze, he couldn’t look away.
Even though only his palm and neck were touching, his armpits felt constricted, as if he were completely naked before him.
He felt his thumb slowly stroking his skin.
“Seeing how you’ve worked hard for so long in places no one acknowledges, I knew that the word ‘diligent’ wasn’t a lie. I became more curious about your various sides.”
“……”
“Even though I had a meeting the next morning, I looked for your videos until dawn.”
“Ah…”
Choi Hong-seo’s lips parted, and a sigh of admiration escaped him.
So that’s why he knew so much about me. He hadn’t investigated me for movie investments, but because he was interested…