By Zephyria His face felt like it was heating up again, just like in the secret room. Not knowing how to respond, he pretended not to have heard and drank his beer again. He waited without pressing him.
“I thought Vice President had been everywhere and done everything.”
“During vacations, I prefer to rest in a quiet place. After both my parents passed away, I didn’t take any vacations for two to three years. Because the responsibility was immense.”
As if he had brought up too heavy a topic, he changed his tone and looked deeply into his face.
“If we go to Bangkok together later, will Hong-seo-ssi be my guide?”
“I don’t know that well either. I just followed my manager Hyungs.”
“Still, you seem to know it better than I do.”
His hand was on the table, very close to Choi Hong-seo’s beer can. It was a long, straight, and immaculately groomed hand, like his face, with neatly trimmed fingernails. Glancing at the hand, he rubbed the surface of the beer can and blurted out,
“Then I won’t see you for a week.”
“Hmm, I suppose so. I heard there’s a party at Director Kang’s house next week, right? We’ll probably see each other there next. The party date was set to match my return schedule.”
He had heard through his manager that
“While we can’t meet, please finish your overseas schedule well and complete your move.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll contact you as often as possible. I don’t know if you’ll be waiting for my calls, though.”
At his humble words, Choi Hong-seo looked up. Perhaps it was the half can of beer that gave him courage, but this time he stared intently into his face for quite a long time.
“I still don’t understand why someone like you is doing this for me… You’re a super-hero, aren’t you…Lee Hae-sung burst out laughing at the expression “super-갑.”” He tried to suppress it, but he bit his lip for a while and couldn’t meet Choi Hong-seo’s eyes.
“Yes. In most situations, I am a super-hero.”
“……”But even as a super-hero, I’m not Superman.” I have worries, obligations, my abilities are constantly evaluated, and I have to take responsibility for the results of my abilities… Sometimes there are people I need to impress, and I have to think of strategies to get what I want.”
“……”
“And personal life is separate from all that.A situation where ARA’s Lee Hae-sung might not be the top. Choi Hong-seo couldn’t quite imagine what that situation would be. Still, he earnestly met his eyes and listened to his story.
Leaving the dimly lit, hazy light behind him, he said, lightly clasping his hands on the table.
“If you want to win someone’s heart, even God can’t be the one in control, can he?”
That wasn’t how Choi Hong-seo had lived his life. With money and power, if you held someone’s weakness, you could do whatever you wanted with them. No, they weren’t interested in winning someone’s heart in the first place. As long as the other person smiled, flattered them, and did as they were told, that was enough. They had no interest in invisible hearts.
Yet, Lee Hae-sung, who stood at the pinnacle of such a world, spoke as if it were the most natural thing. That if you wanted to win someone’s heart, you couldn’t be the one in control.
Then, smiling contentedly, he touched Choi Hong-seo’s cheek with his fingertips.
His touch, fleeting and barely grazing, left him wanting. So he spoke his true feelings.
“Please contact me often. I’ll contact you often too.”
“Wow… is today a special day?”
Leaning further over the table, he brought his face closer. Looking at his face, which never lost its smile, it was impossible to believe his words were lies.
After meeting his gaze for a moment in silence, Lee Hae-sung suddenly brought up cameras again.
“You said your hobby of collecting cameras was a secret from the outside.”
“……”
“It’s not something to be criticized for, so the fact that you keep it a secret means there’s another reason. It’s not about being Lee Hae-sung of ARA, but a way for me to breathe, to be just one person focused on what I love.”
“Another reason?”
“The real secret is something else… curious, aren’t you?”
When he raised his eyebrows and put on a playful expression, he looked about five or six years younger than his age.
“At first, you were just frozen in front of me, but now I can see a little bit of emotion in Hong-seo’s expressions.”
Having said that, he took a sip of beer and set the can down. Then, tilting his head, he looked at Choi Hong-seo, narrowing his eyes.
“I think I might have a little bit of hope?”
His cool hand, which had been holding the beer can, touched his cheek. This time, it wasn’t just his fingertips but a wider area… and his thumb gently stroked his cheek.
“Don’t return it, just confirm the purchase. Then I think I can tell you the real secret too.”
The real secret. Choi Hong-seo had one too. A secret he couldn’t tell anyone, not even Jeong Ji-in, whom he considered truly trustworthy.
Will I be able to tell this person my real secret too? Is that possible?
The thought that it probably wouldn’t be possible clouded his mind.
This time, his hand lingered a little longer.
Yet, the feeling of longing remained the same.
■
‘Layered’s’ new dorm was a luxury mansion in UN Village, a well-known affluent neighborhood, boasting an unobstructed, sweeping view of the Han River. The mansion, with its multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, complex corridors, a dining room separate from the kitchen, and a large balcony, offered views of the Han River from almost every part of the house.
The guests invited to the housewarming marveled and envied the location, the luxurious exterior, the thorough security, the interior space that seemed excessively large for six members, and the splendid view.
‘Layered’s’ income wasn’t yet enough to move to a dorm like this. It wouldn’t have been possible without Lee Hae-sung’s help. While Choi Hong-seo felt uneasy about it, seeing his members beam with pride in front of their friends made him happy.
About five or six people gathered for ‘Layered’s’ new dorm housewarming.
They were guests invited by each of the ‘Layered’ members, one or two each. Although Choi Hong-seo had some level of acquaintance with the other members’ guests, he had virtually no friends in the entertainment industry to whom he could fully open his heart. Since he couldn’t share his deepest secrets, there was always a limit to how close he could get.
Hyun-su, an aspiring actor under UB who was also held by CEO Myeong, was comfortable because they understood each other’s situations. However, he openly disliked the other members of ‘Layered,’ calling them people who would drain Choi Hong-seo’s energy. He had been invited to this housewarming too, but he had refused.
Ultimately, Choi Hong-seo’s only guest was Jeong Ji-in.
There was nothing special about the housewarming.
It was just a gathering with snacks, chicken, and tteokbokki, famous for its spiciness, accompanied by drinks. Despite earning more than most people their age, it was no different from a housewarming party in a 20-something’s shared apartment. Except for the fact that it was in a fancy mansion in a luxurious residential area, and they were drinking expensive alcohol of various kinds.
“Seonbae-nim, but… I know I’m a bit drunk, but actors are really something else. How can your face look like that with no makeup on?”
As the alcohol took effect, a girl group member leaned in to look closely at Jeong Ji-in’s face, who was sitting opposite her, and asked. Choi Hong-seo just smiled as he watched Jeong Ji-in look awkward among the idol Hubae who were younger than him.
He wasn’t amused by Jeong Ji-in’s discomfort, but he felt good because it had been a long time since he’d been to a gathering like this. His favorite Hyung was there, and the people he could consider friends were gathered. He felt like he had become one of the ordinary people his age, without any secrets.
Before Jeong Ji-in could answer, she threw a piece of snack at the boy group member next to Jeong Ji-in and laughed heartily.
“Hey, Woo Jong-hyun. You look like a squid next to Seonbae-nim. Move a little further away.”
“Bullshit. You’re just as reliant on makeup.”
The man called Woo Jong-hyun picked up a piece of snack and threw it back at her, chuckling.
“I’m the dance member, so it’s okay even if I rely on makeup. And I know my place, so I don’t act like I’m an actor. If you take off your smoky makeup and go into a drama, all your fans will leave.”
Even though rough words were exchanged, it was just everyday banter between them. Choi Hong-seo felt sorry for Jeong Ji-in, who was flustered by it. Choi Hong-seo got up, went behind Jeong Ji-in, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
“Hyung understands. They’re just a bit uneducated, they don’t mean any harm.”
“Is he any more educated…”
Woo Jong-hyun, who had been bantering with the girl group member, mumbled sheepishly, his earlobes reddening.