By Zephyria “Sani knew in advance that Kang-i was going to leave. Because Baek Kang’s love is about giving Lee Sol what she wants. Sani knew he was someone who would try to remove her pain, even if it meant leaving her side.”
Glancing at Yoon Joo-ho intermittently, Song Hyun-soo continued his story.
“But Sani’s love is different. Sani’s love is about not betraying, always being together, and remaining as one. But if Kang-i were to leave entirely, the triangle would collapse. This time, without any hope.”
Director Jeong Joon-hee, who had been listening intently, murmured as if pondering Song Hyun-soo’s idea.
“Sani, fearing the destruction of that perfect triangle, killed Jeon Yu-jeong…”
“I believe Sani is the one most desperately fixated on that relationship among the three. His anxiety deepened his obsession, and he became consumed by the mistaken belief that if only Jeon Yu-jeong disappeared, everything would return to its place. Someone operating within the bounds of normal thought processes wouldn’t be able to commit murder.”
At the end of his explanation, Director Jeong Joon-hee gave Song Hyun-soo a gentle smile.
“Yes, that very innocent madness.”
“……”
“That’s why I cast actor Song Hyun-soo as Sani.”
“What?”
“That look in your eyes—clean and bright at first glance, but not weak. The moment I saw your audition video, I knew you were Sani.”
The director nodded with a pleased expression.
“You seemed worried, not quite understanding, but you found it yourself.”
“Found what, Director?”
“How not to be a puppet. Your own Lee San.”
“Ah…”
Is that so? Did I find my own Lee San?
At the first script reading, Director Jeong Joon-hee had given Song Hyun-soo homework.
『Whether Sani remains a puppet or breathes life on screen depends entirely on actor Song Hyun-soo. So, don’t worry about my opinion and express Sani in your own way.』
It was a mysterious, abstract instruction for Song Hyun-soo.
That day, at the ‘Honey’s place’ lot, he had grabbed Yoon Joo-ho and abruptly asked him to teach him how not to be a puppet. Of course, he had been flatly refused.
Come to think of it, Yoon Joo-ho had kept his promise.
When he was offered the job of script reading assistant, Song Hyun-soo had asked him to look at his acting instead. To guide and mentor him.
While practicing scripts and analyzing characters with Yoon Joo-ho, he had found his own Lee San without even realizing it.
The director’s acknowledgment meant a great deal. Song Hyun-soo met Yoon Joo-ho’s gaze across the room. He was surely looking at him with a proud expression that said, ‘I got praised,’ but it didn’t matter. He wanted to share this small joy of the moment with Yoon Joo-ho.
Yoon Joo-ho’s face, which had been focused on Song Hyun-soo’s story with palpable tension, softened into a gentle smile.
A desire to do his best as Lee San, no matter what, surged within him. He cherished this film,
“Hyun-soo’s analysis is interesting. The idea that Sani killed him… at first, I was also hesitant. But listening to you, it’s strangely convincing?”
Shin Hyo-jin’s words were met with a nod from Han Joo-young.
“I know, right? I thought Baek Kang killed him and disappeared, but if he was going to disappear anyway, there was no need to kill him… And if Baek Kang killed him, it would be to claim Sori, so disappearing afterward is also strange…”
As they exchanged thoughts on Song Hyun-soo’s interpretation, Yoon Joo-ho subtly took out his phone to check it. Whether it was a message or a call, his brow and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he looked at the screen. Licking his lips, Yoon Joo-ho apologized with a troubled expression.
“Director, I’m sorry, but something has come up… I think I need to leave first.”
“Ah, yes. Those who are tired can leave, then.”
“Director, are you tired? Are you okay?”
As the group began to disperse, Han Joo-young grabbed Director Jeong’s arm.
“Jeon Yu-jeong, Lee Sol—isn’t your call time tomorrow at 8?”
“You heard what actor Song Hyun-soo said. You need to give me some direction too. I can’t go to the set tomorrow like this.”
While Han Joo-young clung to the director, Song Hyun-soo also said his goodbyes and slipped out of the room. Yoon Joo-ho’s expression had bothered him. He was no longer visible in the hallway.
《Is something wrong? Can I come to your room, sunbae?》
Thinking he might be on the phone, he sent a message first while waiting for the elevator.
《It’s nothing.》
A moment after the short reply, another message arrived.
《Wash up and come to my room.》
The assurance that it was nothing made him feel a little relieved, but the instruction to wash up and come to his room made him quickly look up and around. Even though no one was peering over his shoulder to read his messages. If he’s saying this, it must really be nothing, right?
The hotel’s only large suite was for the director, and the actors were all assigned rooms on the same floor. Although it was a 4-star tourist hotel in the provinces, it had been completed relatively recently, so it was clean and comfortable.
After quickly showering and changing into comfortable clothes, Song Hyun-soo reconfirmed that the hallway was empty and tiptoed to Yoon Joo-ho’s room.
Seeing Yoon Joo-ho’s face, which was no different from usual, when he opened the door, Song Hyun-soo finally felt truly relieved and could smile. He practically threw himself into Yoon Joo-ho’s arms, squeezing through the gap in the door.
“Quickly. Close the door quickly, sunbae.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who had pulled him into a hug by the shoulders and stepped back, closed the door behind Song Hyun-soo.
“Was there anyone in the hallway?”
“No. But it never hurts to be careful.”
Watching Song Hyun-soo’s back as he pulled away from his embrace and walked into the room, Yoon Joo-ho laughed, amused.
“I thought your room would be much nicer than mine. They’re similar?”
“Small hotels don’t have that many room types.”
The room, dominated by a king-size bed, a two-person sofa set by the window, a desk, and a TV, was not fundamentally different in size or structure from Song Hyun-soo’s.
“You’ve never slept in a place like this before, have you?”
Yoon Joo-ho’s belongings were neatly arranged on the desk with a transparent glass top. A few perfumes he had brought to use while away from Monroe, his script, glasses case, lip balm, portable humidifier, a slim, simply designed leather pencil case, and the wristwatch Song Hyun-soo had retrieved. Song Hyun-soo rested his hand on the edge of the desk and looked at each item closely. They were all familiar objects he knew well.
“For me, this is already a luxury, but not for you, right? Not like the five-star hotels like the Knox.”
“But why do you look so happy?”
Thump. Yoon Joo-ho came up behind him and asked, pressing his body close.
“It’s fun, like watching a prince eat tteokbokki for the first time.”
Yoon Joo-ho leaned down, resting his chin on Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder. As his cheek touched his ear, a jolt ran through his body. At an even closer distance, he said,
“The drama also has location shoots. For 2-3 days, sometimes for over a week, we have to stay in the provinces. I’m sorry, but I’ve stayed in much more dilapidated pensions or inns than this many times.”
Then, smack. He kissed him on the cheek by surprise and pulled away, ruffling Song Hyun-soo’s hair.
“I’ll wash up, so you go to sleep first.”
“Huh?”
“I haven’t washed yet because I was on the phone with Sang-ho Hyung.”
Come to think of it, the person who told Song Hyun-soo to wash up was still in his day clothes.
“That’s not it, am I sleeping here?”
“Is there a problem?”
Yoon Joo-ho turned back as he headed for the bathroom.
“Even so, that’s a bit…”
“You’re overreacting. No one thinks it’s strange.”
“Still…”
Dismissing Song Hyun-soo’s protest, he pulled off the knit sweater he was wearing over his head and disappeared into the bathroom.
Indeed, no one would find it strange if two male actors filming a project slept in the same room. Shrugging, Song Hyun-soo collapsed onto the bed.
Yoon Joo-ho had told him to sleep, but he wasn’t very sleepy, perhaps due to the excitement of the first day of filming. He listened to the sound of water from the bathroom and opened an app to check Monroe’s room. The cat was curled up on the highest perch of the cat tower by the window. Along with a carrot toy and the rabbit slippers Song Hyun-soo had left. Seeing that it hadn’t moved for a while, it seemed to be asleep. Song Hyun-soo closed the app and sat up, leaning against the headboard. He looked okay, didn’t he, sunbae? I hope it really was nothing.
Meanwhile, Yoon Joo-ho emerged, a towel draped over his head. He was wearing his own robe, brought from home.
“I told you to sleep.”
“I’m not sleepy yet. My call time is 15:00.”
“Then you’ll be fine?”
“Fine with what?”
As Yoon Joo-ho took the towel off his head, he sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, next to Song Hyun-soo’s hip. Then he leaned in and kissed him.
“I was going to leave you be because I thought you’d be tired from the first day.”
His lips, kissing various parts of his mouth, felt cool on the surface and radiated a lukewarm heat from within. Song Hyun-soo, who had chuckled at the playful kiss, cupped his cheeks and met his eyes.
“Are you sure it’s really nothing?”
“……”
Peck, peck, peck.
From his lips to his chin, his neck, his collarbone. Kissing his way down, Yoon Joo-ho pulled his body up onto the bed. Then, burying his face in Song Hyun-soo’s chest, he relaxed and lay down.
“Just.”
“Just?”
“……I got a call from over there and felt a bit down.”
Over there. Which side was he referring to? Stroking Yoon Joo-ho’s wet hair, Song Hyun-soo rolled his eyes and asked cautiously, frowning.
“Is it… about your parents?”
Call time: The time an actor is required to arrive on set. It varies daily depending on the filming schedule.