By Zephyria Yoon Joo-ho’s fan cafe, Yoon Gyeol-ho, prepared lunchboxes.
This put the staff in an excited mood. They chattered about the most extravagant food trucks or lunchboxes they had ever eaten on set.
“We’ve booked the community center! You can move there! The parking lot is narrow, so actors! Please travel in one car if possible!”
As the production assistant’s instructions were given, people bustled about. Shin Hyo-jin and Song Hyun-soo, who had just finished a scene, also left the home of Lee Sol and Lee San with Director Jeong Joon-hee and the assistant director.
“Yoon Joo-ho’s fan club sent lunchboxes?”
Shin Hyo-jin answered Director Jeong Joon-hee’s question.
“Yes, Director. Originally, they offered to send a food truck, but there isn’t a suitable space in this neighborhood to set up a large tent. The weather is still too cold, too. When we mentioned that, they sent lunchboxes instead.”
“That’s very kind of them.”
Song Hyun-soo, walking alongside the two chatting amiably, casually raised his eyes. Yoon Joo-ho’s sprinter, which had no scheduled filming for the day, was slowly stopping at the entrance of the alley. Song Hyun-soo tightly gripped the hand warmer in his padding pocket.
“Oh? Yoon Senior is coming this way. Not directly to the community center.”
Shin Hyo-jin said to the director in a pleased voice.
The sprinter’s door opened, and Han Joo-young was the first to jump out. Yoon Joo-ho followed.
“When did those two get so close? They fought so much at first.”
Shin Hyo-jin nudged Song Hyun-soo’s arm with a laugh in her voice. Song Hyun-soo just gave an awkward smile.
The two got out of the car and approached them. The distance narrowed, and Song Hyun-soo’s gaze darted everywhere, like someone who couldn’t find a place to look. Fortunately or unfortunately, he hadn’t seen Yoon Joo-ho much this week as they had few overlapping scenes, which doubled the awkwardness. Furthermore, he had heard a few days ago that Yoon Joo-ho had ‘stormed into’ Seohae’s house.
‘He was so worked up, he opened every door in the house.’
Seohae’s voice on the phone was even more agitated than Song Hyun-soo’s.
‘You should have seen him yesterday, Hyun-soo. That guy even grabbed me by the collar!’
‘…I’m sorry.’
Seohae clicked his tongue bitterly.
‘Hearing you apologize on his behalf for what he did. You don’t hate him yet, do you?’
‘I guess so. Why did I apologize without thinking when Yoon Joo-ho did that to you? It’s funny even to me, so I chuckled.’
‘He didn’t even apologize, did he?’
‘That’s just how he is.’
Song Hyun-soo replied with a bitter smile.
‘Believe it or not, Yoon Joo-ho is scared, Hyun-soo.’
‘Someone like Joo-ho Sunbae is scared of me?’
‘Yoon Joo-ho isn’t just hooking up with men; he’s dating seriously? He’s lived his life without even thinking about that kind of thing.’
That he had never dated a man… that much wasn’t a lie…
‘I told you last time, right? I’ve never seen him care if his partner lived in an old, drafty rooftop apartment.’
Hesitating, as if deciding whether to say it or not, Seohae took a breath, parted his dry lips, and added with a sigh,
‘And that includes Jung Ji-in.’
Song Hyun-soo lowered his head and shook it.
‘Whatever happened between me and Ji-in in the past, honestly, that’s not what I’m angry about.’
‘I know. You hid it, you lied, and on top of that, he got angry and put up a defense mechanism.’
Director Bang, Seohae, and others who had witnessed Yoon Joo-ho’s behavior at the time knew it well. Only Yoon Joo-ho himself didn’t.
‘He’s never had a normal romantic relationship at his age. Of course, he’s surrounded by people. They approach him first, seduce him, treat him well. Yoon Joo-ho dates if he’s interested, but he never gives his whole heart. The partner who waited for his feelings to deepen would eventually get tired and leave, and that would be the end.’
Seohae let out a long sigh, wondering why he was getting so worked up over someone else’s relationship, and clicked his tongue before continuing,
‘What I’m trying to say is…’
‘…’
‘He truly has no idea how to navigate a relationship with someone he loves.’
‘You’ve never said that.’
‘Said what?’
‘Words like ‘I love you’.’
‘Hyun-soo, you know.’
‘…’
‘Yoon Joo-ho has been speaking with his actions, not his words. That he loves you.’
That was true. His gaze and touch, his embraces and kisses, were abundant. That’s why he hadn’t felt hunger even without words of love.
But the power of words was stronger than he thought. His words, even though he knew they weren’t sincere, drew blood.
‘Still, this time, don’t let him off easily. Never.’
Seohae was resolute.
‘No matter how much he shows you with his actions, you have to fix his way of speaking. And his habit of locking himself away whenever something happens.’
‘Senior might be thinking of just drifting apart like this.’
At Song Hyun-soo’s words, Seohae scoffed confidently.
‘Believe me, Yoon Joo-ho will never give up on Hyun-soo. So, wait with your mouth open for the persimmons to fall. Never shake the tree yourself. Got it?’
Is that really true?
If I just leave it as it is, will Yoon Joo-ho reform himself and put the persimmons in my mouth? Does he like me that much?
Yoon Joo-ho’s face, whose features became more distinct as it got dark, was a few steps away.
“Director, let’s travel together in my car.”
“Did you come here specifically to pick us up?”
“No, it’s on my way.”
“Wow, am I finally going to ride in the famous Yoon Senior’s sprinter?”
Shin Hyo-jin said with delight, adding, “It has everything, doesn’t it?” It didn’t seem like Song Hyun-soo could slip away and travel in his own car. With reluctant steps, he got into the sprinter with the others.
The two seats in the second row were rotated to face the third-row seats. Director Jeong and Yoon Joo-ho sat in the second row, and the remaining three sat side-by-side in the third row.
“How was filming?”
Han Joo-young, who had been resting at the accommodation after filming one scene, asked curiously.
“It was great, of course.”
“It was a scene where you two argued, right?”
“Yes, Hyun-soo did so well that I was completely immersed. All three takes were okay.”
“Three takes?”
Han Joo-young exclaimed in surprise and looked at Director Jeong opposite him. He shrugged with a troubled expression, but his face looked pleased.
“Now I’ll have a hard time choosing which take to use during editing.”
“It was so fun. Right, Hyun-soo?”
“Yes, filming was fun.”
As the youngest, it was enough to chime in appropriately with the seniors’ and director’s conversations. But for Song Hyun-soo, it was torture.
It was the same car where, under the guise of discussing the script during a break, he had Yoon Joo-ho sleep on his lap. The sensation of Yoon Joo-ho’s eyelashes fluttering was still on his palm. But now, even making eye contact with Yoon Joo-ho was uncomfortable.
It wasn’t because he was worried others might notice their heated relationship. It wasn’t for that reason anymore.
Yet, their eyes kept meeting. Yoon Joo-ho, sitting diagonally opposite, didn’t stare so obviously that others would find it strange, but his gaze kept naturally lingering on Song Hyun-soo intermittently. Or, isn’t he uncomfortable? Am I the only one feeling awkward and uncomfortable? Or is he doing this deliberately to make me uncomfortable?
“San-i is adapting to the set much better than I expected. Is it thanks to Kang-i looking after him?”
Director Jeong Joon-hee asked, looking fondly at Yoon Joo-ho beside him and then at Song Hyun-soo opposite him.
“Are you really living together?”
At the director’s question, Yoon Joo-ho stared openly at Song Hyun-soo.
“Shall we really do that, Director?”
Leaning forward with both elbows on his thighs, Yoon Joo-ho fixed his gaze on Song Hyun-soo and rubbed his lips.
“If the Director permits, I can even cohabitate in my room.”
*