By Zephyria 
Jeong Seong-won recounted a few HLCs from his child actor days with Yoon Joo-ho.
In particular, the last project they worked on together had significant roles for the lead actors’ children, so the child actors also gained considerable popularity.
“Joo-ho Sunbae, even back then, his passion was incredible. He was no different from the adult actors.”
After taking a sip of the whiskey in his on-the-rocks glass, Jeong Seong-won continued with a smile that seemed both bitter and filled with longing.
“Unlike me, who was forced onto set by my parents, his eyes were different.”
Yoon Joo-ho was in the fifth or sixth grade.
He played the role of a bright but inevitably wounded son from a couple on the verge of divorce so well that even the young Song Hyun-soo, along with his grandmother, found himself rooting for that child in the drama.
“It was after I became close with you and was influenced by you that I started to take a genuine interest in acting. We even promised to become recognized adult actors someday. But I… I went abroad to study. Without a word.”
Fiddling with his on-the-rocks glass, Jeong Seong-won laughed bitterly.
“That’s probably why he resents me.”
“What’s wrong with that guy’s personality? That was ages ago. Is he still holding a grudge over that?”
Seohae, who was listening to the conversation with Song Hyun-soo, chided Yoon Joo-ho, who was not present.
“Childhood wounds linger. That must be why. He’s more sincere about acting than anyone, so me, who ran away to study abroad out of hardship, must have seemed cowardly. But I… I couldn’t tell him because I was afraid he would despise me. I couldn’t say I wanted to run away from hardship in front of someone who shone brighter than anyone else.”
“I think I understand that feeling.”
Song Hyun-soo, who had mostly been listening quietly until then, spoke up.
“Right, Hyun-soo? As expected, Hyun-soo, you understand because you’re a fellow actor.”
Jeong Seong-won, delighted to finally find someone who empathized, grabbed Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder tightly.
“It’s rare for someone to grow up without becoming less attractive from childhood to adulthood. When someone with looks and talent also works like crazy, people like us can never surpass them. Not to mention, they’ve maintained such strict self-discipline without a single scandal.”
Jeong Seong-won, speaking at length in a subtle tone that could be interpreted as praise or complaint, suddenly turned to Song Hyun-soo.
“Even Joo-ho Sunbae must have one weakness, right?”
“I… I don’t really know.”
Song Hyun-soo unconsciously leaned back slightly and brought his glass to his lips.
With a smile like his trademark ‘Flat White’, Jeong Seong-won’s eyes deepened.
“Senior seems to think of you, Hyun-soo, quite specially.”
“Specially? He just knew I could make cocktails and entrusted me with the bar that day. That’s all.”
“…Really?”
Glancing sideways at Jeong Seong-won, who was leaning closer, Song Hyun-soo nodded.
“Then, is it okay if I treat you specially from now on?”
“Uh…”
“The ‘Kiss of Fire’ you made, I’ve had it a few times elsewhere since, but it was different. If possible, I’d like to drink a cocktail made by you again…”
Something swift created a gust of wind next to Song Hyun-soo’s earlobe and approached. It felt like a bullet grazing the surface of the skin. Bullets are warm right after they leave the barrel. For a moment, I even had such a foolish thought.
But it wasn’t a bullet; it was a hand.
A hand that seemed to be hiding Song Hyun-soo’s right face from Jeong Seong-won’s view.
And the next moment, another hand pulled Song Hyun-soo’s left arm. As I lost my balance and stumbled off the stool, turning around, Yoon Joo-ho stood behind me. His face was filled with venom.
“What are you doing suddenly appearing like this? You’re making Hyun-soo flustered.”
Jeong Seong-won stood up from his stool and approached. Yoon Joo-ho, blocking Jeong Seong-won as if hiding Song Hyun-soo behind him, lifted his chin and scowled. As if he had heard an offensive curse.
“Hyun-soo?”
“What else would I call Hyun-soo? What else would I call him…”
“Just don’t call him. You don’t have to.”
Yoon Joo-ho shook his head and sneered. Chewing as if he were chewing gum, he looked like a low-class thug from a back alley.
What is this… Song Hyun-soo couldn’t grasp the situation at Yoon Joo-ho’s sudden appearance, as if he had dropped from the sky. He tried to pull his left wrist, which was held tightly, free, but it was impossible, as if it were handcuffed.
“What childish stubbornness… Without Hyun-soo’s consent, this is assault. If you don’t let go, I can’t help myself.”
“If you can’t help yourself, then what? Are you going to run to the representatives and complain?”
Yoon Joo-ho scoffed, clicking his tongue, and muttered as he brushed his hair back as if annoyed.
“Both this guy and that guy fiddle with what belongs to others. It’s defiling.”
Then, he glared at Seohae beyond the bar counter.
“Didn’t I tell you? If Jeong Seong-won tried anything with him, I wouldn’t be safe either. And you’re just watching? Do you think I’m joking?”
“What do you mean, ‘tried anything’? What right do you have to do this, Senior?”
At Jeong Seong-won’s indignant shout, Yoon Joo-ho’s face turned back to him. He glared and stood so close to Jeong Seong-won it looked like they were about to kiss.
“Right? Fuck, right? I… -…”
“Senior!”
Song Hyun-soo, bewildered by the sudden situation, grabbed Yoon Joo-ho’s shoulder roughly. Yoon Joo-ho looked down at Song Hyun-soo’s hand on his shoulder. Seizing the opportunity, he slipped between them, blocking Yoon Joo-ho, and separated them. Then, he pushed Jeong Seong-won’s back.
“Seong-won Senior, it would be best if you left. Your companions seem to be waiting… I’m fine.”
“Hyun-soo, you don’t look fine. He’s being too coercive.”
Jeong Seong-won looked down at Yoon Joo-ho’s hand gripping Song Hyun-soo’s wrist. He winced as if his own wrist hurt.
“No, I’m really fine. It’s just… we had a past argument.”
Yoon Joo-ho wrapped his arm across Song Hyun-soo’s shoulders from behind. Then, ostentatiously, he brought his lips to Song Hyun-soo’s ear and sneered at Jeong Seong-won.
“He says he’s fine. Can’t you hear? Don’t worry and leave.”
Even as he backed away, Jeong Seong-won didn’t take his eyes off Yoon Joo-ho. Yoon Joo-ho, holding Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder tightly to his chest, remained on guard.
Yoon Joo-ho remained frozen even after Jeong Seong-won had completely disappeared towards his companions’ private table. Song Hyun-soo, who had been looking down, roughly pulled away his arm that was across his collarbone.
Like an abandoned child, Yoon Joo-ho stood silently, his outstretched arm hanging limply. Then, he rubbed his mouth with the back of his hand and turned towards Song Hyun-soo. However, he couldn’t look Song Hyun-soo directly in the eye. He looked down towards his chest hesitantly and said,
“Let’s talk over there for a moment.”
His voice was cracked. He seemed less confident than when he had addressed Jeong Seong-won.
“Let’s talk here.”
“There are eyes watching. It’ll only be a moment.”
Come to think of it, due to the recent commotion, several people at the main seating area were watching. Even though it was a members-only bar where everyone guaranteed each other’s secrets, Yoon Joo-ho and Jeong Seong-won’s loud argument would naturally draw attention. Seohae also nodded briefly, as if suggesting it would be good to follow.
Following Yoon Joo-ho, who led the way, I entered a private room. Behind the heavy velvet curtains, there was a semicircular sofa, but Yoon Joo-ho paced behind the curtains instead of sitting down. Then, as soon as Song Hyun-soo entered, he firmly closed the curtains.
“Sit down.”
“I’ll listen here.”
Song Hyun-soo stood by the curtain, arms crossed tightly, while Yoon Joo-ho sighed, puffing out his chest.
“What did you two talk about?”
“Why do I have to tell you that?”
Yoon Joo-ho ran his hands over his face several times. He couldn’t stay still and paced the empty space. He seemed frustrated by the fact that he no longer had the right to interrogate Song Hyun-soo.
“Was there anything strange, really?”
“What do you mean by strange?”
“That guy… he’s different from his image. He’s quick-handed.”
“Hmm. So far, he’s only been polite?”
Yoon Joo-ho couldn’t keep his lips still and gnawed on them.
“Are you worried that Jeong Seong-won Senior might have bothered me?”
“……”
“Well, he was quite aggressive. I guess I’m his type.”
Yoon Joo-ho lunged forward and pushed Song Hyun-soo’s shoulders against the wall.
“Are you doing this on purpose? To torment me?”
His eyes, filled with pain, looked at Song Hyun-soo with resentment. He didn’t feel triumphant in front of him. He wished he did. But that didn’t mean he felt like embracing him in return.
“……”
The burning gaze, as if it could destroy the person in front of him to possess him, suddenly extinguished. Exhausted, he slumped forward, resting his forehead on Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder. Song Hyun-soo held his breath for a moment.
“I thought I had learned what jealousy was.”
His voice, weak as if it might break, said,
“But that wasn’t all.”
“……”
“Even though you didn’t sleep with that guy. The moment I saw the photo, I thought I was going crazy.”
Photo? Song Hyun-soo, with a question mark in his head, soon found the answer himself. Seohae had held up his phone, offering to take a photo with Jeong Seong-won. It seemed he had sent that photo to Yoon Joo-ho.
“No other man.”
“No,” he repeated, shaking his head several times on Song Hyun-soo’s shoulder. Then, he slowly raised his face to meet his gaze. Imagining something terrible, his eyes, cheeks, and lips contorted painfully.
“I don’t think I can bear to see you living happily next to another man.”