By Zephyria 
As he ran towards the set where final filming preparations were underway, Yoon Joo-ho kept looking around for Director Jung Joon-hee or the assistant director.
[Still, there’s no need to postpone filming…]
Song Hyun-soo’s voice on the phone was still unstable. Yoon Joo-ho, stopping in the middle of the bustling set, swept his hair back and looked around.
“We don’t know how they’ll react. Are the calls still coming?”
[They stop and then come again.]
“Song Hyun-soo, listen to me carefully.”
[……]
“Do not answer that phone until I arrive. I’m sending Sang-ho Hyung to you right now, so don’t open the door for anyone but him.”
[Is… is it serious?]
He wanted to reassure him by saying it wasn’t, but seeing how far things had escalated, it seemed the other party was dead set on this.
He spotted Director Jung Joon-hee discussing with the camera director inside the house of siblings Lee Sol and Lee San. Approaching him, Yoon Joo-ho brought his lips close to the phone and whispered.
“I’m sorry. But please trust me on this one thing.”
[……]
“I will never let them touch you.”
[What am I? I’m just an unknown actor. They’re targeting Sunbae!Song Hyun-soo’s cry sounded like a desperate cry. Despite being hurt by the harsh words and having a big fight, at this moment, he was setting that aside and worrying about Yoon Joo-ho’s safety. Stopping briefly at the entrance of Lee Sol and Lee San’s house, Yoon Joo-ho paced and wiped his face several times.
“For now, will you do as I say?”
[……]
“Promise me, Song Hyun-soo?”
Though he was trying hard to hide it, Yoon Joo-ho could tell he was crying just by the tremor in his breathing. It felt like his very existence was being torn apart. He closed his eyes for a moment, swallowed dryly, and tried to calm his voice. He wanted to reassure him, even just a little.
“I’ll take care of everything. Don’t cry.”
[I’m not crying.]
A voice insisting it wasn’t crying, even though it was clearly choked up. Yoon Joo-ho nodded with a faint smile.
“That’s right. That’s the Song Hyun-soo I know. I’ll be there soon.”
After ending the call, he approached Director Jeong and the camera director. They, who were planning the floor plan, turned their heads at Yoon Joo-ho’s appearance. The camera director, sensing the gravity of the situation from his unusual expression, quietly moved away.
“Joo-ho, what is it? Is something wrong?”
Yoon Joo-ho bowed respectfully.
“I’m sorry, Director. I don’t think I can film today.”
“Are you not feeling well? Your complexion is pale.”
“I need to go to Seoul.”
“Seoul?”
“It’s a really important matter. There’s no choice. I am truly sorry.”
“I see…?”
What could possibly be so important that Yoon Joo-ho, who wasn’t sick, would try to postpone filming? Curiosity born of concern appeared on the director’s face.
“Of course, I will compensate for all the financial losses.”
“That’s not the issue, man.”
Director Jeong raised his voice, sounding disappointed.
“We can rearrange the shooting schedule to scenes other actors present can film. It’ll be extra work, but it’s not impossible.”
“I will compensate for causing everyone unnecessary trouble because of me.”
“If it’s Yoon Joo-ho, of all people, who’s acting like this, it must be a really important matter.”
“Yes.”
Yoon Joo-ho’s answer was concise and firm. As if there was no room for compromise on that matter.
“Although I was in the film industry longer than you, I’ve heard a lot about what kind of actor Yoon Joo-ho is. An actor who always arrives early to set. An actor who never cancels, even with a high fever. And my own experience with Yoon Joo-ho has been no different from what I’ve heard.”
As the director spoke, Yoon Joo-ho’s gaze slowly dropped heavily downwards.
An arrogant, self-willed top star afflicted with diva syndrome. — He thought everyone, except for a select few, saw him that way. He believed that because he was fundamentally flawed, he would be misunderstood no matter how diligently he worked. That his sincerity would never be conveyed, no matter how hard he tried. But that wasn’t all.
“Whatever it is, aren’t we a team that should support each other in times like these?”
This time, he looked up at the director. The director patted Yoon Joo-ho’s shoulder with a benevolent smile.
“Your heart is already elsewhere.”
“……”
“Even if I tried to hold you back, could you even act in that state? Go quickly.”
After bowing to the director, Yoon Joo-ho’s steps quickened even more. As he ran towards the sprinter, he called Director Bang. After explaining the situation, Director Bang, after a moment of serious thought, said in a chiding tone.
[You said it was okay earlier and you’d film. Let’s finish this first…]
“That was before they touched Song Hyun-soo.”
Yoon Joo-ho retorted irritably and quickly got into the sprinter. He immediately instructed the bewildered manager to drive to Seoul.
He slumped into the seat, leaning his head back.
“What if something happens before then? What if they go after Hyun-soo?”
[Surely not to that extent…]
“Did you think they would go this far?”
[……]
“The kid is panicking from anxiety. I need to be there.”
He felt suffocated by the fact that he was stuck in this car. Yoon Joo-ho, asking Director Bang to go to Seohae’s residence immediately and stay with Song Hyun-soo, bit his lower lip with his teeth and said hurriedly.
“Prepare a helicopter for me.”
[What? That’s difficult on such short notice, man.]
“How long will it take to drive? It’ll take over two hours. Even if it’s boarding from Osan or Suwon, set it up. I’ll be driving up in the meantime.”
[Don’t drive yourself, Yoon Joo-ho.]
After ending the call, Yoon Joo-ho tightly gripped his phone with clasped hands. Even though there were no cars blocking his way on the road, he felt trapped on a congested highway. Bending forward, he chewed his lip anxiously, his eyebrows twitching.
Why did the words of ‘that guy’ have to come to mind at a moment like this?
That guy. The one with the strange name who waited seven years for Jung Ji-in, based on memories of just a few days together.
『“If it’s love for a lifetime, then 7 years or even 10 years is not enough to waver. If it’s someone you want to spend your life with, are 7 or 10 years long? You’re the type who can’t do long-term investments in stocks either.”』
At the time, Yoon Joo-ho couldn’t possibly understand those words.
Was that possible after just a few days together?
Love for a lifetime. To Yoon Joo-ho, it was a concept as intangible as dark matter or multiple universes. However, as he rushed to Song Hyun-soo, wishing only for his safety, he suddenly understood the meaning of those words.
A person irreplaceable by anyone else. Not just because I want them, but because they complete me. Because I’ve realized that without that person, I am incomplete no matter where or how I live. A person who makes it impossible to settle for a second-best choice, whether it takes 7 years, 10 years, or longer…
He straightened his back and looked out the window. The car had left Myeonghae-ri and was entering the Seohaean Expressway.
Instead of searching for a cigarette to chase away his tension and anxiety, Yoon Joo-ho called Song Hyun-soo. Unlike when he only read messages without replying, this time, he answered his call immediately.
“I’ve departed. It won’t take two hours. Are they still calling from their end?”
[It was the last time 10 minutes ago.]
“You didn’t answer, right?”
[I didn’t answer.]
“Should we stay on the line until I arrive?”
[Sunbae.]
“Yes, Yoon Joo-ho, I won’t back down. Don’t worry.”
[……]
“Should we talk about when we first met?”
He heard a sniffling sound from the other end of the phone.
[If this blows up… Sunbae will…]
“Do my voice imitation for me, Hyun-soo-ya. Don’t cry.”
Song Hyun-soo, who cries when he’s frustrated and hurt.
It was really, really unpleasant to see him cry anywhere other than a bed.
■■■
Song Hyun-soo sat facing Director Bang on the sofa in Seohae’s living room. An uncomfortable silence followed, but he didn’t even feel the need to break it. Twisting his clasped hands incessantly, Song Hyun-soo flinched at the bell sound from the wall pad.
“……”
He had been on the phone with Yoon Joo-ho until a moment ago, and he had said he would land on the rooftop helipad of this building. So, that bell sound must be Yoon Joo-ho’s arrival. Yet, his breathing hitched and became ragged in an instant.
Director Bang, sitting opposite him, stood up first to check the visitor. With a relieved, yet still tense, face, he looked back at Song Hyun-soo.
“It’s Joo-ho. He’s at the front door.”
Without realizing it himself, he sprang up and walked, almost running, towards the hallway leading to the entrance. As he quickly unlocked the door and opened it, the person who appeared through the gap was not the Yoon Joo-ho that Song Hyun-soo knew.
Even when I saw him at Seohae’s bar just a few days ago, he was thinner and rougher than before, but not this much.
The Yoon Joo-ho who was infuriatingly confident and always at ease was nowhere to be found. Sharpened to a razor’s edge by fatigue and tension, he seemed like a different person in just a few days.
Yoon Joo-ho, standing like a large ghost, managed to pull his chapped lips into a smile. It was like the smile of someone with a throat full of thorns.
“…Come in.”
He barely managed to squeeze out the words to greet him. I thought I had calmed down somewhat during our phone call, but seeing his face made my emotions flare up again. I turned away first, not wanting to cry.
However, Song Hyun-soo’s feet, walking ahead in the corridor, were soon bound.
“……”
Yoon Joo-ho’s arms, approaching silently from behind, embraced Song Hyun-soo. His broad chest pressed against his back, and his lips brushed against the nape of his neck. A warm sigh tickled his skin.
“Thank goodness. Nothing has happened to you yet.”