By Zephyria 
As always, Honey’s place was the same. The simple menu on the wall, the worn-out tables, even the auntie’s chic expression.
The auntie, who was waiting for the food in front of the window connected to the kitchen, spotted the group and raised her hand. It was instead of a greeting. It hadn’t been that long since they’d seen her, so they bowed their heads to her and moved to a seat inside.
“Hey, can you hurry up a bit?”
Han Joo-young, who had arrived earlier and was already grilling meat, greeted the three.
“You’re always late, but you act like it’s a big deal just because you’re early once.”
Shin Hyo-jin teased him with a smile, and Han Joo-young pointed to the seat on his left, saying to Yoon Joo-ho, who was standing behind.
“Yoon Sunbae, please sit here.”
“Yes, Sunbae. A seat where you don’t have to show your face is more comfortable anyway.”
Han Joo-young and Shin Hyo-jin recommended the seat facing the wall to Yoon Joo-ho. Yoon Joo-ho hung his coat on the hanger embedded in the wall, looking surprised.
“Han Joo-young has become a real person. I didn’t know you could be so considerate.”
“Haha, well, I learned a lot from you, Sunbae.”
“Seeing you take that comment as a compliment, I guess you’ll be fine in this industry.”
Yoon Joo-ho reached out to Song Hyun-soo, who was waiting behind him.
“Give me your coat.”
“I’ll… hang it up.”
“Just give it to me.”
“…Thank you.”
Hanging up someone’s coat was something that could happen even if they weren’t dating. But Song Hyun-soo was always conscious of his surroundings. He was worried because he knew he couldn’t hide his feelings well. No matter who he met, people around him always noticed it first.
Yoon Joo-ho had said something similar before. He said that Song Hyun-soo might think he was hiding it well, but his emotions were all over his face. So he should give up on trying to get roles through ‘social life.’
Usually, Yoon Joo-ho was the sensitive and worried one. Song Hyun-soo was laid-back and bold. But in this matter, it was the opposite. Song Hyun-soo was always especially careful about whether anyone would notice their relationship, but Yoon Joo-ho didn’t seem to care. That sometimes made Song Hyun-soo anxious.
The furthest corner seat, away from the entrance. The four sat around the round table.
As he received a drink from Han Joo-young, Yoon Joo-ho complained.
“But why is there only gopchang?”
“It was a majority vote. Everyone except Yoon Sunbae likes it.”
“So? You didn’t order any meat for me at all?”
“You can order it now. Geez.”
Han Joo-young, who had put down the soju bottle, naturally shouted, “Auntie!” and ordered pork neck. The three, who remembered the days when he insisted on calling her ‘boss’ because he couldn’t understand why people called someone ‘auntie’ when they weren’t related, looked at each other and laughed at his change.
“Hyung, your Korean has really improved.”
“Really?”
“It’s not just that your vocabulary has increased, but the feeling is much more Korean.”
“Well, you can almost consider me a native speaker now.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who was filling Shin Hyo-jin’s glass, chuckled.
“Native speaker, my foot. Just be careful not to make any mistakes during the promotion period.”
“Ah, Yoon Sunbae really doesn’t know about carrots.”
Han Joo-young grumbled and added while flipping the meat.
“I do better when I’m praised.”
“My carrots aren’t that cheap.”
“You give carrots to Hyun-soo so well, though.”
“……”
Both Song Hyun-soo and Yoon Joo-ho were silent for a moment. And they looked at each other. It wasn’t intentional. Avoiding eye contact, thinking they shouldn’t do this, happened simultaneously.
After everyone’s glasses were filled, Yoon Joo-ho raised his glass, led a toast, and said casually.
“I’m a senior who acknowledges when someone does well. So try to do well enough to be recognized by me.”
The four tried to continue this gathering, even if it was irregular. It was an industry where it was surprisingly difficult to meet like-minded peers, and all four of them hadn’t completely escaped the lingering feelings of <Dissolve>, so chatting in the messenger and occasionally meeting for meals or drinks was helpful.
Yoon Joo-ho didn’t dislike this gathering either. But it wasn’t essential for him.
He had done countless works since his debut. Fortunately or unfortunately, new works were always waiting for him, without giving him time to wallow in the emptiness after a project ended. It was like a continuous obstacle race where he had to keep clearing hurdles.
But this work was particularly meaningful to him.
It was his first film, <Dissolve> was part of the process of gaining complete independence from his parents, and above all, it was the work that allowed him to meet Song Hyun-soo. Like the title <Dissolve>, his life had changed based on this work.
And above all, Song Hyun-soo showed a special affection for this gathering.
On the days of this gathering, he seemed excited, like a child surrounded by his beloved older brother and sister, fooling around to his heart’s content. Yoon Joo-ho enjoyed watching and observing that appearance, so he was willingly, happily participating in this gathering. At least, he was trying to do so. While still struggling to control the rough and anxious emotions that surged up from time to time.
“This is all cooked. You can eat it.”
Han Joo-young pushed the meat towards Song Hyun-soo and Shin Hyo-jin first, then stuffed two or three pieces of meat into his own mouth. Shin Hyo-jin was shocked at the sight.
“Wow… you couldn’t even eat the skin when you first came here, but now you like gopchang so much.”
“Gopchang, makchang, daechang. I can’t get enough of any of them. And now I’m good at grilling meat too. Thanks to whom…”
Han Joo-young glanced at Yoon Joo-ho, who was sitting on his left. Yoon Joo-ho, who had downed a shot of soju, put down his glass and smirked.
“I don’t know how much the outside world has changed, but here, seniority is still power. If a rookie just sits there without grilling meat, they’ll be cut off from everything.”
Yoon Joo-ho, who had received the plate of additional meat, snatched the tongs from Han Joo-young.
The four shared their recent updates and industry news.
Han Joo-young knew the industry news inside and out, like an entertainment reporter. Who was cast in which work, which role that actor A took was actually rejected by so-and-so, stories like that.
Jeong Seong-won’s name also appeared in Han Joo-young’s story.
Jeong Seong-won was able to avoid indictment because it was acknowledged that he had been threatened by Yoon Joo-ho’s parents, but he failed to renew his contract with Look Planning, and to contract with the new CEO, Yoon Joo-ho.
Just about a year ago, around Yoon Joo-ho’s birthday party, Jeong Seong-won was at the peak of his popularity. After working with Look Planning, he had only taken on so-called ‘roles where he wears a suit and looks cool.’ Now, he was even being pressured by his new company to audition for morning dramas, Han Joo-young whispered, lowering his voice. He wasn’t getting any roles.
Song Hyun-soo didn’t know about this. He had heard from Yoon Joo-ho that Jeong Seong-won had failed to renew his contract with Look Planning, but he wasn’t curious about what happened to Jeong Seong-won after that.
He watched Yoon Joo-ho’s face to see how he would react, but he maintained an expressionless face that didn’t reveal any emotion. He didn’t know if Yoon Joo-ho had done something related to Jeong Seong-won.
But this much was clear. Even if Yoon Joo-ho didn’t do anything separately, Jeong Seong-won was an actor who couldn’t last long without the background of Look Planning.
When the meat on the grill was almost gone, and they were focusing more on alcohol than food, Shin Hyo-jin handed Song Hyun-soo a shopping bag.
“Actually, I asked to meet today to give you this.”
“Is it my birthday present?”
Shin Hyo-jin smiled at Song Hyun-soo’s bright face, which didn’t hide his joy, and ruffled his hair.
“Yeah. Happy birthday, Hyun-soo.”
“Thank you, Nuna.”
Song Hyun-soo immediately took out the item from the shopping bag. It was a cardigan with a bright, warm color and a soft mohair material.
“Wow, it’s so pretty?”
“Do you like it?”
“Of course! But… do you think this color suits me?”
“Don’t you trust my taste? Try it on.”
“My face got really tanned while filming <Dissolve>…”
Song Hyun-soo rubbed his cheek and put on the cardigan over the sweatshirt he was wearing.
“It’s good? It suits you well. The sweatshirt is too thick, so it would be prettier if you wear it over just a t-shirt later.”
“Oh, it really suits you. Hyo-jin’s sense is great as expected.”
After hearing Han Joo-young’s compliment, Song Hyun-soo turned his upper body towards Yoon Joo-ho, who was sitting on his right, and spread his arms out.
“Sunbae, how is it?”
“Well, it’s not bad.”
Without even looking properly…