By Zephyria 
This was a scene where Jung Ji-in, who believed himself to be a vampire, went to warn Yoon Joo-ho. But in reality, Yoon Joo-ho was the true vampire, and Jung Ji-in was a human child raised by vampires, unaware of the truth.
Although Yoon Joo-ho’s popularity and recognition were significantly higher, the two characters in the work appeared equal, regardless of that.
As expected of a drama called a visual paradise due to the stunning looks of its supporting cast, Jung Ji-in’s appearance was not inferior to Yoon Joo-ho’s. With pale makeup and a minimalist suit, the expressionless Jung Ji-in looked more like a vampire than a vampire.
Jung Ji-in, a human child raised to believe he was a vampire, the closest subordinate of a powerful vampire.
He was adorned with extreme makeup and clothing reminiscent of vampires, and his dialogue was composed of unique words not used by ordinary people. His character helped viewers immerse themselves more easily into the vampire world.
There was even a famous internet comment praising Jung Ji-in’s character portrayal that circulated for a while.
“I said I couldn’t watch vampire sci-fi because it was cringe, but Jung Ji-in convinced me with his visuals. I wish I could get slapped by that tight leather glove…”
Yoon Joo-ho and Jung Ji-in, acting with equal tension in the same frame.
Forgetting the lingering effects of the sticky dream, Song Hyun-soo focused on the two men on TV for a moment.
I think I get it. After all, I’m just a bit of an actor. That these two actors are completely trusting each other, immersed, and acting with passion.
Turning his gaze from the screen, Song Hyun-soo gazed at the small piece of paper lying neatly on top of the script next to his pillow. It was Yoon Joo-ho’s business card.
It was just paper, but it looked expensive. I held the slender rectangle under my nose. The scent still lingered.
When I received the business card from Yoon Joo-ho, I didn’t realize it, but when I returned to Honey’s place for the company dinner, I noticed an unfamiliar scent emanating from my hand. It turned out to be the scent from Yoon Joo-ho’s business card.
It smelled similar to the perfume Yoon Joo-ho wore. It was unique and intense rather than harmonious, and somehow had an addictive nuance different from the typical ‘perfume’ scent.
Song Hyun-soo waved the business card a few times in front of his face. As the scent spread, he felt his memories of last night, talking with Yoon Joo-ho and smoking, become clearer.
Staring intently at the numbers written by hand, he found his phone.
The number was already saved in his contacts.
Thanks to adding ‘ㄱ’ at the beginning, Yoon Joo-ho’s phone number was located at the very top of his contacts.
Yoon Joo-ho’s number saved in my phone. It was amazing no matter how many times I looked at it. It made me feel vividly that I had truly become a proper actor. Perhaps even more so than when I heard I had landed the role of Lee San.
I kept watching.
And I admired him.
Given that my grandmother was a fan of Yoon Joo-ho, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Song Hyun-soo grew up watching Yoon Joo-ho’s acting. Yoon Joo-ho, of course, didn’t know, but Song Hyun-soo felt as if he had grown up alongside Yoon Joo-ho.
When Song Hyun-soo was in elementary school, he saw Yoon Joo-ho delicately portraying a teenage boy. In middle and high school, he watched his growth from boy to young man. He watched his natural and solid transition from a child actor to an adult performer.
He copied Yoon Joo-ho’s hairstyle and practiced lines he thought were cool in front of the mirror. He even pestered his grandfather to buy him the expensive jeans Yoon Joo-ho advertised, only to get hit on the forehead with a rice bowl.
For the growing Song Hyun-soo, Yoon Joo-ho, four years his senior, was a role model to emulate, the standard of a cool man.
He was as handsome as an angel, loved by everyone, called to glamorous events, received countless awards, a life without a single shadow, a stylish life.
By chance, and because he had his own personality, he would sometimes talk back or get defensive during conversations, but the word ‘fan’ was never a lie.
In fact, even while looking at Yoon Joo-ho’s face and talking to him, there were times when I wanted to pinch my own cheek, wondering if this was really Yoon Joo-ho. If I did that, it wouldn’t end with just a slap.
Recalling Yoon Joo-ho’s glare, Song Hyun-soo shivered once and tightened the blanket around his shoulders. Then, with a more serious expression than ever, he began typing a message.
“Seon… bae-nim, did you sleep well? Song Hyun-soo, playing Lee San from
Ah, this isn’t it. Too wordy. Delete.
“Seonbae-nim, good morning? It’s Hyun-soo… me…”
Song Hyun-soo’s hands stopped again as he typed. Delete, delete.
Is there something witty yet impactful? Let’s ditch it. Would such high-class lines come from my head?
“Seonbae-nim, greetings. This is actor Song Hyun-soo. What time and where should I go today?”
After countless attempts of writing and deleting, the most mundane message was ultimately chosen.
After sending it, he changed his phone settings so that both vibration and ringtone would sound simultaneously. He also turned up the ringtone volume higher. So he wouldn’t miss a call.
Song Hyun-soo got up from the bed, which had only a mattress laid out. The air outside the electric blanket was much colder. It was clearly indoors, yet a gentle breeze blew as if a fan were on. If only it were like this in the summer.
He pulled on his discarded t-shirt over his bare body and then put on a sweatshirt over it. Turning on the boiler was a luxury due to gas costs. Naturally, the floor was freezing.
“My feet are cold, ah, my feet are cold!”
Hopping on tiptoes, he found the other rabbit slipper thrown near the TV and put it on.
Even if the house was cold, he had to sleep without a top on, and he couldn’t stand wearing socks because they felt stuffy. For Song Hyun-soo, the electric blanket and thick rabbit slippers had become essential winter items.
“Your loyalty is quite something.”
On TV, Yoon Joo-ho was still confronting Jung Ji-in. Anyone could see Yoon Joo-ho was human and Jung Ji-in was a vampire. But truth is not always apparent on the surface.
It was a favorite scene.
Stopping in front of the TV, Song Hyun-soo repeated the following line aloud, watching Yoon Joo-ho on screen.
“Loyalty that carries ‘his’ photo in your wallet… what a romantic loyalty.”
“Loyalty that carries ‘his’ photo in your wallet… what a romantic loyalty.”
Every night, I play Yoon Joo-ho’s works and try to fall asleep. As a result, I’ve memorized almost all the highlight lines.
This habit started after Choi Hong-seo passed away, and I developed insomnia.
I’ve tried almost everything online that’s said to be good for sleep. I’ve drunk warm milk, eaten bananas, drunk tea, eaten a handful of almonds. I’ve also tried applying some kind of aroma oil and listening to ASMR. But none of them had a proper effect. People say there are safe medications these days, but sleep-inducing drugs always made Song Hyun-soo feel uneasy.
The most effective method was to lie on my side in bed while playing Yoon Joo-ho’s works and then fall asleep. It helped to some extent to alleviate the feeling of being alone. Yoon Joo-ho’s acting voice was like ASMR for Song Hyun-soo.
I turned off the TV and went to the kitchen.
Without pouring it into a cup, I stood in front of the refrigerator and drank all the remaining water from the PET bottle. I felt like I needed coffee to clear my head, so I put water on to boil. Even the kettle was an item I had brought from my old dorm.
I poured two packets of instant coffee into a mug and waited for the water to boil. With my arms crossed, I leaned against the refrigerator and stared blankly at the Han River outside the kitchen window.
♬♪♪
My phone, which I had left on the mattress, rang. The ringtone was a song Choi Hong-seo had released as a solo artist.
“Ah, ah… Ic… That hurts…”
In my haste to answer the call, my steps got tangled. One of the rabbit slippers flew off with a clatter, and I stubbed my little toe on the threshold. Despite running so desperately, the caller, contrary to my expectations, was my grandmother.
Song Hyun-soo collapsed onto the mattress, clutching his toe, and connected the call. He tried his best to hide the voice of him enduring the pain.