By Zephyria 
Yeon-rok recalled the moment he had received the most attention in his entire life. It was back at work when, like something out of a cartoon, he had stepped on a banana peel and fallen ridiculously in front of everyone. However, since meeting his name partner, that record had been broken repeatedly.
‘Pretending to faint to help CEO Yeom Cheon-ho wasn’t even really “receiving attention”….’
It had been burdensome enough to act in front of famous people from the political and business worlds, let alone on a broadcast! Above all, he hesitated deeply because he didn’t know if this would be a good thing for Choi Hwan. Seeing that Yeon-rok was truly reluctant, Choi Hwan began to explain the program in detail.
“Do you happen to know a program called ‘Yoo Eun-ha’s Happy Radio’?”
Yeon-rok flinched. He knew that radio show. No, more than just knowing it, he was a loyal listener. It aired from 6 PM to 8 PM, exactly during the commute, making it perfect to listen to on the way home. Choi Hwan, who was usually so oblivious, noticed the agitation this time and continued.
“You might not have seen it, but you’re getting a lot of hate. Because the articles are saying such absurd things.”
That was true. Low-quality, third-rate media outlets were portraying Yeon-rok as some trashy thug who was shaking Choi Hwan down for money. It was all because of the malicious interviews given by Choi Hwan’s parents. He didn’t know for sure, but in Choi Hwan’s fan cafe, the atmosphere was probably close to wanting to burn Yeon-rok at the stake.
“If you speak clearly on the radio, public opinion will recover. You don’t even have to reveal your name. I’ll do most of the talking, and you just have to chime in a bit from the side. There’s a script, too.”
As he listened, he was gradually persuaded, and Yeon-rok pondered. Even if it was just a voice appearance, it was still a bit overwhelming. However, as a loyal listener, he knew well how much Yoo Eun-ha cared for her guests and how skillfully she led the conversation, so part of him was tempted. But then, Choi Hwan….
“Yeon-rok-ahhh.”
He spoke in a pleading voice, acting in a way that Yeon-rok couldn’t tell if it was aegyo or just flattery. With his eyebrows and the corners of his eyes lowered, he looked so much like a handsome puppy that Yeon-rok’s heart naturally wavered. Meeting those moist, almost teary eyes, Yeon-rok answered reflexively.
“A-Alright….”
“Hah! Really? You said alright, definitely!”
Good grief. Was this… was this how people felt when they fell for a honey trap?
Though he regretted it, Yeon-rok didn’t take back his answer. Choi Hwan’s words made sense. If saying a few words could reduce the amount of hate he received, it was worth doing. Still, finding him annoying, Yeon-rok glared at Choi Hwan’s arrogant nose and asked.
“So, when is the broadcast date?”
Strangely, Choi Hwan just stared blankly at his face without answering.
“…Choi Hwan?”
The moment he leaned forward in confusion, Choi Hwan, who had been crouching at Yeon-rok’s feet, stood up. Then, he suddenly kissed him. Despite having filmed several kiss scenes in his works, it was an incredibly clumsy and impulsive kiss.
Not content with just pressing his lips against Yeon-rok’s, Choi Hwan flicked his tongue inside. Frozen in shock, Yeon-rok reflexively threw a punch like a wildcat. He realized his mistake and slowed down mid-swing, but he had already struck Choi Hwan’s cheek and jaw area. Thwack!
Choi Hwan collapsed on the spot, clutching his cheek. He then looked up at the horrified Yeon-rok with a look of utter shock. He was lying on his side in a pitiful pose as if he were acting, but the voice that erupted from him was thunderous.
“Hey! How can you hit an actor’s face!”
“…Gasp. Is it bruised? Let me see.”
One would expect him to avoid the hand since he had just been hit, but he quite obediently offered his face. Perhaps because Yeon-rok had slowed down, there was a reddish tint to his cheek and jaw, but it didn’t look like it would bruise. Yeon-rok let out a sigh of relief. Choi Hwan whined.
“If my body is worth 10 million won, my face alone is 9.99 million!”
“Sorry…?”
As he spoke, Yeon-rok found it so absurd that his eyes narrowed. He abruptly pulled his hand away from Choi Hwan’s face—which he had been touching as if it were a sacred relic—and crossed his arms.
“Thinking about it, I’m only a little sorry.”
“Hey!”
“Who told you to kiss me without permission?! And why did you put your tongue in, you crazy bastard!”
Whether he felt he had done something right or not, Choi Hwan pouted deeply. But it wasn’t just his lips that were protruding. Noticing something distracting at the edge of his vision, Yeon-rok’s gaze involuntarily drifted toward the space between Choi Hwan’s legs. He saw it. Or rather, the outline of it. Noticing where Yeon-rok was looking, Choi Hwan’s face turned beet red.
“W-What are you looking at?”
“No, I just saw it without realizing….”
The one who got hard was the other person, but for some reason, Yeon-rok’s face also turned bright red. Choi Hwan quickly closed his legs and turned away. This made his crimson-red earlobes clearly visible. For a moment, there was silence between the two.
Perhaps feeling slightly less embarrassed, Choi Hwan slowly turned back. It was obvious that he was glancing down at his own crotch, causing Yeon-rok to scowl. When Yeon-rok glared at him, Choi Hwan poured out his grievances, seemingly deeply hurt.
“Don’t curse at me….”
“I’m not.”
“You’re cursing with your eyes! You’re saying something really mean!”
Choi Hwan flared up and clenched his fists, but Yeon-rok snorted. Pouting those lips that were handsome enough to be called voluptuous, he argued.
“And speaking of which, I—I said I like you.”
“And?”
“Since we’re name partners, it’s practically the same as dating, so it’s not like I said something baseless….”
Did this guy even reflect on his actions? He wondered if Choi Hwan had been humbly kneeling and begging for forgiveness while thinking this in his head.
“Saying you like someone and dating are two different things. And so what if we’re name partners? You’re not the only one I have.”
Choi Hwan trembled again, looking shocked. It seemed he was belatedly having the same thoughts Yeon-rok once had. For example, why there were three name partners. Though the context was likely different from the Yeon-rok of winter.
Choi Hwan became sullen and deflated. He lay back down pitifully like a little mermaid, seemingly trying to hide his crotch, which bothered Yeon-rok, so he pulled him up and sat him on the sofa.
At that small gesture, Choi Hwan’s face brightened instantly as he fiddled with his lips. Then, with a look of inner satisfaction, he asked.
“I’m the first, right?”
“The first what?”
“The first one to kiss you among the three….”
As he said this, Choi Hwan looked quite shy. His face was one that didn’t doubt for a second that he was the first person to kiss Yeon-rok. Sorry, or rather, honestly not sorry, but he wasn’t the first. Yeon-rok shook his head.
“You’re not the first.”
“W-What do you mean? Not the first?”
“I mean you’re not the first name partner I’ve kissed.”
Now that it was stated clearly, Choi Hwan’s expression crumbled. Unable to hide his devastation, he demanded to know.
“Who on earth was it!”
“CEO Yeom Cheon-ho.”
Yeon-rok recalled the first time he kissed Yeom Cheon-ho. In the middle of the night, when he was delirious with fever, it was a kiss that had come to him like a cool breeze. Like a tragic male lead, Choi Hwan bit his lip harshly and asked.
“T-Then. At least I’m the second, right?”
Again, Yeon-rok shook his head. Although it was more like artificial respiration when Moon Gyeonu was almost kidnapped, a kiss was still a kiss. Choi Hwan fell into despair at the fact that he was last. Then, he suddenly snapped at Yeon-rok.
“Why are you so promiscuous! You’ve never dated anyone, so how on earth!”
Promiscuous? That was an utterly ridiculous thing to say. Yeon-rok replied indifferently.
“The first time was when I collapsed from lack of contact, and the second time was during the kidnapping incident because Moon Gyeonu looked to be in such bad shape. If you think about it, they didn’t really mean anything.”
…Though he said that, Yeon-rok clearly remembered the second kiss he had truly shared with Yeom Cheon-ho. It was a kiss he had initiated first, a kind of reckless courage without any particular reason. Yet, for Yeon-rok, it was a kiss that held significant meaning.
‘Thinking about it now, it wasn’t exactly without a reason.’
Despite hearing the valid reasons, Choi Hwan couldn’t escape his despair and began blaming him for no reason.
“You’re too much…. You always discriminate against me….”
Seriously, what is he talking about every single time? Yeon-rok let it go in one ear and out the other, snorting.
Anyway, after Yeon-rok decided to appear on the radio show, the schedule was set quickly. It was for a broadcast this week. As Choi Hwan had mentioned, a script was delivered to Yeon-rok in advance. It contained ordinary questions, such as where they first met and how he felt when he found out his name partner was Choi Hwan.
He discussed the answers with Choi Hwan, wrote them down diligently, and sent them via Kim Jeong-seong. Then, the script edited by the broadcast writer came back. It was a story packaged to be more plausible and persuasive. Seeing that, Yeon-rok felt much more at ease. Still, wanting to double-check with Choi Hwan first, he waited in the indoor garden.
“…I can’t believe I’m actually going on a radio show.”
He read the script over and over until it was worn out while waiting for Choi Hwan. However, there was no sign of him returning. He had clearly heard that Choi Hwan had no schedule today, but there was no way to know where he was or what he was doing. Just as he was fiddling with his phone, wondering if he should call, the front door opened and Choi Hwan returned. Yeon-rok stood up, brightening.
“Why are you so lat—”
Yeon-rok’s words stopped. It was because Choi Hwan had stepped back, looking strangely flustered. The sight of him wearing a cap pulled low and a mask was oddly bothersome. He had seen Choi Hwan dress like that countless times when going out to avoid being recognized, yet it felt out of place.