By Zephyria 
Lee A-gon pressed down on my forehead. The muscles along his jawline, clenched tight, were visible, casting a vertical shadow on his cheek. This anger was real. Lee A-gon was truly angry.
“I agree with you.”
Hae-jun gently stroked A-gon’s back. Living in a good place, wearing good clothes, and eating good food. He completely agreed with that.
“But don’t go around kicking things just because you’re angry. If the props get damaged, my work increases. You helping me is what makes my work end faster. So don’t be angry, A-gon.”
As he carefully hugged him and continued to stroke his back, A-gon placed his face on Hae-jun’s shoulder.
“I swear. When we get married, I won’t let you lift a finger.”
His hands went around Hae-jun’s back, embracing him as if to imprison him.
“I’ll make sure this never happens again. I won’t let you live so miserably.”
A-gon’s body was burning with anger. Through their touching chests, Hae-jun could feel his heart beating strongly and rapidly. As he was held like that, Hae-jun’s heart also began to beat faster.
For some reason, A-gon seemed a bit cool in that moment.
A-gon, swearing that he wouldn’t let his man lift a finger after they got married, was honestly cool.
“Okay, A-gon. Make sure I live without hardship.”
Hae-jun hugged A-gon tightly as well. For a while, the two remained motionless in that position, only feeling each other’s heartbeats.
“Hae-jun.”
“Yeah.”
“Let’s not have kids for a while.”
I’m glad we don’t have kids right now.
Finally accepting reality, A-gon murmured in a dejected voice. It was the first time he had said they shouldn’t have kids. Hae-jun, knowing how much A-gon wanted a baby—though he didn’t know why—could feel A-gon’s frustration here.
Hae-jun knew that whether they planned it or not, they wouldn’t have a baby, but at this moment, he wanted to comfort him. He gently patted A-gon’s back.
Filming went one session over the expected amount, making it eight sessions. Director Im grumbled that it was because A-gon had only cried all day on the days Hae-jun wasn’t there, so they couldn’t film properly.
After hastily filming additional scenes, they headed to a small train station in Chungbuk to film the final ending.
“Keep walking while saying your lines, and when the train comes, get on. It’s not a difficult scene, so absolutely no NGs.”
The train stopped at the small station only three times a day. Even one NG would create a four-hour gap.
“We’ll be doing ADR because of the train noise, but the lip sync has to match, so be careful not to mess up your lines. And at this time, Myeong-eum is doing what on the opposite side…”
Director Im took the actors and rehearsed. The sky was a clear blue without fine dust, and the wind was cool. It was a beautifully painted May.
The train arrived. Fortunately, there were no other passengers besides the film crew. A-gon and Seo Ji-hoon stood facing each other across the railroad tracks.
『Myeong-eum. Whenever I saw you, I was in pain. I was so scared, I just didn’t want to hurt anymore.』
Seo Ji-hoon began his lines. Of course, A-gon, standing on the opposite side of the tracks, couldn’t hear those lines. Nevertheless, Seo Ji-hoon’s, Jeong-on’s, monologue continued. That I hated that you were an Ability User, that you had to meet an Assistant, all of that was a lie. I just liked you.
At the same time, I was scared of you. I was so afraid that you would see how insignificant I was and be disappointed.
That’s why I said let’s break up. I wanted to hide before you found me out. Even if we’re going to break up anyway, let’s not even start, but just because I know I’m going to die someday doesn’t mean I have to die right now. So can’t we love even if we know we’re going to break up?
An old train painted with blue, white, and red colors entered the tracks. Jeong-on boarded the train. Seated in a chair, he looked out the window. Myeong-eum was still standing in that spot.
Myeong-eum.
Jeong-on moved his lips. He knew that Myeong-eum could hear what he was saying.
Even if it’s okay, will you come find me one more time?
With regular mechanical sounds, the train departed. As the train moved away, Jeong-on’s face filled the screen. Jeong-on’s lips moved. He kept talking, but no more voice was inserted.
From now on, the audience couldn’t hear what Jeong-on was saying either. The only one who could hear Jeong-on’s words was Myeong-eum.
The train disappeared. Myeong-eum stared at the empty tracks for a long time, shed a single tear, and then turned around. The film ended without showing whether he left as he was or bought a train ticket at the ticket office to go where Jeong-on had gone.
“Cut, okay.”
Director Im clapped, taking his eyes off the monitor.
“Good work, everyone.”
“Thank you for your hard work!”
Applause rang out from here and there. It was over. It was finally over.
Hae-jun also clapped. The eight days of filming were over. There was still ADR left, but the hard part was over.
Two months later, the movie
The movie was about an hour and ten minutes long. During that time, Secretary Yang sat in the back row and watched the movie silently, and Hae-jun was stiff.
“Excellent.”
As the movie ended and the GV began, Secretary Yang opened his mouth. When Hae-jun looked at him, he looked at Hae-jun and drove the nail in once more.
“You’ve accomplished something amazing. Thank you so much.”
The tension drained from Hae-jun’s shoulders. Finally. And at last.
“So what about the contract?”
“Since Park Hae-jun has successfully completed the request, we will also fulfill our promise to Park Hae-jun. Thank you for your hard work.”
Secretary Yang bowed to Hae-jun for the first time. Hae-jun was a little embarrassed by his polite demeanor. Secretary Yang was treating Hae-jun as if he would never see him again.
“What will happen to Lee A-gon now?”
“He will return to Wooyeong.”
“……Does that mean.”
“Yes, the contract is over. Park Hae-jun is now free.”
It was as expected. The movie turned out well, and A-gon had his name in the opening titles, so it was a natural result. If they tried to abandon A-gon again with some strange reason, he was planning to punch Secretary Yang without thinking about the consequences.
But…….
“Why do you have that expression? Isn’t this what you wanted?”
Secretary Yang asked Hae-jun. Hae-jun bit his lip. Of course, it was what he wanted. Of course, this was how it should be. But strangely, he didn’t feel very good.
Hae-jun looked at A-gon, who was in the middle of the GV. He was giving the audience indifferent answers with a rather bored face. ‘Is the title of the movie
“It may feel a bit sudden, but I would like you to move your belongings out of the house by today.”
At Secretary Yang’s words, Hae-jun turned his head to him.
“So soon?”
“What’s the point of dragging it out? It would be better for Park Hae-jun as well.”
“…….”
“Professor Seok’s matter will be settled next week.”
When Hae-jun didn’t react, Secretary Yang bent down and whispered in a low voice. He probably thought Hae-jun was worried about Professor Seok.
“We will reveal all of his flaws and make sure he can never return to the film industry, so don’t worry.”
“Ah… yes.”
“We have also prepared a place for you to live. We have rented the house you used to live in, and we are preparing to apply for a change of ownership of the lease. We have also prepaid six months’ rent, so please stay comfortably.”
“Ah… thank you so much. But.”
Hae-jun looked at A-gon, who was still in the middle of the GV.
“Will I have time to say goodbye to Lee A-gon?”
“Of course. You two must have grown fond of each other, so please say goodbye sufficiently.”
“Thank you.”
The end he had been waiting for had come, but he felt strange. He thought he would be with him for at least a week, or even two weeks.
‘It’s okay. It’s not like we’ll never see each other again.’
Hae-jun steeled his heart. It was the day to carry out what he had decided on from the beginning.
∞ ∞ ∞
We’re dating. I’m your boyfriend. I’m going to have a baby with you.
All of those were words he had said.
At first, it was clearly A-gon’s misunderstanding. But it was me who made him have an even bigger misunderstanding in order to use him.
Lies were bound to be discovered eventually. He thought A-gon would get angry when that happened, but he wasn’t too worried. Apart from feeling sorry, he had a vague belief that A-gon wouldn’t be angry with him for long.
Rejecting the director’s request to have a wrap-up party, Hae-jun returned home with A-gon. There was no time. Secretary Yang had said to pack his bags and leave the Safe House by today. Officially, today was the last day for A-gon and Park Hae-jun.
Of course, Hae-jun had no intention of ending things with A-gon. At first, it was clearly forced, but he had grown fond of him while they were together. Now, he found that incredibly ugly man cute.
“A-gon. Come here and sit down. I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”