By Zephyria 
“Wait.”
After the interview, which lasted about an hour, Lee A-gon and Hae-jun got into the car waiting for Yang Road. Just as they were about to depart, Lee A-gon looked left and right, frowning. Seeing his gesture of searching for something, Hae-jun asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“My watch is gone. It’s a filming prop.”
“A watch?”
At that, Hae-jun also scanned under his seat, but only old dust rolled around.
“I think I dropped it during the interview… Could you go look for it for me, hyung?”
Lee A-gon asked Hae-jun with a very troubled expression. Seeing that, Hae-jun’s face lit up. It was the first time in so long he had heard such a gentle voice. He didn’t think twice. Hae-jun quickly agreed and ran off.
“Manager-nim, what’s the matter?”
The editor, who was about to lock the studio door, asked Hae-jun when she saw him. Hae-jun quickly explained the situation.
“Our actor apparently dropped his watch here. It’s essential for filming, so we must find it. Could you please open it for just a moment?”
The editor not only readily opened the studio but also offered to help look for the watch. The two searched the floor thoroughly, and just in case, they moved chairs and props to find the watch.
“What should we do? I think I need to leave now.”
About 10 minutes later, the editor said with a troubled expression. There was no other choice. Hae-jun bowed his head and expressed his gratitude.
“It’s okay. Thank you for your help. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“It seems the actor dropped it somewhere else, not here. But just in case, I’ll check again and contact you if I find it.”
“Thank you.”
After bowing deeply to the editor who had helped so diligently, Hae-jun returned to the underground parking lot dejectedly.
“Huh?”
Upon arriving at the first basement level, Hae-jun was flustered when he couldn’t find the familiar black SUV. Thinking he might have mistaken the floor, he went down another level, but he didn’t find Yang Road’s car there either. Even after going down to the third basement level, the result was the same.
After going back and forth between the first and third basement levels twice more, Hae-jun realized.
Lee A-gon hadn’t lost his watch. It was a lie from the beginning.
He had lied to get rid of Hae-jun, and once I was gone, he drove away.
“Ha……”
Hae-jun rummaged through his pockets. Nothing came out. Of course, he had left his bag with his wallet and phone in the car.
Abandoned on a street in Gangnam without a single coin, Hae-jun was simply dumbfounded.
∞ ∞ ∞
“Manager hyung, you’re here? Um, I kept your things.”
Yang Road, looking restless, handed Hae-jun his bag. Lee A-gon had caused the trouble, but Yang Road seemed to feel guilty.
“How did you get home yesterday? I’m sorry. The actor was very firm.”
“It’s okay. Thank you.”
Taking the bag, Hae-jun replied briefly and closed his mouth. He knew Yang Road kept stealing glances, but he didn’t want to answer.
Yesterday, he had walked home. It took nearly five hours to get from Gangnam to his rented room in Jungnang-gu. He had gotten lost midway because he didn’t have a map, which made it take even longer.
“Please leave the company as soon as possible.”
“If you don’t leave on your own, I will make you leave.”
On his way home last night, Hae-jun realized belatedly. If he didn’t leave on his own, they would make him leave—this was what they meant.
His heart was hurt and wounded, but Hae-jun lifted his head. Yes, torment me as you wish. If you hit me, I will take it. Once you’ve tormented me enough to relieve your anger, you’ll probably calm down too. Hae-jun steeled his resolve.
The car door opened, and Lee A-gon got in. He raised his eyebrows at Hae-jun, who was sitting in the passenger seat. It was a gesture that seemed to say, ‘You came again today, not giving up.’
“Hyun-woo-ah.”
“Yes, hyung.”
“Could you wait outside for a moment? I need to talk to the actor.”
Yang Road looked back at Lee A-gon. Lee A-gon didn’t answer, just beckoned with his finger. It meant it was okay. Yang Road looked at Hae-jun with worried eyes and got out of the car.
“Lee A-gon.”
Hae-jun opened his mouth, and Lee A-gon defensively crossed his arms. It felt like a declaration that he wouldn’t apologize, no matter what Hae-jun said about yesterday.
“I was wrong.”
However, it was Hae-jun who apologized. Hae-jun turned his body back to face Lee A-gon directly and apologized again.
“I’m truly sorry, A-gon. I was wrong.”
“……”
“Lying to you. Hurting your feelings. I should have told you the truth from the beginning, but I didn’t. It’s all my fault.”
Lee A-gon’s treatment was successful, and he returned to Umyung to continue his acting career. In the end, everything turned out well, so it’s okay—that excuse wouldn’t work. That’s not what Lee A-gon wanted. He had never said he wanted to return as Umyung’s son or become a famous actor. That was Hae-jun’s wish, not Lee A-gon’s.
What Lee A-gon wanted was his hyung’s love. To marry his hyung, have a baby, and live together. And for his hyung to want that with the same heart he did.
Hae-jun had used that desire to achieve his own wish, and Lee A-gon, who learned the truth, was hurt. Hae-jun had to apologize for this.
“Tell me. How can I get you to accept my apology?”
“That won’t happen.”
“I don’t want to lose you like this. I like you, A-gon. I like you, Lee A-gon.”
“You’re saying this because you want something from me.”
Lee A-gon smiled coldly.
“Just be honest. Stop playing with my feelings anymore.”
“It’s not like that. I really like you.”
“Quit being my manager. Before you go through more hardship. I don’t want to do this to you either. I want to part on good terms.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Listen to me. Before I make you cry.”
Hae-jun shook his head with all his might. If he gave up now, it would be the end with Lee A-gon. He would become even more famous, and Hae-jun would return to being an ordinary student. Then, meeting again would truly be a distant prospect.
“I won’t quit. I will make you like me again, no matter what. And then I will find you again.”
Lee A-gon sneered coldly at Hae-jun, who spoke as if making a declaration.
“Let’s see who wins.”
At the words that sounded like a declaration of war, Hae-jun clenched his fists. He could endure anything, no matter what he did.
I didn’t realize until I lost him. That there was no one in this world who loved me as much as Lee A-gon. I realized too late that I had received a love my parents had never given me. Because he was not only ugly but also a man, I failed to recognize the value of his affection.
Lee A-gon was ugly on the outside, but I was the one with an ugly heart. Hae-jun thought, clenching his teeth so hard his jaw ached. I will endure, no matter what you do.
The next day, as filming was nearing its end, Lee A-gon sent Hae-jun on an errand. He handed him a note with a name and phone number, telling him to bring the man waiting at a nearby cafe.
“Who is this? What kind of person is he?”
Hae-jun, puzzled by an appointment he, as the manager, didn’t know about, pressed for details. Lee A-gon scowled and glared. Seeing that look, Hae-jun’s shoulders slumped.
“Can’t you just do as you’re told when I ask you to? Am I someone who has to report to you every single detail about who I’m meeting and why?”
“Sorry. I get it. Don’t be angry.”
“……”
“I was wrong….”
“……Bring him here and have him wait in the car.”
Lee A-gon turned and left like the wind. Hae-jun sighed and went to the location written on the paper. The meeting place was a cafe on the main street.
There was no need to ask who it was. There were only three customers in the cafe; two were women, and only one was a man. Hae-jun approached the man politely.
“Hello. I am Park Hae-jun, manager to actor Lee A-gon. Excuse me, but are you Mr. Kim Seong-ho, who has an appointment with our actor?”
The man nodded and stood up. He was about 170 cm tall, perhaps in his late twenties, with a gentle and slender appearance.
“The actor asked me to bring you. Please follow me.”
As Hae-jun drove him to the car, he tried to speak to the man a few times, but received no reply. No matter what he asked, the man only offered an awkward smile, so Hae-jun eventually stopped trying to make conversation.
About 40 minutes later, Lee A-gon appeared. He got into the car with a tired expression and scowled upon seeing the man already inside. He seemed to have forgotten the man’s existence after asking for him.
“Do you have plans with your friend?”
Yang Road, unable to read the mood, asked cheerfully.
“Then, shall we not go home today and go somewhere fun? The club might be too much, but there’s a nice bar in Hongdae that’s good for guys too. Shall we go?”
“Yang Road.”
“Yes, actor.”
“Shut up.”
“…….”
Yang Road stiffened. Lee A-gon rubbed his temples, letting out an exasperated sigh, while the man, feeling like an intruder, just stared out the window.
“Go to the nearest hotel.”