“I… if you’re okay with it, CEO-nim, I don’t mind.”
No one knows how things will unfold from now on. But Dowon’s words came to mind again—that if you steadily and diligently do the things you want to do, misunderstandings will somehow be resolved. For a moment, Muyoung thought that perhaps Dowon had come to this place to keep those words he’d said to him. Even just the speculation made his face heat up somewhere, and he quickly turned his head to face forward again.
“Then to avoid any misunderstanding, I’ll inform you. Lee Muyoung-ssi and I are seeing each other with good feelings.”
In an instant, the entire space filled with noise. It was incomparable to just moments before. His vision turned white from the successive flashes that made it difficult to keep his eyes open properly. At this point, Muyoung could only think with relief that the moment when Dowon appeared and this current moment would probably be the most recorded and turned into articles.
“How do actors endure something like this as if it’s nothing?”
He could read the troubled expression in Dowon’s whispered words as he tilted his head toward Muyoung again. Muyoung listened to Dowon’s words and ended up smiling a little.
“I’m sorry. This is my first time with something like this too.”
Though it had only been a few minutes ago that Muyoung had been tense under the cameras thrust in his face and the reporters’ keen gazes, carefully chewing over each answer, the current moment where he was okay seemed better. Rather, it wasn’t bad at all.
His eyes also met with CEO Choi, who was putting effort into organizing the hall. Only after nodding to show he was okay to those worried eyes looking at him could he finally add more words. Muyoung, who had picked up the microphone placed in front of him and raised his head, opened his mouth.
“I didn’t think this was a problem I could discuss alone, so my answer wasn’t smooth. Now… though it’s sudden, I’m grateful you came like this, and I hope the answer to the question can clear up any misunderstandings.”
Muyoung, who had calmly stated his position, looked at Dowon. He was curious and worried about how he’d come and whether it was okay to say such things, but right now everything seemed like it would be fine. A relief that couldn’t be explained by any words spread through his body.
“You said you went to the hospital together because of Lee Muyoung-ssi’s health condition—does that mean CEO Han Dowon went as a guardian?”
“Yes, Lee Muyoung-ssi requested help regarding hospital visits, so I accompanied him as a guardian.”
“Did you come to this place today without informing Lee Muyoung-ssi?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I intended to just watch briefly, but my story came up as well. Since this is Lee Muyoung-ssi’s press conference, shouldn’t Lee Muyoung-ssi answer questions about himself and I answer my own questions?”
Though he didn’t refuse to answer, Dowon’s voice was firm as he gently dismissed the questions that kept popping up. Though it seemed they wanted to ask more, the reporters also seemed to recall the venue and didn’t press further.
“Lee Muyoung-ssi, then you said you’ll be taking a rest—does that mean you’ll be pausing all activities?”
Muyoung continued his answer to the question that finally returned to him.
“……For now, yes. Actually, the drama that finished airing last week was my last scheduled work. I believe the same answer has been given to audition and casting offers as well. I plan to think about it after recovering my health.”
After finishing his answer, Muyoung looked ahead at the noticeably changed atmosphere with wonder. Come to think of it, he realized they had clearly defined their relationship in front of this many people. Along with that, he could gauge the social position Dowon held.
The air that changed as the eyes mixed with hostility and envy instantly focused on Dowon’s appearance was the kind that could never be known without experiencing it. It was a natural phenomenon regardless of how much Muyoung knew about Dowon, but it was also an aspect Muyoung hadn’t been able to see until now.
“It seems there would have been no misunderstanding if you had revealed the dating relationship in advance. Is there a particular reason you’re revealing it now? Either of you may answer.”
Muyoung was curious about this point too. It had been like that ever since Dowon suddenly appeared before his eyes. In fact, apart from Dowon’s desire to keep seeing him, he’d considered showing it to the world as a different matter. He could tell without needing to bring it up and ask. For both of them, revealing their relationship was a delicate topic.
“I was the one who first suggested we try seeing each other carefully, but regarding that matter, it was a situation where Muyoung-ssi could suffer more harm than me. So we thought about it carefully and decided to see each other with good feelings. In fact, it hasn’t been long since we had that conversation. But this is private life anyway, so I’m not sure how much should have been revealed. Rather, I’d like to ask the person who took photos without our knowledge and sent out the article—what kind of relationship did you imagine?”
Dowon’s smooth words had no excess, but that didn’t mean they had no thorns either, so Muyoung was rather a bit frightened. After briefly gauging Dowon and the reporter, he eventually brought the microphone to his mouth.
“It’s true that it’s delicate to clearly state what kind of relationship it is. Above all, it’s difficult to guarantee the future. I think those here can relate. I never expected to reveal it in this way, and the timing of the article coming out first wasn’t good either. However, I will clearly state that it’s not a relationship where we’re hiding something or fabricating lies.”
He tried expressing it differently in a roundabout way, but he couldn’t quite judge whether he’d done well. As soon as Muyoung slowly put down the microphone, CEO Choi quickly organized the surroundings and called out.
“We’ll conclude the press conference here. If there are any other questions or inquiries later, please send them to the agency. Thank you for coming.”
Though there was a feeling it was a hasty conclusion, it seemed they’d done enough for everyone. But the word “final” always meant no more opportunities, and as soon as that was announced, the shutter sounds became noisy. Perhaps noticing Muyoung hesitate at the sounds pouring out from close range, a question burst out urgently from the front.
“Then are you two even thinking about marriage?”
However, the question divided reactions even among the reporters. Some sighed and shook their heads. While Muyoung, who had already put down the microphone and stood up, was wondering what to do about this situation, Dowon’s voice was heard from the side.
“You seem like a very hasty person. As much as me.”
The sensitive expression that had been in a tug-of-war with the reporters until finishing the press conference disappeared, and Dowon looked at Muyoung with even a smile on his face as he answered. Unable to distinguish whether Dowon’s words saying it was a hasty question while comparing it to himself was a mistake or a joke, he just stared blankly.
“I’ll follow Muyoung-ssi’s opinion. Well then.”
“……What?”
Though Muyoung looked at Dowon after reflexively questioning back, it seemed he didn’t expect a proper reaction as he only smiled. Dowon, who handed the microphone to someone else as if he’d finished everything he had to say, naturally escorted Muyoung and exited the press conference hall.
The cramped waiting room where they’d been waiting until the conference started was a bit messy, but it was enough space to catch one’s breath. However, Muyoung couldn’t collect himself because of the words Dowon had just thrown out.
“Wait, what are you saying right now. No, when did you arrive? More than that, is it okay to finish it like this? What kind of joke……”
“Come on, sit down first. Your hands were very cold too.”
Dowon, who sat Muyoung down in an empty chair while watching his state as he rambled with all his words tangled up, first handed him water. Receiving the seemingly new water bottle he brought over with the cap opened, Muyoung slowly moistened his dry lips. Even after that, only after exhaling deeply several times did the current situation come back to him in order.
“I’ll tell you about what you asked first.”
Dowon, who pulled a folding chair in front of Muyoung and sat down, took his hands again. This time he stacked both of Muyoung’s hands and placed them all on top of one of his own hands, then covered them with his other hand and repeatedly squeezed and rubbed them slowly. Dowon, who gently touched even his fingertips that had been tingling from tension blocking blood flow, opened his mouth again.
“Of course I came because I should. I talked with CEO Choi about preparing for any possible situation, so that’s why I went up in the middle. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance. I thought it wouldn’t be bad for you to experience this whole situation, and I hoped you’d say everything you wanted to say, and you actually did well. And what I just said……”
While thinking it was probably talk he’d thrown out like a joke to shut the reporters’ mouths, he couldn’t hide his confusion for that moment. Even now Muyoung was confused. No matter how much of a joke it was, wouldn’t it become fodder? Reporters were people who could drive a situation with just one photo. As Muyoung stared at Dowon’s lips from which no answer came even after waiting, unable to contain the worry growing inside, the moment he was about to stand up.
“For now it’s serious, so think about it carefully, Muyoung-ssi. I’ll wait.”
“……What?”
He absolutely couldn’t grasp what the words he’d just heard meant. At Dowon’s words, he felt like something inside his body had cracked open. Or like something beneath his feet had collapsed deeply, or if not that, he thought there was no way the story he was hearing right now could be real.
It seemed right to lightly laugh at the joke as usual and respond to the jest as if it were nothing. For now he thought he should get up from this place and return to the hotel, no, since he’d held a press conference, he supposed he could return home.
# Chapter 09: Half the World
Before Muyoung could say anything in response, the waiting room door that had been closed opened. CEO Choi and Section Manager Kim were coming in carrying luggage. Whether what Dowon had said about things being already discussed was true, both of them exchanged greetings with Dowon as if it were nothing even after seeing him.
“Muyoung-ah, it’s almost all cleaned up outside. CEO Han, thank you for coming today.”
“Not at all. It’s Muyoung-ssi’s matter.”
Muyoung was watching Dowon and CEO Choi stand up and shake hands. Section Manager Kim was gathering and organizing the remaining luggage, and CEO Choi soon moved away to make a phone call after finishing his conversation with Dowon.
Because of the conversation they’d been having just moments ago, Muyoung could only sit still, unable to do this or that. Section Manager Kim approached Muyoung and explained, having apparently finished organizing in the meantime.
“We probably need to go out like this and visit another place with some reporters. Muyoung, you… go in together with CEO Han.”
“What……?”
At Section Manager Kim’s words, Muyoung, who had hesitated briefly, was hit again with the fact that they’d revealed their relationship. Muyoung didn’t give a different answer and just looked at Dowon. It was because Section Manager Kim was acting awkward, but also because he wondered if Dowon would be okay with the two of them going home alone together. Contrary to his worries, Dowon seemed completely unfazed by the current situation.
