After Haesung’s interview, love calls poured in from everywhere.
Various talk shows and magazines, variety shows and entertainment programs.
However, CEO Yoon didn’t easily show Dohyeong. The reason was that showing his face and adding words at times like this would only increase the noise.
Time passed, and the broadcast date for <Glass Holding Stars> approached.
The more time passed, the more Haesung and Dohyeong’s relationship was re-examined, and articles questioning them increased one by one.
Eventually, CEO Yoon consulted with CEO Jo and decided to send Haesung and Dohyeong to a late-night talk show. It had been decided from the beginning, but they had just been waiting for the right timing.
The show they decided to appear on was one of the programs that drew positive reactions from viewers, perhaps thanks to the decent MC’s hosting.
“Good. If I go out and talk with Dohyeong-ie, the people saying useless things will decrease too.”
Haesung raised both hands in agreement. He was quite excited just by the fact that he would go on a program with Dohyeong.
After hearing the news, his heart kept pounding throughout his schedule and wouldn’t calm down. If he went home and told Dohyeong, no, he probably already knew.
What would he say? What kind of reaction would he show? He had been anticipating it so much, but.
“…I’m not sure. If it’s good.”
When he actually came home, Dohyeong showed a somewhat lukewarm reaction.
Of course, he was very disappointed by that, but Haesung tried not to show it.
“Why?”
Of course, effort and action being different was unavoidable.
Perhaps because he had returned home full of anticipation, the answer of “I’m not sure” was a bit disappointing.
“If we go out together and talk, the useless speculations will decrease even more… and if we show a happy appearance, wouldn’t it look more positive? That’s what I thought.”
If he recalled what he had promised Dohyeong before, he should say let’s reconsider the talk show once more.
He had decided not to do things that Dohyeong said he didn’t want.
If he wasn’t keen on it, it would be right not to try it.
But his mouth wouldn’t quite open. Still, maybe. Meaningless excuses and reasons kept floating around in his head.
“What if… it has the opposite effect?”
Of course, Dohyeong wasn’t unaware of Haesung’s feelings either.
When he first heard that news, he had thought exactly the same as Haesung.
But when he thought about it again, that’s how it was.
Could it really be something to just be happy about? If criticisms like those from that time poured down on me again.
If he heard again that he wanted to make his name known, that to elevate his reputation he trampled on Hakyung and used Haesung.
‘…Could I get up again this time too?’
It seemed close to impossible.
They say people who have experienced rock bottom once pass through any ordeal calmly.
He felt like he couldn’t do that. Anxiety washed over him, feeling like he would fall and collapse and remain in that place forever.
Of course, he knew that public opinion had turned to their side. He knew that the comments and community reactions were also favorable toward them.
But precisely because he had already experienced it once, he was even more anxious.
“Dohyeong-ah.”
Then, Haesung firmly grasped Dohyeong’s hand.
But Dohyeong couldn’t face Haesung.
He didn’t want to be caught ruminating on his anxiety. He didn’t have the courage to show him this darkness lurking inside him.
“Kim Dohyeong.”
When he slightly raised his eyes to meet the gentle voice, Haesung let out a short sigh.
And he pulled Dohyeong’s body into his arms.
Following that, Haesung’s pheromones spread out gently and fluttered at the tip of Dohyeong’s nose.
It wasn’t a strong force that made his desires boil over.
As if comforting and caressing him. It was a soft and gentle scent.
“Last time I…”
He was going to ask if he remembered what happened before, but there were so many things he had said.
Uncharacteristically, hadn’t he rambled on about this and that?
Yes, as if he had become a different person, he had talked about various things.
“I told you. That I would be the one trapped in your shadow.”
“…Yeah.”
“Remember?”
“I remember.”
Even while deeply absorbed in thought, a laugh leaked out at how he promptly answered.
He hugged his body tightly and left a deep kiss on his nape.
“But why are you worrying?”
It was his pure sincerity, without cumbersome modifiers or emotions.
“I haven’t run away anywhere.”
A great vibration arose in one corner of his heart.
Ah, a faint sigh burst out at the end of the short sigh.
“It would be a lie if I said I could block everything. I can’t do anything about what they say or their hearts.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“But there’s one thing I can guarantee.”
Haesung firmly grasped Dohyeong’s shoulders. Then he pulled him from his arms and looked into his eyes for a long time, meeting his gaze.
“At least I won’t make the same mistake as last time.”
“……”
“I won’t let go of your hand that I couldn’t even try to hold.”
“…Hyung.”
“I won’t let you hear sharp words without knowing anything.”
“What if you get hurt?”
After spitting out the words, he realized.
What he was afraid of wasn’t the countless gazes and words directed at himself.
It was the jeers and criticism that would pour onto Haesung. He was scared that the world Haesung had built up steadily until now would collapse because of him alone.
“I said this last time too…”
But all Haesung showed was a faint smile.
He quietly watched Dohyeong with reliable and trustworthy eyes.
“I’m a more solid and strong person than you think. Kim Dohyeong.”
“I’m afraid what you’ve protected will collapse—”
“If it was something that would collapse from this much, it would have collapsed at some point. And my resolve remains the same.”
His large hand swept over Dohyeong’s head.
His eyes, looking at Dohyeong lovingly, curved long, and the hand that had been grasping his shoulder was now embracing his slender waist.
“The words that I’m prepared to throw everything away.”
He couldn’t say anything more.
Although he had no intention of making him throw everything away, he lost his words at Haesung’s firmness in unchangingly revealing his heart.
“I can throw everything away for you. Jung Haesung’s reputation, my current position, even all the opportunities that will come to me in the future.”
“Why, to that extent…”
“Because I love Kim Dohyeong too much.”
He could no longer whine.
How could he object to Haesung’s heart, saying he would face things with such resolve?
He couldn’t just tremble in fear with negative thoughts. Being unable to move forward while fearing tomorrow when he didn’t know what was even an inch ahead was no different from mocking Haesung’s resolve that was only for him.
“I realized how much I love you too late. It’s my resolve for that. Of course, I can put it into action anytime.”
Dohyeong bit his lower lip hard.
He felt like tears would burst out any moment. Not wanting to cry in front of him, he barely held it back and hugged him deeply into his arms again.
“So don’t be afraid.”
Yeah, a short answer he could convey didn’t come out easily.
“Run away to me anytime.”
The words that even now you are my refuge were caught in his mouth.
“I’ll become your shield. I’ll also become a dam, and sometimes I’ll remain as a world entirely your own.”
Haesung, who had been answering quietly, gently stroked Dohyeong’s back.
It was a gesture that replaced the words “it’s okay.”
“Okay.”
Eventually, Dohyeong also answered with difficulty.
“…Let’s go. On the program.”
He was able to shake off the things he had been agonizing over for so long.
“Let’s overcome it together.”
Even though he didn’t know what lay ahead.
If he was with Haesung, he felt like he could overcome everything.
He was no longer Kim Dohyeong crying alone, and it was no longer a world where he remained all alone.
Nodding his head, Haesung’s arms holding him tightly were warm.
The happiness that seemed like it would continue forever seeped deep into Dohyeong’s heart.
***
The filming location was bustling.
It was the day when the guests who focused the world’s attention, Haesung and Dohyeong, were appearing.
Everything from lighting to sound to the set preparation was perfect.
After one rehearsal, the recording preparation was finally finished.
Dohyeong, who was sitting side by side with Haesung on the set’s sofa, breathed evenly and clenched his fist tightly.
“Nervous?”
At Haesung’s question, Dohyeong nodded silently.
“Very much.”
Being honest at times like this is cute.
Haesung, whose lips had curled up roundly, gently covered and held Dohyeong’s hand.
“Don’t forget.”
At his low voice, Dohyeong raised his head.
“The fact that I’m beside you.”
What other words could be more encouraging than that?
Dohyeong smiled faintly and nodded. Yeah, it was a short answer, but his emotions, which had become somewhat calmer, were clearly revealed.
Shortly after, with a sign from the PD and assistant director, the broadcast began.
“These days, all of South Korea is very noisy. We’ve invited a couple who has drawn everyone’s attention with a divorce and reconciliation that no one predicted. Jung Haesung-ssi and Kim Dohyeong-ssi, who have returned with <Glass Holding Stars>. Hello.”
Following the introduction, at the MC’s greeting, Haesung and Dohyeong bowed their heads slightly.
She was Eun Taeran, who had been holding the host position for various programs for 20 years already. She was a case of working as an announcer in the past and then settling into a program she happened to take on.
“Hello, I’m Jung Haesung. Nice to meet you for the first time.”
“Haesung-ssi looks better in person than on screen. Much more handsome.”
“Thank you. I hear that a lot.”
It was a tone too thick-skinned to be someone who hadn’t come to places like this at all.
Taeran laughed at Haesung’s words and turned her gaze toward Dohyeong.
“Hello, I’m Kim Dohyeong. Nice to see you after a long time.”
Even if Haesung didn’t know, this wasn’t the first time Dohyeong had met her.
“This is our second time, right? I think the news of you two’s first dating rumor and marriage was announced on this program.”
Long ago, it was the program where Dohyeong had appeared while acknowledging his dating rumor with Haesung.
Taeran smiled brightly while looking at Dohyeong, then soon glanced at the card with questions written on it.
The first question, as usual, was about the drama.
The point that it was the second filming with Director Na Taeseok.
The point that it was filming with Soyeon, whose stock was rising.
After briefly introducing the drama, the real questions began.
“Actually, you two know this too. You didn’t come all the way here to talk about things like this.”
“That’s right. I’ve been waiting for you to ask.”
“Haesung-ssi seems to want to reveal it quickly?”
When Taeran said this with a laugh, Haesung scratched his head awkwardly.
Although he very much wanted to do that, he knew the ways of this industry too well. Being excessively excited or anxious would rather be poison.
If he had gained bonus points by showing such a side before, from now on he had to approach it with a serious attitude.
“Don’t they say it’s better to get hit first? That’s exactly my feeling.”
“I heard in rumors that Haesung-ssi was so taciturn, but it doesn’t seem like it. You speak too well? Dohyeong-ssi, is Haesung-ssi usually like this?”
“He definitely had that image before, but he’s become much softer recently. I don’t really know the reason though.”
“You really don’t know?”
“Huh?”
At Haesung’s question that suddenly came in, Dohyeong was surprised, and Taeran watched the two of them with interest and wore a smile.
“We prepared several questions while preparing this special feature. First, before Haesung-ssi revealed your relationship, there were scandals, right? I’m curious if we can hear even a little about this part. Would that be okay?”
