# Chapter 26
As food and drinks were served, the atmosphere became much more convivial. Most of the conversation revolved around Mo Eunje’s novels, and occasionally Mo Eunje brought up Gye Minho’s fantasy novel. Shin Dael seemed to have really read up to the latest chapter of “The Regressor’s Mnemonics,” as she not only knew all the contents but also participated in the conversation without any awkwardness.
“Oh, I brought something for the authors…”
In the middle of their conversation, as if she just remembered, Shin Dael picked up two paper bags from the floor, checked inside, and gave one each to Mo Eunje and Gye Minho.
“M-me too?”
“Yes. I didn’t know what kind of bread Gye Minho-nim likes, so I chose according to my taste.”
“Oh my goodness… Noona, from today, this is my favorite bread. Thank you so much. I’m truly touched. How could I eat something so precious… This is unbelievable, Dael noona bought me bread…”
As Gye Minho departed to some distant world all by himself, Shin Dael smiled as if she found him cute. Then she made eye contact with Mo Eunje.
“Iden tipped me off that you like castella, Writer-nim. I had guessed as much from looking at your social media too.”
“Oh, you shouldn’t have… Thank you.”
After receiving the unexpected gift, Mo Eunje was all smiles but suddenly glanced at Tae Igyeol. Noticing his glance, Shin Dael added as if to say not to worry:
“Igyeol doesn’t really eat bread or desserts. He doesn’t eat anything if it seems even a little sweet. Every time we meet, I’ve never seen him eat anything other than Americano.”
“Yes, that’s right. I see you already know Igyeol’s preferences… Ah, and here are the signed books I promised you.”
Mo Eunje, who had been looking a bit awkward, handed Shin Dael a paper bag containing three books as if in return for the castella. Earlier, when they arrived at the spicy chicken stew restaurant and after Tae Igyeol finished parking, he had signed one book at a time on the dashboard. After writing “To Actress Shin Dael” on each, he also added the phrase “Unique life, unique you,” which he wrote whenever he signed books.
“Wow. Thank you so much. Are you really giving these to me as author’s copies?”
“Ah. There’s a bit of a situation… I stopped by a bookstore on the way here.”
“You bought new ones? You didn’t have to do that. Actually, I brought books I bought to get signed too.”
Shin Dael took out three of Mo Eunje’s books from her bag. He could see that some parts were folded and bookmark indices were attached. Mo Eunje felt immensely grateful. He was also curious about which passages she had marked.
When a new work came out, he would hold a book signing event, and occasionally readers would bring his previous works to be signed as well. From most of those readers, he could feel how much they cherished and loved his books, giving him a feeling of fullness even without eating.
“It’s nice to give them as gifts while I’m at it. Is there any message you’d like me to write?”
“For ‘Class Villa,’ please write that you’re cheering for the Room 101 role.”
After finishing the additional signings, the topic shifted to how much Shin Dael wanted the Room 101 role in the movie adaptation of “Class Villa.” Even to Mo Eunje, Shin Dael seemed to fit the Room 101 role quite well. If he were the director, he would definitely cast Shin Dael for the Room 101 role, but unfortunately, film was a different domain, and Mo Eunje as the original author didn’t have that authority.
As it was, the production had already almost started three times but fell through, so he was already halfway resigned to it. At this point, it wouldn’t be strange at all if the film adaptation never happened. Still, just in case, he resolved that if the production company ever asked for his opinion, he would recommend Shin Dael for the Room 101 role. Just the fact that Shin Dael coveted the Room 101 role made him feel so honored he didn’t know what to do with himself.
“By the way, your friend who was supposed to come with you is late, isn’t he?”
“Ah, about that… He said something urgent came up. I’m sure there will be another opportunity.”
Worried that Ban Hajun, who had been talking about connections, might feel left out, Mo Eunje had asked Shin Dael’s permission to bring him along (of course, he had asked Tae Igyeol to inquire about Shin Dael’s opinion). But Ban Hajun had been called to a family dinner for his mother’s birthday. He said he would come later, but given the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like they would be drinking late.
This was because Tae Igyeol was being too quiet, even for him. Even when the four of them hung out, it was mostly Mo Eunje and Ban Hajun who did the talking, while Gye Minho occasionally threw out contextually irrelevant comments that cut off the smooth flow of conversation, though he didn’t do it often, and Tae Igyeol would casually make a blunt remark every now and then. So while he was naturally taciturn and tended to say only the essentials and spare his words, he wasn’t the type to not say a single word like this. He was barely touching the non-spicy food that had been thoughtfully ordered for him and was just downing soju by himself.
Ah…
Come to think of it, he must have been acting overly friendly with Shin Dael without being aware of it. Even for a best friend, it would be natural to dislike seeing someone being too intimate with the woman he liked. If they were dating, he might have acted like a generous boyfriend, but since he said they weren’t dating yet, he seemed anxious. The more Mo Eunje speculated about Tae Igyeol’s psychology, the stranger he felt, but for the sake of his family-like friend’s love, he decided to make this meeting with Shin Dael his last.
“Why do you keep drinking alone? Eat some side dishes while you drink.”
Mo Eunje placed a king-sized fried prawn on Tae Igyeol’s plate. Only then did he, who hadn’t touched any food until now, put the king prawn in his mouth. It would be nice if Tae Igyeol could read the situation and take care of Shin Dael, offering her food and such, but perhaps because he had never dated before, he couldn’t even properly look at her sitting next to him. Instead, it was Gye Minho who fed his fan heart by saying, “Try this,” and “Try that.”
Shin Dael asked an employee to take a picture of all four of them together. Shin Dael specifically took out “Class Villa” and held it open to the signed page for the photo. She also wanted to take a separate commemorative photo with Mo Eunje, and for that one, they took out all six books—the three Mo Eunje had bought and the three she had brought—placed them on the empty table next to them, and sat side by side for the photo.
“Let’s go now. I’m tired.”
At Tae Igyeol’s words, Mo Eunje checked the time on his phone. Before they knew it, three hours had passed as they talked, ate, and drank. He figured Tae Igyeol had been patient for quite a while. Although it wasn’t very late yet, he thought it was about time he and Gye Minho left.
“I enjoyed the meal, Author Gye.”
“Not at all. It was nothing. If you enjoyed it, that makes me happy. Next time, I’ll treat you to something even more delicious.”
Mo Eunje and Shin Dael briefly argued about who would pay, but the ultimate winner was the successful fanboy Gye Minho. Before the gathering broke up, Gye Minho had already paid the bill when he got up to go to the restroom.
“Today was really enjoyable. It would be nice if we could gather like this often.”
“Yes. That would be great. It would really be nice, but these days I’m so busy writing a new work…”
Though not a single word had been typed in the blank Hangul document where only the mouse cursor was blinking, he made up a plausible excuse since he had decided to make today his last meeting with Shin Dael for the sake of his friend’s love. He didn’t forget to pretend to be regretful as well.
“Your new work takes priority. Don’t feel too pressured by what I said. I’ll be looking forward to news about your new work, Writer-nim.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Actress-nim.”
Even after drinking, Mo Eunje maintained his calm and elegant novelist Mo Eunje concept until the end. It was because he had drunk moderately instead of enthusiastically like he did with his friends.
“I need to call a substitute driver. You’ll escort Actress Shin back, right?”
“Why should I?”
Tae Igyeol answered with an attitude. Seeing this, Mo Eunje felt like he was going to burst. Last time, he was so eager to be alone with her that he abandoned Mo Eunje, telling him to take a taxi, but today, he couldn’t understand why Tae Igyeol was pretending to be clueless.
“Why, you ask… You like Actr—”
“My manager oppa said he’ll come right away if I call and tell him he’s at the office. Don’t worry.”
“Why, you ask… You like Actress Shin.”
Mo Eunje had whispered using ventriloquism so that only Tae Igyeol could hear, but it was drowned out by Shin Dael’s unexpected interruption. She immediately called her manager, and in less than 5 minutes, the manager came and took her away.
“Yes, driver. Our location is…”
Mo Eunje spoke on the phone with the substitute driver on behalf of Tae Igyeol, who was smoking in the smoking area at the corner of the spicy chicken stew restaurant. Then he put Gye Minho, who was highly excited and calling for a second round, into a taxi. It was no easy task to force him into the taxi when he didn’t want to go home and insisted that on a day like today, they should drink more. Although the physically abundant Tae Igyeol could have helped, he seemed completely indifferent to whether Gye Minho left or stayed as he just puffed on his cigarette while leaning against the wall.
“Huh…?”
While waiting for the substitute driver and watching Tae Igyeol smoke, the man who had been leaning against the wall suddenly slid down. Surprised, Mo Eunje quickly ran to him.
“Hey, are you okay? Are you drunk?”
“…A little.”
Tae Igyeol, who was now squatting, nodded slightly. Although he had quite a high alcohol tolerance, he had been drinking at a fast pace. He had been hiding it in front of Shin Dael, but it seemed the intoxication hit him hard while smoking.
Mo Eunje wrapped Tae Igyeol’s trench coat, which was touching the ground haphazardly, more securely to keep it from getting dirty, and squatted down facing him. With only two hands, he had no choice but to place the castella bag on the ground and take the cigarette hanging from Tae Igyeol’s fingers, stubbing it out in the ashtray.
“I told you so. You didn’t eat any side dishes and just drank so quickly.”
“…I was feeling a bit off.”
Tae Igyeol’s pronunciation was somewhat slurred, suggesting he really was drunk.
“Because of me?”
It was a needless question. From the beginning, Tae Igyeol had been displeased with today’s meeting happening. Still, a promise was a promise, and Mo Eunje had complacently thought they just needed to get through today.
