“Mm, that’s true. Just looking at yesterday. You spoke well.”
“That…”
Muyoung’s head dropped deeply. The reddened color all the way to the back of his ears was clearly visible. Though he didn’t remember in detail everything he’d babbled, he thought he’d gotten angry at Seo Kyungju mentioning Dowon and babbled something like he’d use him to do something to Seo Kyungju.
“I was so angry that he kept criticizing me for things I didn’t even do and wouldn’t believe anything I said, so I said that in a fit of anger. If I offended you, I’m sorry…”
“No, not at all.”
Hearing a small laugh, Muyoung, who turned his head in puzzlement, met eyes with Dowon. Had he been looking this way the whole time while Muyoung couldn’t look at his face, embarrassed that he’d been caught rambling and getting worked up? The temperature in Dowon’s eyes looking at Muyoung gently was warm.
“From now on, if there’s anything you want to use by dropping my name, use it. And actually, if Muyoung-ssi asks me to, I can help. Though the results might not be very good.”
“Absolutely not! That’s not… what I meant when I said that.”
In embarrassment, Muyoung shook his head vigorously and stopped the words. Dowon reached out his hand and took Muyoung’s hand. The large hand digging between his fingers supported Muyoung’s palm and squeezed firmly. Dowon’s body temperature, which held appropriate warmth, transferred to Muyoung through the touching spot.
“It’s okay. You can do as you want.”
“Really… really not. I won’t do anything that would harm you, CEO-nim.”
“No, I’m not saying anything about that.”
Dowon, who’d been gently stroking Muyoung’s hand that fidgeted in embarrassment with his thumb, soothed him with a voice tinged with laughter. A brief silence hung in the stopped car. Soon, the person continuing to speak was Dowon.
“Being on people’s lips is nothing. It’s not even something that’s actually happening. But Muyoung-ssi, you won’t even try to use me for something that could make your body better. I don’t think someone like that would actually carry out what you said when you heard harsh words from someone like Seo Kyungju. Rather, I wished you’d use me a bit.”
“CEO-nim…”
A groan flowed from Muyoung. At the response mixed with embarrassment, Dowon ended up laughing even more.
“Keep thinking about imprinting. It’s not something you can do right away just because you want to anyway, so for now let’s try going through a cycle together first and then decide. How about that?”
“That’s…”
“We decided to be together going forward. Not to avoid or hide.”
“…I understand.”
Though it wasn’t quite a proper conclusion, Dowon seemed satisfied with even that answer as he squeezed the hand he held again with strength. Muyoung, who squeezed back the held hand as if answering, looked at Dowon and answered resolutely once more.
“I’ll… think about it carefully.”
The sound of wind was heard outside the car window. Though the meal time was delayed a bit because they were talking to each other, it was fine. At Dowon’s words of waving his hand lightly saying “Shall we have dinner now?” the corners of Muyoung’s mouth rose a little. When he unfastened his seatbelt and stepped outside, perhaps because it was time for the sun to set, he could really feel the considerably lowered early autumn temperature.
“Oh right, but do you really have no greed for lead roles? Even if Muyoung-ssi really lobbied me to land a role, I won’t make it obvious. If I’m going to do it sloppily enough that it leaks outside, it’s better not to do it at all. I have to make sure you don’t get caught.”
At Dowon’s words casually telling him to commit irregularities, it might have been natural that Muyoung ended up bursting into laughter. Whether it was because he knew it was a sarcastic joke about Seo Kyungju, or because he was worried about the reckless kindness that might actually commit it. Though it was difficult to discern the exact reason, at least for Muyoung, this time when such words were exchanged was like a gift. Even more than the sudden imprinting.
#08
Gossip (1)
It was around 2 PM when Section Manager Kim came to pick up Muyoung, who’d been waiting in the office since an awkward time. It was fortunate he’d waited at the office, otherwise the travel would have taken even more time. Actually, it was a schedule where being late didn’t matter but…
“Sorry for being late, someone suddenly called saying they needed a pickup.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t wait long.”
“Still, we have to stop by the shop, so let’s leave now.”
“We’re going to the shop?”
“Yeah, even if not like during filming, we have to get you touched up appropriately. They said some reporters are coming today.”
“If a lot are coming, we could just go slowly…”
Section Manager Kim urged Muyoung enthusiastically, stimulated by something. Muyoung, who thought it would rather be uncomfortable if a lot of people crowded, wasn’t very keen. Still, he got up as Section Manager Kim told him to move.
“What are you talking about, since a lot are coming we have to go early. If we go completely neat and tidy, you’ll get more articles than Seo Kyungju.”
“Come on…”
It turned out he’d been fired up because of Seo Kyungju. No matter that he’d had an unexpected friction with him, Muyoung actually didn’t really care. He knew Section Manager Kim’s greed was him saying it hoping to even break Seo Kyungju’s pride.
“I’m serious? Do you think articles distinguish between leads and supporting roles these days? If the photos come out well and they seem popular, they just run them unconditionally. If you really do better than Seo Kyungju this time, it’ll at least dampen that bastard’s spirit.”
“He’s not the type whose spirit would be dampened by something like that… If anything, he might hold a grudge.”
“…That’s true too.”
Section Manager Kim, who belatedly agreed with Muyoung’s words while giggling, urged him again saying they should still hurry. Muyoung planned to just finish the meal and return straight home, so he could cooperate with the few hours of preparation for now.
“Is your wrist okay?”
“Yes, it’s fine. It’s much better.”
As soon as they got in the car and departed, Section Manager Kim asked. Muyoung smiled at the consideration of deliberately waiting only when they were alone. In reality too, the shocked muscles had quickly settled down with physical therapy and medication, so there was hardly any pain if he was just careful when moving.
“That’s a relief. Rest, we’ll get there soon. I made a reservation, so they’ll touch you up right away when we arrive.”
He even made a reservation. At this point, saying he didn’t like it would be useless, so Muyoung smiled soundlessly and closed his eyes briefly until they reached the destination.
It wasn’t a lie that he’d been determined, as at the shop, unlike before, quite a variety of styled outfits were prepared. Deciding on one among them was also difficult, but he was even flustered at the words suggesting they change his hair a bit. However, seeing Section Manager Kim consulting with the shop manager with an extremely serious face, he couldn’t say it was unnecessary or bothersome.
“Muyoung-ah, what do you think?”
“Pardon?”
So Muyoung actually hadn’t been listening carefully to what they were saying. It was from thinking that although they always styled him on their own, they wouldn’t put that much effort in on a day like today.
“We don’t need to… go to such lengths, do we?”
“What are you talking about? Muyoung-ssi, these days people get image casting even from looking at wrap party article photos.”
“Right, there’s a reason why things like airport or commute photos are trending.”
“No, I’m not that well-known, and that’s for idols…”
“That’s what he’s like.” Section Manager Kim shook his head as if he hadn’t expected anything, and the shop manager who’d been searching through a tablet in various ways made Muyoung look at a few images.
“I think it would be good to go with one of these. I think even a slight bleach would be okay.”
“Yes…”
“Let’s avoid bleaching. Last time we did it once, recovery took too long.”
Whether Muyoung’s small answer wasn’t even heard, Section Manager Kim and the manager’s worrying started again. Now just hoping they’d decide on anything, he just relaxed his body and leaned back comfortably in the chair.
Since once they started talking at least several dozen minutes would just flow by, Muyoung familiarly took out his phone and spent time alone. He was thinking he should at least send Dowon a text before attending the wrap party.
After having dinner yesterday, they’d stopped by a quiet cafe and drank coffee. Throughout that time, talk about imprinting didn’t continue any further, but Muyoung felt like he’d received homework.
Honestly, Muyoung found Dowon’s attitude unexpected. Imprinting has a big impact on alphas and omegas. From his experience of imprinting that somehow ended up formed with someone he liked, Muyoung knew that matter wasn’t very good. The point that they always had to be together might look romantic at first glance, but the more time they had to be apart due to circumstances, the more uncomfortable it inevitably was. As that happened, the damages suffered because of traits weren’t something that could be ignored.
In the examination room yesterday, the more he thought about imprinting, only negative results seemed visible. So he’d thought Dowon would be reluctant about imprinting. Though he was surprised by the attitude different from his expectations, he agreed with the talk that they needed time to think it over.
On the way home, they talked about taking time soon to go on a trip or visiting a place where they could be leisurely together alone. At Muyoung’s words worrying if he wouldn’t be busy, Dowon’s wisecrack that not using too much vacation time wasn’t good either wasn’t bad to hear. Perhaps it was more so because before, even one such thing had only been a hope close to a luxury.
Muyoung left a text to Dowon that he was moving to prepare. Just as he was wondering if he should find more to say and ask about the style, whether a conclusion had already been reached behind him, the two people approached Muyoung closely. Muyoung, who turned off his phone screen, looked at Section Manager Kim and the shop manager through the mirror in front.
