We arrived in Bangkok, Thailand.
When we reached a certain road with a direct view of the Chao Phraya River, filming started with a tight schedule.
The appearance of lively travelers subtly contrasting with the tall skyscrapers stretching high. Bangkok was shining from daytime, befitting its name as the ‘City of Pleasure.’
“We’re going into the first scene. Ready, action!”
Although it was a car advertisement, perhaps because of the sporty concept, the first filming started with a motorcycle scene.
Bangkok in February. As if even the sky was helping us, the refreshing weather made the appearance of youth racing down the road shine even more.
‘This advertisement will be a huge hit too.’
That was the thought I had as soon as Seo Hanryul got off the motorcycle and took off his helmet. When his bangs were down, there was only a feeling of ‘pretty’ and ‘fairy-like’ rather than masculinity, but when his forehead was refreshingly revealed, the bastard’s hidden masculinity emerged.
‘Pretty and handsome, he takes it all by himself.’
As time passed, despite vehicle traffic, several passersby showed interest and gathered at the fence, and crowds began to swarm.
Lee Dojun also, like the passersby, carefully watched Seo Hanryul filming the advertisement.
‘He did come to work.’
When he was childishly arguing with Seo Hanryul, I wondered if that person was really Lee Dojun, but seeing him concentrate with an expressionless face, I thought he was indeed Lee Dojun.
“Great work, everyone. We’ll take a 30-minute break!”
When filming progressed to about halfway, a fairly long break time was given. As soon as he heard the word break, Seo Hanryul strode toward me.
‘Don’t come.’
“You’ve been staring at me this whole time, did you fall for me?”
That was the kind of thing he said after coming all the way here.
“Aren’t you embarrassed saying such things yourself?”
“Then why do you keep staring?”
“…It was funny watching you pretend to be fatal.”
“Let’s speak nicely.”
Not content with just talking, Seo Hanryul was putting me in a headlock.
“Hey, aren’t you letting go?”
“It’s progressing well without problems up to the midpoint. …Hanryul-ssi is bullying Jiwon-ssi again.”
Not long after, Lee Dojun came to our side. Lee Dojun’s senses were clearly already completely focused on Seo Hanryul. Seeing how he naturally came to our side whenever time like this arose.
“Why did CEO-nim come again?”
Seo Hanryul started acting coy and resistant.
“You pretended to be fatal and threw away your personality along with it. Speak nicely to CEO-nim.”
“What?”
I left a quiet whisper to Seo Hanryul, who was bouncing endlessly, and escaped from the bastard’s arm.
“I’ll go to the bathroom for a moment. Please talk amongst yourselves.”
The bathroom was naturally a lie, and I left the filming site to create time for them to be alone.
* * *
30 minutes of break time. I moved my steps to Khao San Road near the road.
Seeing the appearance of happy travelers filling the traveler street, I was reminded of the friends I backpacked with before and my heart ached. Are those guys doing well, did they get jobs? They probably can’t even imagine that their friend has fallen alone into a strange world and is focusing on survival right now.
Coming back to that street I walked with my friends, it felt like they would slap my back any moment and ask ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I should get going.’
After looking around the short distance of less than 500m, about 15 minutes had passed and I prepared to return to the filming site.
Vroooom-
As soon as I came out from the street and stepped onto the crosswalk toward the road, some motorcycle suddenly popped out and quickly passed in front of me. It was an almost dangerous situation, but fortunately I dodged well so no accident occurred.
I had forgotten for a moment. This place is a motorcycle lawless zone.
“Ugh!”
Something strange happened. It was nothing much, but suddenly tremendous pain came to my chest area. Intense pain arose as if someone was wringing my heart like squeezing a rag, and my vision instantly went dark. Everything around me quickly disappeared from view and only darkness remained.
My heart rate shot up instantly and goosebumps started spreading rapidly from my spine. Even my brain stopped thinking. I somehow tried to regain consciousness, get up and walk, but even the strength in my limbs gave out and I ended up sitting down on the crosswalk.
It would soon turn to a red light. I had to get up but my body wouldn’t move.
What kind of situation is this? There was no such thing in the original work. Could Cha Jaehyun possibly have a motorcycle phobia? Or panic disorder? But right now, the most important thing was getting up rather than knowing Cha Jaehyun’s diagnosis. But as if paralysis had come to my whole body, all my senses stopped and I was still sitting on the road. I shouldn’t be like this.
‘…?’
Someone approached me, helped me stand up, and started supporting me. My vision was still gone, so I couldn’t know that person’s identity.
He was saying something to me. Whether because the surroundings were noisy or my ears had also frozen, I couldn’t even distinguish whether those words were a foreign language or Korean.
I continued difficult steps relying entirely on him, and he sat me down somewhere, as if he had found a chair. And that unidentified person hugged me.
A person’s warm and cozy embrace. With the cool skin scent contrasting with the hot body temperature, all my senses were slowly finding their place.
“Haa… haa….”
The unfamiliar person hugged me for a while and patted my back with careful touches as if putting a newborn baby to sleep. How many minutes had passed? Now it seemed my full consciousness was returning. The skin scent, the acrid exhaust fumes, the smell of food from street vendors, even the broad back of the man holding me…. All my senses awakened one by one.
I didn’t know who the man was who calmed me down, but it was truly a grateful situation.
“Thank you.”
“Pfft, what are you saying?”
“What?”
The identity of the voice was Seo Hanryul. It was truly bewildering that the bastard had held me and comforted me like this. It was fortunate I came to my senses, but after knowing the man’s identity, my embarrassment grew uncontrollably.
“…It was you. …Get off now. I’ve come back to my senses.”
Pretending to be calm, I detached the bastard who was still holding me.
“As expected, Cha Jaehyun. I rescue a guy who collapsed on the road and he doesn’t say thank you even once?”
“Thank you. …Do I really have to say that out loud?”
“…Why were you like that earlier? Do you have some kind of phobia? When you just sat down on the road earlier, I thought your rabies relapsed. …I called your name loudly but you didn’t even respond. Well, when I got closer, it seemed like you couldn’t hear because you were in a panic state.”
“…I don’t know either.”
I really don’t know either. Why such symptoms suddenly occurred in Cha Jaehyun’s body. One thing for sure is that Seo Hanryul’s response was a big help. I don’t know how the bastard discovered me, but what’s this—the day comes when he helps me.
“Aren’t you being punished?”
Kid, even when doing something grateful, he always loses his points with his words.
“Right. You must be right. …We’re running late. Let’s go.”
“…Will you be okay? If it’s hard, go to the hotel and rest. …And are you usually like this?”
“Like what?”
“Sitting down alone on the ground like this. …Shouldn’t you go to a hospital or something?”
“I’ve never been like this. Maybe I got a headache from coming overseas after a long time. It’s nothing.”
“You collapsed in the middle of the road unable to move and you say you’re okay?”
Seo Hanryul is a bastard who uses the carrot and stick very well. Not content with holding me like a baby earlier, now he was lightly touching my forehead, pretending to care about me.
“I’m saying I’m in perfect condition? Let’s go now.”
Always seeing him only glaring fierce eyes at me, then seeing him send me a worried look, my face inexplicably grew hot. Feeling like my ears would turn red again if I kept facing the bastard’s face, I jumped up from the bench.
“Just don’t act tough and lean on me. I’ll help you.”
Seo Hanryul grabbed my left arm and brought it to his shoulder. Seen from behind, it would definitely be an affectionate picture. It was a scene that would make Lee Dojun’s eyes roll if he saw it.
“I’m fine.”
“You were doing just fine like this earlier, so why are you acting up again?”
“I’m saying I’m fine now.”
“Your stubbornness is amazing. …When we return to Korea, go get a detailed examination at the hospital.”
“…”
“What? Answer.”
“…Okay.”
When I started walking, leaving Seo Hanryul behind, the bastard also started following me with a sigh. While nagging endlessly.
