As summer approached, the weather gradually grew hotter. The sweat accumulating in the cast due to the warming weather nearly angered the already sensitive teenager, but Haeseong, with his exceptional recovery ability, threw off the cast before it got properly hot. Now that he was almost completely recovered and just had it fixed in place, the major inconvenience in his daily life had lessened.
A month and a half had passed since the date with Seo Jiyul. Fortunately, whether Team Leader Kim Jaeho handled it well, no particular rumors flowed out, and after that, all contact from Jiyul was completely cut off. Since there had been no contact exchanged to begin with, it was ambiguous to even say it was cut off.
During the month and a half, various things changed. Articles spread that Jin Haeseong and Han Yunhae’s casting in <A Languid Summer Afternoon> had been confirmed, drawing much public attention. Articles poured out saying that attention was focused on how the children who had met in the past drama as siblings would portray innocent love.
And Director Jin Yeongseol went to England for work, and the relationship between Euiju and Kim Jaeho grew a bit closer. This was because his wife had given birth and he received a lot of help from Euiju, who was quite knowledgeable about childcare. Kim Jaeho developed a habit of calling Euiju outright whenever he had questions.
However, the biggest change was something else.
It was Euiju’s attitude toward Haeseong and Haeseong’s height.
“‘Eunhwan began to feel strange emotions when Suyeon, whom he thought hated him, easily yielded her seat to him.’ In this part, it’s the first time the distance narrows between the male and female students who had been busy bickering and fighting. Do you have a sense of how to do it?”
Euiju, lying on the bed in sweatpants with the neck and knees all stretched out, asked casually.
Until now, Euiju had shown a thoroughly composed appearance in front of others who weren’t family, so his comfortable outfit and posture would greatly surprise anyone else who saw him.
“Why would he feel such emotions just because she yielded one seat? They even had a physical fight a few days ago. I really don’t understand how his feelings would change because of such a trivial thing like that.”
Jin Haeseong grumbled sullenly while leaning his face against Euiju’s chest and fiddling with his flat stomach. Haeseong was still clinging to and depending on Euiju. Of course, the intensity had become stronger than before.
However, Euiju’s attitude toward that had changed considerably.
Haeseong used to feel anxious and lonely without Euiju, but Euiju at least had a tendency to view such a Haeseong indifferently. Even if he pitied him, he still felt it was somewhat like a job.
Currently, the aspect was a bit different. A space had been created in one corner of Haeseong’s closet to put Euiju’s clothes. And after getting the kids’ understanding, there were days when he stayed over.
Even if not as much as family, now Euiju also thought of Haeseong comfortably and treated him sincerely.
“Hmm……”
Euiju, who had been quietly watching Haeseong’s protruding lips, clicked his tongue softly and read the next part of the script.
“Look here. This part is easy. ‘Seeing Suyeon wearing another male student’s gym clothes, Eunhwan is swept up in strange jealousy. He thinks he wants to lend his own instead and feels jealous.’ Do you know how to do this part?”
“Ah. My head feels like it’s going to explode. I don’t want to do it.”
“…Then let’s substitute it like this. I’m really cold, and Yeonguk took off the outer clothes he was wearing and lent them to me. Yeonguk’s height has grown tremendously, so those clothes fit me perfectly. I happily accept and wear them and get all excited. How about this?”
At Euiju’s ridiculous example, Haeseong’s eyebrows twitched immediately. Haeseong, who had been lying with his head on Euiju’s chest, suddenly got up from his position and shouted out of nowhere.
“Are you crazy, ahjussi?! Why would you borrow that bastard’s clothes? And how could that bastard be taller than ahjussi? That crazy guy will be shorter than even me. Really stop thinking weird thoughts!”
“How about it? Do you feel more emotionally invested now?”
“……”
An embarrassing but effective method for Haeseong. It was substituting Euiju into the characters in the movie. When Euiju laughed as if it was cute, Haeseong, who had been in a rage, finally softened. Haeseong, with his lips stuck out, leaned his head against Euiju’s chest once again.
During the month and a half, Haeseong had grown considerably taller in proportion to his growing pains. Haeseong, who had barely exceeded 162 cm, now exceeded 170 cm and reached 173 cm, the average height for men. Actually, since there wasn’t even a 10 cm difference with Euiju who was 180 cm, lifting and holding Haeseong like a princess was mostly gone, and lending his arm was at most one hour. Beyond that, Euiju’s arm would go numb, so Haeseong had to switch positions between right and left every time.
“Don’t your legs hurt?”
“You massaged them earlier. They’re okay now.”
As days went by, Haeseong’s shoulders broadened and his legs lengthened. Since he only stretched vertically and his proportions only improved, his external popularity increased day by day. There were even rampant media and public opinions and articles speculating how tall Haeseong would grow in the future.
Child Actor Jin Haeseong’s Expected Height, Expert Analysis
Jin Haeseong. Grew 11 cm in One Month… Will He Surpass the Magical 180 cm and Drink Victory?
For Shedding the Young Image, Changes in Height Are Important… What Are the Growth Possibilities of Jin Haeseong for a Child Actor’s Image Transformation?
More than twenty articles about height alone came out in one month. It would mean that much attention was focused.
Haeseong hugged Euiju’s stomach again and buried his face in his chest. Euiju affectionately stroked the back of his head.
“Come to think of it, how was Kim Woonjung-ssi? Did you behave politely and do well?”
There was a pictorial shoot with Kim Woonjung yesterday. Since it was Euiju’s day off, he couldn’t see the scene, but according to company people, since it was an energetic outdoor advertisement, the synergy was tremendous. Haeseong himself answered as if he had no particular impression.
“It wasn’t bad. He did treat me well, but only in front of others it was a bit like that. It showed, so I was a bit annoyed. But since I received help from that ahjussi, I’m not going to say more.”
“Haha. Is that so?”
Kim Woonjung’s popularity wasn’t bad originally, but after that incident, he was truly practicing the saying ‘row when the tide comes in.’ Before, he was an actor exuding androgynous charm representing the late 30s, but after saving Haeseong, his image changed to a manly one and his popularity rose exponentially, and advertisements with a so-called ‘macho’ style that had to show masculine charm poured onto him. Due to that, he absorbed many fans, not only women but also men.
The company sent a plaque of appreciation and compensation to Kim Woonjung, but his refusal saying it was a natural thing also became an article and drew even more popularity.
Euiju and Haeseong, who shifted their gazes back to the script, exchanged opinions amicably. As they were spending time reading the script on the bed like that, Euiju, who suddenly checked the time on his wristwatch, grabbed Haeseong’s head and carefully laid it down on the pillow.
“I should get going now. If I’m any later, Roun will get angry.”
“……”
Euiju, who came out changed into outdoor clothes, busily packed his things into the bag on the table. Haeseong, who had been looking sullenly at that back, suddenly got up from the bed. He ran to Euiju, who was putting on a mask and hat, and hugged his back tightly.
Now the height difference between the two had noticeably decreased enough for anyone to clearly see.
Euiju, who was keenly realizing that Haeseong had grown, inwardly admired feeling Haeseong’s frame that had become much firmer. Not just his height, but the speed at which his frame was thickening was really ridiculously fast.
“…Can’t you not go?”
Euiju, who burst into laughter, patted Haeseong’s hands that were hugging his stomach tightly.
“I’m fine with going together, but you said you didn’t like it. Then we have no choice but to part.”
“…I haven’t finished memorizing the script. You promised to help me memorize up to Chapter 11. There’s still a long way to go.”
“I know you memorize everything after seeing it two or three times. Making strange excuses again.”
“Can’t you just stay tonight? I won’t whine next time. Really.”
“You said the exact same thing two days ago. You stayed then too, and if you do it again today, noona will have a really hard time. You know that too. Okay?”
“……”
“Cut me some slack, Haeseong.”
Euiju caressed the back of Haeseong’s hand. However, Haeseong didn’t seem to like that answer. He immediately pulled away and jumped onto the bed with footsteps full of dissatisfaction, pulling the blanket over himself up to the top of his head.
“Whew……”
It was a pattern that repeated every time. Euiju sighed and approached Haeseong.
“Then I’ll get going. Tomorrow you only have acting lessons at the company, so I’ll come pick you up at 11. Let’s have lunch together. Got it?”
“……”
“I’m leaving.”
With those words, Euiju slowly turned around. Just before leaving the room, Euiju’s steps stopped at a small sound coming from behind.
“Ear… Eleven……”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“…Come earlier. Not eleven o’clock, eight o’clock.”
At the unexpected demand, Euiju burst into laughter. He’d be sleeping at that time anyway, so he didn’t know why he was being so strangely stubborn. However, since Haeseong had dug in, Euiju had a duty to placate him.
“Okay, okay. I’ll come running as soon as I open my eyes. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
Euiju, full of laughter, turned around and left the room.
The spacious house couldn’t convey even the sound of Euiju opening the front door and leaving. Haeseong perked up his ears to follow Euiju’s footsteps, but cruelly, the perfectly soundproofed house didn’t even let him hear the sound of an ant passing by.
He couldn’t hear the sound of him leaving. Perhaps, he hadn’t left? He might have felt sorry for him and decided to just stay here.
Haeseong, whose thoughts had reached that far, suddenly got up from his position. He crossed the room, flung open the door, and checked the hallway.
It was dark and quiet.
Haeseong, who had been looking around the hallway, decided to go to the entrance just in case and moved his feet. However, the place where Euiju’s shoes had been was empty with nothing there.
In the end, he had really left.
Haeseong’s eyes, which had been full of hopeful expectations, sank endlessly.
Haeseong, who had been staring blankly at the shoe cabinet, turned around just like that and headed back to his room. That back view looked terribly lonely.
Enough that if Euiju had seen it, he couldn’t possibly have taken a step away.
