I opened my eyes a little before noon.
A low voice brushed through my mind as I sat there blankly for a while.
‘Call me when you wake up.’
That’s right. I hastily pulled out my phone and called Seo Nakil. This time too, he answered right away as if he’d been waiting.
– Good morning.
His soft voice pulled my remaining consciousness out from sleepiness.
– You didn’t have bad dreams, did you?
“Probably not.”
At least not since I briefly woke up in the morning and fell back asleep. I think I slept so frantically that I didn’t even know how time passed.
“Have you already been and come back?”
– No way. I said I’d match your wake-up time.
Seo Nakil laughed softly.
– First wash up and come out. We’ll talk about the rest after that.
When I obediently washed up and came out, I saw food that had already filled the dining table. I quickly looked around, but as before, I was still the only one in this spacious room.
He must have come and gone while I was washing up. I didn’t notice because there was no sign of him at all. Even though I knew it couldn’t be, it seemed just like it had sprouted up by magic.
When I sat down hesitantly, a text arrived.
[Eat first.]
[If it doesn’t suit your taste, let me know.]
Fortunately, the food was very delicious. Sweet butternut squash soup went very well with the freshly baked soft bread, and the dish of various appealingly steamed vegetables was easy on the stomach with almost no spices. It was also nice that I could eat slowly without watching anyone’s reactions in the peaceful silence.
When I’d almost filled my stomach, a call came from Seo Nakil. Following his explanation to check the tablet PC left in the living room, I hurriedly moved. When I manipulated the device according to his instructions, the black screen brightened with a flash.
– Can you see? Is it showing well?
An unfamiliar face filled the screen. It was a face I was seeing for the first time, but the voice wasn’t. It wasn’t quite familiar, but I had a feeling I’d heard it before.
My curiosity was quickly resolved.
– Hello, Han Ijae. I’m CEO Seon Jeonghyeon of Revalue Entertainment.
He pointed to Seo Nakil standing behind him and added.
– I’m also this guy’s longtime friend. When he said he wanted to bring you over, I stood here as a representative, albeit inadequately. I’ll do my best to resolve things so there’s nothing for you to worry about.
The man, who looked even more exemplary and upright perhaps because of his horn-rimmed glasses, smiled broadly.
– Actually, this isn’t how I wanted to meet you. If it’s alright with you, Ijae, I’d like to visit you formally soon. I hope you’ll think positively about it.
The screen naturally transitioned. The moment I saw Seo Nakil’s face, I was gripped by the strange and odd thought that I was really making eye contact with him. Even though this wasn’t a video call but merely a video unilaterally transmitting and showing one side’s situation.
– We’ll keep it as evidence.
I stared at Seo Nakil’s image on the screen as if entranced.
– Everything related to the Cosmos CEO will all be recorded. Phone calls, texts, meetings, even documents. I want to let the other party know that I don’t want his words to change and that this can be made public at any time.
I couldn’t just sit and watch. I urgently picked up my phone and sent Seo Nakil a text.
[I have some too]
[The call was recorded, and when I went to the agency too]
[The audio quality is bad so I can only use the first part]
[Will it help?]
He checked his phone briefly. After confirming my words with a serious attitude, he grinned.
– Well done.
Why did my heart pound so much at that short praise? Even though my heart was beating fast, it was fascinating that there was no pain being transmitted.
Seo Nakil, CEO Seon Jeonghyeon, and a man in a suit. Including the companion helping with filming, a total of four people entered the Cosmos Entertainment building. I leaned against the sofa, gripping the tablet PC tightly with both hands, and followed those four people in my heart.
In the long corridor before going to the CEO’s office, employees were walking around. Seeing familiar faces like this was quite moving.
Since they were outsiders after all, no one greeted them first. They either looked back with slightly surprised expressions after recognizing Seo Nakil, or showed slightly awkward reactions as if remembering the past incident.
However, there was exactly one exception.
– You’re here.
“…Director Jeong?”
Seo Nakil tilted his head.
– I see Ijae didn’t come with you today.
– I thought, what good place is this to bring him to. I plan to make sure he doesn’t even come near this area if possible. I need to know what might get thrown at him.
His voice seemed calm yet was scathing.
– Well, that would be better. Ijae is too indifferent about taking care of himself.
Director Jeong glanced at the CEO’s office.
– Go on in. The meeting should be all ready.
After that, everything went like clockwork. The lawyer who accompanied Seo Nakil presented documents, and the CEO who received them read the contents with his face turning red and blue.
Continue Starium activities until December 31st of this year. However, considering the mental and physical health condition of the contract subject, no personal schedules will be set except for essential schedules.
All the power of choice came into my hands, and Cosmos Entertainment lost all room to intervene with me.
– It would be good for both of us if you carry out this contract cleanly. Because I’m thinking of expanding the scale of publicizing it then. Still, you should avoid standing in court, shouldn’t you?
Seo Nakil said coldly and decisively.
– You should at least think about the remaining trainees.
– Seeing you suddenly do this, I guess there is something about Han Ijae after all.
The CEO sneered at Seo Nakil like that. He must have been extremely irritated since he not only lost control of the situation but also couldn’t gain any practical benefits.
– That’s true. Though you’ll never understand for your whole life.
His voice, which had been sharp all along, became slightly softer.
– But whether there’s something or not, anyway, if you brought him, you should have treated him properly.
– …
– Even if you couldn’t treat him exceptionally well, you should have at least treated him like a human being. You’re an adult, aren’t you?
The screen went black. I looked at the screen that no longer showed anything and had an intuition. Even if problems arose, this part wouldn’t be made public anywhere.
– This is the first and last advice I’ll give you, Shin Hyeongcheol. Don’t approach Han Ijae.
– …
– Don’t seek him out first. Don’t contact him either. Don’t ask questions about Han Ijae through someone else. Don’t even try to express your curiosity. Even if you run into him on the street by mistake, pretend you didn’t see him and avoid him just like that.
A chillingly sharp voice continued rapidly, to the point where I wondered if this was the Seo Nakil I knew.
– You need to understand that it means you should be the one running away. It’ll be too late after you regret it.
– That’s advice?
– Why, did it sound like a threat? If you want, I’m willing to adjust to that, but then there’s no need to be this polite, is there?
The following conversation was too quiet; even when I pressed my ear close to the tablet, I could barely hear it.
– Try throwing anything at Han Ijae in front of me just one more time.
“…”
– Next time, I’ll pick up everything that fell on the floor and stuff it all into that mouth of yours.
***
I fell asleep again.
It kept being like this. My body, with tension released, kept falling into sleep. It was like the power was being forcibly turned off without me even knowing.
‘I think it was like this before I died too.’
Was there a problem? I’m not sure. Even if there was, I didn’t know exactly when it started, and I didn’t know what I could do about it either. I just thought it was fortunate that there was no schedule I had to rush through.
Time passed slowly while I was sprawled out in a light sleep.
“…”
I opened my eyes at the sensation of someone lifting me up. When I stared up blankly with unfocused vision, an appearance that seemed carved and crafted layer upon layer with only good things wavered before me.
It was Seo Nakil.
“Hello.”
His voice was ticklish like a feather.
“Are you going to sleep more?”
“…Is that okay?”
“If you want to.”
As if he really intended to let me sleep more, he headed to the bedroom while holding me. The posture of supporting my shoulders and knees with both arms was very stable.
“I might not wake up until tomorrow…”
“Would that be a problem?”
“What if I sleep until the day after tomorrow?”
“Mm.”
Seo Nakil, who had been pondering for a moment, smiled faintly. His eyes, which had looked clear and cold, relaxed, and as the corners of his mouth lifted slightly upward, a faint warmth hovered.
“I’d like you to eat before sleeping. You’re too thin right now.”
He laid me on the bed. His slow touch brushed my forehead and hair.
“Sleep all you want and come back.”
“…”
“That’s enough.”
