# Chapter 3. What He Left Behind (2)
“Kim Dohyeong-ssi, how are you feeling today?”
On the way to the production company, Wootae, sitting in the driver’s seat, casually asked, and Dohyeong smiled faintly while giving a thumbs up.
“Good, today’s the start. Let’s do well.”
Dohyeong silently nodded. And throughout the journey, he never took his eyes off the script.
Ever since receiving the offer to appear in <Glass Holding Stars> and reading the script at the preliminary meeting, he hadn’t let it out of his hands even once.
Though he had acted in the previous work, he wanted to establish Yehyun’s image more clearly and solidly. At the very least, he didn’t want to repeat the past.
It’s only now that he’s admitting it, but perhaps back then, he might have been using Haesung’s presence somewhat like a shield.
Now he was entirely alone. Since it was a situation where he had to compete with his own acting skills, he had to pour everything he had into it.
The script, now darkened with fingerprints and somewhat tattered, had Post-it notes stuck all over it.
He had written down what Yehyun might be feeling, what emotions he might have for each line. He had carefully interpreted and added notes on what kind of gaze would be good in this situation, what expression would be appropriate.
So that Yehyun could become Dohyeong. So that Kim Dohyeong could become Yu Yehyun.
After reading the script for a while, they had already arrived at the production company building. After organizing the script and placing it on the adjacent seat, he got out of the car and headed to the elevator.
“Wouldn’t it be just our luck to run into Jung Haesung on the way up?”
At Wootae’s worried voice, Dohyeong smiled awkwardly.
“So what if we run into him? We’re going to see him regularly from now on.”
“Hey, you’re really something. It’s been 2 years since you’ve seen him, aren’t you uncomfortable at all?”
“We’re seeing each other for work. It can’t be helped. And I’m the one who broke up, you’re making a bigger deal out of it than I am.”
“It’s still awkward as hell. There’s a limit to having thick skin. Both of you experienced the same situation, but weren’t you the only one who had to crawl on the ground? Your calmness is more surprising.”
Dohyeong didn’t respond to Wootae’s words. He just burst into silent laughter as he boarded the elevator that had just arrived at basement level 3.
Just as he pressed floor 7 and was about to press the close button, someone’s foot suddenly stuck out, blocking the closing doors.
The closing door rattled open, and soon Haesung appeared with an expressionless face.
Instantly, Wootae began to hiccup. His wide-open eyes showed how startled he was.
“Oh, Wootae… I mean, Manager Ji, it’s been a while. Dohyeong-ssi, it’s been a while too.”
Haesung’s manager, Manager Do, who had hurriedly caught up from behind, smiled awkwardly and greeted the two.
Wootae, who had been startled, quickly regained his composure and smiled brightly as if nothing had happened.
“Manager Do, it’s been a while. Have you been well? Wow, our Actor Jung still looks as radiant as ever.”
“That’s because I have thick skin.”
He heard that. Dohyeong bit his lip and slightly averted his gaze. As he turned his head, he saw Wootae’s face turning bright red.
It must be embarrassing. He couldn’t have dreamed that Haesung would hear that conversation.
Ahem, Wootae cleared his throat briefly and pressed the close button repeatedly as soon as the two boarded the elevator.
“It’s been a while, Manager Do.”
Manager Do also smiled awkwardly at Dohyeong, who smiled awkwardly and bowed his head slightly.
“Are you doing well? No health issues?”
“Yes, I’m doing well. I’ve also started exercising, so I’m healthier than before.”
“That’s good news. It won’t interfere with filming.”
At Haesung’s casually thrown comment, the gazes of the three people turned to him.
Unlike Manager Do or Manager Ji, who were giving him looks asking why he would say something so out of the blue, Dohyeong could catch the implied meaning behind those words.
He was asking why Dohyeong hadn’t greeted him. It seems his habit of occasionally showing childish behavior remained unchanged.
“Hello, Jung Haesung-ssi. It’s been a while.”
At Dohyeong’s calm response, Haesung just slightly bowed his head without giving any particular answer.
An awkward atmosphere circled among the four people. The elevator had reached the first floor and the doors opened, but no one dared to step in.
Perhaps it was because the people in the elevator were Jung Haesung and Kim Dohyeong.
The doors closed again, and the elevator went up to the 7th floor carrying only the four of them.
There had never been a time when the usually fast-feeling time felt as slow as it did in this moment.
Dohyeong, who had been quietly looking down at his feet, slowly raised his head. It was at the moment when the ethereal mechanical sound announced their arrival at the 7th floor.
“Let’s get out, Dohyeong-ah.”
Wootae, as if someone was chasing them, grabbed Dohyeong’s arm and got out of the elevator first.
Though startled by Wootae suddenly pulling him, Dohyeong considered it rather fortunate and followed behind him.
After walking quickly for a while, Wootae exhaled an “Ewhew,” and wiped his chest.
“If you’re going to be this scared, why did you say that?”
“Hey, do you think I pulled you out because I was scared?”
“Then what is it?”
Wootae, who had been looking back to check if Haesung was coming or not, looked at Dohyeong with a disgusted expression.
Ugh, he shivered and rubbed his arms with both hands, shaking his head. Then he started whispering, lowering his voice as much as possible. As if someone shouldn’t hear.
“Jung Haesung was staring at you the whole time. His eyes were flashing like a wild animal hunting small prey. It was so creepy seeing it reflected in the elevator doors. You really didn’t know?”
“…Uh, I didn’t know.”
For no reason, the inside of his mouth went dry. Dohyeong tightly clenched his fist and glanced towards the elevator.
If it weren’t for Wootae urging him to quickly enter the office before Haesung arrived, he might have stood there blankly, losing his senses until he came.
Why was he looking at me? Only the lingering question circled in his head.
***
Haesung quietly watched Wootae and Dohyeong as they hurriedly left the elevator.
“Haesung-ah.”
If his manager, Seonghyeok, hadn’t called him, he might have stood there staring at Dohyeong’s retreating figure, thoroughly contemplating it.
He turned his head and slowly moved his steps. As soon as he exited the elevator, he heard Seonghyeok’s loud sigh.
“The ground might as well sink in.”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Whose fault is that?”
“Are you mocking me?”
I really don’t know. Haesung, who had been shrugging his shoulders, raised his wrist to check the time. Though he could check it on his phone, Haesung always preferred an analog watch.
It was because he believed it was the optimal choice that didn’t unnecessarily entangle him in communications, allowing him to only check the time.
“The meeting time is soon.”
“Yeah, I know that. But there’s one thing I need to address.”
“Say it quickly.”
“Can’t you hide your gaze a bit?”
It was inevitable to be taken aback by the sudden comment. It wasn’t a question of whether he did it, nor was it a rebellious feeling of when he did it.
It was the bewilderment at having what he thought would never be discovered exposed so blatantly.
“…What are you talking about?”
But because he didn’t want to be caught, he decided to try to hide it as much as possible. As if nothing had happened, he narrowed his brow and stuffed his hands back into his pants pockets.
“Do you really not know?”
Normally, he would have retorted that he really didn’t know, but today, perhaps because he had been hit right on the mark, even those words wouldn’t come out easily.
Seonghyeok is right. The fact that he had been staring at Dohyeong.
‘Hello, Jung Haesung-ssi. It’s been a while.’
It was an incredibly awkward greeting. It’s true that he was taken aback by the name “Dohyeong,” but managing his expression wasn’t that difficult. When he calmly raised his head to face Dohyeong with an indifferent heart.
His insides inexplicably churned. It was because he saw for the first time in a long while Dohyeong’s eyes twinkling, like when he had just debuted, something he hadn’t been able to see when they were tied together under the name of a married couple.
It’s true that he flinched for a moment, but he knows that it’s also something he has to endure. The fact that he’s paying such meticulous attention to everything is a funny and strange thing in itself.
He knew he had to avert his gaze, but strangely, his eyes fixed on Dohyeong wouldn’t leave. He wondered if his nose bridge had always been that pronounced. His fingertips twitched at the sparkling eyes and the long eyelashes that gently covered and rose above them.
Come to think of it, even when he had sex with Dohyeong, he didn’t think he had ever carefully examined him piece by piece. From the start, most of their intimacy had been driven by instinct, unable to overcome Dohyeong’s intense heat cycles.
If the elevator doors hadn’t opened, he might have unconsciously reached out to touch those eyes.
It’s true that he flinched at the uncharacteristically impulsive sensation.
“Hey, when was Dohyeong’s heat cycle?”
At that moment, Haesung narrowed his brows at Seonghyeok’s seriously asked question. His expression seemed to ask why that was of interest.
“I’m not planning to do anything, so please. That look.”
Even at Seonghyeok’s threatening gesture with his two fingers bent, Haesung didn’t budge. Instead, he glared at him fiercely and then took his phone out of his pocket.
“…It’s soon.”
Ridiculous. Even though they broke up, he still had his heat cycle period entered.
There’s no need to take care of him anymore, and no reason for himself to rest accordingly. Looking at the calendar set to give periodic notifications made him feel stuffy inside for no reason.
Seonghyeok also sighed as he watched Haesung. He could tell from the moment he took out his phone why he was making such an expression.
“I think that’s why.”
At the following words, strength entered his fingertips.
“I think that’s why you couldn’t take your eyes off Dohyeong. After all, you two lived together smelling each other’s pheromones for years, and you must have gotten used to it. Well… I’m a beta, so I don’t know.”
Is that how the reason for his gaze is defined? It felt oddly bitter.
Is it just because of that? As soon as the question followed, he shook his head.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
He murmured quietly. It would be better to think that way. If it’s not that, he’d have to define these thoughts and feelings. And if that happens, it seems like another confusion would arise.
He takes a deep breath in and out. Then he put the phone in his pocket.
Let’s not think about anything. He’s only here to work, so he just needs to do his best with what’s given and go back.
He will probably forget the fact that he felt such emotions towards Dohyeong. He would continue living his reality as if it never happened.
“I’ll be careful. Don’t worry.”
At the casually thrown comment, Seonghyeok walked away without saying a word.
“Hyung.”
He followed Seonghyeok, who gave no answer, and casually put his arm around his shoulder. Even at the brief response of “Get off,” he stubbornly maintained his posture.
The sigh deep inside doesn’t disappear even as he strides forward.
‘So what if we run into him? We’re going to see him regularly from now on.’
Dohyeong’s voice, speaking so calmly, kept circling in his head.
Haesung, who was ruminating on the look in his eyes when they faced each other, let out a deep sigh. Stop it, he repeated Seonghyeok’s words to himself.
