In the car on the way home after finishing filming.
Dohyeong scrolled through the photos Hakyung had posted on SNS. He really took a lot.
One during a break in filming, another while getting makeup done with Dohyeong, one while eating dinner. A total of eight photos taken like that.
So naturally, people’s interest also increased. You could tell just by looking at the gradually increasing comments and likes.
When other people posted photos taken with him, he didn’t think much of it, but the photos Hakyung posted somehow made him feel strange.
“…Definitely, it’s strange.”
At Dohyeong’s muttering voice, Wootae glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
After pondering for a while, Wootae carefully opened his mouth. It was something he had wanted to say from the filming site but couldn’t bring himself to.
“You took a lot of photos with Im Hakyung-ssi today.”
“…I know.”
“Isn’t it a bit strange?”
Dohyeong, startled, raised his head.
“What is?”
“No, you know. Suddenly… acting friendly toward you and all. Im Hakyung-ssi, he specialized in reenactments and hasn’t been doing dramas for long, right?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“His recognition isn’t that high either, and anyway, it’s not a role that gets much attention in the drama. Doesn’t he leave midway?”
“He will. The setting changes from the middle.”
“That’s why it’s strange. How should I put this. It feels like somehow, by any means, he wants to make his face known first.”
Listening to it, Wootae’s words weren’t wrong.
Of course, it wasn’t that he couldn’t respect that mindset. It wasn’t incomprehensible either.
Because he was like that too. When he was only doing one-act plays in the theater scene, he had the desire to receive help from Haesung.
Thinking that if his name and face became known with his help, wouldn’t it be less difficult than now?
But he realized those were all futile thoughts. If you don’t prove yourself with ability, you’ll be weeded out someday.
You’ll fall off and get swept away.
So he focused desperately on acting. He took on work as it came, and grabbed even roles that no one else wanted to do.
So his past and Hakyung’s present might be somewhat connected. If that’s the case.
“…I should keep my distance.”
Though the reason for deciding to distance himself wasn’t only because of that.
His head throbbed from thinking too long. He flipped his phone over and placed it on his lap, tilting his head back.
“Oh right, did you hear from Director Na?”
“Hear what?”
“A new script supervisor is coming.”
“What about Yujeong-ssi?”
“Her health isn’t good. She tried to hold on, but she said it won’t work. From the next filming, someone will be learning the work from Yujeong-ssi.”
“I see. I should give Yujeong-ssi a gift.”
At Dohyeong’s indifferent words, Wootae smiled silently.
Such a warm-hearted guy. Muttering to himself, he quietly focused on driving.
Dohyeong’s gaze turned toward the window again. When he was looking at the lights passing by quickly and stealthily closed his eyes.
The phone placed on his lap vibrated.
‘Annoying.’
He should at least check who it was, but perhaps because too many things happened today, his body felt like a thousand pounds.
His eyes were getting heavy too, so he had no strength left to pick up or look at his phone.
The vibration that had stopped briefly started again. Unable to stand the moment when the vibration resonated to his kneecap, Dohyeong flipped over his phone.
[Choi Sunshine]
It was Yuchan’s call.
No matter how he thought about it, the nickname was brilliantly chosen. Just looking at it made him smile.
“Yes, this is Kim Dohyeong.”
[Did filming end well?]
“Yeah. It ended well. But, are you my manager?”
“What? Does Kim Dohyeong have another manager besides Ji Wootae?”
Wootae’s surprised voice followed, and Dohyeong burst out laughing.
It’s strange. Just a moment ago, his energy had completely drained, but the fact that he had the energy to laugh.
No, more than that, he must have gained some leisure he didn’t have before. This leisure created by people was very precious.
[Tell hyung. That I’m going to steal that position.]
“You’re talking nonsense. Did you finish your schedule well?”
Today Yuchan had a magazine interview. It was a schedule he learned about because Yuchan had bragged from morning about doing an interview at a cafe with a good view.
[What do you take your hyung for? Of course.]
“Was the view good?”
[Ah, right. Hurry up and check your messages. I was waiting to post it on SNS after you saw it, but you didn’t even look. I sent it on purpose at the time when filming ends!]
“Huh? You sent something like that?”
He spoke teasingly, but in fact he knew that Yuchan had sent a message.
It’s just that while checking Hakyung’s SNS, his energy had been completely drained, so he hadn’t looked at anything.
With an apologetic heart, he left a word asking him to wait a moment, then opened the message window.
“Wow… It’s beautiful.”
What Yuchan sent was an image of a vast blue lake spread out wide.
He said they converted a mountain lodge into a cafe, and indeed the scenery shown in the photo was extraordinary.
After looking for a while at the photo containing autumn’s clear essence in its colorful hues, Dohyeong curled up the corners of his mouth.
“Choi Yuchan’s photography skills are improving day by day.”
He brought the phone back to one ear.
Soon after, ahem, ahem. A short clearing of the throat was heard.
[It’s a secret, but I didn’t take that.]
“Yeah, I know. I was teasing.”
[You, bastard. Are you going to be like that to your hyung?]
“What hyung? So was the only purpose of your call to ask if filming went well?”
[No, I missed you.]
There’s nothing that makes a person more flustered than words that suddenly come at you.
Dohyeong, who had been quietly resting his head against the window, unknowingly straightened his body.
“…You’re teasing again.”
[I’m not teasing.]
Why do only these kinds of words sharply pierce his ears?
Sounds that wouldn’t normally be heard dug into his ears one by one.
The sound of Yuchan’s breathing, the noise heard from the car he was riding in. And even the sound of quiet laughter.
[It’s true.]
Even the sincerity earnestly conveyed in that voice deeply pierced Dohyeong’s heart.
Then, one thought suddenly occurred.
How nice it would be if he could lean on this kindness instead.
No, would it have been less complicated than now if he could be swayed by this heart?
If he could somehow turn his heart toward Yuchan.
Then he came to his senses with a start. He couldn’t do that to Yuchan of all people. As soon as the thought came rushing that it would be the worst thing in the world, he shook his head quickly.
“Got it. Hurry home and rest.”
[What about you, Dohyeong?]
Persistent. Dohyeong swept down his face with one hand and made a groaning sound.
When he deliberately tried to wrap up the conversation, he didn’t miss the opportunity.
[…Right, we’re not the kind of relationship where I’d miss you. Us.]
“…I miss you.”
Dohyeong tossed out a word.
Wondering if doing this would move his heart.
Then there would be no more reason to be swept up in worries.
Like his mood plummeting to rock bottom while mulling over Haesung and Hakyung’s relationship.
Or suffering from an indescribable stuffiness while thinking of Haesung who seemed interested in Hakyung.
“As a friend.”
But as expected, doing things he doesn’t normally do doesn’t suit him.
At Dohyeong’s voice that continued with laughter, Yuchan kept silent for a moment, then burst into faint laughter.
[That’s enough.]
“…I’m tired. I’m going to sleep. Is it filming tomorrow?”
[Yeah. Tomorrow’s the day we meet.]
“It’ll be the day Onyoung meets Yehyun.”
[You’re too cold.]
“You’re talking nonsense. Again. Get home safely. Rest well when you get in.”
[Yeah, good work. Dohyeong-ah.]
“You too, Yuchan. Good work.”
At the sound of the call ending, the hand holding the phone dropped powerlessly.
He clenched and released the strength in his hand that settled on his lap, then leaned his face against the window.
The cold air lingering on the window cupped his cheek.
“Hyung.”
Dohyeong quietly called Wootae. Wootae, who had been glancing at Dohyeong through the rearview mirror, waited for his next words without answering.
“I’m really… a bad guy.”
A bad guy who leans on Yuchan’s kindness, using that kindness to constantly try to escape from the past.
Unable to spit out the words that followed, he closed his eyes.
If only when he opened his eyes, everything would be as if it never happened.
If only falling in love with Haesung, marrying him, divorcing, and meeting again at the filming site were all lies.
Repeating wishes that wouldn’t come true, he gradually fell asleep.
***
After hanging up with Dohyeong, Yuchan quietly looked at the photos on Hakyung’s SNS.
Then he put the Bluetooth earphone that had been in his ear into its case and sat down with his legs crossed.
No matter how he thought about it, it was strange. Were Hakyung and Dohyeong this close? No, at least as far as he knew, it wasn’t to this extent.
“There are strangely many. Photos.”
No matter how happy you are to be filming on the same day and want to get close, do you take this many photos? Normally?
The question that wouldn’t leave rummaged through his mind.
But there’s no use pondering long over worries that have no answer. Sighing deeply and tilting his head back, Yuchan looked out the window.
Then suddenly, the message Wootae sent came to mind.
Quickly lowering his head, he searched through his phone. And he stared for a while at the message Wootae sent.
‘Jung Haesung has come to like someone.’
This can’t be the truth. Surely, it must be Dohyeong’s misunderstanding.
This time he goes into Hakyung’s SNS and rummages through the photos again. What appears on the screen is the back view of Dohyeong and Haesung getting makeup done and examining the script with Director Na.
In an instant, one scenario that absolutely shouldn’t happen flashed through Yuchan’s mind.
What if Hakyung was trying to use one of the two?
At first, it would definitely have been Haesung. Because he’s the perfect person to use for gossip.
His fame alone is enough to rise to stardom in one leap. Though it was noise marketing, his role was significant in raising Dohyeong’s name again.
Of course, it won’t be easy for Im Hakyung to use Jung Haesung.
But if Dohyeong watched that process…
‘It’s sufficiently explainable.’
And if his prediction is correct, the next target was definitely Dohyeong.
Because it was a role with almost no scenes overlapping with him, and more scenes filmed together with Dohyeong, Haesung, and Soyeon.
“…Ah, really. When things are getting tangled, all sorts of…”
Muttering, Yuchan tilted his head back irritably. Thud! The sound of hitting the headrest rang out faintly.
At the faintly felt impact, he squeezed his eyes shut.
“Not easy, Choi Yuchan.”
He hoped that no more tags or scandals would follow Dohyeong.
Still, the funny thing was just one. The fact that even in this situation, his feelings toward Dohyeong were becoming even clearer.
“…I like you.”
A confession in quite a small voice, murmuring while waiting for the day when he could properly convey it once again.
