Dohyeong sat in his chair, waiting for his turn.
Even so, the story Soyeon left with him wouldn’t leave his mind.
Suspect those closest to you first.
What a cruel thing to say. The people close to him didn’t even number many.
As he sighed with a frustrated heart, someone tapped his shoulder from behind.
Come to think of it, he had filming with Yuchan today too.
“Yuchan…”
Naturally, he turned around thinking of him.
“Why does that name come out?”
Haesung stood there with a somehow displeased expression.
Haha, Dohyeong, who laughed awkwardly, tapped his left side.
“Please sit. Sunbae-nim.”
“Answer first.”
“No—”
“Answer.”
He became timid after the person changed.
He became persistent in strange places, and subtly showed jealousy in parts where he didn’t need to be jealous.
Of course, he didn’t dislike this side of him. Because he always treated him with methods and boundaries that weren’t excessive.
Dohyeong, who had been smiling brightly, shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, why did that name come out?”
“……”
If he had seen this expression before, he would have been scared thinking he was angry. But now it was different.
He had become sulky. People who didn’t know him well would think Haesung was angry.
Because the range of his facial expressions wasn’t that wide.
But Dohyeong at least knew. That he was a person who revealed his emotions more transparently than one would think.
He didn’t want to miss anymore the things that could be overlooked if not carefully watched.
“Well, fine.”
He’s sulking.
He could tell just by looking at his gaze not looking at him.
Dohyeong barely swallowed his laughter.
“No, that’s right. Today’s filming is with Yuchan and Soyeon sunbae. With those two.”
“Yeah.”
“Hyung, no. Sunbae doesn’t have filming today. So naturally it’s one of those two, and Soyeon sunbae-nim went to rehearsal just now.”
“Yeah.”
Really, he’s cute.
While sulking, still responding promptly is cute.
After confirming no one was around, Dohyeong interlaced his fingers with Haesung’s hand.
Haesung, startled, turned his head to face him.
“Kim Dohyeong, you.”
“I keep thinking about hyung.”
Haesung’s surprised expression gradually stiffened.
This is, probably.
“He’s embarrassed.”
That must be it.
Seeing him unable to keep his gaze still, rolling his eyes here and there, then clearing his throat.
Dohyeong, who giggled, casually let go of his hand.
“…You’ve become quite the fox.”
“Please call me sunbae’s trainer.”
“Fox.”
“I have to do at least this much so you don’t get anxious.”
“You’ve become cheeky.”
“Takes one to know one.”
“Won’t lose a single word.”
“Always been like that.”
Haesung glanced at Dohyeong, then eventually chuckled.
The two made eye contact and laughed, looked elsewhere and laughed again.
Because they never thought they’d become this kind of relationship, it was an even more precious moment.
“So, what were you thinking about so much?”
At Haesung’s question, Dohyeong went “Hmm,” pretending to ponder for a long time, then shrugged his shoulders.
“Thinking about Jung Haesung sunbae-nim?”
“I know that’s not it. Tell me the truth.”
His tone had become quite gentle too.
If it were before, it would have been “Tell me, talk.” He would have shown a somewhat overbearing attitude.
These days, he talks to him in a requesting tone.
That too felt new each time he heard it, as if showing with his whole body that he was respecting him.
“…Hmm.”
He thought it would be okay to exclude Soyeon’s story.
After all, it was her personal story. Plus, it was also Haesung’s past story.
Haesung just listened silently to Dohyeong’s voice as he carefully recalled and recited each word.
“…Anyway, so that’s why those words keep coming to mind.”
“What Soyeon-ssi said?”
“Yes. The words to suspect those closest to you first.”
Haesung, who had been pondering Dohyeong’s words, dropped his eyebrows apologetically and carefully continued.
“I think so too.”
“……”
“Actually, the things that happened recently.”
Haesung, who paused briefly, squeezed their clasped hands tightly.
“Several of them were things you couldn’t know unless you were close by.”
He couldn’t say anything. Because Haesung’s words weren’t wrong.
“That’s why last time… I wanted to, say that. After you returned home.”
“Yeah…”
“What do you think?”
He couldn’t continue.
Because he thought nothing could be as cruel as suspecting those closest to you.
And just one thing.
Something he couldn’t tell others, but could be honest about only with Haesung.
“…I don’t have that many close people.”
That one fact weighed on his mind.
“I don’t know who, to suspect first. Just that fact alone is enough…”
“…Right, it’s hard.”
He couldn’t help but laugh at Haesung’s appearance immediately agreeing and empathizing.
“I’m not saying to suspect them right away. A little… I think it wouldn’t be bad to observe carefully. You know what hyung means, right?”
“Yeah. I know.”
Haesung patted the nodding Dohyeong’s head, then quickly became conscious of his surroundings and withdrew his hand.
Ahem, he laughed at Haesung leaning back in his chair with a short cough.
Dohyeong, who had been looking at his script with a smile on his lips, suddenly turned to Haesung with a question that came to mind.
“By the way, why did you come? Today’s your day off.”
“To watch.”
“Watch what?”
“Watch a celebrity.”
“…What?”
“I came to watch a celebrity. I heard someone named Kim Dohyeong, who will become a rising star, is here.”
Looking at him mischievously joking, Dohyeong ended up laughing out loud again.
And after a moment, a staff member called Dohyeong.
“Looks like it’s your rehearsal. Go quickly.”
“Will you keep staying here?”
“I’m going to pick you up when you’re done. I told your manager too.”
“Yeah. I’ll do well and come back.”
Could he be that happy about it?
Dohyeong, who instantly drew a bright smile on his face, ran toward where the staff called.
Watching that retreating figure for a while, Haesung let out a light sigh and stroked his chin.
The person closest to Dohyeong.
Excluding himself, there’s Yuchan and Wootae. And only the scripter he greeted last time.
‘…The scripter, particularly.’
From what he heard, they were schoolmates with Dohyeong.
To begin with, this matter clearly has subjects of gain and loss.
Someone will gain something from this, and someone will lose even what they have.
If he had to say, the directing team and actors are closer to losing.
Unless they’re leaving the industry after finishing this project.
‘…No director or team would take on someone with such rumors for their next project.’
Then, who?
Momentarily, Yuchan and Wootae came to mind.
First, Yuchan is quite possible. If his reputation drops and he becomes distant from Dohyeong.
‘Choi Yuchan could get closer to Dohyeong.’
Then the possibility of Yuchan becomes even higher.
As he was thinking seriously, someone’s shadow overlapped his own.
“That’s my seat.”
A curt and disgruntled voice. And a voice familiar to his ears.
“Jung Haesung sunbae-nim.”
It was Yuchan.
Haesung shrugged and got up from the chair to sit in Dohyeong’s seat.
“That’s Dohyeong’s seat though.”
“Yes. I know. I also saw him go to rehearsal just now.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Yuchan still looked at his seat with a sullen expression.
Then he unnecessarily dusted off the chair and sat down. He knew it was hostile behavior, but he didn’t feel entirely bad about it.
Rather, he felt sorry. Because it seemed like he had snatched Dohyeong away even after hearing Yuchan’s feelings several times.
The thought that he should reveal his feelings honestly overlapped with suspicion.
After pondering for a while, Haesung spoke first.
“I have something to say.”
“Short and sweet please. I think I’ll be going into rehearsal soon.”
“I love Dohyeong.”
“…Really short and sweet.”
At the sudden confession rushing in, Yuchan’s face turned pale.
No, should he say it distorted? Looking at Haesung with an expression like “what is this,” he clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“So what. I already gave up on Dohyeong anyway. Now we’re really just friends.”
“Regardless of whether you gave up or not, I thought Choi Yuchan-ssi would also feel more comfortable if I clearly revealed my feelings.”
Yuchan couldn’t say anything.
Because Haesung answered as if he had read his inner thoughts.
“So, what did you two decide to do?”
“That doesn’t seem like an answer for me to give. Hear it directly from Dohyeong.”
“Wow, you do this to someone who got rejected?”
“I think that would be more comfortable for Dohyeong too. If I say it, Dohyeong will feel even more sorry toward Choi Yuchan-ssi.”
Isn’t that right?
At Haesung’s counter-question, Yuchan clicked his tongue once more as if fed up.
“Well, yes. I understand.”
He had to ask.
He knew now wasn’t the only time he could have a proper conversation.
But he had to casually bring it up when it came to mind.
He asked Yuchan with the most natural topic to bring up in this situation.
“May I ask when you gave up?”
“Are you confirming the kill?”
“No. I’m just curious.”
“…From the day Jung Haesung-ssi carried Dohyeong and ran out.”
The giving up wasn’t as long ago as he thought.
Then that ‘possibility’ he was thinking of might not be small either.
If Dohyeong can’t suspect, he at least needs to hold onto that thread.
“When we went on overseas location. Because Dohyeong couldn’t immerse himself in his acting, I told him.”
Really, it’s strange to say this with his own mouth.
Yuchan took a deep breath and answered calmly.
“To think of me as Jung Haesung-ssi.”
Haesung’s eyes wavered.
He roughly knew what scene it was. A situation where he reveals his inner feelings and confesses his past.
It was a scene where he opens up his true feelings more easily precisely because the other person is a stranger.
But Yehyun had to feel strange emotions within it.
Looking at Onyoung who neither blames him nor pities him, he gets caught up in a whirlwind of numerous emotions.
He played that role while thinking of him.
“I felt it then. Ah, I… know it myself.”
Following that, Yuchan’s gaze turned to Haesung.
The two faced each other without words. When the silence had grown quite long, Yuchan opened his mouth again.
“That I’m not even a match for Jung Haesung-ssi.”
“……”
“Well, it’s done. What’s the point of talking about what’s already passed.”
Yuchan, who was grumbling with his hands in his pants pockets, unnecessarily kicked the floor lightly.
Then he turned his head toward Haesung. It was a determined gaze.
“But no matter how much I’ve given up, if an opportunity arises, I. Am going after Kim Dohyeong again.”
“…Is that, true?”
“Lovers can break up anytime, but friends don’t have breakups. Thinking that way, my bond of connection is stronger.”
It’s a declaration of war in its own way. So it sounded like he was saying to make Dohyeong happy.
Haesung laughed lightly and straightened his back.
Answering straightforwardly that he would do so wouldn’t be like Jung Haesung.
“Not lovers, but if we’re a married couple.”
“……”
Yuchan, who didn’t continue for a moment and thought, pulled up one corner of his mouth crookedly.
It was exactly a teasing look.
“Ah. The very person who let go of that married couple’s bond is right in front of me.”
In the end, Haesung burst out laughing.
He got hit. He thought it might have been cooler to just answer that he would do so.
For a while, the two just exchanged empty laughs without saying anything.
Hoping that the image in their minds would chew over and embrace the word happiness more than enough.
Wishing desperately that the sea of emotions they ultimately reach would only be deep and warm.
