Choice? Opportunity?
It was a sound that made no sense at all.
Haesung was just as unable to grasp the situation as the considerably flustered Dohyeong.
But there was just one thing that vaguely came to mind. The thought that what he plotted regarding him might repeat.
“Stop going around in circles and tell me precisely. Then… I’ll think about it too.”
Haesung tapped Dohyeong.
When his gaze turned, he carefully took the phone away from his ear and switched to speakerphone.
He brought his index finger to his lips, indicating he would just listen quietly.
[Sunbae, I said that, didn’t I? How nice it would be if we helped each other and lived. What I said the day I picked out your tie. Do you remember?]
He held his breath.
He remembered. Because it was something he had wanted to ask the meaning of.
“Yes. I remember.”
[That’s a relief. I don’t have to explain everything in detail.]
“What do you want me to help with?”
[If a scandal comes out with me, can you confirm it? You just have to answer yes to that.]
Because it was completely unexpected, Dohyeong’s eyes widened.
Looking down at the phone with a dazed expression, he then looked at Haesung sitting beside him.
It was because of Hakyung’s words that flowed out as if it were natural.
[I had expectations for Haesung sunbae-nim, but he thoroughly ignored me.]
Haesung was just as flustered.
Not only was it a sudden story, but his name was even mentioned.
But that was only for a moment. He could realize what Hakyung was saying.
He must be talking about the day Director Na called them. So that the sound wouldn’t carry over the phone, he let out a suppressed sigh.
[Well, I think I know the reason. You two are in that kind of relationship, aren’t you?]
At the following words, the two slowly made eye contact.
Did it show? Or did someone provide information to Hakyung?
Once again, it was a situation where suspicion couldn’t help but deepen.
[So that’s why Haesung sunbae-nim didn’t easily accept the scandal either. Well, I understood it that way… am I wrong?]
Here, he should give an immediate answer.
But he absolutely couldn’t say no. How could he deny it when he was looking into Haesung’s eyes?
[Well, how could you say no? Even now, you’re together.]
At Hakyung’s voice sneering softly, goosebumps rose all over his body.
But he couldn’t just be swept away forever. Somehow, he had to regain his pace.
Dohyeong, who quickly shook his head, asked him while straining his voice.
“What do you want? A scandal, what help is that?”
[Whether it helps or not, I have to try it to know. What I want. Is that important? Right now, sunbae needs to make a choice, doesn’t it seem? Or not?]
“…Im Hakyung-ssi.”
[Choose. Whether you’ll watch me use you two messily, or cleanly acknowledge a dating rumor with me and release a breakup article at an appropriate time.]
There seemed to be no place to escape.
Wherever they headed, Hakyung’s breath and touch seemed like they would block their path.
He knew he wasn’t such a great person.
But hadn’t he experienced the power of the media? If everyone starts shooting arrows, no shield can block them.
At the déjà vu that rushed in for a moment, his whole body began to tremble.
“Why are you doing this? What are you trying to gain?”
[Self-marketing. I just needed a small opportunity that would make people curious about who I am, what kind of person I am. I thought one of you two would be just right. There’s Choi Yuchan-ssi too, but… that side really doesn’t match with me.]
Hakyung, who had been speaking with a laugh, didn’t continue, as if waiting for Dohyeong’s answer.
After a short silence, Dohyeong gripped Haesung’s hand tightly.
It was determination. It was a resolution not to be swayed or swept away by anything anymore, and not to lose anything.
[What will you do?]
“I don’t want to.”
Though he spoke firmly, anxiety still crept into one corner of his heart.
“I don’t want to mix lies into stories about me.”
Nevertheless, he could be this resolute because.
He too had gained the power to become solid.
Because he knew he was no longer alone, and there were people who would firmly hold onto him by his side.
Dohyeong reaffirmed his conviction and opened his mouth once more.
“Im Hakyung-ssi should think of another method too. Just because you drag things along provocatively like this doesn’t mean your value goes up.”
But he didn’t hear any answer.
The moment he opened his mouth to break the silence. He heard Hakyung’s voice, now somewhat sharper.
[Don’t regret that decision.]
He wanted to say he would absolutely not regret it, and that he shouldn’t go down the path of regret either.
But he couldn’t convey it anymore.
The call had ended, and all that filled the space between Dohyeong and Haesung was the crude dial tone.
Dohyeong, who had been staring blankly down at his phone, turned his head to face Haesung.
What should I do, his gaze was filled with the fear that crept over him, but.
“It’s okay.”
Haesung embraced him too.
Grabbing Dohyeong’s shoulder and pulling him into his arms, he stroked his back with his large hand.
“Nothing will happen.”
No, this is something he shouldn’t assure.
Holding his breath and gathering his thoughts, he opened his mouth again.
“Even if something happens, I’ll protect you.”
So don’t worry.
We’ll be okay.
The words conveyed softly piled up layer by layer in one corner of Dohyeong’s heart.
Nevertheless, the anxiety that vaguely rushed in couldn’t be helped.
The two hugged each other tightly. Hoping not to waver, not to fall away. They put strength into their fingertips with desperate hearts.
***
“Dohyeong-ssi, what’s wrong with your face? Didn’t you sleep last night?”
At Director Na’s worried voice, Dohyeong smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“I’m thinking the filming is almost at the end, so I’m nervous.”
“Ey, why be nervous! You’ve been doing well until now. Don’t worry. Just do as you’ve been doing.”
Director Na smiled brightly and patted Dohyeong’s shoulder.
The filming site was still busy, and the atmosphere before the end coexisted with regret and sadness, but everyone’s faces were full of smiles.
If it were usual, Dohyeong would have smiled and mingled with them too.
But today, he couldn’t quite smile.
‘…Today is the last.’
Because it was the last filming with Hakyung.
Although there would be no more filming with Hakyung in the future, Haesung happened to be absent from this last filming where he had to face him.
Though he would match with Soyeon and other actors, they didn’t know these inside circumstances.
It’s okay. Just get through today. Steeling himself, he focused on reading the script.
“We’re entering rehearsal! Please prepare!”
At the assistant director’s words, Dohyeong squeezed the script once, then stood up from his seat.
“Sunbae, please work well with me today too.”
At that moment, Hakyung suddenly appeared in front of Dohyeong.
It was true that he was flustered by his appearance speaking with a bright smile.
But he couldn’t show it. Neither his situation with him nor his anxiety.
“Yes. Please work well with me too.”
“Is it because it’s the last time, I feel really sad.”
Hakyung spoke brazenly and firmly grabbed Dohyeong’s hand.
“You’ll keep in touch even after filming ends, right? We’ve gotten pretty close, after all.”
Huh?
His throat stung at the sight of him asking back with a smile.
Because he seemed like a completely different person from the one who called him a few days ago and forced him to choose.
He opened and closed his mouth to say something, but Dohyeong just forced a smile.
“We should enter rehearsal.”
There was no answer, but Hakyung didn’t add any words to such a Dohyeong either.
As if closely watching his actions, he just fixed his gaze without taking it off.
“Okay, then Part 4, Scene 22. Conveying Yujin’s story to Yehyun…”
At that moment when Director Na’s voice rang through the speaker.
“Huh? Hey hey, wait. Why is this like this!”
An urgent voice was heard from somewhere.
The moment the flustered Dohyeong and Hakyung turned their gazes toward where the sound came from.
They could see the lighting panel fixed to the crane wobbling.
Staff members reached out to grab the lighting panel, but the broad lighting panel fell downward, unable to overcome the weight.
“Sunbae, it’s dangerous!”
Hakyung shouted loudly and pulled Dohyeong into his arms.
It happened in an instant. The lighting panel fell to the floor and shattered into pieces, and Hakyung rolled to the side while holding Dohyeong.
At people’s shrieks, his heart sank.
“Hakyung-ssi!”
“Dohyeong-ssi!”
Only after the staff’s shouts continued did Dohyeong open his tightly closed eyes.
His whole body trembled. When he slightly turned his head to look to the side, he saw sharp glass fragments littering the floor.
“Stop rehearsal! Call an ambulance!”
The filming site became noisy.
Dohyeong, who had been assessing the situation for a moment, hurriedly escaped from Hakyung’s arms.
The metal frame was rolling on the floor, and he was groaning lowly while clutching his leg.
It seemed the lighting panel had struck his leg as it fell to the floor.
For a moment, his whole body felt chilled. If Hakyung hadn’t been there, he would have been the one injured.
“Ha, Hakyung-ssi. Hakyung-ssi, are you okay?”
“I’m… okay. What about sunbae? You’re not hurt anywhere?”
At Hakyung’s question exhaling heated breath, Dohyeong nodded.
“I’m fine. Is this the time to worry about me?”
“That’s a relief. That sunbae isn’t hurt.”
At the sight of Hakyung smiling while letting out a sigh of relief, he felt drained.
The fact that he had threatened him a few days ago was erased from his mind.
Only the fact that he had protected and saved him remained strongly in his mind.
Not long after, an ambulance arrived at the filming site that had become chaos, and Hakyung was carried on a stretcher to the hospital.
“What is this? Lighting team! Didn’t you check properly?”
At Director Na’s harsh voice, the atmosphere quickly turned menacing.
While the entire directing team was being reprimanded, the actors left the filming site for a while under the staff’s escort. Dohyeong, who plopped down on a chair, stared blankly in the direction the ambulance had departed.
It’s really strange. Clearly Hakyung helped him, and it’s true he saved him.
Why does that face smiling while saying it’s a relief remain so strongly in his mind?
Because he saved him? Is it guilt that he got hurt because of him?
Perhaps because of the sudden accident, his mind was confused. When his head, where the noise still hadn’t subsided, was ringing.
“Dohyeong-ah!”
Only after hearing Wootae’s loud voice rushing over urgently could he come to his senses.
“Huh?”
“Are you okay? You’re not hurt?”
“Uh… yeah, I’m fine.”
“Really? Hey, you didn’t like. Bump into something or feel pain. Or anything like that, right?”
“No. I’m really perfectly fine. Except for bumping my shoulder a little when I fell…”
Dohyeong laughed while swinging his arms around as if this much was nothing.
Right, it must be his worry. Where would there be time to calculate when a person helps another person?
He should say thank you later. And once more, he should have that conversation from that day again, he was thinking when.
His phone vibrated in his pocket.
Could Haesung have already found out about this situation? No, that’s too fast.
The moment he took out his phone and checked the screen, his spine chilled.
Clearly entering both eyes was Hakyung’s name.
This was an ominous sign.
A strong conviction that something would blow up was ringing in Dohyeong’s head.
Im Hakyung
Good start
It wasn’t intentional but…
Thank you sunbae
Thanks to you, storytelling will be easier
You can look forward to it
