Seo Domyeong, who was thirty years old and in his 10th year since debut this year, was a person notorious for being extremely shy and selective about who he befriended.
Even Suhyung, who frequently saw his face thanks to Inhan, could count on one hand the number of times they’d conversed. It was even a mystery how he became close with Inhan, who was eight years younger.
“I thought he was mature for his age, but I guess a kid is still a kid.”
“He’s not usually like this. He went through something big yesterday.”
At Suhyung’s words that followed like an excuse, Domyeong showed a lukewarm reaction. Whether it was because he already knew this fact, or because it was different from what he knew, was unclear.
“Is that Yuho-hyung over there?”
“Ah. Yes. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“What did he say?”
“Ah. That you’re the hyung who buys him drinks well. That you’re kind of funny.”
“Is that so?”
“But I’m twenty-four, so I’m not actually a hyung…”
“I know.”
Domyeong spoke to Yuho in his characteristic cynical tone. With his face that looked cold without any smile, Yuho naturally became intimidated. He didn’t know why a scene from a famous movie where he played a serial killer was coming to mind right now.
“Inhan keeps saying ‘Yuho-hyung, Yuho-hyung’ so much. It feels like a proper noun to me.”
“Ah. Yes. I see.”
While the meaningless conversation continued, Suhyung’s anxiety was growing. He needed to get Inhan back to his schedule as soon as possible. Finally, unable to bear it, Suhyung asked Domyeong.
“Um. Where is Inhan…”
For being brave, it was a tone that lacked confidence.
“He’s in the inner room. But he’s sleeping right now. I don’t think it’d be good for everyone to rush in and wake him up.”
“Ah. Then how…”
“First, sit down. Want a cup of coffee?”
After suggesting that Suhyung and Yuho sit on the living room sofa, Domyeong headed to the kitchen. At the suggestion that seemed somewhat forced, Suhyung had no choice but to obediently comply. Yuho ended up sitting on the sofa as well.
“Then I’ll have a cup, please.”
“What about Yuho-hyung?”
“Ah. I’m okay.”
“Why?”
“Well, I can’t really drink bitter things…”
“Alcohol?”
“Ah. I’m not good with alcohol either…”
“Then sweet things?”
“Ah. I like sweet things.”
Hearing Yuho’s answer, Domyeong suddenly let out a “pfft” and showed a smile. Then he muttered in a low voice as if reciting.
“Really like a baby.”
“Pardon?”
Yuho looked at Domyeong in surprise. Domyeong’s face with a smile looked somewhat languid yet dangerous. As expected, not just anyone can play a psychopath. Yuho realized anew.
“Nothing. I’ll give you juice. Drink juice.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Thinking he’d just bring out a bottled drink, Domyeong began full-scale beverage production.
Hearing the sounds of coffee beans and fresh oranges being ground, Suhyung and Yuho could only roll their eyes, not knowing what to do.
“What should we do?”
“Let’s just wait for now.”
Unable to bear it, Yuho asked Suhyung for a solution, but the answer that came back was dismal. Today especially, Suhyung’s shoulders felt small to Yuho.
“This is what Inhan likes, but Yuho-hyung should try it too.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yuho received the orange juice Domyeong handed him and tasted it. It was exactly the taste of 100 percent orange he’d tasted during an overseas trip once. It’s delicious. Captivated by the taste of fresh orange, Yuho drank more juice.
And then Domyeong opened his mouth again.
“I heard you’re suing the company.”
“Pardon?”
“So I’m going to help. Come to our company.”
“Ah. That… But shouldn’t he at least finish filming the drama?”
“Isn’t changing Inhan’s mind first more important? He’s not the type of kid who’ll go just because you drag him there.”
While Suhyung stammered in confusion, Domyeong’s gaze turned back to Yuho.
“Yuho-hyung, don’t you have anything to say?”
“Ah. I…”
“Or do you want to go and do it yourself?”
Yuho put down the juice glass he was holding and thought for a moment. Then he nodded at Domyeong.
“Yes.”
“Then Yuho-hyung, go and talk to him. That’s the only way he might come to his senses.”
“Ah. But I should go together…”
“Manager-nim, drink coffee here with me.”
“Ah… Yes.”
At Domyeong’s proposal, which was no different from coercion, Suhyung reluctantly answered, and Yuho awkwardly got up from the sofa. But he didn’t know the exact destination.
“Um, where…”
“Go to the hallway on the right, the innermost room at the end. He’ll be sleeping, so wake him up well on your own.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yuho walked in the direction Domyeong pointed. Only after passing through a long hallway and going past two doors could he reach the room where Inhan was said to be.
Yuho carefully opened the door and entered.
Inside the room, the smell of alcohol reverberated so much it gave him a headache.
On the bed, a human figure that looked like a rag was sprawled without any movement.
Yuho let out a deep sigh and leaned against the door.
“Hey. Jung Inhan.”
There was some anger in his voice. How much courage it took to make that decision. Inhan had reset everything to square one overnight.
Why won’t you even let me quit? A feeling of sadness came first.
“Inhan. Wake up.”
Even at Yuho’s call, Inhan didn’t respond.
Gauging Inhan’s irregularly expelled breathing, Yuho approached Inhan.
“Hey. Jung Inhan.”
Yuho reached out and began shaking Inhan awake. Whether he was in deep sleep, Inhan’s eyes finally opened after tossing and turning his body here and there.
“Ah. What?”
“It’s me, Yuho-hyung. Wake up.”
“…Why is hyung here?”
“I came to get you.”
“Ah. Domyeong-hyung. That traitor.”
Inhan, who had been squinting his face as if his eyes were dazzled, seemed to have finished assessing the situation and got irritated as he sat up. Regardless, Yuho got straight to the point.
“What are you doing?”
Even at Yuho’s voice that was somewhat agitated with anger, Inhan had no reaction. Instead, he showed his dissatisfaction by ruffling his hair as if annoyed.
“What are you doing?”
Though Yuho continued to press him, Inhan kept his mouth firmly shut.
“Hey. Jung Inhan.”
“What am I doing? I’m doing the exact same thing as you, hyung.”
“Hey.”
“I’m going to quit everything too. If we’re going to end it, we should all end it together to be fair. Right?”
“What are you really trying to do?”
“Whatever happens. Whether my life hits rock bottom or not. What does it matter? When you left saying you didn’t want it.”
Inhan, who threw out words as they came, escaped from the blanket and sat perched at the edge of the bed. Then he picked up the bottled water placed on the small table next to the bed and moistened his throat.
“Don’t worry about it. Hyung. Didn’t you leave like that yesterday with that intention?”
“It’s not like that. Inhan.”
“Whether it is or isn’t doesn’t matter. We’re not even in the same group anymore, so we don’t have to do business partners or whatever anymore. So get lost. Let’s each go our own way now.”
“Why are you talking like that?”
“How kind has hyung been to me? You said you were sick of living as a pedestal. You told me to get out of your way. So when I’m obediently getting lost, what’s the problem?”
“Inhan. I didn’t mean it like that…”
“Don’t act like you care now with your hypocrisy. You didn’t know I’d be like this? You didn’t know I’d collapse like this? Hyung, you knew. You knew and left anyway.”
Looking at Inhan’s two eyes that showed sadness despite being completely on edge, Yuho’s heart broke.
“I guess it’s good that all my individual fans who cursed hyung will disappear now. Now you won’t have to see me living and doing whatever I want either.”
“You know I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Why don’t you try just telling me to die instead?”
At Inhan’s shocking statement, Yuho froze in place. He never imagined Inhan would come out this extreme.
“You know. That I unconditionally listen to whatever hyung says. Didn’t you tell me to let go knowing that? Knowing that I wouldn’t be able to hold on if hyung said so.”
“No.”
Absolutely not. I didn’t treat you harshly with that kind of heart. I never thought you’d break down this much. Yuho found Inhan both heartbreaking and frightening at the same time. He became scared that Inhan might really die.
“You said everything you wanted to say? Then leave now. And watch how I disappear from in front of you.”
“Inhan. Don’t do that.”
“Get out.”
“Don’t do that. Inhan. Please.”
When Yuho showed no signs of leaving, Inhan got up from his seat and headed toward the door. Yuho urgently grabbed Inhan’s wrist, but Inhan, who grabbed Yuho’s wrist instead, began forcibly dragging Yuho out.
“Inhan.”
Yuho wanted to somehow free his caught wrist. He didn’t want to be helplessly dragged and cast out by Inhan like this. But the difference in strength between the two was too stark.
“Inhan, please.”
Inhan easily dragged Yuho to the front of the door.
Yuho was desperate in his own way.
He was afraid that if he got kicked out like this, he’d never see Inhan again. This wasn’t why he came. Contrary to his intention, he ended up provoking Inhan more.
In the end, the choice Yuho, who was driven to the edge, could make was one. It might be the worst move, but it was the best choice he could make in the situation he was in.
“I like you.”
What words could explain his past actions? Wouldn’t it be better to just bury and move past some problems? But that way, he couldn’t give a proper explanation.
So instead of countless excuses, Yuho confessed to Inhan.
* * *
Profile – Seo Domyeong (Actor)
Real Name: Kim Domyeong
Age: 30 years old
Height/Weight: 186cm/ 76kg
Hobbies: ???
Special Skills: ???
Characteristics: Celebrity among celebrities, former model, 10 years since debut, multiple Best Actor and Popular Star awards at film festivals.
