“Who did you say is playing the role of Do Hanseong?”
Yuho doubted his ears at the words of the drama assistant director he was meeting for the first time since the audition.
“Joo Seonchan-ssi. Why? Do you know each other?”
“Ah…… Yes. We recently filmed a web drama together.”
“Really? That’s great. Then you two must have some rapport.”
“That’s true but…… Does Seonchan know too? That I was cast?”
“Probably not? We don’t separately inform about child actor casting.”
Yuho once again felt that the entertainment industry was a small world. The fortunate thing was that his appearance amount in the drama wasn’t much. He knew he would only appear in the protagonists’ childhood in episode 1 and in about three flashback scenes afterward.
“Then I’m playing Seonchan hyung’s role.”
“That’s right.”
“Since I’m a child actor anyway, there won’t be any scenes where we’re together, right?”
“Probably not. Though there might be one or two scenes together as flashback scenes.”
“Ah.”
“If you’re disappointed, should I mention it to the director?”
“No. There’s no need to go that far.”
Yuho waved his hands and rejected the assistant director’s proposal. He thought he would be able to face Seonchan only after a little more time had passed, but he didn’t know they would meet in the same work so quickly.
He even had the pointless worry about what if Seonchan requested a casting change. Even though he had already signed the contract, he wondered how difficult it could be to replace just one minor supporting role.
“I’m just asking in case.”
“Yes.”
“Child actors have to go to the full script reading too, right?”
“Of course. Naturally.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Is there some problem……”
“No. I asked because I didn’t know well.”
“Then I’ll see you at the full meeting. Please be careful since everything is confidential until the press release goes out. I’ll separately inform your manager about the exact schedule.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Yuho took the episodes 1 and 2 scripts the assistant director gave him and left the production company building. Even though the amount was small, it was a happy thing to appear in a public broadcast drama.
The role Yuho took on was the older brother of the sub-male protagonist who gets murdered by the culprit in just episode 1. It was a significant role in the early part of the drama that could perhaps be seen as the most important, so Yuho already felt both tension and pressure. The problem with Seonchan was something to think about later.
It was the moment Yuho finished the drama meeting and was moving to the dorm.
Unseong – [Are you sleeping?]
Unseong contacted Yuho after a long time. Yuho immediately sent a reply to the message.
Yuho – [It’s 4 PM right now though]
Unseong – [I just woke up]
Yuho – [You are in Korea, right…?]
Unseong – [Doesn’t seem like it]
Yuho – [Then where…]
Unseong – [In your heart]
At Unseong’s joke thrown out without rhyme or reason, Yuho paused for a moment. However, now that he knew Unseong’s personality, he could respond flexibly.
Yuho – [Well, I never let you in though]
Unseong – [Look carefully ㅋㅋㅋ It’ll be there]
Yuho – [Did you get permission before entering]
Unseong – [A kind of illegal occupation]
Yuho – [Oh my] [I’ll have to report you then ㅋㅋㅋ]
Unseong – [Want to meet up? I have something to talk about]
It would be nice if he told him what it was about first, but Yuho knew Unseong wouldn’t do that. Nevertheless, he was curious so he had no choice but to ask the reason.
Yuho – [Are we doing another live broadcast]
Unseong – [Not that]
At Unseong’s reaction that seemed like he had no intention of answering in the end, Yuho decided to set aside his curiosity at this point and set a date for the appointment first.
Yuho – [When?]
Unseong – [Let me know if you have any time that works]
Yuho – [Then I’ll check and tell you again]
Unseong – [ㅇㅇ contact me]
Yuho – [Yes I will]
Yuho thought it would be better to ask Inhan and decide on the time.
Yuho immediately contacted Inhan.
Yuho – [Unseong hyung wants to meet]
Inhan – […Why suddenly?] [Because of the collaboration live broadcast?]
Yuho – [I don’t know the reason]
Inhan – [Just hyung alone?]
Yuho – [Seems like it]
Inhan – [Ignore it]
Yuho – [Huh?]
Inhan – [You don’t have to meet him] [Ignore ㄱㄱ]
At Inhan’s unexpected reaction, Yuho was flustered. He even had doubts about whether Unseong and Inhan had become distant in the meantime. Yuho felt troubled and sent a message to Inhan again.
Yuho – [That’s a bit…]
Inhan – [Then let’s go together]
Yuho – [Ah should we?]
Inhan – [Yeah match the time with me and let’s go I can’t send hyung alone to that dangerous person]
Dangerous person. In Yuho’s eyes, Unseong only looked like a handsome, capable, and even kind idol figure.
He seemed unaware that Inhan had complaints precisely about that point.
Yuho – [Okay let’s match the date]
Inhan – [How was the meeting? Did it go well?]
Yuho – [Yeah I got the script]
Inhan – [I’ll help you practice your lines when I have time]
Yuho – [I’d be grateful if you did that]
Inhan – [Then I’m going to filming…ㅜㅜ]
Yuho – [Yeah yeah contact me again when you have time]
Inhan – [Yes]
After finishing the conversation with Inhan, Yuho had a lot on his mind. He would have to tell him that he ended up entering the same work as Seonchan, but he was already worried about Inhan’s reaction. He thought it would be better to see him face-to-face and persuade him well with words.
Yuho, who quickly arrived at the dorm, skimmed through the script until late at night, then started preparing for bed as the time promised with Inhan approached.
Inhan – [Seems like I’ll go in after 1 AM] [Sleep first]
Yuho – [Yeah have a good shoot]
Inhan – [Will we be able to see each other tomorrow ㅜㅜ]
Yuho – [It’s because of work so it can’t be helped ㅜㅜ]
Inhan – [ㅜㅜ]
Inhan planned to return to the dorm at dawn and then go out for a schedule again early in the morning. It seemed difficult to face Yuho in between.
Yuho felt regretful, but obediently went to bed.
It was around 3 AM when Yuho tossed and turned in his sleep and opened his eyes.
Yuho almost screamed in surprise at Inhan’s face that he faced head-on. It was something he had experienced countless times over the past five years, but it was a completely unexpected situation.
The night light, which he didn’t remember turning on, was powered on, and Inhan was lying down, brazenly occupying one side of the bed that had been empty.
After assessing the situation, Yuho felt unnecessarily nervous. Since Taylor wasn’t at the dorm, there would be no proper excuse, yet he thought Inhan’s action of barging into his room so conspicuously was bold.
Yuho quietly looked at Inhan’s face.
His mood became strange at his expression that looked so comfortable despite frantically handling a busy schedule because it was year-end.
Yuho moved closer to Inhan and buried his face in his chest. While he was at it being brave, he reached out his hand and also embraced Inhan’s waist.
His chest swelled with feelings that no longer needed to be hidden. Yuho quickly fell asleep again, feeling Inhan’s warm warmth.
A few hours later, Yuho woke up once more from his sleep at rustling sounds and tossed around.
“Hyung. You’re awake? Sorry.”
Yeomin was startled and offered an apology, and Yuho hurriedly looked around. As if being in the same bed with Inhan had been a dream, the spot next to him was cleanly empty. Yuho rubbed his eyes and asked Yeomin.
“Yeomin. You’re leaving?”
“Yeah. Sleep more.”
“No. I’m awake.”
“It’s 6 o’clock right now though?”
Even to Yuho’s thinking, it was too early a time to wake up. Nevertheless, Yuho got up from the bed.
“Should I see you off?”
“Sure.”
At Yuho’s suggestion, Yeomin readily answered. Yuho headed to the entrance following Yeomin in his sleepy state. And he continued affectionate farewell greetings while sharing a hug with Yeomin.
“Our Yeomin, have a good trip. Do well at filming.”
“Yeah. I can’t come back today, so hold back even if you miss me too much.”
“Okay. I can hold back well.”
“Yuho hyung. Why did you wake up already?”
At that moment, Inhan opened the door to the corner room and revealed himself. He seemed to have returned to his room to prepare to go out. Yuho turned around and welcomed Inhan with a smiling face.
“To see you guys off.”
Yuho also spread both arms toward Inhan. Inhan moved his steps steadily without hesitation and embraced Yuho. He felt like picking up Yuho just like that and running away.
At the sight of the two who seemed like they would only separate if forcibly pulled apart, Yeomin soon expressed dissatisfaction.
“You two are suspicious these days.”
Yeomin rolled his eyes and showed his doubts. Inhan flatly denied Yeomin’s words.
“What’s suspicious? We’ve always been like this, haven’t we?”
“Exactly.”
Yuho felt unnecessarily guilty and avoided Yeomin’s eyes.
“Just try playing without me all the time. I’ll tell everything to the ONESPOTs.”
“Are we yours?”
“Then you’re mine. Are we strangers?”
At Yeomin’s face that looked hurt, Yuho felt sorry. He thought it would be good to honestly confide in Yeomin, at least, about his relationship with Inhan.
Inhan also changed his attitude and started to appease Yeomin.
“That’s absolutely not it. How could we be strangers?”
“You’re done. Hyo hyung. I’m leaving. Bye bye.”
Yeomin gave Yuho another farewell greeting without even looking at Inhan. Yuho immediately reciprocated.
“Yeah. Yeomin bye bye.”
Yeomin smiled at Yuho’s greeting and left Inhan behind, going outside the door first.
Yuho asked Inhan, feeling troubled.
“What should we do?”
“I’ll try to appease him well.”
“Okay.”
“Then I’m going.”
“Yeah. Have a good trip. Do well at today’s filming. Contact me if you have time.”
“Hyung, hurry and sleep more. Practice the script well.”
“Yeah. I will.”
Yuho waved his hand and continued seeing him off until Inhan left the entrance. Inhan looked around briefly, then interlocked his fingers to hold Yuho’s hand and kissed the back of his hand with a peck. He seemed to have exercised self-control since it was at least the dorm.
“Go quickly. Yeomin will go down first.”
“Got it. I’m really going now.”
“Yeah. Bye.”
Inhan barely held back his feet that wouldn’t leave due to regret and looked at Yuho until the end before leaving the entrance.
Yuho kept his spot until the sound outside the door disappeared, then headed to his room only after silence arrived.
