Chapter 11
“It must be a place that opened recently. They were following us all the way from the entrance of the alley to here.”
I glanced back. A man who looked to be in his early twenties was walking into the flashy alley I had passed through, continuously scattering flyers on the ground.
“Do host bars operate from this time these days?”
“……”
When I turned my head back, Gayoon was looking up at me with wide eyes.
“What?”
“I was just thinking that oppa knows about this industry now too.”
“I’ve picked up things here and there. It’s already been several years since I’ve been coming in and out of this alley for meals.”
When I first started frequenting this alley, there were only a handful of host bars. Even then, most of the customers were ladies from the nearby entertainment establishments, so host bars would start operating around 4-5 AM to match their closing times.
In just a few years, it was no longer difficult to find host bar signs like Queen, Sister’s Era, or Juliet on this street. Rather, competition had become so fierce that some establishments were closing due to financial difficulties. It wasn’t just yesterday or today that rumors started circulating in this alley about too many host bars operating compared to demand.
Gayoon and I turned the corner past a shabby supermarket. We had only come down about 50 meters, but the alley was dark and quiet like any residential area in the early morning. It made sense. Most of the residents would be out at work at this time.
The sign with “Dom” written on it visible in the distance still had its lights off.
With its entire exterior walls and entrance door finished in wood without a single window, the place looked suspicious but was actually an ordinary restaurant. The only unusual thing was that it was a late-night restaurant that opened at 3 AM and closed at 10 AM.
Gayoon took the lead and pulled the door.
As soon as we entered, the subtle smell of samgyetang stimulated our appetite.
“Why are you two coming together?”
Jaewoo, who had arrived first and was helping with opening preparations behind the counter, greeted us.
“We met out front. The samgyetang smells so good! Where’s our oppa?”
“You came right on time. Hurry and sit down. The food’s ready.”
As soon as Gayoon spoke, Taeyoon, wearing an apron, came out from the inner kitchen carrying a large pot. Without even a greeting, Taeyoon’s unchanged manner of hurrying with meal preparations made me smile as I pulled out a chair in front of the counter.
Gayoon, her older brother Taeyoon, and I were all from the same international school in Italy. The two of them had transferred to the school I was attending, and for 3-4 years before their father’s business failed badly and they returned to Korea, we were each other’s closest friends.
We didn’t continue our connection after that. A few months after my debut, Taeyoon was the first to contact the company.
When I heard that someone who knew me had left a phone number, my heart seemed to stop. I couldn’t tell if I was disappointed or relieved when I checked the name on the memo I received. What was certain was that I was genuinely happy when I heard Taeyoon’s voice over the phone.
‘Hey, you heartless bastard. Do I have to find out from TV that you came back to Korea?’
That was Taeyoon’s first words.
In the restaurant of barely 10 pyeong, the only seating for customers was a U-shaped counter. It was a structure chosen so Taeyoon could operate efficiently alone. The restaurant’s main customers were, of course, workers from the nearby entertainment industry. Even so, “Dom” didn’t sell alcohol. It was Taeyoon’s business philosophy that he had maintained for years.
As soon as the three of us sat down side by side, the food was served. Each ceramic bowl as large as a cold noodle bowl contained a whole chicken. It was typical of the generous Taeyoon.
“Why did you prepare something so elaborate? Samgyetang must have taken a long time too.”
“I simmered it in the pot for an hour. You need to eat something made with care to pass the audition. Eat up. I’ll make you porridge when you’re done.”
Taeyoon’s hands were deft as he served a full bowl of rice and even octopus jeotgal on the side.
3-4 years might not be that long when looking at life as a whole. But perhaps because we spent our most sensitive period together, even when Taeyoon and I reunited after almost 10 years, it wasn’t awkward. Unlike me, he was boldly daring, honest about his desires and emotions, had excellent conversational skills, and was full of affection just like before, so there was no sense of disconnect.
Saying that someone in my profession probably didn’t eat properly, Taeyoon often called me to the restaurant to cook for me before opening. After Gayoon, who had been working as a junior coordinator for two years without promotion at a famous stylist’s office, joined our company, and after Gayoon and Jaewoo became close, the three of us would frequent “Dom” together.
“If you just pass tomorrow’s audition, hyung will be a Hallyu star too. Our company’s second Hallyu star. No more hardship.”
While twisting off a large chicken leg with his hands, Jaewoo spoke in an excited voice.
“Why second?”
“Hongseo and you, hyung.”
“There’s Kim Yoomin sunbae too.”
Jaewoo, who had been mumbling with his mouth full of the meaty chicken leg, immediately scowled.
“Why include someone who went to another company? We didn’t even benefit from that person’s success.”
Saying how could he leave the company that supported him since his unknown days just like that, Jaewoo cursed that senior for a while. Even so, his speed of emptying the samgyetang didn’t slow down.
Pleased by how well he was eating, I watched him fondly before also putting some pulled meat dipped in salt into my mouth. The meat that had been simmered for an hour was light yet neither tough nor dry.
“Come to think of it, isn’t it hard to see Choi Hongseo’s face these days? That guy really made it big, huh?”
Taeyoon, who was finishing opening preparations behind the counter, snickered while chopping. Before Hongseo and ‘Layered’ became as busy as they are now, I had brought Hongseo to “Dom” a few times, so she and Taeyoon were acquainted.
“Of course, she made it. Even though we live in the same house, it’s hard to see her face. These days they just close their eyes for an hour or two before heading out. When was the last time I saw her…”
I had only heard the sounds of them coming home half-asleep and going in and out of rooms and bathrooms, but I had no recent memory of when I last saw their faces and had a conversation.
Among the Layered members, four including Hongseo, myself, and another actor from our company, Hyunsoo – a total of six people were living in a dormitory on the second floor of a multi-family house. We had been living cramped together for four years in a dorm with three rooms and one bathroom. Just a few months ago, when our schedules overlapped, we had to shower two at a time, but these days it felt like just Hyunsoo, who shared a room with me, and I were living in the dorm.
“Even now they’re in Bangkok for a fan meeting. While they’re there, they’re appearing on a few broadcasts, doing magazine interviews, and the day after tomorrow when they return, Hongseo has to go straight to Director Kang Woohyeon’s party…”
Jaewoo, who had been reciting Layered’s schedule while staring into space, turned to look at me as if he remembered something.
“Hyung, you’ll see Hongseo there. At Director Kang’s party.”
Chicken bones were already piled high in front of Jaewoo. I thought I had been diligently working my chopsticks too, but my bowl was still less than half empty. Taking advantage of when Taeyoon wasn’t looking, I took some of my meat and put it in Jaewoo’s bowl.
“About that party. Am I really invited?”
“What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t invited… isn’t the CEO just trying to bring me along?”
Jaewoo, slowly blinking his eyes without double eyelids, shook his head firmly.
“No way, is the CEO that kind of person? If he were, our company would have grown bigger a long time ago.”
“If you’ve finished yours, that’s enough. Why are you eyeing someone else’s? Aren’t you going to lose weight?”
Taeyoon, noticing that Jaewoo’s bowl had been refilled, glared from behind the counter. Jaewoo protested his innocence, saying samgyetang was for nourishment and had nothing to do with dieting.
“Oppa, about that party, just in case I asked if L brand could sponsor and they said okay. I explained that no promotional photos would be taken and it’s a private party, but they still said it’s fine. Apparently there were a lot of inquiries about all of oppa’s outfits at the Knox Hotel event last time. I’ll receive the clothes tomorrow and go to the dorm. After the audition… around 7 PM, is that time okay?”
“Hey, you guys. Let Actor Jung eat. Did you come here to eat or to keep talking about work?”
At Taeyoon’s scolding, Jaewoo and Gayoon booed him for playing favorites. Though I laughed appropriately watching the three of them bicker, my mind wasn’t very bright due to the burden of the audition.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
