#50
After leaving the swimming pool, we took a lap around the city. Wandering around the cramped, bustling alleys wherever our feet took us and sightseeing without a plan was much more enjoyable than I’d expected.
We were playing around putting fedoras on each other at a boutique when we met Jin Woohyeon’s fan. When asked to take a photo, Jin Woohyeon playfully winked and declined.
“I’m on a really important date right now, sorry. Autographs and photos next time.”
I followed him and asked quietly.
“Still, you’re a celebrity, and there are fans who recognize your face… is it okay to just say you’re on a date?”
I’d heard that celebrities often get treated as public figures as they become famous and frequently get criticized for their private lives. Since the program hasn’t aired yet, I was worried about what we’d have to explain if strange rumors started spreading.
On the other hand, Jin Woohyeon himself was calm throughout. He naturally led me to a store lined with sparkling accessories and smiled while holding up an hourglass-shaped keychain.
“What does it matter? It’ll all be revealed on the broadcast later anyway, and even if not, it’s not strange for me to meet hyung. It’s not like I’m meeting someone I shouldn’t.”
“Mmm. I guess so.”
“How about this, hyung?”
“It’s pretty.”
“I’ll buy it so you can attach it to your bag and carry it around. Like a charm.”
“A charm?”
“Yeah, a charm.”
He tapped the keychain with his index finger. Then the delicate decorations surrounding the small hourglass in the center clinked against each other, making a tinkling sound.
“Time is medicine, right? So it means don’t get hurt, hyung.”
It was an enigmatic statement. Would time be medicine this time too?
“You think so?”
Then Jin Woohyeon said with a smiling face.
“Don’t you think so?”
Neither affirmation nor denial, just a question. That possibility unexpectedly seeped into me, leaving as reassuring an impression as blind faith.
As if it contained the meaning that even if it couldn’t be medicine, he would find another way by my side.
“Give me your bag.”
He attached the keychain to my bag while talking.
“And about meeting that fan earlier, you really don’t need to worry.”
“Even if it leads to a scandal?”
“They’d probably find it refreshing. I’ve lived so disconnected from that kind of thing. I’ve only dated once in my life, and that was with Lei hyung. We dated for six months and broke up, plus it was a private relationship.”
“Did you only work after that?”
“Pretty much, right? I’m the type who doesn’t really feel like even pretending at romance. I didn’t like it because it felt like my image would be consumed quickly. So I avoided taking roles with strong romance elements. I wasn’t confident either.”
“That’s unexpected…”
He seemed like a natural-born lover. I felt that way more because all his actions and words toward me were sweet.
“Anyway, if there’s a scandal, my fans will think it’s fascinating. Before that happens, I’ll conduct myself well so hyung won’t be in any trouble, so don’t worry.”
Jin Woohyeon, who had been lost in thought for a moment, muttered as if adding.
“Ah, I wonder if my manager will hate it? This time too…”
When I stared at him, Jin Woohyeon smiled and patted my shoulder.
“No, it’s nothing. Just talking to myself. Should we go eat lunch now? You must be hungry after swimming all morning.”
I shook my head slightly. I wasn’t particularly hungry. It was even more so because I moved around after eating breakfast, which I usually skip. Others say they get more appetite after moving around, but the more tired I get, the less I feel hunger.
“There are some decent restaurants nearby… Lamb steak would be too heavy, right?”
“Yeah.”
“How about Mexican food? If we walk two more blocks, there’s a place that makes good chimichangas. The downside is they don’t have private rooms.”
In addition to that, candidates like soup curry, dakgalbi, and omelet rice came up in succession from his mouth. They looked delicious but nothing particularly appealed to me, so I just stared blankly. Seeing my expression, Jin Woohyeon grinned.
“Should we just go to a cafe? We’ll have a simple tea time and eat dinner in the evening. I looked up some cafes around here too.”
“You looked them up in advance?”
“Of course? Who am I coming out with? Do you prefer places with good coffee or places with good desserts? Or somewhere that’s decent for both and quiet?”
“Hmm… if I had to choose between the two, a place with good desserts? Even better if they have signature menus.”
“Right, hyung works in the food service industry. You’re in charge of desserts and cocktails, so that makes sense.”
His face brightened as if something occurred to him.
“Ah! Do you know about a Russian dessert shop that opened recently? Near Sinsa-dong.”
Russian desserts? It was an unfamiliar combination. When I shook my head, Jin Woohyeon said with a slightly excited tone.
“It’s an authentic dessert shop with the main store in Moscow. There’s exactly one branch in Korea, and that’s it. It’s a bit of a drive from here… but should I contact them to see if we can film while eating there?”
If there was a chance to eat there, it seemed like it would be helpful to visit at least once. Above all, while I’d tried European desserts, Russian ones were a first.
I asked with a slightly expectant voice.
“Will they agree to it?”
“I’ll inquire with the production team while we’re driving, and if not, we’ll have a tea set at a nearby hotel. Since we’re on the topic, I’ll ask, so do you want to wait here, hyung?”
As soon as he finished speaking, he moved busily. His fluid, unimpeded actions were so refreshing that I couldn’t help but admire them.
“Woohyeon, you must be popular.”
He answered while starting the car.
“I might be.”
When talking with Jin Woohyeon, I often hear unexpected answers. Perhaps that’s why I find myself asking more questions when I’m with him. Like now.
“You’re not really interested in that kind of thing?”
“It’s not that I’m not interested at all? I’m an actor. It’s a job that lives off public popularity. Being loved is naturally welcome, joyful, and it’s my lifelong goal.”
Jin Woohyeon’s cheerful voice continued.
“But I’m really not interested in popularity in the sense hyung is thinking of.”
“…”
“Just one person is enough for me.”
Jin Woohyeon’s heart is so fascinating. It’s invisible yet so vivid, untouchable yet right here. It doesn’t give me a corner to escape to while not forcing me, and it’s leisurely despite having a clearly predetermined desired answer.
How can you be like that? It’s fascinating and envious to the point of being a little annoying how you seem so skilled and unhesitating while claiming to have no interest in such things.
When I stared at him, Jin Woohyeon said while keeping his eyes on the road ahead.
“Every time hyung looks at me like that, I want to keep asking why you’re looking at me. Is it annoying?”
“It’s not annoying.”
I hesitated before saying.
“Just, I’m envious that you’re good at everything. Accommodating, being good to me, making things enjoyable.”
It was a benefit date right after entering the show. There wouldn’t have been that much time to prepare, but it was amazing how he guided me smoothly with almost no help from the production team.
‘Rather than just deciding what he wanted to do, he also accommodated me.’
He probably wasn’t certain he’d meet me here, so how does he match even such detailed aspects?
“It seemed like I was accommodating hyung well.”
Jin Woohyeon answered with a proud voice.
“For example? Praise me in more detail.”
“Making a list of restaurants. And looking up dessert shops too. Do you usually like looking up that kind of thing?”
“No way. I could count on my hands the number of times I’ve bought dessert with my own money.”
“Because you’re not interested in desserts either?”
He seems delicate but surprisingly has little interest in many things. Like popularity too. I was thinking that when he said.
“Of course. Why would I be interested in Russian cakes? I’m interested in hyung.”
After a brief silence, Jin Woohyeon said.
“If it seemed like I was accommodating you well, that’s just the result of trying hard because I wanted to look good.”
“…”
“I searched the internet all day. I exhausted what little network I have, even swallowing my pride to ask what good date courses there are in this area. It might have been simpler if I’d known everything from the start and been skilled…”
It didn’t matter if it was a bit difficult. His voice saying that was so nonchalant that I was left speechless.
I opened my mouth to say something but ended up closing it tightly, then turned my head toward the car window and mumbled.
“…Look ahead.”
“Haha.”
“Drive properly, Jin Woohyeon.”
I really wanted him to focus on driving. So that he wouldn’t see my face, which had turned completely red.
It was a wish that couldn’t be fulfilled.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
