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After much deliberation, the statement I posted spread with far greater impact than I had vaguely anticipated. With SNS notifications pouring in enough to drain my battery instantly, plus all kinds of messages, I became afraid to even look at my phone.
‘I never thought it would make the internet news.’
It seemed to confirm that taking advice from Jin Woohyeon and his agency had really been the right choice.
Fortunately, public opinion was favorable toward me. Just because I was an inadequate partner who couldn’t give Lee Chan everything he wanted didn’t justify his actions toward me.
An unfaithful lover, an irresponsible boss, an influencer who deceived the public…
Once I removed the rose-colored glasses of my long first love, Lee Chan was an extremely shabby and pathetic person.
While I thought it was truly fortunate that I could completely let go of him, on the other hand, it was also bitter to see a love that had occupied such a large part of my life completely sink into a quagmire.
Several days had passed since I posted the statement.
Looking at the mountain of SNS notifications had become part of my daily commuting routine.
I wasn’t responding to anything in particular. I didn’t want to cause problems with careless words. Still, I occasionally enjoyed seeing supportive comments or DMs, and skimming through them one by one was enough to alleviate my boredom.
Today, as I was killing time during my commute, a somewhat concerning message caught my eye.
[Sanho hyung. This is Lei. I don’t know your contact information, so I’m messaging you here. Could you reply when you’re able to talk?]
‘An Lei?’
I looked at the message with a subtle expression. Just from this contact alone, I couldn’t tell if he was real or not.
One thing I had learned from using SNS was that there are truly many strange people in the world. Not only people who cursed without warning or sent disgusting pictures, but also those who impersonated people I might know occasionally appeared.
Thanks to that, my DM list contained three Bae Taeseongs, two Lee Chans, and one each of Choi Eungi and Jeon Yudam. Needless to say, they were all fake.
But this time might be different. Looking closely, the profile picture and the account itself were well-maintained publicly.
In other words, this was An Lei’s official account for his activities.
However, I still didn’t reply. Nothing changed even if he wasn’t fake.
I closed the SNS app and dialed the eleven digits that had become quite familiar to my hand. Before the dial tone could ring three times, a welcoming voice tapped at my ear.
– I got lucky.
The low, soft voice was tinged with laughter.
– I was just thinking about you.
My ear tips heated up as I answered that I was thinking of him too. I unnecessarily looked around before clearing my throat and called to him.
“Woohyeon. Where are you now?”
– I stopped by the agency briefly. For a meeting about my next project. Why, is something up?
I spoke without hesitation.
“Lei contacted me.”
– An Lei?
“Yes. It came through Staragram DM, and it’s not an impersonator. He seems to want to talk with me.”
Judging by the timing, it didn’t seem like simple socializing. From what I briefly saw earlier, he had mentioned he would soon organize and post a statement regarding this controversy, and it seemed related to that.
“I thought I should consult with you first before talking to him.”
– Hmm. Can you wait a moment?
His manager must be nearby. I waited briefly, resting my head against the car window.
Shortly after, Jin Woohyeon’s voice came through again.
– Sanho hyung. Are you listening?
“Yes. I’m listening.”
– We discussed this during our meeting too, but you’ve been adjusting to our standards, right?
“I suppose so?”
The reason was simple. I would be forgotten as time passed, but Jin Woohyeon wouldn’t. He would continue to appear before the public, and for him, image was essentially his life as an actor.
“It’s easier for me to adjust. It’s also natural.”
– No.
Jin Woohyeon answered in a gentle yet firm voice.
– It’s difficult. Not natural at all.
“…”
– Technically, you’re a victim caught up in someone else’s mess, and it doesn’t make sense for you to worry about me too. I’m certainly grateful for your consideration. But still…
His voice continued.
– If you’re asking for advice, we can put our heads together anytime. But if you’re worried about me, you don’t need to be. That’s what I wanted to say.
“Woohyeon.”
– Do what you want to do. Now I’ll be the one to adjust.
It was a strange and unfamiliar kindness. Perhaps because no one had ever acknowledged my efforts like that, it felt all the more remarkable.
“Then I’ll think about it a bit more, and let you know when I decide.”
– Okay.
“Can I talk to you if I have concerns?”
– I’ll gladly listen.
After being silent for a moment, I said softly.
“I miss you.”
– That’s good. Today’s a day without filming.
His warm voice tickled my ear.
– I’ll come as soon as I finish work. Is there anything you want to eat?
“Hmm… I want Korean food.”
– I’ll prepare things you’ll like. I’ll fly over like a bullet after finishing work.
The call couldn’t last long as he had to go into a meeting, and I had to continue my commute. We only hung up after pouring out words of affection like people who couldn’t waste a single minute.
I buried myself among the busily moving crowd, conveying the words I hadn’t finished in my heart.
Woohyeon. You’re truly an amazing person.
You’re more wonderful than anyone I’ve ever seen, and at the same time, you make me a wonderful person too. The strange land I arrived at by following you is full of amazing, good things that warm me.
So I don’t endure love; I can endure everything because of love.
You’re that kind of miracle to me.
* * *
Checking on my way home, I found more messages from An Lei.
I didn’t know since I hadn’t used SNS much, but he said the DM chat has a read receipt function like other messengers. Since I had seen his message but didn’t reply, he seemed to have sent another one.
[It’s not a long story. I won’t take much of your time.]
[I have something I want to say. It really will only take a moment.]
Actually, I didn’t have an obligation to grant his request. No matter how desperate he was or what he wanted to say, I didn’t have to listen to it all.
But I decided to hear him out once. I had something I wanted to ask too.
[Talk.]
[I’m sorry, hyung.]
A few minutes later, one more message arrived from Lei.
[I didn’t know. That Lee Chan hyung’s X was Sanho hyung. That you had been together for a long time, and that he still had feelings for you. I naturally thought everything had been cleanly resolved.
But I know this won’t comfort you. It’s not strange that you think you were used. So… I wanted to apologize. I’m sorry.
But I was sincere when I said I wanted to be friends with you. Sanho hyung is really a good person, and I genuinely wanted to keep in touch. But to you, who knew everything, it must have sounded shameless.]
Seated on the bumpy bus, I waited an additional 20 minutes after that message before asking.
[Is that all you wanted to say?]
[I have something I want to ask.]
[Go ahead.]
[Are you and Chan hyung really over now?]
It was a question I could answer without much thought.
[Yes. We’re strangers now.]
I glanced at the window beside me, quickly passing by, then calmly typed out my message.
[So I don’t care what happens to Lee Chan, or how you’re doing. I’m not curious, and I don’t want to be involved.
I know you didn’t deceive me. I understand you didn’t intentionally try to hurt me. But even so…]
‘Later. I hope we can be friends.’
Now I could answer that question.
Although it wouldn’t be the answer An Lei wanted.
[We can’t be friends.]
[Even if I break up with Chan hyung?]
It was an unexpected question. I thought they were getting along well. I thought they would be fine, if only out of resentment that things had come to this point.
For a love that deceived and defrauded so many people, I thought it would at least be persistent.
[Nothing changes even then, Lei.]
I continued with a calm heart.
[You didn’t just deceive me.]
Perhaps I would have been less disappointed if he had been honest. If he couldn’t tell me, he could have at least told Jin Woohyeon. Unlike me, Jin Woohyeon was even in the same entertainment industry.
[If you truly feel sorry for me and Woohyeon, there’s one thing you can do.]
[Tell me.]
[Make sure we’re not involved in your two’s affairs anymore.]
After a brief silence, An Lei answered.
[I’ll do that.]
A few days later, An Lei posted a statement on his SNS.
Admitting that he had appeared on the program to promote the brand ‘Marinette,’ An Lei publicly apologized to me and Jin Woohyeon. Furthermore, he wrote that he would take responsibility for this incident by resigning from his position as co-representative of the brand and also ending his modeling activities in Korea.
And the last line of the statement.
An Lei revealed that he had broken up with Lee Chan, causing one final commotion.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
