There was nothing more worth listening to.
“Penalty for breach of contract?”
“Ga-yeong noona said she’d introduce me to a lawyer she knows. I’m planning to take the contract and go see him.”
“Got it.”
He replied with a shallow breath and looked out the window. There were so many shady agencies out there, finding a decent one wasn’t easy. His own contract was ending this spring. Once he wrapped up this web drama, he could finally leave the agency.
“What am I supposed to do after that…”
As he muttered the words absently, Lee Ji-gyeong raised his voice.
“Start by sending your profile out—everywhere.”
“…Yeah.”
He responded a beat late and absentmindedly watched the night view outside. His heavy eyelids slowly drooped shut. He dozed off, and when he opened his eyes again, they were already near his house on the main road. The icy air that hit him as soon as he stepped out of the cab snapped him awake.
“Hyung, what sounds better—jokbal or gopchang?”
As Lee Ji-gyeong debated what to eat, they picked up some jokbal from the shop right in front of them. Kang Hyeon reached for his card, but Ji-gyeong pushed his hand away and paid instead. Then, flashing a playful grin, he said,
“I’m the one who wanted food, remember?”
“You said you were broke.”
“Oh… that drink for Do-yeong hyung was…”
He trailed off with an awkward chuckle and shrugged.
“Unexpected expense. Gotta be frugal now.”
Humming to himself, he swung by a convenience store to grab some soju and snacks before cheerfully heading to Kang Hyeon’s place. The two-story multi-unit home sat on a hill, and Ji-gyeong, moving like he owned the place, laid out the food on the cramped floor of Hyeon’s room. Kang Hyeon took out a couple beers, sat across from him, and they started chatting. Most of it was about their bleak future and their current agency. Ji-gyeong, who clearly held a lot of resentment toward the company, got worked up mid-rant and clenched his teeth hard.
“Hyung, should I just take the plunge? They’re offering me a solid supporting role. It’s not like Chang-hoon got his part through skill.”
Go Chang-hoon was a junior in the same agency as Ji-gyeong. Lately, he’d been appearing in a morning drama and even landed some variety show gigs, gradually gaining recognition. Kang Hyeon silently watched his agitated friend.
“Let’s take it slow.”
“Can we even? We’re not even getting chances. You know it, hyung. Chang-hoon’s acting is worse than mine! But after grinding on set, he’s gotten better. I don’t even get those chances.”
Drunk and frustrated, Ji-gyeong poured out his feelings until he eventually declared he was sleepy and climbed onto the bed. Alone in the silence, Kang Hyeon downed the rest of his beer. His unfocused eyes landed on the date on his smartphone. Twenty-eight this year. He was getting older, yet aside from a few indie films and bit parts, he had nothing to show for it. Even when he managed to land a role in a low-budget film, the project often fell through.
“Just two more years. Let’s give it two more.”
He whispered the promise to himself and forced his spiraling thoughts to stop. After tidying up half-heartedly, he lay down next to Ji-gyeong, who had left space on the bed.
It was a super single, and with both of them over 180 cm tall, it was ridiculously cramped. Since there was no extra blanket, Kang Hyeon, like it was second nature, draped the comforter over Ji-gyeong and turned his back, curling up like a shrimp to sleep.
As soon as he closed his eyes, he slipped into a deep sleep, carried away by the alcohol’s warmth. Once his breathing settled into a slow rhythm, Ji-gyeong’s eyes fluttered open. His gaze, aimed at the back of Kang Hyeon’s head, held a touch of displeasure.
Kang Hyeon was usually blunt, didn’t talk much, but he was considerate and attentive in action. But when it came to Yoon Do-yeong, he always seemed to go above and beyond. It had been the same today. Ji-gyeong had tossed out a casual joke, telling him to go bathe Do-yeong—but then Do-yeong actually started undressing like it was normal. And Kang Hyeon… actually washed him.
What the hell was that?
He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but Kang Hyeon’s flushed face afterward made it stick in his mind—and it annoyed him. And the way he naturally ran errands for Do-yeong and carefully dried his hair afterward? That was rubbing him the wrong way, too.
Do-yeong was a freaking diamond spoon, born with everything handed to him. That alone made Ji-gyeong feel a constant sense of disconnect. Sure, the guy had a pool scene—but that absurdly perfect body? What the hell? Ji-gyeong had played it off with some forced praise to avoid making things awkward, but when he’d caught sight of what was hanging between Do-yeong’s legs, it had triggered a vague sense of inferiority. He thought he’d handled the situation well with his acting, but the sour feeling in his gut hadn’t gone away.
So damn irritating.
Mouthing the words with his lips, Ji-gyeong tried to shake the feelings off. He didn’t want to care—they lived in entirely different worlds. But since Do-yeong was Kang Hyeon’s close friend, avoiding him wasn’t an option. Wanting to grow even closer to Hyeon himself, Ji-gyeong gently reached over, lifted Hyeon’s head onto his arm, and wrapped him in an embrace. He whispered softly,
“Hyung, let’s hit a sauna together sometime.”
He imagined Hyeon getting shy at seeing his body and buried his nose in the back of his neck. The faint scent lingering on Hyeon’s skin made his chest—and even lower—tighten. Pressed up against him, the heat rising from below spread through Ji-gyeong in an instant. His breathing started to grow shallow, and he tried to control it as he kissed the back of Hyeon’s dark hair. The hand holding him slowly slid down. Fingers lingered at the waistband, brushing over the buckle. But he couldn’t bring himself to undo it. Instead, he let his hand wander lower.
The moment his fingertips made contact and he pressed their bodies closer together, Kang Hyeon’s body tilted forward. Half-lying on top of him now, Ji-gyeong held his breath. He didn’t want to risk waking him, so he let out a shallow sigh and got up, heading into the bathroom. He came out a while later, hands damp, and returned to hold Hyeon again before falling asleep.
***
Around 10 a.m., well past regular office hours, a luxury sedan rolled into a street lined with office buildings. The windows were tinted pitch-black, hiding the inside from view. Yoon Do-yeong had tried to choose something low-profile, but given how few of these imported cars existed in Korea, it had the exact opposite effect—drawing all kinds of attention from those who recognized its value.
He was used to the stares as he parked in the basement of the café building. Pulling a baseball cap low over his face and throwing a hoodie over that, he stepped out of the car and took the stairs instead of the elevator. Since it was his first time there, it wasn’t easy finding the café entrance from inside the building. He wandered around, peeking into corners and scanning signs. As he looked around, he locked eyes with a woman coming out with coffee. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she covered her mouth. Do-yeong gave her a polite smile and quickly made his way to the café.
“Welcome—wait, stop.”
The moment he opened the door, Baek Ga-yeong halted him mid-sentence. Frozen mid-step, Do-yeong stood in place. She quickly pulled out her phone, shifted her body this way and that, and framed the perfect shot of him walking in.
“Action.”
As he strutted inside at her command, the shutter sounds clicked in rapid succession.
“This way—over here.”
Following her lead, he moved to where the lighting was best. She joined him and snapped a few selfies with a beaming smile. Once she’d milked it for all it was worth, she finally greeted him properly.
“If you were coming, you should’ve called. I would’ve added more makeup to this masterpiece of a face.”
“I told you—I like dropping in unannounced. And besides, you look best with just this much makeup.”
He flashed a bright grin. Ga-yeong pointed to the wreath he’d sent earlier.
“Your name’s plastered all over that thing, and still, no one asked about it. But once I stick your photo on it, the questions will start flooding in.”
Do-yeong followed her gaze toward the wreath, eyes subtly scanning the interior of the café. It was cozy, styled with a vintage aesthetic, and small enough to take in at a glance. Oddly, the place seemed empty.
“Why are you here alone? Isn’t your employee around?”
“She’s cleaning the restroom. Coffee? Fruit juice?”
“Uh… just an Americano, please.”
As he smiled and ordered, Ga-yeong’s face suddenly froze in realization.
“Where’s your manager?”
“I came alone.”
The moment he said it, someone shyly approached. A woman, blushing slightly, held out her phone.
“I loved your drama. I’m a huge fan… Would you mind taking a photo with me?”
“Ah, sure.”
Smiling brightly, he posed with her. Just then, Ga-yeong leaned in and whispered,
“There’s a staff room in the back.”
No sooner had she spoken than customers inside the café started crowding in, asking for autographs and photos. More people came in from outside, having seen him through the window. Some screamed with excitement.
“Kyaah~! Oppa, congrats on the Grand Prize! You’re amazing!”
“Thank you.”
Trying to avoid the crowd, Do-yeong moved quickly but winced as pain flared near his ribs. Ga-yeong immediately stepped out from behind the counter, shielded him, and led him into the staff room.
“Lock the door.”
He latched it and exhaled, finally able to relax. The break room-slash-storage area was ridiculously cramped, even more so with a three-seater sofa squeezed in. As he looked around, his phone buzzed.
“Call your manager. There are too many people.”
“I snuck out.”
“Are you crazy? What made you think it was a good idea to come here alone?”
“When Hyeon gets here later, I’ll ask him to walk me to the parking lot.”
“He’s at a script reading today. Who knows when he’ll show up?”
“It ends at 5.”
“Even if it ends at 5, he won’t get here till at least 6. That means… what, you’re planning to sit here for two hours?”
“Yeah. Who knows when I’ll get to see you again? If I just popped in and left, you’d act all salty every time we talked on the phone, wouldn’t you? So I figured I’d stay a while.”
“Geez… I swear, this is my fault. Hang on.”
After a short wait, a knock sounded on the door and Ga-yeong’s voice followed.
“Come on out.”
“What about the customers?”
“We’re closed now. A superstar came to visit—I should at least serve you a proper cup of coffee.”
“I’m no superstar. Once the drama hype dies, the fame goes too.”
“Then enjoy it now, while it lasts. Be grateful to your fans. And seriously—call your manager. Hyeon can’t handle all this on his own.”
He stepped out to find the café empty except for the original customers. The blinds were down, but through the slats, fans outside were cheering and snapping away with their phones. Ga-yeong guided him to a comfortable seat, and her employee brought over coffee and cake.
Do-yeong glanced at the woman. With a round face and soft figure, she gave off a warm, calming vibe. Her smile alone made people feel at ease. Putting on a casual expression, he greeted her.
“Hello.”
“I heard you went to school with the boss, but I never thought I’d get to meet you like this.”
“Nice to meet you.”
He offered a practiced smile and polite words, studying her discreetly. While she beamed brightly, his insides twisted with a faint ache. Still, his lips lifted automatically.
“Congratulations on your acting Grand Prize.”
Her warm congratulations prompted another polite smile. Then he asked,
“What did you do on New Year’s Eve?”
He knew it was an odd question for the situation, but it was already out. She just smiled sweetly.
“Oh, we watched the countdown with my family.”
“Your family…?”
“Yes. My daughter loves you.”
She pulled out her phone and asked for a photo. Her lock screen showed her with two kids and a husband. Do-yeong’s mood immediately brightened. He grinned wide for the camera and picked up his coffee, then looked across the table at Ga-yeong and asked with a gentle smile,
“What about you, noona? What did you do for New Year’s?”
“What do you think? Booked a hotel room with a friend and partied.”
