“…….”
“You think I didn’t notice you fell in the ocean on purpose just to get attention? You’re not some brat throwing a tantrum to be noticed. Give it a rest.”
Yoon Do-yeong’s expression slowly crumbled under Lee Ji-gyeong’s mocking gaze. Ji-gyeong, watching him closely, smiled with sharp intent in his eyes.
“I’m going to confess to Hyeon.”
“He already has a lover.”
“Hyung, are you stupid?”
“Watch your mouth.”
“Right back at you.”
Do-yeong clenched his jaw, then released it with a sigh and gave a small nod. He’d spoken harshly too, and he knew it. Acknowledging that, he finally opened his mouth.
“What part of me seems stupid to you?”
“If Hyeon has a lover, would he really spend his birthday with us?”
“He made time because I asked him in advance.”
“…You have to ask to make time?”
With a triumphant expression, Ji-gyeong raised the corner of his mouth.
“Me? He meets me whenever I call.”
“I’ve been busy.”
“That’s your problem. I’m busy too. So is Hyeon. And yet, we text every day and meet often. I’ve even slept over at his place, and no one ever called or texted him. He doesn’t even check his phone. Doesn’t care how he looks. Does that seem like someone in a relationship to you?”
“…He told me he had a lover.”
“Have you ever seen this lover?”
“……”
“So why do you think he’d only say that to you and no one else?”
Do-yeong forced a smile onto his face, slipping on a mask of calm.
“Because we’re close. That’s why he told me.”
Ji-gyeong let out a dry laugh, clearly unimpressed.
“No, it’s because he doesn’t want to see you. You’re always taking up his time.”
“You really think that makes sense?”
“Yeah.”
Do-yeong’s brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
“I say I’ve got a lover too, whenever someone keeps bothering me.”
As Ji-gyeong looked at him like he was pathetic, Do-yeong’s eyes sharpened, a dangerous gleam flashing in them. Ji-gyeong just sneered back.
“Go ahead, tell Hyeon. Tell him I stole a kiss. That I like him.”
Then, with a confident smile, his eyes curved into slits.
“Whether I get dumped or we start dating, I’d rather get it over with. The sooner the better.”
Ji-gyeong turned and walked toward the bedroom, leaving a dagger buried deep in Do-yeong’s chest.
“Even if I get rejected, I’ll be fine. But Hyeon? After this, he’ll probably start avoiding any guy who comes on too friendly. If he starts feeling disgusted or even repulsed—great.”
“He could reject you simply because he’s not interested.”
“Why do you talk so much? You think if he doesn’t like me, he’ll like you instead? Is that what you’re hoping for? That’s why you pulled that whole luxury gift stunt and laid out that fancy birthday spread?”
“……”
“Let’s play fair. I’m the cute junior. You’re the long-time friend. We’ve got different roles, so our strategies should be different too, right?”
Ji-gyeong looked at him like he was lower than dirt and added with venom.
“Stop pretending you’re not scheming and begging for some fake relationship.”
Provoked, Do-yeong gave him a condescending smirk.
“I’m Yoon Do-yeong.”
“Ohhh… Grandson of Chairman Yoon of Sungjin Group. Only son of Congressman Yoon Dong-woo and Prosecutor Lee Ji-young of the Western District Prosecutor’s Office. A walking, talking SME.”
Ji-gyeong rattled off the list with a nod, to which Do-yeong smiled as if it were only natural.
“And you still want to compete with someone like me?”
Before the words were even finished, Ji-gyeong silently crossed his arms and laughed like Do-yeong was pathetic.
“Sure, love is supposed to be childish, but you’ve taken it to a whole new level. If you like Hyeon, just say it. What’s with all the flexing? Your background, your money—why throw shade while bragging?”
“……”
“My parents know I’m gay. Do you think Hyeon knows about you?”
Do-yeong’s expression shifted to something more complicated at that.
“If Hyeon accepts my feelings, he gets parents too. I can give him a family.”
Ji-gyeong’s tone was calm and composed as he walked past a frozen Do-yeong toward the bedroom where Kang Hyeon was asleep. His steps were even, but inside, his pride was in tatters after Do-yeong had wielded his background and wealth like a weapon.
Meanwhile, Do-yeong remained rooted in place, unable to move. Telling his grandfather or parents that he loved Hyeon was something he had never even imagined. Realizing that Ji-gyeong’s feelings weren’t just romantic but something deeper made his chest ache. The very background and position he’d so childishly flaunted were now shackles around his ankles.
If he were to be publicly labeled as gay, his acting career would surely suffer. There was no way they’d give romantic leads to a gay actor. The advertising industry, obsessed with image, would cut him off. Even the image of Sungjin Group might take a hit. His family would be shocked, and the press would feast on the gossip. He’d face a wave of irrational backlash.
But more than any of that, what ate away at him was how envious he was of Ji-gyeong’s confidence—how unafraid he was to love openly and proudly.
“Lost again…”
Ji-gyeong was all-in, staking everything on love. In contrast, Do-yeong clung to the role of a friend, hoping for some pseudo-romantic halfway point. It made him feel pathetic.
Do-yeong slowly moved to the bedroom, leaning against the wall to watch them. Hyeon was deeply asleep, completely unaware, while Ji-gyeong lay on the bed next to him, scrolling through his phone. There was no place for Do-yeong here. He was only staying to keep Ji-gyeong in check.
Then, a loud ringtone cut through the quiet.
Hyeon, still half-asleep, rummaged in his pocket, then quickly sat up when he saw the caller ID and answered politely.
“Hello, sir.”
His voice was a little hoarse but warm. When the person on the other end spoke, Hyeon’s eyes sparkled.
“Of course. I’m fine with any role.”
He responded enthusiastically, but soon, his voice turned hesitant.
“Ah… a queer film, you said?”
At the word “queer,” both Do-yeong and Ji-gyeong’s eyes turned toward Hyeon.
“Would there be any other roles available? I’d be happy even with a supporting or minor part.”
He listened carefully, then answered more clearly, sounding uncomfortable.
“I’m sorry.”
Then, more firmly:
“Ah… I’m just not comfortable with queer roles.”
The moment the words left Hyeon’s mouth, both men’s eyes flickered. Hyeon kept apologizing to the person on the line, saying he was sorry to turn it down. After ending the call, he lay back down.
Ji-gyeong, still on the next bed, cautiously asked,
“…Why don’t you want to do queer films? These days, they don’t really hurt your image. Some actors even gain popularity from them. There are big-name actors who’ve done them. It’s not bad for your career.”
“Because I don’t like them.”
Hyeon replied firmly, then yawned. It wasn’t about acting—it was the idea of showing affection to a man in place of Do-yeong that he couldn’t stomach. That’s why his answer had been so resolute. Ji-gyeong bit down hard on his lip.
As Hyeon pulled the blanket up, he spotted Do-yeong standing in the doorway.
“You should get some sleep too.”
He patted the empty space beside him, and Do-yeong quickly walked over and lay down next to him. Hyeon pulled the blanket over him and murmured slowly,
“Just a short nap. Then I’ll go out with Ji-gyeong to buy some sashimi.”
“This hotel has a seafood buffet.”
“Right…”
Half-asleep, Hyeon let out a big yawn and dozed off again. Do-yeong watched the two of them lying side by side, then gently raised the blanket to cover Hyeon’s chest, a bittersweet smile on his lips.
About an hour later, Hyeon woke up refreshed. Do-yeong came over with a toothbrush already prepped with toothpaste. Hyeon took it silently, a bit confused.
“…Do I have bad breath?”
“You just need to brush your teeth after a nap. Scrub hard. Get it all clean. Thoroughly.”
Hyeon stuck the toothbrush in his mouth and went into the bathroom. While he was gone, Do-yeong brought Ji-gyeong a glass of ice water.
“What, is this supposed to cool my head?”
“It’s to calm you down.”
When Ji-gyeong refused to take it and turned away, Do-yeong lowered his voice.
“Back in college, do you know what Hyeon’s face looked like when I got chocolates from a guy?”
“……”
“His blank expression would just collapse in an instant. Like he saw something he shouldn’t have. Like he didn’t know what to do.”
“So what?”
“After seeing that, I couldn’t accept chocolates from guys anymore. Even if I did by accident, I’d start wondering… what if someday he looked at me with that expression too?”
Do-yeong offered the glass again, looking at Ji-gyeong with quiet sympathy.
“If you confess, you might get to see it too.”
Ji-gyeong smacked the glass away violently. It flew toward the wall and shattered. Alarmed, Hyeon rushed out of the bathroom, foam still in his mouth.
“What the hell?”
He scanned the scattered ice and broken glass. While he stood there stunned, Do-yeong calmly pointed toward the front door.
“Hyeon, there are slippers over there. Put those on.”
Already wearing his own slippers, Do-yeong walked over to the table and called the front desk.
“Sorry, we broke a glass by accident. Could someone come clean it up?”
As soon as he hung up, Hyeon came back with slippers on, and Do-yeong reached out to wipe the foam from his lips. Hyeon flinched and pulled his head back, but Do-yeong stretched farther, rubbing his lips clean and pushing him back toward the bathroom.
“Finish brushing your teeth.”
Once the bathroom door shut, Do-yeong stared directly at Ji-gyeong. His expression was openly unpleasant. After a long silence, he raised his voice toward the bathroom.
“Hyeon, Ji-gyeong says he’s got something urgent and needs to leave.”
When Ji-gyeong’s face twisted into a grimace, Do-yeong gave him a serene smile and added in a quiet voice only he could hear.
“Sexual harassment is wrong. Makes the other person feel disgusted.”
