Chapter 39
At my question, Jaewoo became flustered on the other end of the phone.
[Why? Do you have plans? Even if you have work, hyung, it’s either <Dom> or Pilates. If hyung says he can’t come, Choi Hongseo will go crazy. They only have time that day so we can’t adjust it. And Sunday they already have a regional event scheduled right away.]
My thoughts went to the last message I had sent him before dinner, saying I could spend time together starting Saturday night. Ah… if only I hadn’t sent that message…
I rubbed my face with my left hand holding the cigarette, feeling dismayed.
As Jaewoo said, ‘Layered’ recently couldn’t adjust their schedule. So without other options, it was a matter of choosing between two things. Either skip the housewarming party of the juniors I’d shared hardships with for a long time to prioritize an appointment with my sex partner, or ask that sex partner for understanding and attend the housewarming.
It wasn’t even a matter of choosing between two options. There seemed to be no choice.
I took a drag of my cigarette and let out the smoke mixed with a sigh as I answered.
[Yeah, got it… I’ll keep the time free.]
It was Sunday that we had originally planned to spend together anyway. If I explain the situation, he’ll understand… right?
Having consoled myself that way, I finished the call with Jaewoo and checked his message, only to let out an even deeper sigh than before.
《How about we go to Hongcheon for a 1-night 2-day trip like I mentioned before? The campsite is really well set up. It’ll be good for clearing your head.》
I stubbed out the short-burned cigarette in the ashtray and swept back my hair. My thin, thick hair immediately fell back down over my forehead. This time I disheveled it somewhat irritably.
I felt like a terrible adult who had to cancel a promise with a child to go to an amusement park. While I sat there just fidgeting with my phone in my hands, I didn’t even notice that sweat had started to form on my nose from the heat.
《I’m so sorry. Starting Saturday night will be difficult. There’s a housewarming for my company juniors. I just got word of it too…》
I squinted and reread the message I sent several times. It didn’t seem like enough of an explanation, so I sent another message right after.
《Of course Lee Han-ssi was the prior appointment, but the juniors are so busy. They’re kids who can’t adjust their schedule because of me…》
Thinking he might not be able to check right away since he was working, I was about to light a new cigarette when a reply suddenly came back.
《Hmm, can you talk briefly right now?》
《I’ll call you.》
I put the cigarette I had been holding in my mouth back in the pack and touched the call icon at the top of my message window with him. After a few ring tones, I was connected with him.
[Hello.]
[Is it okay to talk?]
[Yes, well…]
[Ah… I’m really sorry. I didn’t know things would get tangled up like this…]
Since he had openly shown his anticipation for this weekend, I also became honest without overthinking various things.
[You’re being very apologetic.]
[Lee Han-ssi was the prior appointment.]
[Then golden show…]
[I’m not that sorry.]
He laughed quietly on the other end of the phone. Fortunately, he didn’t seem upset. When his laughter subsided, a cautious voice that seemed tense asked me:
[Sunday is still possible, right?]
[Sunday is still valid.]
[Then that’s fine. Originally, what we promised last time was only Sunday anyway, and starting Saturday night was just me being greedy.]
[You’re being so generous it’s a bit scary.]
[If you want to meet an actor, you have to be prepared for sudden schedule adjustments.]
Was this generous understanding also one of those acts of ‘pretending to be well-behaved because I don’t want to be hated’? Whatever the reason, I was grateful that he didn’t grumble emotionally about an unavoidable problem.
[Then… Hongcheon would be too much. Should we have brunch somewhere with a nice atmosphere on Sunday?]
Listening to his voice very naturally suggesting a date rather than just sleeping together, I chuckled and stretched my legs out long. Crossing my ankles and wiggling my toes, I listened to his voice talking about a bistro that an acquaintance had recently opened.
I had thought this when we met in Bangkok too, but it was a pleasant voice to listen to. It was smooth without being grating, yet had weight that left a lingering impression. It was exactly the kind of voice you’d want to call when you couldn’t sleep and ask to talk about anything.
These kinds of conversations with him didn’t solve anything. I knew it was closer to escape rather than fundamental salvation. It was like an exhilarating hallucination that let you taste stimulation and pleasure momentarily even though none of reality’s problems had been resolved.
However, no one could fight reality fiercely for 24 hours. I wasn’t the only one who wanted to hide away at least one source of fuel that would supply energy to continue worrying. I wanted to believe that.
[Alright, then let’s meet there on Sunday.]
[It’s weird to ask my manager to drive me when I’m going to meet you. I’ll go to where you dropped me off last time. There was a franchise cafe, right? Let’s meet in front of there.]
He remembered in detail how he had dropped me off at the roadside closest to my accommodation after our Han River date where we didn’t actually see the Han River.
I had to admit that I didn’t want to inform him of the schedule change and disappoint him. And also that it wasn’t just ‘Team Leader Lee Han’ who was disappointed about the canceled 1-night 2-day trip starting Saturday evening.
Wind stirred in the air that had been still as if stagnant. It wasn’t enough to wash away the sweat on my nose, but it was sufficient for emptying my mind and closing my eyes for a moment.
■
Interest is running high regarding the casting of the final role in GBN’s Wednesday-Thursday drama <Eternal Night (Directed by Hwang Sooyoung/Written by Lee Jueun/Produced by Wellmade)>, which is considered the most anticipated work of the second half of the year.
<Eternal Night>, which already completed casting for all main and supporting roles including female lead Park Seyeon and male lead Yoon Juho in June, only has the casting for ‘Lee Su’, another major character besides the two protagonists, remaining.
Even before entering full production, the show has already completed export contracts with a total of 13 countries including Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, as well as Chinese-speaking regions like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, plus Latin America and North America. Since it’s directed by PD Hwang Sooyoung, known as a Hallyu star maker, a considerable number of actors are known to have appealed their interest to the production team.
An insider from production company Wellmade tipped off to this publication that currently three to four people including Mr. J, Mr. K, and Mr. S are on the final candidate list for the role, and since script reading isn’t far off, results should come out within next week.
The drama <Eternal Night>, based on the popular webtoon of the same name, is a fantasy trendy drama that will deal with the process of exploration, rivalry, cooperation, and love that unfolds when the female protagonist ‘Hwaye’, who has lived for about 200 years accumulating vast wealth without knowing when or how she became a vampire, gets entangled with ‘Jeongseol’, who is also a vampire.
The role of ‘Lee Su’ is her loyal subordinate who was raised by the female protagonist ‘Hwaye’, a tragic character who secretly harbors romantic feelings for her, who is both a vampire and his benefactor. During the original webtoon’s serialization, he stimulated many readers’ tear ducts and enjoyed popularity rivaling the male protagonist ‘Jeongseol’.
Since so-called ‘virtual casting’ lists became a hot topic among netizens even before drama production was decided, attention is focused on whether the drama’s actual casting can satisfy fans’ expectations.
■
While I was getting a long rectangular box out of the back seat of the car, Taeyoon opened the door to <Dom>. Since the sun was starting to set, it was somewhat cool outside, but the interior, where hot air had been stagnant all day, was muggy. As soon as Taeyoon turned on the lights, he started the air conditioner.
“I’m glad I asked you to help. I almost went to the housewarming empty-handed.”
“As if the young master would know how to pick out housewarming gifts.”
Setting the box containing a cordless stick vacuum against the wall next to the entrance, I chuckled without even looking back at Taeyoon.
“What kind of young master lives in a multi-family house with five roommates?”
“Four of them are moving out now.”
“Right, so now it’s just two.”
I pulled over a stool in front of the counter and plopped down with a somewhat hollow laugh.
<Dom> operated five days a week, so today, Saturday, was Taeyoon’s day off. After buying a vacuum at an electronics store as a housewarming gift for ‘Layered’, I had followed Taeyoon to <Dom> where he wanted to do a major kitchen cleaning. Jaewoo was supposed to come pick me up here soon. Not having a car really limited transportation.
Taeyoon, who had been moving busily inside the counter, set down a glass of beer with ice on the bar. <Dom> didn’t sell alcohol, but while they didn’t sell it, there was always soju, beer, and wine stocked in the refrigerator inside the kitchen.
Even though I hadn’t worked up a sweat running around, the beer felt so refreshing that I emptied half of it in one go.
“Maybe I should buy a car too.”
“……”
It was just a thoughtless mutter to myself.
Taeyoon, who had been leaning against the prep counter across from me drinking the beer left over from pouring mine, was looking over at me while holding the bottle in his hand. A sinister and ominous smile hung at the corners of his mouth.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re the person who wouldn’t even touch the steering wheel of a company car because you were scared of getting into an accident and having it reported in the news. What sudden change of heart is this?”
I was momentarily speechless since I hadn’t expected him to interpret my comment about buying a car to that extent. It was even more so because it wasn’t entirely off the mark.
“I’ve always thought it was inconvenient not having a car. Whenever I want to go somewhere, I have to call my managers or take a taxi. It’s definitely not comfortable.”
Taeyoon bent toward me from across the counter. Resting his arms on the bar, he waved the beer bottle in front of my face.
“Actor Jung, your excuses are particularly long today? Tell me straight.”
“What?”
“You’re dating someone, aren’t you?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
