Chapter 102
It wasn’t easy to juggle work and obsession simultaneously. I looked down at the script with regretful eyes and wrinkled my nose.
It would be nice if a perfect script fell from the sky, but that wouldn’t happen. I thought about going to auditions myself instead of just waiting for scripts to come in, if Mitchell didn’t object to me going out.
Recently, Mitchell had been coming home relatively early. This was thanks to the temporary suspension of night shoots that used to last until dawn. Today too, he was on his way home after finishing the shoot early, so I came out to greet him in advance. It was the time when the dusky evening glow hung in the sky.
The shooting of “Racing Instinct” was progressing faster than expected. From what David said, it seemed they were shooting Mitchell’s scenes in bulk. Probably at Mitchell’s request.
The remaining shooting period was a minimum of one month to a maximum of two months.
Mitchell had been rushing things for a while now. I didn’t know why Mitchell was in such a hurry.
I didn’t bother to ask. Whatever Mitchell was thinking, as long as my position next to him was guaranteed, it didn’t matter. I would have agreed even if he asked me to go to space ‘together’.
“Huh? What’s this?”
I suddenly sat up. Curious about the filming of “Fail to Start”, I searched for Director Angelio and found two surprising articles.
[Director Angelio to be replaced in queer film set to start production next month]
[Director Angelio’s son regaining consciousness after successful surgery]
I quickly clicked on the first article. The content showed that the director of “Fail to Start” was being changed due to discord with the production company.
If they raised the level of explicitness, it would inevitably deviate from the film Director Angelio wanted. He might have agreed and pushed for filming at first, but it seems things eventually fell apart. Remembering the mess that was the script, I thought it might actually be for the best for Director Angelio.
The director’s son had also fortunately recovered. It seemed he had managed to find the enormous surgery costs somewhere. I had been worried, but now I felt somewhat relieved.
“What are you looking at?”
“Ah! Mitchell… You startled me.”
At that moment, Mitchell suddenly appeared and thrust his face close to mine. It seemed Jack had taken the car away, and Mitchell had gotten off in front of the iron gate and walked up here. Approaching silently like a stray cat to surprise me. What a sly guy.
“An article about Director Angelio.”
As our cheeks touched, I naturally showed him the article I was reading.
“Hmm.”
Mitchell made a somewhat deflated sound.
“You must have really cared. To the point of looking it up again.”
“He was someone I respected for a long time. And he was our film director too. Even if it was for a short while. Of course I’m curious.”
Mitchell moved his head, tickling my cheek.
“Fortunately, it’s a happy ending.”
Mitchell said something interesting. He too seemed to judge that it was good for Director Angelio to step away from the film.
In fact, the film had been quite damaged. As if someone had cursed it to death. It probably started when Mitchell left.
After showing him the article about the son as well, I opened my mouth.
“You’re right. It’s a happy ending.”
“So you shouldn’t worry about this anymore either.”
“I wasn’t really worrying that much to begin with.”
“Then that’s good.”
“But… should I give Thompson my changed phone number? I changed it without saying anything. He was my first actor friend after all. Ah, I’m not really concerned… I’m just a bit curious about how the film is going now that the director has changed too…”
Before I could finish speaking, Mitchell, who had been cheek to cheek with me, stood up. Standing still, he looked down at me indifferently.
“Do as you like.”
A calm face and a simple answer.
Although he appeared nonchalant, Mitchell was actually very angry. Yet I risked bringing it up because of my old phone.
“Do you still have my old phone? The number is in there.”
I liked seeing Mitchell angry because of me. But it’s not good to provoke him too much. Mitchell wasn’t just a moderate level of crazy, so it was better to exercise restraint in many ways. This was reasoning based on experience.
“If not, forget it.”
As I quietly lowered my tail, Mitchell turned his head. He covered his forehead and eyes with his palm, showing signs of fatigue.
“I don’t have it. I threw it away. It probably hasn’t been canceled. I’ll take care of that.”
How could he cancel it when I was the owner? But if it was Mitchell, he’d probably find all sorts of ways to do it.
Of course, that’s if he really intended to cancel it. Mitchell would likely leave my phone alone. This was certain. I would have done the same if I were Mitchell.
“Okay. Then I guess I can’t contact Thompson either.”
“Can you look into it for me?”
“No, not to that extent.”
That settled it. I confirmed that Mitchell had no intention of returning my phone. I knew he was playing around with my phone, but that wasn’t my concern.
Have more fun with it.
And think of me more.
***
We had dinner with food Mitchell brought home. I was full and was clinging to Mitchell, bothering him, when someone visited the house.
Mitchell glared at the visitor through the intercom for a while. He looked like he wouldn’t open the door, but eventually pressed the open button.
“Who is it?”
I was very curious about who would visit Mitchell’s house this late in the evening. I checked the intercom screen, but it was a face I didn’t recognize.
“An annoying person. He’ll say a few words and leave. He nags a lot… Go to your room.”
“No. I want to stay here.”
“Suit yourself.”
A little later, a middle-aged man opened the front door and came in. He seemed to know that the front door was broken.
The man with blonde hair and light brown eyes was as tall as Mitchell. Looking quite old, he met my eyes as soon as he entered the house. Mitchell didn’t even look at him.
“It’s nice to see you like this.”
The charisma subtly emanating from his dignified voice was overwhelming. I unconsciously bowed my head in a Korean-style greeting, and the man smiled lightly. Until then, Mitchell hadn’t exchanged a single word with the visitor.
The visitor stared intently at me. As if he had come here to see me.
“Not bad.”
The man’s gaze, who hadn’t introduced himself, moved from me to Mitchell.
“Of course.”
Only after this brief exchange did the man smile broadly at Mitchell. Even the wrinkles around his eyes were stylish.
Mitchell had clearly said he was an annoying person, and I could think of only one annoying person. Bae Junman.
Then maybe… Is this man Mitchell’s older brother?
Apart from being blonde, their appearances weren’t particularly similar. But I could infer that he was close to Mitchell since he entered the house without hesitation.
He’s too young to be Mitchell’s father, so he must be his brother. I knew that there was quite an age gap between Mitchell and his brothers.
Before I could ask if he was Mitchell’s brother, he strode over and hugged Mitchell, and Mitchell hugged him back with a long sigh. The two exchanged belated greetings.
“It’s been a while, Brandon.”
“I just saw you in a new car catalog on my way here.”
Mitchell shook his head at Brandon’s light joke. Though he seemed not to dislike it, as his lips were smiling.
“How did you get here? You should be in Manhattan.”
“Came to see my little brother. I’m here briefly for work. I have to leave right away.”
Brandon was indeed Mitchell’s brother. Mitchell had three older brothers, so I didn’t know which one he was. I had guessed the quiz with no prize correctly, but it was too early to be happy.
The man before me was clearly royal family material at a glance. From his expensive suit, watch, and tie to everything he wore, and even the atmosphere he exuded was like that.
His raised chin, downcast eyes, elegantly curved lips, and posture that was straight yet relaxed at the same time.
Even without intending to crush the other person, there was a subtle sense of pressure. I know this atmosphere very well.
I felt a similar impression when I first met Mitchell. It was a moment of thrilling excitement and tension, even thinking about it now.
This man resembles Mitchell.
For some reason, I was starting to like Brandon.
“Mr. Geon-woo. Do you plan to continue living here?”
Although he asked with a smile, I couldn’t miss the sharp intention behind it. He must be very concerned about the awkward Asian clinging like a bedbug to his precious brother.
I wish he knew that my homeless state was actually because of Mitchell. I want to say, “Your brother burned down our house”… but well.
If Brandon knows about Mitchell’s sexual orientation, he probably finds my existence even more uncomfortable. Still, I had to say it.
“That’s the plan.”
Because that’s how I live. Leaving Mitchell is not an option for me.
“For how long?”
I wanted to please Brandon, but I decided not to lie.
“For life.”
