Chapter 86
I was sitting blankly on the living room sofa with the TV on, which I rarely watch. The volume was so low I could barely hear what was being said.
It was already past midnight, but my eyes were wide awake. It was ridiculous that I, who usually fall asleep as soon as I lie down, was experiencing insomnia. The cause of my sleeplessness was an unidentified Asian man.
I secretly slipped out of bed, leaving Mitchell who had to go for a 5 AM shoot. The shooting is scheduled to end early since it starts early.
Then, will he meet that Asian man again?
The scene of Mitchell and the man smiling at each other kept replaying in my mind.
Damn it, that man resembled my former rival, senior Kang Soo-heon. Despite being in his late thirties, he looked fucking handsome, having aged so well. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.
After so much effort to fill Mitchell’s mind with thoughts of me, it felt like I had been hit by a speeding car.
What if that man was Mitchell’s true love? If that man was Mitchell’s lover, things would get complicated.
We had agreed to be open about everything. But now, Mitchell was hiding this man’s existence from me. Maybe it meant he didn’t want to share his lover.
If that’s the case, I’d have no choice but to watch that Asian man lurking around Mitchell from afar. It feels like trying to run with an ox cart on a highway where sports cars are racing. What’s the use of running until my feet burn, when that man has already sped away with Mitchell?
If that man is broad-minded like me and allows my existence, that would be fortunate. But what if he forbids Mitchell from meeting me at all?
Would Mitchell listen to him? Would he abandon me?
Conversely, if I ask Mitchell to break up with that man, would he resent me?
Ah, this is why I was wary of the people around Mitchell.
I sighed. The people on TV were busy laughing, unaware of the volcano in my heart. They probably don’t know how serious it is until it erupts properly. Late night depression was pouring down.
I pressed my damp eyes with the back of my hand. It was a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a long time, not since I first arrived in America.
“Hic.”
The sound of my sobbing was louder than I expected. Startled, I looked towards the wide-open bedroom, but fortunately, there was no sign of movement.
I’m not sure if it’s really fortunate. I think it would have been better if Mitchell had woken up and hugged me…
Mitchell didn’t appear through the open door. If it had been closed, I wouldn’t have hoped at all.
***
I woke up. I must have dozed off for a bit. Having slept fitfully, waking on and off, it would be more accurate to say I lifted my eyelids rather than woke up. The digital clock next to the TV showed 3:30.
Just then, I heard movement from inside the bedroom. It seems Mitchell had woken up to his alarm.
How diligent of him.
The sound of Mitchell’s slippers continued out to the living room. It stopped near the sofa, so he must be looking at me. I pretended to be asleep, keeping my eyes tightly shut even in the darkness.
Instead of waking me, Mitchell went into the bathroom in the bedroom to wash up. He only needs to arrive by 5, but our responsible Mitchell was moving diligently.
By the time the scent of Mitchell’s shampoo, which I love, reached the living room, the sound of water also stopped. After a while, Mitchell came out dressed in his outdoor clothes.
He hadn’t even dried his hair. He must have been considerate, worried that the loud noise might wake me. Our kind Mitchell.
I watched Mitchell come and go through half-open eyes. He drank a glass of water, packed his bag, and came to the living room. After looking at his phone, he walked closer to me, and I completely closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep again.
The shampoo scent intensified, and something soft landed on my forehead. A quiet kiss was his greeting.
Mitchell, who I thought would play some naughty tricks, acted more plainly than I expected. I felt ashamed for having sighed earlier about him not taking off my underwear in the morning.
I must have misunderstood Mitchell a bit. He’s certainly a great pervert, but he’s just as affectionate a pervert.
Just a kiss and that’s it.
I got goosebumps. In a good way, of course.
The garage door opened, and soon after, I heard the sound of a car. After listening intently to the fading traces of Mitchell, I finally got up.
“Ah…”
While it’s impossible to express all my complex feelings, one thing is certain – I want Mitchell even more than before. I don’t want to share Mitchell with a lover. I wish Mitchell was completely mine. I wish Mitchell would only look at me. No, it must be that way.
***
Today was going to be quite a busy day. I had to check if Mitchell was going to that Asian man’s house, and I was also planning to meet David.
When I declared yesterday that I would make a movie, Mitchell gave me David’s contact information. He said he would tell David, and that I should go to the company and have a chat.
Mitchell introduced me to the agency he belongs to. He said if I like it, I can sign a contract, and if I don’t, he’ll introduce me to other good companies. Mitchell explained various things in detail last night for the lost me.
He also added that there’s no need to join an agency necessarily. American actors have a strong concept of freelancing, so it’s not difficult to work as an actor without an agency. Though it might be a bit troublesome.
Anyway, I was used to the Korean acting community, so I preferred having an agency. Since I wanted to join the same agency as Mitchell if possible, I planned to sign a contract right away when I meet David.
After that, I wanted to select incoming scripts, make movies, and properly establish myself in America to raise my value, even if just a little.
I needed to become someone worthy of standing beside Mitchell.
“Bag, car keys, card… Ah, I don’t have my passport.”
I forgot to ask Mitchell for my passport. Although my identity is certain, a passport is essential in a foreign country, and Mitchell had that important item.
“Well, I’ll do that later. Ah, phone.”
I grabbed my phone and went outside. As I was about to get in the car, fiddling with the unfamiliar shape of the phone, an uneasy feeling hit me.
“No way…”
He definitely said he installed a location tracking app on my phone. And yesterday, I tailed Mitchell.
Did he check my location?
Judging by Mitchell’s lack of reaction, it seems he didn’t, but he might have checked and intentionally not shown it. Realizing this crucial mistake only now, I hit my head, berating myself.
“Ugh, you idiot.”
Should I leave the phone behind today? But then I wouldn’t be able to contact Mitchell.
“This is surprisingly annoying. Why do location tracking in the first place?”
I finally questioned the fundamental reason. I complained about the appearance of this unexpected obstacle.
“Anyway, Mitchell isn’t exactly normal either.”
Even as I said this, I felt a twinge of guilt, as if I was describing myself.
Later, I met David in front of the agency building.
“Welcome to being affiliated with Mitchell Cronenwirth.”
Although other outstanding actors are also affiliated, everything revolves around Mitchell, so in a way, it’s no different from Mitchell’s company.
I thought it was a joke about being affiliated with Mitchell, but it turns out it actually is Mitchell’s company.
“Oh, didn’t Mitchell tell you?”
According to David, it’s an agency directly created by Mitchell, and it’s a new company less than 5 years old. While there’s a separate CEO for public activities, Mitchell is the actual owner.
“I thought you knew, of course. It’s the first time Mitchell has personally brought in an actor.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Mitchell doesn’t get involved with the company at all. He just focuses on acting. He just set it up and doesn’t pay attention to it, you know? Suddenly going to New York, then Miami this and that. Phew, then he suddenly appears and demands a report on everything from A to Z. The thickness of the documents we have to report to Mitchell is enormous. If there’s anything we haven’t handled properly, we’re in for overtime that day. He’s so meticulous.”
David complained non-stop. Does he think I’m an important person to Mitchell? Feeling like I should say something, I brought up the most effective topic.
“Then, I guess you should be paid handsomely?”
“Haha. We are paid well. That guy doesn’t skimp on money. Looking at the bank account is always satisfying.”
“Ah, I see.”
I entered a room while listening to David’s half-hearted complaints.
Inside were two respectable middle-aged executives and a female director about my age. I discussed my exclusive contract with them.
I’m not sure what Mitchell told them, but the contract terms they proposed to me were like a freshly resurfaced ice rink. Smooth and clean, with nothing to trip over.
After verbally agreeing to the contract in a friendly atmosphere and having some light conversation, I left the building late in the day.
I immediately texted Mitchell, detailing what had just happened. After asking when he’d finish, I went to the car to wait for his reply. By the time I had eaten half of the hamburger and cola I’d bought on the way, Mitchell contacted me.
[Before 2 PM]
Since he started at the crack of dawn, it seems he’ll finish before 2 PM. Now, the most important question remained.
[You’ve worked so hard today. How tough it must be to go out so early in the morning (tears). So, are you coming straight home after the shoot?]
I anxiously waited for his reply. Since the contract went well, I wanted to have a celebratory drink together in the evening. I thought about getting Korean pancakes from a Korean restaurant and having makgeolli, or buying wine for an exotic pairing with the pancakes, or having refreshing beer with pancakes as a snack.
A moment later, there was a vibration.
The reason I didn’t look immediately was that I had a worry. Surely he wouldn’t be late again with the excuse of an appointment? Thinking this, I turned my eyes to the screen only after about a minute had passed.
[I’ll meet a friend and then come home]
After confirming Mitchell’s text, I gripped the phone. No matter how I thought about it…
It seems he has a lover.
As soon as I realized this fact, the first thought that came to mind was only one:
I need to make him break up with his lover.
Even if it’s not a lover, I need to make them break up.
I just need to tear everything apart.
