Sa Shin-jae had been drinking quite a bit. No, he could actually handle his liquor pretty well. Maybe even better than Sa-yoon himself.
He had already lost count of how many times Shin-jae had silently tipped back his glass. He couldn’t exactly back out while drinking with his younger colleague, either.
Before he knew it, the two of them had gone through quite a few rounds.
“Phew.”
Sa-yoon pursed his lips and let out a hot breath. The strong scent of alcohol clung to the air around him.
He glanced to the side and saw Shin-jae opening another fresh bottle of soju. Next to him, a neat row of green bottles had already accumulated.
Sa-yoon, his vision slightly blurred, began counting the bottles. One, two, three, four, five, six… He had already been drinking before this drinking match even started.
Which meant they’d both had well over three bottles. And yet, despite that, Shin-jae’s face remained completely composed as he poured another drink.
Wait… Did I misjudge this?
A creeping sense of unease began to rise in him. This wasn’t going to work. They’d been drinking too fast to even have a proper conversation.
He had to put an end to this sluggish race before it was his own mind that gave out first.
“Shin-jae.”
He called out gently, and the refined features of the other man turned toward him.
“Do you want some ice cream?”
“…Huh?”
The place was getting louder as the drinks flowed, the atmosphere completely unruly. Maybe that’s why Shin-jae looked so confused, unable to grasp what had just been said. He tilted his head slightly.
“Wanna go get some ice cream?”
Sa-yoon had no choice but to lean in, speaking just above a whisper into Shin-jae’s ear.
It was only after saying it aloud that he realized just how much heat had built up in his body. Every time he parted his lips, his breath came out hot.
“No? I was about to go out for some fresh air anyway. And you… you seem a little tipsy.”
As he spoke, Sa-yoon reached out and tapped the back of Shin-jae’s neck.
“You’re a bit red here.”
It wasn’t glaringly obvious, just the faintest tinge of color. In fact, Sa-yoon only noticed it now that he was up close. He chalked it up to the dim lighting.
“…Alright.”
Shin-jae’s response came a beat slower than usual, whether because of the suddenness of the suggestion or because the alcohol really was kicking in.
“You’re not drunk, are you? You good?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Alright, then.”
Sa-yoon gestured toward the exit, and Shin-jae quietly stood up.
As the two tall men rose to their feet, they immediately drew the attention of those around them.
Without missing a beat, Sa-yoon quickly raised two fingers to his lips in a smoking gesture. It was an unspoken signal—one that easily dispersed any lingering interest, as was typical at drinking gatherings.
“Ugh.”
He hadn’t noticed it while sitting down, but the moment he stood up and started moving, the alcohol hit him like a wave.
Shit, this isn’t good.
Sa-yoon muttered under his breath. He had definitely drunk more than expected in such a short time.
“Sunbae, are you okay?”
“Yeah… Thanks.”
Just as he was about to climb the stairs, Sa-yoon suddenly lost his balance. He staggered and instinctively reached out, grabbing onto Shin-jae’s forearm for support.
The arm he clutched flinched hard, startled by the sudden contact.
“Like a stray cat.”
The reaction made Sa-yoon chuckle. He hadn’t even been consciously aware of what he said.
“…What?”
“Nothing.”
Right, he’s a neat freak.
That familiar fact resurfaced belatedly in his hazy mind. Pressing his feet firmly against the ground, Sa-yoon let go and steadied himself against the railing instead.
“You’re not drunk, are you?”
“No, just a little dizzy. But I’m fine… for now.”
Can’t pass out before getting his number.
Taking deep, controlled breaths, Sa-yoon slowly climbed the stairs.
“Do you smoke?”
“No.”
The response was short but didn’t sound like a lie.
“Good. Don’t start. It’s bad for you.”
As they stepped outside, an unseasonably warm night breeze enveloped them. It was already September, yet the air still clung stubbornly to summer’s heat.
Still, coming out had been the right call. Even with the lingering warmth, the fresh air made Sa-yoon feel somewhat revived. He closed his eyes and took another deep breath.
“Ah, that’s nice.”
The walk to the convenience store was short.
Standing in front of the outdoor freezer, Sa-yoon pulled open the icebox lid and glanced at Shin-jae.
“Pick whatever you want. I’ll buy you one.”
Without hesitation, he grabbed a chocolate-flavored ice bar for himself and turned to look at the street.
Despite it being a weekday night, the roads were still bustling—probably because the semester had just started.
A group of students in the distance had their arms slung over each other’s shoulders, shouting out an off-key song at the top of their lungs.
“They’re really living their youth, huh?”
“……”
The ice bar fresh out of the freezer was as solid as a brick. The cold seeping into his hands felt nice, so Sa-yoon instinctively gripped it with both hands and began kneading it slightly.
The plastic wrapper made a distinct crinkling sound.
The noise had a strangely addictive quality, and without thinking, Sa-yoon kept repeating the motion.
He had no problem telling someone not to smoke, yet now that he was outside, the craving hit hard. He hadn’t noticed while drowning himself in alcohol, but the moment he stepped out, the urge crept up on him.
Still, he had enough restraint not to light up next to someone who didn’t smoke.
I’ll just send him back inside first, then smoke. But before that—I need to get his number.
Once they returned, the noisy, chaotic atmosphere would make it hard to hear anything properly. There was no guarantee he’d get another chance.
Sa-yoon didn’t have any particular tricks when it came to socializing. He simply liked people. He never avoided gatherings, and he could strike up a conversation with anyone, blending in seamlessly.
After a few exchanges, most people quickly realized he was the complete opposite of what they had assumed at first glance. It wasn’t hard to win their favor. All it took was showing just a little more interest in them.
Most were moved by his warm and considerate nature.
That’s why he had fallen into a certain illusion—that this handsome, talented junior would be the same. And that right now was the perfect timing.
With that in mind, his gaze naturally drifted to Shin-jae.
He thought Shin-jae would be focused on picking out ice cream, but to his surprise, he was staring straight at him.
Caught off guard, Sa-yoon blinked rapidly.
“Sunbae.”
“Huh? What? Can’t find anything you like?”
“Do you have something to ask me?”
The blunt question hit him squarely.
Shin-jae hadn’t even bothered pretending to look at the ice cream, his full attention already on Sa-yoon.
“Uh… Was it that obvious?”
“Yes. I’ve met a lot of people like you.”
“…Actually, I wanted to ask you to be in a video. You’re just too much my type.”
Sa-yoon cleared his throat awkwardly, realizing his weak attempt at subtlety had been completely exposed.
He could feel the heat creeping up his face.
That desperate craving for a cigarette?
Yeah, it had been thoroughly drowned out by sheer embarrassment.
“…That must’ve been funny.”
“It was.”
“Sorry. I figured if I just asked outright, you’d turn me down.”
And to think—he’d been trying so hard to make a good impression on someone six years younger than him. He had smiled every time their eyes met, so much that by the end, his cheek muscles were practically cramping.
“There’s something I really want to film. I know it’s kind of rude to ask, but it’s important to me.”
Since the truth was already out, Sa-yoon decided to come clean rather than backpedal.
“I charge a lot.”
Shin-jae responded before Sa-yoon could even finish, like he’d heard this spiel countless times before.
Sa-yoon could understand why. With that face and that level of acting skill, of course, he could command a higher price than most.
How much of his part-time job money and accident compensation payout did he have left?
It would be a bigger expense than expected, but hiring Shin-jae would be worth every penny.
“I’ll obviously pay you a proper fee. How much?”
“Ten million won.”
“Ten million won per hour.”
Sa-yoon burst out laughing at the sudden joke. If anyone else had said it, they would’ve been met with groans, but coming from Shin-jae? His face alone added a solid 500 points to the humor.
Maybe it was the alcohol, but even the simplest things felt hilarious.
“You’re kinda funny.”
Not only was he a great actor, but he had a sharp wit too. A real all-rounder.
At that, Shin-jae turned to look at him with a smile.
His soft expression carried a hint of exhaustion, yet his well-defined features still gave him the impression of an upright, dependable young man.
Yeah. That was exactly the look Sa-yoon had envisioned.
The image that had only existed in his mind was now right in front of him, and he found himself mesmerized, just watching.
There were endless things he wanted to capture with this face.
With Shin-jae, he felt like anything could be brought to life in his style.
Just looking at him sent his heart racing.
People naturally feel drawn to those who smile at them.
As if by instinct, Sa-yoon let the corners of his lips curl up. And just like that, Shin-jae’s eyes softened as he smiled back.
A smile that felt like a cool breeze cutting through the humid night air.
“…You’re fucking oblivious.”
