Spark Chapter 2.3 - Spark

“Fuck…”

Cha Hongjo, who had stopped his brisk walk, rubbed from the corners of his eyes to the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.

“…….”

Am I tired?

His eyes stung.

He continued walking and didn’t stop for a moment. From Wonseon-dong to Tanjeon-dong. It was morning when he arrived at Tae Pyunghyun’s house.

‘Give me some time, just one day.’

‘……You bastard. At a time like this, how can you have time to meet a friend? No!’

Tae Pyunghyun, who had yelled at him without explanation when he said he was going to see Go Baekwoo, was sleeping soundly, unaware of who was coming and going. Cha Hongjo clicked his tongue as he closed the slightly ajar bedroom door again. Stupid bastard. He wouldn’t keep Tae Pyunghyun as his tail for long. Because he’s ugly, smelly, and annoying. Like a pesky fly.

Then what is beautiful, fragrant, and annoying?

“….Ha.”

Cha Hongjo, who had entered the bathroom, stopped undressing and looked down at his body. At his t-shirt, stained with the soap scent flowing from the pretty one.

The spotless white t-shirt was just like Go Baekwoo. It changed shape as he kneaded it, and if he pulled it with force, it seemed like it would tear immediately, soft, and not fitting him.

‘When you come, I’ll do whatever you tell me to do… if you tell me to sit, I’ll sit, if you tell me to wag my tail, I’ll wag my tail, and I’ll never do anything you don’t like.’

Big.

‘Because I like you.’

Innocence is heavy.

‘Why are you doing this to me… I… I like you…’

The emotions Go Baekwoo pushed onto him were heavy, a burden Cha Hongjo didn’t need to carry. A beautiful and troublesome lump. Like blind affection to someone who has never properly received it, it was nothing more than a yoke. So Cha Hongjo rejected Go Baekwoo and left.

“Fuck….”

He should have left the moment Go Baekwoo confessed, without even going down to the cafe, but a small delay created a flaw. His weak back, which had never endured another person’s feelings, easily bent. Cha Hongjo, as if in denial, took off Go Baekwoo’s t-shirt and straightened his body. The self in the mirror he immediately faced was wearing another mark he couldn’t take off.

“…….”

He tilted his shoulder toward the mirror and brought his hand to his neck. His fingertips carefully traced the mark Go Baekwoo had made by biting and sucking, diagonally below his Adam’s apple. It didn’t hurt to touch, but it was bright red enough to be immediately noticeable.

“He left a pretty mark, just like him….”

🔥

“What the hell is this? I told you to manage your body properly!”

As expected, Tae Pyunghyun made a fuss as soon as he noticed the red mark on Cha Hongjo’s neck.

“Oh my god, I can’t stand it. Did I say anything about you hooking up? Huh! Whether you hook up or get into fights, I said I’ll overlook it as long as you take care of your body! How are you going to audition looking like that!”

“Well, the judges…”

Cha Hongjo replied casually as he slipped his arms into the shirt Tae Pyunghyun brought him.

“might like it because it’s sexy.”

“Sexy my ass! And you, don’t talk back to me.”

“Yes.”

“You’re good at answering, just answering…”

Tae Pyunghyun clicked his tongue and went somewhere before returning with something.

“Here, put this on.”

It was a band-aid.

“It’ll look weirder if I put it on.”

“It’s better than showing it off and advertising that you had sex yesterday! Put it on quickly.”

Cha Hongjo took the band-aid and peeled off the wrapper. He’s doing as he’s told, but.

“It’s not like I’m the only one having sex.”

Cha Hongjo crumpled the wrapper and threw it carelessly on the floor, then stuck the band-aid on his neck with an irritated gesture. Because he put it on without looking in the mirror, it didn’t cover the entire mark. Tae Pyunghyun, who was glaring at him, narrowed his already small eyes even further.

“Put it on straight. Let me see your neck.”

When he gestured to reapply the band-aid, Cha Hongjo lifted his chin and exposed his neck. It was amusing to see his disgruntled expression even though he was the one who had messed it up. He thought about giving him a whack on the back, but held back. Honestly, as soon as he saw his close-up features, his anger melted away before he could even think about hitting him. Some people say a kind word is worth a thousand pieces of gold, but Cha Hongjo was the type who could build a building with his face. A guy who flaunts his temper because he knows he’s good-looking, what can you do but accept him as your manager?

“Cha Hongjo, you really went at it… Was it Sehee, or Minjeong?”

Tae Pyunghyun let out a deep sigh after trying the band-aid in different spots and asked. Sehee was his acting teacher, and Minjeong was his tutor.

Cha Hongjo straightened his head and rubbed the area where the band-aid had been stuck with his fingertip, asking back, “Aren’t you going to put it on?”

“It won’t work just putting it on. Let’s stop by the salon up ahead and ask them to cover it with makeup.”

Since he was going to get his hair done anyway, it was a decent plan. Cha Hongjo finished buttoning his shirt, roughly adjusted his collar, and put on his jacket.

“Hey, you didn’t put on your tie.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“It’s stuffy.”

“…Anyway.”

He’s so careless about everything. Since it was an important audition day, Tae Pyunghyun was extremely sensitive. However, the person who actually had to audition was so indifferent that it was frustrating. From what he had observed living with him for three months, his personality seemed to be somewhat sharp, but not particularly delicate. Still, he wished Cha Hongjo would at least pretend to care on a day like this.

“…Forget it, don’t wear it if it’s stuffy. Just do well on the audition.”

With the Go Baekwoo babysitting job completely ruined, he was now in a position where he’d be twiddling his thumbs if he wasn’t Cha Hongjo’s manager. He truly hoped that Cha Hongjo, his lucky charm and lifeline, would do well and help him make a living.

“Did Sehee help you practice well? What did she say?”

“She said she was thrilled to death.”

“You, or your acting?”

“Both.”

“Tsk… You’ll be in big trouble if you act arrogant at the audition, got it?”

He jokingly asked, wondering if Cha Hongjo felt any pressure despite pretending not to, and scolded him in case he got too cocky and made a mistake, but in reality, Cha Hongjo was doing well. Park Sehee, his acting teacher, constantly praised Cha Hongjo’s talent, asking where he had found such a gem. She was excellent when it came to acting, even though she hadn’t had much luck as an actress, so her evaluation was trustworthy. He would have trusted her even more if she hadn’t slept with her students… He planned to change acting teachers after this audition. At this rate, it seemed Cha Hongjo would become known as a high school dropout actor, so he had to replace the tutor as well. Both with men, since they wouldn’t sleep with him even if they were starving.

“…I need to get my act together.”

Tae Pyunghyun was going over the list of teachers he had looked at before, when he absentmindedly checked the time and flinched.

“Let’s hurry out, we’ll be late for your hair and makeup.”

It was 7:20 a.m. when Tae Pyunghyun and Cha Hongjo stepped outside.

At the same time, Go Baekwoo was already down at the cafe, waiting for the unwelcome guest. Today was the 27th, collection day.

Two days ago, if he hadn’t met Cha Hongjo, he would have been anxiously preparing to cling to Tae Pyunghyun’s pants again, but since there was no need for that anymore, Go Baekwoo was composed. At least about collection, Tae Pyunghyun, and Park Taegu.

“…….”

Since it was earlier than the usual opening time, Go Baekwoo was alone in the cafe. His mother, as usual on collection days, didn’t come out of her room. She occasionally came down to the cafe with him, but it seemed not today, and he simply thought that. It wasn’t anything special. Sohee, the part-timer, was still a long way from arriving.

In the bright morning, even with the fluorescent lights turned off, the cafe was empty of customers and owner. Go Baekwoo stared blankly at the corner sofa. He thought of Cha Hongjo looking down at him while sitting there. He replayed Cha Hongjo smoking a cigarette lying there, and recalled Cha Hongjo leaving that spot…

‘Anyway, acting is something you do for money. Not with feelings.’

He missed Cha Hongjo, who had rejected him, once again.

‘I’m leaving.’

He still liked Cha Hongjo, who had left before the body heat from his stay had even cooled.

He felt melancholic because Cha Hongjo wouldn’t even pretend to like him, saying acting was something done for money. Two days ago felt like two years, twenty years, two hundred years ago, making him restless.

‘I’ve seen all there is to see. Let’s not meet anymore.’

He didn’t even resent the cold rejection, as if Cha Hongjo had stolen even his pride. Rather, he hated himself for not winning Cha Hongjo’s heart. He despised himself for being nothing more than an ornamental plant or a pet dog to Cha Hongjo.

“How can I…”

be loved by you?

It seemed like Cha Hongjo would never tell him, and he felt like he would continue to want Cha Hongjo like this, unable to move forward.

The vanished Cha Hongjo remained like a phantom in the spot where the heat from two days ago had cooled, constantly capturing Go Baekwoo’s gaze. Cha Hongjo stretching his body, Cha Hongjo smiling faintly, Cha Hongjo brushing back his bangs… Every single one of Cha Hongjo’s trivial movements replayed like a scene from a movie. Uninterrupted.

At 7:32 a.m., as Go Baekwoo was lost in thought, watching the endlessly playing film, the unwelcome guest set foot in front of the cafe.

Chairman Go Daeil looked at the cafe, which was much shabbier than he remembered, and put a cigarette between his fingers. Secretary Moon Gwanhee, who was always by Chairman Go’s side wherever he went, quickly lit it for him.

“The lights are off.”

Chairman Go didn’t move rashly and smoked his cigarette leisurely, scanning the inside of the cafe. In the window, only the outside scenery painted by the sunlight, himself, and Secretary Moon were clear, and his longed-for son was hidden from view.

“It seems they’re turned off because they’re not open yet.”

“It’s bad for the boy’s eyes…”

Chairman Go muttered, exhaling smoke and dropping the still-long cigarette butt onto the ground.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes, Chairman.”

Secretary Moon, a step ahead of Chairman Go, opened the cafe door. Cling… The bell attached to the door tinkled weakly.

🔥

Kim Doyoung was a director who had consecutively produced hit domestic films amidst the golden age of Hong Kong cinema. The reasons for his popularity were diverse and clear: a sensibility that spanned generations, visuals that were not outdated yet evoked nostalgia, a provocative nature that subtly skirted controversy, and immersive screenplays that kept viewers captivated until the end credits rolled…

<Epitaph of Youth> was the fourth film directed by Kim Doyoung, and it had been receiving a great deal of attention from the film industry and the public since the production confirmation was announced. Moreover, everyone was anticipating the new actor who would rise to stardom thanks to Kim Doyoung’s film.

Director Kim always casts at least one new actor in each new film, and that newcomer, as if following a predetermined path, gains popularity and fame.

Therefore, today’s audition could be seen as a place to select a talent who would leap to the top tier of actors.

‘Of course.’

Director Kim answered the question of whether he had made a place for a newcomer in this film as well.

‘When I write a script, I always keep a place for a newcomer in mind. <Epitaph of Youth> is no exception. However… even though I don’t yet know which actor will take this role, it will require a level of acting that’s not easy for a newcomer. It’s a role that’s both a thorn and a callus in the unripe story of the main couple. It requires something special.’

‘If you mean special, could you elaborate?’

‘I can’t explain it in words. I can only pick it out with my own eyes.’

‘I see… I don’t really understand. But I believe you’ll pick the right person with your keen eye. Everyone’s looking forward to it. I heard the audition is just a few days away. Do you have any advice for the aspiring actors?’

‘Hmm…’

Director Kim Doyoung tapped his temple with his dry fingers and slightly opened his thin lips as if ventriloquizing.

‘They have to be sexy enough to kill.’

A week after the interview, the audition was held.

The audition room, after an actor had left, was silent with the five judges, including Director Kim Doyoung. The uncomfortable silence was a promise not to irritate Director Kim any further.

“I must have misspoken, right?”

Director Kim, asking no one in particular, put a cigarette in her mouth with an irritated gesture. The assistant director sitting next to her quickly lit it.

“Sigh…”

Exhaling smoke forcefully, Director Kim flipped through the profiles of the next actors to enter. The profiles of those who had auditioned earlier were crumpled and thrown to the floor.

“I said sexy enough to kill, what happened? There are only guys I want to kill. Is it sexy just because they’re oozing with oiliness? Do they not know what sexy is? Or they should at least be smart. Not a single one of them understood the character!”

Along with her lamenting reprimand, the profile of ‘Kim Taekgyu,’ who hadn’t even entered the audition room yet, was crumpled and thrown away like the others. Next. Director Kim glanced at ‘Im Hyungjin’s’ profile and sighed deeply.

“Why is there no talent?”

Then the next page… ‘Cha Hongjo.’ A newcomer with no acting experience. Director Kim slowly looked away from his profile picture and crushed her cigarette in the ashtray.

“…Tell him to come in for now. Let’s finish early today, and redo the casting or something. At this rate, I’ll be sick of it before we even start filming.”

The assistant, awkwardly standing by the side, quickly left the audition room.

The waiting room, filled with aspiring actors hoping for a breakthrough, was bustling. They all looked similar. They were slightly nervous, constantly loosening their lips and muttering lines. Among them, Cha Hongjo, unusually relaxed, was just smoking. Tae Pyunghyun, unable to stand it, handed him the script and told him to read it, but

“It’s fine.”

Cha Hongjo pushed the script away with his fingertip and refused. Tae Pyunghyun glared at him, gestured at the surroundings, and quietly scolded him.

“Hey, you. Don’t you see them? You should practice a little, too.”

“It seems like they haven’t practiced enough, but I have.”

“You little punk… Would it kill you to at least pretend to practice for this big brother…”

It was during this nagging. The waiting room door burst open, and the various voices reciting lines abruptly stopped. Everyone stared at the open door.

The young man who had burst in looked around and said, “Kim Taekgyu, Im Hyungjin, Cha Hongjo…”

“Here, Cha Hongjo.”

Tae Pyunghyun raised his hand high. The man only glanced at him briefly and then stared into space, reciting in a businesslike manner, “Make your final preparations, and come in one by one.”

Click. The man left the waiting room and the door closed. The interior, which had been quiet for a while, was filled with various voices again.

“Whew…”

Tae Pyunghyun, calming his breath, wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and patted Cha Hongjo’s back.

“Let’s go.”

Cha Hongjo leisurely stood up.

🔥

The lucky one who would take on the role of ‘Yeo Jitae’ in <Epitaph of Youth> was scheduled to be announced three days after the audition, but Kim Yongmin, the manager of ‘High Entertainment,’ received a call the evening of the audition day.

“Hey, Yongmin! Hongjo got it! He got it! Director Kim, Epitaph of Youth!”

Tae Pyunghyun’s voice, announcing Cha Hongjo’s success, was thick with excitement and alcohol.

— That’s great, I knew he would.

In contrast, Manager Kim’s voice was calm, as if he had expected the news from the beginning.

“Oh man, you’re so boring. Is that all you have to say?”

— How about Hongjo?

“Don’t even ask. Hongjo is already busy. We came here for drinks, and Director Kim is practically drooling over Hongjo. She won’t let him leave her side.”

Tae Pyunghyun, who had borrowed the bar’s phone, grinned at the employee behind the counter and listened to Manager Kim’s voice.

— He’s a remarkable kid, so Director Kim must have recognized it.

“Of course, that’s right.”

The employee frowned and turned away, disappearing somewhere. Tae Pyunghyun pursed his smiling lips and smacked them.

— But, doesn’t she say Hongjo is too young?

Manager Kim suddenly asked. Tae Pyunghyun thought that although Kim Yongmin was annoying, he was fortunate that he was proficient at work and quick-witted. He had just called after talking with Director Kim about Cha Hongjo’s age.

“That’s why I called you to discuss it with you. Now, Hongjo’s story will be in the newspapers and on TV, so I was wondering if we should add a couple of years to his age beforehand.”

It was Director Kim who first suggested modifying Cha Hongjo’s profile before his debut.

‘Yeo Jitae,’ the character Cha Hongjo would be playing in <Epitaph of Youth>, was a free and wild character, to put it nicely, or a rebel who didn’t know his limits, to put it bluntly. The role involved scenes with strong violence, as well as several short and long bed scenes. Since Cha Hongjo’s actual age was young, it could cause problems, so the idea was to prevent any noise by modifying his profile in advance.

“There are many actors who lie about their age and reveal it later, right? Wouldn’t it be okay? We can use the film as an excuse. The movie is the priority right now. I’m in favor, and Hongjo doesn’t care. We just need your okay.”

— Right. It’s not like we’re hiding a criminal record. That much won’t hurt him even if it’s discovered. I’ll take care of it. Give my regards to Director Kim.

“Okay, sure. And maybe I can introduce some of the other kids at ‘High.’ Director Kim said she liked that kid, you know, the one who was in the drama before, right? The one with the intense eyes. She said she thought he was good…”

Hahaha! Loud laughter leaked from the room into the hallway. Tae Pyunghyun, continuing his conversation, looked back at the room where Director Kim and Cha Hongjo were and smiled silently. The atmosphere is good. Everything is going smoothly.

And in the back. The wall couldn’t hide everything, but secrecy existed.

When Cha Hongjo entered the audition room, he greeted as instructed and acted while reciting the script. He did just as he was told, neither showing satisfaction nor dissatisfaction. It had only been three months since he entered the world of acting. It had been barely ten days since he started preparing for the audition for the role of ‘Yeo Jitae’ in <Epitaph of Youth>. Cha Hongjo thought that passing was beyond his reach, so he didn’t have any expectations from the beginning, and he wasn’t nervous, but.

‘Cha Hongjo… High Entertainment?’

‘….’

‘When did you join the agency?’

‘About three months ago.’

‘Hmm, audition, or casting?’

‘Casting.’

‘Right, I see. How tall are you? You look taller than your profile.’

The woman sitting in the center of the judges’ table aggressively bombarded him with questions. He had expected questions about the role of Yeo Jitae, the film, or acting, but most of them were trivial questions that weren’t particularly related to the purpose of the audition.

‘Do you work out?’

Director Kim Doyoung.

Cha Hongjo read the nameplate, then raised his gaze to meet the woman’s eyes.

‘A little.’

‘Don’t do any more. I’d like you to maintain your physique exactly as it is now.’

‘…….’

The woman, the director, murmured and scanned his body with an overt gaze. From the top of his head to the tips of his toes. The sticky gaze started again from his feet, climbed up his legs, stopped around his chin, then…

‘What’s on your neck? A kiss mark?’

She asked, gesturing with her chin. Cha Hongjo unconsciously touched his neck, recalling the mark Go Baekwoo had left there. They had covered it with makeup at the salon, but judging by the director’s discovery, it seemed to have worn off. Since it was already seen, there was no point in hiding it further, it would only look ridiculous. Cha Hongjo took his hand off his neck and, as if to encourage further inspection, lifted his chin.

‘Cute.’

Director Kim smiled with satisfaction as she looked at Cha Hongjo, who wasn’t embarrassed to reveal the red mark.

And now, she wasn’t just staring with an intense gaze, but was also caressing his thigh. Not many words were exchanged between the director and the new actor. The people around them, reveling in the unexpected success of casting the role of Yeo Jitae, which they had expected to be difficult, filled the silence with jokes, laughter, and song lyrics.

Cha Hongjo emptied his glass, which Director Kim had filled, in one gulp and took out a cigarette. The hand caressing his thigh crept up a little further. A chuckle escaped his lips as he lit the cigarette.

“Why did I come this— far, only to— leave love behind—.”

The assistant director, drunk on alcohol and emotion, was belting out a song. Cha Hongjo removed the cigarette from his lips and leaned towards Director Kim to convey his voice clearly, bringing his lips close enough to almost touch her ear, where his hair had been swept aside.

“Director.”

Blue, yellow, green, red… primary colored lights rotated dazzlingly, illuminating them.

“You have bad manners.”

“Are you offended?”

Director Kim smiled slyly and took the cigarette from the new actor’s fingers, placing it between her own lips. From behind the thick smoke she exhaled, Cha Hongjo whispered again.

“Who said I was offended…?”

“Then?”

“I’m saying let’s leave quickly if you’re going to leave.”

“…….”

Cha Hongjo rubbed his nose against Director Kim’s pearl earrings once before pulling away, then filled and emptied his glass as if nothing had happened.

Finally, Director Kim, having finished her cigarette, grabbed her coat and bag and stood up first. Cha Hongjo followed suit. The remaining people, including Tae Pyunghyun, pretended not to see the director and the new actor leaving the room, as if they were ghosts. The assistant director’s singing continued uninterrupted.

🔥

A dead man has returned. No, the man who returned had never actually died in the first place. Come to think of it, he had no memory of holding his father’s funeral. He had never observed his death anniversary either. Then why did he believe his father had passed away?

‘Baekwoo, your dad… he’s gone far away and can’t come back. Baekwoo will live with mom until you become an adult. Is that okay? Hmm?’

His mother had said those words, holding his shoulders, when he asked about his father, who had disappeared one day. He was too young to understand death. Young Go Baekwoo nodded, and his instincts, hidden behind ignorance, made the decision. That his father was dead.

Everyone dies, so death wasn’t a sin. That’s why he could avoid resenting his father. Even when longing overwhelmed him, he could refrain from lamenting. He could soothe his life without a father by telling himself it was a parting, not abandonment.

However, the heart he had soothed for over a decade shattered with the reunion with the dead, and the old longing was freshly painted over. Resentment awakened.

Go Baekwoo strained his eyes, trying to hold back the welling tears. The encounter with the middle-aged man who resembled him shouldn’t be sentimental enough to be wet with tears. Because then, then, it felt like betraying his mother. It felt like easily turning his back on the days of his past, filled with the void of his father’s absence. He needed the opportunity to be indignant about his growth, which had always felt incomplete. Until now, he had only maintained an indifferent expression. Since joy and anger are two sides of the same coin, he had to learn how to be angry in order to rejoice.

“……Why did you come?”

Why did you come looking for me?

He had asked Cha Hongjo a similar question a few days ago. He felt awkward about his life, which required him to speak harsh words to those who returned. Go Baekwoo rubbed his burning eyelids. He barely managed to speak, his voice choked with a lump of rising resentment.

“……It’s all, over.”

“Baekwoo.”

His father’s calm voice reduced his son’s sorrow to a trivial childish complaint.

“Nothing is over.”

Go Baekwoo couldn’t push his father away as he embraced him. It was a large embrace, big enough to envelop even his fully grown self. At that moment, tears burst forth like a dam breaking. He couldn’t be indifferent anymore. Even though he knew he was missing the chance to express his anger fully, he couldn’t stop his crumbling heart. He gripped his father’s broad shoulders, shoulders that could have embraced him and his mother fully, yet hadn’t. The pristine suit wrinkled. It was stained with the tears he had shed. Dirty and unsightly. His father just silently patted his back.

His tangled emotions weren’t washed away by the tears. After a long while, when his crying subsided, Go Baekwoo pushed his father away and wiped his cheeks. Thinking of his mother, his eyes dried instantly. He glanced at the clock with bloodshot eyes. It was past the time to open the cafe. His mother, who had been quiet until now. Collection day. His father, who appeared with a suspicious secretary. On the other hand, Tae Pyunghyun and Park Taegu, who hadn’t shown up. There were enough clues to unravel.

“Mother is……”

But before his son could ask, his father started speaking.

“I’ve settled everything with Heejin.”

Go Baekwoo thought his father pronounced his mother’s name intimately, like a lover. Enough to make him mistakenly believe there was a secret, sad story behind his parents’ separation. Yes. That was a mistake stemming from his desire for complete happiness. The history of his parents’ marriage, as told by his father, was a fishy reality. Cooled love, corrupted emotions, a discarded family.

Go Daeil was the only son of a loan shark who had amassed wealth through long years of money lending, and Lee Heejin was the eldest daughter of a small textile factory. To delve into the more intimate details, Lee Heejin’s father had borrowed money from the Go family to barely keep the factory running, and the young Go Daeil, following in his father’s footsteps, had seen Lee Heejin at the factory he visited for collection.

They met as if swept away by the youthful breeze and were deceived by the other side of fate, conceiving a child. Their married life was intense and short, like a love song that’s never repeated.

The husband she faced with eyes unveiled from the wedding veil was a harsh man, a shameless philanderer. A father who would be poison to his son. Lee Heejin demanded a divorce, and Go Daeil, in exchange for agreeing to the divorce, desired his son. However, having grown up without a mother’s love himself, he didn’t want to pass that sorrow on to his son. The ‘promise’ was made like that.

‘Until he understands the ways of the world, you take care of Baekwoo. Act as his mother. After that, I’ll act as his father.’

Chairman Go Daeil gripped his grown son’s shoulders, as if confining him.

“Baekwoo.”

His son bit his lip.

“Come with your father.”

A thick hand, its joints protruding as if testifying to harsh years, was extended. His father’s hand. Go Baekwoo stared at the hand he had thought he could only hold in his dreams.

“If I go with you, what about mother?”

“From now on, you only need to worry about yourself.”

Worry about yourself.

He told him to worry about himself. That was difficult for Go Baekwoo. Because his father was absent, he had lived his whole life worrying about his mother. He had only learned how to live that way. But now, to worry about himself…

Worry about myself.

Suddenly, a figure came to Go Baekwoo’s mind.

There was only one person who could fill the space left by his concern for his mother. Not himself, but Cha Hongjo.

A hand that held power, having been compensated for a rough past. Go Baekwoo continued to stare intently at his father’s hand.

He was worried about Cha Hongjo, but the distance between them was too great for him to freely fret. However…

“Baekwoo, hurry.”

If he took that hand, things would change. A way would appear.

Go Baekwoo wanted to be by Cha Hongjo’s side and worry about him. He wanted the right and the power to do so. The hand that would fulfill that desire was right in front of him.

If he rejected this hand, he would lose Cha Hongjo too. On the contrary, if he took this hand, it seemed like he could get closer to Cha Hongjo.

Such a conviction momentarily pierced his temples.

“Ha……”

Go Baekwoo, with a sigh tinged with moisture as if apologizing to his mother, took his father’s hand.

🔥

As soon as Cha Hongjo passed the audition for the role of Yeo Jitae in <Epitaph of Youth>, Tae Pyunghyun devoted himself to his role as manager with determination. The first to suffer the consequences were the acting teacher and the tutor. They were fired overnight, and two other teachers were assigned to Cha Hongjo. Both were men, of the same sex.

Cha Hongjo clicked his tongue at Tae Pyunghyun’s decision, which had seemingly tolerated sharing a bed with the teachers, but he wasn’t disappointed. He had a woman anyway. Director Kim, although only one. With his busy schedule preparing for the GED, the film shoot, and everything else, one was enough. In reality, Director Kim did the work of two, no, three people. He had met various older women because he preferred them to those his age or younger, but he had never met a woman as energetic as Director Kim.

Director Kim treated her favorite new actor like a lover and took up all of Cha Hongjo’s free time. In fact, she even called him out when he wasn’t free, putting Tae Pyunghyun in a difficult position.

The start date for the filming of <Epitaph of Youth> was approaching, and ‘Director Kim’s new actor,’ who should have been announced much earlier, was still kept secret. The public unanimously predicted the arrival of an unprecedentedly great new talent, and the film industry persistently contacted the production company for exclusive coverage of the production announcement. This was only what was visible on the surface.

Deeper down in the abyss, a scandalous rumor was swimming towards the shore. The rumor was that a new actor, whose name and face were unknown, had not only landed the role of Yeo Jitae in <Epitaph of Youth> but also monopolized Director Kim’s affection. And a very, very intense affection at that.

It was clear that the rumor had originated internally, but Director Kim didn’t try to identify the gossiping traitor. If it were like before, she would have started distancing herself from the new actor involved in the scandal. But she met with Cha Hongjo even more frequently and took him to private gatherings, introducing him to film industry figures as if showing him off. At those gatherings, Cha Hongjo, behind Director Kim’s back, exchanged glances and made connections with several ‘older sisters.’ Behind the curtain, Cha Hongjo was already cultivating his prospects.

‘High Entertainment has a great talent,’ ‘that talent is Director Kim’s new actor,’ ‘not only Director Kim, but several other married women are interested in him,’ such whispers were now an open secret among those in the know.

There was no way the story of the promising talent nurtured by the entertainment subsidiary wouldn’t reach Chairman Go’s ears.

“The kid Tae is managing.”

“…….”

Go Baekwoo looked up at the sound of Chairman Go’s voice, which interrupted the occasional sound of pages turning. He stared intently at his father’s eyes, familiar yet unfamiliar because they resembled his own. As if prompting the next words. Because the kid Tae was managing was Cha Hongjo.

“I heard he’s your friend, is that right?”

He considered shaking his head because he harbored feelings for Cha Hongjo that were deeper than friendship. But Go Baekwoo overcame the impulse and nodded. A desire that shouldn’t be revealed, especially a desire for Cha Hongjo, was better hidden.

“I heard you’re very close.”

Chairman Go enunciated each word clearly, observing his son’s expression. Go Baekwoo briefly lowered his gaze, closed the book he was reading with a thud, and met his father’s gaze again.

“Yes.”

“I was curious how close you were to take on a mere manager’s job.”

Those familiar with power didn’t need to beat around the bush. So Chairman Go used a direct approach.

“I was so angry at Tae’s report that I decided to bring you here earlier.”

“…….”

Indeed, his father had come to find him earlier than the ‘day he promised Heejin.’ He hadn’t heard the full story, but he could easily infer it from a few brief sentences. Chairman Go, who broke his long-standing promise with his ex-wife, lamenting that his only bloodline would become a ‘mere manager.’ Even just hearing this anecdote, it seemed his still-unfamiliar father wasn’t a man of calm temperament.

“But still, you know. Right now, I think you’re truly my son, Baekwoo.”

However, he was lenient with his son.

Go Baekwoo waited for the next words after the out-of-context praise. Chairman Go, getting up from the desk where he was working, straightened an overturned crystal glass and took out a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet. The clinking of the brown liquid dispelled the momentary silence.

“Do you drink?”

Go Baekwoo honestly nodded. Chairman Go overturned another crystal glass, filled it with whiskey, and handed it to his son.

Clink. The two glasses touched. It was the father and son’s first toast. Go Baekwoo waited for his father to tip his glass before taking a sip. The multicolored liquor he was tasting for the first time wasn’t as tasty as soju.

Pouring whiskey into the empty glass again, Chairman Go continued.

“The ability to judge people is a Go family trait.”

“……Did you hear about Hongjo?”

Go Baekwoo couldn’t help but ask. The next sip of whiskey was suddenly sweet.

An awkward father. An unfamiliar house. An awkward environment, like ill-fitting clothes. Adjusting to these things over the past few days, Go Baekwoo had learned about the background Chairman Go had built, or rather, the ‘business’ he was supposed to inherit. In the process, he learned that collection day was a show orchestrated by Tae Pyunghyun under his father’s orders, and even the news that ‘Manager Tae’ from the office had moved to High Entertainment as a manager.

When he heard the story, Go Baekwoo naturally thought of Cha Hongjo first. He even smiled faintly. He was happy that Cha Hongjo and he were close after all. It was amusing that Cha Hongjo, who he thought had set foot on completely different ground from the darkness that bound him, actually belonged in the basket he would own in the near future.

That was the first taste of power Go Baekwoo savored.

“I heard.”

Chairman Go said, swirling the hand holding his glass.

“People are saying he’s quite something.”

“Is he debuting?”

“I heard he’s in a movie.”

Is that so, already. Go Baekwoo silently nodded. It was unfamiliar news, but not particularly surprising. Because he dared to predict that Cha Hongjo would succeed in anything.

Chairman Go looked down at his son, who resembled him and his former lover in equal parts, and asked, “Don’t you exchange greetings?”

“He’s been busy lately. Both of us.”

“You seem disappointed.”

“……Because we’re close, very close.”

He had originally heard from Manager Tae that a kid named ‘Park Jungjin’ was his son’s best friend. But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case. His tongue clicked involuntarily at Manager Tae’s incompetence, which had recently been exposed. If he had known he couldn’t even grasp his son’s relationships properly, he wouldn’t have used him in the first place.

Chairman Go took care of every little thing regarding his son, whom he had separated from his nest. Managing his friendships was one of them. Knowing who he kept around, whether he had a good eye for people, was a necessary skill for inheriting his position, so it needed special attention. And he also needed to know how to manage people…

But it was frustrating that his son suddenly decided to be managed. He was enraged, but thanks to that, he was able to bring Baekwoo to his side earlier, so it worked out well in the end.

Manager Tae had described Go Baekwoo as ‘having an extraordinary presence, just like the chairman,’ but Chairman Go disagreed. His son, who had grown up on sweet motherly love, was a flower. Even with thorns, a flower is a flower. The son Chairman Go desired was a great tree that would become a leader, not a beautiful flower with only a pretty exterior. He regretted realizing late that he should have brought him in when he was younger, even if there was a promise.

“You’ll have a chance to see him soon.”

As he started speaking, his son, who had been looking down at the floor, lifted his gaze.

“Hongjo?”

“Yes. You need to know how to care for a branch to be qualified to own a forest. High Entertainment is also part of the family business, so you should take a look around. I’ll arrange it then.”

There would be much to teach his son, who could frown over a misguided friendship yet brighten his expression instantly. But there was no rush. There was plenty of time. His son had come to his side completely, on the condition that he could freely meet his mother whenever he wanted. What reason was there to prevent him from meeting a friend he liked so much?

Moreover, that kid Cha Hongjo was already popular among wealthy women who could become sources of income even before his debut, so he would be more of a help than a hindrance to his son. If he seemed like he would become a hindrance, it wouldn’t be too late to discard him then. He was just an entertainer. But there was no harm in being cautious, so he had, of course, done his research.

Cha Hongjo. His ties with his mother had long been severed, and his father had passed away. He was a pitiful child with nothing to his name. All he had was a smooth exterior… Like many young people who settled in the entertainment or nightlife industries, he was a flower that wouldn’t last beyond a season.

Chairman Go stared at his son and then wet his parched throat with liquor.

If he hadn’t intervened, Baekwoo might have ended up like that kid Cha Hongjo. How fortunate.

🔥

The entire cast of <Epitaph of Youth> was revealed. High Entertainment released Cha Hongjo’s profile to the press accordingly. New actor Cha Hongjo, with a filmography as clean as a blank sheet, didn’t have much personal information publicly known. However, a few photos and the title of ‘Director Kim’s new actor’ were enough to place him in the spotlight.

[Director Kim Doyoung’s new star, Cha Hongjo]

Go Baekwoo picked up an entertainment magazine from Chairman Go’s desk, where new newspapers and magazines were placed daily. Director Kim Doyoung, Epitaph of Youth, new actor, and Cha Hongjo. He read the last three names over and over again. It would have been nice if there was a photo, but the article only included a picture of the woman, Director Kim Doyoung.

Putting down the entertainment magazine, he rummaged through other newspapers and magazines, just in case. Surprisingly, news about Cha Hongjo was everywhere. He even found a photo in the entertainment section of one newspaper.

Cha Hongjo was wearing a white shirt. True to his unconstrained nature, he had one button undone. Even though he was just standing still, he didn’t look stiff. His silhouette exuded a precarious elegance, like delicately creased silk. His gaze, fixed straight ahead, was like a cave concealing jewels. A dark, yet deeply alluring cave.

Go Baekwoo looked at Cha Hongjo, trapped on the flat surface, again and again. He even touched him with his finger. Unlike the real Cha Hongjo, this one didn’t disappear. He inwardly thought that it was good that Cha Hongjo had chosen the path of an actor.

“Are you ready?”

At the low voice above his head, Go Baekwoo turned around and looked up. A hand with thick knuckles tapped his shoulder.

“Your friend has already become a celebrity.”

Chairman Go, glancing at the newspaper article spread out before his son, smiled. Go Baekwoo folded the newspaper, placed it on the table, and stood up. His father’s gaze, which had been far above him, was now slightly lower.

“Are you ready?”

Go Baekwoo returned his father’s earlier question. Instead of answering, Chairman Go turned and led the way. Secretary Moon, his shadow, and his son followed.

“It’s a clear day.”

“Indeed, Chairman.”

“…….”

As his father said, it was a clear day. Before getting into the car that Secretary Moon opened for him, Go Baekwoo glanced up at the sky for a moment and frowned.

“Young Master? Is something wrong?”

The nicer the weather, the more accustomed he became to life with his father, the more indifferent he became to being called ‘Young Master,’ the more the guilt towards his mother twisted painfully.

“……No.”

Thinking that he would have to visit the cafe tomorrow, Go Baekwoo squeezed himself into the sedan.

Embarrassing titles like Chairman and Young Master. A neighborhood where people dressed in wealth lived. A mansion surrounded by walls like a fortress. And the vast front yard he was currently crossing… Everything was different from when he lived as the son of ‘Promise Coffee Shop’ in Wonseon-dong. However, Go Baekwoo wasn’t excited about his reversed life. He didn’t feel grateful either. Even if the world turned upside down, his upside-down situation remained the same. Even if he was called Chairman or Young Master, a scoundrel is a scoundrel. One who builds a castle with the tear-soaked money of others.

If, as his father said, the ability to judge people was a family trait, was malice also a legacy passed down through the Go family line? Go Baekwoo reflected on himself, feeling guilty only towards his mother. Of course, he didn’t repent. He simply reiterated ‘This is the kind of person I am,’ so as not to forget.

From a certain point, his mother’s love had become a debt to Go Baekwoo. To sever the debt that grew by the second, Go Baekwoo chose to become a villain. He didn’t know that even the choice was a predetermined fate. He hadn’t yet grasped his father’s love, which had paved his way, so there was no sentiment to speak of. Then what about his own love, the one directed towards Cha Hongjo…?

Go Baekwoo hoped that his affection, just like how Cha Hongjo treated him, would be seen as simply beautiful. He hoped it would be accepted wholly, even if it was only half there. At the same time, he wished it wouldn’t become a burden to Cha Hongjo. But it also couldn’t just lightly brush past Cha Hongjo. Because his feelings weren’t that light.

Would Cha Hongjo think of me?

Would Cha Hongjo know that I’m coming today?

It was a clear day, a day when his mother, who would be alone, weighed heavily on his mind. It was also the day he visited High Entertainment for the first time. It was also a chance to stop longing for Cha Hongjo, whom he had last seen only from behind at the dark cafe, at least for half a day.

Would Cha Hongjo be surprised to see me? Would he be indifferent, as always? Would he welcome me? Maybe he would even tell me he missed me.

Anticipation bubbled up in his heart, overflowing with longing. The brightly-hued bubbles rolled towards their destination. Quickly, I want to see Cha Hongjo soon. Even just sitting still, his body and mind vibrated.

High Entertainment wasn’t far from Chairman Go’s residence.

The car, turning off the main street of Seoul and onto a side street shadowed by tall buildings, slowed down, and Chairman Go asked his son sitting beside him, “Have you been here before?”

“No.”

Seoji-dong and Wonseon-dong, although adjacent neighborhoods, were distant. The people of Seoji-dong ignored Wonseon-dong, and the people of Wonseon-dong regarded Seoji-dong as another world, unreachable. Furthermore, Go Baekwoo, who had been busy even in the cramped and old Wonseon-dong, had no reason to come to Seoji-dong. If it weren’t for Chairman Go, he probably wouldn’t have set foot in Seoji-dong for a long time.

“This is my first time.”

“You’ll be coming here often from now on.”

The car stopped as Chairman Go finished his statement. Before Secretary Moon could even fully open the back door after getting out of the driver’s seat, a man rushing out from the building grabbed the car door handle first.

“Chairman! You’ve arrived!”

It was Kim Yongmin, the Entertainment Manager of High Entertainment. Chairman Go gestured for his son to get out and then extended his own shoe-clad foot outside.

Perhaps thanks to the new actor who was destined for success, Manager Kim’s face was bright as if illuminated by a fluorescent light.

“Manager Kim, you look well.”

“Thanks to your care, Chairman. You look even younger.”

“I’m the same as always.”

“It’s a relief to see you in good health. Ah, Baekwoo.”

Manager Kim greeted Go Baekwoo belatedly. Go Baekwoo simply nodded in response. Manager Kim chuckled and patted Go Baekwoo’s forearm. He had heard about it from Manager Tae, but actually witnessing Chairman Go and Go Baekwoo together felt new. When seen separately, he hadn’t thought the father and son resembled each other much, but seeing them together, the blood ties were indeed strong.

Manager Kim and Go Baekwoo were acquaintances. Their first and last meeting had been a few years ago.

‘I readily agreed to catch the Chairman’s eye, but oh my… damn it, I’m about to work my ass off looking after this kid. Yongmin, take a look. He’s quite handsome. Wouldn’t it be good to lure him in and take him under your wing?’

When Go Baekwoo quit boxing and started wandering, Tae Pyunghyun, fearing he would be held responsible, sought a way to legitimately give up his babysitting duties. Since Go Baekwoo was quite handsome, the solution was to send him to Kim Yongmin to be raised as a celebrity. Of course, when the time came, he would have learned the business under the Chairman, so he would have quit before he even properly stood in front of a camera.

Taking the Chairman’s only son into the company was burdensome for Kim Yongmin, but at the same time, if he managed Go Baekwoo well, it could be an opportunity to gain Chairman Go’s trust, so after pretending to consider, he accepted Tae Pyunghyun’s proposal. As initially intended, it was purely for his own personal gain.

‘This is our Go Baekwoo. Baekwoo, this is Manager Kim. Greet him.’

‘……Hello.’

The moment he saw Go Baekwoo, a different kind of ambition arose, separate from personal feelings.

He had imagined a handsome man with strong features resembling Chairman Go, but Go Baekwoo had a gorgeous and delicate appearance, like a blooming peony. His seemingly stiff expression hinted at his father, but the overall impression was different. Back then, he was younger and less developed, so it must have been even more so.

If this kid doesn’t become a celebrity, who will? Even if he hadn’t known he was the Chairman’s son, if he had seen Go Baekwoo, he would have certainly grabbed him and brought him to the company. However, if his will hadn’t been there, or rather, even if he had refused, if it were like usual, he would have persistently pursued and tried to persuade him, but…

‘Baekwoo, think about it carefully. Where else will you get an opportunity like this? Huh?’

‘…….’

‘Choose, do you want to fight, or earn money with an eaasy smile?’

‘……Fighting.’

If any unnecessary stories reached Chairman Go’s ears, both Tae Pyunghyun and he would be in trouble, so he couldn’t coax the unwilling Go Baekwoo any further.

‘Sigh, tsk, what’s the use of being born with a pretty face if you don’t know how to use it.’

Though he didn’t know for sure, Tae Pyunghyun said Go Baekwoo was attached to boxing and insisted on fighting. He had even dreamed of becoming a professional boxer, so it was understandable. But if he became a professional boxer and made a name for himself early on, it could hinder his future inheritance of Chairman Go’s position. So, Go Baekwoo giving up his dream was actually Chairman Go’s scheme. In the same vein, even if he had been brought to High Entertainment, he wouldn’t have been allowed to debut.

Whatever the circumstances, it was a shame. Kim Yongmin smacked his lips as he looked at Go Baekwoo, who had grown much taller since their last meeting. A flower’s fragrance deepens as it blooms. The almost fully matured Go Baekwoo was even more attractive than when he was younger. No, captivating was a more fitting word. Where did such a person come from? The Chairman was truly a blessed man.

Chairman Go, noticing Manager Kim’s greedy gaze, put his arm around his proud son’s shoulder, looked around, and asked, “Is Manager Tae here?”

“Not yet, I think…”

Kim Yongmin looked at his wristwatch. He had repeatedly emphasized that Tae Pyunghyun should arrive before the Chairman, but that idiot…

“I think he’s running late because he’s bringing Director Kim as well. He’ll be here soon. Chairman, please come in first. It’s chilly out here.”

“Alright.”

It was at this time that Chairman Go Daeil and Go Baekwoo were looking around the High Entertainment building.

Damn it, I’m going to get an earful for being late…

Tae Pyunghyun was turning the steering wheel, cursing inwardly so that Director Kim in the back seat wouldn’t hear. No, he guessed Director Kim wouldn’t hear even if he yelled. She was preoccupied with caressing Cha Hongjo, as if not embarrassed in front of his manager.

Tae Pyunghyun, watching the new actor and director engaging in intimate physical contact through the rearview mirror, cleared his throat as they almost reached High Entertainment.

“Ahem, ahem! Um, Director. We’re here.”

“Oh… really?”

Director Kim Doyoung, with a husky voice, reluctantly pulled her lips away from Cha Hongjo’s neck and adjusted her clothes.

“Is it okay if I have a smoke before we go in?”

She asked, but before Tae Pyunghyun could answer, she rolled down the window and put a cigarette between her lips. She also placed one between the lips of Cha Hongjo, who was leaning back deeply into the car seat. The lighter flame visited the tips of both cigarettes in turn.

“Sigh… Originally, I don’t interact with actors’ agencies. Pyunghyun, you know that, right?”

Director Kim said, looking at the clearly visible building.

How would I know that? Tae Pyunghyun scoffed inwardly, but…

“I know, Director.”

“But I needed to see the people raising our Hongjo. So I came, but…”

“Yes.”

Director Kim flicked the ashes out the window and continued, “It’s a bit burdensome, isn’t it? Chairman Go of Geumyang Loan suddenly coming…”

“……I should have told you earlier, I apologize. I also received the news that day. The Chairman doesn’t usually get involved in High Entertainment matters, but… I think he showed interest because you were coming, Director Kim.”

“Well, I’ve worked with actors from there before. It was quiet then. I think he’s interested in our Cha actor, not me. Right?”

Director Kim turned to face Cha Hongjo and caressed his thigh. Cha Hongjo simply exhaled the smoke he had been holding in his mouth. Tae Pyunghyun continued the conversation.

“Yes, that’s also true. There’s a lot of buzz about Hongjo these days. And…”

Tae Pyunghyun paused mid-sentence and glanced at Cha Hongjo through the rearview mirror. As if checking his reaction.

“And, um… the Chairman’s son is close friends with Hongjo.”

“Really? Hongjo.”

“With me?”

Cha Hongjo, who had been listening silently, asked in a monotone.

Tae Pyunghyun, having just finished parking, removed his hands from the steering wheel, turned around, and hesitantly muttered, “……Uh, with you.”

“I don’t have a friend who’s the ‘Chairman’s son’.”

“You do, he’s your friend.”

“How would I know a friend I don’t even know?”

“…Well.”

He had been debating whether to tell him or not, but he had brought him this far without saying anything. But the fact that his friend, Go Baekwoo, was the son of Chairman Go of ‘Geumyang Loan,’ the parent company of High Entertainment, would soon be revealed, whether he liked it or not. It was better for Cha Hongjo to know beforehand than to be shocked upon encountering Baekwoo. It was really time to tell him.

Tae Pyunghyun gulped, swallowed his dry saliva, and said, “Baekwoo, the Chairman’s son.”

“……Go Baekwoo?”

Cha Hongjo, his expression, which had been as calm as a still lake, subtly rippled, and he muttered as if whispering.

“Pretty boy is the son of a coffee shop owner…”

“That was before. Now he’s Young Master.”

“How?”

“Ask him yourself, Baekwoo will be there too.”

“…….”

“Don’t act carelessly just because you’re friends. If it were just the two of you, it would be fine, but the Chairman will be there, so behave properly, got it? Huh?”

“…….”

Was he surprised, or was he indifferent to the fact that his friend was suddenly the Chairman’s son? Cha Hongjo no longer moved his features and remained silent. He simply brought the cigarette to his lips, then flicked it out the window without lighting it.

“The Chairman’s son is your friend?”

Director Kim, also throwing her cigarette out the window, leaned towards Cha Hongjo and asked. Cha Hongjo, staring straight ahead but not at Tae Pyunghyun, slowly opened his lips as if hesitating.

“Seems like it.”

He raised his hand and rubbed his neck. The spot just below his Adam’s apple. The spot where the red bruise Go Baekwoo had left in the cafe one dawn, which felt like ages ago, had now disappeared.

Director Kim, following Cha Hongjo’s hand with her eyes, grabbed and pulled down the hand scratching his neck.

“I told you to break that habit, you’ll get scars if you scratch with your nails. How can an actor be so indifferent to managing his appearance?”

“…….”

Cha Hongjo then quite irritably swung his arm and shook Director Kim off. Director Kim’s face briefly showed displeasure, but it quickly subsided, and a smile spread across her face.

“Are you angry now?”

An exceptional aura, outstanding looks, enough to give him the role of Yeo Jitae without a moment’s hesitation. Besides these, Cha Hongjo had various charms. One of them was his demeanor, unbefitting his age, and his tendency to express his feelings honestly regardless of who he was with, which was rare for a new actor without any particular background. However, he usually maintained an indifferent attitude, so he rarely expressed his emotions as clearly as now. No, it wasn’t rare, it was the first time.

Director and new actor. Despite their clear superior-subordinate relationship, Kim Doyoung was growing increasingly impatient with her counterpart, who wouldn’t submit. However, she felt thrilled, thinking that Cha Hongjo was finally revealing his innermost feelings to her with this unprecedentedly overt reaction.

“Are you jealous because your friend suddenly became the Chairman’s son?”

Just a little more. Kim Doyoung, wanting Cha Hongjo to reveal his hidden feelings even further, deliberately provoked him. Did it work?

“Director.”

Black eyes, shimmering with cold light, turned towards Director Kim. However…

“Touch me only when we’re fucking. I need to manage my appearance.”

“……What?”

“Cha Hongjo! What kind of language is that!”

Director Kim widened her eyes, unable to overcome her astonishment. Tae Pyunghyun, who had been tapping the steering wheel and gauging the right moment to tell them to get out, turned around again and yelled.

“Apologize to the Director, quickly, you punk!”

“Why should I apologize? I’m just listening to the Director.”

Cha Hongjo casually brushed back his unstyled hair, turned, and got out of the car. Tae Pyunghyun kept calling his name, but as if he couldn’t hear, Cha Hongjo walked straight into the High Entertainment building.

He had thought he was free from babysitting duties, but being Cha Hongjo’s manager wasn’t easy either. Tae Pyunghyun buried his face in the steering wheel, sighed deeply, and then checked the back seat again.

“Um… Director.”

Director Kim, whose gaze had been following Cha Hongjo, turned her head to face Tae Pyunghyun.

“I think he’s a little stressed about the upcoming filming… He seems a bit sensitive. I’ll talk to him, I apologize.”

“It’s fine, Pyunghyun, you have nothing to apologize for.”

“Still, that’s not the proper way to…”

“For him,”

Director Kim muttered, opening the car door and leaning out, then looked back at Tae Pyunghyun.

“That is the proper way.”

🔥

Director Kim’s assumption that he was jealous because his friend suddenly became the Chairman’s son was completely wrong.

‘Baekwoo, the Chairman’s son.’

‘……Go Baekwoo?’

Far from being jealous, his mood wasn’t affected at all. He was just a little surprised. He hadn’t asked for the details, and the person involved hadn’t directly revealed it, so he didn’t know for sure, but the pretty boy who had been a poor cafe owner’s son, struggling with people and debt, had suddenly become the son of a company chairman.

The meeting place was on the 5th floor, in Manager Kim Yongmin’s office. Cha Hongjo, having reached the floor, turned down the hallway to the restroom before heading to his destination.

It wasn’t his concern whether someone went from rags to riches. It was true that he had taken a special interest in Go Baekwoo because he was the prettiest person he had ever met. But besides that, what else was there? Between us.

He leaned on the sink and turned on the faucet. He placed his hands under the running water. The water temperature was cold, so cold. It was winter now, so his hands were already cold even without deliberately immersing them in cold water. His already red fingertips became numb and stiff, as if they would shatter.

‘I… I like you…’

Feelings aren’t commodities. Even if the pretty boy had confessed, he wouldn’t have accepted him, so they really weren’t anything. They had just mingled bodies a few times, kissed, and rubbed skin. Physical contact doesn’t change a colorless, odorless relationship.

Cha Hongjo, having washed his hands meaninglessly, turned off the faucet and raised his head. Just as there was really nothing between him and Go Baekwoo, his reflection in the mirror was also indifferent. He unconsciously touched his neck, then quickly withdrew his hand, surprised by its icy temperature. But his gaze remained fixed on his smooth neck.

“…….”

Turning away from the mirror as if avoiding it, Cha Hongjo reiterated the rule his life, which had even burned away his family, had taught him.

Like the red marks Go Baekwoo had passionately left, which eventually healed cleanly. No matter what’s left between people, it all disappears in the end. There’s no eternally burning fire. Whether body or heart, even if you burn it all, you’re left with nothing but black ashes in the end. To avoid mutual contamination, it’s best not to mix from the start. If you don’t get hurt in the first place, you don’t need to endure the healing process.

‘Why are you doing this to me… I… I like you…’

So.

“Who the fuck told you to like me?”

It’s the fault of the one who lost their heart due to carelessness.

Cha Hongjo shook off the water from his hands and left the restroom. The end of the hallway where Kim Yongmin’s office was located was quite noisy. Among the noise, he could hear Tae Pyunghyun’s and Director Kim’s voices. He had entered the building first, but ended up being the last to arrive.

“…….”

The laughter he just heard was Manager Kim’s. The following hearty laughter was unfamiliar. And then, there should be one more voice.

Reaching the office door after walking down the hallway, Cha Hongjo grabbed the silver handle. His still-numb hand tingled as it touched the metal. He pushed the door open, putting strength into his instinctively curling fingers.

As soon as he stepped inside, the tangled noise abruptly disappeared.

“…….”

“Hey, you punk, where have you been!”

Before he could even look inside through the glass wall, Tae Pyunghyun, emerging and blocking his view, glared and quietly scolded him.

“Restroom.”

“Oh… you punk. They’re waiting for you.”

There was no subject, no indication of who was waiting.

“Hurry up and go in.”

Just as his curiosity piqued, Tae Pyunghyun moved aside. Cha Hongjo frowned and stepped forward. The glass wall, concealing the interior with the fluorescent light patterns, gradually revealed the figures waiting for him inside. Manager Kim Yongmin, Director Kim Doyoung… a middle-aged man, and…

“Oh, our Hongjo is here.”

Manager Kim Yongmin was the first to greet him.

“Hongjo’s here, this guy was in the restroom.”

Tae Pyunghyun, who had followed him, stood beside him and lightly pushed his back.

“Come on, Hongjo, greet him. This is Chairman Go Daeil.”

“…….”

Cha Hongjo forcibly, forcibly shifted his gaze, which had been fixed on someone like a target. The middle-aged man he faced, Chairman Go Daeil, offered a heavy smile. There was no gesture of goodwill, like extending a hand for a handshake. Only a coercive gaze, urging him to greet him.

“I’m Cha Hongjo.”

“Yes, I’ve heard interesting stories about you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“…….”

“……Oh, our Hongjo is a bit shy, Chairman. But have you already heard about Hongjo?”

As Cha Hongjo remained silent after Chairman Go’s reply, Tae Pyunghyun jumped in and started chattering. With him as the lead, the conversation began. Only two people remained silent. One of them, Cha Hongjo, touched his throat, which hadn’t prepared any words, out of habit, and returned his gaze to the face he had been staring at from the beginning.

Is it because I haven’t seen him in a while?

“Cha Hongjo.”

Go Baekwoo was much more…

“Pretty boy.”

…beautiful than before.

He seemed like he would cry more easily. Or perhaps, he looked like he wanted to cry right now, but was holding back. Go Baekwoo, with slightly reddened eyes, took two steps forward with his long legs. He came close enough.

He came close, but Cha Hongjo still felt distant to Go Baekwoo. Wanting to touch and confirm him, he raised his hand. Then, just before his fingertips reached Cha Hongjo’s cheek, he stopped. There were too many eyes watching. Even if he didn’t care about himself, Cha Hongjo’s face and name were already known, and they would become even more so in the future. He couldn’t act rashly. Go Baekwoo, unable to reach him, clenched his fist with his lowered hand.

“Why.”

Cha Hongjo, glancing at the hand that had fallen to his thigh, pulled the corners of his lips up in a sneer and muttered. And then…

“Touch me.”

He placed his palm on Go Baekwoo’s cheek without hesitation.

“How is it, between friends?”

“…….”

Between friends. Such words had never existed between them. It was clear mockery. But Go Baekwoo couldn’t retort. Because the hand stroking his face was ice cold.

“……Why are your hands so cold?”

Because the time he didn’t have to miss Cha Hongjo felt like a lie.

“Because it’s winter.”