Spark Chapter 7.1 - Choice

The concealed facet was inevitably unearthed.

‘Sports—Osung’, a rival of ‘Daehan Daily’, revealed every detail of the affair between Mrs. Jo Hyegyeong of ‘Daehan Daily’ and actor A. With a photo of them emerging from a hotel in Seoul and getting into a car together plastered across the pages, it was an undeniable situation. The secret story that had been confined to the back alleys of the entertainment industry spread at an uncontrollably rapid pace once it reached the outside world. While Mrs. Jo Hyegyeong, a former beauty pageant contestant, was certainly enough of a talking point, the public became even more fervent due to the fact that her partner was actor A, a newly rising star.

Jo Hyegyeong and her husband erupted in fury at ‘Sports—Osung’ for releasing the scandal without giving them any room for ‘negotiation’. However, it was too late to be angry. If their rival had considered negotiation in the first place, they wouldn’t have published the article so abruptly. This was a challenge.

Accepting the challenge came after dealing with the situation at hand. Jo Hyegyeong sought a way to divert the spotlight away from herself and actor A. It wasn’t difficult. A passing shower can be resolved with a downpour.

On the second day after Jo Hyegyeong and actor A’s scandal broke, ‘Daehan Daily’ detonated a bomb. The bomb was aimed at the public, like wolves always scavenging for something to chew on, and at a certain individual who was currently the subject of conversation with every blink of an eye.

[Exclusive Report: The Shocking Backstory of a Top—Star Tainted by Lies, The Truth of Actor Cha Hongjo!]

The sensational title was perfect for capturing people’s attention.

The content was roughly as follows:

Actor Cha Hongjo falsified his age. While he debuted with <Youth Chronicle> claiming to be 23 years old, his actual age at the time was 19. Cha is an orphan and had a difficult childhood and troubled adolescence. His private life is indescribably promiscuous and decadent. The reporter’s short-term investigation alone revealed a considerable number of women in Cha’s romantic history. Miss B, who taught Cha acting before his debut, stated that she had an ongoing physical relationship with Cha and is certain that he was involved with multiple women simultaneously, including herself. Furthermore, Cha’s personality, as glimpsed in interviews, is arrogant and…….

Go Baekwoo, having painstakingly read the article to the end, crumpled the newspaper in frustration.

“Fucking bastards……”

The crumpled ball of newspaper flew across the room, hitting the wall and then the floor.

Cha Hongjo, who had been reading the same newspaper article, glanced at the now-trashed piece of paper and then shifted his gaze to Go Baekwoo. Go Baekwoo’s face was flushed crimson with rage.

“What……”

In contrast, Cha Hongjo curled one corner of his lips with an indifferent expression.

“It’s all true.”

“Are you serious right now?”

Go Baekwoo, who had been holding his forehead, abruptly turned his head.

“If it’s true, does that mean they can just fucking write about it?”

“Don’t swear with that pretty mouth.”

Cha Hongjo hated that Go Baekwoo was angry because of him. That was the only thing that bothered him. The article itself didn’t matter. He had vaguely imagined that a day like this might come as he continued his acting career. What was bound to happen, happened. Moreover, as he said, the contents of the article were all true. Getting angry would be pointless. The world had always talked about other people’s private lives without permission, so it wasn’t anything new. The person involved stating their position or clarification would come later.

“Should we hold a press conference? CEO.”

“Cha Hongjo, you, ha……. No, forget it.”

Aren’t you even angry? That’s what he wanted to ask, but Go Baekwoo seemed to see what Cha Hongjo was thinking, so he didn’t bother saying it out loud. Asking would only make him feel more frustrated.

“A press conference……”

First, he needed to calm down. He didn’t become the company CEO using his father’s influence to do nothing. Shouting at the air wouldn’t solve anything. Go Baekwoo snatched the newspaper from Cha Hongjo’s hand.

‘Daehan Daily’. The name of the newspaper was etched in his mind. It was easy to guess how such an aggressive article targeting an actor came to be. A few days ago, the scandal involving Mrs. Jo Hyegyeong and actor A had broken. ‘Daehan Daily’ must have looked for another gossip item to cover up the scandal. And actor Cha Hongjo, who became a topic of conversation with every piece of clothing he wore, every hairstyle, every word he uttered, was the perfect target. Moreover, though the thought made him sick to his stomach, Mrs. Jo knew a lot about Cha Hongjo. Even if they hadn’t known each other, digging up dirt on a successful actor would have been easy for her.

Go Baekwoo forced down the curses that kept rising in his throat.

“What do you want to do?”

He asked Cha Hongjo. Whether it was a press conference or maintaining silence, he intended to follow Cha Hongjo’s wishes. His opinion always came first.

“Well.”

Cha Hongjo, with a genuinely clueless expression, took out a cigarette and lit it. Go Baekwoo sighed deeply again and placed a cigarette between his lips.

The smoke, intertwining, tangling, clumping, and then scattering, felt just like his own feelings. Go Baekwoo stared at the smoke-filled air and rubbed his brow. His head throbbed. To think that Mrs. Jo, of all people, would use Cha Hongjo as ‘bait’. While his topicality was guaranteed, it was a dangerous move for Mrs. Jo herself. After all, she was also a part of Cha Hongjo’s past.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd and infuriating it became. The urge to throw the ashtray arose as he stubbed out his cigarette. Go Baekwoo clenched his fist and calmed himself once more. Mrs. Jo wasn’t even in front of him, so there was no point in acting out. Getting angry at the air wouldn’t do any good.

Thus, a few days later, Cha Hongjo stood before the reporters.

Dozens of cameras were pointed at him. It was a familiar scene for Cha Hongjo, but the air surrounding him was different than usual.

The gazes directed at him glinted like those of wolves. If he uttered a single wrong word here, he would be torn to shreds. One enveloped in fervent adoration could easily be cut by icy blades at the same time. Life was such a paradox. Cha Hongjo thought such thoughts as he…

“Greetings to everyone present today. I am actor Cha Hongjo.”

He began to speak.

“I feel regretful to meet you all due to this ‘unfortunate’ incident. Also,”

His demeanor and tone were composed. The reporters, who had been tense, were disappointed. They wanted a subservient Cha Hongjo. They wanted him to express remorse, admit his wrongdoings, and sob like he did in movies. They wanted a reality even more dramatic than a fabricated scene.

“Regardless of the facts, I express deep regret towards ‘Daehan Daily’ for reporting on an individual’s private life without their consent.”

Moreover, they hadn’t expected Cha Hongjo to directly and aggressively name ‘Daehan Daily,’ let alone bow his head. This, in itself, could become fodder for them. The reporters straightened their backs, which had momentarily slumped. The disappointment in their eyes was replaced with renewed excitement.

“My agency, ‘High Entertainment,’ will handle the corresponding actions related to this matter……”

Cha Hongjo briefly glanced at his ‘CEO,’ Go Baekwoo, seated next to him.

“I intend to speak as ‘Cha Hongjo’.”

He wasn’t afraid because Go Baekwoo was beside him. No, there was no need to be afraid in the first place. He had done nothing wrong. He’d lived a scandalous life, but he felt no guilt. The only sin he had committed in his life was hurting Go Baekwoo. He’d be judged if these inner thoughts were revealed, but he didn’t care. Even if the whole world spat venom at him, as long as Go Baekwoo embraced him, he’d truly be okay.

“Firstly,”

For Cha Hongjo, love was the time that weathered the passing winds, a shield against the coming cold.

“I believe you must be very curious about the truth behind the contents of the article. I will address that first.”

The prey, not shedding a single drop of the blood the hunters desired, mocked their turbid gazes and moved his lips.

“What I am about to say is not an ‘explanation’. It is my story. Please keep this in mind.”

Several reporters furrowed their brows. Unfazed, Cha Hongjo brought the microphone closer to his lips.

“First, let’s talk about my age. As reported, my actual age is four years younger than what’s known. This decision was made to avoid prejudice against my role as ‘Yeo Jitae’ in my debut work, <Youth Chronicle>, and I clearly state that I had no intention of deceiving anyone, including my fans and the general public. Second, it’s true that I’m an orphan. I suffered injuries before becoming an adult and lost contact with my mother a long time ago. I don’t have any contact with other relatives either. If you consider my life ‘unfortunate’ for these reasons, so be it. Third, yes, I wasn’t a diligent student. I won’t make excuses. And fourth……”

Cha Hongjo took a sip of water before continuing.

“Frankly, I don’t see the need to reveal my past private life. It’s natural for people to meet, and it’s a personal choice when, who, and how many people someone meets. I’ve never forced anyone into a relationship. I’ve never deceived anyone either. When asked, I told the truth, and if the other party accepted it, the relationship continued, and if not, we parted ways. If there is anyone deeply hurt by their relationship with me, I am sorry. I apologize.”

Cha Hongjo briefly lowered his head. As he said, it was a gesture of apology. However, it didn’t come across as an act of remorse or contemplation. It was closer to a meaningless bob of the head.

“Forget me. Our connection ended there. Do as you please, whether you blab about our memories or not. If that’s how you forget. Whoever you are, I’ve forgotten you.”

Having bid farewell with an expression devoid of any lingering attachment and a resolute tone, Cha Hongjo momentarily glanced to the side, but his gaze returned before reaching Go Baekwoo. Because he was the one and only existence he could never forget, even without looking.

“……Fifth.”

Cha Hongjo, who had been sitting upright, leaned back against his chair. He crossed his legs and folded his arms. His chin was slightly raised. It was an incredibly arrogant posture. The reporters, seeing the actor’s sudden arrogance, seized the opportunity and pressed their shutters repeatedly.

“This is……”

And Cha Hongjo moved his closed lips again. The noisy clicking of the shutters subsided.

The article that was meant to expose an actor ended up being a scathing critique of the ‘true character’ of the human Cha Hongjo, using a barrage of harsh words.

The last sentence read:

[……It remains to be seen what kind of attitude Cha, who has deceived the public by wearing a mask, will take in expressing his position.]

Cha Hongjo brushed his hair back with a careless hand, his face expressionless as he muttered,

“Me.”

The reporters, holding their breath in silence, finally erupted in a barrage of camera flashes. Amidst the downpour of light, Cha Hongjo was more confident than ever.

“You can choose to believe the me on screen is the real Cha Hongjo. Or you can be disappointed. Feel free to leave or stay.”

He was arrogant and complacent.

“And I will make my own choices.”

Except for settling down in love, Cha Hongjo was no different than before. He was born and lived that way. He didn’t feel the need to change. Because he was loved even if he was arrogant and indolent. Because he believed without a doubt that even if the whole world turned its back on him, his lover would remain by his side.

Cha Hongjo reached under the table, clasped Go Baekwoo’s hand tightly, then let go. Go Baekwoo looked at Cha Hongjo and then turned his gaze back to the reporters, fixing it straight ahead. At the same time, he stroked Cha Hongjo’s back. Good job. It’s okay. Just like this.

“……That’s all.”

Cha Hongjo finished speaking, and Manager Kim Yongmin, who was sitting next to him, brought the microphone to his lips.

“Any questions?”

After the press conference, ‘Daehan Daily’ had to endure criticism for failing its duty as a reputable media outlet and maliciously reporting on an entertainer’s personal life.

On the other hand, Cha Hongjo wasn’t free from the negative impact either. His past was exaggerated and spread from person to person. ‘Actor Cha Hongjo’ was chewed up and spit out.

However, foul-smelling lips are light, and ears are thin. Teeth that had chewed on too many sweets quickly wore down. The rumors, bitter to some and sweet to others, faded before long, and people sought other snacks.

Unlike someone’s rotten molars or stale scandals, Cha Hongjo remained intact. Contrary to the expectations of many in the industry, he was flooded with offers for broadcast appearances after his statement. His past, which could have been a weakness, was transformed into a brilliant marketing strategy. Many wanted to hear the details of Cha Hongjo’s life story. They were curious about the story of the man who had to make his way alone until adulthood. They wanted to touch the ups and downs of the man who was a rascal and a playboy. They wanted to glimpse the loneliness of ‘the human Cha Hongjo’ and confirm that they were walking on the same ground as him.

Most people tend to be more fascinated by a single rose blooming in barren soil than a manicured flowerbed. Actor Cha Hongjo was still, or perhaps even more so, exposed to tremendous interest and passionate love.

“If I’d known this would happen,”

Go Baekwoo began as he turned the steering wheel.

“We shouldn’t have held the press conference.”

Having spent almost all day together, Cha Hongjo could now understand him with just a few words. Cha Hongjo let out a deflated chuckle.

“Are you jealous?”

“You know, so why ask? Yes, I’m jealous.”

They were on their way to the filming location for ‘Namgung Moon’s Talk Show’.

These days, Cha Hongjo had no time to breathe with his packed daily schedule. It would be faster to find a day without any appointments on his calendar. Go Baekwoo didn’t like that Cha Hongjo accepted every offer for talk shows and variety programs.

“Do a movie, or something like that, not this.”

“A movie? I’m looking at scripts.”

“Take a break while you look.”

The more Cha Hongjo’s popularity soared, the more Go Baekwoo wanted to monopolize him. It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy about Cha Hongjo being loved as an actor. It’s just…….

“Let’s spend some time together.”

“We are together now.”

“That’s not what I mean……! Just the two of us, let’s spend some time together.”

Go Baekwoo, suppressing his rising voice, turned the steering wheel with his veiny hand. His driving was rough. Cha Hongjo, laughing like an audience member, leaned his head on Go Baekwoo’s shoulder and, in a voice used to soothe a baby or a puppy, asked, “Is our Baekwoo sulking?” and rubbed his thigh. Go Baekwoo gritted his teeth.

“……I’m driving.”

“You’re sulking.”

“I’m not sulking, it’s just…… I’m asking for us to have some time together.”

The hand stroking his thigh slipped between his groin. Go Baekwoo swatted Cha Hongjo’s wrist away, a gesture telling him to stop.

Cha Hongjo knew how much it affected him to be touched like that. That’s why he was doing it while he was driving.

Chuckling, Cha Hongjo removed his hand from Go Baekwoo and sank into the seat, muttering, “Sulking, sulking……”

“No, I’m driving, that’s why.”

“Pull over, then.”

Should he? He wavered for a moment, but Go Baekwoo glanced at the clock and regained his composure.

“We’re short on time.”

“Too bad.”

“If you’re that disappointed, cancel all your subsequent schedules.”

“Should I?”

“You say that, but you won’t.”

They had been through this same situation several times. Go Baekwoo checked the time again and increased his speed. He planned to get to the broadcasting station first, and then argue or cuddle with Cha Hongjo.

He had unintentionally whined, and as usual, his whining hadn’t worked. Go Baekwoo always lost to his lover.

……Is he a fool?

Go Baekwoo mocked himself for always giving in to Cha Hongjo, unable to break his will.

But there was nothing else he could do.

‘Feel free to leave or stay.’

This was how he loved Cha Hongjo, how he lived with Cha Hongjo.

‘And I will make my own choices.’

Because he had chosen to do so. For the rest of his life.

“But, Hongjo. Let me ask you one thing.”

Before the filming began, Go Baekwoo spoke to Cha Hongjo, who had finished changing and having his makeup done. Cha Hongjo, who had been smoking, exhaled the smoke he’d inhaled before asking,

“What.”

“Why are you packing your schedule so tight?”

As he crumpled the half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray, Cha Hongjo smiled faintly. Shouldn’t he be smiling at a time like this? Go Baekwoo furrowed his brow. Looking at his expression, Cha Hongjo smiled more deeply, then covered Go Baekwoo’s neck with his hand and gently stroked it, saying,

“Because.”

He opened his lips.

“I’m trying to be a boyfriend you can be proud of.”

“……Ah.”

Go Baekwoo’s face immediately became dazed. Cha Hongjo stroked Go Baekwoo’s lips one last time, then stood on his tiptoes and kissed him before stepping back.

“I’m going in.”

It was the greeting Cha Hongjo always gave right before starting filming.

“Watch me, Baekwoo.”

But today, other words were added.

“I’ll make eye contact with you secretly.”