A Perfectly Normal Romance Chapter 6.2 - Ever After (Side Story)

I didn’t order this. I tore it open, and a scented candle, with a few flowers embedded in a glass cup, rolled out. It seemed like a gift from someone. I picked up the carelessly torn envelope again to check the name when I heard a presence outside. Thinking Lee Hyun had come down, I continued what I was doing, but then I heard Daeun’s voice.

“Jio.”

“What?”

“You got a flower bouquet.”

“What? From who?”

“I don’t know. I think there’s a card, you should open it. I’ll hold it for now!”

“Okay.”

A bouquet? Was there anyone left who would send something like that? Curious, I ended up dropping the package I was holding with a clatter and went outside. The delivery person in a helmet was already heading out the door, and Daeun was holding a bouquet of round, lush pink roses that looked like they were budding. Having pictured something more like a flower basket, I tilted my head as I came out of the pantry.

“It came for me?”

“Yeah. Don’t you think it’s a bouquet to congratulate you on your studio opening?”

“I guess so, probably?”

“It’s so pretty. It smells good too. Hurry and take it, Jio.”

If a bouquet came for me now, that must be the reason. Sure, that’s true, but… My and Daeun’s eyes simultaneously focused on the lush roses. I was about to absentmindedly accept the roses she was holding out.

“Wait. Let me see the card first.”

Tucked between the dense buds, I saw a small, folded card. The moment I picked up the card, I saw Daeun’s gaze fixated on my fingers and grew slightly tense. I thought the only person who would send such a bouquet was Lee Hyun.

No, but honestly, Lee Hyun isn’t the type to show up holding a bouquet like this. Still, you never know. He might send something like this to commemorate the studio opening…

But the name I saw when I opened the card was so unexpected that my effort to react calmly failed completely. Seeing my distorted expression, Daeun’s eyes stubbornly turned towards the card.

“Why? Who is it?”

Avoiding Daeun’s gaze, who kept craning her neck as if the roses in her arms were uncomfortable, I firmly folded the card and stuck it back deep into the bouquet.

“Just, someone I know.”

Didn’t the team send this? No, but the sub-writer sent a separate plant, so that can’t be it.

I glanced at the row of plants along the wall, then back and forth at the bouquet overflowing in Daeun’s arms. Then, it finally occurred to me that it must be heavy, and I reached out to take it.

“Sorry. It must be heavy.”

“No, it’s fine. I could hold something like this forever. But who sent it? Huh?”

“My old job.”

“Your old job? That broadcasting station?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. The broadcasting station sends you stuff like this?”

“No, no. Not the station. The PD who was above me sent it.”

“Isn’t that the person you used to complain about a lot?”

“Exactly.”

It just so happens that I’m supposed to see him next week about a job offer, but… In that case, he could have just said something then. Why send a bouquet like this as a congratulatory message? I looked down at the rather troublesome bouquet and thought. Is there anywhere to put this? How many stems are there, anyway?

Seeing me looking around, Daeun asked.

“Do you have a place to put them?”

“Nope. I guess I’ll have to cut a plastic bottle and just stick them in there.”

“One won’t be enough. You’ll probably need a few.”

“What a hassle.”

“Still, it’s the thought that counts, sending something like this.”

“No, including that thought, this is a very strange situation. Is he trying to drag me back to the production company?”

“Are you going to go back if he calls?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Just the thought of it makes me shudder. Disgusted, I reconsidered how to deal with this inexplicable bouquet. There’s barely anything in here, so there’s no way there’s a vase. So what should I do? How… I’ve never done this before, so how would I know.

Maybe there’s something in the pantry. With that thought, I carefully handed the bouquet back to Daeun.

“I’ll go look for something inside. Just hold it for a second.”

“Okay. It smells so good.”

“Take some with you when you leave later.”

“Should I? I’d love that.”

“That’s a relief. Take a lot. Ah. Do you want to take it just like this?”

“No. Still, there’s the sender’s sincerity. I’ll just take a few stems.”

“No, no. There’s no sincerity at all. Don’t worry and take a whole armful.”

It would be best if she just took it as is. But the bouquet was too large to just hand off to Daeun; it would clearly be a burden for her to carry.

Fortunately, Daeun seemed to like the scent of the flowers and was busy bowing her head to smell them. I returned to the pantry and rummaged through the half-opened package again. I was on my third box, looking for a utility knife, when I heard a presence outside. At the sound of the voice, I straightened my bent back and looked at the tiny sliver of the open pantry door.

“What’s that?”

In response to the dry voice, I heard Daeun’s voice, full of excitement.

“This came for Jio.”

“Who sent it?”

“His old job. The PD who was Jio’s boss.”

Right. This is exactly what that nagging anxiety was about. At Daeun’s kind explanation, I needlessly scratched the back of my neck.

For some reason, Lee Hyun hates PD Choi. Usually, my opinion aligns with his, so it’s not a problem, but for some reason today, I felt like I had to tread carefully.

Still, he just sent it to congratulate the studio opening, I thought, as I tore the tape off a heavily taped package. That was when I heard a rather ominous thud from outside.

Wondering what the sound was, I hurriedly opened the door and went out. Daeun, who was right in front of me, had her chin slightly tucked and her eyes wide. Following her wide-eyed gaze, I saw the bouquet scattered and rolling on the floor under the opposite wall.

Looking at that strange sight, I thought. If a person is here, and the bouquet is way over there… there’s only one reason. It was obvious how hard it had been thrown, hitting the wall before falling.

It was obvious. Stunned, I asked.

“What are you doing?”

Lee Hyun stared at me with fierce eyes, as if he had done nothing wrong. Then I saw him turn his gaze to the side and smile sweetly at Daeun. How hypocritical.

“There was a bug on the flower. Right, Daeun?”

“Huh? W-was there?”

“There was.”

Daeun seemed more flustered than me, looking back and forth between Lee Hyun’s short answer and my dumbfounded face. She glanced around cautiously and moved one foot as if to pick up the scattered bouquet. Seeing this, Lee Hyun and I stopped her at the same time.

“Daeun. I’ll clean it up.”

“Leave it.”

“Uh… o-okay.”

Daeun probably hasn’t seen us agree on something in a long time. Probably. Looking at Daeun, who couldn’t understand the situation at all, I forced a gentle smile with all my might.

“I’ll pick that up, so let’s go eat.”

“Okay. Then I don’t need to prepare a vase… um…”

“The rest doesn’t look so good either, so it’s fine. What should we eat? Did you think of anything you want to eat?”

“No. I was going to look for something when I got here.”

“Then find something for us.”

She must have appreciated my effort. Daeun, with that same bewildered expression, fumbled with her phone and soon focused on the menu that appeared on the screen. I approached her side, pretending to be deeply interested in the moving phone screen, and peered over her shoulder, moving only my eyes to glare at Lee Hyun.

You and I are going to have a talk later. Lee Hyun, who must have clearly read my mouthed words, narrowed his eyes and moved his lips in response. Let’s talk right now.

Seeing one corner of his mouth curl up, I felt a little scared, even though he was the one in the wrong. Damn it.

˙✧˖🎥⋆˙

“That was a brilliant move, wasn’t it?”

This is another thing that makes me feel we’ve grown. The fact that we managed to create a cheerful atmosphere during our meal with Daeun, and are now fighting on the way home after parting ways. And that when Daeun fidgeted and took a few of the remaining flowers, handing the rest to me, he just twitched his eyebrows but didn’t say anything else.

Sitting in the passenger seat, listening to my words that didn’t hide their sarcasm, Lee Hyun also didn’t hide his emotions as he turned the steering wheel.

“It was the best thing I did all day.”

“Why did you have to throw it like that? Right in front of Daeun’s eyes.”

“Jio.”

Feeling the tension in his voice drop strangely, my rebellious spirit, in contrast, soared even higher.

“Why. What. If you call my name like that, does that mean I’m automatically in the wrong?”

“I can say I’m sorry for throwing it in front of Daeun.”

With that same low voice, Lee Hyun had already carried out his apology during dinner just before. I was surprised when I suddenly threw it earlier, I’m sorry. He had offered a very standard and normal apology to Daeun. Daeun had accepted it with a nod, and the matter was closed. I had also heard her very honest reaction: I was really surprised earlier.

“I can even apologize for making you anxious, since I know you don’t want to let people know about us yet.”

I hadn’t expected the conversation to suddenly jump there, so I pressed my lips shut, which had been poised to say something. It was because he had pinpointed the anxiety I myself had only vaguely felt with excessive accuracy.

Since we got back together, Lee Hyun had surprisingly handed over most of the control to me. Thanks to that, deciding when to tell those around us was also my responsibility. I want to tell them when I’m a bit more stable. He had readily softened his stubbornness, which I thought he would push for, at my words, and was so diligent that he would even add a few words to make my clumsy excuses smoother when we met with friends…

“Is that your idea of an apologetic attitude right now? Not at all.”

“You’re mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken.”

Lee Hyun grabbed my pointing hand, interlaced our fingers, squeezed it tightly, and then let go. As if to convey his apology with that gesture. And the problem was that the traffic light still hadn’t changed even by the next moment.

Lee Hyun, who seemed to have confidently delivered all the apologies he had to, let out a slow breath and looked straight at me.

“Is a bouquet like that normal?”

“I don’t know either. It’s probably just a gesture of congratulations.”

“Have you ever thought of sending Seungpyo or Geonjung a bouquet like that? Not a floral wreath, not a flower basket, but roses like that?”

“Maybe that flower shop had a lot of roses that day.”

“You two must be close.”

“Ah. Let’s not talk like that.”

I didn’t know what Lee Hyun was thinking, but I had a clear goal. To end this ridiculous conversation and enter the house in a cheerful mood while Lee Hyun’s attention was at least somewhat diverted by driving. This was my goal.

And now, we were about 10 minutes away from home. The remaining time was a bit short, and like Lee Hyun had just said, it seemed there was no answer other than a direct approach.

“Do you know what I find most ridiculous about this situation right now, Lee Hyun?”

“What is it?”

“It’s the fact that we’re doing this because of none other than PD Choi. Because of that kind of person. Huh?”

At my earnest voice, Lee Hyun glanced at my eyes, his gaze lingering on my desperate expression for a moment. He then looked straight ahead again. I stared at his chiseled, straight-lined mouth and exclaimed.

“You just smiled a little, didn’t you.”

“I didn’t smile.”

“Honestly, it’s funny, isn’t it? We can fight about any topic, but fighting over PD Choi is really not it. I find that itself so annoying.”

Watching my anger, which I expressed with gestures of my hands and feet, Lee Hyun finally began to show signs of trying to force down the corners of his mouth, which were now clearly curved even at a glance. Good.

“See? You’re holding back a laugh too.”

“I told you I’m not.”

“I know he looks a bit weird, but let’s not do this over PD Choi.”

“Should we go back to the original topic? You saw the bouquet and still don’t get it, Jio?”

Ah. Right. That was a bit strange, but. I don’t even want to imagine what kind of intentions PD Choi had when he sent it. The flower shop he happened to go into just had an abundance of roses that day. Or maybe a bouquet someone had prepared for a proposal got canceled, and he got it for a cheap price. Isn’t that more realistic?

“And you’re scheduled to see that bastard next week.”

“That’s. Because he said he’d give me a job. It’s not even dinner, we’re just meeting for a bit during lunch. I can’t just do nothing in that studio.”

“Right. You can’t.”

Lee Hyun answered as if he were granting a great favor and gripped the steering wheel tightly. We finally arrived at the parking garage, and at the same time, our argument ended within the time I had planned.

It’s over and done with, but… Seeing the prominent veins on the back of his smooth hand, as if so much strength was needed just to drive, I really wanted to point it out. That’s not something you should say as if you’re granting a favor, is it? Because you’re the one who’s wrong. I, who held back these words that rose to the tip of my tongue, have clearly grown one step further today.

No, but really. This isn’t right. I don’t even know why this is a topic of conversation.

“But, really, that can’t be true.”

“Who knows.”

Lee Hyun, twirling the car key, pressed the lock button, making a beep. The short electronic sound was like a voice telling me I was wrong.

“You and I are like this, so what’s impossible?”

It was a statement for which I couldn’t find a good rebuttal. He’s right. That’s the most surprising thing.

The embers of my thoughts, which had died down, were reignited while I was rolling around in bed after a shower. The trouble started when I was turning from my stomach to lie on my back, and my gaze inadvertently caught a sight.

Far away, beyond the bedroom door. The bouquet I had placed on the living room table was now shoved into the trash can, with only its spiky ends barely visible, as if it had suffered some humiliation. Wondering if I had seen it wrong, I craned my neck and stared again, but it was true. It was the same white wrapping paper and the cleanly trimmed ends of the stems.

He threw it away again already. The bouquet, which had ended up inside the house because there was no proper place to throw it away in the parking garage, had met this fate before I could even throw it out myself. If it had gone to another house, it would have been cherished. Just as a strange sense of pity for its unfortunate state was about to rise, Lee Hyun’s long legs suddenly blocked my view. It had been just a few minutes since he had gone into the study, saying he had a quick call to make.

After checking the direction I was looking in, he turned back to me, one corner of his mouth pulling up into a smirk. It was an unnecessarily deep smile. At that sight, I lowered the corners of my eyes as much as possible and asked.

“Wasn’t the call urgent?”

“It was nothing.”

“I thought you’d be on the phone for a while, so that’s a relief.”

“What were you doing?”

“Just hanging out.”

“Just?”

“Yeah. Without a single thought. Comfortably.”

As if to prove how peaceful and serene I was, I leaned my upper body against the headboard and spread my arms wide. His lingering gaze moved, heavy and flowing. That too was ominous.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Just because.”

With those words, Lee Hyun slowly sat down next to me and quietly looked at me. When I responded with silent gazing, a stillness settled all around. His firmly closed lips parted slightly before closing again, and his lowered head naturally tilted as he brought his lips down.

Somewhere near my eyelid. And under my eye. To my lips. It felt as if his gentle breath was tickling the baby hairs on my face. That sensation spread throughout my body, pooling at my fingertips.

Trying not to let him notice that thought, I clenched my fists and kissed his approaching lips first. Lee Hyun stopped moving. With a distant space between us, as if we were about to touch but not quite. His lips, which had been flushing redder the closer they got, moved slightly in the air.

“Jio.”

“Yeah.”

“No matter what tricks that bastard pulls.”

“I told you, they’re not tricks.”

“And even if you foolishly pretend not to know anything.”

“On this matter, I think you’re the one who’s wrong, not me.”

“Even so, you’re here, so.”

His murmuring lips moved along my chin and Adam’s apple, pecking. His voice was dry yet heavy. He pulled down the collar of my loose shirt slightly with his teeth, and his wet lips touched and left the skin below my collarbone.

“I’ll let it slide.”

“Let what slide…”

The bouquet already shoved in the trash can would be sad to hear that. Lee Hyun, as if dissatisfied with my retort, frowned slightly and kissed me again. But contrary to his expression, his movements were only gentle.

As I opened my lips, the feeling of his mucous membrane pressing in made me feel strangely as if something empty was being filled. Hah… Lee Hyun, who seemed to swallow the breath I exhaled, his Adam’s apple bobbing, gently bit and sucked on my tongue, his hand squeezing and then caressing the skin of my back. The tingling sensation and pleasure in my mouth flashed alternately.

Contrary to his attitude, the kiss was tender. We turned our heads several times, rubbing against each other, our legs tangling. Even through the fabric, the heat of our erections was intense, and as we rubbed, their outlines hardened and pressed against my own groin. Already tingling from the kiss, it was hard to hold back a sound.

“It tickles.”

“Where?”

“Everywhere.”

With a moan, his tongue plunged into my open mouth again. The sensation of his sharp tongue slowly sweeping the inside of my mouth made my back arch reflexively. My loose pants were pulled down to my knees, and a large hand entered between my bare legs, gently cupping my scrotum. The heat from his palm warmed my lower body, and a shiver ran through me, causing my breath to escape.

“…Hh. Huu.”

“I’ll let it slide, so let’s stop seeing him.”

“Is that what letting it slide is?”

Even if I’m out of breath, I have to get my words straight. Lee Hyun smiled crookedly again and lowered his lips.

It’s amazing how we continued our business even while bickering. After one thrust, the weight of him on top of me, as I lay on my stomach, was heavy. The sensation in my stomach, still feeling like it had been pummeled, was a complete mess.

The lips that had pecked my neck moved slowly towards my ear. His breath, thick with his scent, tickled my earlobe, and the sensation of him slowly licking the inside of my ear made my body flinch again. As the pleasure continued, my energy drained, and my voice, as I made excuses, became slow.

“Just now, I was just looking at the flowers because I felt sorry for them…”

“Were you?”

Contrary to his gentle reply, the weight on my back instantly grew heavier. The approaching warmth completely pressed down on me from behind. As if the weight he had been applying so far was just a courtesy, I was suddenly crushed so deeply that my breath caught, and I felt my back would break. This is uncomfortable. I tried to move my lower back, but the hand that had been gripping my hip bone now hooked under me like a claw.

“Hheuk, ah, it feels like it’s going to tear…”

“Here?”

“No, don’t touch, ah. Haah…”

It was infuriating how his hand caressed my lower abdomen as if searching, all while knowing exactly what the problem was and deepening the union. Here? Where? The feeling of his lips brushing softly against the tip of my ear was also terribly ticklish.

“Eugh, Lee Hyun… ah. Heu…”

Tak, tak, tak. The louder the sound of our bodies colliding became, the brighter the flashes before my eyes turned white. I bit and tore at the sheets, and he noticed, caressing my jaw and then shoving his knuckles into my mouth, moving them around. As he pressed down on my tongue and swirled inside my mouth until saliva sloshed, it felt like a part of my brain was melting. My lower body, my stomach, my mouth. It all felt like it would be crushed into a tangled mess.

I felt the hand that had wiped the saliva from around my jaw now move to clutch both my breasts. Heu… The feeling of my chest being squeezed tight made my eyes shoot open again. Ah, please. Don’t.

“He sends something that big as a congratulations?”

“Ah, I get it.”

“Hmm? Jio.”

“Aht, ah, fuck. I get it. I… lose. I won’t say anything. Ever. Ah…!”

The motion of him lifting me by my chest made my upper body rise on its own. My legs, supported by my knees, spread wider, and the penis thrusting into me kept rubbing against the itchy spot inside as if scratching it. He pressed down hard on my waist, and the explicit, rocking motion made my hips instinctively flinch and my insides clench. Rubbing his cheek against mine from behind, Lee Hyun licked my earlobe and whispered.

“Even if that bastard didn’t know, this is bullshit.”

“Eugh, heut…”

“Got it?”

“Yeah, got i-, heu, eut…”

As a long-fingered hand gripped my penis, which was shaking as if about to cum, a sensation of my very soul being squeezed out made me shudder. I didn’t need to see it to know. The face that would be wearing a sneer. I shook my head, cum and moans spilling out of me.

“Ah. I, now… please. Just…”

“…Haa. Why.”

“Let go. Ah. Heut…”

“Come like this.”

I shook my head, but with him pressing down from behind and his inserted penis prying me open, there was nothing I could do. Flashes appeared before my eyes again. Lee Hyun wrapped his other arm around me, this time gripping the flesh of my chest. The moment he pinched my nipple hard and gently tugged on my penis, it felt like the strange sensation pooled in my stomach was leaking out. Ah, no. No. Lee Hyun.

“Haeuk, eut… Ah, this, sh… euhk. Eu…”

“It’s okay. Hmm?”

Even as I thrashed my head, the fingertips kneading my glans and rubbing my urethral opening were firm. I felt the fluid that burst out like a popped balloon now leak like a broken faucet. Seeing it pool in the palm of his hand holding my penis, then drip down to leave dark wet spots on the sheets, I felt like tears would burst forth.

I reached out an arm to support my tilting body, then collapsed. This time, my body was pushed up with rough, thrusting motions. The sensation of his weight bearing down and hot liquid pouring into me was painful. It felt like the tickling heat was pooling inside me as much as I had just leaked.

Clenching my teeth and staring wide-eyed, Lee Hyun pulled my chin to turn my face. A tear that had been precariously clinging to my eyelashes fell. I didn’t understand the reason for his gaze as he looked down at me for a long time. As I glared at his eyes, which seemed to have distorted ends, a slightly panting breath escaped me. I closed my mouth, afraid he would think I was crying, but my insides wouldn’t calm down.

“Heu, euk. Heu…”

“You’re driving me crazy.”

Who’s the one going crazy right now? I felt wronged, but only panting sounds came out when I opened my mouth, so I pressed my lips shut again. I felt an arm wrap carefully under my shoulders, embracing my body. Thinking it was starting again, I flinched, but relaxed at the light, stroking touch.

“Was it too hard for you?”

“I told you earlier… not to do that.”

“Why.”

“Crazy, I leaked something wrong.”

“It’s okay. I come inside you all the time.”

“That’s not it!”

“It’s not strange.”

Though it had shrunk in size, the pressure of his still-present penis showed no intention of leaving. Lee Hyun straightened my leg, which was about to get trapped underneath, and held out his own hand in front of my eyes. Finding it hard to look at with both eyes open, I stared ahead with blurry vision. In his palm, which was slick with a shiny wetness, there was no semen, nor anything else, just a clear liquid.

The anxiety that I might have made a mistake subsided slightly, but it wasn’t that I wasn’t embarrassed. What the hell was that? There were times when, while having sex with Lee Hyun, I didn’t know what my body was doing, but a sensation like that was a first. Ah, I don’t know. Let’s just drop it for now.

“Get that away.”

I pushed his hand away and buried my head. The hand that had been gently stroking my chest now slid down my solar plexus towards my lower abdomen. The sensation of that moment, leaking like a broken faucet, was still making my urethral opening tingle. Even when he called my name, I kept my head buried and my eyes squeezed shut, and I felt him bite and nuzzle the nape of my neck from behind. The moment I shook my shoulders to shrug him off, a warm, licking sensation sent shivers down my spine again.

˙✧˖🎥⋆˙

[Why was Lee Hyun like that that day?]

[I don’t know, maybe he has a rose allergy.]

[He has a rose allergy?]

[No. I don’t know.]

[What the.]

[I think there really was a bug.]

[Lee Hyun really hates bugs.]

[That somehow suits him.]

Apologizing and having that apology accepted didn’t mean the curiosity subsided. During the lunch hour when I had a short meeting scheduled with PD Choi, Daeun, who seemed to be on her lunch break too, kept the texts going for quite a while. Thanks to that, I was in the middle of trying to deflect the conversation by dropping the information that Lee Hyun hates bugs.

A few days ago, I had nonchalantly flicked away a ladybug that had landed on the terrace railing as he was trying to avoid it. He had clearly been reluctant, yet he had asked why I chased it away. So you want to be friends with it? I had teased him for a long time.

The topic of conversation with Daeun then shifted to me. I don’t like flower gifts. I really hate watering them. I hate it so much. After I feigned disgust and abhorrence for a while, Daeun didn’t bring up the topic again.

I managed to get past it like this for now, but what will happen to my reputation, having shown such disgust and hatred for a gift from someone else? But lately, I sincerely want no more roses. Lee Hyun has been bringing home roses every day on his way home from work. Sigh. Let’s not even talk about it.

I was sitting in a cafe, fiddling with my phone and having idle thoughts. As I watched the backs of office workers leaving like a receding tide after lunch, I saw PD Choi enter. Seeing him after a long time brought a new wave of feelings. He must have been to a meeting somewhere, as his white shirt and hair, which was pushed back more than usual, caught my eye. I watched him silently until he came closer, then casually stood up to greet him.

“Hello, PD-nim. Have you been well?”

“I haven’t been well.”

Seriously. He never just accepts a greeting. PD Choi gestured to my drink on the table and said.

“You already ordered coffee.”

“Yes. I came early.”

As if he was going to order too, PD Choi turned and walked towards the counter. Ah. I should have offered to buy. But seeing him immediately state his order and pull out his card as soon as he got to the counter, it was already too late.

The coffee he brought back was the same recipe he always had during meetings. Iced Americano, extra shot, strong. Ice filled to the brim. Just looking at it, memories of the past tried to surface like PTSD, and I had to force them back down.

He took a sip through the straw, which was stubbornly stuck between the ice filling the dome lid, placed the coffee aside on the table, and asked me.

“How are you. Have you been well?”

“Yes. I’ve been well.”

I thought I would feel terrible seeing him, but maybe because I considered it all in the past now that it was over, I didn’t feel that angry. Right. That man wasn’t always happy either. Facing him with that light thought gave me the余裕 to say this.

“Being like this feels like my first interview.”

“Back then. It was similar. How about it. Should we conduct the interview again?”

“Oh, no. I’m sorry. I don’t think that’s a job for me.”

“I think you’d do well, let’s go up together. Mr. Shin Jio.”

“Ah. Why are you being like this?”

I said it as a joke, but when PD Choi got serious as if it were real, I felt a little nauseous. Finding my disgusted expression amusing, PD Choi smiled brightly.

The jobs he was offering to introduce were two. Editing for the culture department, and editing for a program temporarily scheduled as a pilot.

All the jobs I had been offered so far either required going out to shoot or had too wide a scope for me to cover alone, so I had refused them, but it seems that someone of a PD’s level has access to more opportunities. It was a rather grateful offer, so remembering how he had turned away as soon as he saw my coffee, I said.

“I was going to buy you coffee, you should have gone to buy it a little later.”

“Buy it with what you earn. Ah. They said if you’re interested in that pilot, you could do it with us. You’re not going to, are you?”

“No. I’m still resting. But it’s strange. They usually don’t pay well for these kinds of programs. They just say they’ll give you your debut when it becomes a regular program and ask you to do it for ‘passion pay’.”

“Don’t do those things. It’s all lies.”

“Right. But there are so many of those, so it’s surprising that they’re paying.”

There must be a hundred temporary programs a year that bait people like that, use them for free, and then disappear.

The two jobs PD Choi introduced were exactly what I wanted. Both were jobs I could receive from home after one face-to-face meeting, without having to commute.

Why is this guy suddenly acting like this? Did he finally realize how important I was? Is the team really falling apart that badly? He’s not going to suddenly get desperate and beg me to come back just one more time, is he? Then again, after helping him this much, it seems only right that I go back once.

While my thoughts were branching out, Choi PD, who had finished his coffee and was rattling the ice in his cup, asked abruptly.

“I heard you set up your own studio.”

“Yes. Oh, that’s right. Thank you for the congratulations you sent. I was so out of it that I forgot to send my thanks.”

“Did it arrive safely? You were so quiet, I thought you didn’t get it.”

“No, no. It arrived safely. I should have contacted you right away, I’m sorry.”

The way he spoke was a bit grating, but I figured I might have been the same in his shoes, so I apologized obediently. If I had had a normal evening that day, I would have naturally contacted him after being surprised. The words ‘What’s this about?’ might have been included, of course. But because that evening was so far from normal, I forgot all about it.

Choi PD, who had been sitting with his arms lightly crossed, unfolded them and placed them on the table. The distance between us shrank slightly as his upper body leaned forward with the movement.

“Did you not want to greet me because I was an ass to you at work?”

“……”

The truth came out so suddenly that I had no response. He stared at my speechless face, seemingly amused by himself. Ah, I’ve been revealing too much of my true character lately. I need to be more careful.

“That’s why I brought you a decent job.”

“No, well. This industry is like that. I know you were speaking harshly because you were having a hard time.”

“You knew I was a bit harder on you, though, right?”

“…Right. Why did you do that?”

“See. You knew.”

“You were always like that, but you were definitely harder on me, right.”

“I was nice to you sometimes, too. But I was a bit of a nuisance, wasn’t I?”

“Yes. That’s why I could never figure you out.”

He never seemed to talk behind my back and even gave me good evaluations, but strangely, he would annoy me and pick at me to my face.

Since he had opened up first, it was a good opportunity for me. I was genuinely curious, too. Why on earth had he been like that? Whether it was because I was feeling content these days or not, the truth is, I was more interested in this than the job he brought me. I pulled my chair closer and scooted in to ask.

“Why did you do it? Did you dislike me that much?”

“No. I liked you.”

“What? No, well, you don’t have to go that far…”

I had nothing more to say to that, so I just laughed. It was the first time in my life I’d felt so bad hearing someone say they liked me instead of insulting me.

“Jio, you do your work neatly. Sometimes you miss the intention, but overall, it was good.”

Right. If there had been a problem with my work, he wouldn’t have left me alone. Then what on earth was the reason? I unconsciously started to cross my arms and lean my upper body back, but then I lowered my arms and readjusted my position on the chair, pretending to fix its placement.

The thought that I almost looked incredibly arrogant flashed through my mind. And just as I was marveling to myself at how comfortable I had become to sit so unguardedly in front of Choi PD, he, who had been strangely silent while watching my internal emotional shifts, spoke.

“I liked you, and that made me a bit uncomfortable.”

“Why?”

Was it that obvious that I disliked him? I’d been told more than once that I wasn’t good at controlling my expression, so it was a slightly tense moment.

“It was an unfamiliar feeling, so it was uncomfortable. Because of that, I ended up… being hot and cold and tormenting you. I’m sorry.”

“…What? You film unfamiliar people every week, but you were uncomfortable because I was unfamiliar?”

“That’s not what I mean. The feeling I got from you, Jio, was unfamiliar to me, that’s why.”

Choi PD stared at me, his face unreadable. Just as I was about to raise my voice and chatter away to fill his silence, his gaze seemed overly strange, and I felt a sense of déjà vu. For a moment, it felt like something was caught in my throat, and the words got stuck.

No way.

Thinking, really, no way, I tilted my head slightly to express my doubt. I must have had a very strange look on my face. Are you really telling me this with that kind of intention right now?

My head tilted back the other way. I stared at him like that. Choi PD, who used to bite my head off at every chance, now avoided my gaze as if meeting my eyes was a monumental task, his pupils sliding downward. At that moment, seeing his tightly sealed lips, my brow must have furrowed even more.

Uh. No. That’s really not it. I rattled the ice in the empty glass, which no longer held any drink, and set it down. In the sharp silence that followed, I thought. Wow. That’s really not right, is it?

There was a question that would naturally follow, one that any person would be curious about. So why are you being nice to me now?

Why? To make up with me? Choi PD’s listless posture made it impossible to guess his feelings, so I deliberately held back that question. Instead.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You’re the same as ever, Choi PD.”

I spat out words that fled far away from this incomprehensible situation. Then I turned my head away completely.

It’s just too hard to look forward. The small surge of heat welling up inside me is definitely not that kind of emotion. No, fuck. That was the reason, and you treated a person like that? That makes me even angrier.

After that, Choi PD tried to downplay what he’d said, insisting that it was just something that happened. And as soon as I heard that, I felt a boiling desire to go find the bouquet I’d thrown away and beat him with it. Then why did you say it, you crazy bastard? To make me uncomfortable?

˙✧˖🎥⋆˙

When I got back to the building, the elevator was stuck on the 5th floor again for some reason, showing no sign of coming down. I stood there, blankly pressing the button, and only realized after waiting for a long while. Only then did I trudge toward the stairs.

With each shallow step I climbed, a new thought rose.

2nd floor. It’s not like some old-school literary drama. To think he tormented someone that much just because his own feelings were unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

3rd floor. He’s truly the worst.

4th floor. Right. Even if I can comprehend it, his personality is truly unlikable.

By the time I pushed the door open, the confusion that had started on the 1st floor had decisively turned into anger. The inside of the studio was bright with natural light. After a quick check of the cyclorama wall, for which I had requested a perfect finish during the last construction, I walked over to the large table by the window and plopped down. I opened my heavy laptop and pressed the power button. Even as I mechanically performed these routine tasks, the sense of disbelief wouldn’t go away.

So you couldn’t even properly understand or control your own emotions, and that’s why you tormented me like that. Ah. I see. That might be understandable for a short while at the beginning, but if you do that the entire time we work together, what was I supposed to do? Huh? Because of you, I…!

No. Let’s forget it, forget it. I consciously let out a deep breath, trying to calm down. There’s really nothing to gain from thinking about it. After sitting blankly for a good while, I deliberately tried to start working with some enthusiasm.

I moved my fingers diligently, trying to compose an email with my dazed mind using the contact information I received. Hello. I am Shin Jio, contacting you after an introduction. Then my fingers suddenly stopped in mid-air.

“Is it okay to accept this?”

I muttered, and for a moment, a small, very small, nagging feeling arose. Pushing the thought away with effort, I started typing again. He already told them I would be in touch, so they’ll be waiting for my call, and most importantly, Choi PD isn’t involved in this project.

I have to handle work professionally. Of course. Still, let’s never contact each other again, for whatever reason.

˙✧˖🎥⋆˙

I don’t know what kind of conclusion or ending he was hoping for, but afterwards, Choi PD took over for me, who had grown quiet, and managed to end our meeting peacefully. Right. That’s good enough. That’s that, and work is work.

Steeling my constantly wavering heart, I touched up a few photos and downloaded the videos that had been sent. One of the clients was in a hurry and asked me to edit a short video right away. As I worked on it, the office grew dark and silent. The construction noise had stopped long ago. I checked the time; it was almost 9 o’clock.

“I’m starving to death.”

I turned on my phone, and thankfully, there was only one missed call. 2 minutes ago. It was a call from Lee Hyun. Feeling grateful to my own timing for snapping out of it and checking the time, I left the studio and pressed the elevator button. Thankfully, the brightly lit elevator was now working properly.

“I was working and didn’t see it because I was packing my things. Why’d you call?”

— Have you eaten?

“I ate something.”

— Tell me the truth. I still need to go eat.

“Then I haven’t eaten either.”

At my immediate reply, Lee Hyun was silent for a moment. Hearing his breath, he was clearly smiling, so I relaxed and bantered with him as I went down to the underground parking lot and started the car.

“I’m leaving now. Where are you?”

— I just got home.

“I thought you were at the office. I’ll be there soon.”

— Drive slow.

“You know, the only time you tell me to be slow is when I’m driving.”

— And hang up. Don’t answer any calls either.

Before I could say anything, Lee Hyun hung up first. I wonder if Lee Hyun knows. The more he fusses like this… the more scared I get of driving. Can’t he just trust me and encourage me?

Still, the roads, long past rush hour, had a comfortable amount of traffic that was good for driving, not yet having turned into the lawless zone of late night. I missed an exit, made a U-turn, crossed the Han River bridge one more time, and while stopped at a red light, a thought suddenly struck me.

Lee Hyun was right, though. In the end, he was right. Why is Lee Hyun’s accuracy rate so high? About whether I’d eaten, and even about Choi PD’s strange feelings that I myself didn’t know. How on earth? If his job was a prosecutor or a police officer, or something where he could wield official power, I might be able to understand. I’d just assume he was watching me from somewhere. But since that’s not possible, it’s just something I’ll never know.

Still, there was one good thing. I managed to park perfectly within the wide lines in one go. I happily tapped my key card, entered the apartment building, and as I rode the elevator, another thought came to me. Ah. Seriously. What should I say if he asks? He’s definitely going to ask. What did you and Choi PD talk about today?

They say everyone’s emotions show on their face, but I’m particularly bad at hiding mine. Strictly speaking, it’s one of my weaknesses. I have no idea what kind of face Lee Hyun will put on to test me. Will he be gruff? Or uncharacteristically gentle? Will he ask while I’m distracted by food? Or will he wrap his arms around me from behind, rest his chin on my shoulder, and then startle me with the question?

I can’t predict it at all. And I don’t know what expression I should make in that moment. So, as soon as I opened the front door, I made a decision. Right. I can’t hide it anyway, so I might as well apologize in advance. Your suspicion was correct. I’m sorry.

I took off my shoes, walked down the hallway, and rounded the corner near the kitchen. He asked what I’d eaten, and now the smell of cooking filled the air, as if he was preparing dinner. Lee Hyun, his back to me, was still in his shirt, the sleeves rolled up tightly below his elbows as he cooked. The steady sound of a knife chopping could be heard.