SWAP 83

“Why do you keep making such strange, stubborn demands?”

It was immediately after they had almost forcibly sent home Heo Geosu, who had been clinging to them and insisting on driving them back to the house. As soon as Saheon, who had even closed the passenger door for him, climbed into the driver’s seat, Seoul opened his mouth. His large eyes were sharp like rock candy again, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

Even though just a few minutes ago, he had been busy beaming at every single staff member.

Saheon laughed silently, finding it cute how Seoul became sulky the moment they were alone, and asked.

“What stubborn demand.”

“Are you going to play innocent?”

“I’m asking because I truly don’t know.”

Unable to hold back at that brazen response, Seoul finally began to pour out a stream of nagging. What do you mean you don’t know? Why did you act like that on set? Was it right to run to me in 그 situation? Of course you might dislike it, but it wasn’t to the point where you couldn’t endure it. And if you talk like that, what does that make the others? Don’t tell me you’re usually like this…

“No, I’m not.”

Saheon, who had been quietly watching the lips busy chattering away, stretched out his arm. Even though it was something he might have hated hearing, his answer was gentle, as if humoring an angry lover. Thinking to himself that Seoul was like a five-year-old who had just returned from kindergarten, he pulled the seatbelt clip and clicked it into the buckle for him. Because it was a practiced habit, even Seoul, who ended up wearing the belt without lifting a finger, didn’t notice anything strange.

Saheon, who started the engine as naturally as flowing water and even subtly turned on the air conditioner, turned his body toward the passenger seat.

It was exactly at the point where Seoul’s non-stop nagging had come to an end. Since only those who have been angry before know how to be angry, Seoul looked exhausted from just scolding him that little bit, so Saheon quickly checked the corners of his mouth. He had to look appropriately gloomy right now.

“I told you, I’m not usually like that. It’s because you were there today.”

“That’s why I’m asking why…”

“Because I wanted to show off that we’re close. I have to do at least this much for people to believe it.”

Seoul flinched at Saheon’s out-of-the-blue excuse. Saheon glanced at the look of doubt spreading over the dissatisfied face and added nonchalantly.

“They say you and I are ‘Photoshopped Best Friends.’”

“…What?”

It was a scene that caused not only the viewers but even the production team, who were checking the SD cards later, to scream in unison. It was a nickname that had followed the two around like a tag, but they hadn’t expected him to mention it with his own mouth. If it were a good meaning, it might be different, but the problem was it was the opposite. Even a passing stray dog would know it was meant as a mockery, no matter how nicely one tried to wrap it.

Is today really some kind of special day?

While he was appalled by Seo Saheon’s streak of non-stop hits since morning, Seoul’s following reaction was even more horrifying.

“If we’re best friends, we’re best friends; what’s with the ‘Photoshopped’?”

A face that looked like he was hearing it for the first time, no matter who saw it. Seeing him tilt his head with an expression asking how such a word combination could even exist, it seemed Lee Seoul was the only one who didn’t know what even the stray dogs knew. One might wonder if it made sense for the party involved not to know such a famous nickname, but surprisingly, it did.

There was only one way. Just stay away from the internet windows.

Seoul was someone who couldn’t even properly read articles related to himself, let alone Saheon. To the point where he had even checked the two-shot burst by IsPatch through a screenshot sent by Saheon, so what more needed to be said? He had no acquaintances he contacted privately, and the same was true on the filming set. It was because most people voluntarily watched their mouths in front of Lee Seoul.

He belonged to the kind and Dajeong type in every matter, but the theory that a 9m iron wall existed once you actually got close was already famous. It meant he was the type who was more comfortable when you didn’t know him well, and rather, became more difficult the more you knew him. There was more than a truckload of people who had treated him lightly based only on his familiar image as a child actor, only to pay dearly for it. No matter how soft and introverted his nature was, a career of rolling around the jungle-like entertainment industry for 20 years was not something that could be ignored.

So, naturally, people had no choice but to be careful with their words.

Furthermore, because he was the type to cut off even behind-the-scenes gossip, the ultimate skill of ‘getting close while badmouthing others’ didn’t work either.

There was no one bold enough around Seoul to chatter about being Photoshopped best friends to such a person without any sense. Rather, they were busy hushing things up when stories about Saheon came up.

When he made an even more puzzled expression because of that, Saheon, who looked like someone who had already expected this reaction, leaned his body and placed his arm over the steering wheel. Then, he cast his gaze down and muttered quite gloomily.

“It means that the fact that we are friends is so unbelievable. Because it’s nonsensical, doesn’t suit us, and they don’t want to believe it, even the photos taken together are Photoshopped. That’s why we’re ‘Photoshopped Best Friends.’”

“No, where is such a thing…”

Only his side profile was captured on the fixed camera, but the face that Seoul saw head-on was one that couldn’t help but make his heart sink. Because he had never even dreamed that people would be calling him and Saheon by such a nickname, something quickly flashed through the mind of the startled, contradicting Seoul. The photo that had been uploaded with the word ‘Photoshopped,’ and that time when Saheon had said he was anxious….

‘What’s the problem? The way you act like you’re going to suddenly disappear. That’s my biggest problem. So, it’s all fucking annoying and I hate it when they blabber that there’s nothing between us.’

“Don’t tell me that OnStar post was about this?”

He couldn’t understand what Saheon was saying back then, but it felt like the puzzle pieces were finally fitting together now. He hadn’t known that the photo he thought was just posted as a whim, same as always, held such a meaning.

And that was already several years ago.

It was just as Seoul’s expression automatically clouded over.

“But well, it’s a fact that I’ve rained on your parade. I have nothing to say.”

It was a remark that added fuel to an already upset heart. When Seoul, who immediately understood the meaning inside, flinched, Saheon slowly lifted his downcast gaze.

Seeing him act as if he were walking on eggshells around him made a corner of Seoul’s chest tighten. Thinking about how Saheon had been the one to strictly warn him not to search for gossip, yet he himself had embraced all those pointed words and been hurt, made Seoul’s heart ache to the point of stinging.

It was a pity that someone who knew the true nature of the man in front of him could never have in a lifetime.

“Heon-ah…”

Finally falling for it completely, Seoul called Saheon’s name in a cautious voice.

It was clearly a trick to anyone else, but it couldn’t defeat the “bean pods” over his eyes that had been layered on carefully for 29 years.

Before long, Seoul, who had completely forgotten about the unpleasant business that happened on the set, began to soothe Saheon. His sentences, asserting that he had never once thought of it as raining on his parade, were all soft and tender. Saheon, who was quietly receiving the touch of Seoul’s hand gently stroking back his hair while telling him not to worry, asked as if in passing.

“Then can I post a photo?”

“Why do you ask that all of a sudden? I haven’t said anything about it before…”

“I’m doing it in case I get scolded again. I told you. If I fight with you, I’m the only one who loses.”

“I won’t scold you. Do as you want.”

It was a question for which the answer had been decided from the start. As Seoul agreed nonchalantly, Saheon, having achieved his goal, finally washed away the face that had been pretending to be pathetic. Then he took something out of his jacket pocket and handed it over with a thud.

“What is this?”

“A gift.”

When he opened the case placed in his arms with a dazed look, he saw the familiar sky-blue perfume bottle. Realizing it was the product Angela had been explaining with such passion a moment ago, Seoul tilted his head.

Isn’t this before its release yet?

“Don’t go getting strange things on you; spray that.”

“Yeah, thanks. I’ll use it well.”

Questions remained, but it was a gift nonetheless. When he smiled and expressed his gratitude because the scent wasn’t bad, Saheon, who now had a satisfied face, finally gripped the steering wheel. “Going straight home?” When Saheon asked, Seoul, after pondering for a moment, nodded. He had originally planned to go to the grocery store, but because he was mentally and physically exhausted, he wanted to rest for today.

Since there was still plenty of limit left on the corporate card, Seoul, whose mind leaned toward simply ordering delivery for dinner, picked up his phone.

5:34 PM. Since Ye Juyeol and Yun Hyeok had also said they would likely return around 6:00, it seemed they would arrive at a similar time. And as expected, they ran right into them in the parking lot, and after a short deliberation, they decided on Bossam for the dinner menu.

While waiting for the food to arrive like that, Seoul, who had exchanged Legos with Saheon, asked with a look of sudden realization.

“…But why don’t you ever exchange me?”

Now that he thought about it, it was true. Unlike himself, who had exchanged Saheon every single day without fail until today, Day 5, Saheon had never once exchanged Seoul. Seoul became serious as he realized a fact he hadn’t perceived because each day passed hectically, but Saheon answered with a nonchalant face.

“The rewards were so crappy that there was nothing I could exchange for.”

PD Jeon Jaeyeon, who was monitoring that scene from the control room, jumped up from her seat. Crappy, my foot; you’re lying! Because it was unprecedented for a best friend not to be exchanged to this extent, she had long since offered rewards with better conditions than the other cast members.

But that crazy guy had been hitting the [NO] button for five days straight without even reading.

The production team, who were in an emergency, had subtly tried to suggest it during the private interview time, but he was brazenly unmovable.

Without knowing what result that choice would bring back the following day, Saheon, who luckily landed on the option [Nothing Happens] today, shrugged his shoulders toward the camera with a spiteful face.

And the next day.

At the sound of the notification that began to ring noisily from early morning, Saheon, who had been sleeping as if dead, woke up while crumpling his brow. That crazy guy’s event. It was certainly a notice telling him to do some grunt work, so he reached out irritably and fumbled for his phone.

Lee Seoul, what did you swap me for again?

It was when he clicked the notification window with a low sigh.

⚠Notification⚠

You have been exchanged by your best friend.

Please become a [Puppy] right now!

Time Remaining: 17:43:45

Saheon’s eyes, which had been stained with annoyance, flashed in an instant.