CRANK 33

Ah, a cold feeling washed over me that this bastard was going to cross the line at this rate. I could easily imagine Woo Dobin saying something like, “I like you, hyung, and not just as a fan. We even kissed, you know,” right in front of Kang Leehyun.

That, I could not have. If that happened, I would have to cut off contact forever with Kang Leehyun, whom I had just met again after three years.

I snapped the wooden chopsticks in half. It would look even stranger if I adamantly refused here. Didn’t Kang Leehyun say he could feed me if I wanted? Right, I could at least handle nursing a sick kid. I was just overreacting. I nodded my head.

“Open up. I’ll… feed you.”

As if he had been waiting for just those words, a dimple deep-set into Woo Dobin’s right cheek again.

The filming continued until dawn. Woo Dobin, who said he’d just eat and leave, insisted that the taxi fare was a waste and that he would head home with me. Even though he’s rich, he’s fussing over a mere taxi fare like that. It was absurd, but since Youngjun—who had to wait alone—was so happy about it, I couldn’t stop him.

By the time all the filming was finished and we returned to the van, my body was exhausted. Something cold touched my face as I lay sprawled out carelessly.

“I’ll wipe off your makeup on the way. You can’t do this alone when you get home, oppa.”

It was Miyeon. Miyeon pushed my seat all the way back until it was almost lying flat, and began scrubbing my face with cotton pads soaked in some unknown liquid.

“Uh, uh… thanks….”

I had even taken a nap earlier today, but as I lay there with my eyes closed, sleep started to pour over me.

“Sunbae, you’re pretty even when you have makeup on like this.”

Because my seat was reclined, I had no choice but to have my face on the same level as Woo Dobin, who was sitting in the back seat. I could feel his gaze staring intently down at me.

“Right? Where else would you find a homeless person who’s this handsome.”

Miyeon agreed wholeheartedly and wiped the makeup off vigorously. Since she happened to be cleaning near my mouth, I couldn’t even retort. Woo Dobin and Miyeon continued to praise my appearance. Miyeon boasted about my skin that didn’t get a single blemish even if I slept without washing my face, and Woo Dobin praised my harmonious facial features that didn’t have a single excessive part. It was embarrassing to listen to, enough to make my face flush.

“Ah, Actor Dobin. Come to think of it, shouldn’t you drop by your house?”

Youngjun, who had been driving silently, asked.

“My house?”

“Yes, well, if you’re going to stay at Hoyoon hyung’s place until your shoulder heals, you’ll need some basic things. Clothes… or clothes… or more clothes…. I don’t think you have anything that fits….”

“Ah, that’s right.”

What? Nothing that fits? Ah, that’s right? At Youngjun’s words, which were clearly teasing me, I couldn’t hold it in and jumped up to shout.

“Hey!”

“Oppa! Stay still! The remover is dripping everywhere! I haven’t finished wiping it yet.”

“…Uh, uh…. Sorry….”

But thanks to Miyeon, who smacked my arm the moment I stood up, I had no choice but to lay my body back down.

“So, actor-nim, what is your home address?”

“Ah, I’ll type it into the navigation for you.”

I’m the owner of this car, and I’m their employer too…. Watching them laugh and chat happily among themselves without even considering me, I felt strange. As I pouted my lips in dissatisfaction, I had to hear it from Miyeon one more time.

Woo Dobin’s house was a little north of central Seoul. Miyeon got off on the way, and there were only the three of us in the car. The speed slowed down until the car stopped, and Youngjun turned back with a troubled look on his face.

“Uh, actor-nim. The navigation says this is it….”

It was understandable that he was troubled. I had definitely expected a large building, but the place where the car stopped was in front of a narrow alley where small houses were packed tightly together.

“If you drop me off here, I’ll go get it.”

“You should go all the way to the front of the house….”

“This alley is complicated to turn around in. Especially for a car this big.”

It was as Woo Dobin said. The narrow alley was already crowded with parked cars, so it didn’t look easy for the van to get in. If we went in for no reason and met another car in the middle, we would certainly be stuck.

“Then go ahead.”

We stopped the car at the entrance of the alley and sent Woo Dobin off. As soon as Woo Dobin closed the door and left, Youngjun turned his head sharply and said.

“Look at this, hyung.”

“Look at what.”

“It’s strange. Why would such a famous celebrity live in a place like this?”

“‘A place like this.’ You’re going too far.”

“That’s not what I meant….”

I stared intently out the window. Woo Dobin, wearing a long coat, walking into the narrow, narrow alley where even the streetlights were flickering, definitely… it really didn’t fit him. Trash was strewn here and there in the alley, and everything from the houses to the cars was old and dilapidated.

Could he really be poor? Even though he earns that much money? Does he have a debt at home, perhaps…. No matter how much debt he has, he can’t pay it all off? Maybe he got caught by some bad guys and is being hit with ridiculous usury….

The red seals filling the room, a tiny room where the kitchen and the bathroom were both within two steps. For some reason, Yeo Hajin’s semi-basement room that I imagined while reading the script came to mind. As did the image of Woo Dobin sitting there lonely.

Just when I reached that thought, Woo Dobin opened the door and reappeared. He threw a fairly large sports bag into the back seat carelessly and sat next to me.

“Let’s go then, to my place.”

“Ah, yes.”

The car started smoothly. I couldn’t smile back at Woo Dobin, who was smiling brightly at me.

Surely, it’s not. Even as I thought that, I kept imagining Woo Dobin rummaging for clothes in a crumbling brick house.

By the time we arrived home and I finished showering, it was already four in the morning. I wanted to just collapse and sleep, but before that, I went to the guest room where Woo Dobin was staying.

“Hey, you sleeping?”

When I knocked lightly, the door opened shortly after.

“Sunbae.”

While I washed in the main bedroom, Woo Dobin, who had used the living room bathroom, was shirtless again, wrapped only in a towel. I could see the lean muscles packed tightly across his waist. This crazy guy. The events from a few days ago came to mind automatically, and I quickly averted my gaze.

“…Put some clothes on.”

“Ah, I usually don’t wear clothes well.”

“That’s why you’re cold.”

After taking a look around the empty guest room, which only had a bed and a built-in wardrobe, I went to the window and stood still.

“…What draft? Not even a speck of wind is coming in.”

“Did you come because I said I was cold?”

“Yeah. If you were really cold, I thought I’d buy you an electric pad or something.”

To be honest, I came because I kept imagining Woo Dobin shivering in that semi-basement room. I was worried about what I would do if it really were cold here, and if he had only said that so he could sleep in my room. Fortunately, the guest room was full of warm air.

“It seems warmer than my room.”

“Really? What should we do if you catch a cold, Sunbae?”

“Huh?”

“Shall we stay together in this room?”

“What kind of bullcrap is that.”

“You said the room was cold.”

“That’s just a figure of speech. What kind of scheme are you trying to pull now?”

“Did you know?”

Woo Dobin took a bold step toward the window. Flesh filled my vision. My gaze lost its place and swayed back and forth.

“Know, know what? No, put some clothes on.”

“So you knew…. That I was pulling a scheme.”

Woo Dobin looked down at me and took another step closer. A droplet of water from his bangs dropped onto my face.

“I thought you wouldn’t know.”

Ah, this is dangerous. Woo Dobin was rapidly closing the distance. Well-defined muscles twitched before my eyes. The events from a few days ago filled my head. The lewd, muddy kiss, and the touch that lingered on my side. I had let my guard down again. He’s the type of guy I shouldn’t give an opening to.

“Hey, I, I’m tired, so I’m off.”

“Are you nervous? You said it wouldn’t work last time.”

A small smile hung on Woo Dobin’s lips.

“I said I’m tired!”

I replied irritably and shoved Woo Dobin’s chest hard. Instead of backing off, Woo Dobin stretched his arm out to the window frame and trapped me in his arms. Then he bent his waist slightly and thrust his face right in front of me.

Kiss. My mind was so full of those two syllables that I tilted my head sideways, and chu—Woo Dobin’s lips touched my cheek.

“Hey.”

“This is the second kiss for January 2nd.”

“What….”