Vol 5 Ch 17.1

It had happened a few months ago. Wooyeon, who had started filming a new drama after a long break, called Inseop to tell him he would be home late.

‘What time will you be back?’

<Around one o’clock.>

‘Then I’ll wait up for you.’

<Alright, then lie naked in my bed and wait. Or just wear your pajama top.>

‘…I’ll just go to bed.’

Inseop’s weak reply made Wooyeon burst out laughing.

‘How’s the filming going?’

Inseop was worried since it had been a while since the last shoot.

<Same as always.>

‘What about the other actors?’

<No one particularly annoying.>

That meant the filming environment wasn’t bad. Inseop felt relieved. After the Kang Young-mo incident, he was always concerned about the atmosphere on set.

‘How’s the co-star?’

It was a legal thriller, so the lead actors had many lines. If the co-star couldn’t handle their lines well, Wooyeon would have a hard time.

<They’re fine.>

Wooyeon’s casual response surprised Inseop.

<Not bad.>

…An unexpected answer.

‘…….’

<Inseop?>

Holding the phone in a daze, Inseop snapped out of it and replied hastily.

<I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later.>

‘Okay. Take care in the cold.’

Wooyeon replied with a laugh in his voice, then hung up. Even after the call ended, Inseop sat on the sofa for a while. Wooyeon returned home just before one o’clock, as he had said.

Inseop visited the filming set the next day. CEO Kim, had asked him to check if the coffee truck he had sent had arrived and to take a picture of it. Sometimes, CEO Kim would ask Inseop to go to the filming site for various reasons, like delivering forgotten documents or lunch boxes, or simply something he had left behind.

Inseop always agreed readily, though he noticed that Wooyeon’s mood was often sour or the atmosphere was down when he arrived.

Upon arriving at the set, Inseop found the coffee truck and quickly took a picture to send to Kim. Soon after, the photo was posted on Kim’s social media.

 

 

The hashtags went on and on. Inseop quickly liked the post and checked if there were any new photos. He secretly collected any pictures Kim posted of Wooyeon.

‘What are you looking at like that?’

‘A new photo has been uploaded… Eek!’

Inseop, startled, dropped his phone from his hand. Lee Wooyeon caught it and checked the screen.

‘Why are you looking at the CEO’s account like that? What’s there to see?’

Wooyeon’s eyes were menacing as he asked.

‘I just looked.’

Inseop held out his hand. Wooyeon continued to scroll through the screen without returning the phone.

‘Give it to me.’

‘Fine.’

Only after confirming there was nothing special did Wooyeon return the phone.

‘What brings you here?’

Wooyeon, wearing a long black padded jacket as if he was on standby, asked with a smile.

‘The CEO asked me to.’

‘The CEO?’

Wooyeon tilted his head, indicating he didn’t understand.

‘…To take a photo of the coffee truck.’

Wooyeon looked at Inseop with a still unconvinced expression and went, “Hmm.” When their eyes met, Inseop quickly looked down as if he had been burned. In fact, today’s request from CEO Kim was something Inseop had personally gone to the office to get.

When Inseop asked if there was anything he could help with, CEO Kim cheerfully said no. As Inseop was hesitating and about to leave, the CEO asked him to take a photo of the coffee truck.

‘Because of the coffee truck?’

Wooyeon asked again for confirmation. Inseop, feeling a pang of conscience, quickly nodded. Wooyeon, saying “Okay,” went to the coffee truck and ordered a coffee.

‘Here you go.’

After giving Inseop a coffee, Wooyeon also took a sip. Then he tilted his head again.

‘Something’s strange.’

‘…What is?’

‘The coffee truck isn’t special enough to warrant a photo request. I’m not in a bad mood today either. Why did he send you?’

Wooyeon was quick to catch on. If he found out that I came up with an excuse to visit the filming site, he would surely…. …I should just be honest….

Sunbae-nim, the director is looking for you.’

Inseop looked up at the voice behind him. It was Shin Sooyeon, who was playing the lead role with Wooyeon in this project. Inseop quickly bowed his head in greeting.

‘Hello.’

‘Yes, hello.’

Shin Sooyeon also bowed her head in greeting and then looked at Wooyeon, as if asking who he was. Wooyeon smiled with narrowed eyes as he drank his coffee. A foreboding sense of doom ran down Inseop’s spine. Inseop unconsciously clutched his shirt hem to hide the ring on his neck. Wooyeon’s smile grew longer.

‘I’m Choi Inseop. I’m a manager. …I worked here before.’

Inseop introduced himself first. Wooyeon sipped his coffee and watched Inseop.

‘Oh, so you work at the company. I’m Shin Sooyeon. I’m currently shooting the same project with the senior.’

‘Yes.’

Inseop shook her outstretched hand. Wooyeon called her, Sooyeon.’

‘Yes?’

She released her hand and looked at Wooyeon.

‘The director is looking for me?’

‘Yes, it seems there’s something about the scene we shot earlier that’s bothering him. I heard he focuses a lot on details, but this is more than I expected.’

In her slightly amused complaint, Wooyeon replied, ‘I see.’ Inseop fiddled with the coffee cup Wooyeon had given him and looked down.

‘But manager, why do you look so familiar?’

Shin Sooyeon asked Inseop.

‘I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere.’

She squinted her eyes, trying to recall, then clapped her hands.

‘At the <World of Noise> premiere. You sat next to me and we chatted a bit.’

‘…Yes.’

Inseop quietly nodded.

<World of Noise> was a recent release by CEO Kim Jung-ah. Due to his previous involvement in translating dialogue for Wooyeon’s movies, she occasionally sent Inseop premiere tickets.

‘What did you talk about?’

Wooyeon asked curiously as he drank his coffee.

‘About the project. I’m also a fan of CEO Kim Jung-ah.’

‘Sooyeon, you have quite a good memory.’

Wooyeon’s voice lowered slightly.

‘Yes, I have a good memory. That’s why you said it’s convenient because I don’t mess up lines.’

Shin Sooyeon smiled with narrowed eyes. Inseop quickly looked down. When they chatted briefly that day, he thought she was a smart and charming person. Someone who naturally draws attention.

‘Not bad.’

That’s why Wooyeon’s one remark stuck with him. It was an unusual compliment from someone who rarely showed interest in others.

‘What are you doing today, Inseop?’

‘Yes?’

Startled by Shin Sooyeon’s question, Inseop’s eyes widened.

‘Today’s shoot ends early. We’re having a wrap-up party later, so join us. The director has booked a delicious Korean set menu restaurant.’

‘No, it’s okay.’

‘It’s fine. Food tastes better when shared.’

Her easy-going attitude made Inseop blush. He felt embarrassed. Coming here with a flimsy excuse because of Wooyeon’s one offhand comment made him feel foolish and silly.

‘I…’

As Inseop tried to respond, a low voice interrupted from above.

‘Choi Inseop.’

It was a cold voice. Inseop looked up at Wooyeon.

‘Isn’t it time for you to get off work?’

Wooyeon asked while checking his watch with a blank expression. Inseop blinked. Get off work?

‘You said you were busy.’

‘…Ah, yes.’

Inseop finally understood and nodded.

‘Then I’ll be going now. Goodbye.’

Lee Wooyeon walked Inseop to his car. Back at home, Inseop showered and sat on the sofa. Soon, he received a message from Wooyeon.

‘I’m going to be late. Don’t wait up, go to bed.’

…He did say he had a company dinner.

Inseop hesitated before replying that he’d go to bed first. He lay in bed, but sleep wouldn’t come. After tossing and turning for a while, he got up and opened the fridge. He grabbed a beer can, sat on the sofa, and sipped it slowly. Feeling oddly uninebriated, he fetched another can. When he’d emptied several cans, Wooyeon appeared.

‘What are you doing?’

Inseop looked up at the man gazing down at him with a displeased expression and quietly raised his beer can.

‘I can see that, but… never mind.’

Wooyeon sighed.

‘Do you want one?’

Inseop asked, offering a beer can. Instead of replying, Wooyeon took the can from Inseop’s hand and placed it on the table.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Huh?’

‘Why are you drinking like this? What’s gotten you upset?’

Inseop’s alcohol tolerance was about one can of beer. Two if he was really in a good mood. He rarely drank more than that.

‘I just drank.’

Inseop mumbled, looking down. Wooyeon ran his hand through his hair and grabbed Inseop’s wrist.

‘It’s late. Go to bed.’

‘Can’t I have just one more can?’

‘No, you can’t.’

Wooyeon replied firmly. But Inseop didn’t get up. Just as Wooyeon was about to lift him and carry him to the bedroom, he noticed.

‘”…Why are you crying?’

Wooyeon, who was rarely surprised, asked, eyes wide. Inseop quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and shook his head, saying he wasn’t crying. Wooyeon knelt in front of the sofa and lifted Inseop’s face.

‘Why are you crying? Hm?’

Wooyeon’s large hands cupped Inseop’s face. Inseop shook his head, tears streaming down his round cheeks.

‘Are you hurt?’

‘No.’

Inseop shook his head, tears dripping down. Wooyeon swallowed a sigh.

‘If I could cry, I would.’

‘Don’t cry.’

Inseop said, clutching Wooyeon’s sleeve. Wooyeon gently wiped Inseop’s tears.

‘You don’t cry either.’

Wooyeon kissed Inseop’s cheek as he spoke. Inseop bit his lip to stop crying, but tears continued to flow. Wooyeon muttered a curse under his breath. Inseop flinched and hunched his shoulders.

‘I wasn’t swearing at you… ha. Let’s go inside.’

Wooyeon took Inseop’s hand to help him up. Inseop shook his head.

‘You’re drunk. Go sleep.’

‘I’m not drunk.’

Inseop replied, eyes wide. When drunk, Inseop became clingy, talkative, and… whiny.

‘I’m not drunk at all.’

Inseop repeated, slurring slightly.

‘Yes, not drunk at all, Inseop. Let’s go to bed.’

‘No.’

‘I told you, I’m not interested in having s*x with a drunk person, so don’t worry.’

Wooyeon carried the drunk Inseop to the bedroom. He started to undress Inseop, who suddenly sat up.

‘I don’t want to.’

‘You just said you didn’t want to have s*x.’

‘Not s*x.’

‘What?’

‘…I do want s*x.’

Wooyeon’s eyes darkened as he looked at Inseop’s innocent face speaking so casually.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to…’

He didn’t finish the sentence. Wooyeon lunged at Inseop, kissing him roughly. Inseop shook his head. Wooyeon undressed himself and threw his clothes on the floor, continuing to kiss Inseop persistently.

‘I don’t want it.’

‘You said you liked s*x.’

Wooyeon growled, pulling down Inseop’s pants. When drunk, Inseop was honest about his feelings. He’d say he didn’t like something if he didn’t, say he liked it if he did, say he was scared if he was, and cry easily. In short, he was even more alluring than usual.

‘Tell me what you don’t like so I won’t do it.’

Wooyeon whispered, rubbing his cheek against the slight bulge in Inseop’s underwear. It was something Inseop often told him not to do.

‘..I couldn’t go to work.’

‘What?’