PA 74

Seeing Yejun enter the cafe with a particularly bright and comfortable expression, Kyungchan smiled brightly and spoke to him.

“You look like you’re in a good mood.”

“Do I? Maybe it’s because the weather is nice today?”

“Your face has really brightened up since you got married.”

“What are you talking about?”

Yejun snorted a laugh as if finding it absurd, but he checked his reflection in the mirror without realizing it.

What’s supposed to have changed?

As he was checking his appearance with a puzzled expression, Yejun had to greet a flood of customers who rushed in without giving him a moment to breathe.

“What kind of scenario are you writing this time?”

“I can’t tell you that.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s a trade secret.”

The busy lunch hour and the after-work rush, crowded with customers, passed. Kyungchan had thought Yejun would do well, but he hadn’t expected him to be successful enough to join the ranks of ten-million-viewer films.

“I didn’t know you were this talented.”

“The same goes for me. On the day we hit ten million viewers, I was so nervous I couldn’t eat a single meal all day.”

“If I were in that situation, I’d probably be the same.”

Kyungchan shook his head and let out a big sigh.

“Is Director Cha not coming today?”

“Junhyuk? He said he’s coming back tomorrow evening.”

“I see.”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’ll take you home, let’s go.”

Kyungchan already knew that a plainclothes bodyguard would be following Yejun. Still, wanting to spend time with a friend he hadn’t seen in a long while, Kyungchan argued with Yejun as he tidied up the cafe.

“No, it’s fine. I can go by myself.”

“I’m scheming to get you to buy me gelato.”

“…Really? I guess I can do that much for you.”

Yejun smiled brightly at Kyungchan’s persuasive offer and continued.

“Let’s go. I’ve been wanting gelato for a while, too.”

It was then. The cafe door flew open and Junhyuk appeared.

“Going where together?”

“Oh, you said you were coming tomorrow?”

“Han Kyungchan, why are you taking Yejun home?”

“So should I just let a kid who worked this late into the dark night go alone?”

“……”

Kyungchan scolded Junhyuk, who had a very displeased expression. Junhyuk wanted to refute his words, but it seemed he didn’t have anything particular to say. Yejun let out a long sigh with a discontented look on his face and continued.

“Honestly, so dramatic.”

“Han Kyungchan, you finish up here.”

Junhyuk gave Kyungchan a crooked look, took Yejun’s hand, and left the cafe. To the smiling Kyungchan, the dramatic Junhyuk, just as Yejun had said, didn’t seem so bad after all.

☂︎

Strictly speaking, the years he had spent with Kyungchan numbered seven. Junhyuk was truly displeased by that fact. Kyungchan might even know Yejun better.

“We met up as friends for the first time in a really long time. Don’t you think you’re being too sensitive?”

“I know.”

“Know what?”

“That I’m sensitive.”

Since Junhyuk admitted it so easily, Yejun was also at a loss for words. A brief silence flowed between them. Yejun took Junhyuk’s hand, who was about to turn left at this alley, and went straight.

“That way is faster.”

“You said you were getting gelato?”

“……”

At Yejun’s gentle coaxing, Junhyuk’s mood seemed to have noticeably improved. Yejun couldn’t hold back his laughter at Junhyuk’s childlike demeanor.

“Are you going to keep laughing?”

[A chocolate flavor and a vanilla flavor, please.]

Yejun ignored Junhyuk’s words and ordered the gelato. But Junhyuk, who seemed to have gotten over his anger, didn’t say anything for a long time as they walked down the street.

“You said you were coming tomorrow. Why did you come so early?”

“There was a report I didn’t like.”

“You should exclude emotions as much as possible in public matters.”

“It was a matter where that wasn’t possible.”

“What was it about?”

Junhyuk kept his mouth shut and was silent for a moment. This silence seemed closer to him being conflicted rather than angry. Yejun waited for his answer, gently rubbing his face against his chest.

“The Seil management was pushing for you as the ad model for the duty-free shop?”

“Me?”

“……”

“Why me?”

Junhyuk put his arm around Yejun’s shoulder and started walking again. Since his sudden retirement, Yejun had not once engaged in any entertainment industry activities.

“You’re what they call a star writer who appeared like a comet.”

“No, I’m.”

“It wasn’t my decision. It was the decision of the Seil Group’s CEO. Their opinion is that they want to use you, who made a successful transformation from an idol to a writer, as their ad model.”

“……”

At Junhyuk’s calm explanation, Yejun seemed to become even more lost in thought. Junhyuk stopped walking and looked at Yejun, who was deep in contemplation.

“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.”

“I haven’t even gotten the offer yet. I’ll think about it when it comes.”

“Okay.”

Even after they arrived in front of their house, they didn’t go in until they had finished all the gelato. They sat on a bench, taking their time and relaxing.

“When are you going back to Korea?”

“We should probably start heading back soon.”

“Okay. You’re busy, so don’t overdo it because of me.”

Junhyuk smiled brightly and slowly nodded his head. He thought that the time they had just for the two of them passed by far too quickly. Junhyuk put his arm around Yejun’s thin shoulder and brought his lips close to his face. It was then. A stern-looking old man gave them a nod and grinned.

[You’re a well-matched couple.]

[Th-thank you.]

At the old man’s words, Yejun replied with a slight bow of his head. Junhyuk, who was watching, asked Yejun out of curiosity.

“What did that old man say?”

“It was nothing.”

Yejun, feeling shy, quickly turned his head away from Junhyuk and muttered in a small voice.

“Let’s go inside.”

Yejun’s face turned red as he shot up from his seat. Even after he opened the door and went into the house, Junhyuk remained sitting on the bench for a long time, lost in thought. The sound of Yejun, who had finished preparing dinner, shouting loudly from the window was heard.

“Junhyuk, dinner’s ready.”

“Already?”

“Hurry up and come in to eat.”

“Okay.”

A faint smile spread across Junhyuk’s lips, and he got up from his seat and slowly entered the house.

☂︎

After the dreamlike time in Spain passed, the two returned to Korea. Not long after returning to Korea, Yejun really did receive an offer to appear in the duty-free shop advertisement.

“Hmm….”

Yejun sat still and pondered for a long time before looking for the phone he had carelessly tossed on the sofa.

— Hello?

“Hyung, it’s me.”

— You’re back in Korea?

“Yes, thank you for coming to the wedding.”

The person Yejun had called was Wooju. He chatted with Wooju about this and that for a moment before bringing up the main reason for his call.

“I received an ad offer this time.”

— Really? Congratulations.

“……”

— Why, is something worrying you?

Wooju asked carefully at Yejun’s seemingly hesitant demeanor.

“It’s not that… I’m just worried about whether it’s okay for me to stand before the public.”

— Why wouldn’t it be? Did you do something wrong?

“Still….”

The fact that he had been actively promoting as an idol, then suddenly announced his retirement and disappeared, weighed on his mind. Wooju gently comforted Yejun and urged him to take on a new challenge.

— Yejun.

“Yes?”

— You didn’t do a single thing wrong back then. So from now on, let’s try doing everything you want to do.

“Okay. I’ll think it over carefully and decide.”

— Right, and if it’s hard to work alone, tell me. There are lots of good agencies.

“I’ll contact you again later if I need help.”

— Of course. I’ll be hurt if you tell someone else.

“Yes, I understand.”

A bright smile appeared on Yejun’s face at Wooju’s active encouragement. He hung up the phone and gazed out the window, lost in deep thought. As he thought of the person who would be the most sulky if he said he was going to start working again.