Chapter 80: Dissolve: His Last Choice

First of all, the ceiling was impossibly high.

The shutter was down on the first-floor store, but it seemed like this Bar used the entire first floor as well.

On top of that, the lavish, vintage interior— clearly drenched in money— caught my eye.

It felt strangely familiar, as if I’d seen it somewhere before.

I’d never been to a members-only Bar like this, though.

“Uh? Here…”

As Song Hyunsoo looked around, feeling like he’d stepped into a fantasy movie, something surfaced in his memory.

Yoon Jooho, who was walking ahead, turned to look back.

“Why? Have you been here before?”

“No. It just looks a lot like another Bar I know.”

“Where’s that?”

The slanted smile on Yoon Jooho’s face made it clear he already knew the answer.

“There’s an Atlas Bar in Singapore. I think it had exactly this vibe. Art Deco style, or something.”

“You’ve been there?”

Song Hyunsoo scoffed and shook his head as if it were absurd.

“I saw it on the internet. Like I’d have the money to go there. I haven’t even been on a plane yet.”

“What about Jeju Island?”

“I’ve sent my grandma and grandpa there, but I haven’t gone myself. Well, I’ll get on a plane someday. I’m still young.”

Song Hyunsoo said it casually, tilting his chin up and looking at the high ceiling.

There were plenty of low-cost airlines these days, so going abroad wasn’t impossible as long as you set your mind to it.

But the idea of traveling didn’t appeal much.

I’d bought pieces of designer shirts just to keep up with those around me, and at one point, I’d even driven a used foreign car that was little better than junk— but in reality, I was always running, always out of breath, as if being chased.

So even if I went on a trip, I didn’t think I’d be able to enjoy it.

“Hm.”

That was all the reaction Yoon Jooho gave to the fact that it was possible to reach twenty-eight years old without ever flying on a plane.

It was probably harder than finding someone who’d made it to twenty-eight as a virgin.

He started walking ahead again, across the hall carpeted in thick rugs.

There were three or four small Bars, each with a different bartender in charge, and in between, tables were set up like bungalows, curtained off for privacy.

As was typical for members-only Bars, the interior prioritized privacy above all else.

Yoon Jooho chose the most secluded Bar and took a seat.

“Not many people here.”

“For us, peak time doesn’t even start until after 2 a.m. Plus, it’s a weekday.”

Was he a bartender, or maybe a staff member?

A handsome man in a neat suit greeted Yoon Jooho from behind the Bar with a smile.

He seemed quite close to Yoon Jooho and sent a curious glance in Song Hyunsoo’s direction.

“But still. It’s rare for Yoon Jooho to bring someone along. What’s the occasion?”

“What occasion?”

“It’s an occasion. How often do you come with someone else?”

Seated on a stool, Yoon Jooho gestured for Song Hyunsoo to take the seat next to him and introduced him to the man.

“A rookie actor I’ll be working with on this project.”

“Oh, are you appearing in <Dissolve>?”

This time, the man asked Song Hyunsoo directly.

“Yes, that’s right. I’m Song Hyunsoo. Nice to meet you.”

“I’m Seo Hae. I’m older than Yoon Jooho, so just call me Seo Hae hyung, no need to be formal.”

Across the Bar, the two shook hands.

“All right, I’ll do that. In return, hyung, please just call me Hyunsoo.”

“I couldn’t possibly, since you’re the actor Yoon Jooho brought along. You’ll be a star soon, I bet.”

“I hope so… I’m working hard.”

Song Hyunsoo scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward.

Sitting next to him, Yoon Jooho spun his stool from side to side, then looked at Song Hyunsoo.

“You said you’d become a top star. Didn’t you brag about it?”

His gaze, looking up from under his eyelids, was full of meaning.

『“If you can’t become a top star, I’ll drop you off in Bogwang-dong.”』

I couldn’t help but recall the conversation we’d had before going to his bed.

『“Let’s go to your Mansion, sunbae.” “……” “I’ll do it. I’ll become a top star.”』

Thinking back, that statement was no different from saying, ‘I’ll sleep with you, sunbae.’

As his face grew hot, Song Hyunsoo felt thirsty.

He picked up the glass of water Seo Hae had set in front of him and wet his lips with his tongue.

“I will become one, but… it might take some time, that’s all I’m saying.”

“Hm, I’d prefer if it happened sooner rather than later.”

Yoon Jooho said this as he ordered a drink from Seo Hae, not even glancing at the menu.

“Johnnie Walker Double Black.”

It was the same whiskey he’d ordered on the day they first met at ‘Jessica.’

Remembering that first meeting— when he’d never imagined they’d become this close— Song Hyunsoo lowered his head and smiled silently to himself.

“Double Black? Wow, looks like the actor’s in a bit of a prickly mood tonight. What about you, Hyunsoo? What can I get you?”

“I’ll have the same, please.”

“Not on the rocks. Dilute it with lukewarm water.”

Yoon Jooho added his request.

Song Hyunsoo unconsciously turned to look at Yoon Jooho.

But he was just leaning on the Bar with his elbow, drinking water, acting nonchalant.

“Whiskey’s aroma gets richer when you mix it with lukewarm water. You can enjoy the flavor more even with lower alcohol content— someone told me that. No point in knocking back strong liquor on a shitty day, right?”

He was practically quoting what Song Hyunsoo had said that day, word for word.

“Sunbae, you remembered all that?”

“I’ve got a good memory. That’s probably why I can memorize all those lines, don’t you think?”

Right. That’s true.

But sunbae, when it comes to things you’re not interested in, you act like you’ve never even seen or heard them before.

So, did I actually leave even the slightest impression on you back then?

I wanted to ask and confirm, but that felt embarrassingly awkward. It sounded too much like asking if he had any interest in me at all.

“I can read faces, you know. Hyunsoo, you’ve got the kind of face that’ll do well in this industry.”

From across the Bar, while preparing the drinks, Seo Hae spoke up.

“Really? Hyung, you know how to read faces?”

“Not really. I’m just an amateur.”

Seo Hae brushed off Yoon Jooho’s sarcasm with ease.

Most people who knew Yoon Jooho well, like Bang Manager, seemed to do the same.

“At first glance, you look like a cheerful young man. But when you smile, the fat under your eyes bulges… hmm, you’ve got Crimson Flame Aura.”

“Ha, you sure took a close look in such a short time.”

Yoon Jooho snorted, shaking his shoulders.

“Hyunsoo’s kind of my type.”

“He’s not gay.”

“You’re not gay either, but you can still get with a man.”

Seo Hae replied with a laugh, as if to say, what’s the problem?

Yoon Jooho tilted his head with a fake smile.

“Your standards are ridiculously high. I doubt you’d make the cut, hyung.”

It was like a battle of toy swords and shields.

Song Hyunsoo quickly jumped in between and asked Seo Hae,

“Hyung, what’s Crimson Flame Aura?”

“Hmm… how should I explain this?”

Seo Hae narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself, then set a glass in front of both Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo as he explained.

“If Peach Blossom Aura is a charm that’s loved by everyone, Crimson Flame Aura is a charm that drives certain people almost insane.”

Cough.

Yoon Jooho, who’d been drinking, suddenly bent forward and pushed his glass away.

He looked like someone who’d swallowed the wrong way.

Seo Hae shoved a glass of water in front of him, smirking.

“What, did that hit a nerve?”

“Stop talking nonsense. You just messed up the water ratio. Take it away. Make it again.”

Wiping his mouth with a tissue, Yoon Jooho pushed his glass even farther away.

Song Hyunsoo took a sip of his own drink.

It was well-balanced, not overly diluted.

Yoon Jooho was definitely just nitpicking.

Still, Seo Hae seemed to enjoy himself as he started preparing a new glass.

“If Yoon Jooho has Peach Blossom Aura, then Hyunsoo, you have Crimson Flame Aura. Get it?”

Watching Seo Hae measure water with a jigger1), Song Hyunsoo shook his head.

“If Yoon Jooho is a definite Center Face, then Hyunsoo, you’re a Doe-eyed Face.”

“Ah…”

At last, a small sound of admiration escaped Song Hyunsoo’s lips.

But even though he understood the words, he couldn’t quite agree with Seo Hae’s assessment.

Yoon Jooho having Peach Blossom Aura, being a definite Center Face—that was true.

But was I really a Doe-eyed Face?

“In this industry, you need to have at least one of those to make a name for yourself. People tend to focus only on Peach Blossom Aura, but if you ask me, Crimson Flame Aura is actually better for longevity.”

“Oooh…”

Listening to him, it didn’t sound like a bad thing for someone aiming to be an actor.

“What do you mean, oooh. Hyung, don’t go filling his head with weird ideas. He’s already the type to get scared into buying some mystical stone or jar somewhere.”

“I wouldn’t buy that stuff! Where would I get the money for rocks or jars right now, anyway?”

“So if you had the money, you would?”

Seo Hae, who’d been watching Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo’s banter with a look of disbelief, set a new glass in front of Yoon Jooho and joined the conversation.

“So, Hyunsoo, are you with Look Planning?”

Whenever I was with Yoon Jooho, people always assumed I was with Look Planning.

They were so sure, it felt awkward to deny it every time.

“No. I don’t have a company yet.”

“Oh… really?”

Drawing out his words, Seo Hae glanced at Yoon Jooho, then quickly changed his expression and smiled.

Yoon Jooho frowned, as if he didn’t like that smile.

“What’s with that smile?”

“I just thought, even though you’re not a Look Planning actor, Yoon Jooho brought you all the way here.”

“Don’t read too much into it. You’ll give the kid false hopes.”

He could use a little hope, though, Seo Hae muttered, then reintroduced himself to Song Hyunsoo.

“I’m the owner of this Bar, and also Yoon Jooho’s Pilates instructor. We’ve known each other for almost ten years, right?”

At Seo Hae’s question, Yoon Jooho nodded as he sipped his drink.

It seemed he liked the new one.

“Oh? Then, by any chance, are you the one who taught Pilates to Jiin, too? Seo Hae hyung?”

“That’s right! Jung Jiin, my prized student. You know Jiin as well, Hyunsoo?”

“We were in the same agency.”

Before Song Hyunsoo could answer, Yoon Jooho cut in.

“Oh, from UB?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You heard the news about UB too, right?”

Leaning slightly over the Bar, Seo Hae lowered his voice.

“I saw an article that the old Chairman of UB died.”

Clack.

Yoon Jooho set his glass down with a loud sound.

I could feel his gaze boring into the side of my face.

This time, Song Hyunsoo picked up his own glass and took a drink.

“Hyung, could you give us a moment?”

At the serious, low voice, Seo Hae nodded slightly and quickly slipped away behind the curtain.

Yoon Jooho’s gaze came at me so intensely, it was impossible to ignore.

“Is that why you looked so down?”

“……”

“The X-gun scandal— are you involved in that too? Is that it?”

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1) Jigger. Cocktail tool. An hourglass-shaped cup used to measure liquid ingredients.