Chapter 131: Dissolve: His Last Choice

The shopping bag definitely seemed too small to fit even the chubby rabbit slippers.

Just as he was about to unfold another shopping bag, a vibration buzzed from inside his coat pocket.

Without much thought, Song Hyunsoo pulled out his phone and checked the caller ID. Before he even realized it, his eyes flicked nervously toward Yoon Jooho.

Should I just ignore it and call back later?

But from now on, they had to live in the same house. He couldn’t keep dodging calls or avoiding phone conversations every time one of them rang.

Right, I’m not doing anything wrong. I have every right to be confident.

“Hey, I’m going to… just take a quick call.”

Despite telling himself he was confident, his voice lacked assurance when calling out to Yoon Jooho.

“Why do you have to go outside to answer?”

“Well, it’s just—”

“Are you cheating right after we started dating?”

The moment those words came out of Yoon Jooho’s mouth, Hyunsoo’s face flushed red as if on reflex.

“W-what are you talking about! Why would I cheat when I’m with you, Yoon Jooho…”

Realizing just how blunt he sounded, Song Hyunsoo quickly lowered his voice, and Jooho chuckled—partly amused, partly exasperated.

“Then why can’t you answer in front of me?”

Sighing, Hyunsoo ruffled the back of his hair, stepped up to Jooho, and showed him the phone screen.

“See? It’s from a friend’s France Number.”

Jooho’s eyebrows twitched as he read the caller ID.

“Convinced now? I’m not cheating.”

As Hyunsoo started to turn away with the phone, Jooho grabbed his upper arm firmly.

“Answer it here.”

Hyunsoo squinted and studied Jooho’s expression carefully.

“I’ll just go outside and answer. I’ll be quick…”

“No need.”

“Promise you won’t get all prickly?”

“I promise. So just… answer here.”

There was sincerity in Jooho’s eyes. Whenever that friend’s name came up, the mood always turned tense, and now he was insisting Hyunsoo answer the call right here? Was he really that worried about him making a call in the cold?

“Fine, alright. Just loosen your grip a bit. You’re squeezing so hard it hurts.”

Jooho immediately let go as if he’d been burned, releasing Hyunsoo’s arm over his coat sleeve—clearly unaware of how tightly he’d been holding on.

Hyunsoo glanced at the oddly acting Jooho before turning his back and moving toward the desk, connecting the call.

“Hey, it’s me.”

[You didn’t answer, so I was about to hang up. Is this a good time to talk?]

“Yes, of course. I’m at home.”

[You had a script reading today, right? I thought your company dinner might’ve gone long.]

“I just did the first round and came straight home. What about you? It must be around 5 p.m. there now?”

Through the phone came the familiar and warm laugh of Jung Ji-in.

[Paris time’s right on the dot now. I just finished working out and am sitting here having a coffee by myself.]

“Pilates?”

[Yeah. Today’s theater company practice got canceled, so I’m taking it easy for once.]

“A coffee in a Paris café. Just hearing that sounds so nice. Ah, I want to go too!”

[You’ll come soon.]

“Right. I have to… If the movie wraps up well, I’ll definitely go. I’ll return home in triumph. Although Paris isn’t really my hometown, so maybe that doesn’t really count as coming back in glory.”

Leaning one hand on the edge of the desk, Song Hyunsoo scratched his cheek with his index finger and smiled sheepishly.

[I’ll keep your guest room clean and waiting, so come whenever you want. There are so many places I want to show you, and people I want to introduce you to.]

Before Ji-in left, Hyunsoo had bragged as if he had plenty of money saved up, confidently talking about meeting up soon in Paris. But reality was far from that.

The movie contract payment and the contract money from Yoon Jooho all went toward moving expenses back home. Hyunsoo’s actual situation hadn’t improved yet.

But he didn’t want to tell Ji-in that. He wanted to hold onto the hope that they’d meet soon, and more than anything, he didn’t want to worry him.

[Ah, Hyunsoo, I didn’t call just because of that.]

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

[Your SNS followers just passed 3,000.]

Ji-in’s voice was excited as he delivered the news.

Until then, Hyunsoo had been quietly lowering his voice because of Jooho, but he couldn’t help bursting out laughing.

“You called just about that?”

[I was sipping coffee and happened to check your account. You just hit 3,003 followers. Going from 2,000 to 3,000 was pretty quick, right?]

When Ji-in was acting in Korea, he also used SNS, though only officially. His current account was locked for following only, and he posted nothing.

Still, there were people who always checked his account and celebrated the milestone with genuine joy. How many people could say that?

[One day, it’ll get even faster—10,000, 100,000, a million.]

A million… a number so vast it seemed impossible. But Ji-in said it with a calm yet confident voice.

If Ji-in said it, it just felt like it would happen.

He was smart, well-educated, and cool—unlike me. He never said empty words or sweet nothings.

If Ji-in hadn’t encouraged, supported, and held onto him, Hyunsoo didn’t know what might have happened after ‘that incident.’

He missed Ji-in.

He regretted even more how awkward things had become between Yoon Jooho and Ji-in. If not for that, the three of them might have made new memories together.

Aside from family, these were the two people Song Hyunsoo loved most in the world.

It hurt more than usual that two people who used to be close had drifted apart.

Hyunsoo glanced over his shoulder. His eyes met Yoon Jooho’s, who was sitting on the mattress watching him. He quickly looked away and changed the subject.

“Ah, hyung! The movie’s crank-in date is confirmed.”

[Really? When is it?]

“It’s really soon—at the end of this month.”

[Glad to hear things are going well. How’s the house hunting going? Your lease ends this month too, right? You’ll probably feel more at ease once you’ve got a place before the crank-in.]

“Ah… about that…”

Hyunsoo glanced at Jooho again. This time, Jooho was staring at his phone but clearly aware of the call’s content.

To be honest, Hyunsoo could lie fluently depending on who he was talking to. But with people he truly cared about, it was hard.

Good things, bad things—he showed everything on his face in the moment. Having to hide anything was a torment for him.

Ruffling his hair, he forced out a lie as close to the truth as he could.

“I think I’ll find a good place soon.”

[Is it the Wangsimni area you mentioned before?]

“Not really… I’ll tell you once it’s definitely settled.”

[Okay, let’s talk again when you have more time. You don’t have a company now, so I know there’s a lot to deal with. Take care of yourself.]

“Yes, hyung, you too. It’s worse being sick far from home.”

“Alright, kid.”

“I’ll call again.”

He already had a contract with Yoon Jooho and, though temporary, had a manager assigned. He even rode around in a big RV like a real actor. Hearing that would definitely make hyung happy…

After ending the call, Hyunsoo stood there for a moment, staring at his phone. Then he sat down beside Yoon Jooho and flopped back.

Jooho’s back was close enough to see clearly.

“Do you talk often?”

“Ji-in hyung?”

Hyunsoo nodded.

“About once a week? Twice if it’s a lot?”

“Are you going to Paris?”

“I want to, of course. I want to see where hyung lives. But… I don’t have the money yet. When the movie does well and I get more work, then I’ll go.”

“And me?”

“……”

Jooho glanced back over his shoulder at Hyunsoo. The gaze under his lashes was deep and lingering, making Hyunsoo tense in his lower stomach.

“You’re acting all lonely just because I said I’m going?”

Lying down, Hyunsoo looked up at him and grinned teasingly.

“Yeah, lonely. So don’t go.”

That was an unexpected answer. Hyunsoo sat up awkwardly.

“You treat me differently now that we’re dating.”

“I’m trying to be a good boyfriend.”

Sitting side by side, Jooho intertwined their fingers. Despite all the wild nights they’d shared on this very mattress, this was the first time they’d held hands like this.

People who only have sex don’t hold hands like that. This was an intimate gesture only a boyfriend could make—more secretive than sex itself.

Hyunsoo looked down at their firmly clasped hands, then glanced at Jooho’s face.

“But, um… can you just call me Ji-in hyung from now on?”

Jooho’s previously warm expression instantly hardened.

“What?”

“I mean… now that we’re officially dating, don’t you think it’s okay to say it out loud? We don’t have to hide anymore.”

“So, since it’s all out in the open, should we just hold a press conference? ‘We’re dating as of today,’ and hold hands while we announce it?”

Jooho raised their joined hands to shoulder height and furrowed his brows.

“I don’t mind. Are you scared, senior?”

“Becoming the Republic of Korea’s first openly gay actor couple wouldn’t be so bad.”

“Hey, stop joking! You heard me on the phone earlier, right? There are so many things I can’t talk about, so I keep having to lie. I don’t want to lie to you.”

“That was a joke. Are you ready for this?”