“Seeing the atmosphere lately, I think many people will like you?”
“I’m being serious, but you’re just joking.”
When he grumbled, Yoon Jooho ruffled his lover’s hair once more.
“I’m saying this because you really don’t need to worry. Showing yourself exactly as you are is cute enough.”
“C-Cute… That’s just because you like me, Sunbae, so I look that way to you.”
Song Hyunsoo’s earlobes turned red at Yoon Jooho’s sudden remark.
They weren’t the kind of couple that frequently whispered sweet words like being cute or lovely. He wasn’t used to it.
Leaning his head against the back of the Sofa as if sagging, Yoon Jooho looked up at Song Hyunsoo.
Then, with clumsy fingers, he brushed back his bangs.
“Other people will grow to like you too.”
“But based on what… oof.”
Yoon Jooho suddenly gripped both of Song Hyunsoo’s cheeks with one hand.
Because of that, Song Hyunsoo couldn’t finish what he was saying.
With his cheeks squished and his lips puckered out, he met his eyes.
Encountering those serious eyes devoid of playfulness, Song Hyunsoo grew quiet as well.
It was a gaze that feared the Actor Song Hyunsoo becoming known to the world and famous in earnest.
While wanting Song Hyunsoo’s success more than anyone, Yoon Jooho was conflicted by an emotional contradiction—fearing his lover might be stolen away.
『“Should I lock you up so you can’t Debut and only look at me?”』
He was someone who would mutter such things because he was anxious even when deep inside his body.
Poking Song Hyunsoo’s cheeks repeatedly to tease him, Yoon Jooho chuckled. It was a disguise to hide his complex feelings.
He spoke with strong conviction in a clear tone, but in a low and quiet voice.
“I know. Who’s going to hit it big and who isn’t.”
“……”
You’re not even Santa Claus. How do you know everything, Sunbae?
He retorted inwardly, but he felt Yoon Jooho might actually know. He was someone who had stayed at the Normal for thirty years in this industry.
“Bud Sunbae… righ’ now… love is blind…”
As Song Hyunsoo protested with muffled pronunciation while his cheeks and lips were squished, Yoon Jooho’s lips pressed firmly against his.
“Chirp, chirp. You talk too much.”
Releasing his cheeks, he pressed down on Song Hyunsoo’s forehead this time. As if smoothing out wrinkles.
“Whether it’s interviews or variety shows, the Company will coach you on everything. So smooth out your face.”
“Is that possible through cramming?”
“You’re an Actor.”
“I suppose…”
“Then what you need to focus on is Yeongi. The rest is secondary. Cramming should be enough.”
Thinking about it, he seemed right. Would it work out somehow?
As Song Hyunsoo was lost in thought for a moment, Yoon Jooho’s face slid close before his eyes.
“Or should I give you private lessons?”
Eyes, nose, lips. Jawline. When that beautiful face, with not a single part that wasn’t pretty, filled his vision, the power and pressure were immense. Song Hyunsoo instinctively pulled back.
“…I’ll do it with the Company.”
Smirking as if he knew that would be the answer, Yoon Jooho rubbed Song Hyunsoo’s earlobe.
“You said you didn’t want to go buy a bracelet, right?”
“Huh? Yes…”
“Then I’ll take a short nap before we head out.”
Yoon Jooho, who surprisingly gave up on shopping easily, changed his posture and lay down on the Sofa.
He used Song Hyunsoo’s lap as a pillow and closed his eyes.
Yoon Jooho’s long body stretched across the large Sofa occupying one side of the spacious Living Room.
“Be my pillow. It’s a Punishment.”
“What Punishment? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You didn’t let me buy you a bracelet.”
Goodness.
Song Hyunsoo chuckled while quietly stroking Yoon Jooho’s hair.
The hair that had been cut short near the end of filming <Dissolve> had grown quite a bit by now.
Unlike Song Hyunsoo, whose straight hair stood up after sleeping, his hair was soft.
Mmm… Yoon Jooho, who had been lying with his arms crossed over his chest, rolled over as if to hide his face against Song Hyunsoo’s lower abdomen.
Song Hyunsoo asked in a whisper, fearing he might disturb him.
“Should I turn on the TV?”
“No, it’s distracting.”
A smile formed on Song Hyunsoo’s lips as he touched Yoon Jooho’s hair.
Yoon Jooho no longer needed the TV to fall asleep.
Whether he was taking a nap after a full snack, no sound came from Monroe’s Room. The lethargic afternoon was flowing slowly.
■
As the Car turned right from the road into an alley, the familiar sight of the restaurant came into view.
Yoon Jooho, in the driver’s seat, took off his Sunglasses and said,
“Let’s drink in moderation today, Song Actor.”
“In moderation?”
“You always drink too much on days you meet them.”
“Did I?”
Yoon Jooho casually placed his Sunglasses on the center console.
“You did.”
“……”
“Like a puppy that’s so excited it doesn’t know what to do.”
They were words that felt pointed for some reason. Song Hyunsoo looked closely at his expression, but he only silently watched the road ahead.
Thinking about it, it seemed he really had been like that.
It felt like the memories of sharing joys and sorrows while filming <Dissolve> were continuing without ending, so it was always fun on the days the four of them met.
“Okay. I’ll be careful today.”
“Yes, do that. You have an important event coming up too.”
“The Production Report? Right, that’s important.”
Driving the Car into the Empty Lot next to the restaurant, Yoon Jooho looked back at Song Hyunsoo with an incredulous expression.
“Going to pay our respects.”
“Ah… that.”
“Ah… that?”
As if he didn’t like the tone that suggested it was no big deal, he repeated Song Hyunsoo’s words and raised an eyebrow. Sensing danger, Song Hyunsoo needed an escape route.
“Huh? That looks like Nuna’s Car.”
Song Hyunsoo’s voice rose as he spotted another Car entering the Empty Lot slowly behind them.
Whether they recognized Yoon Jooho’s Car as well, the second-row Window rolled down, and a welcome face appeared.
Song Hyunsoo hurried to unbuckle his seatbelt and jumped out as soon as the Car stopped.
“Nuna!”
When he waved his Hand grandly over his head, Shin Hyojin laughed cheerfully with a refreshing voice.
Stepping out of the Car and approaching, she also bowed to Yoon Jooho.
“Sunbae, you’re here?”
“Yeah.”
“I saw the Photobook. The reaction was hot.”
Walking around the front of the Car, Yoon Jooho placed a Hand on the crown of Song Hyunsoo’s head.
“This fellow is hotter than me these days.”
“Everyone around me is talking about Hyunsoo too.”
“Aw… no way.”
Song Hyunsoo scratched his cheek with his index finger and shrugged.
“Jooho Sunbae always got good reactions for every Photobook. But even though Hyunsoo is a new face, he did so well. The chemistry with Sunbae was fresh too. So it’s natural for everyone to be buzzing about who he is.”
Shin Hyojin, with her cap pulled down so low her eyes were barely visible, linked arms with Song Hyunsoo and scanned Yoon Jooho’s SUV.
Then she looked up at Song Hyunsoo with a puzzled face.
“But, did you two come in the same Car?”
“Ah, that’s, Sunbae…”
Instinctively, Song Hyunsoo’s eyes searched for Yoon Jooho. As if asking for help.
But before he could offer a plausible excuse, Shin Hyojin shrugged and accepted it on her own.
“Well, since you live in the same Mansion. It’d be convenient to move together if the timing matches.”
“Haha… right. I can save money by hitching a ride in Sunbae’s Car.”
Chiming in awkwardly, Song Hyunsoo reached for the Shopping Bag Shin Hyojin was holding.
“What’s that, Nuna? Give it to me, I’ll carry it.”
“No, it’s not heavy.”
“Huh? Is it… my Birthday Gift?”
“Yes, it’s your Gift.”
The two started walking toward the restaurant with their arms linked.
“Jooyoung Hyung says he’s already arrived.”
“Already? That’s surprising.”
Yoon Jooho followed slowly behind them from a few steps away.
Song Hyunsoo glanced back at him.
He wondered if he might show signs of being upset because he was linked arms with Shin Hyojin, but he didn’t see any particular indication of that.
He laughed, thinking that he was growing in his own way.
Hearing the small laughter, Shin Hyojin looked up with a face asking why he was laughing, but Song Hyunsoo just kept smiling.