Chapter 100: Dissolve: His Last Choice

On the theater stage, all the lights suddenly went down, leaving only a single spotlight shining on me.

It felt as if the entire world had rejected me.

How seriously I liked Yoon Jooho— how deep those feelings ran. I could feel it more clearly now than at the moment I confessed using a method I’d found online or when I stood before that closed door.

If Yoon Jooho stabbed me, I’d feel pain from here to here, to this depth.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Bang Manager glanced at Song Hyunsoo before briskly stepping into the Master Zone.

Just like the room with the bar, the door lock at the entrance to the Master Zone had also been replaced with a fingerprint system.

It was probably because of the recent theft incident. The life of Superstar Yoon Jooho, whom I had admired my whole life, wasn’t as glamorous as I had imagined up close.

If material wealth were everything, then sure, it would be flashy. But living a life where you have to open and close door locks inside your own home— I honestly don’t think I could live like that.

Bang Manager returned sooner than expected, carrying Song Hyunsoo’s clothes and bag in both hands.

“Let’s check if you forgot anything.”

“Everything’s here. Thank you, Manager Bang.”

I slung the bag over one shoulder and hugged the clothes.

“But I have a part-time job practicing the script today. What should I do?”

Bang Manager shook his head after glancing once at the firmly closed door and patted Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder.

“I don’t think it’s going to work out today. I’m feeling pretty down.”

“Then I’ll just change and head out.”

“Okay, make yourself comfortable in the rehearsal room.”

■

After changing, I came out to find Bang Manager waiting by the kitchen island table with strawberries laid out.

“I hope you have time to eat these before you go.”

Since it was the time I usually worked my part-time job, I had no other plans.

Yet, despite the bright red, pretty strawberries right in front of me, I didn’t really feel like eating them today.

But I didn’t want to refuse the strawberries Bang Manager had specially prepared either…

As I moved to sit on a stool, Bang Manager caught on first and picked up the bowl.

“You’re not very hungry, huh? I’ll pack them up for you to take home.”

“That’s okay…”

“No one here would eat that many anyway.”

He quickly put the strawberries in Tupperware and placed it inside a small shopping bag.

“Thank you, Manager Bang. I’ll eat them well.”

“Don’t get too down, Hyunsoo.”

“……”

“Even though Jooho acts like he’s used to these kinds of things, he gets sensitive every time a similar incident happens. Always like that. It’s not your fault he’s acting like that, so don’t carry a heavy heart.”

“Yes.”

But Manager Bang doesn’t know about one more incident.

I confessed to my senior. Not just sleeping together, but that I want to try dating too. That’s probably why my senior is twice as prickly right now.

If that’s not the case, if my confession is meaningless because of the Manager Cha Kyumin backstab incident, that would be even worse.

I was even rejected, but at least something should have changed because of me.

“Manager Bang, can I just quickly see the cat before I go?”

“Of course you can! I haven’t seen it yet either and I’m curious. Do you think the cat would be startled if I followed you?”

Together, we quietly went to the room where Monroe was sleeping.

By that time, Monroe had woken from his nap and was biting on a toy.

At the sight of the two of us, he perked up his ears and turned toward us— then quickly hid inside the cage.

“He’s smaller than I thought!”

Bang Manager looked utterly helpless at how cute the cat was.

He was a handsome guy who had aged well, and whenever he quietly stayed behind Yoon Jooho during script readings or dinners, he looked like a big shot.

It was fascinating to see that tough-looking face completely melt in front of the cat’s cuteness.

“He’s really adorable, isn’t he?”

I puffed up proudly as if Monroe were my own cat.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen such a small living thing up close, it’s almost moving.”

Keeping a distance from Monroe, we sat leaning against the wall opposite the cage.

The cat curled up in the farthest corner inside the cage, looking at us with big eyes.

With one paw firmly pressing on a toy carrot doll. Just like at the ‘Honey’ vacant lot, those eyes were full of curiosity despite being wary.

“Meow, hello. I’m the one who’ll feed you and clean your litter from now on. Please take care of me.”

Hearing Bang Manager’s self-assured declaration about his future, I couldn’t help but chuckle, covering my mouth with my sleeve.

“But does he have a name yet?”

“It’s Monroe. Marilyn Monroe.”

“Why Marilyn Monroe?”

“If you look closely, he only has black fur on his left cheek.”

“Where…”

Bang Manager almost bent over to get a better look at the crouching cat inside the cage.

“Oh wow, that’s amazing! How did black fur grow only there?”

“He’s basically a calico cat, but his body is more of a cream color. Maybe because his mom was a calico.”

“Cushion, litter box, dishes… he already has quite a few things. How many toys does he have?”

“My senior bought a million won worth at the animal hospital in the middle of the night.”

Bang Manager chuckled as he touched Monroe’s various toys.

“The pet market in our country is going to boom from now on.”

I nodded in strong agreement with that thought.

We chatted briefly about how Jooho would overprotect Monroe despite pretending not to care.

Bang Manager, now looking a little relieved, leaned his back against the wall and clicked his tongue.

“He’s not going out shopping much these days. Just when you think things are getting better, there’s another cold gust coming.”

“Manager Bang.”

“Yeah?”

“Senior’s watch… that was really expensive, right?”

“Among the Rolexes Jooho owns, it’s not the most expensive, but yes, it’s pricey. If you resell it, you could probably get at least fifty million won.”

“Fifty million won for a used watch?”

Having once dabbled in luxury goods, I had a rough idea of prices. I thought a Rolex would be around twenty million won, but even secondhand, it’s fifty million?

“It’s a Day-Date model. The dial’s ice blue, and it was some kind of limited edition… Jooho really treasured it.”

“Manager Cha Kyumin— or rather, Cha Kyumin— resold it?”

“From what I heard from people around, probably. He must have sold the suits and shoes right away, but because the watch and jewelry are high-priced, he probably consigned them.”

A heavy silence settled between us again.

“Hyunsoo.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know what Jooho said when he found out his watch was gone?”

“……”

“He said it was okay because he hadn’t worn it lately. That he must have lost it during a business trip and told me to forget about it. Even though it was clearly a watch he cared about.”

“……”

“That’s how Yoon Jooho defends himself. Whenever someone betrays him or breaks a promise… he tells himself it wasn’t something important, that he never really wanted it in the first place. That’s his way of hypnotizing himself. To minimize the damage.”

I wanted to ask if the ones who broke their promise to him were maybe his parents. But of course, I couldn’t.

Bang Manager turned and smiled warmly.

“The cat. You convinced him, didn’t you?”

“……”

“Thank you.”

Was I really being thanked for encouraging the cat adoption? I had no idea how to respond.

“I hope I didn’t just stir up more work for you, Manager Bang.”

“Maybe you did have to. Jooho’s just so busy that someone has to take care of him.”

“……”

“Though I might have to handle him when things get hectic, Jooho will probably cherish that cat like crazy.”

“I’m jealous.”

I muttered without realizing it. My honest feelings slipped out as words without any resistance. Suddenly aware of my blunder, my face burned red.

Thankfully, Manager Bang saw it but said nothing more.

“Take good care of Jooho too from now on. It won’t be easy.”

“Yes, it won’t.”

This time, Manager Bang laughed out loud. Monroe twitched his ears back and forth inside the cage.

“Strawberries? Jooho always takes care of those, you know?”

Instead of answering, I pressed my lips tightly and nodded.

After saying goodbye to Manager Bang and stepping out of the mansion, the short winter sun was already preparing to set.

Because of the snow that fell all night, the roads weren’t in great shape.

With a backpack on, I hooked the shopping bag with the strawberries over my wrist and stuffed my hands into my jacket pockets.

Lost deep in thought, I looked down at the ground as I walked slowly, until eventually, I stopped completely.

Standing still in the alley, I opened my phone’s contacts.

ㄱㅇㅈㅎㅅㅂ (Did you see that girl?)

I had added ‘ㄱ’ to make Yoon Jooho’s contact appear at the very top of the list. Staring at it, I scrolled down.

Taeyoon hyung.

An Italian-born friend of Jung Jin from back home, and also stylist Choi Hongseo’s older brother.

Taeyoon had returned to Korea before Jung Jin and ran a restaurant called ‘Dome’ in Gangnam. Jung Jin had taken both Hongseo and me there a few times for meals.

After Hongseo left like that, Taeyoon was the first to reach out one day.

“You’re still people I’ve cooked for. I could have asked a mutual acquaintance to pass on my condolences, but I thought it was only right to contact you directly.”

Until then, I had thought he was a scary older brother, but I was grateful he expressed condolences even though he wasn’t a relative of the deceased.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to contact me. I might not be as reliable as Jung Jin, but maybe I can help with what Jung Jin can’t.”

Just by looking, Taeyoon was no ordinary guy. Plus, running a late-night restaurant from late at night to dawn, he was also a major information broker in the Gangnam scene.

As the sun began to set,

It was the time Taeyoon started his day.

Before several rings could sound, I connected to him.

[Oh, Song Actor. Long time no see. What’s up?]

“Hello, hyung. How have you been?”

[Same as always. I’m not looking for Kim Taeyoon just to ask how he is. What’s going on?]

Talks were quick with Taeyoon, as expected.

“I have a favor to ask…”

After hearing my explanation, Taeyoon let out a vague breath.

[The secondhand luxury market in Gangnam, huh… that place is huge now. It’d be like looking for Antonio in Italy.]

“It’s a unique watch.”

[Oh, a watch? That changes things. The market for high-end watches is much smaller.]

“It’s a Rolex Day-Date model, ice blue dial, limited edition. He probably left it for consignment within the last ten days.”

[Okay. So you want me to find the guy who left the watch to sell, right?]

“Please.”

After ending the call, I turned and looked up at Yoon Jooho’s mansion.

Taking a deep breath as if to pray, I filled my lungs with the cold, icy air.

Every place where the cold air settled inside me, from my throat to my lungs.

From here to here, to this depth. That’s where Yoon Jooho was.

Thinking that I was getting quite sentimental now that I was aware of love, I let out an embarrassed smile since no one was watching.

Hands in my jacket pockets, I started walking again, the shopping bag with strawberries swinging from my wrist.