However, disappointment flickered across Song Hyunsoo’s face when he saw the caller ID.
It couldn’t be Yoon Jooho. The message he’d sent after yesterday’s script reading hadn’t even been read yet.
The caller wasn’t Yoon Jooho, nor was it Taeyoon, who had been asked to take care of Yoon Jooho’s watch.
It was ‘Bogwang-dong Real Estate’ — the place that brokered the rooftop room where he was currently living.
“Hello?”
[This is the real estate agency. Everything alright? Is the place livable?]
“Yes, I’m doing well, thanks to you.”
[For that rent, with a Han River View and spacious rooms, it’s pretty good for a single guy, right?]
“Of course, of course. I’m not jealous of any Han River View Penthouse.”
Song Hyunsoo’s playful tone made the person on the other end laugh heartily. But that laughter soon gave way to an awkward hesitation.
[But, well, your contract expires at the end of February. We were wondering if you might be able to increase the deposit and rent a bit.]
Glancing nervously at his grandparents, Song Hyunsoo quietly stood up. He gave them a reassuring smile before slipping out of the snack bar.
“Ah… I thought it would just be renewed as is since there was no mention until now.”
[Usually, they should give notice at least two months in advance. But the landlord is being sudden again. I heard their son is coming back to Korea. If the tenant can’t accept a rent increase, they said they’ll renovate the place for the son to move in…]
Their son, who was studying violin or cello in Germany, living in a drafty, shabby rooftop room? That was impossible. It was just pressure to raise the rent.
But if that’s what they say, there was nothing he could do but accept it.
“How much more do you want to raise it by?”
[They’re asking for a thousand for the deposit and a hundred thousand won for the monthly rent.]
“That much at once??”
[As you know, the previous contract terms were really favorable…]
“So, what about the contract renewal right…”
[If they insist on moving in themselves, there’s nothing you can do.]
The agent, who said there was no way to fight it, answered someone beside him before quickly ending the call with Song Hyunsoo.
[Well, think it over and get back to us. The sooner the better.]
There was no need to think it over. You need money to even have a choice.
Sigh… He’d barely found this place after a ton of effort. Now he might have to move to another neighborhood.
His grandparents refused to change the place they’d planned to move to. Not because they’d lose the 500,000 won deposit, but because they weren’t willing to compromise on that house— not even a little.
Chagyumin had stabbed Yoon Jooho in the back and gone off the radar, and now this— either raise the deposit and rent, or move out.
Why did these troubles always come hand in hand like best friends?
Ruffling his hair in frustration, Song Hyunsoo looked up at the sky above the awning outside the snack bar. Even the sky no longer seemed like the one he had gazed at in his school uniform here.
■
Monroe’s gaze was sharp as he watched the dragonfly dangling from the toy Song Hyunsoo waved. The cat flapped his paws up and down in place, then leapt toward the dragonfly whenever the fishing line was swung far out.
Believing he had caught the dragonfly, Monroe lifted a paw gently—but all he heard was Song Hyunsoo’s chuckling behind him.
“Marilyn Monroe, there’s no dragonfly there.”
Monroe turned to glare at Song Hyunsoo, who was teasing him with the toy, then readied himself for another attack.
“Man, how are you always half a beat slow? Faster! Left, right! Left, right! Right again! Are you even a cat? Be quicker, huh? Speed it up.”
“I’m just trying to play with him, why are you killing his spirit?”
Yoon Jooho, watching nearby, nudged Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder.
“I’m not killing his spirit, I’m just being cute.”
“Let him catch it sometimes. Let him feel accomplished.”
Yoon Jooho waved the toy’s manual in protest.
“He can’t catch it even when you bring it right in front of him. Look.”
“He’s still a kitten, that’s why.”
“You pretend to be a laissez-faire butler, yet you’re totally on his side.”
“What?”
“Nothing. I said you’re the best butler.”
After finally landing a paw on the fluttering dragonfly right in front of him, Monroe captured it.
“Wow, well done! Good job, Monroe! Genius, a genius cat!”
Showering him with praise, Song Hyunsoo gave Monroe a moment to enjoy his successful hunt freely.
“He’s gotten quite active. Even with us here, he’s out and about.”
The two sat on the floor, watching Monroe busy tormenting the captured dragonfly. The cat was so absorbed he almost seemed to be fighting a motionless, inanimate dragonfly.
“Before, he’d hide the moment I entered the room. But from the weekend, not anymore. Not that he’s exactly welcoming, though.”
Song Hyunsoo glanced at Yoon Jooho, who was sitting a half step behind him. His upper body relaxed, hands resting behind him, eyes fixed on Monroe.
Taking the chance, Song Hyunsoo observed Yoon Jooho.
Since Song Hyunsoo left last Monday, Yoon Jooho had canceled script rehearsals on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He attended Thursday’s script reading but skipped the after-party for the first time.
When Director Bang called to confirm today’s rehearsal was going ahead as planned, Song Hyunsoo was more nervous than relieved. He wasn’t sure how Yoon Jooho would treat him.
But his worries were for nothing. Yoon Jooho looked just a little more subdued than usual, nothing drastically different. The rehearsal was serious as always, and afterwards, they ate strawberries as a snack.
In the meantime, Monroe’s room had been fitted with a mat, soft cushions almost like a bed, a hideout, and a low cat tower made for kittens.
A cabinet stocked with toys, food, and treats, plus a sofa to sit and watch over him.
Had Yoon Jooho been staring too long?
He suddenly looked toward Song Hyunsoo with a smile while Monroe dragged the dragonfly about. When their eyes met, Song Hyunsoo quickly looked away, pretending to survey the room.
“Monroe’s room looks better than mine now.”
“What kind of room are you living in, then?”
Yoon Jooho chuckled and shook his head.
He clearly took Song Hyunsoo’s words as a joke. They weren’t.
Either way, it was the first time in a week that he’d seen Yoon Jooho smile like that.
According to Director Bang, Yoon Jooho hadn’t gone out at all for a week, aside from exercising and shopping. The only good thing was that even when holed up at home, he often spent time in this room.
His face looked considerably thinner after just four days.
His build was the same, but his face had become gaunt—probably from the emotional strain. There was a sensitive charm in his melancholy, but still, a favorite had to stay healthy.
“You’ve lost a lot of weight, haven’t you?”
“Not really. My InBody results didn’t change.”
“Your face looks a little pale. You’re going to a fashion show, right? You have to look good.”
“I don’t look that worn out.”
Monroe lost interest and tossed aside the dragonfly. Yoon Jooho picked up the fishing rod and waved it again. The cat’s eyes lit up as he pounced once more.
Yoon Jooho was scheduled to leave for Paris, France, the next day.
He was attending the men’s fashion show for Louis Vuitton, where he had been an ambassador for a long time.
“So you’ll be spotted at the airport fashion show again after a long time.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“They even decide what you’ll wear at the airport in advance, right?”
“They want me to wear certain things.”
“They must book your accommodations in Paris, too.”
“All ambassadors get that.”
As if to say, “I’m not special.”
“Not all ambassadors get that. You have to be someone like Yoon Jooho to get a suite.”
Because my favorite really is special.
Song Hyunsoo’s fired-up retort made Yoon Jooho chuckle again.
Watching the lingering smile, Song Hyunsoo found himself already missing him—even though he hadn’t left yet. The thought slipped out before he could stop it.
“When will you come back? Will you stay long?”
“……”
Monroe lost interest in the toy faster than before and, clutching his favorite carrot doll, jumped up on the cat tower.
Yoon Jooho stared at Song Hyunsoo for a long moment. During the script reading and today, he had avoided eye contact more than necessary.
“Don’t you want me to go?”
This time, he launched a verbal attack.
“What are you talking about? It’s work, how can I not go? It’s just…”
“Just what?”
“I meant when you’re coming back.”
Yoon Jooho’s right hand rested gently on Song Hyunsoo’s shoulder. His fingers massaged softly before moving to the back of his neck, combing upward through the rough hair there.
They were only about a hand’s span apart.
“Aren’t you anxious?”
“About what?”
“That I’m going to Paris. Aren’t you anxious?”
“Why would I be?”
“Did you forget who lives there?”
“Ah…”
It would be good if he took the chance to meet Jeong Ji-in in person and reconcile, but he had decided to stop trying to play the bridge between them.
“You’re not seriously sending someone to pick a fight with him, right?”
“……”
Yoon Jooho’s silence made Song Hyunsoo nervous, and he instinctively grabbed his sleeve, asking again.
“…No, right? You wouldn’t do that?”
Yoon Jooho pulled Song Hyunsoo’s neck, pressing their foreheads together.
“Well, who knows?”
The moment Song Hyunsoo felt the tip of his nose brush against his, their lips met.