Yoon Jooho sighed, puffing up his shoulders and chest.
“You already took out different clothes for me to wear. What else is the problem?”
The T-shirt forcibly taken off Song Hyunsoo’s body, the lip gloss, perfume, and sunglasses still left in his dressing room— Yoon Jooho did not deny that those were traces of ‘that person.’
It was clear he thought it would be enough just to have taken out different clothes.
Sometimes the Prince said really strange things.
Seo Hae couldn’t help but strongly agree with him.
“I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but coming off all twisted and annoying is on me…”
“I’m the one wearing it.”
Song Hyunsoo cut Yoon Jooho’s words short.
“Does it upset you that much?”
Though he didn’t want to, his voice trembled.
Yoon Jooho sighed again, running his fingers roughly through his still-damp hair.
“Wear anything else. No, everything in that dressing room—you can take it all if you want. Still a problem?”
“Anything else is fine, but why is that one the only thing I can’t wear?”
“……”
Yoon Jooho bit his lower lip. He moved his lips as if about to say something but ended up clenching them tight again. Like someone carrying words they simply can’t say.
Eventually, he chose to shut down his emotions.
“Do I really have to explain all that too?”
“……”
“Coming in and out of this room, rolling around on my bed. Do you think we’re married or something?”
He was like a fierce Hanma1) enraged at being trapped.
Yoon Jooho couldn’t control himself.
He turned his back on Song Hyunsoo, half-turned around, swept up his lengthened hair, and muttered,
“It’s seriously annoying.”
Just hours ago, that was a face he could grab and kiss at will.
But now, staring helplessly at the cold, silent profile, Song Hyunsoo’s lips moved.
“Married? No way.”
“……”
“I wouldn’t have such presumptuous thoughts.”
He left the bedroom at a quick pace.
Crossing the living room and hallway, he slipped out the front door without properly putting on his shoes.
As soon as he got into the elevator, he pressed the close button repeatedly, foolishly.
Even though Yoon Jooho wasn’t chasing after him.
The doors closed and the elevator moved.
Only then did tears fall.
The vivid sensation of those rough hands tearing off the clothes Song Hyunsoo wore felt as if they were set aflame.
It wasn’t the T-shirt left in the drawer, but those hands—and Yoon Jooho’s still-precious feelings—that hurt.
『“It’s fine as long as you’re not involved with someone I know.”』
His loud declaration now felt empty.
Bitter over his irresponsible words, he wiped tears carelessly with the back of his hand while a bitter laugh escaped.
What kind of pain accompanies staying beside someone who can’t forget their past?
How cruel is it that an indelible mark shadows the heart of the one you love?
He hadn’t truly understood before.
He felt like he had it all, but whenever he grasped to hold on, Yoon Jooho slipped away like grains of sand.
It was a fleeting dream—too brief even to call a daydream.
■
Perhaps because the crank-in date had been set a few weeks later, the atmosphere at ’s Script Reading Site was tenser than usual.
Even during breaks, none of the lead actors left their seats.
They sipped drinks handed by their managers while reviewing the script or quietly discussing scenes with nearby actors.
In response, the staff lowered their voices and footsteps.
The room felt more like a library or a solemn conference room.
“Hyunsoo, I refilled your tea here.”
Glancing briefly at Yoon Jooho seated diagonally across, Song Hyunsoo turned his head at the gentle tap on his shoulder.
The manager assigned by Yoon Jooho handed him a tumbler.
“Thank you, Chief Manager. I’ll drink it well.”
“You’ll get a breather in the next scene at least.”
Even during the break, Song Hyunsoo’s manager whispered in a lowered tone.
Sipping the fragrant warm tea, Song Hyunsoo only nodded.
“The mood is no joke. I’ve been to many script readings, but this kind of overwhelming atmosphere in a melodrama is rare. Is it because the lead actors are peers, pushing each other? Everyone seems seriously fired up.”
Even as he listened, Song Hyunsoo’s gaze kept searching for Yoon Jooho.
Today’s reading involved emotionally intense scenes one after another, and he seemed fully focused on the script.
“The next scene is a two-shot with Baek Kang and Lee Sol, right?”
“That’s right.”
“There were a lot of worries about Yoon Jooho’s first movie, but honestly, there’s nothing to worry about. He’s like a different person compared to when he acted in dramas.”
Song Hyunsoo completely agreed with his manager.
His vocal delivery was different from his drama work.
If Yoon Jooho in dramas seemed like a smooth, skillful technician who was widely liked, now he was clearly expressing the personality of Baek Kang as if a living person.
And like Baek Kang in the scenario, he was rough and restrained yet somehow touched the depths of a person’s emotions, making them empathize.
Right now, Yoon Jooho looked like Baek Kang incarnate—the living pure love.
『“Coming in and out of this room, rolling around on my bed. Do you think we’re married or something?”』
It was hard to believe he’d said that with that face.
It was the first time seeing Song Hyunsoo’s face since he stormed out of Yoon Jooho’s mansion two days ago.
Even Yoon Jooho didn’t want to rehearse the script as if nothing happened, so he contacted to postpone his Wednesday part-time job—of course, due to moving houses.
But naturally, that was no reason for Yoon Jooho to skip the script reading.
Today, he arrived first, followed by Song Hyunsoo.
Before there was even time to feel awkward, PD Kim Yookyung appeared to announce the confirmed crank-in date, which was a relief.
Yoon Jooho and Song Hyunsoo hadn’t exchanged a word yet, maintaining a very natural silence.
“All right, everyone, get ready. We’ll continue with scene number 107. Baek Kang’s house, dinner time. At dusk.”
With the assistant director’s guidance, the script reading of resumed.
Lee Sol, Lee San, Baek Kang, and Director Jeon Yoojung.
All four were gathered at Baek Kang’s house after dinner by his invitation.
Baek Kang subtly expressed hostility towards Director Jeon Yoojung, emphasizing he was still Lee Sol’s boyfriend.
Yet he maintained a polite and friendly tone outwardly, leaving Jeon Yoojung unable to respond.
And Lee Sol had no choice but to notice.
That Baek Kang had found out about her feelings leaning toward Jeon Yoojung.
The dinner table still held almost untouched dishes from the feast Baek Kang had personally shopped for and prepared meticulously since the day before.
After sending off Lee San and Jeon Yoojung, Lee Sol sat alone at the table.
Only after a long while did she open her trembling voice.
“Baek Kang, what are you doing right now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you purposely invite Yoojung and what were you trying to do?”
“Since you and San have been helping me, I wanted to treat you to a meal with my own hands. Is that strange?”
Baek Kang, who brewed two mugs of coffee, placed one in front of Lee Sol.
“If you make me feel guilty like this and push that person away, do you enjoy it?”
Baek Kang’s eyebrows twitched slightly as he drank coffee opposite Lee Sol.
“I committed murder because of you, spent eight years in prison, became a criminal. How can you do this? You should blame me instead!”
Lee Sol suddenly stood up from the table, and Baek Kang slowly put down his mug.
He tried to smile but it was difficult.
“So what if I did.”
“……”
“If I did, why should I blame you?”
Lee Sol had no answer.
Baek Kang raised his head to look at her standing.
“San said you should marry quickly.”
“……What?”
Taking his eyes off the script, Yoon Jooho—or rather Baek Kang—looked at Lee Sol beside him and gave a pained smile.
In the script, Baek Kang stood and approached Lee Sol.
“Don’t be so scared, Sol. That kind of thing… won’t happen.”
The back of Baek Kang’s hand brushed Lee Sol’s cheek.
Her face stiffened at the touch.
Baek Kang’s expression twisted in sorrow as he watched her reaction.
“Now you hate even my touch.”
His hand dropped limply into the air along with his gaze.
“I thought about it. Is it right to lose you without even fighting once? But even if I fight and win against Jeon Yoojung, that won’t change your heart.”
Baek Kang slowly lifted his eyes to look at Lee Sol standing before him.
His eyes showed resignation.
Though resolute, his gaze was still tormented by love.
“Just as no one could stop us from being drawn to each other… your heart now will be the same.”
Everyone in the room held their breath.
Song Hyunsoo’s eyes were fixed on Yoon Jooho.
He couldn’t look away.
The love Yoon Jooho was acting had changed.
Who was the one who had drawn such acting from him?
Who was he thinking of right now?
Was Yoon Jooho also helplessly watching the heart of that person dissolve and change?
That was the cruelest possible ending Song Hyunsoo could imagine.
Unconsciously, Song Hyunsoo gripped the fabric of his pants thigh tightly under the table.
He hoped Yoon Jooho had not suffered such pain.
“Sol, you owe me nothing.”
Baek Kang’s hand gently entwined Lee Sol’s fingers.
Once her body could be touched as naturally as his own.
“I did all of this by choice. You should go where you want to go, be with the people you want to be with.”
Lee Sol’s face crumbled with guilt, sadness, pity, and hatred toward herself as a betrayer.
Her fingers slowly slipped out of Baek Kang’s grip, like sand slipping through a fist the more tightly it was clenched.
The sound of footsteps running far away after pushing open the front door with shoes on.
Only Baek Kang remained standing alone by the dinner table.
Outside the window, the last sunset burned dark red like a sinister prophecy.
Song Hyunsoo somehow found it hard to hold back the rising emotions.
■
- Hanma (悍馬): A fierce, wild horse.