“Let me see your face.”
Jung Jin unwrapped the arms he had around Song Hyunsoo and cupped Hyunsoo’s face in his hands.
“Wow, our Song Hyunsoo, you’ve really become an Actor.”
“Hehe, right? Don’t I look healthier?”
The two wrapped their arms around each other and walked over to the table.
Jung Jin looked at Song Hyunsoo from across the table, his eyes full of emotion.
“You were always good-looking, but now…”
“Kind of look like a celebrity, right?”
Jung Jin nodded and smiled at Hyunsoo’s playful remark.
“You really do look great. You seem comfortable… You’re glowing.”
Even after the waiter handed them the menus and left, the two were so absorbed in conversation they didn’t even think to look at them for over five minutes.
Even though they kept in touch at least once a week and updated each other on their lives, it felt like they had mountains of things left to talk about.
After simply ordering a three-course lunch and some white wine, they quickly went back to smiling at each other’s faces.
“Hyung, but this place is really nice, isn’t it?”
“You like it?”
Song Hyunsoo looked around again at the rows of outdoor tables with unified deep green awnings and exteriors, covered in white tablecloths.
“This is exactly the kind of place I wanted to go to!”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“This is my first time in Paris. I wanted to visit a place that felt just like Paris.”
After the Magazine shoot was arranged, Jung Jin had asked where he wanted to go.
And he’d managed to find a place that matched exactly what Song Hyunsoo wanted.
“The alleys are quiet and there aren’t many tourists around. I love it. I can talk to you comfortably.”
The waiter served the wine first and left. The white wine they clinked glasses with was crisp and refreshing.
“Hyung, do a lot of people still recognize you?”
Jung Jin had worked as an Actor in Korea for several years.
He’d completely transitioned into a Stage Actor about a year before leaving the country, but his last project, <Eternal Night>, was a huge hit, and his popularity had soared.
“No, not so much anymore.”
Jung Jin answered humbly, but Song Hyunsoo knew better.
Among his fans, watching Jung Jin’s stage play while traveling in Paris and taking a photo as proof had become a must.
The internet was filled with stories of him gratefully taking photos with fans without a hint of annoyance.
On top of that, Jung Jin was quickly establishing himself in the European performing arts scene.
Not just Paris—he was being invited to perform in other cities in Europe as well, and his interviews had been featured in several Magazines.
“Do you come here often, hyung?”
“I’ve been here a few times.”
“With that person?”
“……”
Jung Jin was usually calm as a deep, still lake, unruffled by most things.
But the moment his partner was mentioned, his eyes flickered here and there. It was an interesting sight, not easy to witness.
“Hyung, are you nervous by any chance?”
“Nervous?”
“I mean, it seems like you’re nervous about introducing your boyfriend to me.”
“Ah…”
Jung Jin took a sip of wine and smiled, the tension obvious in his expression.
“You know, I don’t have that many friends. Introducing Han to a friend like this doesn’t happen often.”
“So even hyung gets nervous, huh.”
“Han will be here soon.”
“I really want to meet him. He’s the same age as me, right?”
“Yeah, but… maybe because he’s an Employee, his vibe is a lot more mature.”
“Wow, so he’s totally different from me? I’m curious.”
As they were eating the appetizer made of cucumber, ricotta cheese, green apple, and celery, a message came in. It was from Yoon Jooho.
He was checking to see if Hyunsoo had arrived safely.
Hyunsoo replied by sending photos of the food and the restaurant’s scenery.
“Yoon Jooho?”
“Ah… yeah. He was wondering if I arrived safely.”
I guess I’m not the only one who gets shy when my lover’s name comes up.
“Haha. I didn’t know he sent messages like that.”
Jung Jin laughed lightly as he speared a green apple with his fork, like he was talking about an old friend.
Song Hyunsoo laughed too.
As they finished the appetizer and the waiter cleared their plates, a heavy sedan entered the alley.
From the back seat of the slowly approaching car, a man got out.
Whoa, he’s big.
Is he two or three centimeters taller than Monroe’s Dad at home?
Song Hyunsoo was sure.
That’s him. That’s Jung Jin hyung’s ‘Han’!
Even though Yoon Jooho was tall, his slender build made him look more elegant than intimidating.
On the other hand, Jung Jin’s man was much more of the athletic type.
If Yoon Jooho had a Model’s physique, Han felt closer to an athlete—their vibes were totally different.
Just like Jung Jin said, he was very, very mature.
It was hard to believe he was the same age as Hyunsoo.
The difference wasn’t in their appearance, but their atmosphere.
Even though Jung Jin said Han was an Employee, he didn’t look like a newly promoted assistant manager at twenty-eight.
As Han approached from behind Jung Jin, he locked eyes with Song Hyunsoo first.
To ease the pressure of his solid frame, he smiled gently. Song Hyunsoo nodded slightly in return.
“Sorry I’m a little late.”
Sliding his hand onto Jung Jin’s shoulder, Han leaned down to meet his eyes.
“Ah, you’re here? Say hi. This is Hyunsoo. Song Hyunsoo.”
Song Hyunsoo awkwardly got up and shook his hand.
“Hello. I’m Han, Jung Jin hyung’s Partner. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hello. I’m Song Hyunsoo. I haven’t heard much, but… I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
Even as they exchanged greetings and sat down again, Song Hyunsoo stared curiously at Han’s face, tilting his head.
Jung Jin asked,
“What? Does he look familiar?”
“I don’t think we’ve met… but he looks strangely familiar. If I’d seen him somewhere, I would definitely remember.”
Jung Jin smiled sheepishly.
“Hyunsoo, do you know Hanseo Group?”
“Hanseo? Of course I do, I’m Korean, so—huh? Huh? Huh?”
Song Hyunsoo forcibly lowered his voice, as if trying to hide from someone, even hunching over the table.
“I know! I know this person! Hanseo Group! Nox Hotel!”
Han laughed heartily.
“Wow, thanks for recognizing me.”
Then he joked,
“I’m way less famous than Jin hyung, so you’ve saved my pride a bit, Hyunsoo.”
Only then did Song Hyunsoo realize what Jung Jin had meant.
“He’s someone whose face and name are well-known but isn’t a celebrity. I just couldn’t figure it out. So… so that’s what hyung meant.”
The ravioli and pasta dishes Hyunsoo and Jung Jin ordered as their mains were served. Hyunsoo asked Han, who had only a glass of wine in front of him,
“Han, aren’t you having lunch?”
“I just stopped by today to say hello to you, Hyunsoo. Please, go ahead and eat comfortably.”
Jung Jin looked between the two and smiled, as if finding the situation amusing.
“You’re both the same age, but isn’t it too formal?”
After swallowing some ravioli, Hyunsoo dabbed his mouth with a napkin and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Meeting you in person, you just feel way more mature than me…”
“Haha. Do I look old?”
“No, no! Not at all!”
Hyunsoo waved his hands in denial and took a sip of wine before continuing.
“It’s more like… you have presence? Charisma? Stuff I have zero of…”
Jung Jin and Han burst into laughter at Hyunsoo’s honest impression. Thanks to that, Hyunsoo relaxed and chuckled as well.
“Anyway, you two go really well together.”
When Jung Jin had told Hyunsoo his lover was younger—and the same age as Hyunsoo—he’d found it hard to imagine.
Jung Jin dating someone younger was hard to picture. But if the younger guy was like this, it made sense.
“But how did you two meet? Hyung never really told me about Han.”
Picking up his fork, Hyunsoo looked up at the ceiling and exclaimed.
“Ah! I think I know!”
“You do?”
Jung Jin asked, a smile on his face.
“Hyung, you shot a Nox Resort commercial before, right? You met then, didn’t you?”
Han turned to Jung Jin, nodding slowly and largely.
“Ah… the Nox Resort commercial. I miss it. Don’t you, hyung?”
There must be some memory between the two.
Unlike Han’s laid-back, subtle attitude, Jung Jin couldn’t quite meet his eyes. He just gave Hyunsoo an awkward smile.
“We didn’t meet because of work. It’s a bit… of a long story.”
Han jumped in.
“Next time you come to Paris on your own, please stay at our place, Hyunsoo. We’ll tell you the whole story of how we met—might take three or four days.”
Th-three… three or four days…?
Jung Jin checked Hyunsoo’s expression and chuckled, nudging Han with his elbow.
“You’re scaring Hyunsoo.”