Leaving Only a Bitter Taste (5)
“But Writer Kim, what did Jeong Seo-hoon do before this? He's not a child actor, right?”
“He's a college student. Served in the military. Now he just needs to keep growing.”
“Military discharge? So he's older than he looks?”
“Not sure about his age. PD Song would know—it's on the contract. All I know is he's in engineering. Oh, he lives around Nonhyeon-dong. Should I give him a call?”
“Yeah, do it.”
Yoo Jeong-ah chimed in slyly, and Kim Sang-hee flashed a knowing smile as she pulled out her phone.
“Hey, Seo-hoon. It's Kim Sang-hee. What're you up to? Just chilling? No shoot tomorrow—wanna grab a drink? We're in Cheongdam-dong. Yoo Jeong-ah's here too.”
“Tell him I'm sorry for biting his lip and buying him a round.”
“Jeong-ah says she's sorry for biting your lip and she's buying big time. But 'biting' sounds kinda suggestive. Where's my laptop?”
“Writer Kim, please.”
“Heh heh, got it. He's coming? I'll text you the address. Yeah, we'll be waiting.”
Kim Sang-hee hung up with that same enigmatic smile and raised her glass.
Yoo Jeong-ah wrinkled her nose slightly.
“Writer Kim. What's with that look?”
“What's wrong with my face?”
“It feels like you're teasing me, like 'I know everything.'”
“I don't know a thing.”
***
Jeong Seo-hoon arrived at the bar to find the two women sitting side by side at the counter.
The main room was empty of other customers.
“Oh, Seo-hoon! Sit here.”
Kim Sang-hee waved enthusiastically and scooted over one seat.
That left Jeong Seo-hoon sandwiched between them.
“Got a favorite drink?”
“Hmm, soju?”
“Really? Unexpected. You strike me as a wine-only guy who wouldn't touch anything else.”
“Never really had chances to try much variety.”
“What's your limit?”
“Up to five bottles.”
“Not bad. Then what—passed out?”
“No. Just stopped when I got buzzed.”
The women peppered him with questions from both sides, but Jeong Seo-hoon answered calmly.
“How's the lip? Must've hurt back then.”
“Didn't hurt at all. No injury.”
“Sorry again. I got too into it. Weirdly, I turn into someone else syncing up with you.”
Kim Sang-hee clapped lightly, chuckling.
“Same here. Ideas just flow when I see you. After Illegal, I'll cast you in my next one—no escaping. Tell me first if offers come in. I'll claim you.”
“Already prepping a new work, Writer Kim?”
“Always got a ton. Just pick the ripest one when it's time.”
Kim Sang-hee proudly hauled out her laptop to show him.
“Whiskey sprints work wonders sometimes. But they're overdramatic—too many lines to cut later. Not shareable stuff.”
“That laptop holds all your works? Even upcoming ones?”
“Yep. My treasure. That's why I carry it everywhere.”
“Wow, what's it worth? If someone stole it and auctioned the files, it'd go for billions, right?”
“Cloud autosync, no worries. Plus, I use BitLocker. They can take the laptop, not the files.”
“What's that?”
The two women chattered nonstop with Jeong Seo-hoon in the middle. Finally, he spoke up.
“Wouldn't it be easier if I sat on the end and you two sat together?”
“No way. You in the center lets us enjoy the view while we chat.”
“Exactly. Center stage for Seo-hoon.”
Every time a glass emptied, Kim Sang-hee ordered more.
The room stayed empty.
Jeong Seo-hoon glanced around and commented.
“Prime spot—not like it's hurting for business. Weird no customers.”
“Missed the closed sign? Not open to anyone but us tonight.”
“That's allowed?”
“Sure is. It's my spot.”
Kim Sang-hee winked over her whiskey glass.
“Right, Boss Kim?”
The bartender, wiping a glass, grinned warmly.
“I'm just the pants-wearing manager, Actor Jeong Seo-hoon. Loving the drama.”
Jeong Seo-hoon bowed his head slightly.
“Thank you.”
Before long, both women were quite tipsy.
Cheeks flushed, eyes softly unfocused, giggling at every clink of glass like it was the funniest thing.
Kim Sang-hee peered intently at Jeong Seo-hoon's face through hazy eyes.
“How do you deliver those lines with this face? Mind-blowing. Without you, Illegal would've capped at a bland 18-19%.”
“It would've done even better without me. You and PD Song are incredible. All the other actors are top-notch too.”
“Nope! Staring at your face too long—can't hold back the writing urge! You two play without me a sec!”
Without giving him a chance to respond, Kim Sang-hee jumped up and headed to a table in the room.
She fired up her laptop and started typing furiously.
Her fingers danced with unnatural precision for someone drunk.
Yoo Jeong-ah seemed unfazed, used to it.
“Writer Kim doesn't just do this on set, huh.”
“She's famous for it. Inspiration hits anywhere, anytime. Once, she stepped out to the bathroom during group dinner and never came back. We searched everywhere.”
“She didn't take the laptop to the bathroom.”
“Turned out she was writing on her phone. Almost two hours.”
“……”
“Ignore her—let's have fun. No shoot tomorrow. Or is it today?”
Yoo Jeong-ah smiled faintly and raised her glass.
They clinked lightly, and Jeong Seo-hoon downed his whiskey.
“Nonhyeon-dong, right? Live alone? Solo?”
“With family. Always have since I was a kid.”
“Family setup? Too personal? Skip if you want.”
“Parents and one older sister. Dad's abroad for work—see him once or twice a year.”
“Aw, Mom must get lonely.”
“She's busy with everything, so not really.”
Kim Sang-hee paused her typing, glanced up at them.
Jeong Seo-hoon faced away, face hidden, but Yoo Jeong-ah was turned fully toward him at 90 degrees—easy to peek.
A man facing forward, a woman twisted sideways toward him.
Hunter and prey on screen; sweet young leads in reality.
Kim Sang-hee suddenly imagined.
What if Lee Jin-uk inside Jeong Seo-hoon suddenly pinned Yoo Jeong-ah?
What face would she make?
What scream, what resistance?
The mere thought quickened her breath, heated her head.
She buried her face back in the laptop.
“What do you do on off days?”
The talk veered deeper into personal territory.
“Practice emotional control. Lately, catching up on dramas and movies.”
“Said you never thought of acting. PD Song dragged you in. Sticking with it?”
“Yes. Feels like I want to see it through now.”
“We'll see you around more. Phone off? Or silent?”
“No, on vibrate.”
“Weird. Should be blowing up with offers.”
“Personal phone—no agency stuff comes through.”
“That's even weirder. Look at mine—silent mode, still nonstop.”
Yoo Jeong-ah showed her chat screen—hundreds of unread messages piling up, even now.
“Not many people contact me. Sister's the most frequent.”
“With that face and build? Girls wouldn't leave you alone.”
“Don't know many women.”
“College student, right? Classmates or seniors?”
“Mostly guys in the department. No same-age women now. Seniors are mostly married.”
“Still, that few women around? What about middle/high school friends?”
“All studied abroad.”
“Oh no.”
Pity flickered in Yoo Jeong-ah's eyes.
“Basically no one around at all, huh?”
“Yes.”
“Makes sense. Even geniuses stay unknown in caves. Now you're out—crowds incoming. No SNS?”
“No.”
“Hiding tight in that cave. No wonder no one knows.”
More drinks flowed…
“No agency yet, right?”
“Correct.”
“Want me to hook you up with mine if you're clueless?”
“I'm good for now. No issues.”
“Time to scout next gigs—need an agency. Hit me up anytime. Not ours? I'll find a good one. Wide network.”
“Thanks just for offering.”
“Not empty words. Gimme your number.”
They swapped numbers naturally.
“Any problems, ask freely. That's what seniors are for.”
“Appreciate it. Feels solid.”
“Ask away, but suddenly NG memory. Me biting you.”
Yoo Jeong-ah giggled, flushed from booze.
“Hurt bad? Ruined our first kiss scene bitter.”
“Did it taste bitter for you, Yoo Jeong-ah?”
“Why would it for me? You bit. Worried you hated it, cursed me at home.”
She propped her chin, gazing up languidly.
Her pale throat rippled subtly as she swallowed.
“Didn't taste bitter at all.”
“Liar. Bit hard? Had to hurt.”
“Really didn't.”
“No bitter, then what—sweet? No.”
Jeong Seo-hoon didn't reply.
Instead, he sipped his wine slowly, eyes locked straight on Yoo Jeong-ah.
She suddenly recalled that day as the red wine vanished drop by drop into his mouth.
Be careful now. Unless you want every drop of blood, every scrap of flesh sucked dry.
The booze-fueled memory echoed like a hallucination.
Those vanishing red droplets felt like her own blood being drained.
Even as he set down the empty glass, his gaze stayed fixed on her.
The same eyes from when he'd slowly sunk his teeth into her lip that day.
As he opened his mouth to speak, Yoo Jeong-ah exhaled the breath she'd held.
“Don't say it.”
His eyes questioned; she pressed on.
“Just… don't say anything. I'm feeling off right now.”
She barely swallowed I'm shaking.
***
Illegal outdoor set.
Staff bustled, setting lights and cameras.
Props stacked neatly inside the no-entry barricades, stage taking shape.
Assistant Director Kim Hyun-tae dashed around, urging them on.
“Come on, wrap it quick and inside. Shoot's almost done.”
Then—
“AD! Look over there!”
“What? Huh—what the—?”
Kim Hyun-tae turned and froze, breath catching.
A massive man approached slowly.
Over 190cm, armored in muscle like a mountain.
Not walking—prowling like a bear hunting prey.
He stopped at the barricade, arms crossed, scanning the set intently.
Pushed by the silent uproar around him, Kim Hyun-tae stepped forward—legs trembling traitorously.
“H-how can I help?”
“Just came. Problem?”
That's a human voice? Sounds like a growling bear!
Kim Hyun-tae's mind reeled.
Local gangster? Here to shut down the noisy set?
“N-no. Who might you be…?”
“Detective.”
Kim Hyun-tae's eyes bulged.
Detective? Not gangster?
But why here?
“Uh, any fugitives or crimes around?”
“No.”
“Th-then why is a detective…?”
“You asked what I'm doing. Answered. Problem?”
“No! Sorry!”
The pressure from that hulking frame and fierce face was no joke.
Feeling desperate stares at his back, Kim Hyun-tae forced words out.
“Not on duty?”
“Off-duty vacation.”
“V-vacation?”
“Said watching from outside is fine. Not?”
Indeed, the man hadn't crossed the line.
Kim Hyun-tae nodded frantically.
“Fine! Totally fine. Of course. N-need autographs? I can get 'em.”
“Won't say no.”
He promptly pulled out a thick autograph book and pen.
Kim Hyun-tae took it reverently.
“As many actors as possible, three each please.”
“I'll get ten.”
“T-ten? Three's plenty. Actors get tired.”
Does an angry bear sound like this?
Kim Hyun-tae bowed hastily.
“G-got it! Sorry!”
What just exploded?(1)