Fire Becomes a Bigger Fire (2)
Park Si-hong had rented out an entire black cattle restaurant in Samseong-dong.
Black cattle that cost nearly 100,000 won per serving had a different texture from regular Hanwoo beef. It didn't toughen easily, and its chewy texture and umami made it impossible to stop eating.
The first-floor hall and second-floor group seating were taken by the general staff, while the cast divided up the four-person rooms.
And somehow, Jeong Seo-hoon ended up alone in a room with Chae Ji-hyun.
"Looks like we ended up just the two of us here since we sat by headcount."
"I'm not much of a talker, so I figured you'd get bored, Chae Ji-hyun sunbaenim. Should I grab someone from another room?"
"No, it's fine. This is plenty fun. No need to drag over the heavy drinkers."
Plenty fun already, and we haven't even done anything.
Her fun threshold must be pretty low, Jeong Seo-hoon thought.
It was the first time drinking privately with her since Hwang In-jun's studio.
He vaguely remembered not talking much with Chae Ji-hyun back then.
Hwang In-jun had done most of the talking, and the adulterer Yoon Hyeong-sik had groped at her whenever he got the chance.
And now, alone in private...
"Wow, you grill meat so well. How do you do it like this? It melts in your mouth."
"I think it's a bit burnt. I'll just eat this one."
"No, the crispy outside and juicy inside make it even better."
"It still looks burnt to me..."
"One more shot. Drink up. The meat's so good, the drinks are going down easy too."
"I have to see someone tomorrow, so I can't drink too much..."
"You don't want to drink with me?"
"No, that's not it. Who would turn down drinking with you, Chae Ji-hyun sunbaenim?"
Chae Ji-hyun laughed, shaking her wine glass flushed from the alcohol.
"Nah, your face says you don't want to. But how old are you?"
"Twenty-one."
"Whoa, really? Amazing. Wait, that makes me older? No way. But why keep calling me sunbaenim so formally?"
"Should I call you noona, then?"
"That feels too distant. Just call me Ji-hyun-ssi. Confiscating 'sunbaenim' from now on. Noona too."
Chae Ji-hyun's reactions were bigger than he'd ever seen, and she burst into nonstop laughter.
Even when a piece of meat slipped from the tongs and fell into the charcoal below the grill, she laughed hysterically for some reason.
Having only drunk alone with women twice—Yoo Jeong-ah (with Kim Sang-hee in the hall) and now Chae Ji-hyun—he had no benchmark to gauge why she was acting this way.
In the brief moment he checked his older sister's texts, Chae Ji-hyun had gone quiet. Glancing over, he saw her slumped over on the chair beside him, fast asleep.
Jeong Seo-hoon brushed off his sister appropriately and glanced at the unread message (1) from Professor Lee Se-jong.
Ignoring it too long would seem deliberate, which would be rude.
But he still didn't know what to reply.
Graduate school.
When he graduated top of his science high school and entered Korea University's engineering department as valedictorian.
Back then, Jeong Seo-hoon had no doubt he'd become a scientist, a professor, dedicating his life to exploring natural truths.
Enlisting as active duty instead of a defense contractor was thanks to Lee Se-jong's consideration.
He recalled what the professor said after his junior year, urging active enlistment.
"Jeong, defense firms are comfy, but too long. Wasting 2 years and 10 months of your talent is a shame. Just go active duty."
"Generals will fight to have you as orderly. Tutor them easy, study on your own time."
"Saves 1 year 4 months service, and your body's comfy."
"I'll whisper to a few generals."
True to word, military life was easy, plenty of personal study time.
Normally, he'd return this semester, finish up, graduate early, start master's next year.
Then study abroad at Caltech or MIT, snag a professorship, pursue academia like his father.
But the comet hit, plunging him into Rashid's world, upending everything.
Degrees, tenure, multinational grants and patents lost appeal.
All his focus now: the world the camera showed, the world it created.
That's why he'd unconsciously avoided Professor Lee Se-jong.
Out of guilt and sorry.
"Can't put it off forever..."
Resolved, Jeong Seo-hoon cleared the (1) and typed calmly.
The (1) vanished instantly. After a few dull minutes, a reply came.
***
The next day, Jeong Seo-hoon left home early in the morning.
While driving, his phone rang from Chae Ji-hyun.
"Did I get too wasted yesterday? I remember nothing. Did I mess up?"
"Nothing like that. Your manager took good care of you home."
"I'm not bad with booze usually, but yesterday the vibe was so fun, kept going."
"Yeah. Sorry, I'm driving now."
"Where to? Meeting someone, right?"
"Seeing my advisor."
"Ah, got it. Have a good meeting. Text after."
"Sure."
He hung up after the perfunctory reply.
Parking in front of the engineering building, Jeong Seo-hoon stepped out and suddenly noticed the western mountain view.
[No Entry]
[Forbidden Area]
Yellow guard lines stamped with red warnings wrapped around the university's western mountains, with police every few dozen meters blocking access.
Temporary outposts dotted the area.
Jeong Seo-hoon grabbed a passing student.
"What's that? Murder scene?"
"That? Where Comet 3I/Macdrian fell. West campus is forbidden now."
Messy hair, thick-framed glasses, pale skin like death, plain shirt and pants.
Classic engineering student fashion, replying like how don't you know.
He didn't recognize Jeong Seo-hoon at all—which would be weirder if he did.
A Korea U engineering freshman recognizing a newbie actor?
Professors would yell they'd never survive grad school.
Come to think, after Macdrian fell, news outlets suddenly clammed up like scripted.
Comet Macdrian. Definitely sent me to Rashid's world.
He'd meant to look into it someday, but adaptation to Rashid's world and acting pushed it aside.
But pulling such a massive no-entry line, 24/7 guards?
"Usually just tape it off, but guards every meter?"
"Dunno. Cops are strict. Get close, they sternly tell you back off."
"When did it start?"
"Not that heavy at first. Investigation teams swarmed for fragments, then days later, all pulled, line up, no entry."
The student frowned slightly.
"Inconveniences students and staff big time. Line's 1,130 meters they say."
"Almost wraps from campus fence to Gangnam Loop Road."
"About."
"No major school damage?"
"Nah. That's weird. Physics-Astronomy says comet barely burned entering atmosphere—should've obliterated campus. Whole of Gwanak-gu, Seoul flipped."
"..."
Objectively odd, but Jeong Seo-hoon had no doubts.
The comet enabled his bizarre current reality—far stranger.
"Thanks."
"Student? What major?"
"Electrical and Electronic Engineering."
"Oh, what year? Freshman? I'm '22 intake."
Seeing his face, the student assumed same-year freshman.
"'18."
"...S-sunbae? Sorry. But how didn't you know about the comet..."
"Discharged this spring. Professor Lee Se-jong well?"
Hearing discharge, the freshman's head bowed deeper.
Thought peer, fossil instead!
"Yes. Professor's great."
"Thanks. Say hi if we meet on campus."
"Ah, back for reenrollment."
Years apart, but this draft-dodger freshman younger by one, assuming active duty.
Entering engineering building, Jeong Seo-hoon found the office.
Barring special circumstances, Lee Se-jong would be in his office now.
Mornings office, afternoons lab—routine.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
Opening cautiously, Jeong Seo-hoon saw a scholar with frost-white hair buried in a massive monitor.
Including army and Rashid, nearly six years since last seen.
Familiarity secondary to stranger's vibe.
Lee Se-jong spoke without looking.
"What is it? Sit. Busy now."
"Here to greet you, Professor."
His mouse hand froze mid-click.
Gold glasses turned slowly.
Prematurely white brows arched smiling.
"Come in, Jeong."
"Sorry."
"Stingy kid. Discharged ages ago, now you show? Hated grad school that much?"
"Not that. Tried something else briefly."
"Wouldn't know about acting without Jeong PD saying. Starving field, right? Not serious long-term?"
Jeong Seo-hoon couldn't voice true feelings.
From freshman year, how kindly Lee Se-jong treated him.
Unlike profs seeing students as parts, rare true scholar-mentor.
"Fun. Fresh after lifelong study."
"Try more then. Youthful experiences breed new views of nature."
"Yes, Professor."
"When's Jeong PD back? Owe him drinks."
"Projects done, plenty free time now."
"Jeong, reenrollment?"
"Maybe not next year."
"One semester left—better spring. Grad school can wait."
"Don't know drama much, but active actor from our school boosts rep."
"Noona mentioned. Feels bad using school name for fame."
"Use freely. Alma mater's for that."
Jeong Seo-hoon relaxed a bit.
Lee Se-jong, moving to sofa, caught it, chuckled.
"Tense?"
"No."
"Looked it. Feared I'd nag grad school right away?"
"...A little."
"Drag horse to water, drinks? Find sweet stream, prepare."
Lee Se-jong brought snacks, chatted leisurely.
"Drama ended recently. What now?"
"Jumped into film right away. Out soon."
"Movies that fast?"
"Last-minute sub for done film. Actually..."
Explaining, Lee Se-jong nodded understanding.
"Must watch then."
"No need."
"Star pupil's film. Drama too long, saved unwatched."
"Thanks, Professor."
"Drop by lab, greet juniors. You're fossil now."
"Sunbaes and peers?"
"Jobs, PhDs abroad. All independent."
"No time today, next time."
Long time no see, stories endless.
Jeong Seo-hoon mildly regretted delay.
"Professor, saw no-entry line coming."
"Ah, that? UN team. Investigating crash fragments."
"Not all collected?"
"Can't say."
Lee Se-jong's odd smile prompted stare.
"You know something?"
"Core investigator. NDA."
"..."
"Curious? Join grad school, my student."
***
Parting Lee Se-jong, before car, Jeong Seo-hoon eyed no-entry.
Suddenly, heavily guarded group emerged from zone.
Central scientists beet-red with excitement.
Macdrian fragments still there?
Gazing distant peak, he got in car.
Interested, yes.
But candle to sun next to Rashid's world and acting now.
No hesitation, drove off.
Premiere neared.
Jeong Seo-hoon left it unread all day.