Chapter 19
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19
Most of the staff allowed in the dressing room were experienced professionals. It was safe to call them a gathering of the industry's seasoned veterans, many of whom had worked with Eun-seong for a long time.
They were the country's top experts, always recruited whenever Eun-seong appeared in commercials, magazines, movies, or dramas. Eun-seong was used to dressing and undressing in front of them, and they were naturally accustomed to touching him.
Inside that room, Eun-seong was like a work of art brought to life by many hands. The dressing room staff fought a daily battle to create their masterpiece.
With only the creators and their creation present, the dressing room was usually quiet.
"Actor Im Eun-seong! I'm a huge fan!"
"Thank you."
"Actor Im! Have a great day today! I'm a fan too!"
"Yes, thank you."
Yeon-ju, eating while squeezed between Eun-seong and Dong-hwan, glanced around. The scene in front of the meal truck, where makeshift tables were scattered under a tent, was very different from usual.
Although they were on the same film set, many extras and other staff members were seeing Eun-seong in person for the first time. Most of them were barely touching their food, their eyes glued to him. Many offered words of encouragement, and quite a few were already waiting for him to finish his meal just to take a picture.
"Hyung, should I ask them to give us some space? It must be uncomfortable to eat like this."
"Forget it. Just eat."
"Yes, Hyung."
The crowd grew larger, as if they were viewing an exhibit in an art gallery.
She knew he was a famous actor, but seeing this firsthand washed over her with a completely different feeling.
Right. This is the kind of person he is. No, this is the kind of person he has become.
This man, currently picking only the chicken breast out of his dakgaejang, was someone she was more used to seeing on a screen than sitting across from. That felt more like the reality.
"Why are you just picking at your food? Don't even think about leaving leftovers. Eat up. This is all someone's investment money," Eun-seong chimed in, noticing Yeon-ju's lack of appetite.
"Understood. I'll clean my plate," Dong-hwan shrugged.
Although the three of them were eating together, Dong-hwan did most of the talking. Once again, he spoke up to lighten the mood.
"Yeon-ju, you said you were Hyung's junior in college, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"What was Hyung like back then? Was he popular in college, too?"
"Cough! Cough, cough!"
Eun-seong, who had been chewing on a piece of chicken breast as if it were dried squid, let out a heavy cough. A startled Dong-hwan poured him some water, while Yeon-ju's ears turned red as her eyes widened.
It would have been nice if the question had just faded away, but as soon as Eun-seong's coughing subsided, Dong-hwan pressed on.
...What kind of person had he been?
"So, how was he? Our Eun-seong Hyung must have been the total package even back then, right?"
"Ah, yes. That's right."
He never once set a glass of water down for me carelessly.
"I guess you two weren't that close, though."
"Well... yes. That's true."
He never once ignored even a single cough of mine.
The love he’d given her had been so vast from the very beginning that she hadn't realized its full scope while receiving it. Only after letting it go—only after throwing it away—did she understand just how magnificent a love she had been given.
"Man, I wonder how popular Hyung was. I swear, the phrase 'heavenly face' was practically invented for him."
"Yang Dong-hwan. I told you to shut up and eat. Why do you keep—"
"He was cool. Even back then," Yeon-ju spoke quietly.
Eun-seong looked at her with startled eyes. Her ears were still flushed red, and her gaze darted around anxiously, but her voice was remarkably calm. She wasn't just forcing out words; he could feel that she was genuinely tracing her memories.
"He was very popular. Whenever he ate at the cafeteria, people would stare at him just like they are now."
"Wow, that's crazy. Talk about a presence."
"Yes. He was someone with a definite presence."
Hearing about his past self through her lips wasn't pleasing in the slightest. The fact that she was sharing generic stories that anyone could tell, while leaving out the most crucial truth, pierced his heart coldly.
Right. You can't say it, and neither can I, but—
"Hyung, I wish I could live just one day as you."
We loved so passionately, never knowing there was an expiration date. From the moment I met you, I never once imagined a future without you.
"There's nothing to envy. You win some, you lose some."
"Huh? Is there something you lost, Hyung? What is it?"
I thought it would last forever. I thought parting was only possible when we drew our last breath.
"There's just something. Please, just eat your food."
"Yes, Hyung."
Yes, that's how it was. Until you left me.
*
After the three of them finished eating, Eun-seong surprisingly said he wanted coffee, so Dong-hwan went to fetch some.
Left alone together, a sudden silence settled over them, and Yeon-ju could only fidget with her fingers.
"I've been away from my post for too long. I should probably head back."
"Sit down. It's still a long time before makeup starts. Rest while you can."
"Ah, yes."
She felt incredibly uncomfortable, conscious of the eyes watching them. A lead actor sharing a meal with the youngest member of the costume team—she didn't even know if this was something that actually happened, so she could only nod meekly. In contrast to her tense reaction, Eun-seong looked perfectly relaxed.
"When is your son coming?"
"Pardon?"
"Your son. When is he arriving? Isn't his first day of filming soon?"
No matter how many times she heard it, the phrase "your son" felt awkward.
"Actually, he's scheduled to come today. Since there isn't much time, they thought it would be best for him to get used to the atmosphere on set. I think they're doing the script reading and rehearsal right here."
"As you know, the atmosphere on this set isn't great. There isn't a single bright or cheerful scene, so it's not a good environment for a kid."
"Yes."
Eun-seong looked down at his hands as he continued. He knew he was meddling, but as a senior actor, there was a lot he wanted to advise her on.
"There's a psychological counselor on-site, so make sure he gets regular consultations. Don't just trust Director Jin blindly; take good care of him yourself. Nine out of ten child actors end up running away. If it's hard for adults, it goes without saying for a kid."
"Yes. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
"What does your husband say? Is he okay with it?"
Yeon-ju's eyes widened instantly. Reading everything he needed to know from her face, Eun-seong waved his hand, realizing he had overstepped.
"No, forget it. I shouldn't have asked."
"Uh... yes. Well, he just told me to take good care of him."
"Right. Just in case... he doesn't know, does he?"
When Eun-seong threw out the abrupt question, Yeon-ju swallowed hard. He was likely asking if her husband knew about their past. As she hesitated, Eun-seong spoke again.
"Knowing your personality, I doubt you told him. But don't. It's not something a husband would want to hear."
"..."
"As long as you and I keep our mouths shut, it never happened."
"Yes, I understand. Actually, I have something to say to you, too."
When Yeon-ju said she had something to say, Eun-seong glanced at her. Now, just like in the past, her saying she had "something to say" terrified him.
"When you meet Han-byeol, I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from asking personal questions..."
"Don't worry. I had no intention of talking to the kid anyway. Even if we did talk, I have nothing to ask him."
"Yes. Thank you."
It sounded like a warning not to ask about the child's father or their family's private affairs. Though he replied as casually as possible, he felt a pang of disappointment that she was drawing such a sharp line.
But Eun-seong truly had no intention of asking the child anything. He knew all too well that if word got back to Go Yeon-ju, he would look like a nosy ex-boyfriend digging for information.
"Anyway, let's cooperate well so we can get a good result..."
"Eun-seong, did you eat?"
Just as Eun-seong was about to wrap up the conversation, the director's voice rang out. Turning his head, Eun-seong saw Director Park Hyeong-uk approaching. Yeon-ju, spotting Dr. Ju walking alongside him, bolted upright from her seat.
The realization that she hadn't yet sworn Dr. Ju to secrecy about her "husband" flashed through her mind, and instinct took over before reason could.
"Eun-seong, you haven't met Dr. Ju yet, have you? Perfect timing."
The director pulled Dr. Ju closer, and Yeon-ju's mouth fell open. Knowing nothing of the situation, Dr. Ju bypassed Eun-seong and greeted her first.
"Ah, here you are. I was wondering where you went."
"What's this? Dr. Ju, do you and Go Yeon-ju know each other?" the director asked.
Dr. Ju parted his lips to answer. At that exact moment, Yeon-ju grabbed him by the wrist.
"C-Can I talk to you for a second?!"
"Whoa!"
As Yeon-ju bolted, dragging him by the wrist, Dr. Ju was forced to run along. Eun-seong watched the two of them disappear, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"What on earth is going on? Why did they just run off in the middle of an introduction? Eun-seong, do you know?"
"No. How would I know?"
Go Yeon-ju, running as if her life depended on it, kept a tight grip on that man's wrist until the very end.
That was the only thing Eun-seong could see.
*
"I-I have a husband!"
After grabbing his wrist and sprinting the moment they met, this was the bizarre statement Yeon-ju finally blurted out once they reached a deserted corner. Dr. Ju looked utterly bewildered.
"Pardon?"
"I-I have a husband. Or rather, the people here think I do."
"Ah... I see..."
Having no idea what was going on, Dr. Ju nodded slowly. With a half-dazed expression, she scrambled to explain.
"You see, there are circumstances. Unspeakable circumstances."
"Yes, yes. I understand."
"I lied because there's someone who needs to believe I have a husband. So, if by any chance..."
"Yes, I understand perfectly. Go Yeon-ju has a husband, and Han-byeol has a father."
"Yes, exactly." Yeon-ju nodded vigorously, relieved that he understood.
While it was a bit hard to grasp, it was clearly a desperate matter for her. He didn't think raising a child alone was anything to be ashamed of these days, but as she said, everyone has secrets they can't share.
"I understand completely. But really, it's not like I'd go around gossiping about your family affairs anyway."
"Ah... I know you wouldn't, but, well, it's just..."
"I mean, you don't have to worry. I'm much better at keeping secrets than I look, and I'm extremely good at keeping promises. So you can trust me. Give it a try."
Dr. Ju tried his best to calm her down, even offering a spontaneous self-introduction he would normally never make. It was strange. He felt an itch to win her trust, a desire to relieve her of at least a fraction of the anxiety she was gripping so tightly.
Staring at Dr. Ju, who smiled warmly while repeatedly telling her to trust him, Yeon-ju finally let her guard down. Her face had been so tense that her lips were trembling.
I'm out of my mind. What on earth did I just do?
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I'm so sorry. I must have lost my mind to be so incredibly rude..."
"Yeon-ju, are you okay? You seem very anxious right now."
This time, as she was frantically apologizing, Dr. Ju firmly gripped her shoulders and studied her face. He knew that firm physical pressure could help stabilize an anxious mind. Holding her shoulders, he gazed into her eyes, then nodded a couple of times, as if to offer a reassurance stronger than any words.
"Everything is fine. It's going to be okay. Take a deep breath. Yes, just like that."
"I'm fine. I'm so sorry for acting so thoughtlessly. I'm truly sorry, Doctor."
"Not at all. Actually, I quite like that we share a secret now. You can put your mind at ease."
As he chanted his reassurances like a mantra, Yeon-ju took a deep, heavy breath and began to calm down. Watching her slowly regain her composure, Dr. Ju finally smiled.
The person who needs to believe she has a husband. Who could it be?
A question arose in his mind—one he would normally never ask. It wasn't mere curiosity; it was genuine interest.