Chapter 25: A Gentle Breeze
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: A Gentle Breeze
The after-party began.
Seated by team at tables already laden with meat and alcohol, the staff’s laughter began to bloom. As meat sizzled on the hot grills, the savory, fatty aroma made everyone’s mouth water.
The restaurant staff bustled about, frantically changing grill plates. Even the owner was overwhelmed, rushing to bring more alcohol and rice.
Time ticked by, but Eun-seong had yet to arrive.
“Yeon-ju, have a drink.”
“Ah, yes.”
As she held out her empty glass, Yeon-ju kept glancing toward the entrance. With the guest of honor still absent, she felt a nagging unease, and it was only natural that she found herself waiting for him.
Every few seconds, her eyes darted to the door. She caught herself looking over even while drinking or eating.
Did something happen? Surely he isn’t skipping this?
“Ah, he’s here.”
“Pardon?”
The moment the door opened and she saw Eun-seong walk in, the words slipped out of her mouth before she could stop them. When Dr. Ju, who was grilling meat beside her, asked what she’d said, she shook her head vigorously and ducked her head in embarrassment.
Eun-seong’s entrance caused quite a stir. The supporting actors were the first to stand, clapping and chanting his name, while the director rushed forward to greet him so eagerly he might as well have been running out barefoot.
“Eun-seong! What took you so long?”
“Something came up at the office. I had to take a call.”
“Ah, I see. Come on, this way.”
As if completely accustomed to such enthusiastic welcomes, Eun-seong raised a hand slightly in response to the applause. Sensing him moving toward his designated seat, Yeon-ju cautiously raised her head, only to let out a sudden cough.
She had locked eyes with Eun-seong, who was walking toward her with a completely rigid expression.
“Who is Eun-seong looking at?”
“Hmm, I’m not sure. But doesn’t he look kind of angry? Did something happen?”
People whispered, confused about who, exactly, Eun-seong was staring at. Yeon-ju, who knew for a fact their eyes had met, felt her earlobes flush red and hastily downed her drink.
With all traces of a smile wiped from his face, he stared at her for a long moment.
It was a gaze as cold as frost in midsummer.
* * *
Every sip of alcohol and every bite of meat felt like it was getting stuck in her throat.
While everyone else ate, drank, laughed, and chatted in a drunken frenzy, Yeon-ju only grew more uncomfortable as time passed.
Even though her seat was quite far from Eun-seong’s, whenever her gaze drifted even slightly, she would lock eyes with him, only to find he was already staring at her.
Leaning back in his chair and merely sipping his drink, as if to make it clear he had no intention of eating, Eun-seong kept his eyes fixed on her. It made her feel incredibly self-conscious.
She couldn’t help but be bothered by it.
Why on earth is he staring at me like that?
“Yeon-ju, where are you going?”
“I’m going to call home.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Yeon-ju stood up. When she explained she was stepping out for a call away from the noisy room, Hae-young, who was sitting nearby, chimed in.
“Yeon-ju, make sure to tell our Han-byeol that his auntie loves him so, so much.”
“Yes, Director. I’ll be sure to tell him.”
As Yeon-ju walked out of the restaurant with polite steps, a staff member sitting across from Hae-young spoke up.
“Director, do you really adore Yeon-ju’s son that much?”
“Of course. He’s so adorable. It feels like I got a son without even having to give birth. I’m the luckiest person in the universe.”
The people around them laughed as she gushed about her deep affection for Han-byeol.
After Yeon-ju left, Dr. Ju, who had lingered at the table for a bit longer, also stood up.
“Where are you going, Doctor?”
“I need to make a quick call too. I left the clinic in the hands of another doctor.”
“Ah, yes, go ahead.”
As Dr. Ju grabbed his phone and headed outside, light chatter resumed at the table. Nodding along to the casual conversation, Hae-young cast a knowing glance toward the door where the two had disappeared.
…Those two actually look pretty good together.
Hae-young smiled at the thought.
* * *
After a brief phone call with her son, Han-byeol, Yeon-ju sat down on an outdoor bench.
On this autumn night, the sweltering heat had finally subsided. A chilly breeze swept through her hair, seeming to wash away her deep anxieties.
“Whew, I’m dizzy.”
She muttered to herself, sitting alone in the rest area as twilight descended like a spreading mist. Having escaped the bustling restaurant to kill some time, she found the quiet outdoor air incredibly refreshing.
“Sigh.”
Now that she was alone with her thoughts, sigh after sigh escaped her lips.
Her already uneasy mind felt even heavier under the influence of alcohol. Yeon-ju stared blankly at her phone screen, trying to suppress her worries.
…How much longer can I hold out without getting caught?
Because she had no idea when the truth, buried so shallowly, would rise to the surface, she felt more suffocated with each passing day.
Though she had prepared several excuses to use if backed into a corner, they were flimsy at best.
Anyone, at any time, could reach the truth if they simply set their mind to it.
Is it really okay to keep pretending like this? Will everything be fine?
“I don’t even know anymore…”
Just one person. As long as just one person on this earth—Eun-seong—didn’t pay attention, she could barely keep this up. If today passed like yesterday, and tomorrow passed just like today, she might be able to bring this bizarre lie to a clean end.
“Hello?”
Just as her guilt was mounting alongside her daily growing anxiety, a familiar voice rang out, making Yeon-ju look up.
Ah. It was Eun-seong, standing a short distance away.
Thinking he was starting a phone call, Yeon-ju began to get up and leave, but Eun-seong raised his hand and spoke again.
“Hello?”
Staring blankly as he greeted her a second time while looking right at her, Yeon-ju’s eyes widened in surprise. When he gestured for her to answer, she raised her phone in a daze and pressed it to her ear.
What is he doing?
Even though the call wasn’t connected, he spoke again into his own phone.
“Hello?”
“Yes? Hello?”
When she played along, Eun-seong nodded. Bewildered, Yeon-ju gave him a flat look.
“What on earth are you doing right now?”
“Isn’t it obvious? We’re talking on the phone. You’re an incredibly hard woman to reach.”
He spoke into his unconnected phone. Although there was a considerable distance between them, the quiet surroundings allowed them to hear each other clearly.
“You’re not a child. Why are you playing a prank like this? It’ll look weird if someone sees us.”
“Who would interrupt someone on the phone? As long as you stay right there, there’s no problem.”
…What a bizarre man.
Yeon-ju switched the phone to her other ear and raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
“Me? I was calling home.”
“Ah. Were you talking to your husband?”
“Well, a bit of everyone.”
“I see. A bit of everyone.”
As the red sunset began to fade, the long shadow stretching from his feet shifted with his every movement. Just by standing there, he seemed to make his surroundings beautiful and enchanting, turning the scene into a picture-perfect landscape.
“How is your finger?”
“It’s fine. It was never a big deal to begin with.”
“What is it with you? Do you die if you complain? Why is everything always ‘fine’?”
Locking eyes with him, Yeon-ju held his gaze for a long moment. There was an indescribable, profound aura to his face.
When he wasn’t smiling, he looked sad. It evoked a strange sense of pity, making one want to go to him, to hold him, and eventually, to stay by his side.
“Then why did you come out, Actor?”
“Don’t keep calling me ‘Actor.’ What if someone hears?”
“You said no one was around to hear.”
“The birds and mice might hear. Be careful.”
When a man like him smiled, it felt as though all the light in the world turned brilliantly radiant. He was a man who had everything. She wondered if there was anything he lacked, or if such a thing even existed for him.
He made her want to lean on him; and once leaning, he made her want to be held. It felt as though his embrace could shield her from all the harsh storms of the world, making her feel as intoxicated as if she, too, possessed everything—
And so, she began to want it. To be held in his arms. To hide away in his embrace.
“Has your tolerance gotten any better?”
“Me? No. I’m a total lightweight. Three or four glasses of beer is my limit.”
“Still the same, I see.”
“Yes. Still the same.”
“So, are you drunk?”
“Ah, no. Not yet. I’m fine.”
…Without her realizing it, time was rapidly winding back.
With nowhere to hide among the memories that clung to her as if they had happened yesterday, she was left exposed before the bare truth of their past.
A dizzying sensation rose from her toes, making Yeon-ju swallow hard. Holding an unconnected phone to her ear, she knew she couldn’t continue this ridiculous conversation any longer.
“Since you’re such a lightweight, don’t just drink whatever people pour you. Take care of yourself.”
But was it the alcohol?
“Getting drunk only hurts you. I can’t even drink in your place anymore.”
A sudden, aching yearning washed over her, so tender and painful that she couldn’t bring herself to walk away.
“I can take care of myself now.”
“Sure, sure. I’m sure you can.”
Startled by the sudden surge of emotion, Yeon-ju blurted out the first thing that came to mind, closing her eyes tight before opening them again. She could feel her heart pounding so vividly—
Ah. I need to get up. I have to run away now.
“I can hang up now, right?”
“Well, if you hang up, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Why are you doing this anyway?”
“I don’t have a choice. It’s not like I’m at a level where I can just stand around and chat with you.”
Wow. ‘Level.’ It’s infuriating, but he’s absolutely right, so I’ll let it slide.
“Yes, yes. ‘Level.’ I get it.”
“I’m kidding. I don’t know your number. Why don’t you just give it to me now?”
“Ah, no. There’s no need for you to know the number of the costume team’s youngest member.”
“I suppose not.”
A faint smile played on Eun-seong’s lips. He looked around as if admiring the scenery before speaking again.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“Okay.”
“Which do you think would be easier and faster: for me to find out your number, or for you to find out mine?”
Yeon-ju let out a shallow breath.
What a ridiculous question, she thought. Assuming he just wanted to brag about his status again, she replied dryly.
“Of course it would be easier for you to find out mine. Our levels are completely different. Would finding a low-ranking staff member’s number be any trouble for you?”
“Ah. Is that so? I think differently. Wouldn’t it be easier for you?”
“Why? Where would I even go to dig up a top actor’s personal information? That makes no sense.”
A gentle breeze blew between them, like a secret whisper.
“No, I really think it would be easier for you.”
“…”
“Because all you have to do is ask me. You might have no intention of giving me your number, but I’m more than willing to give you mine.”
With those words, Eun-seong lowered his phone and stepped closer. Startled, Yeon-ju lowered her phone as well, her eyes widening.
He immediately held out his phone to her.
…Should we not have broken up back then?
“Either give me your number, or take mine. Choose one.”
“…”
“You’d better choose quickly. Before people come out.”
It felt as though the autumn breeze of this night was whispering those very words.