Chapter 90
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Returning Home
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Returning home.
The day I bumped into actor Joo Jung-hwan.
Filming wrapped up right there on the spot that day.
Because the lead actor, Joo Jung-hwan, just up and left.
The man himself wasn't even picking up his phone.
His dedicated manager had no idea where he'd gone.
The agency said they'd look into it, but it didn't seem like he'd be back anytime that day.
"Sorry."
I spent the whole time weaving through the set, nothing but apologies.
"Sun-hu, what do you have to be sorry for? You didn't do a single thing wrong, so don't worry about it."
"That guy's seriously insane, right? What the hell does he expect us to do if he just bails?"
Su-a and Mom took my side, but my mood was still in the dumps.
Because from my first day as manager, I'd screwed up and ruined the shoot.
Ha. Why the hell did I do that?
I should've just ignored him.
Why did I even take his bait?
If it'd just been me, fine, but this was dragging Mom and Su-a down with me.
'Hit me. Go on, try it, you punk.'
If I'd actually swung back then...
Mom and Su-a would've ended up as criminals too.
I'd be the suspect in an assault case,
and Mom would've done anything to keep me from being labeled a criminal.
...What would Joo Jung-hwan have demanded in a settlement?
Maybe that's exactly what he was gunning for.
Horrifying.
I was disgusted with my own stupidity for not even thinking that far.
I hadn't built up my body just to throw punches on a whim.
Why was I so damn thoughtless?
I was shaking with rage at my own idiocy.
"Sun-hu. Cheer up. That guy just stormed off in a huff by himself. You don't need to feel responsible."
In the end, filming got canceled that day, and I drove Su-a's car back home.
My mood stayed rock-bottom the whole drive.
So Su-a kept looking after me the entire time.
As her manager, I was supposed to be the one taking care of her,
and I couldn't even lift my head.
"Sun-hu."
We got to the apartment, and I walked her right up to her door.
"Um... want some ramen before you go?"
Ramen? Out of nowhere?
Standing at her door, Su-a suddenly invited me like that.
"Do you have ramen at your place, Su-a?"
"...No."
"Feeling like ramen? Should I run out and grab some? Oh, but you've got an early shoot tomorrow morning. Won't your face swell up?"
"..."
Su-a looked kinda dissatisfied with my response.
Grabbing ramen and boiling it up would've been easy, but for a female actress, her face is her life.
No matter how bad she wanted it, I figured she should hold off on late-night ramen.
"Forget it. I'm just gonna crash."
"Ah, okay... Good night, Su-a."
Su-a seemed a little pouty.
She must've really been craving ramen.
"...Still, thanks for today."
Mwah.
"Sleep well, Sun-hu."
Su-a quickly unlocked her door and slipped inside.
Eh?
What was that?
Did Su-a just kiss me?
Eh? Why?
The fresh tingle lingering on my lips left me totally flustered.
Even after Su-a went inside, I stood there frozen for a good while.
After dropping Su-a off, I headed back to my place.
The house was all dark inside.
Mi-so must've already turned in.
I quietly knocked on Mom's door.
"Mom. You up?"
"Sun-hu? You're back?"
"Yeah... Sorry about today, Mom."
"Sun-hu, want to chat with Mom for a bit?"
I went inside.
Under the dim nightlight glow, Mom sat on the bed in her pajamas.
I went over to the bed as she beckoned and sat beside her.
And hugged her.
I needed her warmth.
"Mom, I'm sorry."
"For what? What's there to be sorry about?"
Mom stroked my back.
She wasn't mad.
"For fighting on set. And leaving without a word."
"It's fine. Boys grow up fighting, right? I was actually glad to see you stand your ground without backing down. You got mad for Mom's sake, didn't you? Thanks, Sun-hu. You looked so cool."
"Yeah..."
Mom's hand stroking my back felt so warm.
Mom forgave everything.
But if I'd actually hit him back then...
Even if Mom forgave me, I couldn't forgive myself.
Making Mom bow her head to a scumbag like that.
For Mom's sake alone, I never should've done it.
"And I'm all for you becoming Su-a's manager too."
"Really?"
"Of course. If she'd dragged you into it, I'd have been pissed, but since you chose it yourself, Mom's cheering you on. I'm happy whenever you tackle something with real drive. I was just a little surprised earlier, that's all."
Mom's body heat warmed my chilled skin.
Her scent filled me up.
"Sorry, Sun-hu. Mom should've given you more options and let you pick. I dropped the ball on that."
"What are you talking about? You're the one who introduced me to Su-a. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have even considered it. I figured doing manager work might help you out someday, so that's why I went for it."
Mom smiled happily at my words.
"Just hearing that means the world. But if you became Mom's manager, I'd spoil you too much to get any work done. Want Mom to manage you instead?"
"That'd be the most luxurious manager gig in the world."
Mom and I laughed together, locked in each other's arms.
"So, things going well with Su-a?"
"It's not like that with Su-a..."
...Right? Not like that.
Up until this morning, I could've said it with full confidence.
But after that kiss from Su-a earlier, things felt a bit fuzzy.
A young guy and girl spending that much time together—if no feelings stirred, that'd be the weird part.
Plus, I'd gone and dropped a condom at Su-a's place.
No wonder she got the wrong idea.
Wrong idea... was it really wrong?
Su-a was attractive, no denying it.
Naturally, thoughts like that crossed my mind as a guy.
But because Mom had introduced her as a way to pry me off her, it was hard to see her that way.
Felt like something deep inside was resisting.
"Really? Nothing happened?"
Mom asked playfully.
"Would you like it if... I dated Su-a?"
I never doubted Mom's love.
But was she really indifferent?
Did she just want me out of her arms ASAP?
"I told you before, right? Mom's dream is for you to marry a nice girl and give me cute grandkids."
Cute grandkids...
I pictured Mom holding my child.
Just imagining it made me happy.
But that kid would be my child—and Mom's too.
Not a grandkid, but our child.
A baby born between Mom and me.
Once this shoot wraps...
Should I ask Mom?
To have my baby.
...No, can't do that.
I'm not ready for anything.
No money, no skills, nothing. Haven't even graduated college.
Financial burdens, pregnancy and childbirth, society's harsh judgment.
I'd be dumping it all on Mom.
At minimum, I need to be able to support Mom, me, and our child.
A proper family.
But... how long would that take?
5 years? 10?
The older Mom gets, the bigger a burden childbirth becomes.
And... hate to think it, but menopause is real.
In 10 years, Mom would be over 50.
When does menopause hit for women?
Can we hold out till 50?
"Sun-hu? What's got you thinking so hard?"
"Mom..."
Reality was brutal.
So many walls blocking Mom and me.
I tightened my arms around her.
I didn't want to give up.
I wanted to love Mom more.
Share more happiness with her.
"Mom..."
I pressed my lips to hers.
A kiss that had become as natural as breathing.
My hand drifting to her breast during it felt routine now.
Mom's softness always got me fired up.
As I tried slipping my tongue in, the faint toothpaste scent snapped me back.
"Ah, sorry, Mom. I haven't even washed up since getting back."
I'd been out and about all day.
Nothing major, but I wasn't exactly fresh.
"It's fine."
This time, Mom kissed me.
Still, if I smelled weird, it'd be embarrassing.
"What mom thinks her son's dirty?"
Mom was always like that.
Accepted every part of me.
Loved it all.
"Sun-hu. Want to dump all that stress from today on Mom? Then sleep it off and forget it all tomorrow."
Did Mom think I was brooding over the set incident?
Not that.
But her offer was too tempting to turn down.
"Sure."
Mom's hand caressed my crotch.
Gentle, like soothing a crying kid.
"You weren't pitching a tent like this in front of Su-a, were you?"
"No..."
Probably fine.
I'd been controlling it pretty well.
Practicing lines, driving—even with Su-a's scent right there, tempting me, I'd held out.
I wasn't some middle-school kid anymore.
I'd learned restraint like an adult.
Probably... fine.
"Ah."
Now her lips wrapped around my cock instead.
Slurp.
My cock slid in and out of Mom's mouth.
The sight was insanely hot.
Wonder if it smelled. Was it gross?
Worried, but I couldn't stop.
No way I'd halt something this good.
"Mi-so's home, so let's finish with my mouth tonight. Got it?"
Mom scolded as she worked my cock with her hand and tongue.
Mom's mouth felt amazing.
Nothing beat her blowjob when she truly wanted my happiness.
But I didn't want to enjoy it alone.
I wanted Mom happy too.
The hand on her breast slid lower.
Her lingerie panties were already flooded.
Squelch.
Slipping fingers inside told me she was ready.
"Mm-hng."
Mom moaned through her nose, my cock still in her mouth.
"Mom. Let me put it in."
"...No, Sun-hu. Mom can't keep quiet tonight."
"I'll plug your mouth with mine."
I didn't wait, crashing my lips into hers.
At the same time, I yanked down her panties and slid my cock in.
"Nnghhuu—."
Mom's voice echoed in my mouth.
Into her hot, sloppy pussy.
I sank into a swamp I couldn't escape.
That night, I forgot all about tomorrow's shoot and fucked Mom till dawn.