“You’ve worked hard. I’ll see you in Busan from the next shoot.”

Holding the rolledup script, he tapped his neck, and lowered his head as if to inspect Hye Yoon’s face. He looked at her face a bit deeply, as it seemed like the last face he would see here.

“Yes. I’m excited to go to Busan for the first time in winter.”

Although it was a long journey and she seemed worried, it was a smile that fortunately showed sincerity.

“Do you have any places you want to go? Or anything you want to do?”

“Um… No. Just a beer while looking at the beach? That’s it.”

It seemed that any sea was fine for her. Looking at her without any hesitation in speaking.

Hye Yoon looked at the script in Ji Ho’s hand and rolled up her own script similarly. Mimicking the adult behavior she had observed moments ago, she tapped her throat. This made Ji Ho smile faintly.

“You really seem to enjoy it for someone who can’t drink.”

Feeling the need to justify herself again, her hand that had been tapping her throat seemed to exert more force. Just like her hand, her eyes were the same. A tiny flame flickered in her pupils.

“That’s really, really a misunderstanding. I must show you properly sometime.”

“Sure. Please clear the misunderstanding well in Busan. I’ll have some leisure time then.”

“Yes. Seriously.”

Even the nodding of her head was cute, filled with effort. Watching her face, Ji Ho took a moment to look around the set.

“I really… had fun here. I think I’ll miss it a lot when this set disappears.”

His words were tinged with regret already. Despite having worked on numerous dramas and films for 9 years, this kind of emotion was a first. He substituted the hundreds of emotions he had experienced here with the phrase ‘I had fun’.

“Ahh… Don’t be too regretful.”

Hye Yoon also looked around. At a glance, Ji Ho seemed lost in thought. If his thought was regret, she felt that she should quickly shake him out of it.

“We will often talk about this place every time we meet, won’t we? Then it’s not disappearing. It’s continually reviving.”

“Is it so?”

Ji Ho looked at Hye Yoon. She seemed to be leading this moment’s ending in a different direction than him. So, he decided to engrave her words into his heart. He felt he should go the way Hye Yoon was headed. Her profile looked beautiful.

“Of course. It might even become more beautiful than now. Memories are like that, aren’t they? The older and more distant they become, the more precious… and shining they are.”

“….”

“And they will never be hurt.”

Even as she spoke, her expression shone as if she was imagining precious and radiant things. Her eyes were captivating, and he was about to gaze at her longer when Hye Yoon suddenly turned her head towards him.

“Did I just sound very much like an older sister?”

“Hehe. A bit?”

“Ah, I’m proud.”

Her expression was filled with more pride than the pride she expressed in words. In that smile, the regretful emotion that was similar to regret melted away like snow.

“I wish you strength for the remaining shooting. I always felt sorry for leaving early… I’m sorry one more time today.”

“Why apologize. Go and get some rest.”

“Yes.”

Hye Yoon’s shoulders drooped a little as she turned away from Ji Ho. It seemed like some pieces of his regret from a while ago had transferred to her. There was no need for that, so Ji Ho brushed those pieces off her shoulders.

“I’ll see you outside tomorrow.”

“…Yes.”

Her small voice was filled with anticipation.

The next day, Ji Ho was busy all day. There was a stage greeting with all the actors, and in cases like now where accompanying him was difficult, they divided regions and proceeded separately.

Ding ding

It was roughly lunchtime. A refreshing notification sound rang out as he was about to step out of the car.

[Ji Ho, I’m going to make spring rolls. Is duck meat okay? Bulgogi is also fine. (3:40 PM)]

He was tightly surrounded by Bong Ki and two stylists, so he tried his best to hold in his laughter. Hye Yoon seemed to be engrossed in playing house. After reading the message one more time carefully, he moved his fingers.

[Duck meat seems good. (3:43 PM)]

As if she was waiting for it, a reply came in immediately.

[Ohh! Good! To be honest, I find that more delicious! (3:43 PM)] [Yeah. I thought so, because you mentioned it first. (3:44 PM)] [Ah! Stop reading my mind! (3:44 PM)]

When Ji Ho chuckled, everyone looked at him. Seeing him smiling at his phone, they figured it wasn’t a big deal, so the three of them turned their gaze back towards their path.

Ji Ho’s group decided to use the elevator for staff at the suggestion of the movie theater. The almost vacant elevator could easily be seen once they walked all the way to the emergency exit.

As could the other people standing in front of it.

“…Huh?”

Bong Ki, who was walking ahead, stopped in his tracks, seemingly surprised. This pause was passed on like dominoes to the two stylists and Ji Ho.

“…Wow, it’s Mr. Ji Ho. Hello. …It seems our times overlapped.”

In front of the smalllooking elevator stood Do Hyuk, his manager, and two stylists. They looked as awkward as Ji Ho’s group, and Do Hyuk’s manager offered a feeble greeting.

And then, finally, Ji Ho and Do Hyuk’s eyes met. Silently, stiffly, for three seconds.

Despite the sudden encounter, there was no particular emotion in their eyes as they looked at each other. Of course, neither of them were showing their true feelings.

“…Hello, senior Ji Ho.”

The one who first bowed his head slightly was Do Hyuk. The emotion he was hiding was surprise. However, like an actor, he didn’t show it.

“Yes. …Nice to see you.”

On the other hand, Ji Ho let his true feelings show. Pleasure. For some reason, he was truly glad. A small smile curved up at the corner of his mouth in line with his words, but his eyes were quite cold.

Ding dong

Shortly after, the elevator arrived and opened. It seemed that the small elevator had a maximum capacity of four people.

“You go ahead first. The elevator is quite small.”

Bong Ki quickly extended one hand to show them in, not giving Do Hyuk’s group a chance to hesitate. He showed that there was no need to feel sorry, and told them to get in. Rather, he urged them to go ahead quickly. His sentiment was ‘what good would come from being together?’.

Do Hyuk’s manager felt the same way. He was about to seize upon Bong Ki’s offer without hesitation.

“Excuse me, but…”

That was until Ji Ho’s voice was heard.

“I would appreciate it if the stylists could take the next one up.”

His calm voice drew the attention of all seven people. However, only one person met his gaze.

“Is that alright?”

Ji Ho addressed his question to Do Hyuk, while looking at the stylists who would be left behind.

lu lu lo la ▪️ net (lululola.net)