Come Back

Just like in the private room, he felt his face getting hot again. Not knowing how to respond, he pretended not to hear and just took another sip of his beer. Haeseong didn’t press him and simply waited.

“I thought someone like you had been everywhere and done everything.”

“When I take time off, I prefer to rest somewhere quiet. After both of my parents passed away, I didn’t take any vacations for two or three years. The responsibility was heavy.”

Perhaps feeling that he’d brought up something too heavy, he softened his tone and looked closely into his face.

“If we go to Bangkok together someday, would you be my guide?”

“I don’t know much about it, really. I just followed my managers around.”

“Still, you seem to know more than I do.”

His hand rested on the table, very close to Hongseo’s beer can. It was a hand as flawless and well-kept as his face, with neatly trimmed nails. Glancing at that hand, Hongseo rubbed the surface of his beer can and spoke up suddenly.

“So, we won’t be seeing each other for a week.”

“Yeah, I guess so. Did you hear about Director Kang’s party next week? I think we’ll see each other there. They set the party date to match my return.”

Hongseo had heard through his manager that Director Kang was gathering close friends and colleagues to announce the production of *Cream Mansion*—a kind of networking event where the attendees, all influential people, would help promote the movie.

“In the meantime, I hope your overseas schedule goes well, and that your move goes smoothly.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll try to keep in touch as much as possible. Although, I don’t know if you’ll be waiting for my messages.”

At his humble tone, Hongseo looked up. Maybe it was the courage from just half a can of beer, but this time he looked at Haeseong’s face for quite a long time.

“I still don’t understand why someone like you is doing all this for me. You’re a… super VIP.”

The term made Haeseong laugh. He seemed to try to hold it in, but for a while, he couldn’t meet Hongseo’s eyes, biting his lip.

“That’s true. In most situations, I am the super VIP.”

“……”

“But even a super VIP isn’t a superhero. I still have worries and responsibilities; I’m constantly being evaluated on my performance, I have to bear the results of my abilities… Sometimes, there are people I need to impress, and I have to strategize to get what I want.”

“And besides, my private life has nothing to do with all that.”

An instance where ARA’s Haeseong wasn’t a VIP—Hongseo couldn’t even picture it. Still, he made sure to maintain eye contact and listened closely.

With the soft, dim lighting behind him, Haeseong clasped his hands loosely on the table and said,

“If you want someone’s heart, you can’t be the VIP, not even if you’re a god.”

In the world Hongseo had grown up in, things didn’t work that way. If you had money and power, if you had leverage over someone, you could control them. In fact, people in that world had no interest in winning someone’s heart. All they cared about was that the person before them would smile, flatter, and obey without question; the invisible heart was of no importance.

But here was Haeseong, someone at the pinnacle of that world, saying as if it were the most natural thing that if you wanted someone’s heart, you couldn’t hold all the power.

And with a gentle smile, he brushed his fingers lightly across Hongseo’s cheek.

The touch was so fleeting, like a whisper, that he missed it immediately. So, he spoke honestly.

“Please keep in touch often. I’ll reach out, too.”

“Wow… is today some kind of special day?”

He leaned forward over the table, bringing his face closer. Seeing his unchanging smile, there was no way to believe he was lying.

After they held each other’s gaze for a moment, Haeseong suddenly brought up the camera again.

“I said that collecting cameras was a secret hobby, remember?”

“……”

“It’s not something shameful, but I keep it a secret for a different reason. It gives me a breathing space where I can be myself, not ARA’s Haeseong, and focus on something I genuinely enjoy.”

“A different reason?”

“The real secret is actually something else… Aren’t you curious?”

With a playful lift of his brow, he looked several years younger.

“At first, you were all tense in front of me, but now I can start to see emotions on your face.”

He took another sip of his beer, then tilted his head and looked at Hongseo, narrowing his eyes.

“I think… there might be a bit of hope for me.”

A cool hand that had been holding his beer can touched his cheek. This time, it wasn’t just the fingertips; the palm rested there, his thumb gently stroking his cheek.

“Don’t return me. Confirm the purchase. Then I think I’d be able to share my real secret with you.”

A real secret. Hongseo had one of those, too. A secret so private that he couldn’t tell anyone, not even Jungji, whom he trusted most.

Could he ever tell this man his real secret? Would that even be possible?

A part of him doubted it would be, and the thought left him feeling unsettled.

This time, his hand lingered a little longer.

Still, the feeling of disappointment was the same.

@

The new dormitory for “Layered” was a luxurious mansion located in the affluent UN Village, boasting an unobstructed view of the Han River. With multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, complex hallways, a kitchen separate from the dining area, and a large balcony, the mansion offered a view of the river from almost every corner.

Guests invited to the housewarming were in awe and envy of the location, the mansion’s luxurious exterior, the strict security, and the vast interior space that felt excessive for six members to share, along with the stunning views.

“Layered’s” income hadn’t reached the point where they could afford a place like this yet. It would have been impossible without Haeseong’s help. While Hongseo felt a nagging concern about this, seeing the members proudly enjoying their new home in front of their friends also made him happy.

About five or six people gathered for the housewarming.

These were guests that each member of “Layered” had invited. While Hongseo had some familiarity with the other members’ guests, he didn’t have anyone in the entertainment industry he could truly open up to. Even if he grew closer to someone, there were always limits because he couldn’t share the most intimate secrets.

Hyunsoo, an aspiring actor from UB who also had leverage held over him by the famous CEO, felt comfortable since they understood each other’s situations. However, he openly disliked the other members of “Layered,” saying they were just leeches. Although he had been invited to the housewarming, he declined.

In the end, Hongseo’s only guest was Jung Ji-in.

There was nothing particularly special about the housewarming.

It was just a gathering where snacks, fried chicken, and spicy tteokbokki were spread out, accompanied by drinks. Despite their relatively high income compared to their peers, it felt like any typical housewarming for someone in their early twenties. The only difference was that they were drinking expensive alcohol in a luxurious mansion in a high-end neighborhood.

“Senior, you know… I’m saying this because I’m a bit tipsy, but actors really are different. How can someone look that good without any makeup?”

As the alcohol began to take effect, a member of a girl group leaned across the table, closely examining Ji-in’s face. Seeing Ji-in, who was awkward among younger idol colleagues, made Hongseo smile.

It wasn’t that he found it funny to see Ji-in struggling; he was simply happy to be in a social setting like this again. His favorite hyung was there, and the people he could at least consider friends were gathered. It felt like he was just one of his peers, with no secrets weighing on him.

Before Ji-in could respond, she tossed some snack crumbs at the boy group member sitting next to him, laughing brightly.

“Hey, Woo Jong-hyun. You look totally like an octopus sitting next to my senior! Move away a bit.”

“Shut up. You’re just as made-up.”

The guy named Woo Jong-hyun picked up a piece of snack and threw it back at her, chuckling.

“I’m the dance member, so it’s fine if I’m made up! Besides, I know my place and don’t go overboard trying to act like someone. You should take off your smoky eye makeup and go act in a drama; your fans would drop like flies!”

Even with the rough banter flying back and forth, it was just playful teasing among friends. Ji-in, struggling to keep up with the atmosphere, looked a bit pitiful. Hongseo stood up and moved behind Ji-in, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Hyung understands. They’re a bit uncouth, but there’s no malice in it.”

“And what do you know?”

As Woo Jong-hyun exchanged playful jabs with the girl group member, he mumbled to himself, his earlobes turning red with embarrassment.