For the Sake of Lying

Whether it was medical equipment scattered around or the luxurious interior of a home, a voice echoed through the room.

“No, are you insane? Why did you crash into the hotel lobby!?”

Kim Hoon, the agency representative, who was drunk at the celebratory party, looked at Yoon Do-young in front of him, shaking his throbbing head from side to side.

Leaning on the hospital bed, Yoon Do-young’s face was blue instead of white. He stared blankly out the window, seemingly not listening. The shock from the car accident had left him in a state of denial, shaking his head as if trying to reject reality.

Kim Hoon, observing him, let out a long sigh as well. The alcohol-induced energy that had made his body feel alive suddenly dissipated. The more he thought about it, the dizzier he felt, and a sense of whiteness spread before his eyes, sending chills down his spine.

Yoon Do-young was the one who had won an award, and he had taken the company car and left after becoming a manager for a while. He had left a message saying he would be back soon, but he didn’t return to the agency, nor did he go to the hotel where the drama filming team was hosting a party.

Strangely, he crashed into a hotel lobby.

Was Yoon Do-young drunk? Absolutely not. He had only consumed a can of beer. He hadn’t touched any alcohol. When he said he had a shot, it meant he simply needed to rest his head on the shoulder of the person next to him and fall asleep. It was a rare occasion, as he usually went to the backseat of his car and talked to his family and friends after having a drink.

Why would someone who hadn’t taken a sip of alcohol do such a thing? It was an unknown situation. The airbag had deployed when he crashed into the lobby. He had lost consciousness from the impact and was brought to the general hospital in an ambulance. When he opened his eyes in the VIP room, he stared blankly at the ceiling, seemingly unaware of his surroundings.

“Yoon Do-young. Hey. Hey!”

Kim Hoon was taken aback by his lack of focus and slapped his cheeks with his hand.

“…It’s okay.”

A breathless voice escaped his barely closed lips.

“Why did you do that? Did the car accelerate? And why did you go to the hotel?”

“…I don’t know.”

“What?”

“The hotel… I…”

It was a place where he often practiced the script with Hyun. The hotel was owned by his mother’s friend and was a place where he could use a room. His own house was far from Hyun’s, but the hotel was within walking distance, making it a convenient spot for rehearsals. The city’s night view from the window was beautiful, making it a nice place to have a beer and enjoy the scenery. The “hotel” naturally came to mind when the text was seen.

Yoon Do-young sighed deeply, washing his face with both hands instead of thinking.

“I always practiced the script at that hotel. I think I got confused about the location of the drama team’s after-party. I’m sorry.”

Kim Hoon let out a relieved breath upon hearing Yoon Do-young’s apology. He looked at him and spoke.

“…I think I mistook the brake pedal for the accelerator. It’s been a while since I drove a company car… I’m so sorry. Is everyone in the hotel lobby okay? Did anyone get hurt?”

“Fortunately, everyone managed to avoid the accident, so they’re all fine. But where was your mind? If you’re not going to work with a manager from now on, then don’t go out!”

“…More importantly, I’m sure the people in the lobby were shocked. Even if they receive counseling…”

“You, idiot! I’ll take care of that, so just worry about yourself! I’m just glad you’re not seriously hurt. The airbag deployed, and you ended up with cracked ribs. If things had gone wrong, your face could have been torn by glass shards!”

Yoon Do-young winced at Kim Hoon’s scolding, taking a deep breath and covering his face with both hands. He let out a sigh as he bit his lips.

Kim Hoon began to console the suddenly agitated Yoon Do-young. The accident had been a major shock, and he realized that he had been pushing him too hard.

“Don’t worry too much. I heard that fractured ribs take about a month or two to heal. Thankfully, you can still carry on with your daily life.”

“…What should I do about today’s schedule? I’m sorry.”

Nevertheless, Yoon Do-young had acting commitments, including interviews and commercial shoots. The top priority was to ensure that Yoon Do-young’s body recovered quickly for the upcoming shoots.

“I’ll take care of it. Just focus on getting better.”

Kim Hoon sighed as he pressed his thumb against his throbbing temple. He picked up his smartphone to calmly organize how to inform the CF contracting company, contact reporters, and notify the office. However, instead of pressing the call button, he hesitated and got up from his seat.

Yoon Do-young was someone who took responsibility seriously. Perhaps he was feeling overwhelmed by the sudden change in his schedule. It would be better to speak elsewhere rather than on the phone in front of him. As he was about to head out, a sudden realization struck him.

“Oh yeah, Hyun came to visit.”

Yoon Do-young’s eyes widened as he heard Kim Hoon’s words.

“He’s waiting for you in the lobby. I’ll bring him here.”

“Just give me a moment.”

“Hmm?”

Kim Hoon looked at him with a puzzled expression. Kang Hyun and Yoon Do-young were best friends. Kang Hyun had joined the agency first, and Yoon Do-young followed. Yoon Do-young had gained more fame as a former child actor, but Kang Hyun’s acting skills, honed through playing the role of a child psychopath, were equally impressive and steady.

Yoon Do-young, with his gentle and cool eyes, was more popular with the public than Kang Hyun, who had sharp and intense eyes. Although Kim Hoon knew they were close, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt toward Yoon Do-young. Even though Kang Hyun hadn’t expressed his feelings throughout the process, he must have been heartbroken. Still, with a hopeful heart, Kim Hoon opened his mouth to comfort both of them.

“He came early in the morning. He saw the news about you.”

“Early this morning?”

Before Kim Hoon could finish his sentence, Yoon Do-young’s question cut through. Kim Hoon nodded in response to his curious gaze.

“Yes. He didn’t even wear a coat. He came rushing here. I suppose he was really surprised.”

Yoon Do-young’s eyes, which had been listless, became clear at the mention of Kang Hyun. His index and middle fingers, which trembled slightly when he was nervous, tapped against the bedsheet. It was a habit that Yoon Do-young displayed when feeling anxious.

Yoon Do-young attempted to maintain a calm facade in front of Kim Hoon, but his nerves were on edge. He opened his mouth, wanting to see Hyun as soon as possible, but he quickly shut it. The memory of the message Hyun had sent him before he headed to the hotel flooded back.

A sinking feeling filled his heart as Hyun’s message vividly replayed in his mind. Despite the sudden change in mood, Yoon Do-young tried to keep himself composed.

“You’ve caused a lot of worry. You must have been waiting for a long time. Please let him know.”

Kim Hoon nodded and left the room, speaking into his smartphone as he went.

Yoon Do-young tapped the blanket with his fingers, listening to the sound of the closed door. He took a deep breath and rested his hands on his chest, trying to calm his racing heart.

It took about five minutes to reach the first-floor waiting room from the VIP room where he was hospitalized, but it felt like time had come to a standstill. It felt as if he couldn’t even breathe, just like when he was on stage. By the time he was choking on the feeling of suffocation in his stomach, the hospital room door swung open.

Unconsciously, Yoon Do-young took a deep breath. It was a conscious act to calm his nerves before filming, but his heart ached as his chest swelled.

He flinched, enduring the pain, and looked at the figure entering the hospital room. In the middle of winter, Kang Hyun’s face, adorned in sweatpants and a black knit tee, was pale and tinged with blue. His eyes, usually sharp and intense due to his single eyelids, now held a deep concern, making them appear softer than usual. In his haste, he looked at Yoon Do-young’s complexion and asked with a surprised expression when he noticed the drip line hanging beside him.

“Are you okay?”

“Did you cry?”

“Uh, um… I was worried when I heard about your injury.”

“Did you come straight from the hotel?”

The question slipped out before Hyun’s slightly trembling voice reached Yoon Do-young’s ears.

“Uh, um…”

Yoon Do-young’s gaze became clear at Hyun’s vague response. Heat surged around his eyes, and something hot soared in his chest.

Which hotel was it?

Who was the girl?

What were you doing?

The questions he had wanted to ask while gripping the steering wheel on his way to the hotel lingered in his mouth. He knew it wasn’t polite to ask such things in the current situation, so he forced himself to swallow the words. 

Knowing that Yoon Do-young had been in an accident and Hyun had left his lover in the early hours of the morning out of worry… he had to provide comfort in this moment.

When he tried to get up to greet Hyun, the area around his ribs throbbed with pain. He let out a sound involuntarily. Startled, Hyun quickly approached and gently reassured him, adjusting the bed to allow Yoon Do-young to lie at a comfortable angle.

“Are you okay?”

When Kang Hyun asked again, Yoon Do-young forced a smile.

“Yeah, I have a cracked rib.”

“I heard about it from the manager. Why did you crash into the hotel lobby?”

“…I don’t know. I don’t remember what happened.”

At that moment, anger had consumed him, turning his vision black. In that state, he had driven to the hotel that came to mind and accidentally pressed the accelerator.

Yoon Do-young placed a hand on his tight chest. Taking slow breaths to regain his composure, he spoke in the calmest voice he could muster.

“And what about your lover? Did they come with you?”

“Yeah? Ah… I called them a taxi.”

“Since when have you been dating?”

“Um… It’s been about a month.”

“Who is it? Do I know them? An actor? A singer?”

“No, they’re just an ordinary person.”

“How did you meet?”

“Um… while working part-time.”

“What kind of part-time job? At a cafe? Restaurant?”