LS Ch 25

While Yiwon was showering, Jewoo sat in the living room and turned on the TV. He flipped through channels until he stopped at a movie channel. It was a foreign film with several familiar actors. Over the past year, he had been so busy with consecutive shoots that he had only seen a few Korean movies. That’s why, even though some famous actors were in it, he didn’t know what movie it was.

He was mindlessly following the movie’s plot when he heard the bathroom door open. He didn’t turn his head, worried that Yiwon might come out wearing just a towel like he had.

“What are you watching?”

Yiwon sat down next to Jewoo without him noticing. Fortunately, he was dressed in comfortable sweatpants and a T-shirt. His hair wasn’t fully dried, so he was wiping it with a towel.

“I don’t know.”

“You’re watching it without knowing what it is?”

“I just stopped here while flipping through channels.”

“You’re so casual about it. Is it interesting?”

“I started watching from the middle, but it’s quite engaging.”

“Really?”

Yiwon seemed like he would watch it too, sitting down properly after drying his hair somewhat. The living room was quiet except for the voices of the actors on the screen. Then the music started to build up. The low, eerie soundtrack made the screen darken for some reason.

Ah, I think I’ve chosen the wrong movie.

The atmosphere suggested something would jump out from the darkness. Sure enough, a dark figure appeared on the screen, grabbing someone walking in a hallway. The sound effects matched the scene, making both of them flinch and grab the cushions beside them.

It was a horror movie. From what he could gather, it was about a malevolent spirit in a mansion inviting people in to kill them off randomly. It wasn’t just about people getting caught; there were graphic scenes of them being torn apart.

He was okay with ghost stories but didn’t like gore where people were brutally killed. Combined, it was even harder to watch. He wondered if he should change the channel and glanced at Yiwon, who was watching the movie with a serious expression.

“Do you like horror movies?”

He tried to probe, but there was no answer. Yiwon seemed so focused on the movie he might not have heard him.

“Kang Yiwon.”

He nudged him with his forearm, and he flinched.

“Huh?”

“Do you like this kind of stuff?”

“Ah…”

Yiwon groaned softly, frowning. Jewoo could guess the rest of his response.

“Want to watch something else?”

He thought about using Yiwon as an excuse to change the channel, but Yiwon shook his head.

“No, let’s keep watching.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

“I am scared. If you’re scared, change it.”

Even though he answered calmly, Yiwon’s eyes flickered slightly. Was he putting on a brave front? Seeing him stubbornly keep his eyes on the screen made Jewoo chuckle. Even though he was a man, sometimes men didn’t want to lose face over trivial things.

Yet, even this bravado seemed cute. At least, it was much better than when he had asked if Jewoo was curious about anything beyond kissing.

“I’ll watch it.”

Suppressing his laughter, he put down the remote. Jewoo didn’t particularly enjoy this genre either, but he was curious about how Yiwon would react if there were scarier scenes. Teasing him like this made him feel like a child too.

The music built up again, creating tension with its effects. Even though nothing had appeared yet, it made his heart clench.

Jewoo glanced at Yiwon with just his eyes. After realizing Yiwon was tense, he was more interested in his reactions than the movie itself.

When the spirit suddenly jumped out on the screen, he saw Yiwon flinch. Trying not to show it to Jewoo, he kept his mouth shut, but his whole body was trembling. Despite that, his eyes were fixed firmly on the screen. If he was scared, he could close his eyes, but he didn’t.

“Boo!”

He tapped Yiwon to startle him, and Yiwon reflexively jumped up with a yelp. When Jewoo burst into laughter, Yiwon finally looked at him with a reproachful expression.

“What are you doing? Like a kid.”

There was a hint of irritation in his voice, showing how much he had been startled.

“Why watch something scary then?”

He answered, stifling his laughter, and Yiwon glared at him before sighing and looking away.

“You were watching it.”

So, Yiwon didn’t want to make Jewoo change the channel because of him.

“I don’t really like it either. I’m more sensitive to gore than horror. Watching such explicit killing scenes makes me feel queasy.”

He wasn’t scared as much as he was uncomfortable, but either way, it wasn’t his kind of movie.

“Want to watch something else now?”

He asked with a playful smile, and Yiwon waved his hand, telling him to do as he pleased. It seemed he wasn’t watching it out of interest.

As Jewoo was flipping through channels wondering what to watch, Yiwon got up and went to the kitchen, opening the fridge to check its contents.

“There’s beer, do you want some? Or soda?”

It looked like there were several complimentary drinks.

“Just water.”

His throat was a bit dry, so he asked for bottled water.

“You don’t usually eat much at night?”

Yiwon handed him the water and asked.

“During filming. Especially beer, since it has surprisingly high calories, I tend to avoid it.”

“You’re very strict.”

“Plus, with period dramas, facial swelling doesn’t hide well compared to modern settings.”

Yiwon laughed at Jewoo’s answer, saying, “Is that so?”

“Does your face swell?”

“I’m human, of course, it does.”

“You don’t even look like it.”

“It might not be noticeable to you, but it shows on camera.”

“I see.”

He replied casually and looked at Yiwon sitting beside him. Was his face really prone to swelling? His face was so sharp and defined that it was hard to imagine.

“What about you? You probably don’t even know what swelling is.”

“I’m human, so of course, I do.”

He repeated what Jewoo had just said. Well, that was true, but Kang Yiwon didn’t look human just by looking at his face. Honestly, among all the actors he’d seen, Kang Yiwon might be the most handsome. He had worked with countless actors since he was young, and seen many who represented their era as beautiful or handsome, but even among them, Kang Yiwon was overwhelming.

“You don’t seem quite human.”

When he voiced his honest thought, Yiwon asked, “What does that mean?”

“I swell more than you think.”

He said it so calmly, making it hard to believe.

“You’ll see tomorrow morning. I’ll be the first face you see when you open your eyes.”

Yiwon added with a grin. That was true, but the way he phrased it was odd. Or maybe Jewoo was just overthinking it. Fearing the atmosphere might get weird again like before, he turned on an entertainment show and focused on the TV.

“Ah, it’s Kim Arin.”

Coincidentally, Kim Arin, who was rumored to be with Yiwon not long ago, was on the screen. Fortunately, that video didn’t make it to the news. It seemed Yiwon’s agency had handled it swiftly.

Not just Kim Arin, but all the members of her group were there, solving quizzes with the regular cast. There were a few foreign members, which led to some unexpected answers, and the regulars made the most of it.

The idol members weren’t good at answering the questions, but they were trying hard, which was nice to see. People who put in effort were naturally likable. Plus, they were in their early twenties, an age where everything they did seemed cute.

“They look good.”

Jewoo genuinely admired their effort, and Yiwon made a short “Hmm” sound.

“Do you have a type among them?”

At the question of who he liked best among the members, Jewoo thoughtlessly scanned the screen. Kim Arin definitely stood out the most. She was the visual center, after all.

“Kim Arin?”

Since he didn’t know their personalities, he could only comment on their appearance. What you see on screen often isn’t their true personality, so it was hard to judge.

“Kim Arin is your type?”

For some reason, Yiwon’s tone sounded off. When Jewoo looked back, Yiwon had turned to face him directly.

“Was that why you were concerned back then? Not me, but because of Kim Arin?”

At the follow-up question, Jewoo sighed. Is he questioning me now? Who was the one almost involved in the scandal?

“You asked first, who do I like among them?”

“Do you like her?”

His words kept getting twisted.

“I’m not saying I like her; you asked me to choose among them. So, I chose.”

“If there’s no one, you could just say so.”

The more they spoke, the more ridiculous the conversation seemed. Even to himself, it felt childish, and he didn’t know how to cut it off.

“Me or Kim Arin?”

Such a straightforward question left him speechless. So, Kang Yiwon wanted to hear that he was better than any of those idols?

“…You.”

He answered, swallowing his sigh. But Yiwon’s narrowed eyes didn’t return to normal.

“Reluctantly saying it?”

He wasn’t even a child… As Jewoo just stared at him without saying anything, Yiwon’s face seemed to fall.

“How can you compare us? There’s no comparison. You’re much better. Really.”

He exaggerated, even holding up his thumb, and only then did a smile appear on Yiwon’s lips.