MDQ Ch 9

“Hyung, acting isn’t an easy job. Someone soft-hearted like you shouldn’t even think about it. I’m saying this for your own good. Do you understand what I mean?”

Only then did I realize why Seo Seoho’s coffee had suddenly spilled.

“Don’t tell me… you spilled the coffee on purpose because you didn’t like the conversation I had with the editor-in-chief?”

“Yeah. Know your place and shut up.”

“…”

A surge of anger rose inside me. What do you even know about me to talk about knowing my place…

The nausea that had eased in the morning was churning up again.

Maybe it was because I wasn’t feeling well. Normally, I would have just brushed it off with a simple “Yeah” and moved on. But this time, I snapped back without realizing it.

“Seoho, from your young perspective, you might think I’m a weak person who always gives in to you guys. But I’m not as weak as you think I am.”

“What?”

Seoho’s expression twisted at my retort. His handsome face crumpled brutally.

“If I were only weak, do you think I could have been your manager this long?”

“Hyung, are you crazy?”

“Maybe half-crazy. But don’t take it out on your coffee. I’m not planning to dump you guys and chase an acting career.”

“Crazy, you say? Watch your mouth. You’re really pushing it…”

Just then, the editor-in-chief returned with a dry cloth. Seoho glanced at her and clamped his lips shut.

Maybe I should have held back. What was I trying to prove by winning against someone four years younger than me? Once the shoot ended, how furious would Seoho be? Damn.

My vision blurred at the thought of having to soothe him later. Regret hit me too late.

Frustration welled up to my throat, and I let out a long sigh. But before I could stop it, something bizarre happened.

Seoho deliberately dipped his sleeve into the coffee that hadn’t been fully wiped away. And it wasn’t just any shirt—it was a luxury brand D shirt. An item worth more than my monthly salary.

I stared at Seoho, horrified.

What the hell are you doing?

He gave me a fleeting, sardonic smile before quickly changing his expression.

He put on an openly dejected look, then began to whimper as if he had never been angry.

“Ah… Hyung, this was a mistake, right? I should’ve been more careful… What do we do about the outfit? This shirt was a must for the shoot…”

“…”

I was too stunned to speak.

What… are you saying I ruined your shirt? You were the one who smeared it on purpose just now.

“It was Hyung’s mistake, but I’ll explain it myself to the magazine staff. I’ll take care of the compensation too.”

“What… did you say?”

“Hyung, didn’t I tell you to be careful?”

His words carried thorns. It was as if he were punishing me for talking back earlier.

While I stood dumbfounded, the editor-in-chief rushed over, flustered by the scene.

“Oh no, what do we do! Chief Lee! You should’ve been more careful! Stay here for now, I’ll talk to the others.”

Tricked by Seoho’s acting, she blamed me instead. Even if I tried to deny it, the situation would only look worse.

In other words, I was expected to apologize.

I couldn’t bring myself to expose Seoho’s lie. Not even after he sneered at me.

I forced my lips, heavy as stone, to move.

“I… I’m sorry. I should’ve been more careful… I’ll pay for the damages.”

“Where’s your professionalism… Anyway, stay put here. Don’t make things worse.”

Was this really the same editor-in-chief who had kindly suggested an acting career to me just minutes ago? Now she was lashing out with a sharp edge.

All I could do was bow my head deeply.

“I’m sorry…”

My throat burned as tears threatened to rise.

But I couldn’t cry. No—more accurately, I refused to cry.

Who would benefit if I shed tears here? Of course, Seoho. He was obviously waiting for me to break down.

That’s why I bit my lower lip and swallowed the tears.

Besides, even if I cried, nothing would change. Crying wouldn’t restore Seoho’s soiled shirt.

I busied myself cleaning the messy floor, my heart just as much in ruins, waiting for the editor-in-chief’s return. I had already decided to follow her lead, whatever it was.

Soon after, she came back with news.

“Chief Lee, I overreacted earlier. Don’t worry too much about the outfit—we’ll take care of it.”

“But…”

“It’s fine. Luckily, we found a similar shirt. We can use that instead.”

“I’m truly sorry.”

“Then make it up to me by agreeing to one favor next time. Since I was the one who resolved this.”

“Yes, of course. Please ask me for anything.”

I bowed my head several times. Thankfully, the editor-in-chief wrapped things up well before it came to compensation, but I still felt uneasy.

Seoho patted my shoulder, as if to console me.

I thought I’d vomit.

That fake act made my stomach churn, and I quietly took a deep breath.

“Alright, since it’s settled, Seoho-ssi, please change into another outfit quickly. Chief Lee, you should take a moment to breathe and then come back to the set.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Not wanting to be alone with Seoho, I followed the editor-in-chief out when she left the waiting room. Since Seoho had to change outfits, he didn’t stop me.

Maybe he was satisfied that I was left with everyone’s misunderstanding, just as he planned.

* * *

After that, the shoot wrapped up without issue.

While Seoho changed back into his own clothes, I bought coffee for the magazine staff and crew out of my own pocket.

It cost far less than a fraction of the D shirt’s price, but I couldn’t bear to do nothing. It felt like everyone on set was blaming me.

I left a final apology to the editor-in-chief and then boarded the van.

Already inside, Seoho only cast me a glance as I sat in the driver’s seat.

“Let’s go.”

I turned the wheel gently. Even though I was still angry and upset, I had no intention of confronting Seoho.

I knew it was a fight I couldn’t win.

Sometimes, silence was the best response.

Maybe the awkward quiet would unsettle Seoho. Though if he had any sense of empathy, he wouldn’t have humiliated me during the shoot in the first place…

Still, I allowed myself a flicker of foolish hope as I checked the rearview mirror. But Seoho was glued to his phone, not even slightly uncomfortable.

‘It was my mistake for expecting otherwise.’

It was the kind of night that made alcohol tempting.

Ah, right. I had nearly forgotten that I had an appointment with Park Chungrim soon.

He had asked if I was free for dinner, and I had absentmindedly said yes. I wouldn’t be late if I dropped Seoho off and went straight there.

Oddly enough, the accidental promise felt more important than ever.

I parked the van in front of Given’s dorm.

Only after Seoho got out did I turn away from the entrance and head in another direction.

But before I could leave, Seoho, silent the whole drive, suddenly grabbed my wrist. His hand was burning hot.

“Where are you going? Are you staying out again?”

Staying out again? Sure, I practically lived at Given’s dorm, but I often slept elsewhere whenever I was busy or had outside work.

Too tired to explain, I gave a short answer.

“A personal appointment.”

“You’re not meeting the editor-in-chief, are you?”

“Why would I meet her at this hour?”

“Hyung, didn’t you want to act? Aren’t you going to entertain her because she offered to pull strings for you?”

His face twisted with ridicule. There was no trace of remorse—only open mockery.

“You…! Watch your mouth. It’s not like that.”

“Then you’d better act properly. I don’t want to hear people saying Given’s manager turned into a prostitute.”

Now I’ve been accused of being a prostitute? What the hell did I even do… I had even taken the blame for his mistake.

I let out a heavy sigh, frustration spilling out. My stomach boiled, but more than that, I couldn’t understand why he was demeaning me so viciously.

What kind of grudge did he hold against me?

“Haaah…. what’s with you today? You’re not usually this bad.”

“I don’t know. Just looking at your face pisses me off. And you know I’m sensitive about manager stuff.”

Yes, I knew. That’s why I endured it for so long—because my father desperately needed Jung Yohan.

But how much longer could I hold on? The thread of patience I barely held onto was about to snap.

“If you hate looking at my face so much, I’ll disappear. Go upstairs and rest.”

I yanked my wrist free and turned away.

Seoho, having already unleashed so much on me, didn’t attack again.

But even as I walked out of the parking lot, I could still feel his sharp stare stabbing into my back like thorns.