PTK Ch 18

“Are you telling me to laugh at that?”

“You’re getting all worked up.”

Cha Yiljoo, who is now backtracking, is being criticized. Cha Yiljoo simply frowned, telling him not to say strange things. Anyway, they say the one who made the mistake gets angry. Simon Kim scoffed briefly and resumed his meal.

“Since I have the honor of being alone with the CEO, let me ask you something.”

Cha Yiljoo started talking again around the time Simon Kim had stuffed his cheeks full of Pad Thai. He nodded, gesturing for him to continue while he chewed his food. Cha Yiljoo looked somewhere on the table and asked an unexpected question.

“What do you think about your actor dating his co-star?”

“Why? Did you hear something from Mr. Euihyun?”

Simon Kim asked back without suspicion. Cha Yiljoo shrugged and added,

“No, just… it’s a pretty common thing, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. It’s not my place to interfere. Even if it does happen, there’s no reason to oppose it. Sometimes, public relationships create a positive image, right? For example, like a devoted lover or a pure-hearted romantic? Mr. Euihyun is already synonymous with a devoted man, so the synergy would be greater than anyone else’s. He wasn’t a fandom-type actor in the first place. Moreover, someone like Min Ahyun has never been involved in a scandal, is popular with female viewers, and is a great actress… Whether it’s based on recognition or reputation, there’s no reason to object at all, is there?”

He automatically substitutes Min Ahyun. Cha Yiljoo didn’t seem to like the answer very much. He was the one who asked in the first place, but his reaction was lukewarm. Since it wasn’t the first or second time this happened, Simon Kim decided to let it go.

Simon Kim stacked the empty containers and changed the subject.

“By the way, what did Mr. Euihyun do?”

“What?”

“What did he do to change your mind so quickly? You said you’d never film <Salieri>.”

That day, even after sending Euihyun to Cha Yiljoo, Simon Kim had almost given up. If it had been an easy decision to change, he wouldn’t have been so definite in the first place. Knowing the relationship between Cha Yiljoo and Director Park, Euihyun wouldn’t have been able to actively recommend it either.

“I also wanted to act with Mr. Euihyun once.”

“Huh? Is that all?”

“Then what else should there be?”

Cha Yiljoo asked back innocently. He couldn’t tell if he was being blatantly evasive or if that was really the reason. Like a born actor, he was adept at hiding his true feelings. He seemed to become more and more cunning as the years went by.

Simon Kim, who had been looking at Cha Yiljoo with disapproval, suddenly gave a mischievous smile. He quickly changed the subject of his interest and subtly asked,

“How are things with her? Has there been any progress?”

“I thought I’d take your advice, but she suggested we go back to the way we were before.”

“And so?”

“I said okay since that’s what I wanted.”

“Really? It was resolved more easily than expected. I thought there must be some hidden story since you were unusually troubled.”

Simon Kim looked surprised. It was a completely unexpected development. Because Cha Yiljoo was uncharacteristically worried, Simon Kim thought it wouldn’t be an easily resolved issue.

Were her feelings for Cha Yiljoo just that easily overcome? If so, she might be more reckless than he thought. She couldn’t have not known that a confession presupposes the breakdown of a relationship. She confused and shook him first, and now she wants to go back to the way things were. He didn’t know for sure, but unless she was incredibly selfish, she must have been completely exhausted and given up. It was obvious how Cha Yiljoo, who had decided to draw a line, must have treated her.

If she had decided to endure everything for Cha Yiljoo, that was too bad in its own way. Digesting those unexpressed feelings alone would be an unspeakable pain. People aren’t machines. Just because you enter the command “delete” doesn’t mean it’s processed immediately. Memories you want to forget tend to be etched even deeper. Sometimes people live their whole lives like that.

It wasn’t that Simon Kim suddenly felt sorry for the woman whose name he didn’t even know. Rather, he was worried about Cha Yiljoo.

“How about you? Are you satisfied with that conclusion?”

“I thought you’d say that…”

For some reason, he doesn’t avoid the question.

“It bothers me. There are a lot of bugs trying to covet what I’ve worked hard for. But that’s all. I can’t get angry, and I can’t step in and get rid of the bugs. Just because her heart is with me doesn’t mean she’s mine too. I know that, but I keep getting sulky. She only had me ‘before,’ but now I hate seeing that she has me ‘too.'”

Simon Kim’s eyes widened at the unexpectedly honest statement. Then he chuckled. Cha Yiljoo was too busy glaring at the innocent table to notice the stark change.

Does he even know? What he’s talking about right now. Simon Kim briefly considered asking more, but decided against it. Whatever the outcome, it was entirely up to Cha Yiljoo and her. He didn’t want to interfere rashly.

Now that he was starting to care about the people around his partner, the relationship had already taken a sharp turn. There would be no turning back.

Simon Kim leaned back leisurely and smiled. Cha Yiljoo’s recent behavior had been strange to him as well. But he didn’t dislike the dissonance. It was actually closer to being a good thing.

Who is it? The person who has Cha Yiljoo wrapped around their finger like this.

Anticipation and curiosity towards the ambiguous subject stirred within him.

🎥

The first filming of <Salieri> began a month later. The entire schedule was delayed by about a week due to the typhoon. During that time, Euihyun finished filming <Ghost>. The last episode aired last night and recorded a viewership rating of 28.9%. Even considering the special nature of the final episode, it was an excellent result.

He received congratulatory calls all morning. Producer Kim and Writer Im, who had worked hard with him, also personally contacted him to acknowledge his efforts. They also gave their unreserved support for <Salieri>, which he would soon be filming. Various entertainment-related programs competed to cover the news of the final episode, and dozens of articles were uploaded online every few minutes. Naturally, various casting offers flooded into the company.

Before the excitement could even subside, <Salieri> kicked off. Even though it was a day he had been eagerly waiting for, he felt dazed when it actually arrived. Even after opening his eyes in the morning, he lay there for a long time. Truly, everything felt like a dream.

Today, they were scheduled to film the first meeting between ‘Yoohan’ and ‘Myeongshin.’ The filming location was chosen to be a mountain village in Gangwon Province.

He didn’t let go of the script throughout the entire trip to the designated location. That was the case even though ‘Myeongshin,’ a character with autistic tendencies, had almost no lines. He wanted to do his best, as it might be his first and last project with Cha Yiljoo. He was determined to act without regrets.

Meanwhile, the van, which had been traveling along a quiet country road, turned onto a side road. Mountain ridges unfolded like a folding screen in the distance. Wide farmland was situated on both sides of the concrete farm road, barely wide enough for a single car to pass. They seemed to be cultivating corn and potatoes. His eyes felt relaxed at the rare sight of greenery.

After driving a little further, the van stopped briefly. This was right after receiving a call from the on-site staff. Kim Moonsung and Park Hanyoung looked out at the road ahead and had a serious conversation. It seemed there was a problem with the road.

“It looks like we’ll have to get out and walk.”

“What? Why?”

Jung Ijin, who had been dozing off, was startled. Euihyun also took his eyes off the script and looked at Park Hanyoung. The car hadn’t even reached the entrance of the village yet. The arrow on the navigation system also wandered somewhere in the farmland.

Park Hanyoung calmly explained the local situation.

“Originally, there was a concrete bridge ahead for cars to pass over, but a tree fell on it last night due to the strong winds. It hasn’t been restored yet.”

“Then we can’t get in at all?”

“Fortunately, there’s a shallow stream nearby, so it seems we can cross through it.”

“What about all the luggage?”

Jung Ijin frowned with a bad premonition. The expected answer came back.

“I guess we’ll have to carry it ourselves. The on-site staff are doing that now.”

“I’ll help.”

He reassured Jung Ijin not to worry. The van was soon parked behind the filming support vehicle. When he got out of the car, a comical scene unfolded. It was just like what he imagined people fleeing would look like. Dozens of staff members were crossing the stream, carrying various filming equipment and props.

Euihyun volunteered to carry a large makeup box and hurried towards the stream. On the way, he naturally took some of a staff member’s luggage and greeted them. Somehow, every time he took a step, the luggage he carried increased. Since the actor was doing it, the manager and stylist couldn’t just watch from across the stream. They carried things without distinguishing whose luggage was whose.

They said the water was shallow enough to reach only the ankles, but it seemed like it had rained a lot overnight. Even though he rolled up his pants to his knees, they were completely soaked. In this situation, it was natural that they couldn’t cross by car.

Only after each person had made three or four round trips were they able to transport all the necessary equipment. Since they had encountered each other countless times while coming and going, there was no need for separate greetings.

Cha Yiljoo didn’t seem to have arrived yet. He said he would come as soon as his drama schedule was over, so it might be later than expected.

Euihyun changed out of his wet clothes into his filming costume first. Since there wasn’t even a common village hall in the village with only four residents, the waiting room was replaced by an outdoor tent. Euihyun also placed a makeshift chair in one corner and received makeup and styling.

Having been born and raised in the countryside, ‘Myeongshin’s attire was very simple. Jung Ijin sprayed a lot of hairspray, then rubbed his stiff hair with his palms to create a messy hairstyle. Even while doing so, he grumbled, “Our oppa’s concept is ascetic sexy.” His sighs seemed to make the ground cave in.

Even in the midst of all this, Euihyun checked and rechecked the scene he was about to film. The script in his hand was undeniably tattered. It had been torn once and fixed with transparent tape, but even that was worn out and seemed about to separate at any moment. Even the tiny writing he had jotted down was difficult to decipher.

How much time had passed? Suddenly, a shadow loomed over Euihyun’s script. He reflexively looked up. Cha Yiljoo was smiling silently, as if he had been there all along.

“Mr. Euihyun, you came early.”

“Yes. But you’re all wet…”

Euihyun looked at Cha Yiljoo’s pants with concern. His pants were also soaked up to the knees. Cha Yiljoo brushed it off, saying he could just change.

At that moment, the assistant director ran into the tent.

“There’s been a problem transporting important props. The second team won’t arrive for another three hours. We’ll rehearse scene 13 first, and then film scene 12 as soon as the props arrive. Please get ready.”

“Alright.”

Cha Yiljoo readily agreed. Then, saying he’d see him later, he moved to his own tent. Euihyun, left alone, checked scene 13, which they would film first.

‘Yoohan’ learns that his father ‘Homyeong’ is looking for ‘Myeongshin,’ who is an illegitimate child. Unable to express his feelings of resentment, he offers to bring ‘Myeongshin’ himself. After inquiries, ‘Yoohan’ confirms ‘Myeongshin’s whereabouts and goes straight to meet him. After wandering for a long time in a remote village without a proper address, he hears a familiar piano sound. Instinctively following the sound, ‘Yoohan’ meets ‘Myeongshin’ for the first time.

Scene 12 was of ‘Myeongshin’ playing the piano, and scene 13 was of ‘Yoohan’ observing him from his perspective, a completely different person from when he was playing. ‘Myeongshin,’ who displays high-level skills even with an old piano, a relic of his biological mother, is reminiscent of the reincarnation of the genius Mozart. However, in reality, he is just a disabled person with strong autistic traits.

He had to act on the premise that he had heard a masterpiece he had never heard before. It wasn’t easy to create emotions through imagination alone. However, it wasn’t so unusual, considering the limited production environment.

“Scene number 13, we’re rolling!”

The FD’s voice echoed throughout the location. He took a deep breath and went outside.

He bowed to Director Park, who was already there. Director Park just nodded and sat in his chair. Cha Yiljoo arrived soon after. He was dressed in a neat suit. His shirt was unbuttoned at the top, without a tie. Director Park and Cha Yiljoo exchanged only perfunctory glances, as if conscious of their surroundings.

Like actors, directors each have their own characteristics. Some direct and interfere with every action, every glance, every tone of dialogue, while others leave everything to the actor. Director Park was closer to the latter. However, he was notoriously fastidious. It was impossible to get an okay sign from him in one take.

Euihyun sat down on the wooden porch of a dilapidated old house. Cha Yiljoo stood in the yard of the house. Until right before filming, his stylist meticulously adjusted his collar and fixed his hair.

Cha Yiljoo silently offered his face to be styled and continued to look over his script. He seemed more sensitive than usual, perhaps because of his unique styling.

While staring blankly, Cha Yiljoo suddenly raised his head. Their eyes met without a chance to avoid it. He flinched, as if caught stealing. He tried to avert his gaze in a hurry, but his flustered eyes were fixed on Cha Yiljoo again. Cha Yiljoo smiled gently at the flustered Euihyun. It seemed like he was trying to relax him, who was tense before the first filming.

Soon, Cha Yiljoo’s stylist stepped back. The staff also moved behind the camera. After checking the preparations step by step, the AD shouted loudly,

“Rolling! Scene number 13, take one!”

The loud echo dispersed, and the surrounding air calmed down. Euihyun and Cha Yiljoo’s expressions had completely changed in the meantime. The camera observed ‘Myeongshin’ from ‘Yoohan’s perspective.

Euihyun pulled his knees tightly to his chest. His rounded back completely pressed against the cracked wall. His eyes darted around, wary of the stranger while pretending not to be. His excessively clear pupils constantly trembled with anxiety and nervousness. Slowly turning his body towards the wall, Euihyun muttered an awkward monologue.

“Strangers are not allowed to come in. Go away! Go away!”

Cha Yiljoo burst out laughing, as if it were absurd. His eyes were filled with intense contempt, as if he had encountered some filthy dirt. Euihyun nervously scrutinized him with unstable eyes and chewed on his fingertips as if self-harming.

“A masterpiece.”

He clicked his tongue in open disdain. He laughed again and shook his head. Humiliation, disgust, inferiority, anger, annoyance. Under the sharp gaze filled with unsettling emotions, ‘Myeongshin’ gradually showed a more agitated reaction. Suddenly, his aggression towards the strange and frightening presence exploded, and he started banging his head against the wall. He also chattered even more intensely about the precautions his biological mother repeatedly reminded him of during her lifetime.

“Strangers are not allowed to come in! Go away! Go away!”

“Stop it.”

‘Yoohan,’ who had been watching the uncontrollable situation, intervened without thinking. As he unconsciously approached ‘Myeongshin,’ the startled ‘Myeongshin’ screamed at the top of his lungs. Chamber pots, fly swatters, dried corn, and other things scattered around him flew everywhere.

“…Aaack! Ugh, ack! Aaack!”

‘Myeongshin’ showed blatant hostility towards ‘Yoohan.’ ‘Yoohan’ blocked or dodged the flying objects with his arms while stubbornly closing the distance. The more he did so, the more violently ‘Myeongshin’ thrashed around.

“Aah! Uaaack! Ah, aaack!”

Thick veins stood out on his reddened neck. His ears felt like they were about to be torn by the screams he let out like a roar. ‘Yoohan’s nerves, already frayed, were further strained as he failed to dodge a flying basket. ‘Yoohan’ strode towards ‘Myeongshin’ and roughly grabbed his arm.

“Stop it, you crazy bastard!”

Finally, ‘Yoohan’ burst out in anger. A sharp shout echoed through the quiet yard. It was the moment when the calm and elite character, who had grown up gracefully in a wealthy family, shed his shell and revealed his true face. It was also the scene where his true self, suppressed until now, was revealed for the first time.

‘Myeongshin’ stared wide-eyed, forgetting to even breathe. Finally, their eyes met completely. As if foreshadowing the tragedy to come, the surrounding air rapidly froze.

“Cut!”

The tensely tightened air was released. Sighs of relief and faint laughter escaped from among the staff. The atmosphere, which had been inevitably stiff due to the first filming and the poor local conditions, finally eased somewhat.

Cha Yiljoo slowly released Euihyun’s arm, which he had been gripping until then.

“Good work, Mr. Euihyun.”

‘Yoohan’ no longer showed on his smiling face. Euihyun dazedly rubbed the arm that had been grabbed. He also ran a hand over his chest.

Being human, he could curse. He had been somewhat prepared for it since the lines were clearly written in the script. Nevertheless, hearing Cha Yiljoo’s curses in person made it difficult for his surprised heart to calm down. His heart pounded like it was racing.

After finally calming down, he went to check the filmed footage. Chairs for Cha Yiljoo and Euihyun were placed on either side of Director Park. He checked the names attached to the backrests and sat down. Cha Yiljoo stood behind them and stared at the monitor without sitting.

The filmed footage played. The two people moving within it were no longer Cha Yiljoo and Euihyun. The characters, previously realized only through words, took on vivid life.

Euihyun held his breath and checked his acting. Every time he saw himself objectively like this, the person in the video felt awkward, like it wasn’t him.

No one commented as the recorded footage ended.

“Okay, that’s good enough.”

Unexpectedly, the okay sign was given right away. The staff members were dumbfounded, as they had expected a retake. Of course, Cha Yiljoo and Euihyun’s acting was flawless. No, they watched with admiration. Even so, because Director Park was so stingy, and because they knew that too well, they couldn’t believe it.

Director Park called the assistant director and gave instructions for the next filming. Only then did the staff say, “Good work,” and start to organize the set. Although the first filming ended smoothly, they weren’t all happy faces. Rather, they seemed depressed. It seemed they would have to wait indefinitely in that place with no proper place to rest until the piano arrived. The remote mountain village had poor cell service, so their faces showed their despair at how to kill time.

The actors’ situation wasn’t much different. Cha Yiljoo considered getting some sleep, even if just for a short while. This was due to the accumulated lack of sleep, which made his head feel heavy. But he soon changed his mind. It had been a while since he had seen Euihyun. He had a lot he wanted to talk about.

However, Euihyun, who had been by his side just a moment ago, had disappeared somewhere. As he busily scanned his surroundings, he caught sight of Euihyun’s back in his peripheral vision. For some reason, he was walking towards the entrance of the village. It seemed like he had some business with the vehicle across the stream. It was strange that he hadn’t taken Park Hanyoung with him, but he thought Euihyun might do that. Cha Yiljoo watched Euihyun’s retreating figure with regret and returned to the tent only after he had completely disappeared from sight.

The early summer heat made his body slump naturally. He leaned back fully in the makeshift chair. The stylist handed him a portable fan. When he said it was okay, the stylist turned it on and fanned him. A faint smile spread across Cha Yiljoo’s lips. He closed his eyes and, as originally planned, tried to sleep. The heat left his skin as he enjoyed the gentle breeze inside the tent that blocked the sunlight. The humid air after the rain also brought on drowsiness.

How much time had passed like that? He woke from his light sleep at the sound of someone entering. As he came to his senses, he saw Park Hanyoung standing before him. He seemed to have a worried look on his face.

“What’s the matter?”

He straightened his loosely leaning body.

“Mr. Cha Yiljoo, have you seen Mr. Euihyun by any chance?”

“Mr. Euihyun? I saw him heading towards the village entrance earlier.”

“When?”

“Right after filming ended… But what’s wrong?”

He asked back with a sense of foreboding as he answered casually. At that moment, Jung Ijin’s sharp voice rang out from outside the tent.

“Oppa! Where have you been?”

It seemed Euihyun, who had disappeared without a word, had returned. Park Hanyoung darted outside. Cha Yiljoo followed him right away. In front of Jung Ijin, who was reprimanding him, Euihyun awkwardly touched the back of his head. Embarrassment was evident in his apologetic tone.

“Ah, I left something in the car.”

“Then you could have at least told me. I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared.”

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized meekly to Park Hanyoung’s following scolding. Only then, Jung Ijin, who had relaxed his expression, saw something and gasped. This was right after he properly checked Euihyun’s appearance.

“What happened to your clothes? Did you fall?”

It was understandable, as Euihyun’s clothes were covered in muddy water.

“…Yeah. Sorry.”

“Aish. Be careful! Come on. Change your clothes.”

Jung Ijin dragged Euihyun to the tent, scolding him like a younger brother. Park Hanyoung hurriedly followed the two of them. Cha Yiljoo, who had been silently watching them, went back into his own tent. He looked for something there, and then asked Manager Han, who appeared at that moment.

“You brought the tea in the tumbler earlier, right?”

“Yeah.”

Manager Han thoughtfully found the tumbler and handed it to him. Cha Yiljoo took it and headed to Euihyun’s tent. Even though it was summer, he must be quite cold since he was soaking wet. He thought it would be good to let him drink some warm tea first.

Cha Yiljoo, about to enter Euihyun’s tent without hesitation, faltered unconsciously. He could faintly see Euihyun through the slightly open entrance.

“Take it off quickly. This weather is perfect for catching a cold.”

Inside, Jung Ijin’s scolding continued. Euihyun obediently took off his clothes as instructed. His wet clothes clung tightly to his skin, making it hard to remove them. Because of this, even after pulling up his t-shirt, he had to fidget for a while to get his arms out.

Even the slightest movement caused his back muscles to tense and then relax again. His gaze lingered on the smooth movement of his shoulder blades. Without unnecessary bulging muscles or fat, the line from his back to his waist was simply sleek. His sides and abdomen, toned from exercise, looked quite firm. They didn’t seem like they would easily give way even if pressed firmly.

Cha Yiljoo’s eyes moved silently and slowly. It was a quiet yet persistent movement.

Unaware of this, Euihyun quickly put on the clothes Jung Ijin handed him. His bare body disappeared in an instant. An unknown sigh escaped from within him, and he came to his senses abruptly. He froze in surprise as he realized what he had been doing.

Why couldn’t he go in? What was he doing here? The more he questioned himself, the more uneasy he became.

He turned around quickly, and suddenly the filming set became noisy. The second team, bringing the missing equipment, including the piano, seemed to have just arrived. The on-site staff, who had been waiting, quickly took the luggage. Then, seeing the perfectly fine condition of the second team, they expressed genuine questions.

“Huh? You’re not wet at all? Was the bridge already repaired?”

“What are you talking about? I came across the stream. They said you couldn’t cross because of the fallen tree.”

“That stream, isn’t it pretty deep? We were soaked up to our thighs.”

“They made something like stepping stones.”

“Stepping stones? Who?”

“I don’t know.”

“There weren’t any when we came?”

“Really? The villagers must have done it.”

He stops walking after overhearing the staff’s conversation. His gaze is fixed on Euihyun’s tent.

There was no certainty. He hadn’t seen it with his own eyes. Yet, it was vividly pictured in his mind: the image of Euihyun carrying several large stones, worried about the second team.

‘Ah, I left something in the car.’

He had made that excuse, but Euihyun’s hands were empty.

‘What happened to your clothes? Did you fall?’

‘…Yeah. Sorry.’

He can’t even lie properly, making clumsy excuses, and after doing such a commendable deed, he only hears complaints.

Ah.

A deep sigh escapes from deep within him.

“Mr. Cha Yiljoo? Are you alright?”

A passing staff member approaches him with concern. This is because Cha Yiljoo, who had been walking unsteadily, suddenly covered his mouth and sat down.

He suddenly felt dizzy. A ticklish sensation rose from somewhere deep inside his body, beyond his reach. He felt unbearably strange, for reasons he couldn’t understand.

🎥

He saw a smooth back. Sunlight touched the skin, creating shimmering, faint shadows. With each gentle movement, a hollow appeared and disappeared on the back that had at first seemed flat.

It was a back with almost no curves. His waist looked more firm than slender. It seemed like it would be fine to embrace him tightly. His strong wrists probably wouldn’t break either.

His gaze kept settling on the shoulder blades that rose sharply and then softened. What would it feel like to touch them?

He reached out his arm. As if in a hallucination, his fingertips touched smooth skin. Startled by the sudden contact, the person turned around abruptly. His face was deeply furrowed with embarrassment. While nervously backing away, he couldn’t escape.

Is it alright? Even if I’m a little forceful.

He moved his hand slowly. He gently traced the supple shoulder blades with his index finger. The firm body trembled slightly. He slid all five fingers down the straight spine with force. He could feel the whole body tensing up. The face he looked at to confirm was lowered and hidden from view. Only the ears were flushed red, as if blood had seeped into them.

His vision blurred. Something that had been gradually thinning in his head snapped, and a slight dizziness washed over him. It felt like he wouldn’t be able to overcome the sudden impulse.

Trembling, he held tightly onto the person who remained in his arms. The wrist that filled his hand was indeed firm. He pushed the resisting body down onto its back, pushing against his shoulder. Caught in an awkward situation, the person clung tightly to his arm. He felt something inexplicably tender. The eyes that met his as he lifted his head were shaking in confusion. Like an animal, he felt a sudden rush of blood.

Because of this.

Truly because of this.

Even as he mocked himself, he couldn’t stop his hands from exploring the body. The warmth of the skin transferred directly to his palms. His breath grew ragged with burning thirst. The breath he managed to exhale was incredibly turbid.

He held the wriggling body even tighter so it couldn’t escape. He didn’t dislike the feeling of overpowering strength with strength. No, an unprecedented desire for conquest welled up within him.

He repeatedly kissed the sharply pointed chin. Gasping breaths escaped pathetically from beside his ear. The blood that had been rushing through his body with scarlet excitement bubbled and boiled, and finally seemed to thicken and simmer. His nape and back flushed hot. He felt like his brain would melt and flow out any second.

He held the persistently turning face and forced it to look straight at him. Euihyun, looking at him with a lost expression, seemed as if he would cry at any moment.

“……!”

His eyes snapped open. His vision suddenly widened, and a dizzying sensation shot through his entire body. An intense dizziness came over him, as if he had been hit in the head with something. He squeezed his eyes shut and then slowly opened them again. The familiar ceiling filled his vision.

His shoulders and chest heaved. As his consciousness cleared, the sensation of the damp sheets also became distinct. Disgusted, he abruptly sat up. The sudden movement felt like his head was shaking. He gritted his teeth against the intense headache.

Only after his hyperventilation subsided did his mind clear. Cha Yiljoo stared blankly at his outstretched hands. It was clearly a dream, but the content was unrealistically vivid. It felt like the sensation of touch would come flooding back to him.

Why did he have such a dream? Even when he was younger, he had never craved another person in his dreams. Then why Euihyun of all people?

Even though it was something highly unlikely to happen in reality, the sensations in his body were so vivid that it left him with a strange feeling. How could such a thing happen, even in a dream? He hadn’t wanted it at all, but his body had moved on its own. It wasn’t like it usually happened in dreams, where he observed a detached version of himself from a bystander’s perspective. Cha Yiljoo himself hadn’t hesitated for a moment.

He shook his head. It was still early summer, but the crazy weather seemed to have affected his mind. Perhaps the residual heat in his body had amplified the strange excitement. It would probably get better once he cooled down.

He rationalized it like that and was about to get out of bed. He stopped as he pulled back the covers. He unconsciously looked down at his lower body at the numb, heavy sensation. An undeniable stiffness rose from below his waist.

“…Crazy.”

It was absurd. It wasn’t like he was an adolescent boy just discovering sex.

However, the problem wasn’t the immediate need to relieve himself. It was that the memory of the dream, which should have evaporated and faded upon waking, became increasingly detailed.