Come Back

On Monday evening, the alley at the far east end of Cheongdam-dong was sparsely populated. The car carrying Choi Hong-seo had been parked for 10 minutes in a spot where the red brick building was clearly visible. The charming two-story building, converted from a single-family home, was the first gathering place for the revived “Cream Mansion.”

“How is it, hyung?” “Do you not remember even after seeing the photo?”

Yongjae, who was leaning over the steering wheel, watched the entrance of the building in front and asked Choi Hongseok in the back seat.

Park Dong-ha.

She was a member of ‘Titan’ like Yoon Hye-an, and after the group disbanded, she transitioned to acting.

In “Pulsating Titan,” it didn’t shine much. However, as an actor, he steadily built up his filmography and was currently active, recognized for his acting skills. A neutral yet likable appearance and image that didn’t confine her to a specific stereotype also benefited her acting career.

Thanks to her eye-catching appearance, it was Yoon Hye-an who first drew attention both in the team and as an actress. It was also Yoon Hye-an who started acting first, and her acting career began splendidly, as she took on leading roles in dramas and even appeared in movies as a supporting or minor character. In contrast, Park Dong had to start from the very bottom, literally from small roles, and build up step by step. However, as a result, it was the pulsation that became more solidly established.

Choi Hong-seo also knew roughly that much information about Park Dong-ha. Yoon Hye-an had no idea at all about what kind of relationship Yoon Hye-an had with Park Dong-ha.

Choi Hong-seo shook his head as he scrolled through the post collecting photos of Park Dong-ha from the ‘Titan’ days.

“I don’t remember…”

“I kind of thought you would.” Well, since you don’t remember me or the boss right now.

“……”

“During his idol days, the fact that his name and face weren’t very well known actually turned out to be a good thing for Dongha.” Since people watched his acting without the bias of being an idol-turned-actor, he actually established himself more quickly. Unless you’re a hugely popular idol, I think being in a position like Dongha’s is actually better than being someone whose face is only somewhat known. To establish oneself as an actor.”

As if it were a good thing, but on the other hand, as if those situations were bittersweet, Yongjae, who had been lying down, lifted his upper body and looked back.

“Anyway, when we were doing ‘Titan,’ Dongha was the closest with the hyung.” He used to come over to my house sometimes. The fact that you’re already starting to work in earnest, I’m still a bit anxious… Still, I’m a bit relieved that Dongha is doing it with me.

Contrary to the saying that one can rest easy, Yongjae’s face was filled with worry as he looked at Choi Hongseo. It was the expression of a parent sending their first child to daycare or school for the first time.

Choi Hong-seo also suspected that Park Dong-ha was somewhat close to Yoon Hye-an. The few phone numbers saved in the second phone’s contacts that were on the nightstand in Yoon Hye-an’s bedroom. One of the numbers that I thought belonged to a ‘Titan’ member was Park Dong-ha’s.

In this pulsating movie, I was cast as the son of a couple who run a famous restaurant among the residents of ‘Cream Mansion.’ Even though it wasn’t a leading role, it was a significant part with quite frequent appearances.

Yongjae was in the process of making ‘Yoon Hyean’, who had not yet fully regained her memory, aware of Park Dongha so that she could rely on him at the scene.

“Hyung, your memory is… I already told Dongha in advance about how things turned out. He’s also very easygoing, so he won’t be upset or awkward about such things. Just treat him comfortably.

“I will.” Thank you for your concern, Yongjae.

Still looking at Choi Hong-seo with a worried expression, Yong-jae smacked his lips and looked straight ahead again. Just then, two heavily tinted RVs were slowly approaching from the other end of the alley.

“Uh?” The car coming in front seems to be Dongha’s… The car following behind… It looks like Jo Won-tae’s car… As expected, Jo Won-tae is like a knife. Even though it’s been quite a few years since his debut, arriving at the dinner location 30 minutes early. Seniors should arrive a bit more leisurely so that the juniors can feel comfortable… What are you going to do, hyung?

“I’ll head inside too.”

The one who arrived even earlier than Park Donghana and Jo Won-tae, who arrived 30 minutes early, was Choi Hongseo. He was waiting for the other actors to arrive, worried that arriving too early would be a nuisance to the production staff.

Yongjae, who had been watching Choi Hongseok as he packed his bag next to him, spoke in a worried voice.

“Regardless of how things were in the past, you’ve really changed now, so people will recognize it over time.”

I could tell what Yongjae was worried about. As Yoon Hye-an’s reputation wasn’t good, it seemed he was worried about being disliked by people. If it were the old Yoon Hye-an, she would have rather tormented others than let them torment her, but the current Yoon Hye-an must be thinking she would get hurt.

To reassure Yongjae, Choi Hongseok deliberately asked with a smile on his face.

“What was I like back then that I get so surprised by things like this?”

“… Are you really asking me?””Are you really telling me?”

Choi Hong-seo nodded.

“At these kinds of events, they would either make an excuse about their schedule and not attend at all, or show up late just to make an appearance.”

It was exactly as I expected, so I couldn’t help but chuckle. I’ve met so many actors and idols like that, I can’t even count them all.

“Since that’s how it was in the past, I guess there’s nothing I can do if people dislike me.” I’ll be back. See you later.

Feeling Yongjae’s worried gaze following him, Choi Hongseok entered the building.

The staff at the entrance immediately guided me to the private room. As soon as I entered the room, I saw Park Dong-ha diagonally, who greeted me silently with a warm smile and waved his hand. I gave him a quick nod and then approached my senior, Jo Won-tae, first and greeted him respectfully. Jo Won-tae, after glancing at Choi Hong-seo, merely nodded without any particular reaction. When Choi Hong-seo played the role of Hwang Ji-woo, he was equally taciturn, but he was a senior who greeted warmly and kindly, so my heart felt heavy.

“Hyung! Come over here! Here, here!”

Park Dongha, sitting towards the back in a seat somewhat distant from Jo Won-tae, pointed to the seat next to him and gestured eagerly.

“What’s going on? You really worried me. Is Yoon Hye-an really back alive, walking, talking, and all? Am I dreaming?”

“Ah… I’m sorry for making you worry.”

It felt more apologetic than expected to be awkwardly distant from someone who was speaking to him warmly and kindly, even if that person wasn’t the ‘real’ him.

“Look at this guy! He’s speaking like a stranger. Using polite language too?”

However, as Yong-jae had told him beforehand, Park Dongha didn’t seem to care much. It was more comfortable with someone like him who accepted things cheerfully rather than someone who hesitated and was cautious.

“I heard from Yong-jae hyung, but is it true you really don’t remember anything?”

Choi Hong-seo slowly nodded, feeling sorry.

“I didn’t contact you because I thought seeing me would just confuse you even more. I hope you’re not upset?”

“I feel bad because I don’t remember.”

Park Dongha tilted his youthful, oval face slightly and stared at Choi Hong-seo’s face.

“You really look like a different person.”

“……”

“No, Yong-jae hyung said it too. He said after you came back from the dead, you became a completely different person. I didn’t understand when I just heard it, but…”

While rubbing the back of his neck, Park Dongha added in a somewhat apologetic manner,

“Seeing you like this, you really do look like a different person. It’s kind of… amazing.”

For a moment, Choi Hong-seo wondered if what Park Dongha actually meant was “creepy,” but he didn’t say anything.

Soon after, more staff and actors began arriving.

Even though he knew their faces and names, there was no real connection with them as ‘Yoon Hye-an,’ so every time an actor arrived, Choi Hong-seo stood up awkwardly and exchanged greetings.

Even just exchanging eye contact was enough for him to sense that they didn’t seem friendly towards Yoon Hye-an. Most of them, including Park Dongha, seemed to know each other well, talking excitedly, while Choi Hong-seo sat idly sipping his drink.

“Senior, is it true that ARA’s Lee Hye-sung is investing in this movie?”

Someone asked, their voice low with excitement, from across the table. At the mention of Lee Hye-sung, Choi Hong-seo’s hand, which had been holding the drink, flinched.

“Even before everything fell apart, there was a small issue about that.”

“Really? I didn’t know about that.”

“You probably wouldn’t know since you weren’t cast at the time.”

“Haha… I guess so.”

Jo Won-tae remarked gently, and the actor who had originally brought it up scratched his head awkwardly and laughed.

“But… does that mean Lee Hye-sung will come today?”

“Ah, no way. He wouldn’t come to a place like this, right?”

As expected, the focus of everyone’s attention was on Lee Hye-sung. Choi Hong-seo bitterly smiled as he took a sip from his teacup, remembering similar conversations from the last gathering. A lot of things seemed the same as that day, but more things had changed.

“Before everything fell apart, he used to attend. He came a bit late, though.”

At Jo Won-tae’s words, the actors all showed great interest. Park Dong-ha, sitting next to him, also showed curiosity, his eyes wide open.

“Really? Hyung, did you meet Lee Hye-sung back then?”

“I did. He wasn’t exactly informal, but he wasn’t an overly authoritative person either. He wasn’t one of those high-and-mighty types who try to act like royalty.”

“Wow… that’s so interesting. I hope he comes today. You don’t really meet people like him, a real chaebol. He’s not the type to show up at a VIP event.”

“He’s known for being a movie buff, but he seems especially attached to this film. He’s really serious about movies. He even attended the final audition where they picked the lead actor.”

After finishing his statement, Jo Won-tae glanced at Choi Hong-seo—at Yoon Hye-sung. The actor chosen in that very final audition, which Lee Hye-sung attended, was Yoon Hye-sung.

It was hard to endure the gaze that seemed to say “I don’t understand how someone like you got chosen.” Choi Hong-seo quietly stood up, making an excuse about going to the bathroom, and left the room.

“Was he really the type to show his face at a gathering like this? He’s supposed to have actor syndrome, right? I thought he wouldn’t come. This is so uncomfortable.”

As if waiting for him to leave, someone complained from behind just before Choi Hong-seo could close the door. The words were clearly meant for him to hear. So, he leaned against the door, listening carefully. He felt it was important to understand the real reputation of Yoon Hye-sung.

“Is it true you don’t remember anything?”

“True? The news said there’s nothing wrong with his body.”

“If he was dumped by his sponsor and tried to commit suicide, ending up unconscious, he was clearly thinking of dying. But now that he woke up, he’s probably embarrassed. The doctor says there’s nothing wrong with him, but he’s shamelessly claiming memory loss. That’s so typical of Yoon Hye-sung, isn’t it?”

Choi Hong-seo quietly listened to the loud laughter echoing from the room as he looked down at the tips of his sneakers.

“Pretending not to remember, maybe he’s trying to clean up his past now that he’s come back from the dead.”

“I don’t understand why his acting skills didn’t show up when he was working.”

Another round of loud laughter followed. Thanks to the public enemy, Yoon Hye-sung, the atmosphere in the room lightened instantly.

It couldn’t be helped. There was no reason to feel wronged. Perhaps… by dealing with the consequences of the things Yoon Hye-sung had done, Choi Hong-seo was paying for the things he himself had done. The cost of hurting the people he loved…

“Are you not going back in?”

“……”

Just in front of his sneakers, a luxurious leather loafer suddenly appeared in his line of sight. A low, husky voice that spoke a little quieter than most people.

His heart recognized the owner before his mind did, thumping wildly in his chest. Choi Hong-seo unconsciously looked up slowly.

“I’m not sure if you were leaving or coming in, but you were blocking the door,” said Lee Hye-sung.

It was dizzying, and by chance, it was Lee Hye-sung, the same man who had worn the same knit sweater that night when they walked together on Namsan.