Come Back

“Anyway, it’s like a miracle that Hye-an hyung woke up, and Dong-ha, you’ve settled down and are doing well like this. On top of that, you’re both starring in Director Kang Woo-hyun’s film together… I have no worries these days.”

Gathered around the round dining table, Yong-jae raised his glass in a toast and looked back and forth between Choi Hong-seo and Park Dong-ha, his face filled with emotion.

“It would’ve been even better if we had been this successful when we were all in *Titan*.”

Tears suddenly welled up in Yong-jae’s narrow, long eyes, and he lowered his head, his voice trembling as he continued.

“Then you wouldn’t have had to suffer after leaving the company… and your father’s situation could have been handled better…”

Park Dong-ha stepped in, placing a comforting hand on Yong-jae’s broad shoulders as he wiped away his tears.

“Why are you feeling guilty about that, hyung? Anyway, you have to give credit to our soft-hearted Yong-jae hyung. I’m always worried he’ll get scammed one of these days.”

Dong-ha’s cheerful tone was an attempt to lighten the mood, and his affection showed through. Whatever his uncertain attitude toward Yun Hye-an, it was clear that his words to Yong-jae were genuine.

“Yong-jae hyung, did you get drunk off one sip of wine? Forget the wine; let’s crack open some soju instead!”

Setting aside the wine that had been offered out of courtesy, Dong-ha quickly got up to bring some soju and glasses. Meanwhile, Yong-jae, who had managed to wipe his tears, took the soju with a reddened nose and spoke up.

“*Titan* was my first team, you know. I really wanted to see it succeed. But now, except for you and hyung, the rest of them have left the entertainment world entirely…”

Like the group *Layered*, which Choi Hong-seo had belonged to, *Titan* had struggled for years in an industry packed with idol groups without ever really standing out. It wasn’t until Yun Hye-an started acting that they gained popularity, and for a time, *Titan* was a group known mainly for Yun Hye-an’s success.

There were plenty of cases where one member would gain popularity, gradually pulling the whole team up with them—it was even a common strategy for many idol groups. But in *Titan’s* case, Yun Hye-an left the group, eliminating the chance for the entire team to benefit from his rise.

Even if Dong-ha or the other members resented Yun Hye-an for that decision, it was an understandable feeling.

The issue was that the Yun Hye-an sitting in front of Dong-ha now was no longer that Yun Hye-an.

As Dong-ha downed his shot of soju and took a sip of the spicy fish cake stew, he began to speak calmly.

“The times when we couldn’t catch a break, performing at local grocery store events just to get by, or scraping by on ten bucks a week for food at the dorm…”

“……”

“And then, when a glimmer of opportunity finally came… yeah, that was thanks to you, hyung.”

He placed his spoon down and gave a wry smile before leaning his elbows on the table and staring directly at Choi Hong-seo.

“So, you really don’t remember any of that?”

“What I was like, what *Titan* was like… I looked it up online. I don’t remember it, though.”

As he gazed at Choi Hong-seo—no, at Yun Hye-an—Dong-ha poured himself another shot of soju and muttered as if to himself.

“I see… well, at least you looked it up…”

Despite Park Dong-ha’s usually combative attitude, there was a hint of resignation in him now. The tense, guarded atmosphere he had kept while observing “Yun Hye-an” seemed to have softened a little.

Perhaps sensing it was time to give them some privacy, Yong-jae quietly got up from his seat after glancing between Dong-ha and Choi Hong-seo.

“But where’s Romeo? And Tiffani, too—why are the cats our members raise all so unsociable?”

“Romeo’s not like that. He’s probably hiding in the closet. Go and check.”

“I saw him a few times when I visited before. I wonder if he’ll remember me?”

“Romeo, Romeo? Here, kitty, kitty.”

As Yong-jae disappeared down the hallway, calling for the cat, Choi Hong-seo turned to ask first.

“You have a cat?”

It was a simple question, but Dong-ha’s eyes sharpened as he glanced at “Yun Hye-an.” It was only for a brief moment, though. He might still be doubting Hye-an’s claims of remembering nothing.

“I got him a bit later, after you started raising Tiffani.”

Offering a toast to Choi Hong-seo, who rarely emptied his glass, Dong-ha extended his drink. After clinking glasses, he quickly downed his shot.

“My family raised dogs for a long time, so I was originally more of a dog person. But after adopting Romeo, I found cats have their own charm.”

Saying this, Dong-ha took a fish cake skewer from the pot, his face radiating the happiness of a proud cat owner.

“I mean, I’ve always loved animals.”

“……”

“You, on the other hand, never used to like animals.”

It was a casual remark, but it sparked curiosity in Choi Hong-seo.

“Then why did I start raising Tiffani?”

He doubted that Dong-ha would reveal the truth. Maybe there wasn’t any deep reason for why he had started raising Tiffani. He knew that Yun Hye-an hadn’t cared for Tiffani properly. Some people adopted pets with no deeper thought, treating them like cute accessories.

Setting down the empty skewer, Dong-ha looked straight at Choi Hong-seo.

“Who knows? You’ve always been impulsive and fickle.”

From what he’d casually gathered from Yong-jae, it didn’t seem like Dong-ha and Yun Hye-an had stayed close or frequently kept in touch after the group disbanded. In fact, Dong-ha might have been the closest person to him, which showed just how shallow Yun Hye-an’s relationships were. The likelihood was high that Dong-ha didn’t know why Hye-an had suddenly decided to get a cat, or why he had attempted to take his own life.

As if it were no big deal, Dong-ha refilled his glass and emptied it once again, drinking rather quickly. After a moment of hesitation, as if summoning the courage to talk about something difficult, he finally spoke.

“I didn’t expect that to happen on your birthday.”

Dong-ha’s gaze fell somewhere on the table, his eyes slightly glassy from the alcohol.

“Yeah, Jaewon and his crew are scum, but it’s true you used to hang out with them. Jaewon was always pulling that kind of stunt, but you used to join right in with them and wouldn’t have fallen for that crap!”

Dong-ha’s voice grew increasingly strained, almost pained by the end. His troubled expression was like a child upset over an unintended mistake.

Jaewon had been one of the idols at the party who had clung to “Yun Hye-an” that night.

Taking another shot of soju, Dong-ha wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“I never thought you’d be so flustered and struggle like that…”

“So, did you invite them that night just to see how I’d react?”

Dong-ha looked up sharply, shaking his head.

“No!”

“……”

“It wasn’t that…! You have to believe me.”

That night, I remembered Haeseong holding back “Jaewon” as if he was about to rush at him. Dong-ha’s face back then had been frozen with disbelief at what he’d witnessed.

“Fine, I’ll believe you, so trust me too.”

“……”

“That I really can’t remember anything.”

With a somewhat reluctant expression, Dong-ha pressed his lips together. But he no longer looked like he didn’t believe a word “Yun Hye-an” said or was probing for flaws.

Of course, it was still possible that everything about Dong-ha was an act. That suspicion went both ways, after all. Both “Yun Hye-an” and Dong-ha were wary of each other, wondering if the other was pretending. But if he was going to continue as Yun Hye-an, he wanted the chance for things to improve. Living exactly like the old Yun Hye-an was the last thing he wanted.

*Tap, tap, tap, tap.*

Breaking the silence, light footsteps echoed across the marble floor. Looking down the hallway, he saw a calico cat with white, brown, and black fur appear. With curious eyes, the cat stared at the unfamiliar visitor, Choi Hong-seo, and, tail high, slowly approached him.

The cat circled his legs for a moment, then looked up at him with a soft “meow,” as if inviting him to pick it up. Carefully, Choi Hong-seo placed the cat on his lap and began to pet it. He was both moved and oddly guilty; he had never held Tiffani like this. Although, knowing Tiffani, she probably wouldn’t even be jealous…

“This little guy really seems to like you. Is Tiffani still cold toward you these days?”

“No, she’s not like that much anymore.”

“No way—she’s still so aloof despite all the care you give her?”

Quietly watching Choi Hong-seo and the cat, Dong-ha poured soju into Yong-jae’s glass, inviting him for another round.

Having drunk almost three bottles of soju on his own, Park Dong-ha was quite drunk. By the time the gathering was breaking up, his cheeks were flushed red, and anyone could tell he was heavily intoxicated. Holding Romeo in his arms, he waved the cat’s front paws as he saw Yong-jae and Choi Hong-seo off.

As soon as they got into the taxi, Choi Hong-seo immediately searched for Lee Haeseong’s name. He was curious if any new news or photos had surfaced in the meantime.

He had been preoccupied with wondering what Lee Haeseong would think or how he would react upon receiving the tie he had passed through Manager Kang. This had been the reason he had agreed to Yong-jae’s suggestion to drink at Park Dong-ha’s house, but it had been useless. It was as if his efforts were being mocked; his thoughts on the matter hadn’t budged at all, remaining frozen in place, waiting for Choi Hong-seo.