Life, Once Again!

Her public ‘everyone’s mother’ image would display its effect in this commotion. Some media journals would say something about how she was the procuress, but her public image would prevent the rumors from expanding. The masses were infinitely generous when it came to what they were used to seeing after all. Even if there was some noise, it would at most be a drizzle as long as she managed to take care of herself well during that time. She quenched her thirst and looked at the platform with renewed comfort. She felt like the bright lights were shining down on her path ahead. Once everything returned…. Miyoon looked at Gaeul who was looking below the table. Enjoy what might be your last award — there wasn’t long left until she would remove all that annoyed her.

* * *

He felt like a lump of lead appeared inside his head. Giwoo echoed Han Gaeul’s award speech in his mind. Not the beginning, but the end. The friend that supported her was undoubtedly this guy in front of him. As soon as he realized the secret signal between the two, his insides churned. The more he realized that Han Gaeul’s feelings were deep, the bigger his rage towards Han Maru became. It was just like how the reading light next to the bed kept bothering him. How refreshing would it be if only he could smash this guy on the back of the head with a metal reading light? Had Gyungjin and Yoojin been absent, he would have grabbed it and then thought about what he would do with it.

“It’s not easy to get the best actress award at that age,” Gyungjin said, seeing Han Gaeul who just flashed past the screen.

Giwoo felt like that was a compliment aimed at him. Han Gaeul was a decent woman after all. No, she wasn’t just decent. She was wasted on any other man. The place she should be sitting obediently had to be next to himself.

“It felt like she was talking about her boyfriend to me,” Yoojung said as she grabbed the canned beer.

She said that the one that Han Gaeul mentioned at the end might be her boyfriend.

“Sounds about right. She’s at that age after all. What would it feel like to date Han Gaeul? I wouldn’t be able to hold back if that pretty face was right in front of my eyes. My heart is pretty sensitive, so it can’t endure excessive shock. In that sense, you’re quite a relief. Forget making my heart race, you put my heart at ease as though I’m meditating.”

Gyungjin pointed at Yoojung’s face. Yoojung scoffed.

“Right back at you. Not only that, you know you look totally ugly because you’re next to Giwoo right now, right? You even smell, so can you please sit away from me?”

Giwoo looked at Yoojung who pulled him in. She was a vulgar woman. Borrowing the strength of alcohol, she was uttering whatever she wanted to. Han Gaeul was not like this. Even when she emphasized her words, she did not lose her elegance. He recalled how she said not to bother her while snapping his wrist. How beautiful would the tears shed by a strong woman be? Giwoo wanted to look at that very scene. He wanted to hold her hand and pull her up as she broke down.

“There you go again. At this point, are you sure you two don’t have any feelings for each other?” Maru said with a smile.

That guy… that guy was the one he had to remove. He had to make it so that that guy broke up with Han Gaeul for real, not as an act. To do that, there was a need to lower that guy’s wariness. While becoming friends with him was out of the question, it would only make his work a lot easier if that guy did not bother him.

“Giwoo’s in a relationship too. I’m envious. I also want to meet a good person soon.”

Gyungjin brought up the topic that they almost forgot about due to the award ceremony. For the first time, Giwoo felt appreciative of this man. He took the opportunity to turn his phone on and show a photo.

“Is this that girlfriend of yours you were talking about?” Yoojung asked as she looked at the screen.

“Yes. We’ve known each other for a long time, and I confessed recently. I thought we were just friends, but I found out that my feelings have changed. She also had feelings towards me, but she said she couldn’t confess, afraid that she might ruin our friendship.”

Giwoo looked at Yoon Seonah, the girl in the photo. Seonah was a quiet girl. Even during intercourse, she would not open her small lips. She didn’t have a lot of friends either, meaning that there was little room to get found out. He only called her and said that they should start over, and she burst out crying while thanking him. She was a suitable woman to show that he had no attachments to Han Gaeul.

Just then, he got a call. It was a call that he had instructed her to make beforehand. As for her number, he saved it as ‘My everything.’ Gyungjin and Yoojung, who were looking at the screen, quietly whistled. Giwoo picked up the call, mindful of Maru’s gaze. He had an ordinary conversation with her for about ten minutes. He also did not forget to control his voice level so that it was barely audible. Everything was for the sake of making that guy, who was indifferently watching the TV, take note. It was to tell him that he had a new partner. He felt that it was crude and even childish, but there was no method more direct and clear than this. That guy was someone with a lot of suspicions. He had the qualities of a conman, who would not believe anything other than what he could see. Rather than vague words, Giwoo had to show him evidence so that he could dissolve the big pile of suspicion within him.

“So sweet,” Yoojung said as soon as he put the phone down.

As he had expected, the two people were chiming in from the side. Looking back, most people showed innocent reactions like Yoojung and Gyungjin. Perhaps God had given him a trial so that he could enjoy an otherwise boring life. A life without speed bumps was bound to get boring after all. It was a game with a determined victor anyway. No matter how hard that guy struggled, it would ultimately change nothing. The world determined those that would wear the crown upon their birth. That was just how society worked.

“I want to have a long relationship with her.”

“You saying that you’re even thinking about marriage?” Yoojung asked as she put the remote control in front of his mouth like a mic.

Giwoo smiled awkwardly and moved his mouth close to the remote.

“If possible.”

“If you do have a wedding, when do you want to do it?”

“I wish I can do it within a year if possible.”

“Really? Isn’t getting married in your mid-twenties a bit too early these days? Not only that, you’ll be tied up with various matters once you get married, and it’ll affect your work.”

“My acting career is important, but if I imagine the time I can spend with her, I think I can take the risk. She’s too good for me. She always stays by my side and listens to me, and it’s thanks to her that I can laugh like this. With her, I don’t feel anxious or fatigued. She’s like my refuge.”

“That’s quite cheesy. Gyungjin, I didn’t know Giwoo was like this.”

Gyungjin nodded. How would Han Maru be responding to this right now? While he acted like he had no interest, Giwoo was sure that he was listening. Perhaps he might be feeling relieved right now. Perhaps he was thinking that the one hitting on Han Gaeul had finally found a partner. It would be for the best if he was.

“So the grand prize goes to ‘Your Eyes,’ huh?”

“Your Eyes did pretty well at the beginning of the year. They can’t just favor Doctor’s Office.”

The award ceremony was nearing its end. The beer they bought was also running out. Yoojung and Gyungjin said that they should go back and rest for tomorrow. They put the trash into a plastic bag and put it inside the trash can.

“Maru, have a good rest. We’re leaving now.”

“Have a good rest.”

He stepped out, following Yoojung, before turning around. He looked at Maru, who was looking at the TV from in front of the bed. What could be on his mind? That guy never revealed what he was thinking, so it was hard to tell. It would be great if there was an effect.

“Got something to say to me?”

Maru turned his head slightly. Yoojung, who was holding the door open, closed the door after saying that they should meet tomorrow. Giwoo locked his hands together and asked in passing.

“How is it going with senior Suyeon recently?”

“Why do you ask?”

“It just came to my mind when I saw you.”

“I don’t think I have anything to tell you. Whether it goes well or not, it’s got nothing to do with you.”

“That’s true. I just asked, hoping that things would work out for you. You two do suit each other.”

“Hearing you say that makes me feel like it won’t go well.”

“Don’t be so twisted. I know that you hate me. We don’t have the best relationship, but there’s no need to be at each other’s throats, is there? We might have to see each other often in the future.”

“If it’s business, I’m always ready to face you with a bright smile. My personal life is a different matter.”

Maru gestured to the door with his chin, telling him that he should leave if he had nothing to say.

“Yes. You need to rest too.”

Giwoo still couldn’t tell anything. It was very exhausting to battle it out with that guy in wits. If Han Gaeul wasn’t involved, he would have erased that guy already. Just as he was about to leave, Han Maru spoke,

“Treat your new girlfriend well.”

“Don’t worry. I’m always gentle.”

Click — the door closed.