Chapter 19: The First Broadcast’s Afterglow

#19

That day, after finishing filming and returning home, Dohoon suddenly burst into laughter while out for a walk with Taeshik.

‘You look so cool.’

Jaejeong’s voice had unexpectedly echoed in his mind.

“He said I look cool.”

Taeshik, seemingly puzzled by Dohoon’s muttered words, stopped abruptly, his gaze tilting upward. Dohoon, however, was too engrossed in savoring the joy he hadn’t fully expressed earlier.

****

On the day of the drama’s first broadcast, Dohoon’s filming concluded in the morning. Since it was a set shoot, he was able to return home earlier than usual.

Typically, when there’s filming on a premiere day, everyone gathers to watch it together. This time, however, the production company rented out a restaurant near the set, arranging a viewing party.

It was also a much-needed company dinner, as their schedules had been too hectic for a proper one until now.

Dohoon, having finished filming early, rested at home before heading to the restaurant in the evening. Jaejeong, who had filmed until the afternoon, only had time to change his clothes, sitting down with his makeup still on.

He had kept his hair styled up all day, which must have made it stand on end, as he wore a cap pulled low—a new sight for Dohoon. Pretending to search for a seat, Dohoon subtly surveyed his surroundings before slipping into a chair at Jaejeong’s table.

“Hello.”

Jaejeong, who hadn’t noticed Dohoon’s arrival and was engrossed in his phone, finally looked up. His face was etched with exhaustion.

“Hello.”

“Did your shoot finish well?”

“Yes.”

“That must be tough. You should say something if you’re too tired to stay.”

“No, it’s not that bad.”

Jaejeong replied calmly, pressing gently at the corners of his eyes. Despite his words, his face looked as though he could fall asleep the moment his head touched a pillow.

Watching his slightly unguarded, weary face, Dohoon felt an inexplicable urge to smile. They say it’s over once you find someone endearing, but isn’t the beginning of becoming a fan precisely that moment of recognizing their charm? It seemed this was a feeling he couldn’t control from the very start.

As the food began to appear on the table, the bustling restaurant atmosphere gradually subsided. Dohoon, not particularly hungry, only picked at the side dishes. Jaejeong, despite his fatigue, seemed famished, scooping a generous portion of stew into his bowl.

“Were you hungry?”

“Yes, I had an early lunch.”

“You must be really hungry. Eat a lot.”

“Okay.”

After a brief reply, Jaejeong glanced at Dohoon’s expression, as if belatedly concerned. Dohoon himself looked perfectly nonchalant, but Jaejeong added a beat later, “You should eat a lot too, Senior.”

“Ah, thanks.”

Dohoon let out a soft, genuine laugh. Everything Jaejeong did seemed so utterly adorable, it was almost problematic. Even the way he watched Dohoon’s reaction was charming.

Having nothing else to say, the conversation quickly died, and silence settled between them. Unlike Jaejeong, who focused intently on his meal without much thought, Dohoon kept stealing glances at him eating. Knowing it would make Jaejeong uncomfortable if he stared openly, Dohoon secretly watched, to the point his eyes began to ache.

Just as he was searching for a moment to speak, Dohoon gently opened his mouth. “Jaejeong, aren’t you nervous? It’s the first broadcast today.”

“I am nervous.”

Though he answered as such, there wasn’t a hint of tension on his face. Because of this, Dohoon couldn’t tell if his answer was sincere or not.

“You don’t look it.”

“I usually don’t show it, even when I’m nervous.”

Jaejeong replied quietly. He had sat there with an air of detachment, but Jaejeong was still human. He, too, felt nervous and worried inside. It was only natural.

As the company dinner atmosphere matured, the drama’s title appeared at the top of the screen. Before the show even began, Dohoon’s commercial aired twice on TV, eliciting playful exclamations from around the room. That brief interlude passed, and as the drama’s logo vanished from the screen, a heavy sense of anticipation settled over them.

Jaejeong, who had finished his meal early, sat upright, his gaze fixed on the screen. Dohoon, too, quietly retrieved his glasses and put them on.

Even for Dohoon, with over ten years of acting experience, the first broadcast of a drama or a movie premiere always brought a sense of trepidation. Would the outcome match his expectations? What would the public’s reaction be? How would the ratings and audience numbers fare? He harbored both apprehension and hope, caught between ideals and reality.

Despite his nervousness, Dohoon had been calmly watching his own performance. However, a shift began to occur on his face as Jaejeong’s appearance drew nearer. His mouth suddenly went dry, prompting Dohoon to hastily gulp down a drink.

It was the latter half of episode one, the scene where Ji-myeong, having abruptly fallen into the Joseon era and entered the body of Lee Seon, confronts Hae-soo. Both Jaejeong and Dohoon held their breaths, tense with anticipation. Although they had completed the filming without issue, seeing the edited version for the first time made everything feel new.

Especially on Jaejeong’s face, on the cusp of his drama debut, a deep tension hung in the air.

[Your Majesty!]

Jaejeong’s low, deep voice resonated in Dohoon’s ears. The screen was dark, reflecting the night setting, yet Jaejeong’s face seemed to glow as if bathed in moonlight. Dohoon instinctively almost blurted out how handsome he looked, quickly clamping his lips shut. With the person right in front of him, he couldn’t possibly blurt out such an indiscreet thought.

It was only after the preview for episode two ended and commercials began that the surroundings gradually grew noisy. Individual impressions and chatter filled the large space, quickly making it boisterous. Amidst the clamor, Jaejeong and Dohoon maintained their silence for a long time. Dohoon quietly watched the commercials playing on the screen, while Jaejeong idly fiddled with his water cup.

At that moment, Jaejeong abruptly stood up and walked out of the restaurant. Dohoon stared blankly at Jaejeong’s quickly receding back, then followed him as if entranced. Rational judgment had already faded.

Stepping outside the shop, the humid heat of the summer night instantly enveloped Dohoon. The sticky air clinging to his bare skin was unpleasant, but finding Jaejeong’s vanished whereabouts was his priority. Dohoon’s head spun busily as he scanned his surroundings.

Heading to the back of the building, Dohoon easily found Jaejeong. He was standing alone in an empty lot within the parking area. Dohoon had thought he might be going for a cigarette, but Jaejeong was simply standing there, lost in thought. Dohoon almost turned to leave, not wanting to disturb him, but as if by a lie, Jaejeong’s head turned toward Dohoon. Their eyes met, and Dohoon’s feet were rooted to the spot.

The two stood facing each other for a long time. Not even a question like, “Why are you standing there?” passed between them.

“…Are you going to smoke?”

It was Jaejeong who first broke the silence. In the darkness, Dohoon couldn’t quite discern his expression. Dohoon quickly shook his head.

“No, I don’t smoke.”

“Then, should I move?”

Jaejeong spoke as if he were about to re-enter the restaurant, even though he hadn’t taken Dohoon’s spot.

“No, no. Didn’t I just interrupt you, Jaejeong?”

“…No.”

“I just came out for some fresh air too.”

“Okay.”

Jaejeong nodded, then awkwardly averted his gaze.

“Can I come closer?”

At Dohoon’s cautious question, Jaejeong gave him a look that implied, ‘Why would you even ask that?’ Dohoon, barely suppressing a smile, didn’t wait for an answer and stepped closer to Jaejeong. It was then that Jaejeong’s face, previously obscured by the darkness, began to come into clear view. Even under the faint streetlamp, his handsome features were hard to hide.

“Jaejeong, what did you think of the first broadcast?”

“It was interesting.”

His concise assessment was quite typical of him.

“Was it your first time seeing your own acting on TV?”

“Yes.”

“How was that?”

“……”

At the follow-up question, Jaejeong didn’t answer immediately, pressing his lips together. Long eyelashes shadowed his lowered eyelids. His thoughtful expression remained inscrutable.

“It was just… strange.”

“Strange?”

“My expressions and voice felt a bit unfamiliar…”

No matter how diligently he monitored himself during filming, seeing the final edited version was a different experience altogether. Jaejeong found his own image in the drama utterly alien, like a stranger. Perhaps it was a natural sentiment for a first-timer.

“You did great.”

“Pardon?”

“You really did great today. I’m probably not the only one who thinks so.”

Surely, Dohoon wasn’t the only one who recognized Jaejeong’s potential revealed in today’s drama. It was an excellent first step that would open up many more opportunities for him in the future. Dohoon grinned, unconsciously patting Jaejeong’s shoulder. He hadn’t intended to touch him, so Dohoon was slightly flustered.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“What for…”

“No, I didn’t mean to touch you.”

The situation grew more awkward because Dohoon, flustered, felt compelled to address it rather than letting it pass naturally. Jaejeong, looking at Dohoon with a puzzled expression, spoke belatedly.

“It’s fine.”

“……”

“You can touch me.”

Jaejeong, with a calm demeanor, uttered the dangerous words, then waved his hand as if shooing away an approaching insect. Dohoon, utterly dumbfounded, looked up at Jaejeong with a bewildered expression.

“Dohoon hyung!”

At that moment, someone called Dohoon’s name loudly from behind him. He turned his head to see his manager standing there, holding his belongings.

“I’ll pull the car around!”

“Oh, okay.”

It was time to head home. Dohoon felt as if he had visited another world during the brief time he stood face-to-face with Jaejeong.

“Goodbye.”

Jaejeong bowed his head to Dohoon.

“Yes. You too, Jaejeong. Get home safely, and have good dreams.”

“Ah… yes.”

Dohoon waved lightly, then returned to the restaurant to greet the director and staff. Director Im, who had been drinking steadily throughout the broadcast, was now thoroughly tipsy and clung to Dohoon, refusing to let him go. The prolonged farewell meant Dohoon once again encountered Jaejeong, with whom he had just parted. Finally escaping Director Im’s grasp, Dohoon exchanged a brief glance with Jaejeong.