Chapter 69: A Name

“I heard about the filming this time, but seeing you in person… you’re really handsome. Could I get a handshake just once…?”

Figuring out someone’s personality in a short time wasn’t that difficult.

Maybe it was because Ji-tae had spent quite a bit of time rolling around in the entertainment industry.

He had developed an ability he didn’t particularly want.

“Thank you.”

This person was probably the type who approached others easily and spoke to anyone without hesitation.

Ji-tae smiled lightly and shook the hand he offered.

Perhaps because he was happy to have shaken hands with a famous actor, a faint tension appeared at the corner of Yoon-kwon’s lips.

“I really enjoyed the movie.

I’m kind of a movie fanatic—my hyungs even acknowledge it—and Rail is honestly in the top five movies I’ve ever watched.”

“Thank you so much for saying that.

I feel a little embarrassed.

My acting still had many shortcomings….”

Still, Baek Yoon-kwon was Wooju’s teammate.

There was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble, so it was better to leave a good impression.

“Ah, no way! I was seriously moved by it….”

“Alright, that’s enough of the fan meeting.”

At that moment, Wooju approached and grabbed Yoon-kwon by the collar, pulling him back.

Yoon-kwon immediately started complaining, asking why he was interrupting.

“That’s enough, so hurry inside and go change.”

Maybe the thought that he shouldn’t disobey a senior suddenly struck him.

Yoon-kwon quickly agreed and ran into the gym.

Ji-tae stared blankly at the back of Baek Yoon-kwon, which somehow seemed to sparkle as he walked away.

“Hey.”

“Yeah?”

“You’re uncomfortable with things like that, right?

As you saw, Kwon is kind of… unpredictable.

He’s very sociable and easily approaches people he’s just met.”

“Seems like it.”

Ji-tae looked down at Wooju, who had leaned closer to speak as if sharing some secret.

Did he think Ji-tae had been uncomfortable because Baek Yoon-kwon approached him?

Was that why he looked awkward like that?

“If it really bothers you, just tell me.

That guy kept going on and on about how much he loved your movie anyway….”

But there was something that bothered Ji-tae even more.

It wasn’t Baek Yoon-kwon’s sociable personality.

Nor the fact that he had been impressed by Ji-tae’s movie.

“That player’s name is Kwon?”

“Huh? Ah, Baek Yoon-kwon.

Our team’s libero.”

He already knew that.

Before coming today to play the role of manager, Ji-tae had studied up on Baekyoung Construction.

Of course, he already had a rough idea since it was Wooju’s team.

But he hadn’t known the detailed roster of players.

So he already knew the name Baek Yoon-kwon and that his position was libero.

Though he had been surprised that the real person looked much more handsome than the photo.

“Then why do you call him Kwon?”

“Huh?”

“It’s just strange that you call him Kwon instead of Baek Yoon-kwon or Yoon-kwon.”

Ji-tae was currently putting his entire acting ability into his expression.

He had to look like someone who was simply curious.

The thought that he was wondering how close they must be to use such a nickname could never show on his face.

Fortunately, Ji-tae was an actor by profession.

“Well… it just kind of happened?

It’s like a nickname because it’s easier.

And with his personality, he follows the older guys well.”

Wooju sincerely listed several reasons to answer the question.

But none of them really reached Ji-tae’s ears.

“You don’t call me like that though.”

“Huh?”

“You say I’m comfortable and your friend too.

But Kang Wooju, you always call me Won Ji-tae with my full name.”

Wooju looked momentarily confused, as if wondering what he was suddenly talking about.

Then he immediately protested.

“You do the same thing.

You also stubbornly attach my last name when calling me….”

“Wooju.”

“…….”

The voice was sharp and cold enough to slice through skin.

Startled, Wooju looked at Ji-tae.

The smile he had been wearing like armor had long since disappeared from his face.

“I used to call you that sometimes before.

Even when we were students.

But when I think about it, you’ve never once called me without my last name.”

“Let me ask you one question.

Is that really important enough to talk about right here?”

“You said we’re friends.”

Friends weren’t just people who bickered, joked around, teased each other, and picked fights.

As he spoke, Ji-tae suddenly realized that Wooju had truly never called him in a friendly way even once.

It had always been “Won Ji-tae.”

Or simply “Hey.”

That was it.

Yet he called that guy who had just walked in “Kwon.”

Even if he didn’t expect something like that, even if he wasn’t asking for more than that,

couldn’t he at least call him kindly once in a while?

“Uh….”

Just then, both Wooju and Ji-tae’s phones buzzed at the same time.

When they checked, it was a message from the filming director.

“Let’s go first.”

The text asked why they weren’t coming in when the cameras were already set up.

Wooju quickly slipped inside the gym first.

In the locker room, Wooju changed clothes with a complicated expression.

During his conversation with Ji-tae, the other team members must have already finished changing and left.

The room was completely quiet.

The clubhouse located in Seoul had been built exclusively for the Baekyoung Construction volleyball team.

It could practically be considered a professional training center for the players.

Maybe because it was built in a place that received plenty of sunlight.

On bright days like this, sunlight would break through the window and pour into the locker room.

As he took off his clothes, the sunlight touching his skin felt warm.

“But when I think about it, you’ve never once called me without my last name.”

As his mind relaxed slightly, Ji-tae’s voice suddenly resurfaced in his thoughts.

“…….”

Annoyed, Wooju opened his locker and grabbed his uniform.

He had never called him like that?

Wooju suddenly started digging through his memories.

It was true that since they reunited to film this show, he hadn’t used any friendly form of address.

After all, it had been seven whole years since they met again.

Even people you could call friends become awkward if you don’t see them for two or three years.

School friends were even more like that.

If you stayed in touch and kept meeting after becoming adults, they might become lifelong friends.

But once contact was lost, reality was usually just awkward greetings at reunions.

And if you thought about it, Won Ji-tae hadn’t even been a school friend.

He wasn’t really someone you could call a friend either.

After not contacting each other for seven years and then suddenly meeting in the unusual situation of a TV show,

it would be stranger if he suddenly called him warmly, “Ji-tae.”

“He said there wasn’t even a time during school?”

Wooju searched through his memories again.

Technically, they had known each other since middle school.

Even then, could there really have been not a single time?

“Won Ji-tae, how about the loser of this practice match calls the other ‘hyung’ for a week?”

“Won Ji-tae, where the hell are you?”

“Hey! You aimed for that spot on purpose, didn’t you? You sneaky bastard.”

As memories surfaced one after another, Wooju pressed his lips tightly together.

No matter how thoroughly he searched through his memory box, not a single example appeared.

In fact, calling him “Won Ji-tae” was already the polite version.

There were plenty of times he had called him things like “that bastard Won Ji-tae,” “creepy bastard,” “crazy guy,” or “trash personality.”

“Hey, Kang Wooju.”

At that moment, Choi Seok-hyun entered through the door.

“The coach told me to check if you collapsed in the locker room since you weren’t coming.”

“…Am I actually a terrible person?”

“Oh, you’re very good at self-awareness.”

Choi Seok-hyun approached Wooju and gave him a thumbs-up.

Immediately, Wooju shot him a sharp glare.

“Get lost.”

“See? That proves it.

I came to check on you because you weren’t coming, and instead of thanking me….”

Then Choi Seok-hyun laughed playfully and suddenly locked Wooju in a headlock.

“Ah! Want to die?”

Maybe he was just happy that a friend he got along well with was finally joining training again.

Choi Seok-hyun didn’t care at all about Wooju’s harsh curses.

“You didn’t train much during the off-season.

Did you get weaker already?”

“I’m going to kill you today and go to heaven.”

“You can’t go to heaven if you kill someone, Wooju.”

Just then, the door suddenly swung open again.

Both Choi Seok-hyun, who had his arm around Wooju’s neck, and Kang Wooju, who was growling and preparing to fight back, turned their gaze toward the door at the same time.

Standing there was Won Ji-tae, whose height was almost as tall as the lockers.

Ji-tae’s eyes rolled slowly as he looked toward the two grown men in the middle of the locker room who were fooling around like kids.

Choi Seok-hyun was smiling brightly, practically hugging Wooju by the neck.

And most importantly, Wooju himself was shirtless in Seok-hyun’s grip.

A few seconds of silence passed.

“Oh, it’s Won Ji-tae….”

From above, Choi Seok-hyun’s quiet exclamation could be heard.

At that moment, Wooju suddenly came to his senses and shoved Seok-hyun away.

“Is that your friend?”

“Ah, I reacted unconsciously without thinking….”

Pushed away, Choi Seok-hyun scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.

Wooju, clearly annoyed, grabbed his uniform and pulled it over his head.

“You weren’t coming in.

The writer was looking for you too.”