Chapter 77: Blurring the Boundaries

The next day.

A motorcycle was parked in front of the rehearsal room building.

The delivery driver took a box out from the pile of packages stacked on the back.

Then, he called out in a gruff voice to stop Chaewoo, who was trying to slip past him inside.

“Hey, student. You’re heading to the building’s basement, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Take this with you.”

Spitting on the ground, the recessive Alpha forcefully shoved the box onto him.

“What is this?”

“You’ll find out when you go down and open it. Someone ordered a quick delivery from here.”

“……”

Chaewoo had no desire to prolong the conversation.

Hiding his displeasure, Chaewoo turned toward the rehearsal room with the box in hand.

“Wait. Sign here before you go.”

After hurriedly signing the device the driver thrust at him, Chaewoo headed downstairs.

Although the box wasn’t very large, it was quite heavy.

“Ah, that? Just put it anywhere for now.”

When he showed the box to the writer, she waved her hand dismissively.

Chaewoo moved the box to the corner where the singers usually piled their clothes and luggage.

Not knowing what was inside, he set it down carefully, only to turn around and come face-to-face with Euigeon walking toward him from the opposite side.

Euigeon, who was just taking off his outerwear, briefly fixed his gaze on Chaewoo.

“……”

That was all.

The two brushed past each other without an exchange of greetings.

As if he had never chased after him with such ferocity yesterday, Euigeon averted his gaze and melted into the crowd of singers.

Before leaving his studio apartment this morning, Chaewoo had worried at length about what to do if the man was waiting outside his door.

Seeing this now, it seemed to have been a completely pointless worry.

‘He must have realized on his own that he was being completely unreasonable last night.’

Chaewoo smirked quietly to himself.

“Attention, please! There’s another change to the staging we discussed modifying last time.”

“Singers appearing in that scene, please gather for a moment. Ah, Paolo, come over here too.”

The writer and the director suddenly gathered the singers.

Having no connection to the scene in question, Chaewoo observed the gathered group from a slight distance.

“Kwang-gi gave us an idea, and we thought it was much better. Following Kwang-gi’s suggestion, we decided to put Euigeon’s solo part back in, which we were going to cut. Here’s what we’re going to do…”

Fortunately, it seemed a decision had been made to retain the solo part.

The director personally explained the revised portion to Euigeon.

It was exactly what Chaewoo had suggested to Jin Kwang-gi over the phone.

“As I mentioned earlier, this was Jin Kwang-gi’s idea. He’s not a Harvard student for nothing.”

Since Kwang-gi had already agreed in advance to present it as his own idea rather than Chaewoo’s, the director’s reaction came as no surprise.

Chaewoo merely regretted stepping up to care about that crazy bastard’s business in the first place.

What did it matter to him whether a stalking jerk lost his solo part or not?

As the director praised Jin Kwang-gi, the surrounding people began clapping one by one.

Feeling awkward standing there doing nothing, Chaewoo joined in.

At that, Jin Kwang-gi cast an embarrassed glance in Chaewoo’s direction.

Although he averted his eyes to signal that it was fine, it felt strangely odd.

Clapping for his own achievement, that is.

“That’s wonderful. Congratulations, Paolo.”

“I was inwardly hoping that part wouldn’t be cut, too. What a relief.”

“……”

Naturally, this was the timing for Euigeon to add a word of thanks.

Yet, the very person who benefited the most simply stood still in front of the congratulating crowd.

After several seconds of silence passed, the room quieted down, and the atmosphere grew peculiar.

Everyone watched Euigeon with puzzled eyes, as he showed no intention of thanking Jin Kwang-gi or the director even out of basic courtesy.

“Thank you, Senior Seol.”

Only after the applause faded into silence did Euigeon speak.

“Huh?”

“Why are you thanking Tinto? If you’re thanking anyone, it should be Kwang-gi.”

The director, who had been viewing Euigeon’s attitude with displeasure, pointed it out.

People who had no idea what was going on looked back and forth between the director, Jin Kwang-gi, and Euigeon.

“I was under the impression that the staging for Paolo’s solo was an idea proposed by Senior Seol Chaewoo.”

“Eh? No, no, that’s not it. Jin Kwang-gi suggested it directly to me. Didn’t I explain it just now? Why are you acting like this after hearing everything?”

“Did the person who came up with the idea change to Senior Jin Kwang-gi without my knowledge?”

Wearing a moderately puzzled expression, Euigeon crossed his arms and stroked his chin.

Of course, to Chaewoo’s eyes, it was glaringly obvious that he was acting.

His eyes were staring directly at the silent Jin Kwang-gi.

“Ah… well, the truth is, Chaewoo gave me the idea first, so I brought it up to the director. Paolo is right.”

Only then did Jin Kwang-gi, who had been restless from the beginning, confess.

“…Oh dear. Was that so?”

The director scanned Chaewoo up and down, then picked up the script without another word.

Then, she instructed the gathered singers.

“Anyway, just keep in mind that the staging has changed to that! Now, let’s return to our positions.”

With that, people scattered to their respective spots.

Chaewoo also ignored the chaotic atmosphere and went over to the minor role team.

He hadn’t expected Euigeon to openly say thank you in front of the entire team.

He hadn’t thought Jin Kwang-gi was trying to steal his idea.

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t a groundbreaking solution that would alter the course of the opera itself; it was simply offering an answer to one of many issues and variables.

Even so, honestly, it felt a little satisfying.

Was a part of his personality deeply twisted?

He consistently picked only the most detestable things to do, yet he would occasionally pull something endearing like that.

That must be why the distinct line he had initially drawn before Euigeon was gradually eroding away.

“Senior, since when did you get so close with ‘True Kwang-gi’? So cool. I’m still kind of… scared of the leads and the production team. Especially the director.”

“Yeah. But presenting Senior’s idea as if it were his own was a bit uncalled for.”

Before he knew it, Jeong Taehyun and Jo Seeun had sidled up to him, chattering about what had just happened.

“No, I told him it was fine to do that.”

“Still, snatching someone else’s idea is kind of…”

“Ah, wait. There’s one more announcement. The costume detail props arrived today, so please check them in advance. We’ll be starting rehearsal in full costume.”

The announcement regarding props suddenly cut in, cutting off the conversation.

The writer was pointing to the box Chaewoo had carried in.

No wonder it felt heavy.

Stepping closer to see inside the opened box, most of it consisted of various accessories that could be attached to costumes.

As if quite a bit of money had been spent, none of them looked cheap, and all were shaped plausibly.

The role of Tinto that Chaewoo played had such a simple outfit that there was nothing more to add or decorate.

While everyone picked up an envelope with their character’s name written on the outside, Chaewoo, as expected, couldn’t find one for Tinto.

Unlike the singers who wore opulent costumes representing high status, he played a low-status recessive Omega, so this suited him better anyway.

Taking advantage of everyone being busy picking out props, Chaewoo visited the restroom.

He thought the bustling atmosphere would have settled down when he returned a few minutes later, but it remained the same.

The minor role team was also still huddled around the box.

‘Do they really have that much to pick out?’

Standing blankly and looking around, the supporting actors were particularly loud, loud enough that their entire conversation reached his ears.

“Doing both would be weird, right? They all look so good that it’s hard to choose…”

“Still, I’d love for you to wear the red one. Look here, Euigeon-ssi. I’m telling you, this color suits Paolo much better!”

“Stop making a fuss; I’m sure he’ll decide on his own.”

As it turned out, all the Omegas from the supporting team had gathered around Euigeon, chiming in with various opinions on his props.

Having changed into costume before anyone realized, Euigeon was wearing Paolo’s uniform, fastening the last button of his military duffle coat.

With the collar popped up to his chin, he lifted his head slightly and gazed down indifferently at his props.

He had wondered what all the fuss was about.

The singers were fiercely interfering over the epaulettes and insignias that would decorate Paolo’s uniform when he became an officer after making military achievements later in the story.

Now that he looked closely, an Omega singer from the lead cast was also in that group.

Having no props to choose from, Chaewoo stood at a distance, half-forced to eavesdrop on their conversation.

“How is it? Have you decided? What does Paolo like?”

“They all look pretty similar to me.”

Once he straightened his uniform and donned the hat resting on the chair beside him, he looked like a sleek, archetypal 19th-century European Alpha soldier.

There was not the slightest sense of incongruity with the costume.

Even the eyes of those pretending not to look were drawn entirely to Euigeon.

To be honest, Chaewoo inwardly marveled that his exterior, at least, was truly splendid.

“Even if they look similar, they’re all slightly different. Look, this navy epaulette with gold insignia is definitely the best.”

“Why are you deciding that? Euigeon-ssi should be the one to choose.”

“Hmm…”

Surrounded by people desperate to pick something for him, he quietly examined the props.

Chaewoo knew that the man had zero interest in this situation.

In truth, they all looked similar to Chaewoo as well, so whatever he chose would likely look the same.

“Why does only his costume have so many props?”

Chaewoo asked Jo Seeun in passing, who happened to be nearby.

“Ah. What did they say again…? They decided to spend a bit more budget on him because his visuals are so good.”

“Wow, ridiculous.”

Unlike Chaewoo who was flabbergasted, Jo Seeun merely shrugged as if having no objections.

“Still, seeing how popular he is even within the Benigni team… Senior Euigeon is undeniably handsome, isn’t he?”

“Blegh.”

“Heol, Senior Chaewoo. Are you keeping your guard up right now? Since the two of you are constantly mentioned in our department, are you getting self-conscious and jealous?”

“Jealous? Of Beom Euigeon? Why would I be?”

Although Chaewoo denied it vehemently, Jo Seeun walked away suppressing a knowing laugh, uttering an absurd mocking, “Suuure, whatever you say.”

“No, the role of Paolo is a macho Alpha and a villain, so of course he shouldn’t look gentle!”

That group was still bickering over Euigeon’s props as if it were their own personal business.

When in reality, Euigeon only seemed to be waiting for rehearsal to start in earnest.

‘At that rate, even he must find it exhausting.’

Clicking his tongue, Chaewoo turned his steps to rejoin the minor team that had moved near the stage.

“Senior Seol, which one looks better on me?”

At that moment, Euigeon’s voice caught Chaewoo.

“…Me?”

Stopping in an awkward posture as if caught in a net, Chaewoo pointed to himself.

At that, Euigeon, dressed in his uniform, nodded while shaking the epaulette meant for his chest.

Consequently, all the Omegas nearby turned their eyes toward Chaewoo as well.

“The… right one?”

The moment he heard the careless answer, Euigeon, who had been lukewarm all along, pinned the red epaulette Chaewoo had mentioned to his chest.

“Which gold tassel?”

Just as he tried to slip away quickly, another question was fired at him.

‘Why the hell do you keep asking me that!’

Irritation pooled in Chaewoo’s eyes.

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