Chapter 81: Need to Leave

“Ha, ugh.

Th-this… what is this….”

He couldn’t continue speaking.

It felt as though a round, solid ball inside his abdomen was slowly swelling.

His mouth fell open wide on its own.

Both legs, spread apart and unable to draw back together, trembled violently.

It felt like his stomach was about to burst.

The sensation of hot flesh endlessly filling his body made nausea surge up his throat.

It wasn’t just the point of contact—Eun-gyeol’s very existence seemed to be forcing its way inside him.

As though it were invading him recklessly, trying to swallow him whole as a person.

A ringing began in his ears.

A loud beeeee roared in like an angry wave, threatening to devour his consciousness entirely.

His vision flickered chaotically.

Han-geon could no longer tell what expression Eun-gyeol was wearing, or what kind of gaze he was looking down at him with.

Fear bleached his mind white.

In his dimming consciousness, Han-geon tried to squeeze out his voice with the last of his strength.

He wanted to call Eun-gyeol’s name and ask what on earth was happening right now.

But strangely, no sound came out at all.

His consciousness was rapidly evaporating.

“Cha, Eun….”

The hand that had been clutching at Eun-gyeol’s neck while flailing about slowly slid down, limp.

Before he could even process or judge what was happening to his body, his precariously drifting consciousness finally sank swiftly into the deep sea.

Downward.

Downward.

***

“Cut!

Eun-gyeol-ssi, that was great just now.

We’ll go with Juwon-ssi’s shot next.”

The director shouted with a satisfied expression.

At his signal, the actors’ managers and makeup staff immediately sprang into action.

While Yujin fixed Eun-gyeol’s makeup and smoothed his bangs, Han-geon—who had approached him first—quietly wiped away his sweat and handed him some water.

“Good work.”

Han-geon lifted the corners of his mouth and forced a smile.

Eun-gyeol, who had been silently studying his face, casually reached out his hand.

“You don’t look so good.

Do you have a fever?”

“Me?

I’m fine.

A fever, come on….”

“Your face looks kind of rough.”

“That’s enough, there you go again.

I’m really fine.”

Eun-gyeol’s hand came right up in front of his eyes, as if to check his forehead.

In that instant, Han-geon’s hand shot up without thinking.

He reflexively slapped Eun-gyeol’s hand away and turned his head aside.

Both of their eyes widened at the same time.

“…..”

“…..”

It was the first time Han-geon had so blatantly knocked Eun-gyeol’s hand away in a moment devoid of joking.

Han-geon hurriedly opened his mouth first.

“…Ah, sorry.

I didn’t even realize….”

The quietly approaching gaze made him uncomfortable.

For some reason, the way Eun-gyeol just stared at him without speaking unsettled him, and Han-geon turned his eyes away.

Just then, Yujin—who had been fixing Eun-gyeol’s bangs—gestured to another makeup artist.

“Minji!

Spray, please.”

“Ah, unni, I’ll bring it.”

Using that as an excuse, Han-geon quickly slipped away from his spot.

After handing Yujin the item, he quietly withdrew from the area.

He didn’t dare look back to see what expression Eun-gyeol might be wearing as he watched him leave, and instead headed straight for the restroom.

For the next thirty minutes or so, the shoot would focus on Juwon and Junseong without Eun-gyeol, so this much of a break should be fine.

But the moment he stepped inside the restroom, a familiar body scent brushed his nose.

By now, he was so used to that damned pheromone that he knew Eun-gyeol had followed him even before turning around.

Eun-gyeol grabbed his wrist tightly and yanked Han-geon’s body toward him with force.

“What’s wrong with you, seriously?”

Han-geon let out a short sigh and turned around.

As expected, Cha Eun-gyeol was wearing an expression that looked almost like a grim reaper’s.

“…What did I do?”

“You keep avoiding me.”

“When did I ever do that?”

Eun-gyeol didn’t sigh.

He didn’t swear either.

He simply stared at Han-geon with a piercing gaze.

It was hard to endure the sharp, blade-like look pouring down on him, and Han-geon turned his head away.

He tried to shake his wrist free, but Eun-gyeol stubbornly refused to let go.

“Let go of this.

And stop trying to solve everything with brute force.”

“Then kiss me.”

“…What?”

What the—
At the completely out-of-place words that didn’t fit the time or setting, Han-geon’s eyes flew wide open.

He hurriedly checked their surroundings, but thankfully there was no one nearby.

Seizing the moment when Han-geon’s guard slackened, Eun-gyeol dragged him into the restroom and locked the door.

With a smiling gaze, Eun-gyeol issued the command again.

“Kiss me.”

Han-geon glared at him and snapped back.

“No.

Don’t pull this kind of crap in the middle of work.

And don’t order me around in that forceful tone… don’t make me do things like that.”

“Are you mad about my tone?

Then I’ll say it nicely.”

Seriously, he’s such a fox.

The moment Han-geon got firm, Eun-gyeol immediately changed tactics and started pressing in closer.

Han-geon stared at him in disbelief.

Regardless of Han-geon’s turmoil, Eun-gyeol gently slid a hand around his side.

Then, with syrup-sweet eyes, he coaxed him softly.

“Kiss me, Han-geon.

Yeah?”

“…..”

“If you kiss me, I think I’ll be able to get through filming with more energy.”

“Haah….”

Han-geon bit down hard on his lip.

His chest churned violently.

It felt like an eternity had passed since the days when just seeing that expression on Eun-gyeol’s face made his stomach churn in a completely different way.

Han-geon took a deep breath in, then let it out.

He had held out well for an entire month.

Now he was really at the very end—there was no need to ruin everything by foolishly letting things show at this point.

He squeezed his eyes shut and grabbed Eun-gyeol by the collar.

Pulling him in lightly, he pressed a brief kiss to his lips.

A small smack echoed inside the restroom.

“That… good?”

“Yeah.”

A satisfied smile spread across Eun-gyeol’s face.

Avoiding his gaze at an angle, Han-geon turned his head.

“Let’s go out now.

If we stay too long, people will get suspicious.”

Just as he turned to open the door, Eun-gyeol couldn’t hold back and wrapped his arms around him again.

Still fiddling with his side playfully, Eun-gyeol followed him back outside.

Watching the resumed filming, Han-geon remained restless the entire time.

During shooting, he tried desperately to focus on the work alone, without thinking about anything else.

But unfortunately, that work required him to look at Eun-gyeol.

So no matter how hard he tried to suppress and ignore his feelings, they inevitably leaked out, leaving him staring at his own heart in a daze.

It was even worse when Eun-gyeol clung to him like this.

Han-geon bit down hard on his lip and swallowed the sigh that kept trying to escape.

The sensation of those lips from just moments ago was still vividly alive.

Without realizing it, he lifted the back of his hand and wiped his mouth.

No matter how much he rubbed and rubbed, the heat clinging to his lips—like a branded mark—refused to fade.

“Cut!

Great work, everyone.

Tomorrow really is the end of Season 1 filming!

You’ve all worked hard, so get plenty of rest tonight and I’ll see you tomorrow morning.

And since we’re all watching the first broadcast together tomorrow, don’t stay up too late watching it alone tonight!”

At the director’s joke, everyone burst into laughter.

“Good work!”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Applause broke out as everyone smiled brightly.

Amid the warm atmosphere, the staff busily began packing up equipment.

When he checked the time, it was already close to midnight.

Laughing, they said they’d all end up watching the first broadcast together as a rerun tomorrow.

Today was the long-awaited first broadcast of Heart for Love, as well as the day before the final shoot of Season 1.

Tomorrow, after filming from early morning until late afternoon, they would all head to Yeouido together for a wrap-up dinner, officially concluding Season 1.

That tomorrow was the point Han-geon had endured toward ever since that day.

After exchanging brief farewells with the director and fellow actors, Eun-gyeol immediately walked over to Han-geon.

Han-geon smiled awkwardly and held out the key he had in his pocket.

“Um, sorry, but can I head out first just for today?

I need to say something to the chief manager.”

“What is it?

I’ll go with you.”

In an instant, Eun-gyeol’s expression hardened.

He clearly looked on edge.

Han-geon deliberately smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

“Ah, no, it’s nothing serious.

Just… you know, a few things I wanted to ask.”

“…..”

“Why are you making such a serious face, idiot?

I’ll be right there.

Go shower and wait.”

After staring at Han-geon for a moment, Eun-gyeol surprisingly relented.

He let out a short sigh and took the key.

“Fine.

Then will you come get me?”

“No.

I’ll catch a ride with the chief manager or just run over.

My body feels a bit stiff anyway.”

Afraid Eun-gyeol might start overthinking again, Han-geon kept his tone as light as possible.

Eun-gyeol still looked dissatisfied.

“You have to come back quickly.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t take more than fifteen minutes.

If you do, I’m coming after you again.”

“Okay, okay.”

Only after repeatedly stressing it did Eun-gyeol finally disappear from sight.

Once he was completely gone, Han-geon headed straight for the chief manager.

The manager, who had been preparing to head to the hotel with Yujin and Geonho, asked with a bright smile.

“Oh, Han-geon-ssi.

What is it?”

“Chief manager… I, um, have something to tell you.”

“Yeah?

What is it?

Shall we talk at the hotel?”

“Ah… I’m really sorry, but—”

Seeing the troubled look on Han-geon’s face, the smile on the manager’s face slowly faded.

“What is it?

Why do you look like that?

This makes me nervous.

Yujin!

Can you take the others inside first?”

“Yes, chief manager!”

Yujin, who had been hovering nearby, obediently led the others away.

The surroundings were still noisy and bustling.

Keeping his gaze lowered, Han-geon waited quietly until they were alone.

Then he lifted his eyes.

Slowly, he opened his mouth.

His calm voice carried clearly, unburied by the surrounding noise.

“…I think I need to quit as Eun-gyeol’s manager.”