Chapter 85: The Uncomfortable Reunion

If he had told someone, they would have certainly cared for him with the utmost devotion, but he was already used to suffering alone. Above all, he knew better than anyone that this illness was purely psychosomatic.

Fortunately, whether it was the home remedies he had on hand or the fact that he stayed in bed the entire time he was sick, Jitae was able to shake it off quickly.

Once the fever broke, his clearer mind brought back the memory of the worst incident he had with Wooju, and Jitae immediately picked up his phone to try and contact him.

‘Won Jitae, I’m sorry, but you’re being really pathetic right now.’

But at that moment, Wooju’s voice drifted into his ears. The image of Wooju looking at him with eyes full of irritation was vividly etched in his mind. The problem wasn’t just that.

‘I’m sorry, but I didn’t mean it when I agreed to be friends. With you… I don’t think I could ever do something like that, even if I died.’

As the memory of the very last words he had said himself surfaced, Jitae had no choice but to put the phone down. There was no way Wooju could have known the sincerity hidden within his refusal to be friends.

It was obvious. The person who had tried to avoid any explanation and just flee from that situation wasn’t anyone else—it was himself.

Wooju had said with all his heart that he wanted to be friends. He had personally stepped in to shield Jitae from people who mocked his efforts, and he had constantly tried to understand what Jitae was going through, telling him he was cool.

‘But what did I do to Wooju?’

He had shunned and turned away Wooju, who had knocked on his door again and again, wanting to know his true feelings. He hadn’t wanted to show it.

He didn’t want Wooju to know what was inside that door. Because that was the very essence of Won Jitae’s own deficits.

There is no one who would want to show their shameful deficiencies to someone they like so much. Especially if that someone was Kang Wooju.

But regardless of the reason, the self-reproach of having hurt the person he least wanted to hurt drove Jitae even deeper into his own cave.

While managing his schedule, he smiled at the cameras while receiving a shower of flashes. Then, he would return to his empty space and lie down.

Lying in bed, he would only stare endlessly at Wooju’s contact information, failing to press the call button every single time.

It felt like a dream that, just a few days ago, they had been laughing, fighting, chatting, and touching in the same space.

“…He probably doesn’t want to see me.”

Jitae muttered quietly while watching the broadcast. Wooju’s bright face on the screen pierced through the darkness and burned into his pupils.

He should have just been friends. From the very beginning, that was all Jitae had wanted. Just to be able to stay by his side. He had done well so far.

Even though he was disappointed by Wooju’s words about wanting to be friends, he had kept telling himself not to be greedy.

But now, even that was impossible. He himself had ruined it all. Remembering the past seven years where he could only see Wooju through a screen, his stomach churned.

Ding.

It was the same that night as well—he was dozing off while thinking about Wooju. Jitae, who had been tossing and turning, jumped in surprise and grabbed his vibrating phone.

[Mom]

“…….”

Jitae let out a heavy sigh and answered the phone.

“Hell……”

• Won Jitae! Why are you doing this to your mother!

His mother’s fiery voice flowed from the other side of the phone.

“Mom, it’s dawn here right now, if we talk later……”

• You’ve been acting strange lately. Even until a few months ago, you called often and stayed in touch, didn’t you, hm?

Jitae slowly sat up and wiped his haggard face with his hands.

• You know I’m living here all alone and lonely! Jitae, Mom is scared. I can’t even sleep lately because you’re starting to resemble your father more and more.

At the mention of his father from his mother’s lips after such a long time, Jitae’s eyes went cold.

• You know better than anyone how your father treated me, don’t you?

“…I do.”

• You must never do that. Mom only has you now. If even you abandon me…….”

“That won’t happen.”

Jitae could only hang up the phone after repeating his apologies several times and reassuring his mother.

“Ugh…….”

Jitae immediately got out of bed and ran to the bathroom. He hurriedly threw open the toilet lid and retched up everything inside. But only stomach acid came out. It was only natural, as he hadn’t eaten anything.

After flushing, Jitae stood up shakily and headed to the sink. As he turned the faucet, water droplets splashed in all directions from the rushing stream. Along with the shattering water, Jitae recalled a memory from the past.

‘Honestly, Won Jitae, you’re perfect. That’s why I want to challenge you even more.’

Even though it had been quite a long time, that voice—still un-faded and sparkling—felt both comforting and suffocating.

During the two weeks he couldn’t see Wooju, Jitae’s emotions were in complete disarray.

His days were a continuous cycle of smiling while working, blaming himself when he was alone, and ultimately, having to face his own shortcomings.

He couldn’t even guess where to begin unraveling the complex, tangled knots. Only one thought remained.

‘I miss Kang Wooju.’

He felt like everything would just be fine if he could see that face.

“Honestly, I don’t really understand what you’re talking about, but… I think you two are going to meet soon anyway.”

The unexpected words from his manager hyung in that moment of despair were like a single drop of water to a parched Jitae.

“I came here to discuss that work as well, and to check on your condition.”

“What do you mean, hyung?”

“The broadcast was a huge hit. Every incoming job right now is related to Two Men Living Together.”

It was common. Whenever a project hits it big in any form, the cast members appear here and there.

“The CEO is also reviewing it positively. It’s an opportunity to raise your profile even more before you start your next project.”

Jitae blinked his eyes. So, does that mean he might be able to see Wooju again?

“But looking at your state… I think it might be better for you to rest. If you take those jobs, you won’t be able to rest until you start your next project.”

“No. I’ll do it, hyung.”

“Are you really okay? You hate having a tight schedule. This time, you really won’t be able to rest for quite a while…….”

At the mention of physical exhaustion, Jitae shook his head.

“It’s fine. Tell the company I’ll do it.”

“Alright, I got it.”

Physical exhaustion didn’t matter; he was already used to that. If only he could see Wooju again, nothing else seemed to matter right now.

Once the schedule was set, Jitae faced a new challenge. If so, what kind of reaction should he show when he faces Wooju? Jitae knew well what had caused the fight on the last day of filming. But he had neither the courage nor the intention to fix it.

‘Won Jitae, I’m sorry, but you’re being really pathetic right now.’

However, he didn’t want to look pathetic to Wooju. Moreover, he wanted to somehow make excuses for saying he didn’t want to be friends.

If so, the best strategy was not to act pathetic, but to approach nonchalantly and look for a chance to apologize.

“Actor-nim, you’re here?”

Jitae stepped into the studio, receiving the greetings pouring in from all sides with a vague nod while looking around incessantly. The moment he caught sight of that familiar back in the distance, it felt like he could finally breathe.

He had to act nonchalant. He had to hide his pathetic side and play the part of someone relaxed.

With that, Jitae swallowed hard and approached Wooju. Assuming that since acting had become his greatest strength, there wouldn’t be any problems, he made the naive mistake of thinking it would be simple.

***

“Cut! Let’s take a break!”

As the loud voice spread through the quiet set, the tension that had been built up to its peak plummeted.

“Athlete-nim, here is some water.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Jitae held the bottled water his manager handed him and looked around. It was then, as he chewed on the straw stuck into the cap, that he looked toward one side.

He spotted Wooju standing, leaning against something off to the side. Wearing casual clothes for the photoshoot concept, Wooju seemed to shine just as brightly today.

“Are you okay, Dongha-ssi?”

When an unfamiliar name came out of Wooju’s mouth, Jitae’s footsteps stopped mid-stride. Now that he thought about it, there had been a strange sense of dissonance since earlier.

Every time Wooju prepared in the waiting room or throughout the shoot, someone had been sticking to his side the whole time.

It was a man with large glasses. He exuded a neat atmosphere, and his large, round eyes reminded him of a small puppy raised in the countryside.

Perhaps because of his small physique, he looked even smaller standing next to Wooju.

“I didn’t really do anything, though.”

The man named Dongha scratched his head with a giggle. In response, Wooju smiled and continued their conversation naturally.

Jitae unconsciously tightened his grip on his hand. At that moment, Park Dongha took out his phone, asked Wooju for a moment of his time, and walked off to one side. It seemed he had received a call.

Jitae took that opportunity to approach Wooju.

Wooju’s face stiffened slightly as he spotted Jitae walking toward him. His heart throbbed for a second, but he couldn’t stop the steps he had already taken.

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