Chapter 96: The Things He Started to See

“Is Kang Woojoo’s manager Won Jitae? Why is he following him around like a puppy and taking care of everything during the shoot?”

└ He seriously looks like a retriever following its ownerㅠㅠ

“Maybe it’s just because the suit looks different… wait, he keeps staring even when Woojoo is in sportswear.”

└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s just obsessed with Woojoo

└└ That gaze is intense, but Woojoo is just casually shooting

└└└ More professional than a pro;

“Why is Jitae crouched in the corner of the waiting room like thatㅠㅠ not even just crouchedㅠ”

└ Seeing that big body crammed behind the wall was so cute I screamed out loud

└└ Feels like he’s being careful around Woojoo—so cute

└└└ Timestamp?

└└└└ 7:53

“Kang Woojoo is seriously so handsome. My light, my universe, my love, my everything.”

└ Are you Won Jitae?

└└ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ He’s here himself

└└└ At this point, half the commenters are basically Won Jitae

Among hundreds of comments, most of the highly liked ones were similar.

As Woojoo read them slowly, his eyes wavered slightly.

It felt strange—like he was floating.

Was this how others saw him and Jitae?

He hadn’t felt any of it during filming.

To him, Jitae had just been the same—rude, childish, immature.

He had no idea Jitae had been looking at him like that the entire time.

“Just like I always have, I’ll handle these feelings on my own. So you don’t have to worry about it.”

During all those long hours of filming, all those countless moments—

Had Jitae been thinking that, suppressing and hiding his feelings?

Woojoo couldn’t fully grasp the depth of those emotions yet.

But he knew one thing—

Hiding and suppressing something like that must be exhausting.

“Anyway, that’s the vibe. Go watch it yourself. I’m telling you, he’s definitely your fan.”

Hyunjin chuckled and took his phone back.

He had seen similar comments once when the show first aired.

Back then, he had just thought it was clever editing.

After that, Hyunjin kept talking excitedly, but none of it registered.

“Alright, take care. I’m off on a date now.”

“Yeah, get lost already.”

After parting ways, Woojoo got into his car.

But instead of starting it, he stared blankly through the windshield.

His fingers fidgeted restlessly with his phone.

Jitae’s face wouldn’t leave his mind.

After hesitating for a long time, Woojoo dialed his number.

The monotonous ringing echoed a few times before cutting off—

Faint background noise followed.

“Won Jitae?”

When there was no response, Woojoo awkwardly scratched his face and spoke first.

“…Kang Woojoo?”

For a moment, he wondered if he had called during work—

Maybe his manager had picked up?

But then a familiar voice, almost as if it had been waiting, came through softly.

“Of course it’s me. Don’t tell me you didn’t even save my number.”

“No. It’s just… you’ve never called me before, so I thought I was mistaken.”

Come to think of it, he really hadn’t.

Even after they reunited and worked together, Woojoo had never called him first.

“But what’s up?”

“Huh?”

Woojoo flinched, his voice cracking slightly.

There wasn’t really a reason for the call.

He just… wanted to hear his voice.

Maybe because they had parted too quickly after the interview.

“So… the next interview is next week, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Right, I thought so. I got confused for a second…”

“They probably sent the schedule to your company. Check your messages.”

Thankfully, the excuse worked.

Jitae didn’t seem suspicious—in fact, he responded professionally.

In reality, Woojoo already had the schedule clearly written in his phone.

“Yeah… right. I didn’t think of that.”

It felt awkward.

His toes curled, his body felt itchy—as if something was crawling under his skin.

He wanted to keep talking, but nothing came to mind.

His breathing grew uneven.

Then the noise from Jitae’s surroundings grew louder.

“I should hang up now.”

It seemed he was indeed in the middle of work.

“Sorry. I called for no reason.”

“Not really. I’m glad I got to hear your voice.”

“…Don’t skip meals. Even if you’re busy, make sure you eat.”

“Yeah. You too.”

With that, the call ended.

Just before it disconnected, it sounded like someone was saying, “Why did you just leave like that?”

But Woojoo didn’t think much of it and started the car.

While Woojoo drove away feeling somewhat lighter, Jitae remained frozen, staring at the screen with Woojoo’s name on it.

Usually, during shoots, he left his phone with his manager to avoid distractions.

He didn’t get many personal calls anyway, and work-related ones went through the company or manager.

Earlier, while fixing his slightly messy hair, his manager casually told him he had a call.

“Should I ignore it or answer for you?”

Jitae asked who it was.

And when he heard the answer—

“Kang Woojoo.”

He was startled.

In that moment, he slipped away from Seora’s hands and snatched the phone from Sangwon.

Seeing the name “Woojoo” on the screen made his heart race wildly.

Then he ran straight to the corner of the set to answer.

“I was just thinking I wanted to hear your voice…”

They had just finished a schedule together, and it felt like they parted too quickly.

Earlier, when Woojoo got upset about the “first meeting,” his face had been unexpectedly cute.

It had startled him when Woojoo suddenly leaned in—but he was happy.

Even after that sudden confession, Woojoo hadn’t pushed him away.

Honestly, he had thought Woojoo might despise him.

He had feared Woojoo wouldn’t even want to see him again.

Thankfully, it hadn’t gone that far.

Woojoo seemed confused—but that was natural.

They had known each other for years, constantly fighting—and suddenly, a confession.

“I wish next week would come sooner.”

Only seeing him through work felt like torture.

Of course, he could ask to meet privately—but Woojoo might feel uncomfortable.

And there was another reason too.

“If you like someone, you should show them everything—even what’s inside you.”

He didn’t fully understand Sunhyeok’s words yet.

But it felt like a better choice than what he had done.

After collapsing, Woojoo had wanted to have a serious conversation.

But instead, Jitae had let jealousy and impatience take over—and confessed first.

Now Woojoo was still shaken by it.

He hadn’t asked about the past yet—but someday, he would.

“That’s why people live by holding each other together.”

Until now, Jitae had always avoided and run away.

He thought it was for Woojoo’s sake—

But in reality, it was just cowardly self-protection.

He lied, said he lost interest in volleyball—

Maybe he had hurt someone important just to protect himself.

“But I was hurt by what you said too. Saying you couldn’t even pretend to want to be friends.”

During filming, Woojoo had never once been insincere.

That desire to be friends—

Maybe it meant more than Jitae had realized.

“……”

Jitae clenched his phone.

Putting aside his feelings—

Maybe he could be honest with Woojoo.

His past. His emptiness.

It was still scary—but maybe, if it was Woojoo…

“Jitae!”

His manager approached quickly, breaking his thoughts.

“What are you doing? Didn’t you hear them calling you? Everyone’s waiting!”

His tone carried rare irritation.

Of course—he had left in the middle of filming.

“Sorry.”

Jitae quickly returned to the set.

The startled staff resumed work.

The sound of camera shutters filled the studio again.

Jitae struck his poses as usual—professional, composed.

But today, his expression looked… lighter.

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