Chapter 57: Shadows of the Past

“Today’s show was amazing.”

“Thank you so much! We worked really hard, so I’m glad you enjoyed it~”

“Then we’ll be on our way. We have an early schedule tomorrow.”

In truth, there was no schedule tomorrow. But at this point, Hayoon had learned a few tricks of the trade.

“Yes! Then I’ll see you next time. Oh—this is a small gift from us.”

“Thank you.”

Taking the shopping bag with its luxurious box from the staff member, Hayoon pictured Hyunjae’s delighted face when he heard she was off work and quickened her pace. 

She liked finishing work no less than any ordinary office worker.

‘If I leave now… I won’t be too late.’

In her head, she laid out her plan—drop Hyunjae home, return the clothes afterward. 

This habit of moving with a plan had stuck with her since her days as an athlete. 

Other habits had fallen away, but not this one.

“Lee Hayoon?”

She was hurrying along when she heard her name. 

Without thinking, she turned instinctively—and immediately regretted it.

“Lee Hayoon, it is you, isn’t it?”

A security guard in a black suit, earpiece clipped to his ear, was striding toward her with a friendly look.

“Ah…”

But as soon as she saw his face, Hayoon froze. Words refused to come.

‘What is he doing here?’

The man saw how rigid she was and became certain he had the right person.

“Wow—what are the odds of running into you here?”

He hesitated for a moment, but Hayoon knew she would recognize that face from a hundred meters away.

Kim Namsu. A face she could never forget, even in the moment she died.

“It’s been a while!”

Smiling broadly as though greeting an old school friend, Namsu approached. 

Hayoon’s fingertips trembled.

“Uh, uh…”

She couldn’t tell if the trembling was fear from old memories or a surge of anger.

“Oh—just the other day, when I met up with the guys, we talked about you.”

“About… me?”

She had never once thought of revenge. 

All she’d wanted was for these people to forget she existed. Yet here they were, still treating her as idle gossip.

“They kept saying you were dead. Seriously, where do they hear that crap?”

“Hah! I just made a hundred thousand won. I bet you weren’t dead—there’s no way anyone dies from something like that.”

Something like that. 

The thing that had driven her to the brink of death was, to them, no more than that.

“Hahaha, I was worried about you, you idiot.”

Seeing Hayoon’s expression darken, Namsu laughed loudly and clapped her shoulder hard, as though to smooth things over.

“Look at your face since you quit sports. You know that’s all thanks to me, right?”

Thanks to him. 

The very person who’d cost her her dream. 

Hayoon wanted nothing more than to get out of there.

“So what, you are here for a part-time job?”

“Just…”

“Ah—you’re still as slow to speak as ever. How do you even survive in society with that personality?”

Seeing her timid demeanor, Namsu’s attitude shifted back to mockery.

“Anyway, give me your number. I’ll call you when we meet up with the others. Gotta show those guys the truth.”

She never wanted to be entangled with them again. 

But the words of refusal wouldn’t come. 

Forgotten memories rose up, dragging her body back to that time.

“I said give it. Damn, you’re slow. Getting paid peanuts and still dragging your feet… hurry up.”

He pulled out his earpiece, frowning at the noise coming through it, and held out his hand impatiently.

“Ah…”

Just staring at the outstretched hand sent cold sweat down her back. 

Time seemed to stop.

‘What do I do… run?’

But her feet wouldn’t move. 

She was terrified he’d follow her if she tried to flee.

“I’m busy, hurry up.”

And then, in the middle of her paralysis, a savior’s voice cut through.

“Hyung!”

“Uh… uh!”

Hyunjae’s face, coming toward them, had never looked so welcome.

“You said you’d be quick—what are you doing?”

His voice had an edge it normally didn’t. Hayoon understood at once.

‘Ah, he’s trying to get me out of here.’

“Sorry.”

She quickly apologized to Hyunjae.

“Let’s go.”

“I’m busy, so I’ll get going.”

Seeing a celebrity-looking man snap at him, Namsu couldn’t hold Hayoon back any longer.

“Tch, celebrities are all rude, it’s a national rule.”

Clicking his tongue, he watched Hayoon follow Hyunjae and muttered to himself.

“Pathetic. Totally pathetic.”

Looking at her still scraping by at the bottom, he felt a surge of superiority.

“Hey! What are you doing here? Get back to your post.”

“Sorry.”

“Why’s your earpiece out? What’s your name?”

Damn it. 

Of all the people to get caught by, it had to be this old-timer.

“I’ll head back in right away.”

“I asked your name.”

He’d tried to brush it off, but the old man wrung Namsu’s name out of him, and an ominous feeling crept over him that he’d soon be fired.

“Every time I run into that bastard, nothing goes right.”

Next time, he vowed, he’d make Namsu pay.

***

He didn’t ask who that man was or why Hayoon had looked at him like that.

“Hyung, do you want to stay over tonight?”

Instead, he decided simply to stay by her side.

“Huh?”

“You don’t have to say anything. Just sleep over. If it’s too much, you can say no…”

“Thanks.”

He’d expected her to refuse. But Hayoon accepted his offer.

“Come in.”

It was her second visit since last time, and this time she entered the hospital naturally, without hesitation.

“You’re done now?”

“Yes.”

Even at this late hour, Kyungho was waiting for me.

“It’s too late, so I’m going to let him crash at my place.”

“Excuse us.”

“No need to apologize. It’s tough coming all the way out here every time. Feel free to stay. Have you eaten?”

“I haven’t. I’m hungry~”

She’d skipped lunch and dinner preparing for the event.

“They call it a great event but can’t even feed you? Just wait, I’ll whip something up.”

Kyungho busied himself in the kitchen, then disappeared into his room, likely giving them privacy for Hayoon’s sake. 

He was quick like that.

“You must be starving, go ahead and eat… huh?”

Just as she picked up her spoon, a plastic bottle in the corner of the kitchen caught her eye.

“Omija.”

It was omija wine.

“Hyung, want a drink?”

“No, I…”

“It’s okay. The old lady who gives this to us always says it’s medicine, not alcohol.”

She always said that.

“This is really made from fresh berries.”

It was an occasional gift, and it was a coincidence to see it on a night like this. 

Hayoon brought out glasses from the kitchen and poured a round of omija wine.

“Let’s drink well!”

One swallow and the sweet-and-tart flavor flooded my mouth. 

It went down far easier than that foul-smelling soju.

“Thanks for the drink.”

Seeing me tip mine back, Hayoon emptied her own glass as well.

“Earlier, I ran into some crazy jerk. He came at me…”

I told her everything about the strange BJ, about how I’d driven him off by slipping into that cold, psychopath expression.

“You know that look, right? Eyes blank, just staring? The moment I did it—bam, he ran. I never thought that acting practice would come in handy like this.”

“I should’ve been there with you…”

“Come on, it’s fine. I can handle that kind of thing myself.”

Guys like that didn’t scare me, not even a truckload of them. 

If it hadn’t been at the event venue, I’d have taught him a proper lesson. 

Honestly, I felt a little regret.

“Taewoon-hyung was with me too, thankfully.”

“I see.”

“It’s funny, right? They used to bad-mouth idols, but the second Taewoon-hyung showed up they were grinning ear to ear. Unbelievable.”

I finished my rambling story, and once the mood settled, Hayoon began to talk about herself.

“That guy I met earlier… we used to train together in high school…”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Sports cost money, but I lived with just my grandmother. We never had much.”

Whether it was the alcohol or a new sense of trust, Hayoon poured out the story she’d kept hidden all this time.

“And with a personality like mine, well…”

“What’s wrong with your personality, hyung?”

Someone this diligent and kind—people like that were rare these days. 

Of all the staff and managers I’d met, Hayoon was easily the best.

“No, I…”

“You don’t need to care about worthless people’s words. There are way more people who like you.”

“No one likes me…”

Was his self-esteem really this low? 

At first people found Hayoon intimidating, but once they got to know him, they always said there was no one like him.

“There are three people in this house alone who like you.”

“Who?”

“Me, Uncle, Jayden.”

“Jayden?”

“Jayden really likes you, hyung.”

He only acted cute toward people he genuinely liked. To the rest he was a cold little dog.

“I’m serious…”

“Snff—thank youuu!”

Hayoon suddenly threw his arms around me, shouting.

‘Ugh—my ribs…’

He was so strong I couldn’t breathe for a second. If Hayoon ever really got serious, I’d be no match for him.

“That bad guy bullied you, hyung?”

“Yeah!”

“That bastard! I’ll teach him a lesson!”

“Really? You can?”

I clenched my fists, ready to go out right then and return every ounce of pain Hayoon had suffered.

“Of course. I’m Jung Hyunjae!”

A dog who always does what he says!

“…What are you doing?”

At the kitchen entrance, Kyungho stood staring at us, incredulous.

“I’m going to go punish the bad guy.”

“Hyunjae says he’ll handle it for me.”

“Let’s go!”

To us, we were a brave little dog and a gentle bear. To Kyungho’s eyes, we were just two tipsy humans.

“Sit.”

“Yes, sir.”

At Kyungho’s command I became an obedient puppy again and sat back down.

“With your build, you’re acting like this after just a little? You didn’t drink anything else, did you?”

Together we must’ve been nearly four meters tall, yet the amount we’d drunk was hardly worth mentioning.

“Oh, I can’t be with you two…”

“I’m sorry! It’s my fault…”

“What are you talking about? Hyung’s the best! I love him. Don’t crush his spirit like that!”

“Crush it? Who’s crushing it? You want me to crush you instead?”

At Kyungho’s words, my head cleared a little.

“I laid a blanket in your room. Go in and sleep.”

“Yessir…”

Yawning, I led Hayoon into the room. The soft quilt wrapped around us, and I closed my eyes, sinking into sleep.

“Thank you,” Hayoon murmured sweetly.

A week later—

“This is for BoysNer security. Want to give it a try?”

“Me? Of course I do!”

Namsu, unaware that the blade of revenge was pointed squarely at him, snapped up the bait.