“So, where are we going?”
Suddenly thrown into catching the scammer, I was led by Jewook’s hand, wandering around an unfamiliar neighborhood.
“Wait, according to the map, it should be around here…”
“Where is that?”
“That’s the house where that guy’s brother lives. I think he might be hiding there.”
Jewook had found the address of the scammer’s brother and come to search.
“I’ve heard rumors that he’s been spotted around here, so this seems the most likely.”
“You’ve watched some detective stuff, huh.”
“Of course.”
Relying on the smartphone map, we wandered through the villa village for a while.
“Ah! Here it is.”
Finally, we arrived at an old, rundown villa.
“It really looks like something out of a drama.”
High elevation, complicated narrow alleys, unmanaged and dirty neighborhood vibe. It was too similar to the hideouts of criminals in detective dramas.
“What room number?”
“304.”
As I headed straight for the stairs upon hearing the number, Jewook grabbed me.
“Why?”
“You have to check this first in situations like this.”
Jewook first checked if there was any mail in the mailbox. Oh~ He’s definitely smart? He seemed more professional than me.
“There’s no mail, but… let’s go check.”
“Okay.”
Since there was no elevator, we climbed the stairs to the third floor and easily found room 304. Flyers and city gas inspection notices were plastered all over the door.
“No one’s inside, right?”
As soon as we stood in front of the door, it was clear no one was home.
“Isn’t that bastard pretending no one’s there?”
Jewook didn’t give up, pressed the doorbell, and listened at the door for any signs of life, but there was no response from inside.
“No one’s here.”
“Haa… I thought there was a sliver of hope.”
He made a dazed expression.
“But it doesn’t seem like no one lives here at all.”
“Huh?”
“Look, there’s no dust on the doorknob, and the neighbor’s door has flyers stuck in the gap, but not here.”
At my words, Jewook alternated looks between the neighbor’s door and ours.
“Whoa! You’re right!”
“Whoever it is, someone definitely lives here.”
“Then there’s only one way.”
“What’s that?”
“We camp out.”
“Huh?”
With his eyes full of determination to catch that guy today, it seemed he wouldn’t leave until we did.
“Right now, this is as good as my life being on the line.”
How could I leave after hearing that?
So, we started staking out in front of the house, and on the seventh hour, with nothing more to look at on our smartphones and tired of chatting to pass time, we were reaching our limit.
“It doesn’t seem like he’s coming today…”
Whenever I tried to say let’s go, Jewook looked at me with a pitiful expression.
“Ah, okay. Don’t make that face.”
How did he know I’m weak to pitiful things?
“It’s all my fortune…”
“Sigh, fine. I’ll go to the convenience store and grab some triangle kimbap.”
“Get me tuna mayo.”
Since evening had passed and we were hungry, I headed to the nearby convenience store.
“Welcome~”
“Hello.”
After the clerk’s mechanical greeting, I picked out kimbap, sandwiches, and drinks.
“I’ll ring you up…”
“Two of the same as that.”
As I went to the counter to pay, a man with a hat pulled low cut in line.
What the…
I felt annoyed but didn’t want to cause a scene, so I just waited to the side.
Ugh, that smell.
A musty odor like he hadn’t bathed in days wafted from him, making me instinctively step back two paces.
“Sir, you’re short a thousand won.”
“Ah…”
At the words that he was short on money, he rummaged through his pockets, and a 500 won coin fell out, rolling to my feet.
“Damn it.”
He spat out curses in an irritated tone, and I picked up the coin and handed it to him.
“Here.”
He snatched the coin almost rudely, grabbed his cigarettes before the clerk even finished, and bolted out of the store.
“I’ll ring you up.”
“Ah, yes.”
After paying, I grabbed the plastic bag and headed back to the villa.
He’s not gonna ask me to come back tomorrow too, is he? Does that guy really even live here?
Someone lives there, but if it’s just the brother and not the scammer, it’s a bust.
But I couldn’t ignore Jewook’s desperate straw-grasping mindset.
“It doesn’t look like…”
“Hey! Hey!”
As I walked toward the villa entrance, Jewook’s voice rang out loudly.
“Hey!”
There was a clang sound, and someone burst out of the villa running. Then, his eyes met mine.
“Huh? That guy.”
The deeply pulled-down hat and outfit—it was definitely the guy who cut in line at the convenience store earlier.
“Sh…”
As I recognized him and called out, he immediately turned and ran in the opposite direction.
“Catch that scammer!”
Soon Jewook rushed out of the villa panting, and we immediately started chasing the scammer.
Wow, he really lived there… Can’t let him get away.
Seeing the scammer we’d waited for appear was amazing, and thinking of the whole day’s hardship, my determination to catch him burned.
“You, stop right there?”
“Damn it!”
My running speed was faster, but he knew the neighborhood well and slipped through alleys like a rat.
“Haa… Where’d he go?”
He was clearly ahead, but after turning the corner, he vanished like a lie.
“Haa haa— Where… Where did he… go.”
As I scanned the dark alleys, Jewook followed behind, panting like he was about to collapse.
“He definitely came this way and suddenly disappeared.”
“I’m catching that bastard today.”
Jewook scoured the surroundings with fire in his eyes, and I checked every possible hiding spot.
“Ah.”
While searching around, in one spot, that musty smell pierced my nose.
He’s hiding here?
He might hide his body, but not the body odor.
“Hyung.”
I quietly called Jewook and gestured, and he seemed to catch on, approaching silently.
He was hiding among discarded furniture and junk, and as I got closer, the smell intensified, confirming it.
“Over there. Next time you run, at least wash up properly.”
Realizing he’d been caught at my words, he bolted from his hiding spot and was immediately grabbed by Jewook.
“Hey! You bastard, you dare take my money and run?”
“Aaah! Je, Jewook. Sorry.”
Caught by Jewook, he immediately cowered and knelt.
“Do you know what that money was? Scamming me when there’s no one else to scam?”
“I was really desperate… You know I’m not the type, right?”
“Hah! I don’t want to hear more from a scammer bastard. Save your excuses for the police.”
He begged and made excuses, but Jewook didn’t flinch and reported him, handing him straight over to the police.
“Thanks for today.”
“No problem. When we were running, I thought of waiting all day at the door—if I let him go here, I wouldn’t sleep well with both legs stretched out.”
“I’ll definitely repay this favor someday.”
“Nah. But now that we’ve caught him, you can get your money back, right?”
“He blew it all on gambling.”
“Gambling?”
“No wonder his eyes looked so hollow.”
The detailed aftermath came a week later, on set.
“They say once you start gambling, you can’t stop.”
“I know someone who lost everything on toto betting.”
“Then what now? We caught him, but if we can’t get the money back…”
“At least he’s caught, so I feel a bit relieved.”
The four of us huddled in a corner, talking about the scammer.
“What are those guys doing over there?”
“No idea, they don’t usually hang out together like that—what’s up?”
“Filming’s almost done, so they’re getting close now.”
The staff looked curiously at the four of us gathered.
Having a secret only the four of us knew naturally brought us closer.
“I’ll try to get the money back as soon as possible.”
“It’s fine. Take your time.”
“I’m auditioning hard for the next project, so I should pay it back soon.”
“You’re already auditioning?”
With such a tight filming schedule, when would he have time?
“Yeah, I’m behind you guys. I have to hustle more.”
“Wow~ Look at hyung working hard. Taewoon hyung, you gonna keep acting?”
Jibin asked Taewoon if he’d continue acting.
“Hmm, it’s kinda fun once you get into it, but after this, I’ll release a solo album first.”
With filming ending soon, everyone had plans.
“What about you? Next project set?”
“The rep said he’s looking for auditions, but nothing’s decided yet.”
“Your drama’s airing soon.”
“Yeah.”
The premiere of Blue Sky Spring was really just around the corner now.
“That’s why.”
Jewook nodded as if he understood.
“Why?”
“In your profile, it’s just one line. Officially debuting or not makes a world of difference. And it’s Park Jaehoon’s drama… You get it, right?”
“Ah~ So that’s it.”
“Your rep’s smart.”
No wonder auditions were lined up before, but quiet now. I have good eyes.
“What’s that? What are you four talking about?”
As we discussed future plans, the director approached.
“Filming’s ending soon, so we’re all sad about it~ It’s too bad.”
Jibin’s social skills were top-notch. This guy will survive long.
“Yeah. Time flies, year’s changed already.”
“Right? Time really passes fast. Haha.”
“You guys better not forget me when you make it big.”
“No way~ Don’t pretend you don’t know us, director.”
“As if. This project’s a big deal for me.”
A youth drama with four guys and almost no romance was a big challenge for the director too.
“Alright, let’s get back to shooting.”
“Yes!”
While busily wrapping up the last scenes nicely, we heard unexpected news.
“Yes? Who and who? Wow~ Jackpot!”
“They say it’s a gathering to celebrate the wedding invitations…”
“We have to go!”
News came that the actor who played Jaehoon’s secretary in Blue Sky Spring and the one who played the homeroom teacher were getting married.
“They barely had scenes together—how’d they meet?”
“Fate finds a way.”
“Yeah, that seems right.”
I strongly agreed with Hayoon’s words. I never imagined reuniting with Jaehoon like this and filming a drama together.
“When’s the gathering?”
“When? On the premiere day.”
“Premiere day?”
Hmm just a suggestion, maybe you could put some breaks like ——-
Or space when scenes changed, TL-nim?
Thanks for the chapter!🍀