AGC | Chapter 1.6

“Mostly spaces where the director stays or works. Let’s move through this terrace passage.”

I couldn’t explore the West Wing’s second floor in detail. It seemed even they couldn’t intrude on Minhyung’s area.

“This library can be shown to you, Jiwan-nim.”

With its size, it could be called a library rather than a study. Unlike the other bright spaces, the study had a very dark interior. But the warm orange lighting was easy on the eyes.

The bookshelves, reaching the ceiling, were filled with various books. Besides novels and educational books, there were design books, art collections, and catalogs, likely collected from abroad.

“Surprising. Do you like art?”

Kim Mari watched as I looked through a René Magritte art book.

“I wanted to see an exhibition, so it’s nice to see an art book.”

“I’ll let the director know.”

I put down the art book with a tired face.

After that, I roughly toured the vast mansion’s East and West Wings. It was quite tiring, even indoors, due to its size.

“Just in case, is there a basement?”

I asked, looking at the stairs leading down.

“There is a basement you must never enter. If you go there, something terrifying will…”

Kim Mari’s lips curled up as if she’d been waiting for this question.

“Whatever it is, I won’t go in.”

“Aren’t you curious? The basement is filled with supplies, acting as a bunker…”

“I’m not curious.”

Jiwan shook his head, laughing in disbelief.

It seemed Kim Mari enjoyed teasing. She insisted it was a joke and that I could tour the basement, begging me to check it out. Of course, I refused. The overall review of the villa was short: many rooms, grand, and no curiosity about the West Wing’s basement.

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I felt like a lazy pig. After the short villa tour, I lay in bed all day. When I woke up from a nap, the once-blue sky was tinged with light orange. I lay on my stomach, staring blankly at the sky beyond the window. Despite doing nothing, the day was passing quickly.

Kim Mari knocked lightly and entered the bedroom, unable to hide her smile as if something good had happened. Her neatly tied hair swayed with her steps.

“The director called.”

I sat up from the bed, feeling stiff from lying down all day.

“Please go to the screening room where you watched the movie earlier.”

I didn’t understand why I had to move just to take a call, but I had no choice.

Kim Mari didn’t follow me to the screening room. I assumed the phone he used to call was there as I slowly made my way.

“…”

What I saw upon entering the screening room stopped me in my tracks.

―Jiwan-ssi.

Minhyung’s voice boomed through the speakers, filling the room. It wasn’t just his voice. The large screen was filled with Minhyung’s handsome face. Behind him, a vast blue sea and orange sky stretched out as the background.

“…This is ridiculous.”

Sighing deeply, I plopped into the beanbag, facing Minhyung’s face. The handsome face on the screen wore a faint smile. I pretended to be serious, curious about what important thing he had to say.

―I heard you toured the villa. What were you doing now?

The beanbag made a soft sound as I settled into it. It felt like it mirrored my current mood. It wasn’t even an important matter.

―I’m at the Sosa Peninsula.

In a gentle voice, Minhyung shared his whereabouts, which I hadn’t asked about.

I blinked at the black round device on the screen. It was a camera.

―There haven’t been any signs of smuggling for months.

“I told you, he just says anything.”

I sighed.

―Is there anywhere else he might go?

Places my father might go. Even if I wanted to help, nothing came to mind. I suddenly thought of the family who had left. My biological mother and younger sibling, who left when I was very young and cut off contact. But even my father didn’t know their whereabouts. Whenever he got drunk, he’d rant about finding them and taking revenge, venting his anger on me. Of course, that anger was always directed at me.

“There are other family members, but my father wouldn’t know where they are.”

Minhyung listened intently to my words. His calm eyes seemed eager to hear about my family.

“They left so long ago that their faces are blurry.”

―…

“They ran away, leaving just me and my father.”

A long, unwanted silence followed.

I hated talking about the family who left and even thinking about them. Whenever I thought of my mother, I inevitably had nightmares. A terrible dream where she left, taking only my sibling and abandoning me with my father. I didn’t want to drag this story out any longer. It was only poison.

Minhyung, listening to my unfortunate family story, showed no particular reaction, and I chose to change the subject instead.

“What about your family?”

―I have a father and a hyung. It’s a family business.

I didn’t want to pry into someone else’s family affairs, but I was curious about one thing. Whether he got along with his sibling. Maybe because I parted with mine so young, I was curious about such trivial things. It had been a long time since I introduced myself as an only child.

“Do you get along with your hyung?”

Minhyung frowned briefly at my question, then shook his head with a dark expression.

―Not well at all.

“…Was the call during the movie from your hyung?”

―Yes, it was.

I found it surprising. I had the impression that Cha Minhyung would get along well with his family. Maybe because he seemed quiet and not particularly difficult.

Since it was a family business, was it a typical inheritance or power struggle like those seen on the news? I felt my curiosity about Minhyung’s trivial matters growing.

―The sea here is beautiful, isn’t it?

The screen switched to the rear camera, and Minhyung’s face disappeared, replaced by the vast blue sea. In the distance, ships were visible, and seagulls flew across the sea.

The wide, refreshing sea was indeed beautiful. It would be even more stunning in person, but seeing it through this vivid video call wasn’t bad.

“It’s pretty. I’d like to visit someday.”

“Really?” came the response. The screen switched back, and Minhyung’s face reappeared, looking somewhat pleased. I looked at him indifferently.

―Do you want to go?

“I plan to visit alone once I get out of here.”

At the word “alone,” Minhyung’s expression turned uncertain.

We continued the meaningless, trivial conversation while watching the sea and sky Minhyung showed me. Seeing his handsome face fill the screen felt like watching a celebrity’s solo broadcast.

Though Minhyung kept showing the sea, if there were other viewers, they’d probably clamor for more of his face.

“You’re really handsome, seeing you like this.”

I sank deeper into the beanbag, casually commenting on his looks. Minhyung paused at the sudden compliment.

―…You’re one to talk, Jiwan-ssi.

What is this? It wasn’t a compliment battle. Plus, he was humble. Embarrassed, I scratched my cheek. Cha Minhyung, humble despite his looks. The more I saw, the more intriguing he was.

“If you’re by the sea, order some sashimi and have a drink.”

―Sashimi and soju?

“Yeah, while looking at the sea. Sashimi places near the sea are expensive, but… it’s nice to set the mood since you’re there.”

Minhyung looked around, seemingly searching for a sashimi place, then turned back to the screen.

―Does sashimi go best with soju?

“Don’t tell me you’ve only had champagne or whiskey and never tried soju.”

―I don’t really enjoy it.

I clicked my tongue internally. He had the aura of a rich young master, but not enjoying soju? Where else could you find such a cost-effective drink? Then again, unlike me, Minhyung probably didn’t need to worry about cost-effectiveness.

“Forget it. Just don’t drink it.”

I added, waving my hand, but Minhyung shook his head.

―I’ll definitely try it, sashimi with soju.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to…”

―I want to. You recommended it.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

―I’ll hang up now.

As the video call ended, the screen turned off, and the room went dark.

Still buried in the beanbag, Jiwan continued his meaningless thoughts. Would Cha Minhyung really try sashimi with soju? It was hard to imagine him in a suit, eating sashimi on the street. I didn’t know why I was imagining it.

“Finished with the call?”

Kim Mari knocked and entered the room. Jiwan, who had been lost in trivial thoughts about whether Minhyung would dip his sashimi in red pepper paste or soy sauce, sat up.

“Oh, yes.”

“Would you like to have a meal?”

I briefly wondered if the villa staff were running a feeding project. Otherwise, why would they keep talking about food all day?

“Just put on any movie, and I’ll watch it.”

I didn’t hide my slightly tired expression as I shook my head.

Fortunately, she didn’t force me to eat. Instead, she fiddled with the projector, talking nonstop about how it was a movie she enjoyed and how it was a masterpiece. Once the movie started, she checked the volume and left the screening room.

―The world won’t turn without you.

The movie began with a man’s confession, kneeling in the snow. I wasn’t one to seek out romance movies, but once I started, I watched them with focus and enjoyment.

―We have to break up for us.

The melodramatic line made me click my tongue. Breaking up for each other’s sake was nonsense. Just well-packaged excuses. I thought of my mother again. When she ran away with only my sibling, she might have thought the same, and the thought quickly soured my mood.

“Ugh…”

No matter how interesting the plot, comparing it to my situation twisted my stomach and annoyed me. I just closed my eyes. The sad OST played. It was perfect for sleeping.

“…”

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but since the same movie was still playing, I hadn’t slept long. Jiwan looked up at Kim Mari, who gently shook his shoulder to wake him.

“Didn’t you find the movie interesting?”

Feeling guilty for falling asleep during a movie she recommended, I shook my head.

“It was interesting, but I guess I was tired.”

Kim Mari couldn’t hide her disappointment as she stopped the movie and turned on the lights. The sudden brightness made Jiwan squint reflexively.

“I have something to show you.”

Kim Mari, sounding unusually excited, handed Jiwan a phone.

“He asked me to show you this.”

On the phone screen was a poorly composed photo that even a foot could have taken better. It showed fresh-looking sashimi and an unopened bottle of soju beside it.

“Seeing this makes you crave sashimi, right?”

Heh.

A sound escaped between my lips. It was absurd.

But I couldn’t help but laugh at Minhyung, who kept his promise to try sashimi with soju and even sent proof.

Jiwan looked at the small dish of red pepper paste next to the soju in the photo. Cha Minhyung was a red pepper paste person rather than a soy sauce person.

A trivial curiosity was satisfied.