IMM Ch 1
by toujoursChatter | Have you guys seen Ji Hyeon’s manager?
Anonymoushttps://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394366401
(Fluffy puppy.jpg)
My puppy as the opening image ♡
Did anyone see the preview for “My Manager” yesterday?
Not gonna say much lol just watch
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(Taking off his mask.gif)
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So handsome;
328 Comments
1 Whoa, what…?
2 Seriously so handsome
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└ 333
└ 4444
└ 55555
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└ 121212121212121212121212
3 Manager. To my room.
└ To my house.
└ To my bed.
└ To my side.
└ To my arms.
4 That side view in the middle… My first love memories are getting rewritten… He looks like the top student senior from my university days who helped me study in the library…
└ He probably smells like fabric softener
└ If you get a question wrong, he’d probably explain it again seriously
└ He’d furrow his brow when something is hard to explain
└ I want to be buried in that furrow
└ I’m seriously, hopelessly in love;
└ If you thank him and offer to buy him a meal, he’d say he has to go to work, unintentionally creating a wall
└ You’d go to the PC bang where he works, pretending it’s a coincidence, even though you don’t play games, just to hear him say, “You seem to like games.” and then cry
└ The thing I like is you, senior…!
└ Sorry, anon… I only see you as a junior…
└ Excuse me, is this roleplaying?
└ This person is good at writing stories
5 Stop having parasocial relationships with a regular person; I had to give my boyfriend medicine and comfort him for two hours today because he was crying and had a headache. Looking at him now, sleeping like an angel next to me, makes me feel so sad that I want to cry again. Please, for his sake, everyone, please tone it down. He says he likes me.
└ loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool fck loooooooool
└ I was reading this so seriously;
└ Are you Ji Hyeon?
└ looooooooooooooooooooooooool
└ What is this loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
6 Hul, he’s my high school classmate. Are they still close;; They were always together in high school
└ Not fake
└ Not fake 222
└ This one’s the same as 5 anon
└ It’s not fake, it’s real;; I went to Korea High, he was famous
└ Why was he famous??
└ Because he was handsome
└ Ah, okay
└ loooooooooooooooooooool the way everyone just accepts that
└ ?? What’s with the comment above? He was famous for being handsome, but that’s not all. He was the top student in the entire school. And because he was always with Ji Hyeon, there was a lot of talk about him becoming an actor too lol
└ …? Fake
└ Now this is fake
└ That face and top of the class?
└ But why would the top student be a manager?
└ These days they look at academic background even for managers..
└ He must get paid a lot
└ Tell me it’s fake
└ Hul, so 6 anon has seen Ji Hyeon in person?
└ Yeah, but not often ㅠㅠ He didn’t come to school much
7 Whoa, that’s the guy who worked at the convenience store in front of my house
└ This time it seems like a real 5 anon
└ 5 anon 22222
└ 3334444
└ loooooooooooooooooooooooooool no it’s not
└ You can be 5 anon, just give us the story ㅠ Let us consume some parasocial content ㅠ
└ Story please 222
└ I’m seriously craving it
└ He was just the guy working at the convenience store in front of my house when I was in college, but he was so heartwarming that I remember him… You know that convenience store vest, the totally hiking-gear-style one? He was super handsome even wearing that.
└ I heard he’s been a manager for a long time, how many years ago was that?
└ Like, over 10 years ago?
└ But… if anon was in college 10 years ago, wouldn’t anon be the older one…?
└ Student, delete your comment,,,~
└ I got hit by that walking by
└ That’s why quick-witted kids…
└ loooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
└ Wait a minute, so the manager has been working part-time since high school??
└ He was top of his class while working part-time…?
8 Hul, he looks exactly like the part-timer at the PC bang in front of my house. It was like 10 years ago for me too, so I think it’s him. For reference, I’m in Seoul.
└ Oh, I’m 7 anon and I’m in Seoul too
└ There are a lot of faces like that in Seoul
└ Daegu person packing my bags, booked my KTX
└ Incheon person packing too
└ Gwangju person 33
└ ?? I’m in Seoul too, and there are no people like that; Must be living in a different world;
└ Okay, canceling my KTX
9 loooool How do the commenters remember the part-timers from their neighborhoods 10 years ago? I don’t even remember my homeroom teacher from 10 years ago;
└ But what if your homeroom teacher had that face?
└ Wouldn’t he be my husband now….
└ loooooooooooooooooooool damn
10 How many part-time jobs has my boyfriend had… No wonder he’s good at everything
└ What is this now lol
└ Hey, there’s an order; Get in line behind me
11 Why be a manager and not a celebrity?
└ Honestly, he’s not celebrity material
└ Huh? These days even super ugly people become celebrities
└ (Blinded comment)
└ (Blinded comment)
└ Stop trolling
└ Ignore them;
12 He’s handsome, but next to Ji Hyeon, he’s not much… Not much in my heart…
└ (Deleted comment)
└ loooool I commented after just reading the first sentence
└ Ji Hyeon is definitely celebrity-looking, but the manager is totally boyfriend material
└ No, husband material
13 Meanwhile, Ji Hyeon just woke up and is still handsome, is that real?
└ He’s just a born actor
└ Why doesn’t his face swell up?
└ Because he’s a fairy
└ Ji Hyeon (Age 27, Occupation: Fairy)
└ Stop moe-ifying grown men; (Picture of Ji Hyeon next to a cat.jpg) Where is Ji Hyeon in this picture?? They’re both just baby kittens;;
└ ??
└ 18.8cm baby kitten vs 188cm baby kitten
└ Similar
└ loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool
14 Original anon, how old is your dog?
└ 13 years old ㅠㅠㅠ Still a baby in my eyes…
└ That’s a cute age
└ True, hasn’t even started middle school yet
└ Time to start talking soon ㅠㅠㅠ
15 MCs’ reaction = My reaction
└ Really screamed along with them when he took off his mask
└ So realistically heart-fluttering ㅠㅠㅠ
16 How am I supposed to wait until next week ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ?? Definitely starting a chat thread
└ Running there
└ Running there 222
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104 Anons gather around!!! >>>> [♨People who will watch “My Manager” live♨ | https://www.todayspring.com/jihyeon/2394367102]
💄
“Let’s do just one variety show.”
Everything started with that one sentence. From the moment CEO Byeon called Kwak Eunho early in the morning and said those words. From the moment Eunho, forgetting that the subject of CEO Byeon’s sentence was “you,” listened to the following words with a serious expression.
“It’s an observational variety show on MBS. You just have to stick to the minimal script, and the rest is up to you. Those broadcasting bastards are hounding Ji Hyeon about his private life, and maintaining this air of mystery is getting old. Let’s just show them a little bit this time. Okay?”
‘Ji Hyeon’ was someone Eunho knew well. How could he not? He’s been his manager for seven years, eight if you count by the Korean age system. Name: Ji Hyeon. Age: Twenty-nine. A veteran actor with over 25 years of experience and the bread and butter of NB Entertainment. Specialty: Acting. Long suit: Playing coy. Picky eater, picky preferences, and even pickier personality…… and so on.
“Since you’re just a guest, we agreed to film for only two days. Three days at most. Anything more, I’ll cut it off myself. He’s not filming anything right now, and the pay isn’t bad. You know how clean PD Yu is, right?”
CEO Byeon’s words made sense even to Eunho, his manager. PD Yu was a representative PD of MBS, having produced more than three popular variety shows. Unlike other programs, which had lots of controversy around manipulative editing and such, he was known for his clean work and close relationships with the cast.
“Trust me and just do it this once. We can also boost Ji Hyeon’s recognition at the same time. Okay?”
“……Boost his recognition even more?”
Eunho couldn’t help but ask back. CEO Byeon also closed his mouth with a speechless expression. Even a five-year-old knows Ji Hyeon. You’d have to be a hermit living in the mountains to not know him.
“Recognition is always better when it’s higher.”
CEO Byeon hurriedly added. It wasn’t exactly wrong, but Eunho still didn’t remove his suspicious gaze and looked away.
‘He doesn’t have any scripts coming in…… is not quite true.’
The thought that had unconsciously come to mind quickly changed. Even now, a mountain of scripts addressed to Ji Hyeon was piled up in a corner of the office. Who said one’s prime was a fleeting moment? For an actor who renewed his peak every year, there was no end to the offers.
‘There’s no reason to suddenly put him on a variety show.’
It was Eunho and CEO Byeon, more than anyone else, who knew how much Ji Hyeon hated variety shows. Dramas, movies, pictorials, even commercials. Ji Hyeon, more devoted to his main job than anyone else, loathed ‘variety shows where you have to act needlessly fake’ more than anything (Whenever he heard those words, Eunho thought that the guy who was needlessly fake-smiling was talking a lot of nonsense.).
“I don’t want to make Ji Hyeon do something he hates.”
So, the only thing Eunho, as his manager, could say was this. A firm resolution that would sound like the heart of a true manager who cherishes his actor to others.
Of course, his inner thoughts weren’t quite as heartwarming.
“You know Ji Hyeon’s personality. He has very clear likes and dislikes, and he’s so damn picky that he won’t do anything he doesn’t like even if someone held a knife to his throat. From the moment the schedule is set, he’ll definitely throw a dog, no, a huge fit, and who’s going to handle that?”
CEO Byeon also closed his mouth at Eunho’s blunt words. Putting aside the tantrums Ji Hyeon usually throws, it would be solely Eunho’s responsibility to handle all of them. Looking at the silent CEO Byeon, Eunho narrowed his eyebrows and added a word.
“Besides, I don’t think he’ll do it even if we tell him to……”
Right, was Ji Hyeon ever someone who listened to others? If he were, the agency’s CEO and manager wouldn’t be racking their brains like this. So he made his final argument, but CEO Byeon just wiggled his fingers and answered confidently.
“Don’t worry about that. If Manager Kwak says okay, he’ll definitely do it. He listens to you, doesn’t he?”
“……Hmm.”
This time, it was Eunho who closed his mouth. Eunho also knew very well that he was the only one Ji Hyeon would ‘listen to.’ But that was only because he didn’t make unreasonable demands.
“……What variety show is it?”
“You’re going to do it? You’ll do it?”
“I’ll listen first. As you said, I also think there’s nothing wrong with Ji Hyeon appearing on a variety show.”
Eunho asked for the name of the variety show with a positive attitude. Even if he were to refuse, he should at least ask Ji Hyeon for his opinion. The conditions weren’t bad either. What was it, PD Yu’s show airing on MBS……?
It was at that moment that Eunho frowned.
“It’s <Introduce My Manager>.”
“…….”
The program name that came to his mind came out of CEO Byeon’s mouth. Eunho blinked for a moment with a blank expression. The voice that followed sounded even stupid to him.
“……‘Introduce My Manager?’”
Introduce My Manager, commonly known as ‘IMM.’ The hottest variety show these days with pretty good ratings. An observational variety show that showed the friendly daily life of guest celebrities, behind-the-scenes stories from filming sets, and chemistry with their managers. It was great for fan service, and if used well, it was a good way to show off, ‘I’m such a friendly and virtuous person.’
The problem was that, as the name suggests, the program was about introducing one’s ‘manager.’
“Does that mean I have to appear too?”
“That’s right. That’s why I said ‘you’.”
CEO Byeon readily nodded his head to Eunho’s question. Eunho finally realized the identity of the subject ‘you’ that he had overlooked. He thought it meant ‘You go tell Ji Hyeon,’ but it literally meant, ‘You appear on the show.’
“Did you think I’d send Ji Hyeon out there all alone? That’d be the day he retires.”
CEO Byeon shuddered, as if he couldn’t even imagine it. Ji Hyeon appearing on an observational variety show alone. It was no different from throwing a time bomb, which could explode at any moment, into a crowd of people. If anything happened, his nasty, no, picky personality would be completely revealed, so why would they let him appear?
“So, go with him, keep him on a leash, and show a good side of yourselves. There are rumors going around that Ji Hyeon has a terrible personality. If they see him getting along well with his manager, those rumors will die down.”
It’s not a rumor, it’s the truth, Eunho couldn’t bring himself to say that. He just uttered a single word with an extremely serious and grave expression, like a responsible manager.
“A true manager…… shouldn’t make their actor do something they hate.”
“Manager Kwak, your attitude has changed quite a bit from just now.”
“It’s your imagination.”
Eunho replied nonchalantly and met his gaze shamelessly. The only thing he learned while working as a manager was how to be thick-skinned, so managing his expressions in situations like this wasn’t difficult. Of course, it worked on some people and not on others.
“You can’t do this to me. If it weren’t ‘IMM’ but something like <Living Alone> or <My Little Companion>, would you have refused so quickly?”
“How could he go on ‘My Little Companion?’ He can’t even take care of himself, let alone a pet.”
“Figuratively speaking.”
Eunho, at a loss for words, lowered his eyes for a moment. As CEO Byeon said, if it weren’t ‘IMM’ but something else, he would have given it more thought. Of course, that didn’t mean that the only reason he refused the variety show appearance was because it was ‘IMM.’
“CEO Byeon.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
CEO Byeon tensed up at the serious tone. It had been over seven years since they started working together, so he knew that when Eunho used this kind of voice, he was being serious, not joking.
“I’m sorry to say this, but the reason you mentioned seems largely unrelated to Ji Hyeon’s variety show appearance. He has enough recognition now, and there’s no need for him to take the risk of revealing his private life. Every celebrity has rumors about having a bad personality, and last time, you were even happy about it, saying it would be good for him to play villain roles. Besides, making him do another filming when he’s finally resting during his break……”
“A bit?”
“……A bit pitiful.”
Although he gave a long, drawn-out explanation, the last sentence was Eunho’s true intention. The thought of giving work to someone finally getting a good rest after a long time felt wrong, both as a manager and a longtime friend. Especially since it was something Ji Hyeon hated.
“Eunho, you……”
CEO Byeon looked at Eunho with eyes that seemed suspiciously moist. He must have been deeply moved by Eunho’s impassioned speech. It must have been admirable to see a manager striving for his actor, even though it was difficult to voice an opposing opinion to the company CEO.
“……Is he giving you a hard time?”
“…….”
“Should I raise your salary?”
“……No, it’s okay.”
Eunho barely managed to hold back from saying, “Yes,” and shook his head. Just a moment ago, he’d felt sorry for Ji Hyeon, but the moment he received that sympathetic gaze, he felt a surge of frustration. Along with the feeling of injustice, “Because of that damn bastard……” arose within him.
“Anyway, I can’t accept that as a reason. Neither can Ji Hyeon.”
“……Hmm.”
CEO Byeon, groaning softly, fiddled with his chin. Then, with a determined look on his face, he nodded. Clasping his hands together on the table, with a deep furrow between his eyebrows, he slowly began to speak.
“Actually……”
💄
The place Eunho headed to after leaving the agency was an apartment with tight security from the entrance. After bowing to the security guard at the main gate, he walked familiarly past the spacious, landscaped flowerbeds. Swiping his card at the apartment entrance and pressing the top floor button in the elevator all felt as natural as any other daily routine.
Eunho opened the door lock of the only front door on the top floor without hesitation. After stepping inside, he neatly took off his worn-out sneakers and changed into house slippers that fit perfectly. Unlike his overall dark outfit, the soft, light pink slippers had a cute design with a bear on them.
‘At this hour…… he’s probably still in his bedroom.’
A duplex apartment. There was no sign of anyone in the desolate living room, furnished with only the bare minimum. Eunho immediately set his destination and walked towards the stairs.
However, the moment he took a step, a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
“Why are you so late?”
The low, deep voice was one Eunho knew very well. To others, it might sound simply gentle, but the emotion contained within was clearly irritation. Eunho slowly approached the sofa and spoke.
“You’re up early.”
“…….”
The man lying on the sofa slowly sat up. The light gray fabric sofa was large enough for the man to stretch out his long legs fully. The man, looking at Eunho from over the backrest, asked in a still languid voice.
“Do I look like I just woke up?”
“…….”
You didn’t sleep, did you?
Thinking so, Eunho awkwardly took off his hat. As he ruffled his jet-black hair and averted his gaze, the man also brushed back his own hair that had fallen over his forehead. Unlike Eunho’s coarse hair, his fine hair looked as soft as a stretched-out silken thread.
“That’s why I told you to sleep over.”
The man, Ji Hyeon, frowned irritably and glared at Eunho. His eyes were sunken, as if he hadn’t slept a wink. Although his face should have looked haggard, his uniquely handsome features made him look even more charismatic.
“I let you go because you said you’d come early……”
“……Hmm.”
Eunho groaned softly at the accusatory tone. He thought there was no need for him to sleep over at Ji Hyeon’s house when he had a perfectly good home of his own. Of course, that wasn’t the real reason he didn’t stay, but anyway.
“I stopped by the office for a bit. The traffic was really bad.”
“You left your car here.”
“I took the bus.”
“Ah…… I told you to take a taxi.”
“Why bother when it’s close?”
Ji Hyeon looked at Eunho once again with a dissatisfied look. His gaze was softer than before, but this time, it was mixed with sentiments like, ‘He’s so stubborn.’ He clearly didn’t know that he was the stubborn one.
“Get some sleep. I’ll stay here.”
Eunho looked at the pill bottle scattered on the table and thought he should clean up the house a bit once Ji Hyeon fell asleep. Seeing it lying there without even a glass of water, he must have chewed and swallowed the pills dry because he couldn’t sleep again. He understood how he felt, but that didn’t make it the right way to do things.
Well, at least it’s better than taking them with alcohol now.
“Just tell me what you want to say. It looks like you have something to say.”
Ji Hyeon straightened his posture and swept his hand over his face. Unlike his delicate features, his large hand almost completely covered his face when he covered his eyes.
“There must be a reason you went to the office first thing in the morning.”
In short, confess the reason why you abandoned me and went there. He’d planned to tell him after letting him sleep a bit since he wasn’t feeling well, but it seemed he had no intention of sleeping.
“Well……”
Eunho placed his hat on the table and sat on the sofa diagonally across from him. As his eyes rested on Ji Hyeon’s messy hair, he thought he should make a hair salon appointment soon, and casually uttered a single word.
“They want you to do a variety show.”
“What?”
The reaction that followed was, of course, not very good. His already prickly expression crumpled into a harsh frown, as if asking, ‘What the hell is that?’ A chilling aura emanated from him, but Eunho, unfazed, recited his prepared lines.
“It’s called <Introduce My Manager>……”
“Yeah, I’m not doing it.”
“…….”
His prepared words were cut off before he could even finish half of them. It’s an observational variety show by PD Yu, it’ll only take three days at most, and the pay isn’t bad. Eunho, who had intended to say so, shut his mouth.
“I’m not some rookie desperately trying to raise my profile, I’m not in a project trying to promote it, and even if I were, why would I go on a variety show I wouldn’t even do for promotion at a time like this?”
“……CEO Byeon said.”
“What? That it’s annoying that reporters are digging into my private life, so let’s just show them a little bit?”
“…….”
“Or that I should show myself getting along well with my bad-tempered manager and improve my image?”
“……Hmm.”
“Probably both.”
Ji Hyeon lightly curled his lips, as if he understood. Although his tone was soft and gentle throughout, it pricked Eunho’s ears like thorns. As Eunho looked away, a subtle voice gently asked.
“Kwak Eunho, do you want to be on TV?”
“Are you crazy?”
Eunho reflexively retorted and then made a surprised expression. Contrary to the feeling of dismay that momentarily arose, Ji Hyeon slowly curled up the corners of his lips. His beautifully curved eyes were annoyingly sly.
“See.”
“…….”
“And yet, ‘IMM,’ seriously?”
It was Eunho’s misstep. Just as he knew Ji Hyeon well, Ji Hyeon knew him just as well. He couldn’t possibly not know that Eunho sought a more ordinary and peaceful life than anyone else. Even after working as his manager for seven years, he had never even shown a single hair on television.
Should he just give up? Eunho didn’t intend to persuade someone who was adamant about refusing. He had told CEO Byeon that he would try talking to him, but ultimately, Ji Hyeon’s opinion was paramount. He hadn’t brought it up with much enthusiasm from the beginning anyway.
“Tell me.”
Ji Hyeon suddenly spoke to Eunho, who was in such a state. When Eunho replied, “Tell you what,” he leaned back against the sofa and crossed his legs.
“Cut out all the unnecessary flowery words and tell me exactly how CEO Byeon persuaded you.”
Ji Hyeon slowly opened and closed his eyes, saying there must be a reason why the words ‘variety show’ came out of Kwak Eunho’s mouth. His voice, like his sleep-laden eyes, was languidly relaxed.
“Do you think I don’t know you? That old man must have grabbed you and begged you to persuade me just this once. He’s using your soft heart because he knows I’ll throw a fit if he talks to me directly.”
CEO Byeon wasn’t exactly an old man, and he wasn’t exactly soft-hearted, but Eunho didn’t miss the opportunity presented to him.
“……You know Shin Yi-chan, right?”
Ji Hyeon frowned at the casually asked question. It wasn’t because he didn’t know who he was, but because the name that popped up was so out of the blue.
“That idol?”
“Yeah.”
To be precise, he seemed to be trying to transition to acting, but even so, he was still a rookie who had just filmed one project. Instead of correcting his words, Eunho naturally continued.
“His image overlaps with yours a bit. CEO Byeon seems a little anxious because they keep making media play about how similar you are. He said let’s just show your face since he won’t tell you to take on a project.”
Although he still had a strong idol image, he was clearly a promising actor. Decent acting skills, gentle and warm features, and a soft-spoken manner. There was a reason why the title ‘The actor to follow in Ji Hyeon’s footsteps’ followed him around.
“Bullshit, he should be anxious about things he should be anxious about……”
However, Ji Hyeon reacted coldly, as if he had heard enough nonsense. It was understandable, because no matter how much media play was done, the public’s eye was much more accurate. Whether it was skill or looks, there was no one among the current male actors who could compare to Ji Hyeon.
Moreover, strictly speaking, the phrase ‘The actor to follow in Ji Hyeon’s footsteps’ referred to ‘Ji Hyeon’ as the pronoun, not the actor himself.
“That’s a type of generalized anxiety disorder. It gets better if you go to the hospital, get medication, and get counseling.”
Ji Hyeon, who had actually suffered from similar symptoms, added thoughtful advice based on his experience. Of course, it didn’t have much persuasive power since he himself hadn’t changed despite taking all those medications.
Eunho shrugged and brought up the ‘real reason’ CEO Byeon had mentioned.
“The head of variety at MBS said he’d put a rookie in a drama if you filmed this.”
It was a common occurrence. Idols from the same agency appearing on the same variety show, or rookie actors being paired with veteran actors for joint appearances. This time, the situation was a bit different, but it was clearly an opportunity to raise a rookie by using Ji Hyeon as bait.
“Ah…… It’s not like I’m a kindergarten teacher. I’ve cleaned up after those kids enough times.”
Ji Hyeon had actually filmed projects in similar ways several times. Despite his complaints, he was serious about his work and didn’t dislike giving opportunities to rookies. Or rather, it was the余裕 of someone who knew they wouldn’t lose their own position, so they could afford to be generous.
“Which rookie?”
“You know, the girl who passed the audition this time.”
“……She happens to be good at acting, too.”
It seemed Ji Hyeon had intended to use it as an excuse to refuse if it was someone terrible, as he frowned in annoyance. On the other hand, Eunho was surprised that he was considering appearing on a variety show so seriously. Was it possible he’d taken the wrong medication? Around that time, Ji Hyeon looked directly at Eunho.
“What about you?”
“What?”
“What do you want me to do?”
Their eyes met in the air. His light hazel eyes were fixed on Eunho without wavering. As if his opinion mattered the most. It was an undeniably serious gaze.
“Me? Well……”
What should he answer? Eunho pondered for a moment. Aside from the fact that the program was ‘IMM,’ appearing on an observational variety show seemed fine. The benefits mentioned by the CEO aside, the objective conditions were good. Good pay, short filming time. Eunho, who was more sincere than anyone else about ‘actor Ji Hyeon,’ wanted him to be exposed to more opportunities.
“I’d like you to do it.”
“Then I’ll do it.”
He didn’t even ask why. Ji Hyeon calmly replied and frowned with a displeased look. As if he really didn’t want to do it, but he was making an exception just this once.
“I have to if you say so.”
“…….”
A dazed gaze was directed at Ji Hyeon. His uncharacteristically docile attitude was enough to provoke an unknown thirst. As Eunho wordlessly parted his lips, Ji Hyeon added something that was unclear whether it was a joke or not.
“Good things happen when you listen to Kwak Eunho.”
“……You don’t like good things, though.”
“What are you talking about?”
The words he’d uttered to hide his embarrassment were dismissed by Ji Hyeon’s remark. Eunho lowered his eyes and unconsciously fiddled with the back of his neck. He had a stoic expression, but he couldn’t stop the strange feeling that washed over him.
“If it’s PD Yu’s variety show, they probably won’t make me laugh at shitty jokes while having a crappy talk show. If I think of it as acting, two days is doable.”
Surprisingly, Ji Hyeon seemed truly unconcerned. Certainly, ‘IMM’ was different from a talk show with awkward questions or a physical variety show. Still, it wasn’t an offer that Ji Hyeon would readily accept. To Eunho, who was still silent, he uttered a single word.
“Worry about yourself, not me.”
“Worry about myself?”
Eunho asked back, furrowing one eyebrow. His deep-set eyes, without double eyelids, furrowed along with it. To Eunho, Ji Hyeon asked in a rather serious tone,
“Once you’re on TV, not only will your personal information be revealed, but people will recognize you on the street. Can you handle that?”
“……I thought you were going to say something serious.”
Eunho was well aware of it. He had taken into account the fact that his personal information would be revealed from the moment he first heard about ‘IMM.’ To begin with, his personal information was nothing special, and there was no need to worry about the latter.
“No one will recognize someone common like me.”
That was the decisive reason why he didn’t see much point in appearing on television. If he could attract that much attention just by appearing on a show, why would there be unknown actors in the world? He would attract attention for a while as Ji Hyeon’s manager and then be naturally forgotten soon after. People were less interested in others than they thought, and Eunho knew this better than anyone.
“Every common bastard is dead.”
Ji Hyeon, however, retorted in his characteristically sweet voice. He smiled sweetly and spoke with a hint of annoyance.
“Even those guys who look like they’ve been ground into asphalt appear on TV as actors, and you think no one will recognize you?”
It was something Ji Hyeon would occasionally say while watching TV. When an unattractive lead, especially a male lead, appeared, he would murmur with admiration, saying that even catfish act these days. The nagging was less intense if they were good actors, but if their acting was bad, there was no need for further comment.
“Well…… even if they do recognize me, it’ll only be for a while.”
Eunho answered nonchalantly, stroking his chin. He also knew that he wasn’t unattractive, but even so, he was just an ordinary person. It didn’t make sense to worry about becoming famous in front of Ji Hyeon, who exuded celebrity from head to toe.
“…….”
“……What?”
“…….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“……Never mind.”
Ji Hyeon, with a sullen expression, pressed his tired eyelids. He seemed to have a lot to say, but all that came out of his mouth were murmurs like, “You, seriously……” Just as Eunho furrowed his brows, Ji Hyeon narrowed his eyes and asked,
“So, is that all you wanted to say?”
“Yeah, that’s all.”
It was an anticlimactically simple conclusion. CEO Byeon will be happy. Eunho thought to himself and nodded. He figured he could just call him during his break and let him know that Ji Hyeon had agreed.
“Okay…… then I’m going to sleep.”
With those words, Ji Hyeon lay back down on the sofa. He turned on his side without a blanket or pillow and closed his eyes, using his arm as a pillow. His delicate lips moved slowly beneath his straight nose.
“I couldn’t sleep a wink because of you.”
He couldn’t ask, ‘Why is that my fault?’ Ji Hyeon, who had an inherently unrealistic appearance, looked especially gentle when his eyes were closed. His long eyelashes, slightly upturned lips, and even his messy hair looked utterly peaceful.
“…….”
Eunho held his breath as quietly as possible, captivated by the sight. He couldn’t even blink or move a finger. He simply gazed at Ji Hyeon with his dark eyes and listened to his soft breathing.
‘Just like in high school.’
It felt strange at times like these. The moment when this guy, with his sensitive nature and chronic insomnia, fell asleep with a perfectly serene expression. The moment when he, always prickly except when acting, let down his guard and showed a defenseless side only to him.
Eleven years…… no, eight years, excluding the brief hiatus. Despite having witnessed it for so long, Ji Hyeon still felt unfamiliar to Eunho. The way he listened to him almost blindly, the way he fell asleep only when Eunho was by his side like a child searching for his parents.
No, in truth, he was intensely aware of all this, lest it become natural, lest it become too familiar.
“Ji Hyeon.”
“…….”
There was no reply to the whispered call. Eunho, after confirming that he had completely fallen asleep, stood up, holding the pill bottle on the table in his hand. Among the numerous psychiatric medications Ji Hyeon took, this was the sleeping pill he took most frequently.
It was a medication to which he had developed a high tolerance, but Ji Hyeon would occasionally leave the empty bottle out as if to make a point. To be precise, whenever Eunho returned to his own home at night, the pill bottle would be on the table without fail.
‘What a personality.’
Eunho knew that this was a form of protest. There had to be a reason why this guy, who was meticulous about tidying up, would deliberately leave trash behind.
His longtime friend, Ji Hyeon, was a frustrating guy who couldn’t sleep without him.
💄
Their relationship went back a full eleven years, to when Eunho was eighteen. Eunho, who was growing rapidly day by day, had already surpassed 180cm, the height considered ideal by many men. His friends envied him, but he was only worried about his school uniform pants, which kept getting shorter.
Anyway, at that energetic age, Eunho’s main interests were studying and working part-time. He didn’t have time for anything else, and he absolutely had to receive a scholarship to go to college. That day, too, Eunho arrived at school earlier than others and sat at his desk, opening the math workbook he had already solved once and starting from the beginning again.
Then, the back door opened. Eunho casually turned his head to look. It wasn’t for any particular reason; he was just curious that there was a student arriving at school at this hour. It was usual for no one to enter the classroom for about an hour after he arrived.
‘…….’
The student who entered was unusually taller than Eunho and had slightly longer hair than the other students. The moment their eyes met, he was a little surprised because the student’s appearance was exceptionally beautiful. His eyes were unusually bright, making him seem excessively unreal.
‘Uh…….’
‘…….’
‘…….’
“Hello.”
He greeted reflexively, but the other student didn’t respond to his greeting and silently sat down next to him. It was the seat that had always been empty since the beginning of their second year. He had thought it was vacant since the roll call never included that seat, but apparently, it had an owner.
‘…….’
‘…….’
Even after that, the two didn’t exchange a single word for a long time. Eunho wasn’t the type to initiate conversations, and the student next to him just sat still. With no other students arriving, it was surprisingly the handsome student who spoke first.
‘Hey.’
‘……What?’
Eunho stopped solving problems in his workbook and turned his head to look at him a beat later. His delayed reaction was because the student hadn’t been looking at him. His profile looked like it was drawn, and his voice was gentle, unlike that of a high school student.
‘Don’t you know me?’
Well, the question itself wasn’t gentle at all.
‘I don’t.’
‘……You don’t?’
‘You’re at school for the first time.’
Only then did the other student slowly turn to Eunho. He frowned irritably and lowered his voice.
‘You don’t know me?’
Eunho thought he was crazy. It was a face that was hard to forget once you’d seen it, but that also meant that if you didn’t remember it, it was a face you’d never seen before. There weren’t just one or two students in the whole school; he didn’t have the talent to remember every student, especially someone he wasn’t even in the same class with in his first year.
‘Don’t you even watch TV?’
‘No, I don’t.’
‘…….’
The other student looked at Eunho with an expression that seemed to say, ‘What the hell is wrong with this guy?’ At that gaze, Eunho couldn’t help but add an awkward explanation. Some of his friends thought he lived detached from the world because he was always studying.
‘It’s not that I don’t watch it on purpose, I don’t have a TV at home.’
‘……A computer then.’
‘I don’t have a computer either.’
‘Don’t you even have a laptop?’
‘Do you think I would?’
It was like telling someone to eat cake if they didn’t have bread. The other student grumbled to himself, asking how he did his homework then. Eunho wondered whether he should tell him that he mostly finished it at school. While he was pondering this, another question was thrown his way.
‘You must have a cell phone at least.’
‘…….’
‘What the fuck…… what kind of junk are you carrying around?’
The last reaction came when Eunho took out his phone from his desk and showed it to him. It was a phone his grandmother had gotten him as a high school entrance gift. It couldn’t make calls or send texts, and it barely managed to connect to the internet when it caught Wi-Fi. Still, apart from the buffering, it didn’t hinder him from watching free online lectures.
‘You really don’t know me?’
‘What class were you in during your first year?’
‘Nine…… No, that’s not important.’
He was a guy who looked beautiful enough to be mistaken for an angel, yet every time he opened his mouth, irritation seeped out. He rambled on about how this was some kind of concept, how could Eunho not know him, etc. After chattering on with an inflated ego, he abruptly looked at Eunho and ordered,
‘Find out who I am by tomorrow.’
‘……What?’
‘You have a phone, don’t you? Look it up on the internet.’
Eunho didn’t even have time to argue back that he needed a name to search for him. The student abruptly stood up and left the classroom, leaving Eunho behind. It was only after the back door slammed shut with a bang that he realized the student had come to school without even a bag.
‘Is he really crazy……’
Muttering to himself, Eunho suddenly realized something. Someone who would appear in an internet search, someone with those extraordinary looks and slightly longer hair compared to other students.
‘…….’
Someone came to mind. A celebrity, rumored to attend the same school. A famous person who rarely came to school, and when he did, he was surrounded by students, making it hard to even see his face.
‘……He wasn’t a girl.’
Eunho awkwardly touched the back of his neck, correcting his misunderstanding of over a year. He had thought he was a girl because of the name; he must have had a narrow-minded thought process without realizing it. It made sense that a celebrity of that stature would be offended that he wasn’t recognized.
The next day, when he saw the student arrive after lunch, Eunho unusually acknowledged him as if he had been waiting. As a sign that he had learned his name, that he now knew who he was. Although he still didn’t know his last name, so he ended up speaking in a rather familiar tone.
‘Ji Hyeon, hi.’
‘…….’
Eunho didn’t know why Ji Hyeon’s expression was strange at the time. He just thought he must have made another mistake, seeing his eyebrows arch quizzically. And after hearing the following question, he clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking he was a perceptive guy.
‘You didn’t look it up, did you?’
‘……Hmm.’
Did he really need to search the internet? As he closed his mouth with that implication, Ji Hyeon once again looked at him with an expression of, ‘What is with this guy?’ It was him who had told him to search it up out of the blue. He sighed deeply and turned his head away.
‘Forget it.’
After that day, Ji Hyeon maintained a strangely prickly attitude towards Eunho. He would smile like a celebrity (he actually was one) when other students talked to him, but he didn’t even bother with image management around Eunho. He wondered why this guy, who usually skipped class, was coming to school so diligently, and eventually, he developed a grudging fondness for him.
Eunho realized his mistake much later, after accidentally seeing the attendance book. He belatedly learned that his name was ‘Ji Hyeon,’ but there was no way to change the name he had already grown accustomed to using. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, by then, Ji Hyeon had also gotten used to Eunho calling him that.
‘You’re a really strange guy.’
Ji Hyeon would often say that, but even now, Eunho thinks it’s not something he should be hearing from him. If he were to ask who was stranger, nine out of ten people would choose Ji Hyeon. The remaining one who chose Eunho would be none other than Ji Hyeon himself.
“You’re so proud……”
“What?”
Late in the afternoon, Ji Hyeon, waking up from a long nap, sat at the island counter to eat the lunch Eunho had prepared. The menu was just fried rice, but he was eating almost three servings by himself. Eunho watched his hand holding the spoon and slowly started to speak.
“Just, it reminded me of our high school days.”
“Which part of high school?”
“When we first met.”
“…….”
Ji Hyeon frowned, seemingly recalling that time. The way his delicate eyebrows furrowed hadn’t changed much since high school. He looked disheveled from just waking up, but even that looked like a scene from a photoshoot to Eunho.
“Back then, when I said I didn’t know you, you said, ‘How can you not know me?’ and told me to look it up on the internet.”
“……Ah, that time.”
Ji Hyeon nodded. He returned with an impassive expression and poked at the rice grains with his spoon. He had been eating fine until now, but it seemed his appetite had suddenly waned.
“If you’re full, stop eating. I made a lot on purpose.”
“Just finish the story. You’re saying I’m proud because of that?”
“No, not because of that.”
Eunho grabbed the water bottle next to him and filled Ji Hyeon’s cup to the brim. Ji Hyeon listlessly followed the pouring water with his eyes.
“It’s funny how you nitpicked at everything after that day.”
He could have just told him that ‘Ji’ was his last name and ‘Hyeon’ was his first name, but he hadn’t given him any hints until Eunho figured it out himself. It wasn’t just Eunho who didn’t know until then; it was just as strange on Ji Hyeon’s part.
“And you still didn’t search it up.”
However, Ji Hyeon spoke in a gentle voice and raised the corners of his lips. It was a perfect smile to anyone’s eyes, but his inner thoughts were completely crooked.
“It’s still baffling. How could you not know me?”
“……It’s possible not to know.”
No matter how famous someone is, it’s possible not to know them if you’re not interested. Even when people around him had mentioned Ji Hyeon a few times, Eunho had just thought, ‘Is he a famous idol these days?’ and moved on. He didn’t know that he was a model and actor, or even that he was a man, until they greeted each other.
“I’m not interested in celebrities.”
If he hadn’t become Ji Hyeon’s manager, he still wouldn’t be interested. He knew everything about him now because of his job, but Eunho originally had no interest in such things. Or rather, he hadn’t lived a life leisurely enough to have such hobbies.
“It’s not that……”
“It’s not what?”
“……Forget it, it’s nothing.”
Ji Hyeon, frowning, moved his spoon again. He wanted to ask blandly what he meant, but seeing him eat so deliciously made the feeling disappear. Eunho simply told him to eat slowly and pushed the water cup towards him.
After finishing their meal, as always, they sat side by side on the sofa and watched TV. It was Ji Hyeon who had stopped Eunho from doing the dishes, and it was Eunho who had chosen the drama to watch together. It was a recent melodrama starring Shin Yi-chan, which Eunho chose to get a sense of the actor after hearing what CEO Byeon had said.
‘Since they said his vibe is similar to Ji Hyeon’s……’
Unlike Ji Hyeon, who was bored, Eunho sat upright and watched the drama with a serious expression. The story or direction wasn’t important; what mattered was how Shin Yi-chan acted in his supporting role. Playing a college student befitting his age of twenty, he had captured the hearts of many women with his tearful confession scene, they said.
“……CEO Byeon’s worries were excessive.”
In the end, that was all Eunho said. Shin Yi-chan was a very passionate rookie, but he couldn’t compare to Ji Hyeon. His looks and acting skills went without saying, and even the basic aura he exuded was still too raw to be called an actor. Maybe in five years or so. For now, it was right that it was an unnecessary worry.
“What did I say?”
Ji Hyeon responded indifferently without looking up from the book he was reading. It was a novel he had silently opened around the time Eunho started the third episode. Ji Hyeon brushed back his hair and gave a relaxed smile.
“I told you there’s no need to be anxious.”
“…….”
Words that could have sounded arrogant sounded natural simply because they came from Ji Hyeon. Not out of arrogance, but like confidence stemming from his own ability. Unable to deny it, Eunho turned his eyes back to the screen.
“Still, he’s a good actor for an idol. He’s quite handsome too. He’s young now, but when he grows up a bit……”
“More than me?”
“What?”
Eunho, who had been speaking, frowned and looked back at Ji Hyeon. Ji Hyeon had put down his book at some point and was looking directly at him. Blinking slowly, he asked gently once more,
“Is he more handsome than me?”
“…….”
Why was he like this again? Sometimes Eunho felt he acted like a child in strange ways. However, without changing his expression, he answered calmly,
“I’ve never seen anyone more handsome than you.”
It was true. From high school until now. No, in all the time Eunho had lived, there had been no one with a more striking appearance than Ji Hyeon. He, who had been loved for his angelic looks as a child model, was maturing day by day as he grew older. It wasn’t just a subjective opinion; the general consensus was the same.
“Don’t state the obvious and go exercise if you’re not going to watch the drama. It’s time for your workout.”
Eunho gestured towards the clock on the wall to Ji Hyeon, who was silently staring at him. Exercise was the one thing Ji Hyeon consistently kept up with, despite his irregular eating and sleeping habits. It was partly due to his profession, which often required him to take his clothes off, and partly to maintain his physique even during his break.
“……I’m so tired.”
Grumbling, Ji Hyeon stood up, leaving Eunho behind. His stretching back looked like a lithe wild animal. He had broad shoulders to begin with, and with his diligent workouts, his physique was truly impressive. It was to the point that ‘Ji Hyeon’s shoulders’ would appear as a related search term if you just typed in ‘Ji Hyeon.’
“Don’t watch that boring drama and watch my work instead.”
With those words, Ji Hyeon walked towards the room where the exercise equipment was kept. There was no need to mention that he had already seen Ji Hyeon’s works at least three times each. Eunho silently pressed the button on the remote to skip to the next episode.
It took about three hours for Ji Hyeon to finish his workout. Putting away the equipment and showering added another thirty minutes or so. During that time, Eunho watched about four more episodes of the drama and had the utterly biased thought that it would have been a bigger hit if Ji Hyeon had been the male lead.
“You’re still watching this?”
Around the time the male and female leads shared their first kiss, Ji Hyeon came out of the bathroom in a gown. Because he hadn’t fastened it properly, glimpses of his toned upper body were visible through the gaps in the gown. Eunho, who had unconsciously lowered his gaze, quickly came to his senses and stood up from the sofa.
“I’m leaving now that you’re done working out.”
“……Suddenly?”
Ji Hyeon, drying his hair with a towel, looked at him with dissatisfied eyes. Although his gaze was full of annoyance, Eunho, unfazed, put on the hat he had placed on the table. As he pulled the brim down, Ji Hyeon’s precariously open gown was also slightly covered.
“I should get going. The buses will stop running soon.”
“You can take my car. Or take a taxi.”
“There’s nowhere to park. And why waste money on a taxi?”
“Do you carry the company card for show?”
Ji Hyeon strode over and plopped down on the sofa. Water droplets from his hair trickled down his nape. With the towel on his head, he frowned and looked up at Eunho.
“What’s so good about that run-down villa…… Just move in with me. Isn’t it annoying going back and forth every day?”
It was something he said often. He knew it was meaningless, but every time he heard it, it made his heart flutter. Eunho deliberately frowned and spoke bluntly.
“If you know that, don’t call me over on my days off.”
“You don’t do anything at home anyway.”
Other managers said they rested when their celebrities rested, but regardless of whether Ji Hyeon was resting or not, Eunho always went to his house. His salary was high enough that he had no complaints, but it was a bit awkward that Ji Hyeon kept asking him to live together like this.
“Am I going to go bankrupt if I move in here? How am I supposed to afford this place?”
“What are you talking about? Have you ever seen a company provide housing and receive monthly rent?”
Ji Hyeon questioned him as if he couldn’t understand, saying why would it cost money when it was his house in the first place. This, too, was a pattern he had memorized to the point of boredom, so Eunho had a set response.
“My employer is CEO Byeon, why would you provide housing? If you’re going to do it, CEO Byeon should do it like before.”
“…….”
Ji Hyeon’s delicate eyebrows shot up. Eunho checked the time one last time and put his phone in his pocket.
“If you’re going to take sleeping pills, just take one.”
He didn’t say, ‘You won’t be able to sleep anyway.’ He knew it was a rather harsh thing to say. His heart always softened at Ji Hyeon’s intense gaze, so instead of meeting his eyes, he firmly turned his back.
“And don’t leave empty pill bottles lying around.”
He knew that even if he said this, the pill bottles would be left out as a form of protest the next day. That’s why Ji Hyeon didn’t even bother to reply with an empty ‘okay.’ Eunho needlessly touched the back of his neck and glanced back at Ji Hyeon.
“I’ll come early tomorrow.”
“…….”
Ji Hyeon didn’t respond to that either. He just stared at Eunho with his brows still furrowed.
He almost looked pathetic.
💄
It took about forty minutes by bus from Ji Hyeon’s house to Eunho’s. It was quite far from the bustling city center, and even after getting off the bus, he had to walk a considerable distance. The old villa, with only one bedroom, was the first place Eunho had secured when he started working as a manager.
Ji Hyeon had described it as a ‘run-down villa,’ but Eunho quite liked this place. First, it didn’t leak, there was hot water even in winter, and he could stand up straight without his head hitting the ceiling. It was a house he lived in alone, wasn’t it a decent enough place to call home?
The day he left Ji Hyeon and came back, Eunho barely slept and headed to his house early in the morning. As expected, Ji Hyeon seemed to have not slept a wink, and a half-empty pill bottle was on the table. This time, because Eunho had truly returned ‘early,’ Ji Hyeon didn’t say anything and just lay on the sofa trying to sleep.
It was a familiar scene. Ji Hyeon, clinging to him and asking him not to go, and Eunho turning his back heartlessly, using Ji Hyeon’s own words against him. Despite being the one who persistently clung to him, Ji Hyeon always gave Eunho a reproachful look, calling him the persistent one. It was a shamelessly bold act to insist on setting up tomorrow’s appointment even though he had no scheduled work.
“Oh, welcome.”
A few days later. It was the day of the pre-interview for the ‘IMM’ filming. The location was the MBS variety show department, and Eunho picked up Ji Hyeon, who hadn’t slept a wink again, and safely drove him to the meeting place. As soon as the two entered the designated meeting room, a woman with a friendly impression greeted them warmly.
“I’m PD Yu Hye-sun. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
PD Yu extended a hand towards Ji Hyeon. Ji Hyeon stared at the outstretched hand for a moment and then, with a natural smile, took PD Yu’s hand. The face that had been frowning throughout the car ride Eunho was driving was now wearing a flawlessly gentle smile.
“I’ve heard a lot about you. The pleasure is all mine.”
It was a calm and gentle demeanor. Eunho secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Hyeon, who had already shown all sorts of prickly behavior while signing the contract with CEO Byeon, had been firmly warned by Eunho not to do so today. He would usually behave himself in front of others, but it was a precaution in case anything happened.
“Wow, I heard the cameras can’t capture Hyeon’s real-life beauty, and it’s true.”
“You flatter me.”
Their clasped hands swayed lightly a couple of times before separating. Ji Hyeon received a few more handshake requests and accepted them all with a warm smile. He was behaving better than he had worried about, but as he carefully observed him, his thoughts changed.
‘We won’t be able to stop by the salon later.’
He could sense his mood deteriorating beneath the smiling facade. It was a subtle difference that others wouldn’t notice, but Eunho, who had observed him for a long time, could tell. The fact that his delicate eyes were curved more than usual meant he was forcing himself not to frown.
“Manager?”
“……Ah.”
Eunho quickly tore his gaze away from Ji Hyeon. PD Yu, who had approached him at some point, was looking up at him with a bright smile. Eunho first took off his hat and bowed deeply.
“I’m Manager Kwak Eunho. It’s a pleasure to work with you on this filming.”
“…….”
Despite his natural greeting, PD Yu didn’t react. She just stared at Eunho’s face with slightly surprised eyes. Only when Eunho awkwardly furrowed his brows did her expression soften.