The irritating beep of the alarm clock went off and Si-Hyoon opened his eyes, grabbing his phone.
He turned and snoozed the alarm, getting up abruptly. He let out a loud groan, the back in his pain still as strong as last night when he had sex with Jae-Eun.
"You're awake?" Jae-Eun grumbled, still half asleep, lying in bed, his body barely covered with the white blanket.
Si-Hyoon's gaze softened at the sight of the man sleeping peacefully. He gently reached for his shoulder, tapping him carefully.
In the bathroom, he limped slightly. The pain lingered—but not just in his body.
When he returned, Jae-Eun was already on his phone, eyes glued to the screen.
Jealousy burned low in Si-Hyoon's chest. He tried to ignore it.
"Bathroom's free."
Jae-Eun didn't even look at him.
Just murmured, "Okay."
After getting dressed, Si-Hyoon's gaze drifted to the phone on the nightstand.
Don't.
But his hand moved before he could stop it.
The screen lit up. A familiar face stared back at him—another young actor. Handsome. Smiling.
He locked the screen and set the phone down quickly, heart pounding.
You did it again. You promised you wouldn't.
The last time he checked Jae-Eun's phone was the first time they slept together. Back when he still had pride.
But pride never stood a chance against love.
They weren't lovers—they were simple fuck-buddies.
"Because Jae-Eun doesn't love anyone," he told himself.
They were no different than toys to him.
Hence, Si-Hyoon assumed it was better to be the person who stayed by his side, as a friend and fuck-buddy rather than being one of those he disposed of once he was done with his fun.
He constantly repeated so to himself, as if reassuring his already broken heart that it wouldn't shatter again.
"Why aren't you eating?" Jae-Eun grabbed Si-Hyoon's hand and took a bite without permission.
The blonde-haired man's cheeks flushed a light pink, but he quickly pulled back his hair, trying to hide his complexion.
"Ah, damn it," the dark-haired man complained, staring at his phone.
"What is it?"
"Just some guy I met with recently but he keeps asking me to sleep with him already."
Si-Hyoon didn't reply. He simply continued his breakfast, as if he hadn't heard anything at all despite the irritating sensation in his stomach.
"Are you upset?" Jae-Eun teased. "Jealous?"
"Why would I be?"
"Right. And he isn't clean."
"Clean..." Si-Hyoon scoffed inwardly. "And I am?"
"Yes. Of course. You only sleep with me," Jae-Eun winked but Si-Hyoon didn't react to it. His heart felt too heavy to feel anything at all.
"Did you memorize your lines? It's the first shooting today," he said, trying to change the subject.
"I— I will do it in the car!"
✻✻✻
"You should have come with your own car," Si-Hyoon sighed, stepping out of his car.
Then, he opened the door for Jae-Eun, who was focused on his script.
"My, isn't that Mr. Lim, Mr. Yoon? I can't believe we are working together again!" A female voice spoke, approaching the two men.
"Miss Kim Ji-Ha!" Si-Hyoon put on a professional smile, extending his hand. "We are glad to work with you again.
"Mr. Lim became quite popular after his first movie. But... why is that only you came with him? Where are the rest of his team?"
"Well, he..."
"We are best friends, actually, apart from coworkers," Jae-Eun wrapped his arm around Si-Hyoon's shoulder.
"Oh! How did I forget?" Ji-Ha laughed awkwardly.
"Let's go inside," Si-Hyoon suggested, pushing Jae-Eun's arm away from his shoulder. He had told him countless times in the past that he shouldn't get physical with any of his coworkers as a star— not even him. Rumours travelled faster than anything after all.
But perhaps it was simply his way of asking him to not lay hands on anyone else they way Jae-Eun did to him.
Once he entered the set, Si-Hyon promptly greeted the crew, familiarizing himself with the set. Today, they were shooting inside a room, an intimate scene between the two leads. However, at the peak moment, the second male lead would enter the room, getting heartbroken to see his lover in bed with another.
"How pathetic. Just like my love story," Si-Hyoon scoffed inwardly, reading through the script.
"But... Who is this second male lead? I don't remember hearing this name before... Nine? Nine what?" Si-Hyon mumbled, tilting his head to the side.
"What are you wasting your time on, now?" Jae-Eun grabbed the script from Si-Hyoon's hands, a clear frown on his face.
"Don't frown. You will get wrinkles. But what's wrong? Did someone upset you?"
"You haven't even looked at me ever since we came here."
"I am working."
"But..."
"Did you greet the director?"
"No..."
Si-Hyoon rolled his eyes at the back, unable to understand how this man even managed to make so many movies without him by his side.
Grabbing Jae-Eun's hand, he grabbed him towards the director.
"There you are, Mr. Lim!"
"It is nice to see you, Director Park," Jae-Eun bowed respectfully.
"No need for such formalities," the director laughed. "Have you met this fine young man yet?"
The round, middle-aged man stepped aside, revealing a taller young man. His skin was unusually pale for a man, and his almond-shaped honey-coloured sharp eyes shifted their way. Curly auburn hair carefully slicked at the back of his head, and his black t-shirt clung to his body as if it were a second skin. A turtleneck nestled beneath his jawline, complementing his short yet sharp nose and coral-coloured lips, which curled into a tender smile.
"H-Hi, I am Nine," the man's voice was deep, unexpectedly to his soft appearance.
"Hi," both of the young men greeted in return.
"Let's go," Jae-Eun grabbed Si-Hyon's wrist tightly, dragging him away from there as if they would be chased by a savage animal otherwise.
Once they entered the makeup room, Si-Hyoon swatted his hand away from the firm grip.
"That's so rude! What is wrong with you?!" His voice was low, barely above a whisper although frustration laced in his tone.
"Why were you staring at him like that?"
Si-Hyoon narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"Like what? I wasn't staring. It's basic manners to look at someone when you greet them."
Jae-Eun didn't answer and sat on his chair.
"Start the makeup," he ordered to his make-up artists.
Unable to speak in front of the members, Si-Hyoon stepped out, shutting the door behind him.
What the hell's wrong with him?!
Just then, his phone rang. He pulled out the phone from his pockets and all his anger vanished into thin air upon seeing the name of the caller ID.
He coughed, clearing his throat before answering.
"Hi."
[Granny said you not coming this weekend?] a child asked on the other side of the line.
"I'm sorry, honey. I promise to visit next weekend."
[But... I miss you...]
"I miss you too," Si-Hyoon couldn't help but smile brightly, forgetting that he stood at his workplace.
Which parent wouldn't smile when their son tells them they miss them? In the silent hell he has been living, Jin was his ray of light.
"Who's making you like that?" a female staff member chuckled.
"Ah... It's my mom," he instantly lied.
It was a habit. He couldn't let anyone know of Jin's existence.
Why? He couldn't let his son experience the pain of being questioned—exposed to the cruel world at a young age.
I need to keep him safe until I can... he told himself.
The lady raised her eyebrows, clearly doubting him. But she simply smiled and walked away.
Si-Hyoon let out a sigh of relief.
[Daddy?]
"I'll call you... tonight."
[You said that the day before today.]
"It's 'yesterday', honey."
[Yes, yes. That.]
Usually, he would laugh at his son's silly mistakes but this time he couldn't. Once again, he couldn't keep his words to him because of Jae-Eun.
"I need to get back to work. I'm sorry for yesterday and I will surely call you tonight. Okay?"
[Okay...]
After hanging up the call, Si-Hyoon turned it off. He couldn't take any more distraction than he already had so far. First, Jae-Eun's sole presence was enough. Now, even Jin was upset with him because he broke his promise.
Damn it. How do I keep messing up everything?
Si-Hyoon slipped his phone into his pocket and turned around—only to bump into someone.
"I'm sorry—" he quickly began before looking at the person. If he bumped into a famous actor or actress, they would surely give him a handful of scolding although he wasn't the only one at fault.
"It's alright," came a calm, deep voice— Nine.
The young man stood there with a faint smile, holding a cup of coffee in each hand. He wasn't wearing makeup yet, but somehow, he looked even more handsome under the hallway's dull lighting.
Perhaps it was because Si-Hyoon was a photographer, but if he were to take a picture, he could make millions for sure from that face.
Nine's honey-coloured eyes lingered on Si-Hyoon's face for too long before he parted his lips.
"This is for you," Nine said, handing him one of the cups.
"What?"
"A lady said it was yours. You left it at the table during the meeting."
"...Thanks." Si-Hyoon took it awkwardly, trying to recall if he had even attended any meeting since he arrived at the set. Their fingers brushing for the briefest moment, and Si-Hyoon quickly pulled away.
Nine nodded and walked away without another word.
Si-Hyoon watched his back disappear around the corner, heart unsettled—not because of the coffee, but because for a moment, he felt truly seen.
No one truly notices a camera man on a film set— they do, but only during the shooting.
He shook the thought away and pushed open the door to the makeup room again.
Jae-Eun was still sitting, his makeup freshly done. Now, he was laughing softly, head tilted, while a young male staff member adjusted the collar of his costume.
"You always know how to make a guy look good," Jae-Eun said, his voice light and teasing.
"Oh, stop," the young man giggled, blushing. "I barely did anything. You're the handsome one."
"Pretty people always say that," he said with a wink.
Si-Hyoon froze.
He shouldn't care.
He shouldn't.
But his chest ached.