"Is this the script you've been using to practice? Would you like me to help you run some lines?" Inkang asked, holding out a plate of sliced strawberries. He was always so thoughtful.
"Aren't you tired, Inkang?" I asked, looking up at him as I took a piece of fruit.
He smiled easily. "Not at all. Don't worry! If I was that tired, I wouldn't have invited you over. Here, pass me the script."
I handed it to him. We settled on the bed, my head propped up as he looked over the pages. "It's this part right here. I don't have many lines. You're right. This scene is mostly the other actor's lines."
"In this case, it's really important that you completely focus on making the scene believable for the other actor," he explained, his eyes serious as he looked away from the page and down at me. "I know. I'm supposed to react to their emotions as they speak their lines—as if I'm facing that character in real life—to make the scene more authentic, right? I've heard it so many times now."
He sighed, but there was a warmth in his eyes. "You're good at everything else except reacting to the other actor in an authentic way. Even if you're not visible on camera, the other person is building on your acting... so it's best if you can stay in character even off camera."
I pouted, pulling the covers up a little higher. "But that's not fair! Why do I have to keep it up for somebody else's sake?"
He pinched my cheek gently. "You silly bean! That's because the other person's acting has to be believable for the whole scene to feel real! You're like a big kid when you ask me this kind of stuff. You're so cute."
It felt good to lean into him, to feel his arm around my shoulders. "I'm sure I'll be okay," I murmured, trying to reassure both of us. "Maybe I'm coming down with something."
"Oh no…" Inkang pulled back, his eyes widening in concern. "You should've said something. I would have let you rest at home…"
Then his expression shifted to shock. He reached out and placed his hand on my cheek. "Oh…? Ajin, why is your face so warm? Do you have a fever?"
I smiled weakly, leaning into his touch. "Did you take anything for the fever? You haven't been dressing warm lately. You didn't wear your scarf again today. You were the one who told me to always wear a scarf when it's cold out."
"I usually wear a scarf. I just happened to forget today," I admitted. "The one grandma knit me is really warm. Plus, the red looks really good on me... Ms. Seo thinks that I only have that one scarf because I wear it all the time."
Inkang looked so worried, and my heart melted a little. He squeezed my hand. "Well, try to take good care of yourself. It breaks my heart when you're sick."
I let out a soft chuckle as he pulled me close for a hug. "Alright."
Just as we settled back into the moment, a loud buzzing started on the nightstand. BZZZ BZZZ.
"It's weird of him to call at this hour..." I wondered, looking at the vibrating phone. "Who is it? Oh, it's my brother." I picked it up, feeling Inkang watch me. "Hey, Inmo. What's up?"
"Hey, Inmo. What's up?" I asked my brother on the phone, a small, uneasy feeling bubbling up.
His reply shattered the peace of the evening. His voice was ragged, laced with a panic that was chilling to hear. "Inkang..."
My blood ran cold. "Hey, what's wrong? What's going on?"
My brother was crying, and all I could hear was the horror in his voice. "Grandma... Grandma isn't breathing..."
I don't remember the exact moment I hung up, only the desperate, sinking feeling. I immediately called Chaeyoung, one of the people I work with, needing to tell someone.
"Hey, Chaeyoung, did you see that text I sent you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady as I frantically went to my closet to change.
"Yeah, I just spoke to Ms. Seo on the phone," she replied, her voice soft with sympathy. "Inkang is quite out of it right now. I feel terrible for him and his brother... He must be in a lot of shock right now. Take good care of him."
"I will," I promised, my eyes landing on a small book I kept tucked away—How to Empathize With Others. A ridiculous book, perhaps, but one I hoped to live up to. "I'm going to change, pick up a few things from Inkang's place, and head back there."
"Chaeyoung, I think I'm getting another call," I said, as my phone began to buzz in my hand again. The name on the screen made me frown: Heeguk Lim. "I'll see you later at the funeral home." I hung up and answered the new call, my tone immediately colder. "Yes...? What do you want?"
An Unsavory Business Call
The man on the other end, Heeguk Lim, was a piece of work—a reporter who was always looking for a dirty scoop.
"Have you got anything new for me?" he asked with a chuckle. "There's nothing that captures the interest of the readers like articles about you and Inkang these days, haha."
The timing of his call was appalling. My mind was reeling from the news about Inkang's grandmother, and this man was after gossip.
"If you want to keep that going, you should do something about your cousin," I told him flatly.
He scoffed, taking a drag from his cigarette. "It would be faster to find people who don't know Rena Lim hates me with a passion. Aw, come on, Ms. Baek." He seemed to be enjoying himself, a smirk in his voice. "She's not a child. I can't tell her what to do."
The sheer disrespect was too much. "There's a limit to how much I'm willing to overlook. You shouldn't be shrugging me off like this, Mr. Lim."
My words only seemed to amuse him. He laughed, a deep, unpleasant sound. "Ooh, so scary! Alright, alright." He then dropped his pleasant façade, and I could hear the cold menace in his voice. "Do whatever you want, Ajin. As soon as I'm done with you, I'm going to f**k you up royally."
I took a deep breath, fighting to keep my temper in check. "If this is how you're going to be, I'll have no choice but to do something about Rena myself."
He stopped laughing. "Anyways, are you sure you don't have anything for me today?"
I was already recording the call. 00:01:02.
"She'll show up at the funeral home as soon as she hears the news that Inkang's grandmother has passed away. This could be an opportunity..." I let the implication hang in the air, leaving him with something to think about before I finally hung up. The man was vile, but sometimes you have to use a viper to catch a rat.
I looked down at the book in my hands and the clothes I was changing into. I needed to be there for Inkang and his family, but in the entertainment world, every crisis is an opportunity for someone.
The scene ends with an excerpt from a book called Partners In Crime:
"Let me soar to the highest place, and turn every moment into an opportunity to paint myself in gold. May my beautiful portrait be hung at the top of this world," she prayed.
And I prayed that her prayers never be answered.
– Y, Excerpt from Partners In Crime
After hanging up on that awful reporter, I was still reeling, but I had a job to do. I had to focus on Inkang.
I was changing into more appropriate clothes, trying to push down the rush of emotions, when Heeguk's voice, canned from the phone, still echoed in my memory. He'd been yelling at the start of the call, trying to intimidate me. "Well, you weren't answering. Now, come on, give me something."
"I'm listening. You can stop yelling," I'd replied, my own voice unnervingly calm.
I pulled out my planner. While changing, a different call had come in—a mysterious one. I looked at the contact I'd been given: Seonghee Shim, "works at H*P Mall," and a note: "free this Monday." The reporter had demanded a "bone," and while I hadn't given him the name of Rena Lim, I did have other people who could be useful. "Isn't it about time you threw me a bone?" he'd asked. The politics were exhausting, but I knew I had to play the game to protect Inkang.
I finished changing into my black attire, put on the scarf that had a bit of warmth and comfort to it, and headed out. Someone at the door was calling out: "Hello...? Ms. Baek? Hey, Ms. Baek. Are you there?" I ignored them—probably more press.
B Funeral Home
I arrived at the B Funeral Home. A simple sign was posted near the entrance: "This funeral is only open to family and close friends. Please respect the wishes of the grieving family members." A necessary precaution to keep the vultures—like Heeguk Lim and anyone he might send—away.
I walked into the Family Room. Inkang and his older brother, Inmo, were seated, both dressed in somber black suits with armbands of mourning. Inkang looked utterly devastated, his eyes closed in a moment of strained peace, trying to reconcile the sudden, terrible reality of his grandmother's passing. I could only imagine the memories flooding his mind—memories like the one of a young boy, Inkang, being comforted by his grandmother while another boy, likely Inmo, stood nearby.
I approached Inkang, my voice soft. "Inkang..."
Inmo noticed me first. He stood up, clearly concerned. "Hey, Ajin... Gosh, look at you. Have you had anything to eat?" He looked worn out himself. "He hasn't even had a sip of water."
My heart ached for Inkang. He hadn't looked up. He was just sitting there, silently carrying the weight of his grief.
"Inmo, is it okay if I take Inkang out for a break?" I asked the older brother.
Inmo gave me a small, grateful smile. He clearly trusted me. "Yeah, of course. Inkang, why don't you go with Ajin and take a rest? I'll stay here."
I reached for Inkang's hand. It was cold. "Come on, Inkang..."
He finally opened his eyes, a flicker of pain in their depths. I gently helped him stand and led him away from the intense formality of the funeral room, hoping a brief change of scenery could give him a moment to breathe.
I led Inkang to a quieter area, perhaps a small hallway or lounge, where he could finally let his grief show. I gently pulled him into an embrace as he broke down, burying his face in his hands.
"None of this feels real... I wasn't ready to say goodbye…" he choked out, the pain audible in every word.
I held him tight. "I know it hurts, but we have to believe she's in a better place. Let's hold onto that."
He leaned his head against my shoulder and wept. "My mom and dad passed away in that accident all of a sudden... and now my grandma is gone too... Why do they keep leaving me like this...? What am I supposed to do? They all just keep leaving me behind…"
I smoothed down his hair, my own eyes stinging with sympathetic tears. "I'm here, Inkang, and Inmo is here too. Whenever you miss them, we'll hold you and comfort you. I'll always be by your side."
I pulled back a little, wiping the tears from his face with my thumb. "You know my hands have magical healing powers, right? Remember when you were feeling sick that one time and you felt better after I pat your back? You're going to get through this."
I noticed he'd managed to get some tears on his nice white shirt. I dabbed at his chest with a tissue, trying to clean the fabric. "It's alright. It'll dry eventually."
Suddenly, Inmo rushed over to us, looking relieved. "Oh, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you. Sorry, I was just washing my face."
I gave Inkang a gentle squeeze, signaling that he should pull himself together now that his brother was here. The break was over.
The Vulture Arrives
As Inkang, Inmo, and I headed back toward the main funeral room, I spotted a familiar, brightly colored splash of trouble. My eyes narrowed immediately.
A woman with short blonde hair and boots was walking away from a man in a suit. Click. She had a definite presence, even from behind.
The man, Director Park, adjusted his glasses, looking perplexed. "Uh, yes... Have we met...?"
The woman turned, a too-bright smile plastered on her face. "Oh, don't recognize me? I'm Rena Lim, the idol actor. I guess you didn't recognize me because of the new hair!"
Rena Lim. The one I'd just warned the reporter, Heeguk Lim, about. She was here, just as I suspected, turning a somber event into a networking opportunity.
"Oh... It's nice to meet you, M-Ms. Lim," Director Park stuttered, clearly surprised.
Rena was laying it on thick. "I'm such a huge fan, Director Park! I can't believe I ran into you here at the funeral home! Oh, don't you have a new movie in the works?!"
She was shameless, using this tragic occasion to push her career. I caught a flicker of recognition in Director Park's eyes, and he looked right past her, straight toward us. "M-Ms. Lim, isn't that Inkang over there?"
Rena, however, was determined to keep his attention. She simply continued talking about the new movie.
The game had begun. Rena Lim was here, and if she tried to capitalize on Inkang's grief, I would stop her. The world of actors and idols was a battleground, and a funeral was apparently no sanctuary.
As we approached the main funeral room, Director Park was already distracted by Rena Lim, who was openly using the somber setting to network. I watched as Director Park, slightly flustered, pointed us out.
"M-Ms. Lim, isn't that Inkang over there?"
Rena finally looked up and immediately abandoned Director Park. She zeroed in on Inkang like a missile.
"INKANG!" she shrieked, her voice jarringly loud and inappropriate for a funeral home. She rushed over, her face a mask of manufactured distress. "Oh my gosh, did you cry? God, when I heard your grandma passed away, I just fainted. You must be so sad."
Inkang flinched, pulling away from her sudden, invasive touch. He politely rubbed his own face where her hands had been. "Uh, yeah... thanks for coming." He was clearly uncomfortable.
Rena didn't stop. She immediately tried to take over the caregiver role that was rightfully mine. She moved in front of me, forcing me aside. "You don't look so good. Can I get you anything??"
That was my breaking point. I couldn't stand her manipulative, attention-seeking performance, especially not here. I gave her a small, controlled shove to get her out of the way, my voice low but firm.
"Rena..." I said her name like a warning. "Please go pay your respects first."
But Rena was undeterred. She just looked at me with a smirk that belied her tearful words. "Am I not allowed to comfort him as his ex?! What are you, jealous?"
The audacity made my blood boil. "Why are you trying to butt in? Don't you know this isn't the time and place?!"
"Excuse me."
Before our argument could truly erupt, Inmo stepped forward, his expression stern and his tone flat. He was having none of it.
"Please don't yell. Everyone can hear you," he said, his eyes drilling into her. "You're Rena Lim, right? Please come with me. I'd like to have a word with you."
Rena was momentarily stunned, her feigned grief melting into raw annoyance. "What do you want?!"
Inmo remained perfectly calm and unmoving, a pillar of quiet authority. "Like I said, I'd like to have a word with you." He glanced at Inkang, giving him a small nod. "Go on, Inkang, you should go greet the visitors."
Inkang, grateful for the distraction and the rescue, nodded back. "Oh, right... Director Park, let's head inside…"
As Inkang walked away with Director Park, Inmo and Rena faced off. The tension was thick enough to choke on. Inmo had clearly taken my side, and he was ready to end Rena's spectacle.
He leaned in, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. "Listen. I usually don't say this kind of thing but... could you stop coming onto my brother like that? Don't you have a ton of guys who'd do anything to date you?"
Rena's face, for the first time, crumpled into genuine shock and fury. Her theatrical performance had completely failed, replaced by the ugly reality of her being called out by Inkang's protective older brother.
I watched Inmo pull Rena away, a cold, protective look on his face. Rena's expression was a perfect mix of shock and rage—she was used to charming men, not being dismissed and insulted, especially not by Inkang's brother. She wouldn't take this quietly.
My immediate focus had to shift from comforting Inkang to neutralizing the threat Rena posed, both to him and to Inmo. I could hear Inmo's furious whispers: "C-c-come onto him?! It's almost comedic, the way you keep finding reasons to come see him, but this is a funeral home. Have a little bit of respect. He's having a hard enough time. Where do you think you are? At a bar? Why are you making a pass at him at our grandmother's funeral?"
Rena's voice was a high-pitched, incredulous whine. "M-making a pass...?! ARE YOU FRIGGIN' SERIOUS?"
Inmo's final strike was brutal and cold. "Unlike my brother, I always make good on my threats. If you keep this up, I'm going to call the police and the press and tell everyone that you're an obsessive stalker." His eyes narrowed, and he delivered the ultimate dismissal. "If you've understood what I'm saying, go home. I'll just pretend you actually care about our grandma's death."
Rena was visibly shaken, her carefully constructed facade shattered. I knew she'd flee, but she wouldn't forget this. The one thing a reporter like Heeguk Lim loves more than gossip is a bitter revenge plot.
Calling the Source
I discreetly backed away toward the quiet corner near the reception area, pulling out my phone. I needed to get ahead of the story before Rena or her cousin, Heeguk, could spin this into something damaging.
I called Chaeyoung. She picked up on the first ring.
"Chaeyoung, listen carefully. Rena Lim is here. Inmo just had a very public, very heated confrontation with her and basically ordered her to leave the funeral home. She's furious and embarrassed," I whispered into the phone.
"Oh, no," Chaeyoung breathed. "That's bad. How public was it?"
"Public enough for her to feel humiliated. She'll run straight to her cousin, Heeguk Lim, and he will be out for blood. I need you to do two things immediately."
"Go on," she said, her voice shifting into full professional mode.
"First, call Ms. Seo. Tell her we need a preemptive statement ready right now. Something simple: 'Despite the family's wishes for privacy, certain individuals, including an ex-girlfriend, attempted to cause a disturbance and were asked to leave by the family, out of respect for the deceased.' We have to frame Rena as the troublemaker before she paints herself as the heartbroken ex who was cruelly kicked out."
"Got it. Preemptive strike, framing her as disrespectful."
"Second, and this is crucial: that number I had written in my book, Seonghee Shim, the one who 'works at H*P Mall' and is 'free this Monday'?"
"Yes, the one you mentioned when Heeguk asked for a 'bone'."
"I think it's time to give Heeguk that bone. Tell Ms. Seo to leak the name Seonghee Shim to a different reporter—someone trustworthy, not Heeguk—and spin it as a positive, innocent scoop about Inkang's social circle, just to keep the press focused on something non-funeral-related. It's a distraction."
"You're trading a minor scoop to avoid a major scandal. Smart. And what about Inmo? He was pretty aggressive."
I sighed, watching Inkang from a distance, surrounded by mourners, bravely accepting condolences. "Inmo was protecting his brother. If the press asks, I'll take the fall. I was the one who was jealous and told Inmo she was causing a scene. I'm an actress; I can handle the gossip. Inkang needs to mourn in peace."
"You're a good partner, Ajin. I'll get started right now. Stay strong."
I hung up, slipping the phone back into my pocket. The battle with the press, with Rena, and with Heeguk had just begun, but for now, Inkang was safe to grieve.
Junseo's words hung in the air, cold and definitive. "If you've understood what I'm saying, go home. I'll just pretend you actually care about our grandma's death."
Rena Lim stood there, utterly paralyzed. Her face, moments ago a mask of manufactured grief, was now contorted with genuine fury and humiliation. Being accused of being an "obsessive stalker" by Inkang's older brother, and threatened with police and press exposure, had completely shattered her public persona.
"OBSESSIVE STALKER?! IS HE FRIGGIN' KIDDING ME!?" she thought, clicking her high heels on the polished floor as she turned to retreat. She managed a few enraged steps before the intense pressure of the confrontation and the sudden physical effort of her swift, angry exit overwhelmed her. Her steps became clumsy, and with a yelp, she lost her balance.
THUD!
Rena collapsed dramatically onto the floor, the sound echoing in the solemn hallway. The sight was part genuine collapse, part final, desperate attempt at drawing attention. Tears of frustration, not sorrow, streaked down her cheeks.
Junseo simply looked down at her, his expression unmoved. He had made his statement, and he was done. He glanced back towards the main family room where Inkang was greeting Director Park. His primary goal was to protect his brother, and this distraction was over.
"I-I'm so sorry. Are you okay?" Rena weakly called out, her voice cracking. She was desperate for any form of acknowledgment or sympathy, but Junseo merely walked away, leaving her crumpled on the floor.
Ajin's Calculated Move
Ajin, who had stepped away for her private call to Chaeyoung, saw the commotion from a distance. The theatrical thud confirmed her fears: Rena would not leave quietly. However, the sight of Rena on the floor also confirmed the success of Junseo's harsh intervention. Rena was broken, at least for now.
Ajin knew that this humiliation would lead directly to Heeguk Lim, Rena's cousin and the reporter Ajin had deliberately antagonized earlier. The "obsessive stalker" angle was a hand grenade, and Heeguk would use it to burn everything down unless Ajin moved faster.
She finished her call with Chaeyoung, who was already putting the preemptive damage control plan into effect. Ms. Seo was preparing a statement to preemptively frame Rena as the disturbance at a private funeral.
Ajin's gaze settled on Inkang. He was still standing tall, receiving guests, clearly doing his best to honor his grandmother despite his grief. The earlier moment of raw emotion, where he cried on Ajin's shoulder, felt like a lifetime ago.
"You're going to get through this," she murmured, echoing the promise she'd made to him earlier.
She had to ensure that the fallout from Rena's exit wouldn't reach him. The press would now have two conflicting stories: Rena's, painting her as a victim of a cruel family, and the family's, painting her as a disruptive figure at a solemn event.
Ajin decided to reinforce the message. She walked past the spot where Rena had collapsed, not even looking down, and went straight to Junseo.
"Junseo," she said softly, touching his arm. "That was necessary. Thank you."
He sighed, his eyes still holding a hint of steel. "I hate having to do things like that, but she was never going to stop. She had no respect."
"I know. Now, go back to Inkang. He needs you there. I'll make a final sweep of the area. Just in case there are any lurking reporters left behind."
Ajin was prepared to physically escort any remaining press out, or even take an unwanted photo of her looking "jealous"—anything to divert the spotlight from Inkang's legitimate grief. The game of public perception had escalated, but for Ajin, protecting Inkang was always the only winning strategy.
The most immediate threat Ajin needs to prepare for next is Heeguk Lim's retaliatory article.
Rena is going directly to her cousin, the disgruntled reporter, with a story of her public humiliation. Heeguk will be motivated to use this highly dramatic narrative—"Heartbroken Idol Actress Humiliated by Cruel Family at Funeral"—to attack both Inkang (for being cold and unfeeling) and Junseo (for his aggressive, threatening behavior). Ajin's preemptive statement through Ms. Seo is a good defense, but Heeguk's article will be the immediate, aggressive media fire that needs to be put out.