After exchanging some pleasantries, just as Seungjun was about to offer his parting remarks, the others, who had been awkwardly exchanging glances and stalling, seized upon a new topic to detain him.
“But you know, about the next storyboard assignment.”
“That’s in two weeks, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s not about the schedule, but rather… we were hoping to collaborate on it next time. Of course, you’re exceptionally skilled, but we’d appreciate it if you could incorporate some of our ideas and allow us to share the responsibilities.”
‘They had indeed divided the roles this time, but it had all been a disaster, leaving him to redo everything himself. While there was a high probability the next assignment would follow a similar pattern, there was no point in arguing about it now. Ultimately, everything would inevitably pass through his hands.’
“Yes.”
Seungjun responded without an ounce of enthusiasm, then promptly exited the lecture hall.
With the presentation finally over, a wave of hunger washed over Seungjun, perhaps a delayed reaction to the release of tension. As he hurried along, a familiar figure came into view: Nam Yiwon. He was unmistakable, with a flamboyant top that seemed fit for a celebrity and a height that towered a full head above everyone else. Seungjun could hear the muffled chatter of those who were desperately trying to sling an arm around Nam Yiwon’s broad shoulders.
“Hey, so was his dad really in the closet? Was it the protagonist’s father who killed his friend, or the friend’s parents? Just tell me that much. I’m dying of curiosity!”
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”
“You’re insane! What do you mean you don’t know?”
“Haha. It’s enough if it was entertaining.”
“But it really was fun. The novel, though, was incredibly tedious. It was a short story, but I couldn’t focus, so it took me two whole days to read it.”
“Exactly. Don’t pay any attention to people calling it a mediocre work or anything like that. They’re just talking.”
‘Seungjun adjusted the backpack slung casually over one shoulder, his brow furrowed in a frown. They were talking about him.’
‘Ignorance truly bred boldness, Seungjun mused. Surrounded by such constant praise, it was no wonder Nam Yiwon had the audacity to present such a mediocre piece as an assignment. His supposedly brilliant award history was, in all likelihood, nothing more than a product of his connections. Just as Seungjun let out a scoff and prepared to quicken his pace, the person whose arm was still awkwardly wrapped around Nam Yiwon’s shoulder spoke again.’
“Are there only one or two people who talk about you like that? It’s all just blatant jealousy.”
‘…Jealousy?’
‘Jealousy of what? His ability to haphazardly stitch together scenes from countless trashy dramas? Or perhaps of the sycophants surrounding him, desperate to flatter him until their mouths went dry?’
Seungjun twisted his lips into a sardonic smile, then lifted his gaze. Beside Nam Yiwon’s dark head, a glimpse of his cheek appeared, and then, as Nam Yiwon tilted his head back slightly, the finely creased corner of his eye became visible. His jet-black pupils sparkled with an unsettling clarity.
Nam Yiwon showed no surprise whatsoever upon seeing the very subject of their conversation standing directly behind him.
As if he had known all along.
Or perhaps, as if he simply didn’t care in the slightest.
“I know.”
He replied, a wide, knowing grin spreading across his face.
****
“You seem to be in a better mood today, don’t you? You’re even eating in front of me.”
Seungjun ignored Nam Yiwon, who was chattering incessantly from across the table, and scooped up a spoonful of the steaming stew. Though he had only managed a single bottle of soju the previous night, his stomach still burned. He couldn’t discern if it was merely a hangover or the persistent irritation caused by the unwelcome presence who sought him out daily.
Nam Yiwon sampled a bit of the japchae before promptly setting his spoon down. The cafeteria was renowned for its nutritious and flavorful menu, yet it appeared incapable of satisfying his discerning palate. He was clearly only sitting there, feigning a meal, purely because of Seungjun.
‘What does that guy usually eat? Does he have lobster for lunch or something?’
While Seungjun attempted to clear his cluttered mind with such trivial musings, Nam Yiwon, propping his chin in one hand, continued to chatter gleefully.
“You seem to eat here every time? Well, the cafeteria is convenient because it’s close by. There’s no need to go far, and it’s easy to grab a quick meal with people. Everyone’s busy, right?”
“…”
“But earlier, I noticed a lot of people heading out for lunch. Do you usually eat alone, senior?”
‘The urge to tell him to shut his mouth clawed its way to Seungjun’s throat, but the food currently occupying it provided a timely reprieve. Any normal person would have felt awkward after receiving no reply for several minutes, yet Nam Yiwon remained utterly unfazed. Instead, he merely continued to observe Seungjun eating, his eyes bright and keenly focused, an act that utterly repulsed Seungjun.’
‘Why is this crazy bastard doing this to me? It’s been ages since he graduated; surely he isn’t trying to get revenge for something from a critique class now.’
‘Revenge was hardly a word that suited Nam Yiwon. He wasn’t the sort to harbor resentment against anyone for an extended period. This wasn’t because he was “cool” and had no lingering grudges, but rather because he was a person who simply grew bored with things too easily.’
‘One could glean a general sense of Nam Yiwon’s personality by observing his dramas: a climax in every episode, characters whose moods shifted like boiling porridge, and storylines focused solely on immediate entertainment rather than long-term coherence.’
‘Perhaps this entire debacle was simply occurring because ‘co-directing with PD Baek Seungjun’ struck Nam Yiwon as the most amusing endeavor at this particular moment.’
Attempting to eat while staring at such an utterly unappetizing face made digestion impossible. Just as he was about to set down his spoon and rise, PD Gwak, passing by, clapped a hand on his shoulder.
“Seungjun, could you lend me Heeseung today?”
“She’s not here today.”
‘Lee Heeseung hadn’t shown up today. It seemed his threat to kill her if she dared to appear had proven effective. He wasn’t particularly concerned, however, knowing she was the type who would inevitably resurface tomorrow, unfazed, and throw herself back into work. PD Gwak, scrutinizing Seungjun’s composed demeanor, suddenly leaned forward and whispered into his ear.’
“Did she finally run away? Well, she did last a surprisingly long time.”
Glaring at PD Gwak, who was now chuckling as he walked away, Seungjun finally set down his spoon. ‘I need to barricade myself in the editing room soon,’ he thought. ‘Spending hours watching animals roam the jungle would be infinitely preferable to continuously dealing with people.’ He swallowed a sigh, lifting his gaze, and there was Nam Yiwon, propping his chin on his neatly clasped hands.
‘There it was again. That maddeningly amused expression.’
Nam Yiwon straightened his posture, his gaze unwavering from Seungjun. As he lowered his hands beneath the table, a polka-dotted tie came into view.
‘Even his tie is obnoxious,’ Seungjun muttered inwardly. As if he had somehow overheard the thought, Nam Yiwon’s eyes crinkled into a sly crescent shape.
“Did Lee Heeseung run away?”
‘He had witnessed Seungjun shouting at Heeseung and driving her away, yet he was now feigning complete ignorance. What a repulsive bastard.’ Seungjun, who had no patience for beating around the bush, stated the facts plainly.
“You saw everything yesterday. I told her to take a day off.”
“Kids these days aren’t like they used to be; they’ll run away at the slightest provocation. You should be a little gentler.”
“And have you ever experienced any hardship?”
“Senior, honestly. How do you think I got to this position without any effort?”
“Did you toil as an assistant director like Heeseung? No, you didn’t.”
‘This guy, who’d never served in the military, boasted excellent connections, and debuted without a hitch, had no business talking about ‘kids these days’ or ‘the past.’ Seungjun let out a disdainful snort, to which Nam Yiwon merely shrugged.’
“Of course, if being practically hoisted and thrown out by a senior much larger than myself counts as hardship, then no, I haven’t experienced it. For one, it’s hard to find anyone bigger than me at the broadcasting station, and usually, people don’t drag someone so much smaller than themselves out, do they?”
“You must not have seen it properly. She grabbed my collar first.”
“Really? Perhaps her hands were too small to notice. Your fist, senior, is practically the size of Lee Heeseung’s head.”
“This bastard, truly. Though Heeseung was nearly twenty centimeters shorter than Seungjun, she was no pushover. Seungjun glared at Nam Yiwon, who merely clicked his tongue, remarking that the ‘picture’ was quite unappealing.”
“If you scream at your superior and behave insolently, you deserve to be kicked out.”
“Ah. Is that why you were kicked out by your older sister, senior?”
‘Seungjun clamped his mouth shut. The longer this conversation with the lunatic continued, the more it would be to his detriment.’
‘From juniors who grabbed him by the collar to a maniac who stalked him and grated on his nerves, was he truly so unlucky with people? He almost wanted to consult a fortune teller, something he’d never once considered in his life. They say people turn to religion or superstition when they’re utterly exhausted.’
‘The only thing he could rely on was a cigarette.’ Seungjun abruptly rose, returned his tray, and fumbled in his pocket for his sole deity. As he naturally headed towards the smoking area, Nam Yiwon followed, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Given his considerable height, Nam Yiwon’s presence was quite substantial. Seungjun, making his annoyance blatantly obvious, waved him off.
“Just buzz off, will you?”
“What do you mean? I waited without even bringing up the main topic, just so you could eat comfortably, senior.”
“You still have something to say?”
“Of course. Don’t I need to show some sincerity to get your agreement?”
Seungjun sighed and walked ahead. Nam Yiwon, shortening his strides, maintained a steady distance behind him, following leisurely.
Upon reaching the smoking area, Seungjun pulled out his cigarette pack and faced Nam Yiwon. The latter stood with his hands clasped behind his back, giving him a brazen look, as if Seungjun owed him a cigarette. Seungjun casually offered the pack, and Nam Yiwon smiled, plucking out a single cigarette.
“I learned a lot living like this, you know. It’s like alcohol. Something you have to do to get along with people.”
Nam Yiwon added, unprompted. Even if they shared a drink and a smoke, would anyone truly feel comfortable talking to someone like him? Nam Yiwon, without hesitation, offered his lighter the moment Seungjun put the cigarette to his lips. He’d borrowed a cigarette, yet he was offering a light—what kind of nonsense was this? Seungjun reluctantly leaned his head towards the flame. After taking a drag, his voice emerged a little more lenient.
“Don’t you have anything else to do?”
“I am doing something, aren’t I?”
“I’m not doing the drama. How many times do I have to refuse? Does my opinion not matter?”
“Your opinion matters most, which is why I’m doing this every day, senior.”
As their conversation continued, the anger that had momentarily subsided with the cigarette began to slowly resurface. As if his claim about starting smoking to socialize wasn’t entirely empty, Nam Yiwon briefly touched the cigarette to his lips, then pulled it away, an unconvincing display. One couldn’t even call that ‘outer smoking.’