The Accidental Call

[Ah, a perfectly pitched ball! Player Seo Junwon strikes out Lee Jinsung, concluding the bottom of the sixth inning with a score of 2-0.]

[That last pitch was exceptional, wasn’t it?]

[Indeed. When it was announced that Player Seo Junwon would be pitching today, there was considerable concern among fans. Rumors circulated that he might be mentally struggling due to yesterday’s ceremonial first pitch, but he has thoroughly dispelled those worries. He truly is a player with strong mental fortitude.]

[Yes. I was also a little worried, but I heard Director Kim say earlier that everything was fortunately resolved well with actor Lee Inwoo. Since it wasn’t intentional, Mr. Lee Inwoo’s side understood the situation.]

[Haha, what a relief. I’m grateful myself.]

Ha. Inwoo sat cross-legged on his bed, glaring at the TV screen, and scoffed. Resolved well, my foot.

Just then, Seo Junwon’s face reappeared on the TV screen. Perhaps it was the cap pulled low and the uniform, but he looked distinctly different from the man Inwoo had seen last night.

His eyes and expression were so cold, Inwoo almost wondered if it was truly the same man he had encountered yesterday.

Seo Youngmin, who had visited him in the hospital, had just left with his secretary. Beside Inwoo, Dakyung sat with her chin propped in her hand, intently watching the baseball game.

“Don’t you think he looks better on screen than most actors?”

“Not really.”

“Look closely. His shoulders are so broad! Oh, I wish I could take him in and nurture him. Doesn’t he have a completely actor-like face?”

“No, he has a dolt’s face.”

“Just look closer. Oh my, oh my, look at that impeccable stance.”

Dakyung seemed on the verge of drooling, so Inwoo used the remote to push up her chin. “You’re drooling. Gross.”

Annoyed, he tried to change the channel, but Dakyung swiftly snatched the remote and hid it behind her back.

“Hey, give it back.”

“Just a moment. I just want to watch a little longer. This is a really important game today.”

“I’m going to watch a movie. Hand over the remote, now.”

“Please. Just one more inning.”

Her uncharacteristic pleading finally made Inwoo give up. He flung himself onto the bed, sprawling out.

What’s so interesting about baseball anyway? An actor’s face? Ha. He’d be lucky not to faint while acting. He’d probably be good at roles where he has to run away. He seemed pretty nimble back then.

Dakyung was now munching on snacks as she watched the game. Inwoo turned away from the TV screen and started playing his favorite game on his phone.

However, despite his efforts to ignore it, every mention of Seo Junwon’s name grated on his nerves, and his head kept turning towards the screen. Ultimately, he couldn’t bear it and plugged in his earphones.

[I’ve been discharged. Thank you for your concern.]

The Inwoo in the phone message was incredibly different from the Lee Inwoo he had seen yesterday. He looked a little tired and unwell, which only made him appear more ethereal. The face that had asked if he wanted to ‘open a hole and eat’ was nowhere to be found.

He’s already been discharged. Is he fully recovered now?

Memories of that night in the hospital room flooded back, and Junwon ended up tossing and turning until morning. He had almost ruined the game. He couldn’t even recall how he had played.

Perhaps it was the release of tension, but drowsiness washed over him as soon as he got into the car. His manager, who was behind the wheel, looked at Junwon and asked,

“Are you going home?”

Junwon nodded, gazing out the window. The streets, now shrouded in darkness, bustled with people. The chill in the air had prompted thicker clothing, and he saw not only families with children but also many couples walking arm-in-arm.

The car briefly stopped at a traffic light, and Junwon’s expression instantly changed. An electronics store stood by the roadside, with a large photo of Lee Inwoo displayed prominently at its entrance. It was a laptop advertisement, for the same model Junwon himself used.

He stared at the smiling face in the photo with a bitter expression. I thought he might contact me, just once, to ask if I was alright. A wave of disappointment and humiliation washed over him, yet he understood.

First, I ran away, then I fainted. He probably thinks I’m useless for my size and is disappointed in me.

As the car started moving, Lee Inwoo’s face gradually receded. Junwon gripped his phone and unlocked the pattern. Lee Inwoo’s photo was still his background.

Should I contact him first? Would it seem too clingy? He bit his surprisingly plump lower lip, lost in thought.

The director had given him the number. Although he hadn’t called after receiving it, the mere fact of possessing his number made his heart pound rapidly. Staring at the eleven digits, a groan and a sigh escaped his lips simultaneously.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

During a brief stop, Taehoon leaned across the passenger seat, and Junwon hastily hid his phone under his thigh.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

“You’re suspicious. Are you dating?”

“Dating? What are you talking about? I’m too busy for that.”

“Why is it that everyone says they’re busy, but they manage to date just fine? Come on, meet some women. Anyway, you’ll soon be—”

–Hello?–

Both men’s faces stiffened at the sudden, unfamiliar voice. Taehoon glanced at his own phone in the holder, wondering if the sound was coming from there. But it was coming from an entirely different place.

“Hey, Junwon. Did your thigh just speak?”

The voice came again. –Hello?–

Junwon belatedly realized what was happening and pulled out the phone that had been trapped under his thigh. His face went as white as if he’d been dusted with flour as he frantically checked the screen.

“Agh!”

As he shrieked, an angry voice from the receiver asked, –Who is this?– Junwon hastily held the phone with both hands and brought it to his ear.

–”Hello?”–

–Hello?–

–”Yes, Mr. Inwoo… It’s me. Seo Junwon.”–

–Ah… Yes. What’s the matter?–

–”I’m sorry… Nothing’s wrong… I was just sitting here… and my thigh called, no, I mean…”–

Flustered, Junwon stammered incoherently. My thigh called? What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that? He wanted to sew his mouth shut, but the other person had already heard everything. Yet, the other person offered no reply.

–”C-can you hear me? Hello?”–

–Yes. I’m listening. Speak.–

Was it his imagination? At the slightly cold voice, Junwon squeezed his eyes shut. He’s angry.

Taehoon, who was making a right turn, mouthed, ‘Who? Lee Inwoo?’ Junwon quickly covered the phone with his hand and gestured for him to pull over. As the car stopped by the roadside, Junwon quickly got out and hurried to a secluded spot.

–”You must have been very surprised yesterday, right? Because I suddenly fainted…”–

–Yes. I was a little surprised. It sounds like you’re doing well, hearing your voice.–

–”Yes. I’m fine. I’m not usually weak, you know. I hope you don’t misunderstand. I definitely don’t have any chronic illnesses or anything like that. But I was just so nervous… I guess it was because of the tension.”–

–It’s a relief to hear you’re not sick.–

–”Yes, thank you for your concern.”–

–Not at all. Don’t mention it.–

–”Oh, and you’ve been discharged, right? Congratulations.”–

Just then, another voice could be heard from the receiver. It wasn’t loud, but it was distinctly an adult male’s voice. A rustling sound, as if someone had covered the phone, was followed by silence. Junwon’s slightly flushed expression instantly crumbled. Soon, Inwoo’s voice returned.

–I’m sorry, but let’s talk later. I’m busy right now.–

–”Yes, ah! I’m sorry. I must have called too late. I’ll hang up. Please get some sleep… And have good dreams.”–

The other party said nothing. He wondered if Inwoo had hung up, but he hadn’t. He said, –”Hello?”– again, and Inwoo’s voice continued.

–You sleep well too.–

–”Yes…”– Before Junwon could finish his reply, Inwoo hung up first. Even after the call ended, Junwon couldn’t take his eyes off his phone.

He slumped onto a chair in front of an empty shop. Gripping the phone tightly in his hand, he stared straight ahead, a hollow laugh escaping him. Not even my name, just ‘you.’ What was I foolishly hoping for?

Just then, Taehoon got out of the driver’s seat and approached.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Junwon rubbed his face, then stood up. Concerned by his unusual behavior, Taehoon came right up to him and checked his complexion.

“What happened? Was that Lee Inwoo on the phone? Why did he call? What did he say?”

–”No… It’s nothing… Let’s go.”–

As he walked towards the car, the phone in his hand vibrated. Junwon, without thinking, picked it up and checked it. His eyes widened instantly. It was Lee Inwoo’s number, the one he had just finished talking to.

He looked at Taehoon.

–”Hyung. Just a moment.”–

Turning, he headed towards an alley, bringing the phone to his ear. –Hello?– Lee Inwoo’s voice came through the receiver.

–Mr. Junwon. Are you outside right now?–

–”Huh? Oh, yes…”–

–I’m sorry, but if you’re not busy, could you come here for a moment?–

–”Now? Where… where is ‘here’?”–

–I’m still at the hospital.–

Junwon, who had been walking quickly, stopped dead.

–”Weren’t you discharged?”–

–The reporters were camping out, so I posted that on social media. I’m dying of boredom, but my manager took the car, so I can’t move.–

Junwon’s eyes widened. Taehoon was waiting for him by the car, some distance away.

–If you don’t want to, that’s fine.–

–”No! I’d love to!”–

A small laugh was heard from the receiver, and Junwon covered his face again. This crazy idiot. This space-cadet. I couldn’t play hard to get, but I shouldn’t have made it so obvious. It was useless to regret it now.

–I’ll be waiting.–

The nuance of I’ll be waiting made his heart pound. In a brief moment, he felt as if he had traveled between heaven and hell. A sunny smile slowly began to spread across Junwon’s previously darkened face.

–”I’ll be there soon. Please wait for me…”–