“I think you can try contacting her tomorrow. I sized her up, and I don’t think things will go badly. She seemed urgent, and more than anything, scared. She dipped her hands into it for immediate benefits, but I’m sure she must be uneasy. Above all, I think she’s thinking about her daughter, unlike how she looks.”
-There are many vicious criminals who are endlessly warm towards their families. Rather than that, you actually dealt with the whole thing in less than an hour after you got separated from me. I thought it would take at least a few days.
“I find that delaying matters like these usually lead to trouble. It’s also a lot more comfortable for me to do them as fast as possible. Anyway, you should call her tomorrow.”
-I will. But hey, you were brought up to the surface. Is that okay with you?
“She’ll definitely keep quiet. She knows that her life is on the line. Also, I should help out a little.”
-Well, I’m thankful since it makes my job a lot easier, but still….
Dongwook trailed off as though he was worried. Maru sniffed before replying,
“Don’t worry. I’ll push your back when it comes to the really dangerous stuff. Don’t tell me that you’re disappointed in me later. That’s just the kind of guy I am.”
Maru hung up before returning to his home. He washed away the chill covering his body with a warm shower. While he got washed, he heard the two dogs jumping around in the kitchen. They probably wanted some food.
After giving them some food, he turned on the TV. Back when he lived by himself, he usually never watched TV, but ever since he started living with Gaeul, he started hating the silence in the living room. He brought a handful of nuts and a can of beer before sitting down on the sofa. He hadn’t drank by himself for a while. He happened to see Sooil holding some beer on a TV ad too. He flicked the can of beer in the air —For the smooth success of the project, cheers.
He watched a documentary talking about the dangers of obesity for a while before changing the channel. There was a program telling the news about the entertainment industry. He put down the remote control and focused on the screen. There were actors trying to promote the movies that were about to be released, talking about interesting, and sometimes dangerous episodes, they had during the shooting. They then finished it off by asking the audience for support. The screen switched back to the studio, and the main host was on camera.
-The next news comes from the actor Lee Heewon. We’ll hear the details from Miss Nayoung, who is at the scene. Miss Nayoung, I heard you’ve met Mr. Heewon, yes?
The scene changed again. A reporter wearing a denim overall skirt picked up the conversation.
-Hello everyone. Sorry for making you wait. I’ve finally met Mr. Lee Heewon. Let us get right to the interview of Mr. Lee Heewon, who has received a lot of popularity for his acting in the drama ‘Doctors.’ To the pojang-macha we go.
The dogs sat down below the sofa. They liked jumping around excitedly, but they liked watching TV just as much. Sometimes, Maru wondered if they were human when they danced along to a music program. While Maru petted their heads, the reporter went into the pojang-macha on the street. Heewon was sitting down in a cramped corner.
-Hello, Mr. Lee Heewon. It’s been a long while.
-Yes, I think it’s been quite long since I last did an interview.
-There are many people who want to see you. Why do you not do any interviews?
-I just like staying at home. I also don’t have the energy to do anything once I’m done acting. I only managed to show up since I finished the drama.
-You’re just like the rumors say. You said once before that you wish to stay at home and do nothing for a whole month, right? You should have some time since the drama is over. Are you really staying at home?
-That was the plan, but my little brother won’t let me be.
-Your brother is currently acting as your manager, right? It’s quite well-known among the fans. You two are known to be quite close.
-It’s because everyone doesn’t know his true self. He is so vicious and simply can’t see me resting for a single instant. Actually, I wanted to rest at home and not do this interview, but my brother forced me out.
-You say that, but you actually worry about your brother a lot, don’t you? Your post on instagram became quite a hot topic. You wrote that you were always grateful while uploading a photo of your brother sleeping.
-I’m always grateful to him since it’s thanks to him that I got into acting. It’s just, you know, just because I’m grateful to him doesn’t mean that he can’t be annoying sometimes. Haewon, please get some rest, so that I can get some rest too.
Heewon spoke while looking straight into the camera. That probably wasn’t on the script and came from his true heart. Maru watched the interview for a while over some beer before standing up. He made some food to eat tomorrow before cleaning his house that had been messed up by the dogs. When he came back to the living room after taking out the sock that Woofie had pushed underneath the bed, the interview was coming to an end. After having an on-the-spot fan meetup and giving them a hug, Heewon returned to the pojang-macha.
-I wish I could talk to you some more, but you have something to do, don’t you?
-I’ll get dragged around by my brother again. I really wish I can stay here a little longer and enjoy this bowl of udon.
The reporter covered her mouth with the questions sheet and laughed. Meanwhile, Heewon glanced outside the scene before stuffing his mouth with some udon. He was probably looking at Haewon. Maru could clearly see that Heewon was trying to eat some carbs with the interview as an excuse. He could already picture Heewon being scolded by Haewon after the shoot.
-Lastly, I must announce some unfortunate news. Mr. Heewon, I heard that you were going to get drafted soon?
Heewon put the bowl down and replied,
-Yes. I can’t tell you the specific time, but I’m getting drafted early next year. I already have a date.
-You’re twenty-five this year, aren’t you? You’re at the age where you should be focusing on work. Don’t you find it a little bit of a pity?
-Many people around me told me that. I should be focusing on work, I can’t miss this golden time, I should row while there’s still water – I don’t think they’re wrong. However, this is the right time for me. It’s the perfect time to go to the military. I’ve never done something seriously ever since I was young. I only focused on wasting my time as much as possible and acting was the first thing I put so much effort into. Though even that was something I started because I was pushed to do so because of a friend. Now, however, it’s my everything. I luckily managed to make a debut, and I received a lot of attention from the people and was told that I’m pretty good, but the way I see it, I’m still starting off and insufficient. I don’t think right now is my golden period. I believe that I should experience a little more of life and prepare to leap even further. That’s why I decided to get drafted. I thought I needed some time to show more things in my acting.
Heewon again spoke while looking straight into the camera. There was even a sense of desperation in his voice. He showed with his words and expression that the decision to get enlisted came after deep consideration and deep thought about his acting career. Anyone would cheer for him after seeing that.
Maru nodded while listening to his manly words before frowning. Something didn’t feel right. While he was caught off-guard by the graveness in his voice, Lee Heewon was not someone who would speak so logically. Instead, it was Haewon who was on the more logical side.
In the past, Heewon chose to get enlisted to get a break. He said his objective was to escape from the tight schedule, as well as Haewon who enforced that tight schedule upon both of them. Was he acting? If he said ‘I’m tired of work, so I’m taking a break’ while laughing like a fool at his last interview before getting enlisted, it would probably tarnish his reputation, so he may be using his acting skills to cover things up.
Having come up with a rather plausible-sounding deduction, Maru started laughing. He should probably be able to find out the truth if he gave the guy a call later.
-I heard that your brother is getting joint-drafted with you. Is that true?
-Yes.
For the first time in his fluid answers, Heewon gave a curt answer. Although it was for a brief moment, he couldn’t maintain his expression either. He frowned like a mosquito had landed on his ear. Although he proficiently smiled right after that, Maru could see how much he disliked that situation as he knew full well about Heewon’s nature.
“So it was acting.”
Maru sat down on the sofa and watched the rest of the interview. The reporter finished off as the OST for ‘Doctors’ started flowing out.
-I enjoyed the interview today. Thank you.
-Me too.
-Please come again once you get discharged.
-I will.
-Finally, you should tell something to our audience. There must be a lot of fans who will be disappointed to not see you for a long time.
Heewon turned around on his chair. He clasped his hands and put them on his lap.
-I was really happy that everyone cheered for me and gave me a lot of support when I’m very insufficient. Since this is the start, not the end, I will try my best to do even better in the future. Also, it’s not like you’ll stop seeing me immediately, so don’t feel too disappointed. To give you a little hint, I am doing one final piece before I get enlisted.
The reporter asked back in surprise,
-Really? Looking at the timing, it must be a film.
-Yes. But I’m not the lead character. I don’t have the time for that either. I’m just a cameo that will appear briefly, but this is something I’m doing with a really good director and someone I’ve always wanted to act with, so I’m planning to do my best.
-Even just as a cameo, I’m sure many of your fans will be happy to see you on screen.
-Don’t expect too much. I might not show up that much. In fact, I might be edited out.
-No way, that won’t happen, will it?
The camera backed off and captured the two of them at once. The reporter took a bow and finished off with a closing commentary, while Heewon waved both of his hands in the air. The main host came back on screen again. The segment ended with the main host saying that he would look forward to Mr. Lee Hewon’s last acting performance before getting enlisted. Maru watched with his arms crossed. He recalled the brothers saying something ominous during the afterparty: Please take care of me.
“No way, right?”
While his mouth denied it, his head whispered to him that it was probably right.
