After finishing his makeup at the shop, Jae Ho headed to the studio without a moment to catch his breath. Byung Hoon, tense from the long day ahead, gripped the steering wheel tightly.

“Wow. It’s tough to work after so long. Elder brother, aren’t you tired?”

“I’m fine. You get some sleep when the interview starts.”

Stylist Soo Mi, who joined them halfway, didn’t hold back her praise for Jae Ho, saying he looked even more handsome than before. She observed his still excessively good-looking face from various angles.

“You’ve become even more handsome. And you’re smiling more. What’s this? Elder brother, did you get a girlfriend?”

As an irrepressible smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, Jae Ho slightly lowered his head. It was worrisome how his expressions were so transparent – how would he continue acting like this? Fortunately, Soo Mi didn’t seem to notice.

“Well, what woman could there be for Lee Jae Ho? He’s like a Buddha. Sigh. By the way, elder brother, your hair’s gotten a bit long? Should we have trimmed it? Lift your head a bit.”

Jae Ho managed his expression and looked straight ahead.

“It’s not long enough to trim… But compared to when we were filming ‘The Gray Man’, my image has softened a bit. Is that okay? The feeling is different from the movie image.”

“This much is fine. You can go as is.”

“Strange. Why does this elder brother keep smiling?”

Soo Mi said bluntly as she organized her makeup bag.

**

The three lead actors of ‘The Gray Man’ gathered in one place after a long time. Lee Jae Ho. Go Sang Hyuk. Woo Min Jae. They were all the same age. At first, everyone was awkward, but they became close while filming and now could call each other friends.

Although there was still plenty of time before the expected spring release next year, they had already scheduled an interview because of Jae Ho. Jae Ho judged that he might have a long break in the near future.

He wanted to wrap up what needed to be done before that. Since he was in Seoul anyway, he wanted to get it over with, so after asking everyone’s understanding, he set the date for today.

“Everyone’s face looks much better? Especially Lee Jae Ho. What did you do to your face?”

“Nothing at all.”

“My back muscles are still sore. The director really put us through the wringer.”

Go Sang Hyuk grumbled. As they greeted each other and checked the question sheet, the set-up was completed.

“Hello! I’m reporter Han Yu Ra! Today we’ve prepared a happy meeting with the three handsome lead actors of the movie ‘The Gray Man’. Shall we start with an introduction of the movie?”

Although there were three lead actors, in terms of screen time, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it Jae Ho’s solo lead, so most questions were directed at him. Despite the long interview, Jae Ho remained composed and relaxed throughout the filming.

“Lee Jae Ho! You gave a passionate performance as ‘Kim Hyuk’, blinded by revenge. While all scenes were great, especially! In the scene where you take revenge on your old friend who caused you to break up with your lover, all the staff gave a standing ovation. How did you feel while filming that scene?”

Jae Ho took the microphone.

“Um… Just, I’ll kill him…?”

The audience laughed a little. A gentle smile also appeared at the corners of Jae Ho’s eyes.

“That’s how it really was. Kim Hyuk is a character who can’t forget the false accusations he suffered. In a way, you could say he’s obsessed with the past. He can’t live for the future without resolving that issue. It was a character that had some similarities with my actual personality. So, I just thought, I have to kill this guy no matter what. That was my only thought.”

“Specifically, which aspects are similar to your personality, Lee Jae Ho?”

“Hmm. I know how to wait a long time for a goal. And I don’t waste that waiting time. The obsessive personality too. I also show obsession in certain areas, and like Kim Hyuk’s lines, I don’t particularly want to change that.”

“Wow. Lee Jae Ho and obsession. I’m excited to feel the charm of a bad boy! May I ask what kind of obsession it might be?”

In his downcast gaze, an autumn sea was reflected. His heart ached as if he could see the shadow of a woman crouched under a pine tree, feeding a cat.

“Um. It’s a bit abstract, but something like a certain kindness.”

“?”

“Yes. I seem to be obsessed with… a kind personality.”

After giving this puzzling answer, he smiled as if satisfied.

The microphone was passed to the next actor. Jae Ho thought about Da Jung. He wanted to kiss every knuckle of her fingers and whisper love. He deeply missed that seaside where he could do that as much as he wanted, if he just set his mind to it.

It was paradise. A place beyond compare.

Coming to Seoul, he felt it. How far apart we are. The daily life where he could walk just ten steps and knock on her door was only possible there.

In about a week, the month by the sea will end and they’ll have to return to Seoul. A place where they have to devote more time to practical life than each other’s embrace, and where they have to get used to situations where they might not meet for over a week if they’re unlucky.

His throat was parched. Jae Ho was suddenly overwhelmed with anxiety that Da Jung seemed too far away.

“Now, for an off-topic question. Lee Jae Ho! Have you ever wanted to take revenge on someone as desperately as Kim Hyuk?”

Ha Jae Woo.

For a moment, the name flashed through his mind like lightning.

The teacher suspected of starting the fire. That psychopath bastard.

There was nothing the young and powerless Jae Ho could do. Despite much evidence pointing to arson, he couldn’t ask why the investigation was closed.

Ha Jae Woo, released without charges, disappeared somewhere, and who was the greater power silencing the bereaved families.

Jae Ho was biding his time, sharpening his knife. His confidant, Manager Jung, had an excellent talent for finding people by any means necessary.

Therefore, he would surely find Ha Jae Woo someday, and when that time comes, Jae Ho will judge him without a moment’s hesitation.

But he couldn’t say that.

“Revenge? That’s preposterous. As I said, I’m a kind person.”

Haha, everyone laughed a little.

“Yes. You must indeed be a kind person. Because your interpersonal relationships are really good. No, everyone. This is a completely unintended situation, but why is Oh Chae Won here in our studio! She says she was passing by and dropped in to support Lee Jae Ho after hearing about his interview. I’ve heard it’s not easy to maintain good relationships with co-stars from previous works, but you two are amazing!”

The studio became briefly noisy. The camera panned to the back of the stage to find Oh Chae Won, who waved with a bright smile.

A small voice shouting “Elder brother!” was picked up by the audio.

It was a situation where he couldn’t not respond to the greeting. Jae Ho briefly waved back and then asked the director.

“Are you going to use this, Director?”

“Well. We’ll have to see after editing.”

“Don’t use it.”

And before the director could respond, he continued.

“I’ll take more questions. This isn’t a variety show. This scene is too out of place.”

Jae Ho’s brow furrowed deeply.

The night he finally had Da Jung, succumbing to his bursting desire. The meaning of the emotion Da Jung showed when she saw Oh Chae Won on TV was jealousy. Probably.

Jae Ho didn’t realize it right away either. That night, he was no better than a beast, unable to think of anything but Yoon Da Jung’s nape.

But after calming down and thinking for a few days, he realized that Da Jung’s words meant she was uncomfortable with the female co-star.

In any case, she was a woman who drove him crazy in all sorts of ways.

How cute was her sulkiness, beating around the bush because she couldn’t say she was jealous. The day Jae Ho realized Da Jung’s true feelings, blood rushed to his lower abdomen all day. That night, he really tormented Da Jung without giving her a moment to breathe.

Remembering that night when she accepted him with a pouty, jealous face, he felt heavy down there again. As it would be absolutely unacceptable for this to show during the interview, Jae Ho took a long, deep breath.

“Anyway, Director, let’s just use the interview content. Please.”

Although her jealous expression was truly a sight to behold, he didn’t want to hurt Da Jung just to see that face again. Lee Jae Ho had no intention of creating any more points of contact with Oh Chae Won.

“Let’s do that.”

After finally getting the director’s confirmation, he smiled slightly.

**

“Then for the last question! We don’t know much about Lee Jae Ho’s school days, but if there was such a handsome student, I’m sure he must have been incredibly popular. I’m curious how popular you were! This is a question directly from the fans!”

“I wasn’t very popular.”

“Come on. You’re being too modest.”

The reporter continued with praise, saying he was putting himself down too much.

“No, really.”

Jae Ho smiled slightly, lifting the corners of his mouth. Then, hesitating a bit, he parted his lips.

“There was a friend who shone brighter than me. He had a warm appearance, so all the popularity went to him.”

“That’s surprising! It’s hard to believe. You must have been quite jealous!”

Jae Ho slowly closed and opened his eyes.

“No.”

“……”

“He was my best friend. Actually, his personality was even better than his looks. He knew how to help struggling friends and was unnecessarily considerate. On top of that, he was good at studying too. Just… a cheat character. I liked him. I hoped that everything would remain unchanged for a very long time, just like that.”

“……”

“That friend also dreamed of becoming an actor, and if he had become one, he would certainly have been a much better actor than me.”

The reporter exchanged signals with the director and prepared to wrap up the interview.

“Hearing you speak, he sounds like he was really amazing! It would have been great to see the two of you together on screen. Sometimes it seems like God is unfair. Giving someone looks, personality, and brains, I’m getting jealous just listening. What has that friend become now after giving up on becoming an actor?”

Wrong. God is fair. And precisely so, without the slightest error.

He confirmed that fairness by taking Yoon Woo Jung, who had been given everything, early. As if Woo Jung staying in the world longer would be evidence of God’s unfairness, He hastily took him away. Jae Ho struggled to lift his expression that was slowly distorting.

What have you become?

“He’ll be at school.”

He was still a student. The reporter then said with a somewhat regretful face.

“Wow. So he became a teacher? I envy the students!”

Wrapping up the interview, the reporter suggested sending a video letter to his friend. Jae Ho’s face became blank for a moment.

“……I’ll pass.”

Still, he didn’t have the courage to send his regards.