The Best of Tomorrow-Chapter 5Vol 2. .6

□ ■ □

Since our schedules didn’t align with PD Yang Ji-woon or PD Kim Myeong-hyeok, I ended up having lunch with Shim Won-jun alone. As we each held a cup of coffee and walked, we spotted a crowd gathering around a filming truck parked along the main road.

“They must be filming something.”

“Looks like it. Want to go see?”

At Shim Won-jun’s suggestion, I shook my head. Whatever it was, I didn’t care enough to push into a crowd and take a look. Shim Won-jun nodded like he understood, but then suddenly went, “Oh!” and stopped in his tracks. “It’s Mr. Seong-ok,” he said, and headed straight for the filming site.

Mr. Jeong Seong-ok was the driver who brought in the filming truck on the days of our show’s recording. He and Shim Won-jun had a pretty close friendship. I couldn’t just stand around awkwardly alone, so I followed after him.

Shim Won-jun tapped Jeong Seong-ok lightly on the side, and when Jeong turned his head, his face lit up. I stood a few steps away, watching the two of them talk. “Just got back from lunch,” “You uploaded a picture in period drama costume as your KakaoTalk profile pic—where was that taken?” That kind of trivial chatter.

I sipped my coffee and looked around.

“He’s handsome. Isn’t that the idol Chief Jo likes?”

“Yeah, they’re from a group called Potato Pancakes. I’m not really into idols, so I don’t know all the members’ names.”

“I should take a photo and show Chief Jo.”

My head snapped around. Potato Pancakes? I quickly walked over to them and looked for the widest gap in the sea of heads. I stood on tiptoe and peeked in. Staff were bustling about. I craned my neck and scanned the scene, and then—I spotted a very handsome face.

When I saw Seon-jae, a smile spread across my lips without me realizing, and my eyes went round. Whether it was before filming had started or during a break, he was having his hair touched up. Because he was tall, he bent slightly so the person could reach his head comfortably. A woman with several bags slung over her shoulders stood right in front of his face, carefully tidying each strand of his hair.

My boyfriend’s business. I think I’d seen that phrase on the internet before. Maybe this was what it meant. The woman with the tail comb in her pocket gently brushed Seon-jae’s lips with her index finger. Seon-jae quietly let her.

The office workers in front of me checked the time and started walking off. As the people blocking my view suddenly cleared out, my vision opened wide. Seon-jae’s eyes flicked over—and met mine. He looked surprised to see me there of all places, his eyes going wide. But he didn’t look away. His gaze remained steadily fixed on me.

“Sol-ssi, are you gonna keep staring?”

Seemed like Shim Won-jun’s chat with Jeong Seong-ok had ended. He came to stand beside me. I turned my head to look at him. He peered into the filming scene.

“Oh, Potato Pancakes.”

Having identified the group, Shim Won-jun looked at me. Then, raising his hand in front of my face, he angled his line of sight. His eyes narrowed.

“That angle is definitely Ryu Seon-jae.”

“What are you talking about...”

“Come on. It totally matches. The angle. The direction.”

Shim Won-jun nudged me with his elbow.

“No it’s not! What are you even saying? Let’s go.”

I shoved his back. Chuckling playfully, he turned around. Just before I followed, I glanced once more at Seon-jae. He, who had been looking straight ahead, had turned his head back toward me. The moment our eyes met again, he raised one eyebrow as if unimpressed. I, in turn, stuck out my bottom lip on purpose and followed behind Shim Won-jun.

□ ■ □

Seon-jae sent me a message with his location attached, saying to meet at the emergency stairwell that led to the basement parking lot. I slipped out pretending to head to the restroom and dashed over. Even running this much, by the time I met Seon-jae and came back, it would’ve been too long for just a restroom break.

I glanced around and opened the emergency exit door. After climbing a few steps, I saw Seon-jae sitting on the stairs.

“Hey, what if someone sees you?”

There was no one around, but I still lowered my voice and stood in front of him. His look was so different from usual that my cheeks warmed up for no reason. Maybe because of the earlier shoot, his white shirt was buttoned neatly all the way up. His bangs, which usually covered his forehead, were slicked back, fully revealing it. With his thick eyebrows showing clearly, his features looked especially sharp today.

“What?”

Seon-jae took my hand and looked up at me.

“Huh?”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Ah...”

Why was I looking? Because he was absurdly good-looking—so much so I had to check if he was even human. Seon-jae fiddled with my hand, then rested his elbow on his knee and propped up his chin.

“You were glaring at me earlier.”

“Me?”

I asked in surprise. Seon-jae nodded.

“No, you were the one glaring at me.”

“You saw?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t know who she is, but I didn’t like it. Going to a music show together, really?”

He poked me repeatedly with his thumb. That was the day Shim Won-jun went to see Grape Girl, and I went to see him. I remember thinking we kept making eye contact... Guess I was right. When I didn’t say anything, Seon-jae shot me a playful glare. His face was so cute I almost laughed.

He let go of my hand and pulled his phone from his pocket. It was probably someone calling for him.

“Yes, hyung. I’m coming.”

He ended the short call and put the phone back in his pocket.

“I have to go.”

“Yeah. I have to get back too.”

As he stepped down, he paused and turned to look at me. I was standing two steps above, so I looked down at his face. The view from above felt new. Maybe because of the woman earlier who had reapplied his lip tint, but his lips looked extra red. The dried-apricot-colored eyeshadow blended on his lids gave his gaze a deep, sultry feel.

Unreal... I swallowed the words.

As I stared at his face, Seon-jae climbed one step to make our eye level match. “Oh,” I gasped and tried to step back, but he grabbed my waist and kissed me. After pulling away, still holding my waist, he looked up at me quietly.

“Today’s the first time I realized something.”

“What?”

“That I’m the jealous type.”

I burst into laughter at his face. Thinking back to earlier—I was the same. I reached for his head, about to run my hand through his hair, but stopped. Didn’t seem like I should mess it up. So instead, I leaned in and kissed him, then walked down the stairs.

“Hey, I’m super jealous too, okay? I’ll text you after work.”

Smiling as I grabbed the door handle, I looked back. Seon-jae stuffed his hands in his pockets and nodded with a grin.

□ □ □

“Are you seriously gonna keep throwing your socks into the washer like this?”

Baek In-hyeok shoved a pair of inside-out socks into the face of Seo Yun-jae, who was lying on his stomach with a cushion under his chest, playing a mobile game. The socks brushed his chin and Seo Yun-jae jerked away, scowling.

“Ah, hyung. I just died.”

“If you keep this up, you’ll be dead meat.”

Baek In-hyeok narrowed his eyes and glared at him, then shook the socks out. Pouting, Seo Yun-jae flopped back into position.

It was a sunny afternoon. In the center of the living room, Baek In-hyeok was folding laundry while Seo Yun-jae checked his game items. Kwon Seong-jun quietly closed the door to his room and came out. He wandered over and knelt down in front of Baek In-hyeok, watching him stack socks on his lap. Then, in a low, careful voice, he asked:

“Is Seon-jae dating someone?”

Baek In-hyeok’s hands froze mid-fold. Seo Yun-jae, tapping quickly on his phone, glanced at Kwon Seong-jun. Then, seeing Seong-jun’s eyes fixed on Baek In-hyeok, turned to look at In-hyeok too.

Getting stared at by both of them, Baek In-hyeok fumbled with the socks. Sunlight streamed through the balcony windows, making the dust in the living room swirl. Everything felt frozen—except the dust floating in the air.

Baek In-hyeok let out a loud, exaggerated cough. He pounded his chest, stood up, and tried to leave the room—but Kwon Seong-jun caught his collar.

“Where are you going?”

“I suddenly got something caught in my throat. I’m just getting some water.”

He coughed again, clutching his chest. Seo Yun-jae, who had been lying flat, sat up and, looking amused, inserted himself between them.

“What, really? Seon-jae hyung’s got a girlfriend?”

His voice was annoyingly loud. Baek In-hyeok quickly covered his mouth. The members knowing was one thing—but if the manager found out, it could turn into a mess.

Baek In-hyeok’s darting eyes landed on the kitchen. He made eye contact with Woo Hyeon-seong, who was sitting at the table eating cereal. At least he knew about Seon-jae and Im Sol. They had all gone to Paju together to see a movie.

Baek In-hyeok gave him a desperate look, silently pleading to get him out of this. Woo Hyeon-seong clicked his tongue and shook his head. You’re terrible at keeping a straight face, his expression said.

Woo Hyeon-seong dipped his spoon into his cereal, then picked up his phone from the table. He opened his chat with Seon-jae and typed:

[You’ve been found out.]

He set his phone down and took a few more bites. A reply soon came in.

[What do you mean? I told them already.]

Woo Hyeon-seong shook his head again at the screen. Tsk, he clicked his tongue. All three people in the living room turned toward the kitchen at the sound. Ignoring them, Woo Hyeon-seong typed another message.

[If you’re not actually dating yet, I’ll cover for you. But if you are—you’d better come clean yourself.]

He stirred his cereal while waiting for Seon-jae’s reply. Before long, the screen lit up.

[I don’t know what you’re talking about.]

Seong-jun let out a dry laugh at the obviously fake lie. When he looked up, his eyes met Baek In-hyeok’s.

“No need to help, I see.”

Seo Yun-jae, who had been in the living room, scurried over and pulled out the chair next to Woo Hyeon-seong at the kitchen table.

“What is it, what is it. I’m an adult now too, you know. I have the right to know.”

Seo Yun-jae propped both elbows on the table and twinkled his eyes. Baek In-hyeok rolled his eyes in warning at Woo Hyeon-seong to keep quiet. It was the same expression he’d made when Woo Hyeon-seong cluelessly took the movie ticket and asked Seon-jae, Can I come too?

When Kwon Seong-jun asked the question with a stunned face—making it even more obvious that it was all true—Woo Hyeon-seong just shrugged and returned to his cereal.

“What is it? Why am I the only one not being told?”

Seo Yun-jae grabbed Woo Hyeon-seong’s shoulder and shook it.

“Hey, I don’t know either. Ask Seon-jae.”

“You do know. It’s written all over your face. It says you know.”

“The only thing written on my face is how handsome I am. What are you talking about.”

Woo Hyeon-seong shook his head with his spoon still in his mouth.

Kwon Seong-jun, who had been clinging to Baek In-hyeok’s collar, finally let go and opened his mouth.

“Tonight, we’re having a family meeting.”

“Huh? What? A family meeting over this?”

Baek In-hyeok grumbled while fixing his collar. Kwon Seong-jun pulled out his phone and opened the group chat labeled “Potato Pancakes.” Then, with a deadly serious face, he tapped at the keyboard. Even though everyone except Ryu Seon-jae was right there in front of him, he boldly typed out the message:

[We’ll be having a family meeting tonight. Time: 9 PM. Place: Gamja-jeon Matjip.]

Phones buzzed at the same time. “Family meetings” were almost always held with alcohol involved. Seo Yun-jae, visibly excited, pulled his phone out of his pocket.

□ □ □

The place with the sign ‘Gamja-jeon Matjip’ was a shabby old jeon bar near their dorm. It had been converted from a house. The living room held four tables, and the three bedrooms were used as private rooms.

The five men, including Kwon Seong-jun, slid the door shut and sat around a small room. A four-person table sat in the center. Baek In-hyeok and Seon-jae sat side by side, with Kwon Seong-jun and Woo Hyeon-seong across from them. The youngest, Seo Yun-jae, took a seat at the table corner.

Woo Hyeon-seong was twenty-six years old this year—the oldest in the group—but Kwon Seong-jun was always the one to initiate family meetings.

The last time they’d had one was three years ago, right after Seon-jae had officially joined and moved into the dorm. That time, Woo Hyeon-seong’s relationship had been exposed because he accidentally picked up a speakerphone call. Kwon Seong-jun had called for a family meeting immediately.

They’d gone to a nearby jokbal place and drank soju bombs. Since Seo Yun-jae was underage, he couldn’t even drink soda and just sipped cold water. Kwon Seong-jun had said that while there was no dating ban clause, the timing wasn’t right. Woo Hyeon-seong retorted, “What does timing have to do with anything? The right time is when the right person shows up.” Kwon Seong-jun insisted that it was a crucial period to focus on their activities with full dedication, to which Woo Hyeon-seong, unable to hold back, downed several soju bombs and shouted, “What, did I skip practice? Did I miss a schedule?”

As the argument went on, the bottles quickly piled up, and it was the drunken Woo Hyeon-seong who cried first.

“Then I’ll work even harder, damn it. I know how hard it is being the leader. I’ll make sure you won’t have anything to worry about.”

He hugged Kwon Seong-jun while sobbing. Kwon Seong-jun, tearing up too, pulled a handful of tissues and patted Woo Hyeon-seong on the back. “True... you’re older. If not now, when would «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» you even date?” he said, sympathizing.

Baek In-hyeok, sipping slowly, looked at the two crying and muttered, “What kind of family meeting is this...” While no one was watching, Seo Yun-jae quietly cleared their soju glasses. Seon-jae had leaned against the chair, thinking, So this is the team I’m joining, and tried hard to boost his spirits.

“Should we order?”

Seo Yun-jae cautiously opened his mouth. Arms crossed, Kwon Seong-jun answered like there was only one possible path.

“Makgeolli, gamja-jeon.”

He stared at Seon-jae’s face intently. Seo Yun-jae placed the order. Since Kwon Seong-jun hadn’t specified the quantity, he ordered two gamja-jeon and five bottles of makgeolli. It was unlikely they’d leave anything behind. That was how the family meeting at Gamja-jeon began.

□ ◆ □

By the time the number of empty makgeolli bottles reached eight, Baek In-hyeok was sniffling. He couldn’t even hold chopsticks properly, so Seo Yun-jae tore off pieces of gamja-jeon and fed him.

“Seriously, do you know how much our Seon-jae suffered because of her? Hyung, you better not stop him from dating, got it? Do you know how many years he waited for her? Huh?” 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Despite constantly being told to drop the honorifics, Baek In-hyeok, drunk now, mixed formal and casual speech freely.

“Hyung, do you know who it is?”

Seo Yun-jae asked Woo Hyeon-seong. He nodded.

“Yeah. I’ve seen her once.”

“Who is it?”

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

“I’m curious.”

Seo Yun-jae pouted his lips, then downed his makgeolli. As he set down the glass, his brow furrowed slightly, but quickly relaxed.

“I never said this, but you know that crappy MP3 player he used to carry around back in high school? That was a gift from her.”

“No way, really?”

Seo Yun-jae widened his eyes as he twisted open a new bottle of makgeolli.

“This kid used to be a total John Mayer stan. All he ever listened to and sang were pop songs. So why did he suddenly start singing songs from before he was even born? Not because he liked them, no. It was because he missed his first love, singing them with a heart full of sorrow. A heart full of pain.”

Seon-jae quietly glared at Baek In-hyeok, who was rambling.

“Cut it out with the drinks. You’re drunk.”

“I’m not drunk.”

Baek In-hyeok’s expression mirrored Seon-jae’s as he narrowed his eyes.

“And those weird health books he used to carry around? She gave him those too. Seriously, if you can’t sleep, just don’t sleep. Why drag some book onto a plane?”

On the day they flew out for an overseas concert, their departure photos were taken at the airport—and in them, Seon-jae was holding the book Im Sol had given him. That led to a marketing campaign labeling it as a “Ryu Seon-jae recommended read,” even though he never actually recommended it.

“No way, that too?”

Seo Yun-jae placed the bottle cap on the table with his mouth wide open.

“Seon-jae hyung is totally like a sunflower.”

Just then, as he was pouring makgeolli into an empty cup, Seo Yun-jae suddenly jerked up and shouted. Baek In-hyeok, who had been wiping away tears, flinched and hit Seo Yun-jae on the arm.

“Why are you shouting? Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

“No, seriously. I just remembered.”

Baek In-hyeok wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Woo Hyeon-seong, who had been munching on popped corn, looked over at Seo Yun-jae, whose eyes were wide.

“Remembered what?”

Seo Yun-jae’s big eyes turned to Woo Hyeon-seong, who had asked.

“The person who gave him the book.”

“The book?”

“No way...”

“What do you mean ‘no way’?”

“They’re the same person.”

Seo Yun-jae’s sentence, missing a clear subject, made no sense to Woo Hyeon-seong, who simply popped more corn into his mouth. Seo Yun-jae covered his mouth with both hands and looked at Seon-jae.

“Whoa, that noona? The one with the super tacky name? What was it... Chun-something? Chun-gak? Chun-bong?”

Looking straight at Seo Yun-jae, Seon-jae burst out laughing. It amazed him that Seo Yun-jae even remembered Im Sol. So much time had passed, he’d forgotten that it was Seo Yun-jae who delivered the book back then. He recalled the middle-schooler, lip jutting out, saying, That noona’s really weird, while handing over the book. Comparing that memory to the present made Seon-jae realize just how long it had taken to see Im Sol again.

As if he were parched from the shock, Seo Yun-jae drank more makgeolli.

Leaning back against the wall, Seon-jae pulled out his phone and opened the message window.

[Now four people know I have a girlfriend. In-hyeok, Yun-jae, Hyeon-seong-hyung, and Seong-jun-hyung.]

“Wait a sec. So why exactly are we having this family meeting again?”

Baek In-hyeok, barely able to hold himself upright, planted his elbow loudly on the table and rested his chin.

“Hyung, don’t just drink. Say something. Wait, how did you even find out Seon-jae was dating?”

Baek In-hyeok wobbled his head dangerously in his palm as he looked at Kwon Seong-jun.

“I saw them.”

“Where? Did you go to Paju too?”

Seo Yun-jae turned and looked at Baek In-hyeok.

“What’s with Paju?”

Woo Hyeon-seong threw a popped corn kernel at Baek In-hyeok’s face, as if telling him to shut up. Baek In-hyeok pouted.

“We shared an elevator. He had the flowers you bought sticking out of his pocket.”

“Ah...”

Out in public, he was so scared of getting caught that he’d avoid eye contact like the plague, yet he still carried around the flower she gave him. Seon-jae, nodding without expression, couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips.

“Make sure you don’t get caught.”

At those words from Kwon Seong-jun, everyone looked at him. The fact that he, of all people—the one usually so strict about dating—was now casually giving permission was shocking.

“What the... I thought you called this meeting to ban Seon-jae from dating. I stressed out for nothing.”

Baek In-hyeok slumped against the wall in relief.

“She’s pretty cute.”

Seon-jae, who had been looking down at his phone, lifted his eyes. He knew the comment was innocent, but his face turned sour anyway.

“What the heck, why would you say that?”

“What?”

“You said she was cute.”

“She is cute. You two look good together.”

“Well... that’s true.”

Flustered by his own weird jealousy, Seon-jae clammed up.

“Would you look at this guy.”

Woo Hyeon-seong chuckled and looked at Seon-jae. Seon-jae pretended not to care and lowered his gaze. The phone screen had lit up with a message from Im Sol:

[Seon-jae, I miss you.]

“What the... Why’s your face suddenly turning red?”

At Woo Hyeon-seong’s voice, Seon-jae looked up.

“Seriously.”

Seo Yun-jae added after confirming Seon-jae’s face.

“No, it’s not.”

Seon-jae’s reply killed the conversation, and it quickly shifted to another topic. Baek In-hyeok, now lying curled up on the floor, had fallen asleep. Seon-jae rubbed his cheek with one hand and checked the time. After curling his fingers slightly, he grabbed his phone and got up.

His quiet exit didn’t draw anyone’s attention. Everyone just assumed he was going to the restroom.

After putting on his shoes and stepping outside, Seon-jae flagged down a taxi. Then he gave the driver the name of Im Sol’s neighborhood. The cab switched lanes and picked up speed.