Midnight Interview

“I think I have no talent.”“What are you saying? Why would you say you have no talent, Hyung?”“Staying here is difficult for me in many ways.”You’re quitting as a disciple?Jungyoon was equally shocked by Jaehyuk’s sudden words. When Jaehyuk, whom he trusted and followed like a close Hyung, said he was leaving, it felt like the support he relied on was collapsing, and he became restless.“Jungyoon.”Jaehyuk said, looking at Jungyoon’s large, anxious eyes as if he was atoning.“When I see you, I keep getting bad thoughts. My emotions are too dirty and filthy to face our teacher.”“Hyung, do you dislike me?”At the naive question, Jaehyuk suddenly hugged Jungyoon. The pounding of Jaehyuk’s heart was transmitted through their chests. He was trembling so much that it seemed he might die. For the 18-year-old Jungyoon, it was a vibration too difficult to handle.“I don’t dislike you. I like you so much that I feel like I’m going crazy.”I’m sorry, Jungyoon. I’m sorry for saying such things.Unable to suppress his overwhelming affection, Jaehyuk kept repeating his apologies. Jungyoon, who was holding him quietly, lifted his arm and patted the frightened man. It was a clumsy attempt at comfort.Jungyoon was too young and inexperienced to fully understand Jaehyuk’s feelings. But the thought of Jaehyuk quitting as a disciple and leaving kept bothering him. More than anyone else, he wanted Kang Jaehyuk to stay by his side.“If it’s hard, I’ll help you a lot. Hyung, just hang in there a bit longer.”Hearing those words, Jaehyuk slowly leaned back. He stared at Jungyoon for a long time, then, drawn by instinct, leaned in. A shadow fell over Jungyoon’s clear face, and their lips were about to touch when Jaehyuk suddenly stopped and backed away.As if shocked by his actions, he froze for a long time. The fact that he, who had cherished Seo Jungyoon as a younger brother, tried to touch him not only out of love but out of sexual desire was a shock to himself.Jaehyuk left abruptly and quit being a disciple a few days later. Three months after completely disappearing, Jungyoon heard from his uncles that he had joined the military.A year later, his grandfather was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The diagnosis came late, and the disease progressed quickly. Soon after the diagnosis, the disciples scattered, and the once bustling house became empty in an instant. Seo Jungyoon had to quietly protect the large house alone.Poet Seo Taeson passed away after three months of battling the disease.As the news spread of the death of a great literary figure, people from all over came to pay their respects.On the last day of the funeral, Jaehyuk, dressed in his military uniform, came to the funeral hall before the burial. It was their first reunion in a year and a half.Jungyoon, dressed in mourning clothes, staggered to greet the visitor. Having to handle the funeral alone without any close relatives, he was exhausted.While the uncles and established writers took turns helping, Jungyoon had been serving as the chief mourner day and night for three days. He had no time to grieve properly as he received the constant flow of mourners.Though his usually pale face was now ashen, Jungyoon maintained a composed demeanor in front of his grandfather’s portrait. He bowed to Jaehyuk, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.Upon seeing Jungyoon in mourning clothes, Jaehyuk hugged him tightly and wept. He apologized countless times for not being there.Jungyoon, who had been frozen since his grandfather’s death, shed tears for the first time. It was then that he began to accept the unbearable reality. Realizing that he was alone in the world, he cried like a child in Jaehyuk’s arms.Jaehyuk was discharged from the military a week later. He returned to the old house. Whether Jungyoon objected or not, he stayed.“I’ll stay for just a month.” With those words, they ate together every day, spent meaningless time together, and Jaehyuk stayed by his side until he fell asleep.When the promised month had passed, and Jaehyuk was about to leave, Jungyoon mustered the courage to hold him back.“Don’t go. I don’t want to be alone.”“I like you. Not as a Hyung, but… Ah, if I stay by your side, I don’t know what I might do. Do you understand what I mean?”“I understand. Even if you do… It’s okay, just stay.”He couldn’t let him go. Kang Jaehyuk was now the only person Seo Jungyoon could rely on. Without him, he would truly be alone.Holding Jaehyuk’s hand, Jungyoon kissed his palm. He felt Jaehyuk’s large hand tremble. Jungyoon placed that hand on his cheek. It was a gesture that allowed Jaehyuk to touch him without hesitation.“Jungyoon, I’ll stay by your side forever. I’ll do my best.”The memory of their first kiss was filled with nothing but trembling. The trembling lips, the hand cupping Jungyoon’s cheek, were so overwhelming that even Seo Jungyoon was moved.After that day, they became lovers and family. Jaehyuk prepared for employment right after graduating from school, and Jungyoon debuted as a novelist shortly after.In the eight years they spent as lovers, they had many arguments, but there were more happy days. Most days were ordinary. And that was the best part. It was truly a great blessing to live without ups and downs.Whenever he looked back on those days, tears welled up. Throughout the night, Jungyoon leaned against the wall, crying until he fell asleep, waking up, and crying again.From the second day, he started to get a fever. It was because he had been drenched in rain the previous night and left it unattended.His clothes, hair, and skin, soaked with rain, dried stiffly and then became wet again with sweat. There was a musty smell. His entire body felt sticky, itchy, and sore as if he had been beaten.Somewhere, a discarded phone repeatedly rang and then went silent. After a while, the battery seemed to have died, and the vibrations could no longer be heard.Seo Jungyoon, having given up on everything, chose to escape and spent four days alone. The area around him was cluttered with discarded water bottles. In a corner of the room, the clothes borrowed from Jaehyuk lay crumpled.On Thursday, the housekeeper visited. As always, she cleaned the house on her own, but this time, the house felt unusually disorganized. After some hesitation, she knocked on Jungyoon’s door. When there was no response to the knock, she assumed he was sleeping and resumed cleaning.Seo Jungyoon’s sleep schedule was always irregular, so this was not unusual. As a result, Jungyoon ended up spending more than a week isolated in his personal cave.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁The locked door clicked open. After some time, Jungyoon regained his senses. Though he still looked like a ragged mess, he decided it was time to stop being so squalid.He grabbed the railing and slowly descended the stairs. As he looked around the neatly cleaned first floor, he spotted a note and a phone on the table in the center of the living room.On a palm-sized post-it, there was a note in the housekeeper’s rough handwriting.[Are you okay? Please leave a message when you wake up. It seems a friend of yours has been looking for you. They’ve been lingering in front of the house for several days, and it seems a report was made. I heard the police came and went. There were a lot of letters piled up in the mailbox, so I gathered them. Please check them out.]In the box where the housekeeper had collected the bills, there were three or four envelopes. There was no sender’s name or stamps. But it was obvious who had sent them.Without even opening them, Jungyoon tore them to shreds. Then, he connected the dead phone to the charger and walked into the bathroom.For the first time in a long time, he cleaned himself thoroughly. He scrubbed the dried sweat and rainwater off his skin with soap and washed his greasy hair with shampoo. After rinsing, he wiped the foggy bathroom mirror. The face reflected in the mirror was gaunt, with puffy eyes like a swollen fish. It was a face he couldn’t bear to look at.Jungyoon went straight to the kitchen and searched for something to eat. He found a nearly rotten banana and some dry, stiff bread.His mouth felt rough as if chewing sand, but he washed it down with lukewarm water and forced it into his stomach.After somewhat filling his stomach, he felt empty again. Jungyoon squatted in front of the refrigerator and stared at his feet.The kitchen faced north and didn’t get much sunlight. A mere 5 cm of sunlight fell on his white feet. Until that sunlight passed over his feet, highlighting the bones in his toes and small toenails, and hit the floor, Jungyoon sat still in one place.Time passed in vain, and meaningless thoughts arose. Exhausted by everything, he tightly closed his eyes.His still-swollen eyelids were filled with tears.Jungyoon emerged into the living room only when the sun was setting. By then, the phone was fully charged.Ignoring the numerous missed notifications, he sent a message to the housekeeper. “I’m okay, thank you for your concern.” It was a polite message, regardless of his mood.Jungyoon’s phone was a nearly 8-year-old smartphone that Jaehyuk had picked for him.Suppressing the impulse to throw it away, he gripped the old phone tightly. Jungyoon took a deep breath, filling his chest. Then he began to skim through the missed contacts.Jaehyuk’s number was practically everywhere. Among them, he saw the name of Kim Hyemin, the promotion manager from the Royal Peak Hotel. Five calls, twelve texts. The contents were largely consistent: worry and inconvenience due to Seo Jungyoon’s sudden disappearance.It was understandable, given that he had failed to fulfill a contract without any notice. With a deep sigh, Jungyoon called Manager Kim Hyemin. The call connected faster than he had expected. As he trudged up the stairs to the second floor, he explained the situation to the manager.— Writer, what are we supposed to do when you suddenly act like this? We have a set schedule, and it’s really difficult if we can’t reach you.“I’m sorry. I have no excuse.”— Understood for now. We’ll have to come up with a plan on our end. I’ll contact you again.“Yes, I’m really sorry.”— Take care, Writer.The call, filled with apologies, ended. It was less than five minutes, but Jungyoon felt rapidly exhausted. Sitting at his desk, he pressed his aching eyelids with the palm of his hand. Though he had somewhat handled the essay, a bigger mistake loomed.“Ah… Yoon Taerim.”He had stood him up without warning.Among the many missed calls, Yoon Taerim’s number was absent. He hadn’t even bothered to contact him. Jungyoon realized he wasn’t significant enough for Yoon Taerim to reach out to.However, he had to explain his broken promise. Mustering the courage to contact Yoon Taerim first was difficult. Why? He pondered briefly.Fear. Yes, he was scared.Jungyoon fiddled with the phone on his desk. After long deliberation, he sent Yoon Taerim a brief apology message: “I’m sorry.”Thirty minutes passed with no reply.Jungyoon gave up waiting. He set the phone back on the desk and got up heavily.Curled up on the narrow sofa in his study, he sought uncomfortable sleep. Despite sleeping all week, he easily escaped into dreams when he closed his eyes.The next day, feeling much better, Jungyoon decided to tackle the work he had been putting off. He began sorting through Jaehyuk’s belongings still in the house.He obtained cardboard boxes from a nearby store and stuffed them with items. The boxes, filled with a mix of valuables and small items, totaled six. He sent them all in a small van. After finishing the task, Jungyoon dusted off his hands and entered the house.In the meantime, the locksmith had replaced the gate’s opener. He reset the password for the front door and even blocked Jaehyuk’s contact information, completing all the tasks he had planned for the day.However, one crucial task remained. After a shower, Seo Jungyoon dressed in the neatest clothes he had. His complexion was still pale, but with some grooming, he looked somewhat presentable.He left the house and hailed a taxi. His destination was the back entrance of the Royal Peak Hotel. Upon getting out of the taxi, Jungyoon headed not towards the luxurious hotel but the office building opposite it.“…I’m here to see Director Yoon Taerim.”When Jungyoon approached the information desk and spoke carefully, the female employee in a neat suit met his gaze.The employee asked with a businesslike smile, as she typically did with visitors.“Do you have an appointment?”“No, but…”“What is your name, visitor?”“Seo Jungyoon.”The employee picked up the receiver and contacted the secretary’s office. After exchanging a few words with the other party, she nodded. The employee’s eyes softened as she finished the call. Her voice became much kinder than before.“The director is out on an external schedule. If it’s urgent, I can leave a message.”“I don’t mind waiting. Can I see him today?”“Just a moment.”The employee relayed Jungyoon’s request exactly as it was. Shortly after, she put down the receiver. Jungyoon swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth.“You may go up to the 15th floor.”“Thank you.”Following the polite gesture, he headed to the elevator in the lobby. He got into the elevator that was conveniently on the first floor and pressed the button for the 15th floor where the director’s office was located. The heavy steel doors swallowed Jungyoon. He took a deep breath. Calming his trembling heart, he felt the smooth ascent.The 15th floor was directly connected to the director’s office. Using the entire floor, the space was uniquely silent. Jungyoon took a step outside the elevator.It was as if they knew he was coming; the secretary he had seen before was waiting in front of him.“Hello, Writer Seo Jungyoon.”“Hello.”“The director is out on an external schedule. I’ve informed him that you’ve visited, but there hasn’t been a reply yet. It might take a while. Is that okay?”“It’s fine.”“Then I’ll show you to the reception room.”The sound of the secretary’s heels clicking on the floor echoed as they walked. The spacious reception room was comfortable, but Jungyoon took a seat in a corner, feeling like a criminal.Soon after, a cup of warm tea was provided. The polite secretary left after closing the door, and Jungyoon moistened his parched mouth with the tea.The indefinite wait began.The teacup was replaced three times. Seo Jungyoon had been waiting for five hours. The secretary holding the tray looked at his face. The man, who already seemed fragile, looked even more emaciated, as if he might collapse at any moment.“Um… Writer, you’ve been waiting too long. Why don’t you come back another time?”“Am I causing you to stay late?”“No, I have to be here until the director returns anyway.”The secretary looked at Seo Jungyoon with a worried gaze once again. She had already informed Director Yoon’s personal secretary that Writer Seo was here.The reply came four hours ago. It must have been reported, but there were no instructions to wait, reschedule, or anything.The once bright window had become tinged with the setting sun. Though it was summer, the sky had a slight bluish hue, but it was well past 8 PM.“Please don’t worry about me. I came without an appointment, so I should bear this much.”“I’ll contact them again.”“Thank you.”Seo Jungyoon was left alone in the reception room once more. Leaning his straightened back against the sofa, he let out a short sigh. Having waited so long, the tension had long worn off. Even if it was just to not waste the time he had spent, he had to meet Yoon Taerim today.Another hour or so passed. Suddenly, he heard movement outside.The low voice mixed with the sound of heels, hearing Yoon Taerim’s voice, Seo Jungyoon straightened his slumped posture.Knock, knock, with the sound of knocking, the reception room door opened. The secretary who had been taking care of him all afternoon brought the news he had been waiting for.“Writer.”“Yes.”“I’ll escort you to the director’s office.”Jungyoon got up from the sofa and adjusted his appearance. In the short time, his palms seemed to have sweated. Rubbing his hands against his thighs, he took a deep breath. Outwardly looking quite firm, Jungyoon left the reception room.It had been a long time since their last meeting.Yoon Taerim’s recent arrival was evident. The man, hanging his stiff jacket on the coat hanger, moved to his own work area.He didn’t even acknowledge the presence of Seo Jungyoon standing in the middle of the director’s office. It was as if he was just another inanimate object.With his back straight, flipping through documents, a coldness could be felt. Yoon Taerim had always had a cold demeanor. His distinct features and expressionless face often seemed to border on cynicism. Without even the superficial smile, he was a difficult person to approach.As he focused silently on his work, Seo Jungyoon felt increasingly suffocated. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Yoon Taerim’s tightly shut lips finally parted.“It seems Writer Seo Jungyoon finds contracts to be trivial.”“…”“Or did I appear to have free time to spare?”The long-awaited words were sharp. Yoon Taerim’s gaze remained fixed on the documents.Seo Jungyoon swallowed the excuses rolling around in his mouth. What was the use of excuses now, anyway? It was all his fault.In the frozen conversation, the sound of the fountain pen nib scraping the paper echoed. The time he spent facing the unresponsive Yoon Taerim felt like an eternity.“I’m sorry.”Seo Jungyoon bowed deeply. It didn’t matter whether Yoon Taerim acknowledged it or not. All that mattered was that he was genuinely apologizing.As he slowly straightened up, a flat voice interrupted.“I can’t say I know Writer Seo Jungyoon well, but I didn’t think you were the kind of person to disappear without a plan.”“…”“Perhaps I misjudged you.”Yoon Taerim closed the file he had just signed. Moving the black approval board aside, he pulled a new file towards him. His face, still expressionless, remained focused on the papers below.“Was there an unavoidable reason?”“…”Yoon Taerim asked as if granting a favor, giving Jungyoon a chance to explain himself.The unexpected kindness was tempting. He could have easily made an excuse: he was ill, or there was a family emergency. But he didn’t want to lie in front of him. He didn’t want to cover things up with lies.“It was entirely personal. It was entirely my fault.”“I see.”Yoon Taerim’s interest quickly faded. The sharp nib of his fountain pen left graceful trails on the documents, and Jungyoon could only watch.This is truly the end. Jungyoon took a step forward and placed the card key he held on the desk.As he backed away without hesitation, Yoon Taerim’s gaze finally shifted. His raised eyes pierced through Seo Jungyoon.“What is this?”“Thank you for everything. I don’t think there’s any need for the interview anymore. I probably won’t be able to write novels for a while.”Yoon Taerim put down his pen and leaned back. Folding his arms over his black vest, he looked directly at Seo Jungyoon.It was a mysterious expression, neither smiling nor expressionless. Unable to meet his eyes, Seo Jungyoon continued, staring at the desk.“I understand how much you’ve helped. I apologize once again for not keeping my promises. As for the promotion contract, I’ll make sure there are no issues…”“Enough.”Yoon Taerim’s low tone cut off Seo Jungyoon’s words.“There’s no need to fulfill the promotion contract either. I have no intention of entrusting work to someone irresponsible, and I don’t want to repeat the same mistake. I’ll find other means for promotion, so please, from now on, cease your involvement.”“…”“I’ll also discard all existing work, so be aware of that.”“Director.”Caught off guard, Jungyoon couldn’t hide his surprise. He had messed up the interview on his own accord, but he had intended to take full responsibility for the hotel promotion. However, Yoon Taerim had already made up his mind.“Do you have anything else to say?”Yoon Taerim picked up his pen again. He began working without sparing a glance at Seo Jungyoon.“…No, I don’t.”“Leave.”His command was sharp.Trust had already been reduced to a mere trifle. Though Jungyoon’s pride lay in the dirt, he couldn’t offer any excuses. It was all his fault. He had squandered the chance given to him, so it was no wonder that Yoon Taerim was disappointed.Seo Jungyoon left the director’s office, almost as if he were being chased out.“…”His steps as he turned away were lifeless.He had expected it, but it was more demoralizing than he’d thought. Rather than feeling resentful towards the sudden change in Yoon Taerim, he just felt pathetic about his own situation.With even the will to do anything gone, Seo Jungyoon was engulfed by a sense of helplessness.Upon returning home, he began by tidying up his study. He wiped the writing off the whiteboard standing against the wall and gathered all the post-its stuck around.The diary containing the interview notes was already soaked through with rainwater and ruined. The ink had all run, making it illegible, and the pages, once dried, were now wrinkled.It was no longer usable. The diary was unceremoniously thrown into the trash.Jungyoon clicked on the files saved on his computer. He hesitated for a moment before pressing the delete button. Deleting them would mean his new novel would be completely lost.A persistent sense of attachment wrapped around his fingers. In the end, he chose to hide the files in an invisible folder rather than delete them.“Someday, I’ll write again.”He muttered to himself and let go of the mouse. He lay down on his desk, his motivation completely drained. For the time being, he decided to live without any goals in life.Realizing he was out of cigarettes, he decided to drop by the local convenience store. As he opened the gate to leave, he noticed a dark figure standing guard in front of the house.Jaehyuk was waiting. His worn and tired appearance showed how long he had been there.“I couldn’t reach you, so I came to check on you.”“…”“You even changed the locks. I thought about climbing over the wall, but I was afraid you’d hate me even more… I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.”When Jungyoon didn’t respond, Jaehyuk smiled bitterly. His forced smile, combined with his worn-out appearance, was almost unbearable to look at. As much as Seo Jungyoon had suffered, so had Kang Jaehyuk.“Why do you care about me? What right do you have?”Jungyoon spoke coldly without a trace of sympathy.“…Jungyoon-ah.”Jaehyuk knelt on the bare floor, holding his jacket in his hand.“Hyung was really wrong. I’m begging you like this. Please forgive me just this once.”“……”“We’ve been together for so long. Can’t you let it slide just once? Breaking up over something like this is ridiculous.”“Something like this.”Jungyoon let out a dry laugh. Then, he slowly rubbed his face.“For you, sleeping with someone else is just something like this.”“I’ve told you countless times! I was drunk! It was a mistake! I couldn’t have been sincere.”“What does that matter! I saw it!”Jungyoon yelled, unable to endure anymore.“I saw that filthy scene with my own eyes. I saw everything, you and that woman together. And you still ask for forgiveness?”“…I’m sorry.”“I don’t want to hear that. Just get lost!”“I’ll leave if you forgive me. I won’t take a step from here until I hear that.”Jungyoon sighed deeply, feeling weary. How long must this pointless argument continue? The sight of Jaehyuk begging on the ground was just tiresome.He took out the phone he had in his pocket and called somewhere. Jaehyuk was still kneeling, waiting for Jungyoon to forgive him.Jungyoon glared at his shameless face and said indifferently into the phone,“This is the police, right? I’d like to report stalking. Yes, there’s someone loitering around in front of my house.”Jaehyuk quickly stood up and grabbed Jungyoon’s wrist. The phone call was real, and the number 112 was prominently displayed at the top of the screen.“Are you crazy?!”“Unfortunately, I’m perfectly sane.”“Seo Jungyoon!”“Don’t call my name. I clearly said I didn’t want to see you again. I’ll never forgive you, Hyung. If you come back like this again, you’ll be thoroughly humiliated.”At the harsh warning, Jaehyuk’s complexion turned pale as if in shock.“…You wouldn’t really out me, would you?”Jungyoon let out a bitter laugh. It was just amusing how he was terrified at the mere threat when he never listened to a word before.“I guess that really scares you.”“Are you out of your mind? If you do that, we’ll be ruined in an instant!”“Who do you think will be more affected? I don’t care. If you don’t believe me, keep pushing.”Kang Jaehyuk swallowed his grief, clutching his crumpled jacket. He painfully realized just how sincere Seo Jungyoon was right now.“I was wrong. Jungyoon-ah… We’ve been together for so long…. Are we really ending it like this?”Jungyoon tightly closed his eyes. He didn’t want to spit out such harsh words either.The shirt he was wearing was wrinkled unattractively, and his tie was disheveled. Whether he had gone to work or not, Jaehyuk looked no different from a homeless person despite wearing a suit.Even so, having been in a relationship for eight years, Jaehyuk was like family before being a lover. No matter how great the sense of betrayal, it wasn’t easy to watch Jaehyuk crumble.“Just so you know, I’m not abandoning you. You betrayed me.”“……”“It’s actually for the best. Wasn’t it uncomfortable worrying about what others thought? Now you can date the woman you like all you want.”Kang Jaehyuk’s shoulders trembled. Fearful of the judgmental looks for being gay, he had been passive. His face turned red as his hidden flaw was exposed. He couldn’t bear to face Jungyoon.“Jungyoon-ah, you… you can’t live without me.”“Why? I’ll live just fine. I’ll be more successful than now, and live enviably.”“…Is it really not possible? You really can’t forgive? Even as a Hyung, as a brother…. It’s not possible?”“No. Really, I don’t ever want to see you again.”Even now, looking at Jaehyuk brought back the scene from that time. The shock, disgust, and bone-chilling anger were replaying vividly. He was suppressing his emotions with all his might. It was absurd to ask for forgiveness and to see him again in such a state, like a ticking time bomb that could explode at any moment.Jaehyuk slowly bit his lips. His lower lip, crushed by his front teeth, looked like it would tear apart any moment. He seemed to have given up now. He realized that their broken relationship was beyond repair.“Fine. I won’t come near you anymore. But promise me one thing.”“……”“Eat well. Don’t be foolish and endure if you’re sick, go to the hospital immediately.”“……”“I’ll regret hurting you for the rest of my life. Jungyoon-ah, really… I’m sorry.”Jaehyuk deeply bowed his waist while holding his knees. His body didn’t rise easily once bent. He might have been crying.Jungyoon turned away from the man and took a step. He never accepted the apology until the end.The path to the convenience store seemed so far away. Jungyoon bit his teeth hard to hold back the tears welling up.The eight-year relationship had come to a complete end.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁— It’s almost vacation season, have you all made your summer vacation plans?The voice coming from the radio was clear. The simple conversation with the guest overflowed with lively energy befitting the afternoon time slot.Jungyoon leaned his arm on the windowsill and listened intently to the radio. The cigarette hanging from his fingers was half-burnt.— I went on a hotel staycation last week.— Ah, hotel staycations are nice! I’ve been hearing a lot of people going on those lately.— Yes! There’s never a dull moment staying there all day, depending on the person, but I find relaxing comfortably rather than tiring myself out sightseeing suits me better, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.— Isn’t it expensive?— It seemed similar to the cost of going abroad. Well, it’s a once-a-year summer vacation, a little reward for myself, I guess.The DJ and guest continued to talk about vacations and played summer-related music. When a loud dance track that wasn’t to his taste started playing, Jungyoon reached out to turn the volume down to a minimum and stubbed out the shortened cigarette in the ashtray.His reclusive lifestyle had continued for over two weeks. It could be seen as a full-fledged summer now. The heat exceeding thirty degrees persisted, and the sound of cicadas was rampant outside.Jungyoon habitually touched his pack of cigarettes but then put it down upon seeing the mountain of butts in the ashtray.The smoking had seriously increased. He used to smoke only when writing didn’t go well, but now it seemed like he constantly had one in his mouth.“At this rate, I’ll die prematurely.”Jungyoon ran his fingers through his hair with a bored hand. His neglected, grown-out hair had become shaggy. It was curious that he didn’t grow a beard but his hair kept growing persistently.Seo Jungyoon’s daily life was completely disrupted. His sleep pattern was unpredictable, and he rarely went outside. He only ate when he was hungry, with a diet that didn’t consider nutrients at all.He isolated himself in his study and read books to his heart’s content. It wasn’t bad. At least it erased the complex thoughts.Seo Jungyoon was slowly, albeit gradually, healing his broken inner self in his favorite way.During the two weeks of his idleness, there were a few small events. Fortunately, his newly published book settled as a bestseller. Although he didn’t bother to check, according to his editor, the reviews were not bad either.Just then, the phone rang. Only two people knew his newly changed phone number. As expected, one of them, editor Ko Eunju, brightly lit up the screen.“Yes, hello.”— Author, have you eaten?“Yes, barely.”— You’re not surviving on just a piece of bread again, are you?“The bread was delicious, I’ve been eating well.”— Good heavens, when did I send those! No, I’ll order some proper food for you now. Eat something substantial!“I have hands, I’ll manage myself.”The editor only knew that Seo Jungyoon was in a slump. She sincerely expressed concern and comfort when he said he might not be able to write for a while.— Did you go out today?“It seemed hot.”— But the sunlight is really nice. Perfect for a walk?The editor kept checking on Seo Jungyoon, suggesting walks like now.He was grateful. Though interactions with others were bothersome, he still took Ko Eunju’s calls because of this gratitude.“I’ll go out when it gets a bit cooler.”Jungyoon replied with a weak smile. His lethargic voice troubled the editor, who asked cautiously.— Author, if J.D. Malone comes to Korea, would you be interested in meeting him?“J.D. Malone? Is he coming to Korea?”Even Jungyoon’s tone rose a pitch. Seizing the moment, the editor began to entice Jungyoon.— It seems there’s an event for two nights and three days next week. There will be a book talk and a signing session, followed by an after-party. The editor at Vision Literature is my colleague, and I might be able to get an invitation if I ask. If you’re interested, that is.“I’ll go, I want to go!”Jungyoon accepted immediately. He was an ardent fan of J.D. Malone. The thought of meeting him in person made his long-dormant heart flutter.Laughter from the editor could be heard over the speaker. As she had expected, he was pleased, and she added.— Then I’ll look into it and get back to you.“Thank you.”— Take care, author.Even after ending the call, his excitement didn’t subside. Jungyoon pressed his palm over his throbbing chest.“…Wow. J.D. Malone?”Nothing was confirmed yet, but anticipation swelled. A long smile spread across his dry face.ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁The National Art Center, where the book talk and signing session were held, was packed with reporters. Since it was the world-renowned author’s first visit to Korea, the interest was tremendous.Seo Jungyoon was among those invited. For today, he participated as a reader. The event lasted about three hours, passing without a moment of boredom.Only after the signing session did he meet the editor. Dressed in a suit, Ko Eunju approached the packing-up Seo Jungyoon and spoke.“Author, did you get all your books signed?”“Yes.”Jungyoon proudly showed off the three books in his hand. He had the same books at home, but he had bought these separately for his collection. The covers, untouched by fingerprints, were marked with rough handwriting that looked like doodles.“I knew you were a fan, but I didn’t realize you’d like it this much.”“It was unforgettable, thanks to you, Editor.”Jungyoon’s eyes curved into a crescent shape, showing a gentle smile. Seeing him so happy made the editor feel delighted as well.“Are you going to the after-party too?”“Of course.”It was a chance to have a casual conversation with J.D. Malone. There was no reason not to go.Seo Jungyoon had his hair neatly cut and bought new clothes for this meeting. He appeared refreshed, shedding all the lingering gloominess that had been weighing him down.The editor, pleased to see the revived Seo Jungyoon, checked the watch on her wrist. The event had lasted longer than expected, and they needed to hurry.“Author, I need to go back to the office due to some work. I’ll take you to the party venue.”“Oh, if you’re busy, I can go alone. It’s fine.”“I have time for that. Let’s go together. I’ve called a taxi.”At her insistent urging, Jungyoon let out a sigh mixed with a laugh. Eventually, he gave in to the editor’s insistence and took a step.The after-party venue was a gallery building not far from the art center. Renting out the entire three-story building was perfect for a private after-party.The security guard at the entrance checked the invitation and put a paper bracelet around Jungyoon’s wrist. Seo Jungyoon also briefly greeted the guard and entered the party.It was full of unfamiliar faces. As Seo Jungyoon scanned the party mixed with foreigners and locals, a server roaming around offered him champagne. He quenched his dry throat with the sweet drink, while his eyes busily searched for J.D. Malone.It seemed the guest of honor hadn’t arrived yet. While watching foreign faces intently, a man with equally striking features caught Jungyoon’s eye. He froze with the champagne glass at his lips.Yoon Taerim, who was conversing with someone, was also drinking champagne. As he turned his head, his gaze met Seo Jungyoon’s.Yoon Taerim locked eyes with him and tilted his champagne glass. His eyes, sharp as a knife, contrasted with his relaxed drinking manner.Seo Jungyoon unconsciously gave a slight nod. Without waiting to see if his greeting was acknowledged, he turned his head away. His heart pounded like that of a guilty person. Hastily emptying his glass, he tried to calm his startled heart.It was thirty minutes later when J.D. Malone made his appearance. The atmosphere at the party heightened with the arrival of the guest of honor. J.D. Malone loved parties. He boosted the cheerful mood by winking and blowing hand kisses at those welcoming him.After spotting Yoon Taerim, Seo Jungyoon had been lingering in the corners but soon noticed J.D. Malone. He wanted to approach him, but there were too many people around. He kept drinking while waiting for an opportunity.The one relief was that Yoon Taerim was no longer in sight.Being a busy person, he might have left after a brief stay. There was no knowing why he attended the after-party, but Jungyoon could only hope not to run into him again.After downing his fifth glass of champagne, Jungyoon wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He couldn’t just keep wasting alcohol. It seemed better to just finish quickly and go home.With determined steps, he weaved his way through the crowd. Just then, J.D. Malone was finishing a conversation with someone. Jungyoon smoothly seized the moment.“Hello.”As he greeted in trembling English, J.D. Malone turned in his direction. The British man in his fifties was thoroughly enjoying the party atmosphere. His excited emerald green eyes sparkled as he noticed Seo Jungyoon.“Oh, hello. What’s your name?”“I’m Seo Jungyoon. I’m a fan. I’ve read all your books.”“Thank you! My fans are always welcome! Come over here. Do you like wine? Would you like to have a drink together?”Most of the people here must be his fans, but J.D. Malone warmly welcomed Seo Jungyoon with excessive friendliness. As he grabbed his wrist and led him over, Jungyoon was helplessly pulled along. Before he knew it, a plump wine glass was in his hand.J.D. Malone clinked glasses lightly. With a clear ring, he sent a glance. Jungyoon reluctantly brought the wine glass to his lips. After several drinks on an empty stomach, he began to feel a bit tipsy.“I remember you. You were at the signing event earlier, right?”“Yes. You have a good eye.”“I tend to remember pretty people well. Your name is Seo….”“Jungyoon. Seo Jungyoon.”Awkwardly repeating Jungyoon’s name, J.D. Malone wrinkled his nose.“Korean names are hard to pronounce. Can I call you Yoon?”Seo Jungyoon nodded casually. It didn’t matter if his name was Yoon or Yong as long as J.D. Malone said so.Then the man put his right arm around Jungyoon’s shoulder. As if sharing a secret, he whispered closely.“So, Yoon, which of my works do you like the most? Tell me as a fan.”Despite the considerable closeness, it didn’t feel strange. Gripping the slender stem of the wine glass, Jungyoon answered softly.“I like ‘The Quiet Forest’ the most. It impressed me how you captured the unpredictable psychological changes of a person hitting rock bottom in your unique aesthetic language.”“……”Joking all the time, Malone raised his eyebrows, seemingly surprised. He tilted his head and stared at Seo Jungyoon’s face.“Are you a critic or a journalist?”“I write novels.”J.D. Malone slapped his forehead. Muttering, “I never would have guessed!” he burst into exaggerated laughter.“Come over here, let’s have a more honest conversation as fellow writers.”