After finishing the script reading in a warm, friendly atmosphere, the slow-moving summer sun had dyed the sky a deep crimson.
Ina, who had briefly turned off her phone, checked it again and tilted her head in puzzlement at the list of missed calls from her grandmother.
“Why did she call so many times…?”
“Since it’s the first reading today, it feels a bit awkward to just leave. How about we have a simple dinner together?”
Just as she was about to call her grandmother, Hwi stood up, clapped his hands several times, and smiled brightly.
Having always enjoyed socializing with others since their school days, Ina naturally assumed that he would suggest a get-together tonight as well.
Seizing a brief moment of distraction, Ina quietly began gathering her things to slip out.
At that moment, someone firmly grabbed her arm to stop her.
Even without turning her head, Ina immediately recognized Hwi. She gave an awkward smile and looked back at him.
“Director, are you trying to run away now?”
“Eh? Run away? I-I’m just going home.”
“It’s the first reading, though. You should have at least one meal with the cast.”
His face, with wide eyes and a stretched, playful smile, seemed almost threatening. Ina, caught off guard, nervously pressed her lips together.
Seorin, the female lead of the play, came over and added her voice.
“Director, come with us! It’d be such a shame if you didn’t join…”
Feeling the attention of everyone on her, Ina awkwardly smiled, putting her phone in her pocket as if agreeing.
Do-hyun quietly watched this scene unfold.
“To a successful project!”
Back in Korea, socializing with people again felt strange to Ina at first, but soon she found herself enjoying light-hearted conversation with everyone.
Hwi, talking boisterously with the staff, spotted her and, with a slightly flushed face, approached and sat in front of her.
He poured a drink into her empty glass with a smile.
“Director Seo, let’s make this project a hit.”
“Why are you saying that to me?”
“Anything you touch turns to gold, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, come on… that’s not true. There are plenty of things I can’t control either.”
Ina playfully countered Hwi’s teasing remark but couldn’t hide a faintly bitter smile.
When Hwi asked what she meant by that, she simply shook her head and lifted the glass to her lips.
Perhaps slightly tipsy, her gaze unintentionally drifted toward Do-hyun, who was sitting a little farther away.
The way he perked his ears like a dog when listening, the way his lips pursed when concentrating—these small gestures reminded Ina of someone at home, making her heart flutter.
Thinking, I really liked that, her lips curved with bittersweet nostalgia. She refilled her empty glass and drained it again.
Hwi, noticing her, looked a little surprised.
“Director Seo, I think I’ve never seen you drink this much. Is something bothering you?”
“No, nothing like that. I’m just happy working with you, sunbae.”
Ina’s sweet compliment made Hwi smile as if pleased.
As they continued talking and bottles slowly piled up on the table, Do-hyun sat beside Hwi with a cheeky grin.
“Will you pour me a drink too?”
Hwi filled Do-hyun’s glass and then poured another for Ina.
Do-hyun, for some reason, stared intently at Ina’s glass with a serious expression.
“To a smooth rehearsal and performance!” Hwi raised his glass loudly.
Ina reluctantly lifted her own glass to meet his, as their three glasses clinked, spilling a little liquid.
Sitting across from him, Ina had no courage to face Do-hyun directly. Instead, she buried her head, shoving food onto her plate with her chopsticks.
If we hadn’t broken up that day, what would our relationship be like now?
Was it because of the alcohol? Or was it because she hadn’t seen him in a long time?
Thoughts she had never allowed herself to ponder drifted through Ina’s mind. She bit her lip hard.
“Stop drinking.”
Do-hyun, apparently having been watching Ina refill and drain her glass, finally spoke as he placed his hand over hers on the bottle, looking at her with concern.
Her heart jumped.
“You’ve had enough already. Stop.”
“I’m fine. This much is nothing.”
“You don’t look fine, so I’m saying this.”
The gentle reprimand made her cheeks flush.
Through her blurry, slow vision, Ina met his intense gaze, and her heart began racing strangely, much like when she had earlier taken the coffee.
She abruptly stood up.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
“Yes, unnie. I haven’t drunk much. I’ll be back soon.”
After a brief call with Lee-hye, Ina considered going back inside but decided to walk a little to sober up. A small park wasn’t far from the gathering spot, so she thought to rest there briefly.
“Oppa.”
Coming out from the restroom behind the building, Ina heard a familiar voice and instinctively turned.
She froze when she saw two people she knew well together—Do-hyun and Seorin.
Instinctively, she hid between the buildings.
“I think I’m too drunk. You’ll take me home, right?”
Seorin, slightly swaying, gripped Do-hyun’s sleeve with a coquettish smile before nestling into his embrace.
Romances among actors on the same project weren’t unusual, but Ina felt a sharp pang of betrayal.
“Ha… crazy.”
Betrayal? Why even feel that? And why did she hide? Muttering a low curse at her own foolishness, Ina turned and walked forward.
She had prepared herself when they parted: even if feelings lingered, she would never meet him again. For Chani’s sake, she would draw a firm line.
Recalling her vow, she staggered slightly as she walked toward the nearby park.
Sitting on a bench, catching her breath, she looked at the sky. Though no stars were visible, to her, it felt as if they swirled like her emotions.
She closed her eyes gently.
As the voices around her became muffled, like a loud radio, she felt someone sit beside her.
A crisp, steady woody scent, reminiscent of a midsummer night, brushed her nose. Without opening her eyes, she knew who it was.
Swallowing nervously, she slowly lifted her gaze.
“……”
Their eyes met, barely inches apart.
Do-hyun scanned her face—eyes, nose, lips—and frowned, displeased with something.
“Seo Ina.”
The familiar low voice struck her ears more intoxicatingly than ever.
Her eardrums seemed to melt at the sound.
Fearful of being drawn into those dark eyes again, Ina braced herself to stand.
Suddenly, she lost her balance and swayed.
“You okay?”
Do-hyun wrapped his arm around her waist, concern in his eyes.
Startled by the closeness, Ina pushed him away lightly and nodded.
Annoyed, he ran his hands through his hair and glared.
“Why drink so much when you can’t even handle it? I told you to stop.”
Seeing him angry made Ina feel a sudden rush of emotion.
I didn’t ask you to hold me, so why are you angry?
“Who are you to me?”
“…What?”
“Whether I get drunk and fall is none of your business.”
“Seo Ina.”
“Stop calling my name. I wish you’d respect boundaries—actor, director, that line.”
Do-hyun furrowed his brows in disbelief at her straightforwardness.
Ina, speaking words she would never have uttered sober, pressed on. Tomorrow, she might regret it, but now, she had to say it.
“You asked why I ran away from you.”
“….”
“Want me to tell you why we broke up?”
