NUTMEG 28

“The two of us?”

“The two of us.”

At those words, Wonoh smiled languidly.

🍊

Wonoh had a radio schedule that had been suddenly arranged for the next night.

Since he had been asked to monitor it, Minje was sitting leisurely on the living room sofa with the radio app on. Just then, Director Im, drying his wet hair vigorously, came out of his room and sat on the floor, using the sofa as a backrest.

“Phew. Now that the living room air conditioner is fixed, I feel alive. Minje, what are you watching?”

“The radio show Wonoh is on.”

“Ah, he’s on the radio?” Director Im said, opening the laptop on the living room table as if he wasn’t particularly interested. Pssh— Pop! The cheerful sound of a beer can being opened was heard. It was a beer Director Im had brought.

When Wonoh appeared in the radio studio, Minje quickly fixed his gaze on his phone screen. Since it was a viewable radio show, Wonoh was wearing makeup for the first time in a while and had on a sky-blue jacket. Happy to see the sparkling drop earring, Minje smiled faintly. Next to Wonoh sat Shotgun, a member of Uncontrol. And then, another familiar face appeared in the split screen. The smile on Minje’s lips hardened.

She was Jeong Danbi, with long, straight brown hair and pink blush that suited her.

—Ah, really. I nearly died, but I was saved thanks to Mr. Shotgun. My savior!! Wow, they’re saying the Blue Night chat window is scrolling at an incredible speed right now?

—We have to help each other out. The day will come when you can repay the favor, Ms. Danbi, right?

—Ah, the pressure….

At Jeong Danbi’s whining, the three people on screen immediately laughed cheerfully.

Jeong Danbi said she was a special DJ for the 10 p.m. radio program for two weeks. And she had invited her high school classmate, Shotgun, to fill a suddenly vacant guest spot. The fact that the two were arts high school classmates and real-life friends had been a famous story since their debut. Shotgun, feeling burdened to go on alone, had sent an SOS to Wonoh.

He had heard the name of the radio program before, but he hadn’t known Jeong Danbi was the special DJ. Watching the two-shot on the screen, Minje unconsciously bit his lower lip firmly.

—Please introduce yourselves. Though I doubt anyone doesn’t know you. But there are people listening on the radio and not watching!

—Hello! I’m Uncontrol’s Shotgun, here as a relief pitcher for Blue Night today~!

—Hello. This is Uncontrol’s Choi Wonoh.

—The chat is filled with nothing but comments about how handsome you are. I agree. You really are handsome….

—Why are you only looking at Wonoh—no, why are you only looking at Mr. Wonoh when you talk?

—Ah, was I? I did it without realizing.

—Ms. Danbi, you’re really pretty in person too.

—Oh my gosh, what do I do.

Jeong Danbi seemed genuinely embarrassed, bowing her head so low that for a while, only the crown of her head was visible on screen. Director Im, after downing his beer in one shot, seemed to have his interest piqued and leaned his head in to look at Minje’s phone screen.

“Oh. What’s this, what’s this. Jeong Danbi is on? Didn’t Choi Wonoh say he thought Jeong Danbi was alright?”

“…Yes.”

“Wow, Choi Wonoh went on purpose.”

Director Im chuckled and turned his head back to his laptop. Unlike him, Minje couldn’t bring himself to laugh. In fact, he had been feeling anxious and upset for a while now, to the point that his chest felt tight. Without a moment to even consider what this unfamiliar emotion was, Uncontrol’s last title song finished playing on the radio, and the commercials began.

The studio atmosphere was friendly and cheerful throughout the commercials. Wonoh was saying something with his characteristic smiling eyes, and every time he finished a sentence, Jeong Danbi would either blush or cover her mouth with her small hand, not knowing what to do. The chatroom was filled with comments like, ‘What are you talking about that’s so fun? T_T Please tell us too.’ Minje felt a little relieved to confirm that he wasn’t the only one feeling so frustrated.

When the last commercial finally ended and the studio microphones were turned on, he felt like he could finally let out the breath he had been holding. On screen, Jeong Danbi was constantly fanning her face with her hand and laughing.

—Ah, it’s hot. My face keeps getting flushed. We were talking about our movie during the commercial break.

—Wonoh has been busy filming a movie lately.

—Yes. And we also talked about <About My Girl Friend>. That was your movie debut, right? I watched it at the dorm a while ago.

—Ugh. It’s really embarrassing, so please stop talking about that.

—Why? It was really good. I learned a lot watching that movie. The way you talked, like a real high school student, was really helpful for my studies. Really.

—That’s because I filmed it when I really was in high school….

—This kid really didn’t come to school when he was filming that.

—It was like, ‘So this is why she’s the nation’s first love.’ That kind of feeling.

—Ah, please stop! Ugh!

Wonoh was watching the continually embarrassed Jeong Danbi with a look of finding her cute and smiling. And he fixed his gaze quietly on her as she talked about high school episodes with Shotgun.

Of course, she was the radio DJ, and since she would be sitting across from him, it was natural for Wonoh to look at her. But his gaze and his smile seemed incredibly gentle. It was a soft and steady look, different from the playful face he showed him.

He said he liked Jeong Danbi. He must smile with that kind of face at people he has a favorable impression of. Just thinking that made Minje’s left chest ache and tighten.

—I think there will be one solo song for each of us on this album.

—Wow. And Mr. Shotgun, you even participated in composing yours directly this time.

—Yes. Geon hyung is really talented. My solo track is also a development of a rough piano-only accompaniment Geon hyung gave me, and I want to let the fans hear it soon.

—I want to hear it soon too!

—It needs a narration part, and I think it would be great if a female actress like you, Ms. Danbi, could do it.

—Oh my gosh. Me? What do I do. To be honest, it’s not just because of Mr. Shotgun, I’ve been a huge fan since Uncontrol’s debut.

It felt as though the time the two of them spent making eye contact was gradually getting longer. Because it was a split screen, he wasn’t sure if they were really looking at each other, but for some reason, he had a strong feeling they were.

Come to think of it, this radio show was the historic occasion where the two people who would even have dating rumors in the future were meeting for the first time. If the two of them really did end up dating, Wonoh might have to be grateful to Shotgun for inviting him here. Minje imagined the two people, separated into two frames, standing together. The short Jeong Danbi probably wouldn’t even reach Wonoh’s chest. It would be a completely different picture from him, who was only 5cm shorter.

Having thought that far, Minje was startled. Why was I comparing myself to Jeong Danbi? Who am I to do that? The person Wonoh likes and will even have dating rumors with in the future is Jeong Danbi, not me.

Her large eyes, looking at Wonoh, were sparkling brightly. Even though Shotgun was teasing her, saying, “Hey, Ms. Jeong Danbi. You said you couldn’t when I asked,” she continued to look at Wonoh. With her cheeks tinged pink.

He felt as if he were witnessing the very moment they fell in love with each other.

Just then—tap—Director Im tapped Minje’s thigh and held out his phone.

“Seriously. I told him to go promote our movie, and now it looks like he’s going to start a dating rumor. Look at this, Minje.”

The review articles pouring out in real time on the phone screen he was handed all had sensational headlines.

[‘Blue Night’ Choi Wonoh♥Jeong Danbi’s Pink Atmosphere? “Became a fan after watching the movie. She’s really pretty in person”]

[“Fans of each other” ‘Blue Night’ Choi Wonoh♥Jeong Danbi, all smiles]

[‘Blue Night’ Choi Wonoh X Jeong Danbi X Shotgun “Happy and thrilled about the featuring proposal for the new album”]

After quietly scrolling down and scanning the headlines, Minje silently returned the phone to Director Im. Im Kihwan didn’t seem to care much and grumbled as he brought another can of beer. Pssh— Pop! The refreshing sound was heard again.

—I’m keeping up with your drama too, Ms. Danbi. I’m a fan of writer Son Ji-eun.

—Wow, really? I love writer Son’s dramas too, so I’m having a lot of fun working on this one.

—I want to try filming a drama someday, too. It must be completely different from a movie, right?

—Wow, I hope we can meet in the same drama. Really. I mean it.

—If that were to happen, the honor would be all mine.

—I might get way too invested then.

—Haha.

Minje superimposed the two people on the screen onto the kiss scene he had seen in his past life.

Jeong Danbi, sitting on Wonoh’s lap with a surprised expression. Choi Wonoh, looking at her as if she were lovable and smiling. Her slender waist that could be held in one hand, and the back of her head he gently caressed and pulled in, their lips meeting. The fingers that delved deep. And the kiss that gradually grew more intense and rich.

In the end, Minje turned off the radio screen with five minutes left in the broadcast. He didn’t know why. He just couldn’t watch it anymore. His heart was pounding too much and his stomach was churning. He also felt like he was about to cry.

He wanted to calm down somehow, so much so that he ended up downing the beer Director Im had poured in one shot. Director Im, whose beer was suddenly snatched away, looked at Minje with a face like a raccoon who’d had its cotton candy stolen.

“If you wanted some, you should have just said so, Minje…. Huh? Why do you suddenly look so unwell.”

“I think I feel sick…. I’m sorry for drinking the beer. I’m going to go to bed first.”

“How can you drink beer like that if you’re not feeling well. Minje, Minje!”

If he stayed seated any longer, he felt like he would grab Director Im and say something strange. Minje vaguely excused himself by saying he was tired at the sound of Director Im calling his name, and quickly went into his room and closed the door.

A faint scent of Wonoh’s pheromones lingered in the room.

Smelling it made him want to cry even more. What is wrong with me, really. Not knowing what to do, Minje turned off the light and got under the covers.

His phone, which he had tossed onto the bedside, continued to vibrate. Looking at the familiar name that appeared on the preview screen, Minje switched his phone to do-not-disturb mode.

🍊

Nevertheless, filming proceeded hectically day after day.

After that radio show, Minje frequently found his chest tightening with a dull ache. It almost always happened when he thought of Wonoh by himself, and a little less so when he was with him.

Wonoh was so busy that he barely managed to stay at the dorm one day a week. On those days, they always had sex. As Minje saw it, even that one day seemed like a schedule Wonoh had無理 forced into his calendar. Because he always went back to Seoul at the crack of dawn. At that rate, it would actually be better in many ways to go back the day before and sleep comfortably in Seoul, but Wonoh insisted on doing it this way.

He knew it meant nothing. It could be that he was just too tired to go down right away, or perhaps having sex with him helped relieve his stress. Whatever the reason, Minje was content that he was needed. Still, Minje wished for these days to continue, even for a little longer.

That day was the day of the shoot for the scene in which the movie’s largest production budget was invested.

It was the scene where the old, narrow, single-story house where ‘Jaeho,’ ‘Eunseong,’ and the grandmother lived together catches fire. The grandmother, who has some dementia, leaves the gas stove on and goes out, and the fire spreads to the curtains, causing a blaze. It was also the highlight of the film, a scene where the haphazardly covered emotions and hollow hopes all burn away in the flames, leaving only a shabby reality.

The fact that they were actually setting fire to the outdoor set, where all the small alleyways had been constructed, also meant that the end of filming was slowly approaching. Once the fire started, retakes would be impossible, so it had to be filmed in one take, without a single mistake.

Because of this, Minje, Wonoh, and Ms. Yeonja all went through rehearsals several times. The assistant director had to nag Director Im several times because he wanted to change the setup with every rehearsal. The AD said that since it was a dangerous shoot, everything had to be set in stone, while Director Im said that since it was a scene they could only film once, he wanted to shoot it without any regrets. The two’s opinions were at a tense standoff. That’s how important a scene it was, in many senses.

In the end, they agreed to change only a few setups and to go into filming with all the lines and actions predetermined. The changed setup was also different from the actual movie. In the original movie, it was a one-shot of Choi Wonoh, focused on ‘Jaeho’s’ internal acting, crying because he thinks his grandmother is inside the burning house, as the grandmother and ‘Eunseong’ approach him belatedly.

Minje vividly remembered this scene, which had been played countless times on the Best Actor nomination screens in his past life. He also remembered how the year-end awards ceremony in the year the movie was released had been like a complete festival for <Rolling Youth>.

But this scene was revised to one where ‘Eunseong’ violently stops ‘Jaeho’ from trying to recklessly enter the burning house, and the startled grandmother approaches the two of them. He could be by Choi Wonoh’s side in this important scene. Imagining his own face appearing alongside Wonoh’s on the Best Actor nomination screen, Minje’s heart swelled with emotion.

Filming began with a fire truck on standby.

When the fire started to catch on the set he had been coming and going from like his own home for over two months, his heart truly did drop.

Wonoh had been silent all morning, getting into character. Minje, who had been watching Wonoh throughout standby, tried his best to calm his own panting chest, tense with nervousness.

The cue sign was given, and the red light on the camera began to glow.

Wonoh, who had been waiting outside the frame, was the first to run toward the set where the flames were intensifying.

To catch the full-speed running Wonoh, Minje too had to run with all his might. It was a part they had practiced in rehearsal several times, but he was so nervous he thought he would go crazy, worrying he might make a mistake. Minje barely caught up to him and grabbed Wonoh’s school uniform shirt.

“Yoon Jaeho!”

‘Jaeho’ instantly shook off ‘Eunseong’s’ hand and tried to charge into the flames. After a few pre-arranged struggles, he finally knocked ‘Eunseong’ over and leaped into the flames.

“Fuck, hey! Yoon Jaeho!!!”

It was a scene he had seen in the movie many times, but he saw Wonoh’s back, something he had never seen on the movie screen. The hot fire scorched his cheeks. The speed at which the flames were rising was also faster than he had imagined.

When he tried to get up again, his legs were trembling so much he almost fell. He only managed to regain his balance after bracing himself with his palms on the ground. Tears welled up in Minje’s eyes. The fire was so hot and scary. He was so terrified that Wonoh, rushing into it, might get hurt if something went wrong.

With a whoosh sound, the flames grew in an instant, and in the moment ‘Jaeho’ faltered, Minje rushed at him from behind. He wrapped his arms around him and dragged him out like a madman. ‘Jaeho’ kept struggling in ‘Eunseong’s’ embrace.

“Fuck, let go! I said let go!!”

“Yoon Jaeho, you crazy bastard! Think rationally!”

Wonoh was struggling more intensely than during rehearsal, so his grip kept slipping. In the end, he was hit hard on the chin by Wonoh’s flailing elbow. It was bone hitting bone, and it stung considerably. Minje clenched his teeth and subdued Wonoh’s arms so he couldn’t struggle anymore. Only then did Wonoh turn his head toward him, his face streaked with tears. Seeing that face, it felt like his heart had dropped with a thud.

“Grandma is inside, Grandma… Eunseong.”

“No! It’s time for her to be at the senior center now. You need to calm down.”

“Ah….”

Only after hearing that did he finally look at Minje properly. Behind the beautiful eyes veiled with a film of tears, he could see the intensifying flames. Minje didn’t realize he was crying too as he stared endlessly at that face.