RACA 54

Eunsol stared at him, and Jaebeom tilted his head to one side as if asking why he was acting that way. Even that expression was subtly different from his usual self.

“Try it. If it’s too strong, I’ll add some water.”

Wondering if he should ask why he was acting hesitant, Pyo Jaebeom urged him again. Eunsol, caught off guard this time, nodded and picked up the cup.

The coffee was quite good, sweet yet with a pleasant, moderate bitterness. Above all, it felt especially good to taste caffeine again after so long.

“How is it?”

“It’s… delicious….”

He nodded once, as if he was relieved. Even that gesture somehow captured Eunsol’s gaze. He was exactly like the actor Pyo Jaebeom he knew.

“How are you feeling?”

“Uh, I think I’m okay.”

“Hmm… Or maybe it’s still the same.”

At those words, Eunsol reflexively raised his hand to touch his forehead. The rough, scratchy feel of the gauze came through.

“But just in case, tell me if you feel dizzy or nauseous. We’ll have to go back to the hospital.”

“Yes, um… but about that.”

As he cautiously opened his mouth, Pyo Jaebeom met his gaze, urging his to speak. But even after finding his voice, Eunsol couldn’t bring himself to blurt out the question. Instead, he simply studied Pyo Jaebeom.

His appearance hadn’t changed from before he fell asleep. Yet, in the way he looked at him, his expression, his demeanor, subtle differences were apparent.

So it’s only natural that he harbored doubts.

‘It is natural, but….’

Should he really ask? Or should he keep fishing for more?

Meoww.

The cat, whose existence he’d forgotten until then, wailed insistently, demanding attention. Eunsol looked down.

The cat was looking up at him, wagging his tail gently. The moment Eunsol realized those large eyes were filled with concern for him, he let out a groan.

“Ah, Jongjong. I’m sorry. I didn’t forget you. And I’m okay. So you can come here.”

Eunsol tapped his knee twice, and only then did the cat seem reassured, moving a little closer to him. Jongjong bent his upper body, looking ready to jump up and sit at any moment.

“Jongjong, no. You need to be careful around Eunsol-ssi for a while.”

But the cat, just about to move, froze instantly at the soft yet firm voice that stopped it.

Eunsol also flinched and looked up. Honestly, no matter how many times he heard it, he just can’t get used to it.

To think that charming voice was coming from Pyo Jaebeom.

Pyo Jaebeom, who had been beckoning the cat over, seemed to catch his gaze and met it. His smile flustered Eunsol.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

And look at how he talks, like he’s trying to charm people. That definitely isn’t the gang boss he knew.

Eunsol’s suspicion gradually turned into certainty. Something definitely happened while I was asleep! Just as Eunsol was about to speak up.

“Did my unusual behavior catch you off guard?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“Haha, hahahaha……”

Before Eunsol could even ask what, Pyo Jaebeowho had asked the question first and heartily laughed. Eunsol could only stare at him.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Belatedly realizing he had laughed too much, Pyo Jaebeom composed his expression and apologized.

Only then could Eunsol gather his scattered thoughts. Once he did, a wave of embarrassment and irritation washed over him simultaneously.

“Wh-wh-why are you laughing like that?”

Pyo Jaebeom laughed so often it made Eunsol wonder if he was actually an entertainer. It was just a sly smile, lifting only the corners of his mouth. But now, even that face resembled the actor Pyo Jaebeom he used to see so often, making his heart flutter for no good reason.

“I just regret not having had a proper conversation with you, Eunsol-ssi, all this time. We crossed paths a few times on set, right?”

“Huh?”

Eunsol stared at Pyo Jaebeom, who casually mentioned filming sets.

“What?”

Did I hear that wrong?

“Did you think I wouldn’t know who Lee Eunsol is? I thought we crossed paths often on set, but was I wrong?”

“Ah!”

No, that wasn’t it. Eunsol realized that Pyo Jaebeom had deliberately brought up the words “filming sets” again to make sure he understood.

At this point, he couldn’t possibly be unaware. He knew exactly who the person standing before him was. Then, another question appeared.

‘Huh? How does Pyo Jaebeom know me?’

Guess his face must have given away exactly what he was thinking.

“That’s right. I remember everything now. Who I am, what situation I’m in.”

No, Eunsol thought that was what he meant, but he seemed to interpret it differently. Of course, that was also something Eunsol was curious about.

“How did you recover your memories?”

“It’s all thanks to Lee Eunsol-ssi. You made me doubt Jongjong’s existence and showed me a movie where the protagonist’s soul gets swapped to make me realize I’m an actor. And as if that weren’t enough, you even prepared a magazine with that actor’s interview. ”

“Uh, that was…”

“Not only that, but you kept feeding me the foods I liked too. Right?”

Well, that’s true. But asking like that is a bit embarrassing. Eunsol rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and took a sip of coffee. They said he got his barista certification, and sure enough, the aroma and taste felt distinctly deeper.

“I’m truly grateful. If it weren’t for you, Eunsol-ssi, I would have gone on not knowing who I was.”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing….”

It felt strange. Even though he was drinking coffee, his mouth felt parched. With no way to quench his thirst, Eunsol kept gulping down the coffee like water, his throat making a gurgling sound.

“Cough! Cough!”

Then he finally choked.

“Oh, are you all right?”

Pyo Jaebeom asked worriedly, patting his back. He must have approached without Eunsol noticing. Seeing he was calming down, he even pulled out a tissue from his pocket and handed it to him.

Eunsol couldn’t adjust to this attitude that had changed 180 degrees. Even though actor Pyo Jaebeom and the gangster boss in the drama were completely different people.

“Here, have some water.”

“Thank you.”

Eunsol drank the water from the glass cup in his hand. The itch in his throat subsided, and his breathing calmed once more.

“If you’re pregnant, you have to be careful.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

Even though it was clearly the same face, and similar words had been spoken before, the feeling was completely different. It was probably because of the difference in tone or expression.

That’s why Eunsol felt even more keenly that the person standing before him wasn’t the ‘CEO’ he had lived with.

“By the way, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Yes? Go ahead.”

Thanks to that, Eunsol’s tone had become even more respectful. Where before it had bordered on caution, now it was the polite demeanor one would show toward a senior colleague and great actor whom he deeply admired.

“Why did you try so hard to help me remember?”

“Um, well…”

Of course there was a reason. Since he had become pregnant, he wanted the father of the children to be Pyo Jaebeom with his full memories intact.

And while he wouldn’t tell him the truth, he had also given his heart to the actor Pyo Jaebeom.

“Ah, I suppose I asked something pointless after all.”

Suddenly, laughter reached him from beside him. It tickled his ears like a breeze brushing past, making Eunsol shrink his neck before turning to look at him.

It wasn’t a mischievous smile, but it wasn’t the kind you could look at comfortably either. It was closer to something that made your heart flutter.

“You said you liked me, right?”

Thud. He heard the sound of his heart dropping. It wasn’t just in his ears; it felt like some emotion hidden in the depths had been shaken loose. Beom Jaebeom seemed to be scrutinizing Eunsol, who stood frozen with his mouth open, but no excuse came to mind.

“Since when was that?”

Even as he spoke, Pyo Jaebeom’s questioning continued. He watched Eunsol’s wavering gaze intently, trying to gauge the timing.

Lacking the confidence to keep meeting his gaze, he quietly lowered his eyes, but the stare touching his cheek showed no sign of fading.

“Huh? Lee Eunsol-ssi. Will you tell me?”

Perhaps gangster boss Pyo Jaebeom and the actor share both distinct and similar traits.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shaken someone down with such a calm expression. Eunsol could only bite his lip at the truth he couldn’t bring himself to reveal.

That look laid bare his feelings for Pyo Jaebeom, but Eunsol could neither deny nor affirm them.

“Hmm… I see. I guess I asked too hastily again. I’m sorry, I’ll apologize again.”

The polite and gentle actor Pyo Jaebeom seemed to sense Eunsol’s discomfort and took a step back. Then he stood up and walked away to the other side. Eunsol glanced at his retreating back.

With his long legs, Pyo Jaebeom quickly returned to his original seat and slowly savored his coffee. That scene, too, resembled the advertisements he had seen so often.

Now Eunsol couldn’t deny it either. Pyo Jaebeom had truly regained his memories. Then he suddenly recalled something he had said earlier.