After Story 169

After Story 169

“Did something good happen to you today?”

“Do I look like it?”

“You were all smiles when you entered the shop, so how could I not tell? What happened? Starting a new work?”

“No, but something good happened in my personal life.”

“I don’t know what occurred, but good for you.”

As they talked about various things, the nail care finished. Dawoon looked at her slick new nails and smiled.

Everything was to her liking today: the weather, her nails, and even the news articles in the entertainment section.

“Goodbye.”

She left the store, being seen out by an employee. Thanks to the marathon-like daily drama coming to an end, she had gained some time.

She went traveling with her actor friends and met a few college friends she hadn’t been in touch with for a while.

Every day was perfect. People’s awareness of her was increasing, and her bank account was getting unimaginable amounts of money.

Everything was smooth sailing. At this point, even falling out with Nayeon felt like nothing anymore.

Her relationship with Seungah, Jichan, and Maru felt like it had recovered to some extent, albeit not as good as before. Time was the remedy.

She went to a café and turned on her phone. She loaded a page that she had favorited last night.

-Violent actor combined with an awkward storyline. The movie’s poor sales were only to be expected.

She wanted to hug the journalist that came up with that title and kiss them.

The movie that featured Han Haneul as a supporting character was disappearing from cinemas a mere two weeks after its release. It was a tragic failure.

Dawoon laughed her stomach out as she looked at the bad reviews that poured out every single day. Even now, she couldn’t help but chuckle.

She had a look at the score provided by the web portal. It was just above 6 points. As for the critic reviews, it was just under 3 points.

The worst movie in the first half of the year — this was the comment that received the most likes.

A feather-like weightiness and tragic nationalism — this was the review of a famous movie critic known to be lenient.

Dawoon went to see the movie herself after seeing that the scores were low. She laughed to herself in mockery multiple times while watching. No matter how good an actor was, they would die along with the movie if the production was terrible.

Han Haneul was the same. She seemed to shine, but ultimately, she was just a flower in the trash.

She felt relieved. Han Haneul had flopped completely. Compared to her, she was walking on the path of success. The movie she participated in as a supporting actress did decently well and the daily drama that she did after that was a huge jackpot.

She made herself known to the public not as Jung Dawoon, but as the villainess within the drama.

How meaningful was that for an actress? It was an incomparably better result compared to Haneul, who wasn’t even a topic of gossip.

Dawoon looked at the next article. It mentioned that Channel S was creating a drama with Yang Ganghwan and Han Maru. That man was truly different. He proved his skills through his flawless act of the character at the beginning of the year, and now, he was chosen as the main character of a drama.

“I want him after all.”

He really was wasted on Han Haneul.

She thought back to the Hanjoo Chicken Feet meeting from last time. Maru was incredibly scary when he looked at her after seeing through everything. She thought that everything was over that day.

Her lies were exposed, and not to mention Seungah, even Jichan would turn his back on her.

However, Maru gave her a way out. She wasn’t in a good situation for sure, but the Hanjoo Chicken Feet meeting was still continuing.

Back then, she resented Maru for what he did, but after some time, she changed her mind.

Ultimately, it was oppa who saved me — she judged that Maru harbored pity toward her. And twisting that pity just a little should be able to turn it into feelings of love. The game of love wasn’t over. There was still an opportunity. This was the right time now that Han Haneul had failed miserably. She had to let Maru know that the woman by his side is not worth much.

After all, love was an all-encompassing feeling.

Appearance, intellect, financial power, skills…. Love was a form of expression that combined all those elements into one. As long as there was a flaw, Maru’s love towards Haneul should have changed as well.

Dawoon pleasantly drank some coffee before leaving. She drove the car she bought a month ago and headed to Na Baekhoon’s house.

“How about a drink after all this time?” she called and asked.

During the past few months, she had not met Baekhoon. She was busy shooting dramas, movies, and commercials, and there was also no reason for her to meet him, so she visited him less and less frequently. It was proof that she could stand on her own two feet without Baekhoon.

Still, she still needed Na Baekhoon’s support. She had to become the main character of the movie that he was going to direct.

If that movie was successful after Han Haneul’s movie failed, it would be exhilarating.

-I’m okay.

The answer was lukewarm. Dawoon curled her lips up and looked up at the apartment building in front of her.

“I’m in front of your house right now.”

-I dislike people coming to visit me like this without saying anything.

“Was our relationship that shallow? Anyway, you’re at home right?”

-Well, I am.

“Are you going to keep me waiting out here?”

Baekhoon stayed silent for a while before telling her to come.

Oh, men — she smiled blandly and walked into Baekhoon’s house. The clean interior greeted her as always. She put on some slippers and went inside the living room. Baekhoon was cooking something in a pan in the kitchen. He seemed to be making some pasta.

“Make mine too.”

Baekhoon poured a little bit of the noodle-boiled water without saying a word. Dawoon looked at the food being made.

Baekhoon placed some pasta on a plate and put it down in front of her. She used a fork to put some in her mouth.

“How about you run a restaurant? I think you have talent in cooking too.”

“Now you’re giving me advice, huh?”

“Why not? We’re business partners.”

“True. Business partners.”

Baekhoon smiled and nodded.

“Can’t you give me a glass of wine? I think that one looks good.”

She pointed at a bottle of wine in the semi-translucent wine cellar. It was a bottle she had not seen before.

“That one’s no good.”

“Why?”

“I just got it as a gift yesterday, and above all, it’s for guests.”

“And I’m not a guest?”

“I don’t call people who come to my house without contacting me first, guests. So I thought about it for a moment: what qualifies you to visit me? Then your words made me remember. We’re business partners.”

Baekhoon emptied his plate and wiped his mouth with some tissue. Although his attitude had not changed from usual, he felt a little colder today.

Feeling an unknown sense of unease, Dawoon stood up and wrapped her arms around Baekhoon’s neck.

“Weren’t you here to eat?”

Baekhoon pulled her arms off. Seeing his face that didn’t have a hint of a smile at all, Dawoon felt humiliated. She wanted to get angry, but she had to hold it in. The priority right now was to find out why. She smiled and asked,

“Something bad happen?”

“I was feeling good until just 20 minutes ago. Moreover, an important guest made a visit yesterday. A guest that might give me the gift of the greatest joy in my life.”

Baekhoon’s statue-like face brightened up all of a sudden. He seemed to be feeling uncontrollable joy just by remembering the guest that visited yesterday.

“But thanks to the intrusion of a certain business partner, that all broke down.”

Dawoon pouted. “Don’t be too harsh. We’re partners on the same boat.”

“The same boat?” Baekhoon shook his head. “You mean you’re the one on board my ship.”

“Same thing.”

She reached her hand out to Baekhoon again. However, Baekhoon did not give her what she wanted. He took a step back and looked at her with clear intent – don’t approach any further.

“What are you doing?” She stiffened up.

Two refusals. This was no longer something she could laugh over.

“Since you’re here, we should clarify that business.”

“Clarify?”

“There should be quite a lot of things I did for you. You got a few dramas and a few contracts for commercials.”

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”

“I’m saying I’ve given back as much as I’ve received. You’re quick to calculate, so you shouldn’t be able to tell me that you’re on the losing end.”

The reason for the unease was revealed. Baekhoon was planning to abandon her. She forcefully smiled and spoke,l

“You’re angry that I visited you all of a sudden? If it’s like that, then I’ll apologize, and I’ll never come suddenly like this ever again. I’ll come when you call me like before.”

“No, that’s okay. You won’t be coming here from now on. I’ll make you an appointment with the producer of YBS. He’s looking for someone with your style, so you should be able to get the role if you meet him. It’s also my last gift to you.”

“Last gift? Why are you doing this?”

“Do you remember what I said before? That people are bound to get fed up?”

Words she did not want to hear from Baekhoon came out of his mouth. They were words that trampled on her pride. She stared right back at Baekhoon’s eyes.

“Are you saying you’re abandoning me right now?”

“Let’s set that straight. Abandoning makes it sound like I’m the only bad guy, doesn’t it? Let’s say it’s a termination of a contract.”

“What about the movie? The opportunity is now.” Dawoon showed him the article on her phone. “Han Haneul has failed. I can manage to get that image at this time.”

“The drama will replace the movie. I don’t plan to use you in my film.”

“You can’t do that. You were going to use me.”

“I did, but you know that the situation has changed.”

“You’re not saying you’re going to use Han Haneul instead of me, are you?”

“If possible, I’d love to. But she refused, saying that the scenario was subpar. It hurt my pride, but what can I do? Actually, when I had a look at it after she told me that, I saw that the story seemed inadequate. I’m going to polish it again and then show it to her once more. If she looks at my scenario and accepts being cast, I will be all the more happy.”

Dawoon shut her mouth. Her ominous feelings branched out and eventually reached the wine in the cellar.

The guest last night, his happy expression, and lastly, Han Haneul who saw his scenario.

“Han Haneul is the guest that visited yesterday?”𝐟𝗿𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝐛𝐧𝗼𝐯𝐞𝗹.𝗰𝐨𝗺

“It was an honor that she accepted the invitation.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Of course I am. I had dinner with those two people, so of course I’m crazily happy.”

“Two people? Maru-oppa came here as well?”

She felt like the floor had suddenly disappeared. She grabbed the table during her sense of vertigo.

“Anyway, do your best. While not as much as Han Haneul, you have talent too. If you can look after yourself well, you’ll look decently beautiful.”

“You can’t do this. You were going to help me!”

“I can’t have you saying that. It was you who called this relationship business partners. There are no more business items to be made, so we should end the contract here. Also, I’m making losses in this trade. You know that, right?”

“But.”

Baekhoon placed an index finger on his lips.

“Talk is over. You can go now.”

She stared at Baekhoon, who nonchalantly went to the kitchen to wash the dishes, before speaking,

“I’m going to expose everything.”

“What everything?”

“What happened between you and me.”

“Really? Go ahead then. I’m just going to say that we were dating for a brief moment, that I helped you because you were my lover.”

“That’s not the truth though, is it?”

Baekhoon laughed.

“Then go grab some journalists and tell them the truth. What would both of us have to lose? As you probably know, my reputation isn’t all that great, especially when it comes to my relationships. Having another one on top of that means nothing. But how about you? Can you, an actress who’s just started to become popular, handle rumors like that? How about your contract with the commercial? Do you have the money to pay them for the breach of contract?”

“That’s….”

Baekhoon turned around. He rubbed the soap bubbles in his hand and spoke,

“Mr. Maru is such a gentleman, looking out for you. No, perhaps he was worried that you might do something drastic. He’s a smart guy after all. He has a lot of things to lose even now. But you know, I’m different. I can gladly fight it out with you in a pit of mud. It’s fine even if my social reputation hits rock bottom. I can bring it back up again. I have the skills and money to do that after all. How about you?”

Dawoon wasn’t able to say anything. She only stared at the soap bubbles popping in Baekhoon’s hand.

“Just eat what’s served in front of you, and don’t be greedy for anything else. If the day comes when something bad comes out of your mouth related to those two people, then things are going to be real interesting. It’ll be quite a sight to see if every news media talks about you.”

“NO!” She screamed out. It would be truly over if that happened.

“So reach out to whatever you’re given, and don’t even stare at what’s outside that. That’s my advice and warning to you. Do not hinder my joy.”

* * *

Baekhoon smiled as he looked at Dawoon hurriedly leaving. Things went well.

Her eyes were totally dead. She wouldn’t be able to think about anything else now. She wasn’t daring enough to let go of everything she had gained until now and choose mutual destruction.

He sent a text message to Han Maru saying that he doesn’t have anything to worry about that was related to Jung Dawoon. Not long later, he got a reply.

-Thank you for the gift.

He replied that it was repayment for the wine.

He put down the phone and looked at the Han River under the sunset.

“How neat.”

He turned on some music and finished washing the dishes.

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