Come Back

From the master room of the 27th-floor suite, the entire area of the ‘Gelora Bung Karno Complex’ could be seen at a glance. It was the largest comprehensive sports complex in Jakarta, Indonesia, complete with a baseball field, tennis courts, a soccer field, an archery range, and a main stadium that could accommodate 80,000 people.

High-end hotels and tall buildings like shopping malls surrounded the vast grounds of the complex, and the hotel where “Layered” was staying was one of them.

Choi Hong-seo was sitting in an armchair in front of the large window, gazing at the fantastic night view of downtown Jakarta. Unconsciously fiddling with the camera resting on her lap.

The city lights, faintly spread through the mist, were mysterious and exotic. The world seen from there looked like a paradise of abundance built on material wealth. Choi Hong-seo bitterly smiled as he recalled the days when people looking down at the city from the suite rooms of a luxury hotel had no worries or fears, thinking they would never be threatened.

After going through all that, you’re still so naive, Hongseo? Huh?

At the thought that Lee Seokyung’s sarcasm might actually be true, Choi Hongseo’s face twisted even more severely.

Choi Hong-seo, who had stood up from the chair, carefully set down the camera and approached the window.

Alias, the X-guy scandal.

Because of that, Korea was in an uproar right now.

A few days ago, Myung Do-hoon said, “Lee Seo-kyung is preoccupied with the issue of acquiring a hotel in Bangkok from the Hanseo Group.” He had said, “He’s such a fickle person, so if we can just hold out a little longer overseas, I think we can get through this period safely.”

However, it was impossible to predict the madman’s actions. Myung Do-hoon’s naive predictions, or rather his hopes, were completely shattered.

Choi Hong-seo and Myung Do-hoon knew where the true source of the ‘X-Group Scandal,’ which supposedly started spreading from a video-sharing platform, was.

Facing her own face superimposed over the beautifully swaying lights, Choi Hong-seo sneered.

You used to work at a host bar? You’ve been getting jobs through body lobbying all this time?

They were all words that cleverly sidestepped the truth or deliberately omitted it, mere fragments of the truth no matter how nicely they were put. Moreover, the public was already adding lies to the distorted truth, inflating it, and even dragging Go Ji-woon, who had no connection to it, into the mess.

It was unclear whether Go Ji-woon really attempted suicide because he was falsely accused of being a bully. As soon as he heard the news, Choi Hong-seo also tried to get in touch, but Go Ji-woon’s phone was turned off.

“Sigh…”

Choi Hong-seo lightly bumped his forehead against the transparent glass in front of him and sighed.

If it is revealed that Go Ji-woon is not X, the public will immediately start looking for the next target. This was just the beginning.

Because my forehead was pressed against the window, my view was directed downward. The view of the ground seen from the tips of my toes was dizzyingly vertiginous.

Knock, knock.

After a perfunctory knock, the door opened immediately. It was one of the managers.

“Hongseo, are you really not going to eat?”

The smell of the food laid out in the living room wafted through the open door. Before Choi Hong-seo, who felt a strong sense of revulsion, could even respond, a higher-ranking manager suddenly stuck his face in.

“No.” Come out and at least have a few bites.

At the firm command, Choi Hong-seo had no choice but to go out to the living room. At the large dining table set up behind the sofa, the members and managers were having dinner.

When Choi Hong-seo came out of the bedroom, everyone subtly observed him. Because every time a major news story broke in the entertainment industry, Choi Hong-seo’s mental state had become unstable. Moreover, the atmosphere became even more somber because Go Ji-woon, who was hospitalized for a suicide attempt, was a mutual acquaintance of “Layered.”

Because of that, Choi Hong-seo and a few other members were banned from using the internet. In short, their cell phones and tablets were confiscated. The incoming calls were screened and transferred by the manager.

The saved name that Hae-seong changed from ‘Carrot Seller’ to ‘Investor’ was, for now, acceptable. But they couldn’t exchange messages as frequently as before. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.

What should I say to him, what words are okay to say, and what words should I avoid? As each day passed, it became increasingly unclear.

Choi Hong-seo, who sat in the empty seat, took a few sips of the soup that looked smooth.

“Let’s go out and have a drink, bro.” I’m really feeling down and can’t stand it anymore!

One member, while forcefully stuffing a piece of pizza, threw it onto the plate and complained to the managers.

“Drink here.” If there’s a drink you want, I’ll go out and get it for you.

“Oh, is the goal to drink?” I’m just so frustrated that I want to go out and get some fresh air. Anyway, the older guys can take him out. Then what is there to worry about?

Understanding that the members were distressed by the scandal that broke out in Korea, the managers did not firmly say no to going any further. The highest-ranking manager reluctantly gave permission, and the members, who had no appetite anyway, left the table to prepare for going out.

“Is Hong-seo coming?” “Not going?”

At the manager’s question, Choi Hong-seo shook his head.

“Okay, then.” Stay with me at the hotel.

Only one manager remained to monitor Choi Hong-seo, and everyone else hurriedly left the room. Seeing the manager sitting on the sofa in front of the living room TV with his phone in hand, Choi Hong-seo got up and returned to the bedroom.

I picked up the camera that was sitting alone on the armchair and flipped through the photos on the screen without any particular thought. There were also a few photos of the broadcasting station staff and fans I met in Jakarta, as well as some pictures taken in Singapore. And before they parted ways, the last images to appear were of Choi Hong Seo taken by Lee Hae Sung, and of Lee Hae Sung taken by Choi Hong Seo.

Choi Hong-seo lay on the bed with the camera.

Let’s just tell him everything. Whether he understands generously or coldly despises me, let’s just say everything and consider it a gamble. Having made that decision, there was a time when I got completely drunk at the after-party with the local staff. It was a very rare occurrence for Choi Hong-seo, who was known for his strict self-discipline.

However much I drank, I couldn’t even muster the courage to call him. As soon as I held my phone, everything became clear in front of my eyes and in my mind.

Even if it was unfair and infuriating, it was his past. Unilaterally revealing such a terrifying past to him, and yet, despite everything, asking him to continue loving me, including all that dreadful darkness… I couldn’t tell if that was love.

Some say sacrifice is love, others say sharing is love. Everyone had a different idea of what love was. Even the certainty of what love is formed through the experience of giving and receiving love, and it was the first time Choi Hong-seo realized this.

How to show love for him, in the end, I had to decide for myself. But what constitutes a valuable love, that standard was not within him.

Then, what would Hae-seong have done?

To Choi Hong-seo, love was everything he had learned from Lee Hae-sung, so he had no choice but to cling to that imagination.

Knock, knock.

At the sound of another knock from behind, Choi Hong-seo turned around while lying down.

“Hongseo, phone call.” It’s a friend, Hyung.

At the mention of Jeong Ji-in, he groggily sat up. I took the phone handed to me by the manager who had walked over to the bed and connected the call.

“Hyung.”

Oh, you said Jakarta? How is it there? Isn’t it your first time in Indonesia?

“What the… Did Jiun call because he was worried after reading the article?

At Jeong Ji-in’s forced cheerful voice, Choi Hong-seo let out a weak laugh. Only then did Jung Ji-in feel that there was no need to beat around the bush, and with a deep sigh, he asked with concern.

What are you doing? Are you holed up in the hotel?

“Yeah, well.” They’re taking turns keeping watch because they think I’m being monitored.

The manager grumbled beside him, saying, “I’m just staying with you because I’m worried, not to keep an eye on you.” Choi Hong-seo finally kicked him out of the room after a heated argument. Even as he was pushed out the door, the manager didn’t forget to remind him to bring the phone out as soon as the call was over.

At last, Choi Hong-seo, now alone, went to the armchair by the window and sank deeply into it.

“Ah, seriously…” Originally, it wasn’t that bad, but since the article came out today, the managers have been overreacting. The other members are also sneaking glances. “Am I some kind of bomb that could explode at any moment?”