When Ji-hun took the wet cotton pad from the makeup artist's hand and started wiping his face, Ba-da was looking into the mirror and tying her hair back. It had been ten minutes since the shoot ended, and both of them had already gone backstage to get away from the chaos in the studio. Even the noise of the equipment being packed up felt heavy to Ji-hun at that moment. He liked working with his sunbae, but his sunbae really wore people out.

When they heard people discussing where to go for dinner, Ba-da looked at Ji-hun through the mirror. "You're coming too, right?"

"No, noona. I'm going home," Ji-hun murmured as he threw the cotton pads into the trash.

"What? Why?" Ba-da said. She did not really care whether she was making it too obvious that she did not like the answer.

"I have class tomorrow morning," Ji-hun said. "I'm really tired today anyway."

Ba-da stood up and picked up her bag. When she came over to Ji-hun, she looked into his eyes as though they were still in the middle of the shoot. "You can stay for an hour and then leave. Come on. I just met you."

"I really can't," Ji-hun said, looking away. "I don't drink when I have school."

"Then don't drink. Eat."

Girl, just leave me the fuck alone. Ji-hun had realized Ba-da was not going to let up easily. "I'll come after the shoot in three days." Then he looked toward the doorway and noticed Ho-jin watching them.

Ho-jin could see how patient Ji-hun was being with Ba-da. But he had not forgotten what Ji-hun had done during the shoot, and he was still fuming. At least he's behaving properly right now.

Ba-da was not shy. In fact, she could be unusually bold sometimes, and that was the trait entertainment reporters liked most about her. "Fine," she said. "Then give me your phone."

"My phone?" Ji-hun said with a slight smile. "What are you gonna do with my phone, noona?"

"I'm putting my number in."

The moment Ji-hun handed her his phone, Ho-jin's face took on a strange look.

Ba-da smiled, clearly pleased that she had gotten what she wanted. As she typed in her number and called her own phone, she asked, "How old did you say you were?"

"I'm twenty-two, noona."

"Twenty-two..." Ba-da said as she handed the phone back to him. "You can't run away anymore."

Ji-hun laughed. "See you, noona."

What Ba-da did not know was that Ji-hun was a master of fake smiles.

Ji-hun put the phone into his pocket and walked toward Ho-jin, who was already ready to leave. Then he bowed deeply. "Good evening, Ho-jin-ssi. It's a great honor to work with you. See you in three days."

"Why aren't you coming to dinner?"

"I'm very tired. Please excuse me."

Ho-jin looked at Ji-hun for a few seconds. "All right. Take care of yourself."

Ji-hun did not answer. As he walked outside, he could feel Ho-jin's stare drilling into the back of his neck.

Won-hee opened the minivan door. "How was the shoot?"

"It was good."

Ji-hun got in and sat down. The minivan had not even left the parking lot when his phone rang.

It was Ho-jin.

"Sunbae?"

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Sunbae, I swear I'm really tired. I'm gonna go home and..."

"Why did you give her your number, Ji-hun?"

"Because it would've been rude if I didn't."

"..."

"Sunbae. Are you jealous?"

"Go home and sleep early."

"Oka—"

The call had already ended.

Ji-hun threw his phone onto the seat beside him and rested his head back.

Won-hee looked at him through the rearview mirror. He was used to Ji-hun and Ho-jin fighting, but this was the first time he had heard the word jealousy. He said nothing for a while, then could not help himself. "Ji-hun-ah, is everything okay?"

"It's fine, Won-hee." Ji-hun brushed him off as if Won-hee was actually going to believe him.

"Do you need anything from me?" Won-hee asked.

Ji-hun rested his head against the seat. "Are you joining them for dinner after you drop me off?"

"That's the plan."

"Can you keep an eye on Ho-jin sunbae?" He closed his eyes. "He hasn't had a drink in a long time. And he's still taking medication regularly. He needs to watch his health. Don't let him drink too much."

"Okay."

"Yoon Ba-da tried her luck with both of us."

"Yeah. That's kind of how she is."

Ji-hun let the subject drop. Right then, the silence felt good. He only noticed how much more tired he felt now and that his feet hurt. "I'm driving to school in the morning. I'll drive to the advertorial in the afternoon too. We'll meet there tomorrow."

"Works for me."

Then his phone vibrated.

Ji-hun waited a while, then reached across to the seat beside him without opening his eyes.

The message was from Ho-jin.

We're gonna talk

After sending the message, Ho-jin looked around. Everyone was drinking and having fun, the conversation was in full swing, and some of them were already a little drunk.

Ho-jin was drinking too, but he was not having fun.

He only liked drinking with Ji-hun. They had both quit drinking, but every once in a while, they liked sharing a bottle of soju and having sex. Shit, I missed him.

Even being apart for an hour or two like this was enough to wipe away any anger Ho-jin had toward Ji-hun. I wish he was sleeping in my arms right now.

"What are you thinking so hard about?"

I'm not gonna argue with him when I get home.

"Ho-jin-ah?"

Haah… What the fuck do you want from me? Ho-jin turned toward Ba-da and smiled. "I have a shoot tomorrow. I'm thinking about how I'm gonna get through it when I'm this tired, Ba-da."

"Ho-jin… Tell me a little about Moon Ji-hun."