Chapter Text
“Then, happy cooperation, Kim-ssi.”
“Happy cooperation Director Kang.”
The two men shook each other’s hands briefly. One was smiling and the other had an indifferent expression on his face.
“Then I will–”
“Oh my God! It’s really him!”
The man, Kim Rok Soo, couldn't finish his sentence as an excited scream cut him off.
“Wow, I can't believe this!”
“It’s the movie king Lee Soo Hyuk!”
The director’s smile became bigger as he turned to where the sudden commotion had started.
“Oh, he's here.”
Nobody noticed how Kim Rok Soo flinched slightly or his grip on the cane in his hand tightened.
“Have a nice day, Director Kang.”
The director turned back to him and answered him.
“Ah, you too. Be careful on the road.”
“Yes.”
Kim Rok Soo turned around and hurriedly walked away in the opposite direction of the commotion.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The constant and hurried sound of a cane tapping the ground was buried under all of the surrounding voices.
‘... Let's not meet him yet.’
Kim Rok Soo thought as he continued walking away.
Lee Soo Hyuk.
He was someone whom Kim Rok Soo knew from middle school and respected a lot. Someone who saved Kim Rok Soo when he was on the verge of losing his hope to live.
‘Well, he probably doesn't remember me anymore.’
Though, it was quite unlikely for Lee Soo Hyuk, someone who had saved a lot and was like a sun that gently rained his light on the people around him, to remember someone like Kim Rok Soo.
‘Even if I came here to meet him…’
Even if his reason for participating in this movie, to become an actor was to meet him someday again…
‘...I'm not ready to meet him.’
He just couldn't bring himself to go to him. He didn't–
“Watch out!”
A warm hand grabbed his waist right before he could fall into the soon-to-be artificial lake that was currently under construction.
“Ah.”
Kim Rok Soo gasped unconsciously.
“Are you okay?”
It was because he could recognize the voice.
‘...No way-’
“I'm fine.”
He didn't dare to turn around and just answered the man who caught him. The man didn't say anything and instead, his grip on his waist tightened.
“Instructor Choi, are you okay?” One of the workers asked worriedly before continuing in irritation. “Hey, can't you see that the lake is still empty? Are you blind?“
The annoying staff made Kim Rok Soo temporarily forget the man hugging him.
“That's right.”
“What?“
Kim Rok Soo stoically answered the staff.
“I am blind.“
“...”
The worker wasn't the only one who finally noticed the white cane in Kim Rok Soo's hand.
“Ack-”
Kim Rok Soo gasped as he was suddenly forced to turn around.
“You…”
A small and cracked voice reached Kim Rok Soo's ears.
‘Damn.’
He wanted to avoid this, too.
“...Kim Rok Soo.”
The man who had saved him earlier said dumbly.
Sigh.
Kim Rok Soo sighed and opened his mouth.
“Choi Jung Soo.”
Kim Rok Soo called the name of his childhood friend and suddenly, it felt as if time had stopped.
There was no way he could not recognize him when he could clearly remember everything about him and Lee Soo Hyuk.
“Did our dear martial arts instructor finally decide to show up?“
A playful voice filled the awkward space. Then it became confused after noticing someone else there, too.
“Hmm? What're you doing, Jung Soo-Ah? Huh?“
The man froze in place the moment he saw who was the person Choi Jung Soo was holding.
‘....’
Kim Rok Soo felt like cursing. He didn't know how to react. After meeting the two people he was both searching for and avoiding for years, he was at a loss.
“Long time no see, Rok Soo-Ah.“
The familiar gentle voice and the intimate calling made him answer without even thinking.
“Long time no see, team leader-nim.”
His hair fluttered in the gentle wind as he grabbed the cane tighter.
He couldn't see them anymore, but he still remembered them perfectly. Was there even someone who couldn't remember and recognize the people he loves?