Work Text:
Seo Hoyun had never thought much about romantic relationships. Sure, he had a girlfriend or two in his youth, but sometimes he wondered if it was really worth worrying about romance.
His heart moved a little after his last girlfriend, Lee Heeyeon, broke up with him. Ah, it was so annoying.
What was he supposed to do with this discomfort in his chest now? It was a relief that he didn’t feel lonely at home, but that was all thanks to the presence of Seo Hojin.
He drowned himself in work just to avoid that discomfort and walked through the broadcasting halls with dark circles under his eyes larger than all his accumulated fortune. It’s worth noting that no one wanted to approach him.
He’s a demon, the devil. He wouldn’t mind taking down whoever was necessary to have a good life. Seo Hoyun swore he felt no remorse for his actions because he was born to be trash, but maybe the way he started to discreetly hide whenever he saw his ex-girlfriend nearby was a sign that he felt guilt.
He silently entered the smoking area without looking around; any sane person with two brain cells would know they should leave now that he had arrived.
It was a strange occasion, that idol boy who had avoided him like the plague from the beginning of his career was there, watching him curiously.
“Lost something?”
He didn’t care if it sounded unpleasant or if the words didn’t come out in the tone he wanted because of the irritation in his throat.
“You’re really weird.”
Although it was a whisper, Seo Hoyun heard it. A small emotion he knew firsthand invaded him, and the corners of his mouth twisted.
“Eh? Who’s weird, kid?”
As he spoke, the cigarette smoke extended toward the idol. Seo Hoyun struggled to remember his name until he got it right: Joo Woosung.
Top-level idol who, until a few months ago—the last time he had seen him—was completely scared of him. This same guy had just called him weird and only smiled innocently after the reprimand.
“Why are you speaking informally? Am I your friend?”
“Should I call you hyung?”
If God sent him a little strength to deal with this punk, Seo Hojin would end up being accused of murder.
He clenched his fist tightly, inhaled, and exhaled forcefully.
“I see you’re not afraid of death.”
“I’m my parents’ strong son.”
The mockery in his tone was infuriating, probably a spark that fell and grew from the bottom of his head, spreading to cause the incredible pain that coursed through him.
Still, Woosung seemed to have a bit of awareness. He took several steps back and left with a bright smile. He didn’t know what there was to smile about.
And it happened repeatedly; that shameless idol with the big ‘Playboy’ title started orbiting around Seo Hoyun. Somehow, he had even managed to get his phone number.
“Tsk. What the hell is up with that guy?”
As he opened a bottle of soju, Seo Hoyun allowed himself to complain openly at home. Seo Hojin was locked in his room, too distracted with some recent game; there were no intrusions.
Was he avoiding his work? Yes, with all his soul.
He drank the first sip that touched his tongue and tasted like heaven. He kept drinking until the bottles accumulated next to him ceased to be mere modesty.
Still, Seo Hoyun continued to stare at his phone. He didn’t know why; he wasn’t even a person with many friends, neither before nor after starting this thorny path that was his job. The only frequent contact in his text messages and calls was his younger brother.
But Seo Hoyun kept staring at it. Intently.
“Does he want me to edit him like an angel on that show they offered me?”
A clear sign of his state was the fact that he didn’t hear the refrigerator open.
“It’s impossible, that guy doesn’t need it.”
Seo Hoyun let himself melt into the couch. His brother appeared in view, looking at him without much emotion.
“Hyung, you’re going to make a hole in the phone.”
Although his nose wrinkled and his mouth turned into a straight line, Seo Hoyun didn’t stop looking at his phone. With a few drinks in him, it wasn’t hard to tell his brother about his headaches.
“There’s an idol.”
“…”
“He used to avoid me like the plague, wouldn’t look at me for more than two seconds. Now he even got my number.”
Seo Hojin tilted his head slightly, processing what he had been told. After a while, a smile began to grow, followed by a burst of laughter.
“Don’t you see it, hyung?”
Almost as if asked if he had failed the university entrance exam, Seo Hoyun shook his head resolutely.
“No.”
Seo Hojin laughed heartily, clutching his stomach and struggling for air.
“What’s so funny, huh?”
Quickly, Seo Hojin regained his composure; his hyung’s threatening tone never goes out of style. But it was impressive to him how this 33-year-old man could turn a blind eye to things so easily.
“Hyung, I think it’s better if you find out for yourself.”
So, Seo Hoyun decided to find out for himself.
> Hello.
Seo Hoyun. Read
He exhaled forcefully through his nose; for some reason, he felt terrified.
He didn’t care if that idiot didn’t respond, but not doing so was the final decision Seo Hoyun was waiting for.
It took longer than he expected, much longer.
The response message arrived while he was washing his face with cold water, trying to wake up from his drowsiness before starting work.
> PD-nim? It’s a miracle to see that you wrote to me first.
Idiot.
Seo Hoyun’s lips curled downward in disgust, and he threw the phone somewhere on his desk.
When he started working, he was completely possessed by some spirit of self-demand and perfectionism. The sun was rising again when he decided to take a break. He picked up his phone, and the chat was still open.
> Let’s have a drink together soon.
Idiot.
Oh, that surprised him.
That guy, known in the industry for keeping his distance even from his own group mates... Seo Hoyun took a sip of his freshly made coffee.
If he grimaced, it could have been due to getting used to store-bought coffee or his recent discovery.
“This guy really wants to win some PD’s favor.”
Let’s ignore it for now.
Seo Hoyun went back to work.
And maybe ignoring it wasn’t the best option. Joo Woosung seemed to know when to intervene and when to retreat.
Lately, he greeted him politely and didn’t bother him. Slowly, things were returning to their usual flow.
Seo Hoyun went back to his marriage with work and cigarettes. Even if his dark circles grew, they were just proof of his hard work.
“I’m not doing this.”
He threw the proposal in front of his boss, and the man looked at him as if he were crazy.
“Why? It’s a perfect offer, you’ve been planning it for months.”
Another colleague looked at him as if he could break down each of his secrets.
“Is it because it’s a collaboration with PD Kim Heeyeon?”
Although Seo Hoyun’s mouth was filled with a bitter taste, the man only shook his head and smiled mockingly. That way, his colleague regretted making the comment.
“Do you think I care about something like that?”
Everyone knew they had had a fling.
“Someone like me wouldn’t reject jobs over such a trivial detail.”
And it was true. Despite the situation that led to their breakup, Seo Hoyun held no ill feelings toward Kim Heeyeon; over time, he managed to be cordial with her when he met her and bow respectfully.
“PD Kim Heeyeon is a talented woman, so don’t get it wrong.”
Back home, Seo Hojin attacked him as if he had grown a second head.
“Did you really reject the program you wanted so badly?!”
It was a low blow to remind him of that. Seo Hoyun only smiled falsely, trying to calm his younger brother.
“It’s not that deep.”
“How can you say that?”
“…”
“Is it because of that guy from Black Call?”
Seo Hoyun blinked several times, now looking terrified at his younger brother.
“I never mentioned his name.”
“You’re very obvious.”
And now, in silence, Seo Hoyun didn’t know how to explain the situation to prevent his brother from getting strange ideas in his head.
The screen of his phone lit up. A new message.
> Are you no longer going to be the PD of the show?
Idiot.
If he already knew and had asked, it meant Seo Hoyun had been right all along. That kid just wanted to get close to use him, clever but unaware of who he was dealing with.
He turned his gaze sharply, and Seo Hojin understood everything.
The younger brother thought his hyung was really dumb, but he didn’t take any steps to avoid the situation.
Oh, Seo Hoyun. How can you be so bad at realizing?
Although it was a strange situation, and Seo Hojin couldn’t quite piece it all together, he knew one important thing in advance. But his intuition told him that the idol’s interest went beyond a simple professional convenience strategy.
“Hyung... I think Woosung isn’t trying to use you.”
Seo Hoyun glanced at him sideways, not wanting to give it too much importance. But something in his brother’s look made him uncomfortable. Seo Hojin sat across from him, resting his elbows on the table with a seriousness he didn’t usually show.
“Of course he is, Hojin, he’s an idol, his life revolves around making connections,” Seo Hoyun shrugged.
Hojin shook his head slowly, as if he knew something Seo Hoyun didn’t understand, and sighed.
“Hyung, have you ever thought that Woosung is approaching you because he genuinely likes you?”
That phrase made Seo Hoyun burst into a bitter, sotto voce laugh. Interested? If his younger brother was referring to what he thought he was referring to, then Hojin must be completely crazy.
“Stop saying nonsense, Hojin.” He looked away. “He’s just a kid playing, and I don’t have time for that.”
But his brother didn’t back down. He knew him too well, maybe better than he knew himself. Hojin squinted, analyzing his hyung with a mix of concern and what seemed like amusement.
“You can’t be so blind,” Hojin murmured. “Woosung calls you, seeks you out, and even though he’s famous, do you really think he’s desperate for your help in his career? He has a solid image, he doesn’t need a PD like you for that, not now.”
Seo Hoyun felt a slight shiver down his spine. His brother’s words were starting to annoy him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” his tone was rougher than he intended.
Hojin let out a chuckle and shook his head as if dealing with a lost cause. He didn’t insist further. But that little seed was already planted in Seo Hoyun’s mind, who now couldn’t stop thinking about how Woosung was getting closer to him, with those bright smiles and confident comments.
That same night, when Seo Hoyun finally decided to rest, his phone vibrated again. It was another message from Woosung.
> Are you free tomorrow? I want to invite you to dinner.
Idiot.
He stared at the message for several minutes, frowning. It was a simple invitation, something anyone could interpret as casual. But after Hojin’s words, he began to doubt everything. What if...?
No. He shook his head, as if that could clear his thoughts. He wasn’t going to fall for the game. Woosung only wanted something from him. It didn’t matter what Hojin said.
But when he realized it, he had already responded to the message:
> I’ll be free after 7.
Seo Hoyun.
He threw the phone onto the bed and covered his face with his hands. Damn kid.