Chapter 25: That Kiss Back Then
by GideonJubin was a little surprised by his answer. It meant he was the exception.
“Am I okay?”
“Yes, you’re fine. I have to film the taffy kiss scene with you anyway, senior.”
His tone just now. It was light, as if it were no problem at all. There wasn’t a hint of embarrassment in his gaze as they met.
Jubin caught a glimpse of his personal feelings for him.
“If possible, I want to film it soon.”
And he even added ambition to it.
It was a kiss scene where King Segyeom passed a round taffy prepared in the royal kitchen to Hyeonseo with his mouth, their first night together.
Thump, thump. Jubin deliberately did not take his subtly revealed interest in him too deeply.
“Me too. Getting difficult things filmed and over with quickly is also a method.”
Work-related conversations should be solved as work to reduce personal misunderstandings.
“Knowing Director Bae, she’ll probably have us run through a few rehearsals on set and give us detailed directions.”
A kiss scene was more about technique than emotion. As long as they followed the director’s instructions, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Perhaps sensing the emotional distance Jubin was trying to maintain, the other man’s expression darkened slightly.
“Are you confident you can nail it in one take on set?”
“Well…”
Jubin hesitated, wondering why he should be any less confident.
“Ah, I guess you have nothing to worry about, Sunbae. You’ve got plenty of experience.”
The reply was completely off-topic. The way he wore his feelings on his sleeve was so obvious it was almost cute.
Jubin turned his head toward the window, biting his lip to stifle a smile. But he didn’t forget to respond calmly after a moment.
“I don’t have any experience in front of a camera either. I’m in the same boat as you.”
Was that not the answer I wanted? A brief silence hung between us.
I stole a glance at him, focused on the road, and felt a strange tickle in my chest. If we ended things like this, our next meeting would be awkward and uncomfortable. I should just go along with him for now, I decided.
“For someone who’s never dated, you’re a pretty good kisser,” I said.
“Did you like it?” he asked, his voice smooth. “Want to practice our chemistry privately?”
The sly bastard. He’d taken the bait, seizing the opportunity without missing a beat.
I didn’t want to keep retaking that scene over and over again on set. But did we really need to practice for it? My thoughts tangled in a messy knot, leaving me struggling to find the words.
“The shoot will be around winter,” he continued. “Instead of struggling through it on a cold set until we get it right, wouldn’t it be easier for the staff—and better for us—if we worked out our chemistry beforehand?”
When people understand the reasoning, they’re easier to persuade. He seized that fleeting moment, weaving a subtle but compelling argument.
“I guess that’s true…” Jubin trailed off. I need to get this straight, he thought, finally asking, “That kiss back then.”
The final traffic light before the park near his house turned green.
“Was that just practice?”
He brought the car to a smooth stop and flicked on the right turn signal.
“…If that’s the reason, will you keep going along with it?”
At the same time, a signal light flickered on in Jubin’s own heart. The words were blunt, but the subtle, relentless pressure was the same.
Work is just an excuse, Jubin realized. We both know the answer we want.
But he couldn’t just let this happen—not without any preparation, just as he’d been caught off guard by the man’s kiss before.
“Work is work. If you want to do this for the sake of your art, I can certainly help you out.”
Zion frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.
He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, remaining silent.
The car started moving again, and the ensuing silence felt even more uncomfortable.
Ugh, this is so awkward.
Just as Jubin was trying to figure out how to break the tension naturally, the car in the next lane suddenly cut in without signaling, forcing them to slam on the brakes.
Screeeech!
Jubin’s body lurched forward, but a strong arm shot out to brace him across the chest.
“Are you okay, Jubin?”
Jubin let out a ragged breath, his heart still pounding from the shock. His arm felt more solid and secure than the seatbelt ever could.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Zion’s voice was low, laced with irritation as he glared at the car in front of them. “What kind of reckless driving is that?”
“I know, right? If you hadn’t been driving so carefully, we would’ve crashed.”
The car accelerated again, but Jubin’s heart was still pounding from the scare. Zion’s arm remained a steady, reassuring weight across his chest.
“I’m okay now. I had my seatbelt on, after all.”
Zion gave a slight nod, as if he knew Jubin was just trying to play it cool, and refocused on the road. But he didn’t move his arm.
He only withdrew it after pulling over at a nearby park.
“Can I shower at your place before we go?”
This guy… has he been trying to sneak his way in this whole time? Jubin hadn’t realized Zion could be this shameless. He offered a firm smile, drawing a clear line in the sand.
“No, that’s a hard no.”
“But… after everything we’ve shared… I’m hurt.”
He was clearly feigning a wounded tone.
“I don’t let anyone into my place.”
Zion’s expression shifted to one of mock shock. “Do you have a pet?”
“No.”
“Then maybe…” He trailed off, his voice laced with feigned anxiety. “…Do you keep a person instead of a pet?”
“I don’t keep people either. I prefer being alone.”
That was Cha Jubin. A man who guarded his sanctuary with fierce exclusivity, the only place where he could truly let his guard down.
“How about keeping me?”
“I’m terrible at keeping things. I’ll pass.”
Jubin gently pushed back, having sensed the sincerity hidden behind Zion’s joke.
“Don’t you get lonely?”
“Hmm, not really. Who has time to be lonely? When I’m tired, I have to take naps.”
“Do you like naps?”
Like them? He cherished them.
“Yeah. Do you hate them?”
“It’s not that I hate them. I just never intentionally sleep. Are you always that tired?”
“I sleep when I’m tired, and I enjoy it whenever I can. Sleeping is the most comfortable part of the day. Time flies, and it just feels good.”
“Ah…”
Zion let out a soft, enlightened sigh, his voice pitching up slightly.
“Sunbae, you’re a cat person.”
A mental image of a cat meowing and walking past flashed through Jubin’s mind.
No one had ever called him a cat before.
“…I’m not.”
“I think you’re right. You’re super territorial, you sleep a lot, you prefer being alone, you’re always on guard, and you’re fiercely independent. That’s a cat’s personality if I ever saw one.”
Cha Jubin had never once thought of himself as a cat, so he didn’t even feel the need to deny it.
“Stop animal-coding me. I don’t want a ‘character’ or whatever.”
“But that’s the trend these days.”
“Is it a trend among actors too?”
“It’s huge.”
He’d assumed it was just idol fandom culture, but it seemed to have become a general trend across the entire entertainment industry. Of course, he was aware of the animal persona the fans had assigned to Zion.
“Your character is a jaguar, right?”
“Well, I guess that’s how the fans see me.”
“Probably because you look so good with black hair.”
Do Zion often wore black and white. He pulled off all-black outfits with ease, and his fans were head-over-heels for the look.
“Do I look like that to you too, sunbae?”
“Like a jaguar?”
Unfortunately, Jubin couldn’t agree.
“No.”
“Then what do I look like?”
“Just…” Jubin started, then hesitated before meeting Zion’s eyes. “…a star.”
“The kind in the sky?”
“Yeah. That’s how you look to me.”
Jubin gathered his things and waved. “Thanks for today.”
“Get home safe, sunbae.”
“Next time, drinks are on me. Don’t let me pay the bill again.”
“When are we going?”
He’s not giving me any room to escape. Jubin had finally built up some immunity to Zion’s charm, allowing him to counter with a relaxed smile.
“I’ll text you.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
He’s holding my heart hostage until the very end.
That night, just as he’d predicted, Jubin came down with a severe cold. He was bedridden for days.
“Yeon-a, I found you a manager!”
CEO Moon Woo-jin broke the news with a cheerful tone right from the start of the day.
“That’s great.”
“He’s younger than you and a capable driver. He seemed diligent and thorough. When should he start?”
Jubin mentally reviewed the schedule he had already memorized.
“He can officially start on the day of the full read-through. Before that, I’d like to meet him in person to say hello.”
“I’ll send you his number.”
“Yes, I’ll contact him first.”
“Alright. And this time, give him your home address. The commute from the new office to your place is way too long.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Jubin’s expression, which had relaxed in his own private space, instantly hardened.
He had never allowed anyone to know his home address, no matter what. Even his parents hadn’t visited since he’d moved out on his own.
“I’ll look for a place near the office,” he said. “My lease is almost up anyway, so I’ve been thinking about moving.”
—Is there a gold bar hidden in your house or something? Are you living with a woman behind my back?
“I’d like to live with a cat, but I haven’t been chosen yet.”
—Stop being difficult. You’re about to get even busier. When will you have time to find a new place and move? It’ll be so much easier if you just give me your address.
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