Come Back

**Tap. Tap. Tap.**

The sound of sparks flying from the crackling fire in the fireplace echoed in the room.

It was after midnight on a deep, chilly night in Malibu, with temperatures dropping below 10°C (50°F), and after finishing their dinner, Haeseong and Hongseo were enjoying a relaxing moment in front of the fireplace.

Instead of sitting on the sofa, they were sitting on the carpet, sipping white wine and exchanging stories from the past. It was like lovers who, after parting ways long ago and unable to forget each other, had a chance encounter and rekindled their love. Time passed without them noticing as they shared memories.

“Why don’t you believe me? It’s true that I grew to like you more as I got to know you, but I really did fall for you at first sight,” Haeseong said with a somewhat exaggerated look, his one knee raised while the other leg stretched out. He gazed at the ceiling, feigning innocence, and Hongseo couldn’t help but laugh softly at his playful expression.

“I told you I had an out-of-focus memory. If everything around me turned blurry, doesn’t that mean the conversation’s over?” Hongseo replied, referring to their first meeting, which had happened at Director Kang Woo-hyun’s home on the second floor of his residence. That day, their discussion had sparked a debate about their first impressions of each other.

“Well, that could have been something I added later…” Hongseo trailed off, taking a sip from his wine glass.

“So, what about you? You said you thought I was a quiet and intimidating VVIP. That’s a worse first impression, don’t you think?”

“You said I was ‘special,’ too.”

“Hmm… that didn’t sound like a compliment. Doesn’t that mean I was ‘strange’?”

Haeseong tilted his head in a slightly playful way, swirling his wine glass before taking a sip. Then he looked at Hongseo with a sly smile, making sure to let him know it was all a joke.

Hongseo smiled back, and as he watched Haeseong pour more wine into his glass, the glow of the fire flickered on Haeseong’s face. The only light in the room came from a small lamp in the corner, casting a soft glow that made the warmth and color of the fire stand out even more.

What a precious moment.

This was more dreamlike than the memories of when they existed as intangible, bodiless voices in the universe. Being by his side, acknowledged as Hongseo, sharing memories only the two of them remembered—this was a time he never dared to expect, and one that wouldn’t return.

As Haeseong silently filled his glass about a third full and placed the bottle back into the ice bucket, Hongseo tightened his grip on his own glass.

“You… asked to watch a performance,” Hongseo began.

“Hmm?”

“You didn’t ask me to dance seductively or pour drinks like everyone else. You asked to watch a performance.”

“…”

“That’s why it stuck with me. You treated me like an actor.”

Both Hongseo and Haeseong knew that they weren’t just basking in the joy of happy memories. Even as they brought up past events, they were carefully avoiding topics that could lead to uncomfortable situations.

They didn’t talk about Seo Yeong, Myung Do-hoon, the X scandal, or the pain Hongseo had to endure. Any topic that could bring up painful memories for Hongseo was deliberately avoided.

When talking about their first date on Soyeol Road, they omitted the part about the host of the party where they had reunited—another wealthy businessman. Even when mentioning their first meeting, they didn’t bring up CEO Jo, who had once harassed Hongseo. So, when Hongseo spoke up, it felt like a break in the unspoken rule, creating an awkward moment.

A brief silence hung in the air. When their conversation quieted, the sound of the Pacific waves crashing against the cliffs of Malibu filled the void.

It was usually windy at night, but on days with strong winds, that rule didn’t apply. The white glass doors leading to the front yard, with its expansive lawn and infinity pool, rattled in the fierce wind.

Haeseong briefly paused, looking at Hongseo. Then, as though empathizing and offering comfort, he smiled softly, his expression gentle. Changing his tone, he shifted the topic.

“Alright, even if you weren’t love-struck at first sight, it doesn’t matter.”

He gave a small, teasing click of his tongue, and leaning forward, he gently clinked his glass against Hongseo’s.

“Then, from now on, there’s no need to feel self-conscious in front of me just because you’ve changed from how you looked before, right?”

“Why is this the conversation now?”

“Well, it’s proof that I didn’t like you because of your looks,” Haeseong said casually as he reclined slightly on the sofa and took another sip of his wine.

Hongseo began to reminisce. Haeseong had often complimented him in unbelievable ways—saying that he looked cute even when drenched in sweat after practice, or that he looked handsome on stage. But thinking back, Haeseong had never said anything like “I like you because of your appearance.” He often commented on his smile, eyes, or expression, but never specifically about his looks.

While Haeseong finished off two glasses of wine, Hongseo had barely emptied his own glass and was instead fiddling with the stem. He gulped down a few large sips, as though drinking beer, and wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

“I know my looks aren’t your type,” Hongseo said.

“Now what’s this accusation?”

“Your ex… I saw her too.”

“Hmm?”

Haeseong raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly not remembering.

“When we were at the party at Director Kang’s house, right after the film production was confirmed. You were wearing a tuxedo…”

“…”

“The day we decided… to be together,” Hongseo finished, needing to take another sip of wine. Saying words like “together,” “lover,” or “boyfriend” made him feel more flustered than a kiss or other forms of intimacy.

“Oh, Gaspar?”

Only then, as if remembering, Haeseong narrowed his eyes and nodded.

Gaspar. Yes, it was such an exotic, almost prince-like name.

“He was very tall, with dazzling blonde hair… And he didn’t look much younger than you,” Hongseo said.

Haeseong set his glass down on the carpet and crossed his arms firmly in front of his chest.

“Hongseo, you were jealous of Gaspar. Of course, I remember.”

“I wasn’t jealous,” Hongseo retorted, pouting.

Haeseong, still with his arms crossed, bent forward, laughing as if thoroughly amused. It was the kind of smile that suggested he’d discovered another side of Hongseo, one he hadn’t noticed before.

“Really? You weren’t jealous?”

“……”

“Were you wondering whether Gaspar and I slept together or not?”

“It’s not like we’re children. If we were dating, I can guess we probably did,” Hongseo replied, trying to sound mature, taking a sip from his wine glass. But, of course, he had been jealous. It was the first time he had ever felt jealousy, a feeling he had never experienced before, not with real relationships or anyone he had been in love with. It was impossible to forget.

The two of them were different from Haeseong and himself. Gaspar wasn’t as tall, nor was the age gap as stark, but he clearly came from a good family and had received excellent education, which was immediately apparent. That aura of equality, looking like he could stand on the same level as Haeseong, had made Hongseo envious.

Haeseong had often said that Hongseo was special in his love life, and the ex-boyfriend he had seen was someone who had a completely different image and appearance from Haeseong’s. Because of this, Hongseo had always believed he wasn’t Haeseong’s ideal type.

“How strange.”

Haeseong’s hand, resting on the back of the sofa, slid down to the edge of Hongseo’s shoulder. As his fingers grazed Hongseo’s jawline, Hongseo felt every inch of his body tense up in response. Trying not to show it, Hongseo swallowed hard.

“…What’s strange?”

“You look like Yoon Hyean.” Haeseong’s voice lowered, and he looked at Hongseo with a strange expression. “When people said that, it upset me.”

“……”

“I don’t see any resemblance at all,” he added.

Hongseo had heard before that people said he resembled Yoon Hyean. Maybe their looks were similar, but as idols and actors, their images didn’t overlap at all, so it didn’t bother him.

“When Song Hyunsoo said it, I was offended.”

At the mention of Hyunsoo’s name, Hongseo turned to look at Haeseong.