The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 204

After arriving home, I briefly explained to Noh Bi-hyuk.

The death of Ji-heon hyung, the resulting disownment, and my reunion with Lee Eun-taek.

Noh Bi-hyuk’s reaction was brief and blunt.

“Lee Eun-taek, what a crazy bastard.”

“…….”

Sigh.

“Bi-hyuk, you really need to speak more nicely. I’m genuinely worried about you now.”

It was just a few months until his debut.

When I sighed, Noh Bi-hyuk jumped up.

“Hey! Given what I just heard, my reaction was mild. Besides, I don’t usually curse, okay?”

“Then who was the person who cursed the moment they saw me earlier?”

“That’s because you wouldn’t answer your phone!”

Noh Bi-hyuk frowned.

“Ha…. Anyway, thanks for telling me. But honestly, let me be frank.”

“Okay.”

I wondered what kind of reaction he would have to this nauseating story.

‘No matter what reaction he shows, don’t let it show.’

No matter what kind of gaze he gives me, it was my burden to bear.

While thinking that, I tried to put on a calm expression.

“Lee Yeon-jae, I’m more worried about you.”

“…?”

“Stop worrying about me and start worrying about yourself. Do you even understand what I’m saying?”

No. I didn’t understand.

Seeing my expression, he looked troubled.

“Why are you so soft for a hedgehog? Can’t you toughen up a bit?”

“Why are you bringing up hedgehogs now?”

“I’m just frustrated. A guy with no friends claims to know Eun-taek hyung, you exchange terrifying conversations, and hearing someone died, do you know how shocked I was?”

His thick eyebrows drooped.

“Moreover, you don’t even deny it, and I know nothing.”

“…….”

“If I knew something, I could fight for you or defend you. But standing there like an idiot was all I could do. Since I didn’t know anything, I couldn’t step in. Not that you wanted me to step in anyway.”

He rambled on.

“Anyway… ha, I’m sorry.”

Noh Bi-hyuk covered his face with his hands.

I was the one surprised by the sudden apology.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“For not being able to do anything when Eun-taek hyung threatened you, for letting you go out alone earlier, and for pestering you to tell me quickly.”

His words flowed nonstop.

Hearing his dejected voice made me laugh.

“It’s not your fault for not knowing because I didn’t tell you. And it’s not like Lee Eun-taek’s threats were anything serious. He didn’t even have a knife.”

“You have a knack for saying scary things so nonchalantly.”

Noh Bi-hyuk muttered.

Ignoring him, I said what I needed to say.

“I’m the one who should apologize. It’s my issue with Lee Eun-taek, but I made it difficult for you. I’ll make sure it doesn’t affect you, so don’t worry.”

“Worry about yourself. I can handle myself.”

Sure you can.

I snorted and internally organized my thoughts.

‘I need to talk to Lee Eun-taek.’

Though I understood his position, affecting Noh Bi-hyuk’s debut was a separate issue.

While pondering how to persuade him, Noh Bi-hyuk poked my cheek.

“Hey, can I say one more thing?”

“Sure.”

“……that guy, Lee Ji-heon.”

Hearing that name after a long time, I unintentionally stiffened.

“I don’t understand why you say you killed him. It was an accident, right? A pure accident. So how is it your fault?”

“…….”

“Even if Eun-taek hyung blamed you when he was young, he’s not a kid anymore. If he still thinks that way, that’s his problem.”

Noh Bi-hyuk’s eyes cautiously observed me.

His tone was gentle and kind, like someone walking on thin ice.

It was too kind for someone like me, making me smile bitterly.

“It’s my fault, Bi-hyuk.”

Ji-heon hyung died because of me.

“I killed him.”

I knew that better than anyone.

“Lee Yeon-jae, just because someone gets hurt trying to save you doesn’t mean you hurt them. Feeling guilty is natural, but—”

“Ji-heon hyung’s trip to the hospital wasn’t his first.”

I interrupted Noh Bi-hyuk’s words.

I didn’t want my friend to defend a murderer.

“They said it happened ten times. The number of times Ji-heon hyung went to the emergency room after I was adopted.”

“…….”

“We were together for barely a year.”

My mouth tasted bitter.

I knew because the detailed hospital visit records were listed in the disownment papers.

From a fractured finger to a thigh burn, Ji-heon hyung got involved in numerous incidents within a year.

I was always there with him.

‘Hyung’s life was also unfortunate.’

How did he end up with me?

Ji-heon hyung had a mature and calm personality.

He was also healthy enough that he didn’t even get common bruises.

At least until he met me.

‘I was lucky to meet him.’

It’s funny, isn’t it? His misfortune started by meeting me.

“On the other hand, the number of times I got hurt significantly decreased. It was so noticeable that I thought something was wrong… but I only thought about it.”

I should have acted instead of just thinking.

I shouldn’t have clung to someone who willingly lent me their embrace.

It was all caused by my greed for affection that wasn’t mine.

“…It’s not because of you.”

After a long pause, Noh Bi-hyuk gave a childish answer.

As if insisting it would make it true.

‘I can’t even mention the misfortune factor, damn it.’

It felt like the conversation was going in circles.

Even though I felt down, the lack of progress in the conversation made me change the direction.

“Someone else said exactly what you just did.”

“Who? Jin-bae hyung?”

“No, Lee Eun-taek.”

“…?”

A question mark appeared on Noh Bi-hyuk’s face.

“After Ji-heon hyung passed away, my adoptive parents were also struggling. During that time, Eun-taek stuck by my side.”

“By ‘stuck by your side,’ you mean he bullied you, like earlier?”

“No, he treated me really well.”

Though it felt a bit antagonistic, that was just Eun-taek’s kind bluntness.

I asked the puzzled Noh Bi-hyuk.

“How was Lee Eun-taek usually? Before today.”

“Well, um.”

Noh Bi-hyuk spoke while watching my reaction.

“He wasn’t that bad…? He wasn’t overly kind, but I’ve never seen him curse like today.”

As expected, I nodded.

Wasn’t Sung Lee-jun the same?

When he was bullied at school, Lee Eun-taek was the only one who approached him.

‘He did that after Ji-heon hyung died, too.’

When my adoptive parents and I were in shock, Eun-taek moved busily.

He tried to act lively in front of my adoptive parents and kept picking on me.

When I felt Ji-heon hyung’s absence, Eun-taek was always by my side.

“He told me countless times. That Ji-heon hyung didn’t die because of me and to get a grip. That for Ji-heon hyung’s sake, we should stick together and endure.”

“…….”

This is why talking about the past is meaningless.

Nothing changes, and it only stirs up emotions.

I shook my head vigorously, shaking off the rising emotions.

“Anyway, Lee Eun-taek has an issue with me, not you. So tomorrow, focus on talking about that.”

“Why did Eun-taek hyung’s mind change? Why does he say you killed him now?”

I laughed at his cautious tone.

The answer was obvious.

“Because Lee Eun-taek started getting hurt.”

“…….”

“It was just like with Ji-heon hyung. I was always there when he got hurt. And after Eun-taek ended up in the hospital….”

The day Eun-taek fell down the stairs instead of me and broke his leg.

It was only then that I could finally tell my adoptive parents.

‘I think I need to go back to the orphanage.’

‘…….’

‘I’m sorry for saying this so late.’

My adoptive parents hesitated for a long time before nodding.

I remember refusing when they tried to hold my shoulder, saying they were sorry.

Though I didn’t know about the misfortune factor, I realized people around me got hurt.

After saying my last goodbyes to Eun-taek, who was lying in a hospital bed, I returned to the orphanage the next day.

“I apologized to Eun-taek. For hurting him and for everything with Ji-heon hyung.”

He didn’t respond.

Only a look of deep disgust came back.

That’s how I parted with Eun-taek.

“Lee Yeon-jae.”

Noh Bi-hyuk, who had been silent, called me.

After calling me, he remained silent for a while before speaking.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why do you keep apologizing? This has nothing to do with you.”

“Not that.”

Then what?

I met Noh Bi-hyuk’s eyes.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t talk to you in the first grade.”

“…….”

I was at a loss for words.

I stared at him blankly and muttered.

“What a foolish thing to say….”

We became

friends in the sixth grade when we were in the same class.

Before that, we didn’t even have a chance to talk.

With a somber face, Noh Bi-hyuk said.

“I just… if I had been there then, things might have been better.”

“Then you would have gotten hurt.”

“No, I’m sure I wouldn’t have.”

What nonsense.

His baseless confidence made me laugh.

It started as an incredulous laugh, but it lightened my mood considerably.

‘He’s really something.’

Still smiling, I looked at Noh Bi-hyuk.

He was squirming and watching me like a drenched puppy.

“Bi-hyuk, don’t worry about me.”

“……I’m not worrying.”

Even in this, he had the pride to deny it straight away, which was funny.

“I’m actually grateful. This could have been a creepy story.”

“Stop saying things like that.”

“Alright. Let’s just get ready for bed.”

I pacified the grumbling Noh Bi-hyuk.

He adeptly changed into his pajamas as if he were at his own home.

“I’m going to wash up.”

“Okay. Hey, Bi-hyuk. What time are you going to the practice room tomorrow?”

“Around noon? The others usually come around that time.”

Nodding indifferently, I took out my phone as soon as Noh Bi-hyuk entered the bathroom.

―Hello?

“Lee-jun hyung, it’s Lee Yeon-jae.”

―Oh! Did you get some rest? You’re not too tired?

For a moment, I wondered what he was talking about.

Then I remembered I’d only been in Korea for two days.

‘I almost forgot about the trip to Italy because of today.’

Feeling awkward, I mumbled.

“Well, kind of. Hyung, can you give me some information?”

―Sure. What is it?

I asked Sung Lee-jun for Lee Eun-taek’s phone number.

After a moment of hesitation, Sung Lee-jun said he’d send it by text.

010-XXXX-XXXX

Staring at the message, I pressed the call button.

The phone rang twice.

―What.

“……it’s Lee Yeon-jae.”

―I know. Get to the point.

Lee Eun-taek’s unfriendly voice came through the phone.

Swallowing a sigh, I stated my business.

“Let’s meet tomorrow morning for a bit.”

* * *

Ding dong.

“I’ll get it.”

I stopped Jin-bae hyung from getting up at the sound of the doorbell.

I took a short breath before opening the door.

“Hello.”

Despite my greeting, Lee Eun-taek just glared at me without a word.

“Couldn’t we just meet at a regular café? Who are you to summon me to your house?”

“Thanks for coming.”

“……ha, whatever.”

Lee Eun-taek glared at me coldly before coming inside.

He stepped into the house, then paused upon seeing Jin-bae hyung.

“This is Jin-bae hyung, my manager.”

“Hello, I’m An Jin-bae.”

“Ah, hello.”

Lee Eun-taek awkwardly greeted back.

In the awkward silence, I realized something.

Oh, I need to introduce him.

“He’s Eun-taek hyung. He’s…”

Hmm. What should I say?

After hesitating, I awkwardly continued.

“He’s debuting with Bi-hyuk.”

“…….”

For some reason, Lee Eun-taek’s gaze turned fierce.