Big Life-Chapter 187: The Bombing Starts (8)

“That’s a given.”

“It is?” Ha Jae-Gun asked while bringing the glass of beer to his mouth.

It was past midnight, and he was currently at Park Do-Joon’s place. Sitting across from him was Park Do-Joon, who crushed the beer can in his hand, which he had just emptied, and shrugged his shoulders.

“Think about this in their shoes. Let’s say I’m still an unknown actor from seven to eight years ago. You’re a famous writer, while my popularity is near to none, and my income is still meager. However, I’m in need of money to pay for a yearly lease and asked to borrow money from you; what would you do?”

“I’ll lend it to you, of course,” Ha Jae-Gun replied without hesitation.

Park Do-Joon scratched his head and stood up. He took out two new cans of beer from the fridge and said, “Ah, I gave the wrong example. Let’s say you’re an unknown writer, and you have become friends with me, a global star, now. Would you be able to ask me to lend you money for your yearly lease? Even if I’m a friend who is much more wealthy than most people?”

“That…”

“Yes. I have the money and will lend it to you. However, the real problem here isn’t whether I’ll lend you the money or not. What if this breaks the good friendship we have? Or they might be afraid of how the other person will look at them, too. They’re afraid to be that person who can’t do anything on their own or that person who prefers to depend on others rather than work hard.”

Tsss.

Park Do-Joon opened a can of beer and handed it to Ha Jae-Gun. “Anyway, it won’t be just these reasons. Everyone probably thinks that you've helped them a lot already, and you even allowed them to move into a larger office. The rent they’re paying right now is nothing short of a bargain, either. How can those writers say such things to you without feeling like they're shameless?”

“Hmm… I understand what you’re driving at.” Ha Jae-Gun nodded and looked toward the terrace.

As days passed into autumn, the stars littering the night sky became clearer.

“I don’t think there’s any problem. The writers like you a lot, and they are going with the flow as usual.”

Park Do-Joon took a sip of his beer and added cautiously, “If you’re still worried, why don’t you approach them first with an open mind?”

“...?”

“With a more humane approach. Don’t take things the wrong way. I’m not saying that you’re doing things wrong now, but humans need some distance between each other, too.”

Bzzt!

Park Do-Joon’s phone rang, cutting off their conversation. He excused himself and answered the call.

“Ah, you’re here? Just come right up. I’m with Ha Jae-Gun, of course. No, there’s no vodka. We’re only having some beer. Yeah, just come right up. See you.”

Ha Jae-Gun silently chuckled as Park Do-Joon hung up. He had known that Lee Chae-Rin would be joining them tonight.

“Ah, where were we?”

“You were saying that humans need some distance between each other.”

“Ah, right. I just thought of this all of a sudden, but you still call everyone else Writer XXX except for Yeon-Woo. I think there must be a reason for you to do that. Anyway, let’s continue after Lee Chae-Rin arrives.”

“Thanks for your advice.”

“There’s no need…”

Beep! Beep! Beep!

"How are you here so fast? Did you install boosters at your feet or something?"

The door opened, and Lee Chae-Rin came dashing in wearing a training suit with a huge shopping bag in one hand. Her still made-up face looked pale under the lights.

"Jae-Gun oppa, this is a present for you."

"Present for me?"

“The OST I sang for Gyeoja Bathhouse is doing very well, and since it’s thanks to you that I got the opportunity, I wanted to give you a present to repay you.”

“I didn’t do anything to deserve this.” Ha Jae-Gun accepted the shopping bag awkwardly. He took a look inside and saw a huge box containing a family game console.

Lee Chae-Rin watched Ha Jae-Gun in a daze and giggled loudly. “Heehee! I actually bought this because I wanted to play it! You can install it in your basement lounge, and then I can play it whenever I go over to hang out!”

“Hey, do you even have any conscience?” Park Do-Joon nagged.

Lee Chae-Rin stuck out her tongue playfully in response.

“But you guys like playing games anyway. How can you guys just play billiards every time you meet? Look at the serious looks you have on your face every time we crack a joke. You really make me feel disheartened.”

“Enough. Go and wash up first. Change out of your clothes and remove your make-up too.”

“Hmph!”

Ha Jae-Gun sneakily removed himself from the bickering couple and sat down on the sofa in the living room. The TV was playing a variety program from earlier that Ha Jae-Gun did not know the name of. Ha Jae-Gun stared at the TV, lost in thoughts. The conversation he had with Park Do-Joon earlier got him thinking.

After a while, Lee Chae-Rin went to wash up, and Park Do-Joon came to sit beside Ha Jae-Gun on the sofa. He grabbed the remote control and asked Ha Jae-Gun, “Are you watching this now?”

“No, watch whatever you want.”

“Thanks. It’s about time for it to start.” Park Do-Joon changed the channel on the TV immediately.

Just then, the logo for Let’s Watch A Movie appeared on the screen. Park Do-Joon laid down horizontally on the sofa and muttered, “I’ve been busy recently, so I haven’t been able to watch this at all.”

“You like this program?”

“Yeah, I don’t really care about the others, but I’ll definitely watch this when I have the time.” Ha Jae-Gun put down his can of beer and looked at Park Do-Joon. Content Producer Bae had proposed Ha Jae-Gun to join the show as a fixed panelist. He didn’t know Park Do-Joon was an avid viewer of this program.

“Is this program that interesting to watch?” Ha Jae-Gun asked, curious to hear Park Do-Joon’s reason.

Park Do-Joon scratched his cheeks and replied softly, “It’s quite interesting, and I’ve been watching it since I was young. So… kind of like a habit?”

“I see.”

Park Do-Joon seemed to have more to say, so Ha Jae-Gun waited quietly. However, a call from Woo Tae-Bong came in.

“He must have called because it’s the commercial break now. Yeah, Tae-Bong hyung. No, I’m at home, of course.”

Park Do-Joon moved to the common bedroom to continue his phone conversation. Then, Lee Chae-Rin appeared with a fresh face from the bathroom after washing up.

“I knew you guys would be watching this,” Lee Chae-Rin murmured as she sat next to Ha Jae-Gun.

Ha Jae-Gun looked curiously at her, “Is there a special reason why Do-Joon watches this program?”

“Didn’t he tell you? Hm, it’s nothing special…”

Lee Chae-Rin glanced at the common bedroom for a while and whispered, “He told me it’s the program that his late older brother liked.”

“Ahh…”

“He said he always watched this program with his older brother when he was younger. His older brother loved movies and would talk a lot about the movies while watching the show.”

Ha Jae-Gun turned solemnly to the TV. The sight of Park Do-Joon sobbing while delivering his thank you speech at the Baeksong Arts Award surfaced in his mind.

“He would sometimes cry while watching the program alone at night now, too. So even if I can’t meet him on days of the show’s rerun, I would always give him a call. Don’t tell Do-Joon that I told you this, okay?”

Ha Jae-Gun nodded, smiling bitterly. At the same time, Park Do-Joon appeared from the common bedroom after ending the call with Tae-Bong.

“What conspiracy are the both of you planning now? Spill.”

“Tae-Bong hyung is doing well, right?”

“Don’t change the topic. You guys were talking bad about me, right? Hey, Lee Chae-Rin, spill it.”

“Kyaak! Don’t…!”

Park Do-Joon carried Lee Chae-Rin on his shoulders and spun themselves a few times on the spot. As Ha Jae-Gun watched them with a smile, he soon made up his mind.

The quiet autumn night was growing darker.

***

Meanwhile, Yoon Tae-Sung was watching the TV with Lee Eun-Ha at his place. On the coffee table in front of them was a spread of food bought from the convenience store: sandwiches, crackers, and cans of beer scattered across.

“It’s really a huge mess. I can’t help but hear double sounds whenever I watch this,” Lee Eun-Ha spat bitterly as she glared at the TV.

They were watching the movie Summer in My 20s, which was directed by Woo Jae-Hoon.

“Aren’t you tired of cursing every time you watch this? Let’s watch something else.” Yoon Tae-Sung clicked his tongue as he grabbed the remote control.

Lee Eun-Ha quickly reached out and pressed his arm down.

“Just leave it.”

“Why are you still watching it?”

“I just want to curse at it more. It’s fun watching while cursing him out, too. How could Woo Jae-Hoon screw up such a great novel like that? I wouldn’t be able to create trash like this even if I made up my mind to mess it up. The post-editor must have had a hard time.”

Lee Eun-Ha was originally a reader of Summer in My 20s and liked the novel a lot. As it had the element of mystery in it, she enjoyed it even after reading the novel a couple of times. Not only that, Ha Jae-Gun delicately expressed the hardships experienced by women in general who are socially underprivileged in the workforce. This was one of the many details that captured Lee Eun-Ha’s heart.

“Argh, I’m so angry! If I had a megaphone, I would have yelled at him out loud!” Lee Eun-Ha clenched her fists and stomped her feet.

Yoon Tae-Sung picked up a cracker and mumbled, “Forget about it since it’s already happened. So what will you do? You have to give a reply next week, so you should start considering already.”

“Mm…”

Lee Eun-Ha stopped fussing and raised her knees to her face, burying her head between them. Yoon Tae-Sung was referring to the proposal of her directing a webtoon. This proposal came in thanks to the great success of Market Place.

“Do you not like it because it’s a web drama?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t have confidence in romance genres.”

“Didn’t you promise me back then that you’d do it since you’re in a hurry? You said you’d do anything that pays regardless of the quality and your own preferences.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it, did I? I’m just not confident.”

“Isn’t it the same?”

“Why are you picking up a fight again? Are you boasting that you’re now a famous director? Do you want to die?!”

“Arghhh!” Lee Eun-Ha pounced on Yoon Tae-Sung. She grabbed hold of one of his legs. Just as she was about to twist it, her phone rang.

“Director Yoon! Count yourself lucky! But who is calling at this hour?”

Lee Eun-Ha looked at the name shown on the screen and froze instantly. It was a message from Ha Jae-Gun.

Yoon Tae-Sung stood up with a worried look behind her and asked, “Why? What is it?”

“...”

“Hey, Eun-Ha. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

Lee Eun-Ha turned around slowly. Yoon Tae-Sung’s face darkened when Lee Eun-Ha looked like she was about to cry. However, a few seconds later, Lee Eun-Ha suddenly burst into loud cheers and pounced on him once more, and they collapsed onto the sofa together.

***

“There are no issues. We can make those arrangements for you.”

“Please let me know if there are any unreasonable requests. I’m not trying to force my way through either, I am open to negotiations.”

“No, there’s nothing that requires your compromisation. I’ve said it before, didn’t I? We can do this with any of your previous works. On top of that, I’ve recognized Director Lee Eun-Ha’s skills through Market Place this time as well. I’ll push for her to become the sole director for the next drama.”

“I’m really thankful to you, Content Producer Bae.”

Content Producer Bae smiled and raised his glass. Ha Jae-Gun shared a toast with the man and emptied the glass. He barely managed to suppress the nauseating feeling in him.

Looking back, Ha Jae-Gun had been drinking quite frequently. There had been more occasions where he had to drink with others.

“We weren’t able to hit twenty percent in viewership ratings, but it was the best recorded in history. Definitely.” Content Producer Bae smiled. The last episode of Market Place had hit nineteen percent and ended with a bang.

“If a one-act play had turned into such a hot topic, imagine what effect a full-length drama would bring about. It’s unimaginable as of now. You’ve made a great decision. Please accept this drink.”

“Ah, thank you. Let me pour you one as well.”

Ha Jae-Gun felt weird as they exchanged another toast. They had discussed everything related to work, yet Content Producer Bae kept asking him to drink and was picking up speed as compared to usual.

“You must be in the mood to drink today, Content Producer-nim,” Ha Jae-Gun commented.

Tae-Gon’s eyes twitched slightly at the remark. “Haha… Does it seem that way?”

Content Producer Bae glossed over with a chuckle and put down his glass. He felt like he had been seen through.

“Um… I must have gotten a bit too comfortable around you. I guess it's inevitable when you've already met with someone a few times. Hoho. The floor is feeling quite warm as well.” Content Producer Bae slapped the ground a couple of times.

He then looked around and asked with a serious look, “Um… Mr. Ha.”

“Yes, Content Producer-nim, please speak.”

“I’m just asking this without any intentions, but are you twenty-nine this year?”

“Yes, that’s right,” Ha Jae-Gun replied, though wondering why the man asked.

Content Producer Bae then chuckled to himself and scratched the back of his head.

“So, the reason I’m asking you this is because… I thought you should be thinking about marriage soon…”

“Ahh, yes…” Ha Jae-Gun finally understood the meaning behind his question and smiled awkwardly.

Content Producer Bae suddenly scooted over to him closely, and then he thrust his face over the table of food and asked, “If you still don’t have a partner, I’d like to be your matchmaker.”

“...”

“Actually, the other party brought this up first, and she’s quite close to me. She seems to very eagerly want to be in a relationship with you. Ah, of course, I won’t introduce you to just anyone. I’m sure Mr. Ha will like her as well.” Content Producer Bae slapped his chest confidently.

He was silently waiting for Ha Jae-Gun to ask who the other party was.

However, Ha Jae-Gun stayed silent, as He could already guess the lady's identity.

“Mr. Ha…?” Content Producer Bae had always been impatient, so he couldn't wait for even five seconds for Ha Jae-Gun to compose himself.

“Aren’t you curious who the lady is?”

“Ah, yes. I… am curious.”

“Hahaha, I knew it. Actually, you know her, too.” Content Producer Bae snapped his fingers.

While Ha Jae-Gun acted as if he was genuinely curious, Content Producer Bae whispered, “It’s Announcer Park Hye-Sang.”

“...I see.” Ha Jae-Gun nodded with a bitter smile.

The dull reaction, different from his expectations, made Content Producer Bae feel disappointed.

“Didn’t you have a meal together before? Do you… not like her?”

“No. Ms. Hye-Sang is really pretty and clever; she’s also a nice person.” Ha Jae-Gun slowly looked up.

There was no reason for him to hesitate. Ha Jae-Gun looked at Content Producer Bae with calm eyes and opened his mouth to speak.