Chapter 181: Unknown Past (5)
This was the troublesome aspect of social media. The following system showed who followed or unfollowed who. The public’s eyes were constantly watching them. At first, some people viewed it with disdain. What was so important about following each other? It was just a game of online friendships. What was the significance of making or breaking those connections?
One thing had to be acknowledged. Human relationships now had an additional layer. It was not just entirely independent. Relationships formed online were not necessarily less intimate, and meeting in person didn’t automatically make the bond stronger. They simply had different characteristics with pros and cons.
Nowadays, nobody made a fuss about following or not following someone. It was understood that it didn’t matter. It was undeniable. This was especially true among celebrities. There were countless examples. A legendary rapper once released an 18-minute diss track because someone unfollowed them. Famous artists overseas following a domestic star could become a headline in the media. It didn’t seem like such a distant story for Almond right now.
— What the, for real?
— Were they childhood friends or something?
└ Almond is like 30. Isn’t JeonJaPa like 24 now?
└ JeonJaPa didn’t even do military service yet.
All the new comments were talking about JeonJaPa.
‘It’s only because we go to the same hospital. There’s going to be a lot of misunderstandings.’
In Almond’s opinion, there was only one reason why JeonJaPa followed him. They were in the same situation, and he knew JeonJaPa’s secret. She probably felt a sense of solidarity with him.
‘... But that doesn’t seem right.’
At that moment, he recalled a fleeting gaze from Choi Sa-Rang. Sang-Hyeon shook his head. He didn’t feel that kind of connection. Perhaps JeonJaPa following him could be a form of surveillance or warning. Whatever the case, it wasn’t a reason people could easily speculate about. It was a situation prone to misunderstanding.
‘Thankfully, people know JeonJaPa as a man.’
People would try to associate them romantically if JeonJaPa was known as a woman.
A staff came up to him.
“The director’s offer went through.”
“Really?”
The work got done much quicker than expected. The director approached from behind the staff.
“Good work. They said it’s better than the original storyboard. It went through right away.”
The director had a bright look, satisfied with the result.
“That’s a relief.”
“But it’s gotten so late.”
When he checked the time, it was already 8 P.M. It was too late for dinner, but not that late for a work dinner.
“That’s alright. Commercial shoots are bound to be long, right?”
The director and staff accompanied them on their way out. The members of the planning team even took the elevator with them.
One staff member spoke up as if trying to break the awkward silence in the elevator, “I’m jealous. If you still worked at Ahsung, we would be sister companies. You’re so successful now.”
He was a staff from Great Enterprise. His employee card flashed, ‘Manager Lee Kyung-Soo.’
Ju-Hyeok replied with a business smile, “Being able to work at Great Enterprise is already an impressive accomplishment, Manager Lee! What are you talking about!”
Sang-Hyeon, who would never go back to Ahsung again, smirked on the inside.
“Hahaha, is that so? But celebrities are different. Are you going to grab a drink in celebration of the commercial by any chance?”
“H-How did you know?”
“Let’s just say there’s a certain atmosphere. Hahaha.”
It must’ve been obvious that Sang-Hyeon and Ju-Hyeok were excited.
“I think we’re also going to have a company dinner because the director is feeling so good. Do you guys want to join us as well?”
“Ah…” Ju-Hyeok hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “Our team had dinner plans ahead of time. I’m sorry.”
“No, of course. You need to stick with prior plans. Then, have a good one!”
“Yes, thank you!”
The other employee brought out their car so Ju-Hyeok could enter right away. He drove the car to meet Ji-Ah at their meeting spot.
“The commercial shoot was great today. I think it was even better than Fantasia’s,” Sang-Hyeon muttered while looking out the window.
“Of course, you think that. You ate a shit ton of almonds.”
With a smirk, Ju-Hyeok brushed it off and quickly reached the location he marked on the map. It was a dimly lit alleyway on a dark winter night. Crimson streetlights lined the winding path.
Ju-Hyeok alternated between neon signs and the map. Then he pointed at one spot with his hand.
‘Panda.’
It was a Chinese bar called Panda. Thankfully, they found their destination.
“Woah, bang on.”
Knock knock.
Ji-Ah knocked on their window. Was she waiting for them ahead of time? Ju-Hyeok rolled down the window and cheerfully greeted her.
“Oh, did you wait long?”
“No, perfect timing.”
“I’m going to go and return the car to a nearby rental service. Go inside and grab a spot.”
“Okie.”
Sang-Hyeon and Ji-Ah went inside the bar, just the two of them. The busy atmosphere made the place look like it came straight from a martial arts movie.
“It feels like we’re in China, right?”
“Yeah, it does.”
Ji-Ah and Sang-Hyeon grabbed a spot by the window for four people. Sang-Hyeon was taking a look at the menu.
“Is the car rental far from here?” Ji-Ah muttered as she looked out the window.
“Ah… I’m not sure. Maybe? But these days, everything’s done so well. It’s probably not that far. Should we order fried eggplants first?”
“... Ew, eggplants.”
“This is a bit different.”
‘Really?’ Ji-Ah was full of doubt. ‘Mr. Ju-Hyeok said it was good too.’
Both of these guys were telling her that the eggplants were good. Ji-Ah took her hands off the menu.
“Just order for me.”
“Can we get two beers on tap, and one fried eggplant?”
Ten minutes later, the eggplants came out and Sang-Hyeon bit into one. Ji-Ah took a bite as well and grabbed another one. She must’ve liked it.
“... This isn’t too bad.”
“Right?”
Ji-Ah nodded and drank her beer. She stopped drinking for a second.
“Uh… Wait, then Ju-Hyeok has to walk back after he drops off the car, right?
“Uh, I guess. Is that why he’s late?”
Sang-Hyeon wasn’t too worried, but Ji-Ah continued to stare at the door. Then, a swarm of office employees walked through the door.
“... They must have a company dinner as well,” Ji-Ah muttered, recalling her time at the office.
“Hey, Director, are you buying today?”
“Yeah! I will! Can we have a group table here?”
Ji-Ah thought they were a group of athletes after hearing the word director. By the looks of their age, they looked like a camera crew. Ji-Ah stared at Almond, who was also coincidentally in a commercial shoot today. Almond didn’t realize because he had his back turned against them.
“Umm. Is the camera crew from today having a work dinner as well?”
“... Huh? Hot! How did you know?”
Sang-Hyeon was getting burned by the eggplants. It seemed he didn’t know how to eat what he ordered.
“You must’ve not eaten a lot of eggplants.”
“Hot… Ju-Hyeok…”
He ordered it because Ju-Hyeok said it was good. He just pretended to be familiar with it to convince Ji-Ah.
“Oh, you.”
Ji-Ah was baffled. However, her smile was instantly wiped away as if someone had stolen it. Her gaze was stolen as well.
‘...!’
Ji-Ah’s gaze was fixed into the distance. Sang-Hyeon was blowing on his food and noticed something was off from the silence. He looked up and realized Ji-Ah was acting unusual.
“What’s wrong?”
She was normally quiet, but not someone who stood still like this.
“Hey, Ji-Ah.”
Her eyes finally returned after Sang-Hyeon called her name.
“Ah, w-what?”
“You had a strange look. Are you looking for the washroom?”
Sang-Hyeon knew that wasn’t her intent, but he was testing the waters.
“Ah, yeah. Let me use the washroom quickly.”
She went along with the conversation without thinking. Sang-Hyeon could instantly tell.
‘Something’s going on.’
His gaze followed Ji-Ah slowly. It looked like she was going to the washroom, but her eyes were fixed on a certain seat.
“?”
Sang-Hyeon couldn’t tell who she was looking at.
‘Great Enterprise?’
He could tell it coincided with the Great Enterprise staff members having their work dinner. Greeting them would’ve been polite, but he didn’t want to bring work into this.
“Hey, sorry. Did you wait a long time?”
Ju-Hyeok appeared behind them.
“Why are you so surprised? Where’s Ji-Ah?”
“Ah, the washroom.”
“Ah, okay. What the! You ordered the fried eggplants already? What the…!”
Ju-Hyeok got upset at Sang-Hyeon for ordering his favorite dish without him, to which Sang-Hyeon answered by telling him they could just order another one.
“Hey! Do you think it’s appropriate to order two of the same dish?! You’re an almond freak, so you wouldn’t know!”
“There’s a lot of other good dishes. I thought you’d be here sooner.”
“Argh!”
“What are you guys doing? Are you guys fighting over food again?”
Ji-Ah looked at them with a shameful look.
“I wanted to eat this, but he ordered it without me!”
“I thought you were supposed to be the adult here.”
After Ji-Ah said that, she went over and sat beside Ju-Hyeok.
“Waah. Baby Ju-Hyeok, you can order another one. I’ll buy it for you.”
“...”
“Puhahaha!” Sang-Hyeon laughed until he was red.
Ju-Hyeok was speechless and also turned red.
“Ah.”
Sang-Hyeon went through his pocket and took his phone out.
“We have good news.”
He showed them his Runesta account. He couldn’t tell Ju-Hyeok earlier because he was busy with the shoot.
“... Hmm? Runesta? Wow, more followers? You might reach 100k by the end of this week.”
“No, that’s not it. JeonJaPa followed me.”
“?!”
Ji-Ah and Ju-Hyeok’s eyes widened.
“Wow! You’re right!”
“What the?! Do you have something with JeonJaPa?”
“No.”
Sang-Hyeon looked away from Ju-Hyeok.
‘A secret is a secret.’
JeonJaPa wanted it to be a secret. He couldn’t properly answer Ju-Hyeok, especially since the secret was related to their handicaps.
“Then what is it? Why’s he so nice to you?”
“Because I’m so good?”
“...?”
Ju-Hyeok made a dumb look.
“Aiya. Whatever, let’s drink up. It’s good news!”
“It is good news.”
“Cheers!”
Clank!
Ju-Hyeok forgot everything and lifted his glass while Ji-Ah stared intently at JeonJaPa’s account.
“Ji-Ah, what are you doing? Aren’t you going to raise your glass?”
“... But no one seems to know.”
“?”
Tap tap.
Ji-Ah’s fingers pointed at the top right hand of Sang-Hyeon’s phone. It was where JeonJaPa’s follower number showed the impressive six million followers.
“Six million followers? Of course, we know. That’s why we’re celebrating.”
Sang-Hyeon lifted his glass again.
“No, not the followers. Look at who he’s following.”
“...?”
Sang-Hyeon glanced at it. The number ten was there. He hadn’t given it much thought, but it was the number of people JeonJaPa followed.
“JeonJaPa normally only followed nine people.”
“?!”
Someone with six million followers only followed ten people, but that wasn’t all.
“The nine people he follows are his old teammates. Other than that, there’s no one else. Not even his close friends, whether he has friends or not.”
“What?!” Ju-Hyeok shouted in shock.
“W-What the? Then this is an even bigger deal!?”
“Wow.”
Sang-Hyeon looked at the number ten in disbelief.
‘I’m one of the ten people?’
Why did she follow him? Now, he wasn’t sure.
“Hey…” Ju-Hyeok had a serious look on his face. “This might actually show up on the news.”