One step to you
Hidden gazes from each other
In a quiet alley restaurant in Hannam-dong, Seung-cheol and Jeong-han were first seated under soft lighting.
Jeonghan kept his mouth shut while fiddling with his water glass, and Seungcheol looked down at his phone and spoke.
에스쿱스(승철)
“He’ll be here soon. He’s my friend, and he said he finished his debut photoshoot today.”
Jeonghan just nodded at those words, not really interested.
At that moment, the door opened and someone came in. Jeonghan's hand stopped.
The rookie who stood in front of Jeong-han at the B-Nillaco filming set in the morning.
Although he looked ordinary with a hoodie on and a lightly made-up face, he was more impressive in Jeonghan's eyes.
에스쿱스(승철)
"Seoyeon, over here!"
Seungcheol waved his hand to greet her. Seoyeon also paused for a moment, but soon walked over quietly.
Jeonghan's gaze naturally lingered on her, but Seoyeon avoided eye contact with Jeonghan and sat facing them, sitting as close to Seungcheol as possible.
이서연
“Hello. This is Seoyeon Lee.”
정한
“This is Yoon Jeong-han.”
Seoyeon's eyebrows shook slightly at those words. It was a simple greeting, but somehow the words struck her as dazed.
It was a cold feeling, different from before.
A person whose eyes I've met dozens of times in front of the camera in the morning.
에스쿱스(승철)
“This guy is a new member of our company. He’s a visual line.”
Seungcheol tried to lighten the mood by smiling, and Seoyeon smiled awkwardly.
Jeonghan didn't answer those words and just took a sip of water.
정한
“…So what kind of commercial did you film?”
In a situation where Seo-yeon didn't seem to have told Seung-cheol that she had taken a picture with him, Jeong-han decided to just accept it and pretend not to know.
I don't know why, but I felt burdened by something.
Jeonghan asked in his usual indifferent voice.
이서연
Oh, it was a beauty brand.... I was out of my mind because it was my first commercial today.”
Seo-yeon tried not to be conscious of Jeong-han and answered. Jeong-han didn’t ask any more questions either.
정한
‘Is it because you feel uncomfortable that you don’t mention me, who we took pictures together?’
Seung-cheol, who had no way of knowing Jeong-han's feelings, kept asking Seo-yeon about this and that.
Even in the midst of all this, the two people were conscious of each other, and their eyes were barely able to pass each other,
He was deliberately holding back his words and pretending not to know. However, Jeonghan's fingertips trembled for a moment as he absentmindedly put down the chopsticks he was touching.
Seoyeon felt that small trembling without even realizing it.
***
The warm smell of appetizers and gentle laughter mingled on the table.
Seungcheol was still at the center of the story, and Seoyeon was responding appropriately and following along well.
이서연
“Wow, really?
이서연
“There was something like that back then…”
It was a natural and bright reaction.
Jeong-han, who had been silently looking at Seo-yeon, tilted his head slightly as he poured himself a glass.
Seoyeon, who had seemed cautious and nervous when talking to herself, clearly seemed much more comfortable now.
Even if anyone looks at it, it's a gaze that only shines for a certain person.
A playful smile spread across Jeonghan's lips.
에스쿱스(승철)
“Hey, why are you laughing like that?”
Seungcheol frowned curiously when he saw Jeonghan's expression.
에스쿱스(승철)
“What were you thinking about now?”
정한
“No, I just found it fun.”
Jeonghan turned his head with a meaningful smile.
정한
“I feel like something is different today.”
Seoyeon looked at Jeonghan in confusion, then nodded and smiled.
이서연
"Ahahahaha...."
At that moment, Seungcheol checked his cell phone and got up from his seat.
에스쿱스(승철)
“I need to go to the bathroom for a sec.”
From that moment on, a quiet atmosphere settled over the table. Only the two of them remained.
Jeonghan looked away for a moment and then opened his mouth leisurely.
정한
"Lee Seo-yeon."
이서연
"yes..?"
Seoyeon carefully raised her head.
정한
“…Do you like Seungcheol?”
At those words, Seoyeon froze for a moment.
이서연
“Yes…?! Oh, no! That’s not true!”
It was a very quick and clear denial.
He waved his hand and smiled, but his smile was a little shaky. Jeonghan nodded leisurely.
정한
“I see~ Did I see something wrong?”
이서연
“…That’s not true.”
Seoyeon shook her head firmly once again. But at that moment, Jeonghan’s gaze changed.
The slight shaking of her eyes, the corners of her mouth. That reaction just now, said much more than just 'I don't like it.'
Jeonghan chuckles and laughs quietly.
정한
“I won’t ask any more questions since it’s not true. But…”
He put down his chopsticks and added quietly.
정한
“I think it would be good to practice controlling your facial expressions a little more.”
이서연
".....!"
Seoyeon was speechless. Jeonghan continued playfully.
정한
“It’s okay, that could happen.”
Then he took a sip of water and smiled as if nothing had happened.