Come Back

During his entire trainee days, his family never sent him a single side dish. Because of his parents, who were furious at him for not thinking about becoming a celebrity and making even a single penny of money, and telling him to leave home, Choi Hong-seo couldn’t even go home on his rare holidays. Even after his debut, he remained unknown for a long time, so the situation was the same. Only when they started giving him money was he finally treated as a son. They were the people who only saw Choi Hong-seo as money.

President Myung? If that person was me, he would have stabbed my corpse, cremated it, and placed it in a columbarium? And in a VIP room at that? It was absurd.

There was only one person in the world who would treat him like a VIP. It was something that didn’t require much thought. I knew whose hand it was. I could tell.

The seventh level, which was closest to the eye level of the people. Choi Hong-seo’s steps slowly stopped in front of the glass case that was most elaborately decorated and eye-catching.

“… … ”

I looked closely at the name engraved on the memorial tablet erected next to the pure white urn.

Choi Hong-seo.

However, the word “故” could not be found anywhere, not on the urn, not on the memorial tablet, not even on the altar. Whoever prepared this altar must have been extremely reluctant to use that word…

Choi Hong-seo unconsciously held tightly to the strap of his bag that was tied crosswise across his chest. Then, he slowly took in the decorations inside the glass case one by one.

The area around the urn and memorial tablet was decorated with gorgeous flowers, Choi Hong-seo’s solo album, portraits drawn by fans, and cute caricatures based on Hong-si, Choi Hong-seo’s nickname. The Hong-si character eating a cookie also had a handwritten note from a fan.

Our leader Hongshi, there, you can eat all your favorite cookies without worrying about gaining weight, forget everything else, and only remember the people who love you.

In the picture, Hongshi is eating a mountain of cookies, and she is smiling contentedly with her eyes half-closed, her face a warm pastel orange. She looks soft and fluffy, and just happy. There is not a single hint of melancholy or sadness in her face.

Choi Hong-seo’s hand, which was holding the bag’s strap, became more powerful. His knuckles turned white.

I was completely scared that if the ‘X-group scandal’ was completely exposed, even the fans who had supported me for a long time would turn their backs on me. I was afraid that no one would see me as a victim.

I was sure that no one would forgive me for leaving like that. I never thought that there would be anyone who would remember and draw me with such happiness.

Next to the Hongshi character, there was a framed portrait of Choi Hong-seo smiling brightly. It was a vivid piece of work that made it seem as if Choi Hong-seo in the painting would move and burst into laughter at any moment. There was also a short note attached to the bottom of the painting.

Our Hong leader who loves his fans so much.

Don’t worry about us and just get some rest.

We trust you and we will only remember the happiness you gave us.

He stood there for a long time. What Choi Hong-seo felt as he stood there was nothing but regret. An extreme regret that shook his whole body and made his bones ache.

I did something I should never have done. I caused the worst pain to my loved ones, because I was afraid of being scorned by those I didn’t love, and because I was afraid of being scorned by those I loved. That’s not love. I only thought of myself.

He kept biting his lower lip while holding the strap of his bag tightly with both hands.

Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot…

“Ms. Yoon Hye-an?”

“… … ”

Choi Hong-seo let go of the lips he was biting at the voice suddenly heard from behind.

The voice behind him was wondering if someone who shouldn’t be here was there. Choi Hong-seo was also bewildered by this encounter. He was completely unprepared.

As expected, Hae-seong was standing there when I turned my body around. In his hand, he was holding fresh flowers that would be used to decorate the altar.

“What is going on here?”

It was a sound like hard metal clashing against metal.

“Oh, Hongseo… I came to stop by.”

Since it was an unexpected encounter, I had no choice but to answer spontaneously. My voice trembled.

Lee Hae-seong had a suspicious look on his face. He knew very well that the only people Choi Hong-seo was close with in the entertainment industry were Jeong Ji-in and Lee Hyun-soo, who were in the same company.

He stepped forward, leaving the sofa set in the center of the hall between us. His cold, accusing eyes stabbed my skin.

“Were you close to Mr. Choi Hong-seo?”

Even though he knew everything, he was still wondering. He couldn’t lie to someone who knew everything. Choi Hong-seo’s two hands, which were holding the bag straps, were now almost twisting and squeezing the straps.

“No… that’s not it… we just said hello a few times.”

“… … ”

He was asking with his expression, “Why did you come here like that?” His expression was not at all welcoming of an unexpected guest who had come to visit the deceased.

“I ended up taking on the role that Hongseo had been in charge of, so… I wanted to say hello…”

“The title is strange.”

“… … ”

“Aren’t you a year younger than Choi Hong-seo? And you weren’t even close to him?”

A tone reminiscent of an interrogating detective.

Choi Hong-seo was an unknown understanding. Although his rejection was painful, he wanted to see him in a way he had never seen before. He mustered up his courage and raised his head.

He must have just come from work, because he was wearing a clean, flawless suit with no particular standout features. He looked like the vice president of ARA Electronics that you see on the news. However, his expression was alive. It wasn’t the expressionless poker face that every reporter complained about, saying that they couldn’t read his emotions at all.

His brow furrowed blatantly, as if he was uncomfortable with the prolonged eye contact without speaking.

“sorry.”

Choi Hong-seo, who had barely managed to say that in a hushed voice, lowered his head.

“For someone who came to say hello, it seems like he didn’t even prepare a single flower.”

“… … ”

I came empty-handed because I thought it would be ridiculous to commemorate my own death with flowers. But I couldn’t just tell him that.

Lee Hae-seong’s eyes coldly scanned Choi Hong-seo, whose lips were stuck together. It wasn’t hard to imagine how Yoon Hye-an, decked out in luxury goods, would look to him.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think about it…”

Choi Hong-seo clung to the strap of his bag while violently tearing at the crust on his lower lip with his teeth.

My eyebrows furrowed and my eyes felt hot. I didn’t want to cry. For a very long time, Choi Hong-seo wasn’t that kind of person. Just as he had no opportunity to feel sorrow, he had no time to shed tears and indulge in sentimentality. All he thought about was becoming a top star. He worked hard to the point of death, and lived tenaciously and viciously.

But it was hard to be poisonous in front of him. I wasn’t good at it. I didn’t need to be poisonous in front of this person. He was the one who melted all my poison away.

“Even if I invested, the work itself is entirely the director’s, so I have no intention of interfering with the casting. I don’t think Yoon Hye-an is a good fit, but if that’s the director’s opinion, then I have to follow it.”

“… … ”

“But I wish you would stop imitating me.”

Choi Hong-seo’s fingertips bent as he twisted the strap of his bag, and his fingernails dug into his flesh.

I felt dizzy. The strength drained from my spine and a cold sweat spread over my entire body in an instant. I staggered toward the chair a few steps ahead of me and grabbed the back of the chair.

Every time he looked in the mirror, he saw Yoon Hye-an’s image in it, and he still shudders every time. But the pain of this moment when he couldn’t say that he was Choi Hong-seo was the most vivid evidence of his own death and this amazing reincarnation.

You are truly dead. The person he loves is no longer there.

“Now you’ve got the role you wanted, right?”

“… … ”

“What on earth is the purpose of your coming here?”

He was now completely expressing his displeasure. He looked as if he would stride over to me at any moment, grab me by the collar, and drag me out of there.

His face, which had perfect proportions that seemed mathematically perfect, without any excess or deficiency, was slightly thinner and rougher than he remembered. And it had an expression that Choi Hong-seo had never seen before.

“Just because I’m a child who doesn’t exist in this world doesn’t mean people like you can use me however you want. Do you understand?”

It was the first time I saw him this angry.

Not through news articles, not through names written on tablets… Through none other than him, I have confirmed my death over and over again. My existence is denied by him. You are not Choi Hong-seo. I do not love you, who are not Choi Hong-seo.

I am truly dead.

I was sweating so much that my clothes were soaking wet. The floor was undulating and undulating like waves. I felt nauseous, just like when I first read his article in the hospital.

However, I wanted to somehow hold on to my senses until I could get out of this place. If I collapsed here, it was obvious that he would think I was putting on a show. Right now, Yun Hye-an’s tears and fainting would seem like nothing more than a disgusting trick. There was no such thing as hugging her and comforting her when she didn’t know what to do.

If I had known this would happen, I would have asked Yongjae to go with me…

The bitter taste of blood seeped through Choi Hong-seo’s teeth as he bit his lips.

“What are you doing? Hey, Yoon Hye-an.”

His expression, distorted with unpleasantness, flickered in and out of sight before disappearing completely.

If I’m really Yoon Hye-an, and I’m half-crazy and believe I’m Choi Hong-seo, then the time I think I remember with Lee Hae-seong is also just an illusion.

If that were the case, I wouldn’t be in so much pain looking at the partner of a fake love affair that was nothing more than a delusion.

These feelings and this pain couldn’t be fake.