* * *

“You’re acting strange lately. Almost like you’ve got something you’re hiding.”

Though he was trying to sound playful, there was a different energy about him.

In the end, is this what friendship is?

It was oddly amusing that all three of them had been asking him the same thing, one after another.

‘Is it that obvious?’

Or maybe he was making it so painfully clear that even he couldn’t hide it from them.

It might just be that he’s terrible at lying, having always lived without needing to hide anything.

Perhaps he should’ve learned to keep things to himself a bit better.

“I get the feeling it’s got something to do with why you can’t date right now.”

It’s rare for him to be this perceptive, yet here he was, piecing things together.

Sighing softly, Siyoung shifted his gaze from the monitor.

“Guess you really are my friends, huh? You all keep asking the same question, one after the other.”

“Am I the last one to ask?”

“Yeah. Everyone keeps saying I’m acting strange, asking if something happened. It’s getting tiring.”

One of them is actually way off the mark, but he let that slide.

There was something going on, but he didn’t want to share it.

The constant prodding was getting on his nerves.

‘I can’t just quit now; I don’t have enough saved up. I’ll have to bear with it… I don’t know when I’ll be able to work again, so quitting isn’t an option.’

Though it felt a bit unfair to carry this on his own, it was still far better than revealing what happened that day.

Holding back his irritation, Siyoung replied, “It’s my problem to handle. I’m not sick or anything, and it’s nothing I can’t take care of on my own.”

“You’re sure about that? You’re really acting weird. You weren’t exactly the warmest person before, but now… you’re acting like a stranger.”

Yeonseok looked at him seriously.

It was a side of him Siyoung rarely saw, as he was usually the one always goofing around.

“Ever since that night we drank. I thought you’d snap out of it, but here we are. Wouldn’t it be stranger if I didn’t notice?”

‘Was I?’

Well, he supposed he might have been.

He was planning on cutting ties with all three of them once he could no longer hide the pregnancy a few months down the line.

It made sense that he was treating them like people he wouldn’t see for much longer.

‘But still… ever since that night we drank, it’s just… I can’t see him the same way as before. It feels like the time I took that leave of absence…’

The drinking wasn’t the only issue.

That early morning, the events were pure chaos.

It was a relief that no one remembered what had happened or what was said.

Not only the father of the child, but even the others – that night had built a solid wall of awkward, regrettable memories between them all.

‘Even if they don’t seem affected, I can’t act like it’s nothing.’

“It’s just your imagination. I’m just tired.”

“You sure? Maybe you should get a health check…”

“Are you a hospital rep or something? I already went. No issues. It’s just… you know how people say, you never know what could happen a year from now. It makes you think a lot.”

But there was no use in revealing anything this early.

Shrugging as if it were nothing, Siyoung tried to keep his tone light.

“All of a sudden?”

“Well, Jooyoung’s about to graduate, and I can’t do this job forever, so I need to start preparing for a real career.”

“Just keep working here. The boss treats you well.”

“This company could fold tomorrow, for all we know.”

Yeonseok grumbled that Siyoung didn’t trust him, but it seemed like he’d bought the explanation.

Siyoung wouldn’t need to hide his plans about leaving the job, at least.

“So, you’re quitting then?”

“It’s just… I’m only considering it. Wouldn’t it be easier if you hired an experienced worker to make things run smoother?”

“Then tell Jeonghyun as late as possible. If he finds out, it’ll be rough for Sera for a while.”

“…You’re not hurt about it?”

“Hey, come on. I’m not so petty I’d get upset over something like that between friends.”

With a lighthearted click of his tongue, Yeonseok returned to his usual expression.

It was a relief that the conversation could end here.

‘…But you knew, didn’t you? That I…’

‘What’s the point in bringing that up? Just drop it. I don’t want to talk about it. Not exactly friend material, is it?’

‘Yeah, I figured. But even so, if you really thought of me as a friend, at least…’

Siyoung’s face turned somber as he recalled a moment that Yeonseok surely wouldn’t remember.

Sometimes, friendship was not as comforting as it seemed.

How far did Yeonseok consider the bounds of their friendship?

While Yeonseok seemed casual and open, he was always one to keep a clear line, and Siyoung knew he should respect that line, too.

“Alright, nothing’s certain yet, so just keep it to yourself. I don’t want to hear nagging about it when I haven’t even found a new job.”

“You’re worried about that? Worst case, I could introduce you somewhere. The major hiring season isn’t here yet, but…”

“No thanks. I don’t need any handouts.”

In truth, he’d gotten this current job through connections too, but it at least seemed like he was doing the company a favor.

Even though it was all just pretense, that distinction mattered to Siyoung.

“Especially from you. So don’t worry about it.”

After all, accepting a job with the help of his soon-to-be-former friend, who also happened to be his first love, would be a pitiful end indeed.

Keeping his tone nonchalant, Siyoung added, “It’s nothing big. I just… had a lot on my mind. I didn’t want to tell you since you’re the boss here, and it feels a little strange to say that I’m thinking about leaving.”

“Come on. You’ve known me for so long; do you really not know me by now? I don’t hold back people who want to come in, and I don’t cling to people who want to go.”

Who would know that better than Siyoung?

Even if everything he’d just said was a lie, it was oddly relieving to voice it.

“Yeah, I know. I know that all too well. Anyway… romance can wait until I’ve got the time for it. I’m good for now.”

“Don’t make it too hard on yourself. If you change your mind, let me know. I’ll introduce you to some decent people.”

“I wouldn’t trust your taste.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? It’s not that bad.”

Once they lost contact, Yeonseok would be the first to forget him without a hint of regret.

It didn’t even hurt to lie about it; in fact, what weighed on Siyoung’s mind was passing the time listening to this idle chatter.

With a bitter smile, Siyoung thought to himself.

“Are you seriously asking me to… rummage through Jeonghyun’s bag, swipe his phone and wallet, and run off?”

“Well, put like that, it does sound a bit intense. Why not just take the whole bag instead?”

“But isn’t that essentially what you’re saying? Aren’t you being a bit too casual about this, like it’s no big deal?”

Sera, back from her break, listened to her new assignment with a face that looked like she might just keel over.

She’d barely managed to get her mother through surgery, only to feel like she was the one about to be hospitalized now.

“Aren’t we going to get sued for this?”

“Oh, come on, it’s for a show highlight reel. Nobody’s getting sued for that.”

“You don’t know Jeonghyun. He would absolutely sue. Even if he didn’t… just imagine how tense it’ll be afterward. I’m already dreading it.”

Sera shook her head, visibly shuddering.

She wasn’t exactly on friendly terms with Jeonghyun as it was.

She could barely keep her head down around him.

No way did she want to find out how he’d look at her if she went through with this, even if it was on orders.

“I’m not doing it. No way! I refuse! Whatever happens, I’m not doing it!”

“Yeah, he’s got a temper, but… he knows how to keep things professional.”

“Only strictly professional. Honestly, I’m not even in Jeonghyun’s personal sphere at all.”

“I’ll be there on the last day of shooting. I’ll talk to him and smooth things over.”

Siyoung, who was looking at Sera, sweating nervously, hadn’t expected her reaction to be this strong.

“No way. I’d rather quit.”

“No, you can’t do that!”

“Well, I’m not doing it either!”

Sera firmly shook her head. She blamed Jeonghyun’s awful personality for all this.

Siyoung rubbed his forehead, pondering what to do.

“Quitting is absolutely, absolutely, absolutely out of the question. Instead, let’s…”

After a moment’s thought, Siyoung came up with a plan.

Sera still looked uneasy but accepted it, recognizing the effort Siyoung had made to find a solution.

* * *