* * *

Tears kept falling. Deok-soo quietly wiped them away. Seeing this, PD Son Youngjae bowed his head slightly and said,

“No, Kongja was hurt too. I’m really sorry. We should have considered the child actors more.”

No. What could you do in that chaos?

“It’s okay!”

PD Son Youngjae looked down at me. Then he smiled a little.

“Really, Kongja is kind and cute.”

Thank you, but why are you suddenly complimenting me?

“You must have been very scared, yet you keep saying you’re okay. And you’re still crying like this.”

Oh, uh.

“Ms. Soo-jung said Kongja is an angel. I think I understand what she meant.”

Oh dear.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how Kongja will grow up. I think you’ll become a great actor.”

This is crazy. An angel again?

“Seeing you, Kongja, makes me feel ashamed as an adult. Well, I’ll be on my way now.”

I had nothing to say in response.

“Oh, goodbye.”

PD Son Youngjae kept scratching his nose as he disappeared out the door. I let out a deep sigh.

‘That’s the second angel already.’

Surely, I won’t hear that angel talk again, right?

‘Well, it’s fine when you’re young.’

But surely, I won’t hear it when I’m grown up. I shuddered and shook my head.

‘That can’t happen.’

If it does, I’ll have to take on a terrible villain role just to escape it. I was making that resolve when suddenly, the door burst open. I blinked.

“Huh?”

Tears started falling again.

“Kongja!”

Mom quickly rubbed hand sanitizer on her hands and rushed toward me. I smiled brightly and said,

“Mom!”

“My angel, I heard you fell asleep again!”

Mom hugged me tightly.

‘Damn it.’

Thinking about it, I had to take care of this first.

‘Why is everything so complicated?’

I let out a deep sigh. Besides, thirty minutes felt terribly long.

‘I’m still crying.’

Do I have to act again? I rubbed my face against Mom’s shoulder. I had to come up with another excuse quickly.

---

A while later, the adjusted schedule was delivered.

‘I suddenly have a lot of shoots.’

Fortunately, “Fate” hadn’t aired yet. The director said he pushed the schedule back generously and that I was lucky.

‘Seems like Ki Cheo-woon is recovering smoothly too…’

He was full of energy. Just like now.

“Kongja, I heard you were shocked because of me?”

Seeing him after a few days, he scratched his head and smiled brightly.

“I heard you collapsed because of me. I’m sorry.”

No, it wasn’t because of you.

“Are you okay, Hyung?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m strong. Even if I get stabbed, I’m fine.”

No, you’re not fine, you fool.

“Is your arm healed?”

Yeah. How bad was the injury?

‘I heard about it, but they don’t tell kids the details.’

Ki Cheo-woon lightly stroked my cheek with his uninjured arm.

“Hmm, the nerves are fine. The bleeding stopped well. I just need to recover, but I can’t do battle scenes for a while, right? Since it’s just the arm, they’re revising the script to say I got injured.”

I see. It’s a bit disappointing since the action scenes were good in the drama.

“I heard you were in shock. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine!”

“You’re not losing sleep or anything, right?”

I eat and sleep very well.

“No, I’m fine!”

“Phew. That’s a relief.”

He stared at me for a moment, then looked away. I squinted.

‘What’s up with him?’

Ki Cheo-woon couldn’t meet my eyes.

“Hyung?”

“No, it’s just a bit embarrassing.”

What is?

When I tilted my head, Ki Cheo-woon muttered softly.

“I wanted to show you a cool, focused look, but I just kept messing up and getting into accidents. I made you see things you shouldn’t have.”

Ah, Ki Cheo-woon.

‘You’re so kind.’

You were worried about that.

‘That’s why we were close in a past life.’

I grinned.

“Hyung!”

“Y-Yes?”

“Hyung, you’re cool!”

I pointed at his bandaged arm and said,

“You’re filming even though you’re hurt.”

He blinked, not expecting me to say that. I smiled brightly.

“Hyung, you’re really cool!”

So don’t think it’s pointless, Ki Cheo-woon.

He looked back and forth between me and his arm, then hung his head low.

I patiently waited for him.

Suddenly, he shouted.

“Kongja!”

“Yes.”

“You’re really kind. Wow, I almost cried.”

Good thing you almost did. Don’t actually cry. It’s hard to handle.

Ki Cheo-woon suddenly hugged me tightly. Though it was uncomfortable, I gently patted his shoulder.

“I hope you get better soon, Hyung!”

“Me too. Hmm, Kongja.”

“Yes.”

“What’s your favorite food?”

What’s this about, all of a sudden?

‘So random.’

Ki Cheo-woon mumbled while holding me.

“Ah, what should I make? You’re so cute. Ah, I really want to have you as my younger brother. Can’t I take you with me? No, right?”

What?

‘I almost thought he was Han Woojin for a second.’

Ki Cheo-woon kept mumbling.

“If I had a younger brother like you, I’d give you everything. Wow, you’re melting my heart.”

What nonsense.

“Ah, why didn’t Mom give me a younger brother like this?”

Why are you suddenly blaming your mom?

“Kongja. So, um. Can I visit your house later?”

I nodded.

“Yes! If Mom permits!”

She probably won’t. That house is the Seongjin Group mansion. The threshold is high.

“Okay! I’ll definitely visit.”

Ki Cheo-woon let go of me with a firm resolve. I quietly looked up at the sky.

‘Well, he’s just saying that. He probably won’t actually come.’

Yeah, that’s it.

The weather was really clear today.

Perfect weather for filming a historical drama. I sighed.

I hadn’t done much, but I was already tired.

---

I blinked and turned over. I saw a familiar ceiling.

‘My room.’

On my bed.
I quietly got up and put my legs over the bed rail. Then I slowly climbed out of bed.
As I rubbed my eyes and opened the door, the housekeeper approached me.

“Kongja, you’re up?”

“Yes!”

“You were sleeping so soundly, I didn’t wake you. It’s Deok-soo’s day off, right? Let’s eat together.”

“Yes!”

At that moment, I heard a familiar voice.

“I’ll eat with Kongja.”

I smiled brightly. Mom came over and took my hand.

“Did you sleep well, Kongja?”

“Yes! Did you sleep well, Mom?”

“Yes. I slept well too.”

Mom picked me up and carried me to the couch. The TV in the living room was on. I watched it intently, stealing glances. It wasn’t every day I got to watch TV.

“Ah, it’s on when the wind touches,” the announcer said.

“The movie ‘When the Wind Touches’ won the Jury Prize at the Mineka International Film Festival.”

Wow, that’s great.

“An international film festival at this time of year?”

Isn’t it usually from February?

“Maybe that’s why. I don’t know this festival.”

Still, an award is an award. The screen showed director Lee Jin-hwan in a tuxedo receiving the award.

“He looks happy.”

The director was grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, it’s his first award.”

If he does well, he might win at Cannes or Venice too.
Under the scene of Lee Jin-hwan receiving the flash of cameras, a caption appeared.

“‘When the Wind Touches’ succeeds due to the actor’s performance.”

I nodded.

“Yeah, Han Woojin did well.”

I felt it when I saw the preview. Han Woojin was perfect for that role.

“It’s kind of fulfilling to see something that failed in a previous life do well.”

At that moment, Mom kissed my cheek.

“My little Kongja is winning awards?”

I giggled.

“It’s not Kongja! The director!”

“Since my Kongja starred in that movie, it’s like he won the award too!”

I knew it wasn’t true, but let’s go along with it. It made Mom happy!

I giggled and hugged her arm. She stroked my hair and said,

“Maybe that’s why. Everyone seems to be… looking for you.”

I guess a lot of people want me.

Mom picked up some papers from the table and said,

“Oh dear, my angel shouldn’t overwork.”

“I’m okay, Mom!”

“Mom isn’t okay with it. What if you faint again after another incident?”

I smiled awkwardly.

“It wasn’t an incident, it was witnessing one. And I didn’t faint, I fell asleep, Mother.”

There’s a big difference, but to her, it seemed like a huge deal.

It must mean she loves me that much.

“I really need to be a good son.”

If I don’t, I’m not human.

* * *