128 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

Episode 128: So, Was It Good? People usually say they look forward to the weekend. But for a virtual streamer like me, weekends don't hold much meaning. I'm entering my second year of being a streamer. Technically, it hasn't even been two full years, but counting the elapsed years, it does make me a second-year, so it counts. Thinking I've gained some experience, I picked up my phone to check the time. "He's late..." He said he'd contact me once filming was over. It's so cold; could he still be outside? Worried about my brother for no reason, I clicked on the link to [Love Rides the Waves] and checked the comments section. Even in episodes 4, 5, and 6, where my brother doesn't appear, people were steadily leaving comments asking for the return of Kim Eojin. [Ha... Eojin oppa. Are you just going to disappear after driving me crazy like this?] It wasn't a top comment, but it still had over 30 likes. Instinctively, my thumb moved to dislike the comment, but my rationality halted its action. "...Eojin oppa. He's mine, you know?" Somehow, I still couldn't quite adjust to it. There must be countless people who recognize him at school and elsewhere. If I got upset over each encounter, our relationship wouldn't last. And frankly, if that were the case, he would've complained first. Even when fans jokingly said they'd like to lick Luka-tan's feet, he'd just nod and claim he understood their feelings. Although I felt this was a bit excessive, it would've clearly been a major stressor if he had expressed dissatisfaction. There weren't many around me who voiced troubles about a partner's excessive clinginess, but I'd seen it frequently in online stories. Not being allowed to go anywhere. Having one's phone meticulously managed. Being asked why they were being neglected. If he had said he disliked my broadcasts because they were filled with male fans, I... Feeling a bit down due to my gloomy imagination, I shook my head. Yeah. Since that wasn't the case, we were able to continue our relationship beautifully up till now. -Buzzz The phone vibrated. It was the person I had been eagerly waiting for. [Hello?] [Yeah. Hello?] The brief wave of melancholy vanished entirely. [I just finished. I'm going to leave in a manager's car soon.] [You're stopping by our place first, right?] An awkward pause on his end. [...Huh?] [Uh...] When he didn't respond, I pressed him again, and he seemed hesitant about something. [Why? Do you have something urgent?] [No, it's not that.] [Then?] What could be the problem? [It's nothing. I'm coming. Wait for me. I'll be there in 30 minutes.] [Have you eaten?] [No, I'm hungry. If you haven't eaten, let's eat together.] [Got it! I'll start preparing dinner then!] Oh dear. Did he really go without eating all this time? I recall him leaving quite early this morning. I felt a pang of concern for my hardworking brother. After ending the call, rather than ordering delivery, I decided it was better to quickly run to the supermarket, so I bundled up in my clothes. Right. He’s been working outside, so the least I can do is prepare him a meal. He tended to eat carelessly when alone. His perpetually empty fridge was enough to make me worried. I quickly filled a basket with ingredients for today's menu: kimchi stew. Working in the cold, he'd surely appreciate something warm. There was rice left from yesterday, so that would do. Grabbing a pack of pork belly, I rushed to check out and started heating up the induction cooker. Just as steam began to rise from the bubbling stew, he walked into my room. "It's cold, isn't it?" "Yeah, it is." Even with his makeup still on, he looked very much like an idol as he hung his coat on the rack. "What is this? You're cooking dinner?" "Yup! You worked hard today, so I'm making you a special treat—Luka-tan’s homemade kimchi stew~" His complexion was pale from the makeup, yet he still seemed devoid of vitality. I decided to lighten the atmosphere with some playful affection. Yet, he seemed uncomfortable. "We could've ordered in..." "Nope. I wanted to feed you something I made." When our eyes met, he averted his gaze. "Why? You don't want to eat something I made?" If that's the reason, then I'd really be hurt. Wouldn't it mean all the meals I've cooked were no good? "No! It's absolutely not that!" "What's going on? Did you have a rough time with people today?" His strange behavior prompted me to turn away from the food and approach him. "No, that's not it either..." "Look at me." I reached out, fixing his face towards mine. Reluctantly, he met my gaze. What was the shadow cast over his face? Feeling him try to look away, I gently stroked his face. "Something happened today, right?" It wasn't a question, but a statement. Without doing this, I felt he wouldn't tell me. "Tell me. It's okay." Where he previously avoided my gaze, he now looked steadily into my eyes. Confirming once more, he asked, "Are you really okay with it?" "It's your work, why wouldn't I be okay with it?" Reassured by my words, his heavy lips began to speak. "Today..." "Yes." "The shoot went fine..." "Yes." Haltingly, he continued, like a child afraid of being scolded. "But the director suddenly told me... No, not me, but the other actress behind me..." A chill ran down my spine. As soon as he mentioned the actress, I felt an involuntary shiver. "What happened?" Sensing my focus on him, he hesitated again, and I pressed for an answer. "[He] asked us to link arms..." I didn’t even need to ask who he linked arms with to guess it. “Oh~ come on~ I thought it was something serious~” I joked, giving his arm a playful smack. “You got me all tense with the tone you had.” “R-really? Ah, I was just worried it might bother you...” ...I don’t like it. But that's work. I may not consider myself particularly mature, but I do believe in separating personal from professional matters. If he continues acting, there’ll be hand-holding, hugs... kisses... At that thought, I found it increasingly difficult to maintain my expression. “...Doah?” “Oppa, why don’t you just go sit over there for a bit? The food’s almost ready, so I just need to set the table.” “Is there anything I can help with...” “No, it’s fine. Just wait a moment.” My facial muscles weren’t cooperating with my feelings at all. I didn’t need a mirror to know how sullen I looked. Sigh... no, it's alright... This is something I need to understand... It’s not like he cheated on me. This isn't Oppa's responsibility, really. Right. The director gave an order—what could a rookie do? If my manager told me to do something, I’d do it, and I'd guess Oppa would be the same. It wasn’t until the kimchi stew boiled to the point where it desperately needed more water that I finally composed myself. “Could you bring over some spoons?” “Oh, sure!” When he got up to help, he gathered bowls and spoons from the cupboard. With the kimchi stew safely placed on the table, we began our meal. “Hoo... hoo...” Since it was too hot, steam rose from his spoon every time Oppa blew on it. “So, Oppa.” “Yeah?” “That actress you linked arms with, who was she?” “Um... I think her name was Ara? Yeah, Ara.” Who is Ara? I discreetly turned away to pick up my phone and typed the web drama’s name into the search bar. Ah, her. I knew her face from watching what had aired of the drama so far. Clicking on her profile, a strikingly beautiful woman with distinct features and a slim figure smiled back at me, showing her teeth. “So what’s the scene with the arm linking about?” “You know the scene I showed you before, right?” “The one where you tell the nerd to stop bothering you?” “No, not that. It’s the one after, where the delinquents gather for a meeting.” I wasn’t sure I remembered that, but I nodded anyway. “It felt like there wasn’t really a need to link arms in that scene, but the director insisted...” Was this dinner, or an interrogation? Noticing his plate barely emptying, I thought it best to wrap up the conversation. Yeah... it’s just linking arms... His arm... My appetite suddenly gone, I set down my chopsticks. “...Oppa.” “Yeah?” I think I have the right to confirm this much. “So, did you enjoy it?” His head shook side to side so rapidly it looked like it was motorized.