FBF chapter 11 part 3

“It’s the restroom on the west side of the first floor.”

– What about Choi Hyuk-jun?

“I think he’s on the second floor. He’s guarding the front.”

– Is access possible?

“I’ll have to try.”

– How long do you think it will take?

According to the schematic I obtained just before, the structures of the first and second floors were distinctly different. Unlike the spacious first floor, reminiscent of a club, the second floor had several rooms. The largest room was located deeper inside, but I couldn’t be sure which room Choi Hyuk-jun was in. After a moment of thought, I calculated the time arithmetically. The other side fell silent after I acknowledged it. It seemed they were adjusting the timing for the approach. Even if he could hear me, I couldn’t hear what he was saying, so I adjusted the device to ensure that. I then tossed the champagne glass I’d set down earlier into the trash can. Just to be sure, I checked the tip of my finger; it was still clean. Kang Woo-jin should be fine.

Not far from the restroom was a storage room that only authorized personnel could enter. Entering the storage room, which appeared to have no need to hide alcohol, I poured champagne into a glass before heading back out. Holding the tray, I climbed the stairs to the second floor. It seemed the VIPs had mostly entered already; the guard maintained the same posture as before. Since Seol Anna, it appeared no one had climbed these stairs.

As I approached the side door, he spoke. His penetrating gaze made me wonder if he suspected I wasn’t a waiter, but upon closer inspection, he was looking at my mask.

“What’s a first-floor waiter doing on the second floor?”

His suspicious question skimmed over the edges of the mask I was wearing. I could see waiters walking down the dark corridor behind him. Upon closer inspection, the masks they wore were slightly longer than mine. It was a moment where I confirmed that in this space, where you couldn’t recognize each other without looking closely, the criterion distinguishing the employees was the mask. That was a relief. Since he only recognized me through my mask, it seemed unlikely that he would figure out I was someone else.

“A certain actor I met in front of the restroom on the first floor ordered something special. She said since there’s no champagne upstairs, it’d be nice if you could bring some.”

I could say this because I knew there was no storage room on the second floor. The guard, with a slightly relaxed expression, asked once more to confirm.

“Which actor?”

“Jung Han-young.”

I mentioned the name of the actor that was on the list but not on the first floor. The guard shrugged and stepped back. Perhaps feeling awkward for doubting another employee, he tried to be friendly.

“Don’t take it personally. Everyone’s so sensitive about security.”

The door close to the side creaked ominously as if it were a door meant for a house with a puppy. I nodded once to the guard who opened the door and raised the tray close to my face. The corridor on the second floor was long. The rooms, lined up at a distance, had no actual doors. Passing the stairs the guard was guarding felt like a privilege I could enjoy, as sheer curtains completely exposed the insides of the rooms.

“Ha, uh, huff—”

People who had removed their masks had left the door wide open and were enjoying themselves. Their silhouettes, too busy exploring each other, swam through the darkness like loaches. Upon confirming that Hyuk-jun wasn’t among those lost in lustful moans, I turned my head.

In another room, a poker game was in full swing. Chips that should not have been in circulation crossed a luxurious table.

“Call, call. Hahaha. You bastards are all dead. All dead.”

Senior Jung was laughing, exhaling into the air like an old actor from the weekend dramas he always played on repeat. Those in the room, their eyes glazed over, were all holding something in their mouths. It was clear at a glance that it wasn’t cigarettes.

It seems the entertainment news will be worth a look after a while. I adjusted my bowtie once more and exited the room. A small camera I’d attached before leaving the restroom was embedded in the middle of my tie, sending footage live to the cars waiting around the villa.

The room at the very end of the corridor was the only one on the second floor with a door. As I turned the doorknob, a man sitting near the door looked back at me.

“What?”

He sharply asked as he got up from the sofa where he had been lounging in expectation, but as soon as he noticed my mask and the tray I was holding, he silently turned away. The conversation that had temporarily halted resumed with my arrival. The room was dark yet surprisingly glimmering. The left and right walls were decorated like rectangular aquariums or one wall of a swimming pool. It sounded as if someone was really swimming inside, with the sound of feet pushing water and water flowing according to someone’s movements. It was a space that felt like it was submerged in the sea. There weren’t many figures sitting on the U-shaped sofa with a large table in the center. Recognizing director Kim Myung-rim sitting cross-legged across from the man, I lowered my gaze. There were six people in the room.

“No, what I mean is, director. Does that warrant an apology? Is there anyone here who honestly went through school without causing a single problem? If there is, let them come forward. What am I supposed to do if you now want me to compensate for something I can’t even remember?”

“Seems you were really frustrated. That guy doesn’t shut up at all.”

Sitting to the left of the man was Seo Anna. With a bored expression, she tossed her long hair back, and when our eyes met, she gestured for me to come closer. Realizing it meant she wanted champagne, I slowly approached the back of the sofa. A familiar male actor sat opposite Seo Anna. He was the actor Hyun-woo had said he wanted to emulate once, holding a syringe in his hand. The liquid inside the thin syringe sparkled under the low-lighting.

“Anyways, the conclusion is that it was covered with money before the article blew up. Isn’t that a happy ending? You really don’t know what it’s like to be threatened. I once received a call from an ex-girlfriend saying she was suing me while I was on a plane to a meeting in the US.”

Even while grumbling, he accurately targeted the spot in his vein and injected the drug, looking as if he had done this countless times before. Noticing my gaze, I turned away. I immediately locked eyes with the woman sitting to the right of the man who had just tossed the syringe onto the table. She happened to be looking at me and smiled. I recognized her as the actress whose timid smile had overlapped with a blurry photo on the printout I was glancing at during the meeting. It was then that I realized she was the actress I had made up the excuse to come up here.

“Hyuk-jun, are you really doing this? You know I like good-looking guys, so why do all the new faces get shoved onto the first floor? Whether they’re waiters or actors.”

She playfully rolled her eyes towards Hyuk-jun. It was the moment I finally spotted In-young, who had been buried deep inside the U-shaped sofa on the second floor, after someone had called out to him. Although someone had called out to him, his slumped body looked as if he were dead. It felt bizarre that no one in this room found that odd.

“Why don’t you come over here and take a closer look? Don’t just turn around and come through the back of the sofa to me.”

Unable to look away from Choi Hyuk-jun’s face, who was lying with his eyes closed, I followed her request to step forward. Thanks to her even setting my path, I walked past Hyuk-jun’s back. The moment my knee grazed the small head that was flopped back behind the sofa, I instinctively tightened my grip on the tray. Hyuk-jun remained sprawled out in that posture until I reached next to Jung Han-young. It was only after I completely passed Hyuk-jun that I let out a breath I had been holding.

Between the sofa where Jung Han-young was seated and the one where Hyuk-jun was sprawled, there was an empty space. Jung Han-young instructed me to lower my body. Just turning my head upward would allow me to see Hyuk-jun. Trying not to be conscious of the stillness that exuded from my side, I locked eyes with Jung Han-young.

“Take off your mask. Or would you like me to do it for you?”

Her face, resting her chin on her hand, seemed innocent. Just as I was about to retract my head while staring at her curious expression, she added, “This isn’t a sex room.”

Without having to verify who said that, I already knew. All my senses were directed at Choi Hyuk-jun. Even on a sofa where not a sound of someone lifting their body seemed to occur, I could distinctly feel Hyuk-jun shifting his body. The room suddenly fell silent. The fact that Hyuk-jun had spoken, separate from any conversation flowing in the room, caused everyone to concentrate.

“…Ugh!”

The tray that fell onto the plush floor didn’t make a single crackling sound. I swallowed my moan and lifted my gaze from the champagne glass rolling on the floor. My unbalanced body leaned towards Hyuk-jun. Grabbing my hair and thrusting my body against the sofa he was sitting on, Hyuk-jun bent down as if folding himself in half.

Our eyes met from a distance.

“And…”

His bloodshot eyes blinked deliberately, as if the aperture had tightened to focus. I held my breath. At the same time, the one who had been casually glancing over my mask muttered in a hesitant tone.

“Is he really a new face?”

There was powder caked beneath his nose.

“……”

The silence in the room grew eerily pronounced. Even without needing to confirm, I knew everyone was watching. I bit my lip, trying not to let out a sound. Even having my hair gripped tightly, Hyuk-jun’s eyes wandered disorientedly above my face. His gaze was lifeless, devoid of any sparkle. In just a few seconds, Hyuk-jun stopped trying.

“Fuck, here we go again.”

As soon as I heard a hollow laugh, the hands that had been clutching my head fell away. I remained slumped on the sofa, raising only my eyes. Hyuk-jun slowly stood up, despite his staggering.

“Going already? Already?”

Kim Myung-rim, the director who hadn’t talked since I entered the room, spoke up. He seemed somewhat anxious. Although he didn’t catch Hyuk-jun to help him regain his balance, he seemed to feel uneasy that Hyuk-jun might leave the room, repeatedly glancing at him.

“The deals haven’t even properly started yet. You know we have important transactions today? The car transfer has to happen.”

Car transfer. The casual term he threw out felt far from that of an actor. What had been mere suspicions began to materialize one by one into reality. I finally straightened up, keeping my gaze on Hyuk-jun’s back, who had been pressing his hand to his forehead while fixing my bowtie. The rapid movements of Hyuk-jun’s back gradually quieted.

“I’ll take a nap. Hold it until then.”

After taking several deep breaths, Hyuk-jun’s voice returned to a relatively stable state. Although slow, the one stepping forward no longer stumbled. He stopped when Kim Myung-rim caught Hyuk-jun’s arm as he passed by the sofa.

“How long? Chairman Hyun will arrive no later than in an hour….”

The director’s words abruptly cut off. The expression on Kim Myung-rim’s face, looking down at the arm that had been ruggedly shoved away, clearly showed his bewilderment.

“So…”

“……”

“Why are you extending the distribution network without consulting me, when you can’t even recognize a person’s face properly?”

“……”

“Who asked you to do that?”

To Kim Myung-rim, in his mid-fifties, Hyuk-jun was no different from a son. Thus, the disrespectful language Hyuk-jun used, dismissing even basic courtesy, seemed to carry a meaning of suppressing his elder. It was unmistakably apparent that beside him sat actors who had undoubtedly come along with Kim Myung-rim, watching all of this unfold. Hyuk-jun’s intent to induce shame was evident in the crimson flush of Kim Myung-rim’s face. However, rather than questioning that, he coughed awkwardly and averted his eyes from Hyuk-jun.

“Cough, seems the car transfer must be tiring. Right. It’s all about making a living. You should rest. If something important comes up, I’ll send someone.”

Hyuk-jun did not respond and began walking slowly once again. Did he say he was going to sleep? Although I wasn’t sure where he was going, it was clear there had to be some space for resting. Now that I thought about it, Hyuk-jun was the only one in comfortable attire among those in the room, wearing pajama-like wide satin black pants that gently rustled with each step he took. The one in the hotel-like slippers walked soundlessly. The male actor observing a departing Hyuk-jun raised his glass and smiled.

“Wow, the atmosphere is solemn. We gathered to enjoy ourselves, and this is how it ends? Come on, Anna, raise your glass too.”

As I withdrew my gaze from him, who was trying to lighten the mood, I quietly rose. I had to wait for the right moment to follow in Hyuk-jun’s footsteps.

“Do you want to go out with me?”

The plan to move along the wall failed. The moment our eyes met, she smiled brightly, appearing completely unaffected by what had just transpired. The hand that lightly brushed against my mask appeared filled with curiosity. I was contemplating how to push her away when—

“Get out.”

As if cold water had been thrown over the room, Hyuk-jun turned back in our direction. The person who had put his hand on the doorknob squinted one eye. With a face that still seemed unfocused, he expressionlessly issued his order. His fingertip pointed directly at me.

“You’re fired.”

“No… Hyuk-jun, that’s a bit unreasonable. I’m just trying to have a bit of fun with him; why are you being like this?”

Jung Han-young frowned in protest for all to see, but Hyuk-jun simply scoffed and turned away.

“Then you can get fired too.”

In a place where the working conditions of the actors were irrelevant, Hyuk-jun’s notion of “fired” was likely a warning that I might not be invited to this party ever again.

Perhaps the ridiculous threat hit home, as Jung Han-young couldn’t respond and merely bit her lip. As if he hadn’t expected any resistance, Hyuk-jun already had his foot outside the door. With the sound of the door closing, even his back vanished completely. Despite Hyuk-jun having left the room, the actors remaining inside were rendered speechless, exchanging glances. I watched as Kim Myung-rim poured a drink for Jung Han-young, attempting to soothe her. Picking up the tray that had been discarded on the floor, I acted under the impression that since it had been mandated by Hyuk-jun, no one would stop me. As I anticipated, until I slipped out of the room with the tray tucked under my arm, no one tried to stop me.

The corridor was as dark as before. The guard at the side door leading to the second floor, as well as the waiters gliding as part of the background, remained unchanged. To avoid suspicion, I moved close to the wall. Although I had almost followed on Hyuk-jun’s heels as he exited, he was already nowhere to be seen. I recalled the scenes from the two rooms I had surveyed earlier. Neither seemed like a place Hyuk-jun would choose to rest. To manage to sleep, there had to at least be a bed, and such accommodations were likely to be in a space separate from the other rooms.

I observed the passing waiters. According to prior information, there was no storage room on the second floor; however, the waiters showed up with drinks without having returned to the first floor, implying there had to be a space separate for storing alcohol and food. Not long after, I spotted one of the waiters, who had been moving closely alongside the wall like me, disappearing between heavy curtains. It was a hidden space so dark that it was hard to notice unless one paid attention. I naturally followed the waiter who was heading that way. Noticing my presence, he glanced at my mask but, without any suspicion, turned his head back.

The door opened, revealing the hidden area. The space flowed with mixed purple and blue hues, reminding me why the waiters wore purple shirts. As the waiters wove through the transparent curtains, they would pick items they needed to put onto their trays or stash into their wine bag. I realized that among the alcohol-filled ambiance, champagne was the one thing missing, which was one of my fortunes for the night.

Being mainly a storage area for alcohol, there were no windows in the room, just like the other rooms on the second floor. To avoid raising any suspicion, I imitated the pace of the waiters scattered around as I moved through the area. Because the loud music did not reach this space, occasionally, I could overhear waiters sharing light banter in front of the same display.

“Seo Anna was here today, huh?”

“No way. Is that real?”

“Yong-jin said he saw her on the first floor.”

“I’m so jealous. We can’t sneak into that room.”

“Why? That prick?”

“Who else would it be? If you want to keep this sweet gig, you better know your place. You can’t even make eye contact.”

Even in the waiters’ uniform I had claimed from the first floor, they revealed far too many gaps to be operating in a place rampant with drugs, orgies, and gambling. They were having conversations like any average twenty-something friend on the street, making it hard to think that they were merely Choi Jeong-ho’s puppets.

Where exactly did Hyuk-jun stand in this chaotic environment, known as the “car transfer,” which even well-known directors found overwhelming, while simultaneously being called a “prick” they must not even make eye contact with?

As I pondered, I froze in place.

‘This isn’t my room.’

The voice of eighteen-year-old Hyuk-jun echoed in my ears—one that didn’t require deep breaths to speak.

‘I’ve never felt comfortable here.’

I recalled Hyuk-jun’s dispassionate remark while surveying the room adorned with only the highest quality furnishings. An indifferent comment, I remembered, when he had pointed towards the ceiling as if he didn’t comprehend what lay above.

‘Even if it’s dusty, that would still be better.’

I thought of the house I had first seen the moment I entered, the two-story house visible behind the iron gate the guards opened for me. Its structure resembled Hyuk-jun’s house from the past, with a fountain situated in front.

Typically, we divide houses according to the number of floors. If split into two, it’s a two-story house; if three, then a three-story house. However simple the classification process, amidst this, we often forget the confined and secretive space located beneath the roof, just as I was beginning to forget. Just like that house was not to Hyuk-jun’s taste, this place might not be to his liking either.

I finally seemed to understand where Hyuk-jun was.

I descended back to the first floor. Kang Woo-jin remained by the grandfather clock as before. Although he occasionally glanced sideways as if searching for someone, he appeared much more relaxed than earlier. The grandfather clock indicated 9:30. Lifting my tray, I approached Kang Woo-jin. I was tense, wondering if Hyuk-jun had taken any measures to eject me following remarks about firing and such, but it seemed the news hadn’t reached downstairs yet, as no one bothered me while I was acting as a waiter. Upon noticing my approach, Kang Woo-jin smiled graciously and shook his head.

“It’s alright.”

Noticing his gaze briefly skimmed past the lower part of my mask, it seemed he was faithfully adhering to the instructions I had given before I left. Unbothered, I extended the tray once more. With the end of the lace curtain on which Kang Woo-jin was standing tugged slightly toward me, the fabric caught his foot, bringing him closer.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s me.”

Kang Woo-jin, startled and hastily trying to turn back, halted in place. I could visibly see the tension easing from his shoulders. It seemed he finally recognized me.

“No, how did….”

His eyes widened in disbelief at seeing me appear suddenly in waiter attire. Doing my best to signal him not to say anything, I shook my head and tilted the tray towards Kang Woo-jin. This time he accepted the champagne glass. Even the small movement caused the candle in the middle of the tray to wobble precariously. Without taking my eyes off the flickering candle, I spoke softly, as waiters would, quietly leaning toward Kang Woo-jin.