Chapter 233 (2/2)
“It must be huge, right?”
“Who knows?”
“Aren’t you excited?”
“I’m here for the food. Why would I be?”
Maru’s replies were very dry. Someone meeting him for the first time might think he was a cold guy, but Jiseok knew that Maru wasn’t just cold. Of course, that didn’t mean that he was a warm guy either.
“Aren’t there any stairs?”
“Why are you looking for one? There’s an elevator.”
“Because stairs are better for health.”
Jiseok asked the security officer on the first floor, but got the reply that the stairs were only for emergencies. He had no choice but to get the elevator.
“I don’t think going up three floors by the stairs will be any exercise to a kid of your age.”
Hearing Maru’s words, Jiseok replied with a ‘it does for me’. Maru quietly stared at him. Jiseok made a thick smile when he saw Maru’s gaze. He didn’t want to talk about something depressing on a good day like this. However, Maru was really quick witted.
“Now that I think about it, you were sweating really hard when you helped out that lady last time. Are you sick?”
“I just lack a little stamina.”
“...Take care of yourself. You’ll find yourself suffering when you’re older.”
“Hahaha.”
While they were laughing, the elevator opened again. In front of them were two female staff wearing suits. Behind them was the entrance, made of glass, and beyond that was the ballroom.
“Do you have a reservation?”
Jiseok and Maru stated their names when the lady asked. The lady soon found the two names and ticked the names off.
“You may enter.”
Jiseok whistled as he opened the door. Inside, they could hear faint music. The lights on the ceiling differed from place to place, and near the entrance, it was bright and beautiful. Right after the entrance, there was a signboard. The main and sub roles as well as important staff members were supposed to go left, and the rest were supposed to go right.
“We should go to the right, right?”
“Obviously.”
Jiseok glanced towards the left. He saw a few people being guided by the staff to the room.
“What do you think they’ll talk about in there?”
“There shouldn’t be anything much, is there? They’re just separating people into levels. If there are extras like us here, then that means that there are all sorts of people in this place, and it would be difficult if they got into trouble with someone high up. That’s why they separated the zones.”
“Should I sneak in there?”
“You really shouldn’t. It’s not just actors but people related to the film production and the investors should be there too. If you ruin their mood, you’ll lose all hope of participating in the movie.”
Maru walked towards the right, saying that they shouldn’t get involved. Jiseok also licked his lips and walked towards the right. This role was something he got through a lot of effort so it would be frustrating if he lost it. On the right, they saw a buffet. Cheerful music flowed out from the speakers on the ceiling. The lights were generally dim. There were a lot of people. Everyone was eating something.
“It’s just a buffet?”
“What did you expect?”
“A party.”
It was a little bland, but it was still exciting since there were a lot of people here. Jiseok danced his shoulders according to the music and made rounds on the buffet. He grabbed all the things he wanted to eat and sat on an empty table. Maru also came to that table and sat.
“Everyone’s just eating.”
“That’s what they’re here for.”
“Then there was no point for me to wear a suit. What about the dance? What about the ball you can see in movies?”
Jiseok asked several questions, but Maru didn’t answer any of them and continued eating. He didn’t show any signs of answering. Jiseok sighed and forked a piece of chilli shrimp. He wondered if eating was all he was going to do today. He was looking around at the others while eating his food. A girl who just entered widened her eyes after looking his way. Jiseok cheerfully waved his hand. When he did, the girl started approaching him.
‘Yes!’
Let there be a fated encounter in this crowded place! A movie-like meeting, and love! However, Jiseok soon realized that the girl wasn’t coming towards him. The girl arrived at the table and her shadow was cast over Maru’s plate. Only then did Maru raise his head and look his way.
“Han Maru. It has been some time.”
Maru looked both glad and bitter.
“Why are you here?”
“What do you mean why? Of course it’s because I was invited.”
The girl then placed her clutch bag on the table.
“Look after this for me while I get some food.”
She made a proud expression and walked towards the buffet. Jiseok asked Maru immediately.
“Who’s she?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“We’d be eating together. So of course we need to know each other.”
“...She’s Lee Yoojin, and we used to do acting together.”
“Really? She’s cute.”
“What cute? She has a high self-esteem and she likes peeking.”
“Peeking?”
At that moment, Yoojin brought her food and sat down. Jiseok looked at her and spoke.
“Are you Lee Yoojin?”
“Wh, what the? How do you know my name?”
“Maru told me. And I heard you liked peeking! What does that mean?”
Jiseok asked with a smile. He saw Maru put down his fork and palm his face with a sigh, but he couldn’t help his curiosity. At that moment, Yoojin glared at Maru.
“Oh, I like peeking? Then you like confessing with a cheesy line, don’t you? What about the rabbit ring?”
“I get it. So let’s just eat.”
“What do you get!”
Yoojin glared at Maru with a scary expression. Maru scratched his eyebrows and avoided Yoojin’s gaze.
“Hm, that’s fun. Now that’s what I call a party.”