Between A and B C28

Chapter 28

I nodded in reply, and the PD, looking somewhat abashed, nodded as well.

“This wasn’t our original plan at all… but after another round of meetings, things turned out this way. We should have met you separately and explained, but the schedule was too tight. We had no choice but to tell you over the phone.”

“Ah, yes.”

“We should have decided earlier, but we tried to hold out as long as we could… When Segaon arrives, I’ll explain it to him too, but for now, if you could think of it as appearing in the first episode as a guest, that would be best. Since this is a pilot, the number of episodes isn’t guaranteed. At most, there’ll be two or three guests, so in terms of screen time, it’s practically the same as being a regular. I’ll go over the details once everyone’s here.”

His face was full of apology as he tried to give as thorough an explanation as possible, and I was about to tell him I understood when, from a short distance away, another staff member called out to him. His face had gone pale, and somehow, it didn’t look like good news.

“What is it?”

The PD, catching at once the gravity in his expression, asked with a serious look. He told us to wait inside the meeting room and left. My manager and I watched his back retreat for a moment before we went inside.

As soon as we entered, my manager’s phone buzzed with a vibration.

I paid it no mind at first, but when he looked at the screen, his expression became exactly like that of the staffer who had called the PD away. Seeing it, unease began crawling up my chest again.

Why? Why again? What now?

“Is something wrong?”

My hunches had a frightening accuracy, so I waited tensely for an answer. My manager, pale-faced, stared at his screen for a moment before looking at me and speaking.

“They say Segaon’s dropped out of the program.”

“…What?”

“He suddenly said he won’t do it.”

“……”

I had been braced for bad news, but never once had I thought it would be this. I stared blankly at my manager, bewildered, and asked again.

“What did you say?”

“They said Segaon won’t do it. This program.”

“……”

That made no sense. Why would Jung Woojin, all of a sudden…?

I instinctively reached for my phone, clutching it tightly before forcing myself to let it go slack in my hand. I had thought we’d grown close—had that all been my own delusion? How could he make such a decision without a word to me?

Of course, he wasn’t obligated to get my permission. But still—wasn’t a word of notice the least he could have given? And just days ago, he’d seemed so excited about it… If circumstances had forced him, the company would have known, and we wouldn’t have been called here like this.

Had it really been such a sudden decision? My manager had said it was Woojin’s choice, not the company’s, not scheduling. Then… why? Why now?

I checked my phone, but there was no message from Woojin. Only the last one he’d sent:

[Yes, then let’s meet in three days. Today the seaweed soup and grilled fish were so delicious, and I really enjoyed eating walnut pie with you. Next time, like I said, I’ll show you a movie. Please tell me what you’d like to eat then. I’ll treat you. And if you have some free time before the meeting, please let me know. Even if you’re just bored, feel free to call me. If you can’t sleep, or if you wake up too early and don’t know what to do, you can call me too. Then, good night, and sweet dreams.]

“……”

Even reading it again, there was no hint of displeasure or any sign of a change of heart. Unless… he’d just changed his mind on a whim? Maybe that’s why he’d suddenly stopped messaging me.

I sighed heavily, only for the meeting room door to burst open.

“Ah, PD-nim…”

Startled, my manager hurriedly shoved his phone back into his pocket.

“We just got word—did you hear anything? What are we supposed to do if he suddenly pulls out like this? We’ve finished all the preparations, all that’s left is to film, and without any convincing reason, we’re just dismissed with a notice?”

“PD-nim, I am MD Entertainment staff, yes, but I’m only a manager. I just heard this myself, so saying all this to me won’t…”

My manager stammered under the heat of his glare. The PD turned sharply toward me, met my eyes, then exhaled a long, heavy sigh.

“When an ordinary cast member pulls out, we find a replacement. But this is Segaon. We’ve built the entire program format around him—set the location, booked the schedule, everything. He can’t just pull out. To an outsider, it might seem trivial, but do you know how much time and money goes into producing a single show? How many staff are involved? The broadcast schedule is already locked, and if we cancel now, it’s a total disaster. We’ve even prepared the press releases.”

“I understand, but telling me this—”

“Fine. I’ll talk to the company again. But for today, please just leave. There’s no point continuing with a manager who knows nothing.”

And with that, the PD spun on his heel so sharply it cut the air, storming out of the room. His shouting echoed from outside, while beside me my manager trembled visibly.

“……”

Standing there, feeling like a useless prop, I was no less disheartened. There were so many questions in my head, but since the meeting was clearly a bust, it seemed best to get out as quickly as possible.

“Hyung, maybe we should go back to the company—”

“Fuck…”

“……”

My manager couldn’t keep his face composed. Still, at least he wasn’t venting on me the way he usually did when he was angry. That, perhaps, was something to be grateful for.

Putting on the capitalist’s smile, he said goodbye and led us out of the meeting room. I bowed as well, and we took the elevator down together. The moment the doors closed, he slammed his fist into the wall with a loud thud.

“Why the fuck are they taking it out on me? Bastards!”

“……”

“Arghhh!”

“……”

The familiar spectacle made me simply avert my gaze, pretending not to hear. When the elevator reached the underground parking lot, we went to the car in silence. He kicked the tires a few times before climbing in, breathing heavily, and gripping the steering wheel.

After fiddling with his phone a while, he muttered,

“They said you should stay at the dorm for now. Just keep that in mind.”

“Yes.”

“Goddamn, there are so many fucking lunatics in this industry. Why’d Segaon have to throw this tantrum? If he didn’t want to do it, he should’ve said so earlier! Why the fuck wait till now? And that PD bastard—”

His voice droned on, grating and ceaseless. I wanted to cover my ears, but instead I closed my eyes. And really, wasn’t my manager himself part of this industry he was ranting about? It never seemed to occur to him.

A headache throbbed from my temples down to my eyes. When I got back, I’d need to take something for it. Just this morning I had felt in perfect condition, but now I felt like I’d been dragged through filth.

Though it was still only morning, I was already exhausted, slumped in my seat until we arrived.

“Thank you for the ride,” I murmured as I stepped out, but my manager didn’t bother to reply. The car screeched off, leaving tire marks on the pavement. I watched it go, sighed, and turned away.

Alone again, my thoughts circled back to Jung Woojin.

I should reach out at least once, shouldn’t I? Close or not, it was strange for him to quit the program without a word when we had agreed to do it together.

Climbing the uphill road back to the dorm, I stared at my phone screen. Memories of the past days resurfaced—eating meals together, sitting in cafés, talking about all sorts of things.

Woojin had been more timid and shy than I had expected, like a delicate boy. He had seemed burdened by the program, yes, but I never thought it would drive him to quit altogether.

If only I had listened more sincerely, given him my full attention—would things have turned out differently? It was too late to wonder now, yet I couldn’t help myself.

I remembered how his endless chatter about trivial things sometimes annoyed me. Maybe he had sensed that? He’d said he’d never even been to a movie theater before. Probably just curious, wanting to experience things he’d missed since debuting so young. But I had dismissed it, thought it strange.

“Haa…”

I let out a sigh as I climbed, lost in thought.

A pang of guilt struck me, mingled with curiosity about why he had withdrawn. I was just about to call him when I sensed movement nearby.

Lifting my head, I blinked. At the familiar entrance of our villa, something was peeking out.

“……”

I rubbed my eyes, thinking I had seen wrong.

But no—it really was Jung Woojin.