Ha-ru buckled his seat belt before getting comfortable on the seat. He had noticed Jae-wook stealing glances at him multiple times but he ignored it. He didn't want to start a conversation he knew he didn't have the capacity to continue. He wasn't worried about.anyone finding out he wasn't the original Ha-ru .
He had sarcastically thiught to himself. What were they going to do give him a blood test? With a scoff. Even if he was tested he still had Ha-ru's anatomy every cell in his body was the same he would just brush it off as him trying to become a different person. Go better himself if he may.
He however was worried about what Alice had spilled through the phone making endless questions fill his mind.
He wondered what she meant by are they back together.
Was Ha-ru in a relationship with Jae-wook?
But he didn't quite believe it and excused it to her trying to tease him. He thought that at the very most they were probably friends sighting that Mae-rin would have at least mentioned it when they met at the dressing room. Or even acted suspiciously but she didn't she was just normal.
Unless there was something he didn't know.
But he wouldn't possibly know unlike the movies his memories from his current body weren't retained so he had to fend for himself and go in blind in every interaction.
He had tried to train his honorifics and how he adressed some people so as to fit in better.
Coming into this new world felt like an adventure and a great experience. He felt like he had been given a second chance. And although he felt like fate was playing a dirty trick om him by trying to embroil him back into the entertainment industry he had tried to think of it positively. Maybe fate had recognised his passion and felt pity for him giving him a second chance to follow his dream.
He had always wanted to be an actor since he was young although living in an orphanage didn't give him any leverage he strained and struggled until.he finally got a breakthrough.
He had gone to countless auditions. He had heard the scorn thrown his way. He had worked two jobs to keep himself afloat. He had worked on sets looking for an opportunity and yet in this life it was handed to him on a silver platter. He had been reluctant at first even at that moment doubts still engulfed his mind. What if. What happened before repeated itself.
He had been happy the Ha-ru wasn't involved in the entertainment industry but just like another joke he found out Ha-ru had been a childhood actor following his father's dreams. His father had seen an audition poster and thought Ha-ru would be a perfect fir and sure enough Ha-ru got the part..He was later invited to another audition and on his third one his mother protested. Seeing his wife unhappy and their marriage starting to show signs of possible cracks he pulled him out of the entertainment industry.
The dramas Ha-ru had been a part of were quite notable in the cable tv and became classics to this day.
His mother never gave any reasons. He had asked Alice as soon as she told him to keep it a secret from her sister in law and that she would explain to her herself.
He had thought Ha-ru was isolated the future seamed that way all people needed to do was get on the Internet and talk there wasn't any need to go out of your way to meet someone. He even learned of an app that showed live videos which he accidentally stumbled on. Ha-ru seamed to know quite some people not much but he wasn't as isolated as he had thought.
He heard the door beside him close and Jae-wook get in. He had received a call just as they got to the car and had moved aside to receive it. As soon as he got in the car Ha-ru noticed his grim expression and his tightened jaw.
Jae-wook started the car and started driving up the basement entrance.
Ha-ru wanted to ask what tye issue was but didn't feel like it was in his place to ask. Even if he had history with Ha-ru he didn't share the same feelings.
And it seemed they weren't as close anymore asking personal questions could lead to misunderstandings.
Ha-ru looked down at his phone to give Jae-wook the location for the set. Just as he was about to speak Jae-wook cut him off.
"Alice already texted the location. " Jae-wook said almost like he was reading his mind.
Ha-ru nodded his head and put his phone away.
The road was busy especially since it was morning everyone was rushing to get to work something Ha-ru noted hadn't changed over the years.
A smile formed on his face as a memory from the past filled his mind. They stopped at a traffic light and waited for the lights to turn.
"How have you been?" Jae-wook suddenly asked his tone a bit reserved as he avoided eye contact.
Ha-ru looked away from the window and looked at him. He understood the meaning of his words. He was curious about Ha-ru's well being since they had their falling out. He didn't know how to answer him. The original owner may have been hurting and yearning for him but he also might not have. He didn't know the details to their falling out and by the looks of it neither did anyone else.
"Fine. " Ha-ru answered curtly as he looked away. He hoped he didn't sound too cold.
He saw Jae-wooks hands tighten against the steering wheel. Just then the light changed.
Jae-wook drove down the road towards the set. The car filled with uncomfortable silence.
The place they were going was rather remote and further away from the busy Seoul city. The road they were on was deserted with only one or two cars making an appearance.
Ha-ru stared at the clock on the cars screen as he let out a sigh. He was late. He wasn't a person who liked being tardy especially for such occasions. They continued driving silently not another word shared between them.
"How is it being a kpop idol?" Ha-ru suddenly asked feeling the air to be too suffocating for him. He didn't want to arrive on set in such a gloomy state.
"Busy."
"I saw you are quite popular that's great."
"Are we at an interview?" Jae-wook asked nonchalantly as he turned a corner.
Ha-ru scrawled at him for his remark and settled back into his seat.
Sensing he had said something wrong Jae-wook cleared his throat.
"Sorry. It's just you were never interested in that part of my life before." He said a bit of pain lingering in his tone.
Ha-ru bit his lip unconsciously as he folded his arms in his chest and let out a sigh.
"I was just curious how it is. " Ha-ru said while focusing on the road ahead but he had felt the pair of eyes analysing him with question.
" I didn't know you wanted to enter the entertainment industry." Jae-wook said trying to continue the conversation.
"More like my aunt is forcing me."
"My uncle said you are doing great. "
"Your uncle.....?"
"Director Hwan." He stated casually.
Ha-ru stared at him for a hot minute before sinking into the seat with an unbelieving expression.
The world really was playing a joke on him.