Hello, dear readers. I have not seen any comments for the previous chapter, so I'm hoping that you are still following the story. Sorry, for taking such long breaks, but it is not possible for me to update this story daily. Will have another chapter coming soon.
Don't forget to review.
They arrived at the agency bright and early, the sun was still hiding behind the clouds, pushing bits of pale yellow through the grays and cold blues of the winter sky. Choi Young with Hee Jun in tow were met by a sleepy security guard, who glanced at their employee badges and motioned to the elevators. The second workday started very dull.
The young actor was already waiting in the training room; and Choi Young could not avoid the laughter, finding his tall body spread on the couch, long limbs hanging of the side, his arm across his face, protecting the eyes from the light, asleep. If he wore a Woodalchi uniform, it could be Choi Young himself laying there. The boy seemed to have the same bad habits of trying to catch on sleep whenever he could.
"Good Morning," the general said intentionally loud. No movement or response.
"I guess we are different after all, and here I thought I was getting a new disciple," he addressed Hee Jun, who wondered what the heck the man was talking about, but stayed quiet just listening, curious about what the general will do with this boy, who dared to sleep when he was supposed to start training.
"Get up," Choi Young gently shook the man's shoulder, waking him from the light sleep.
"Sorry, I dosed off. If I don't get my eight hours, I'm dead. The filming schedule is grueling, sometimes we have to film through the night or for a few days without stopping, and I don't get to rest," he explained yawning, stretching and lifting off the couch. "Sorry, Daejang, I will try to do better next time."
"No problem." Choi Young seemed to have a lot of empathy for the boy, making Hee Jun scoff.
"Ready for the warm up?"
"Sure."
Choi Young took his coat off and unbuttoned the jacket, getting into position.
"You don't have your training suit?" asked the boy.
"No, I don't have a garment for this activity."
"I have a spare, I always carry extra. Would you like to try it, it should fit, since we are the same height," he offered with a friendly smile and pulled a set of a sweat shirt and pants out of his large gym bag. Choi Young changed, finding the clothes to be warm and comfy. He should get himself these clothes instead of those tight jeans. He returned to the room; dressed in the same style, even the same brand with the same logo, him and the actor looked like they were on the same sports team. Hee Jun scoffed again, now starting to feel a tinge of discomfort about how quickly the general was willing to accept a new man into his life. He decided to wait and see how far this sneaky pretty boy will go to get close to his friend, but he promised, he won't give up without a fight. With determination in his eyes, Hee Jun planted his behind deeply into the cushions of the couch and began monitoring the so called "training exercise".
After the warm up, Choi Young felt it was time to move onto specialized training. The boy needed to learn how to move properly and then they could focus on handling a sword. "Tell me what you can do, so we can start from there."
"I trained a lot for my last drama. I'm not sure how to explain, I will show you the clips." He called somebody up and soon they were escorted to a room with a TV screen.
Choi Young watched intently as the TV showed a series of fighting episodes, each one showing the actor using martial arts and variety of techniques. He glanced at the young man next to him, who was relaxing and snacking on some chips, offering him some. "It is very impressive and interesting. Can you show me some of the moves. I have not seen this approach before."
"Of course, Daejang. I honestly just followed the direction, I do not remember much."
"If you learned it right, your body will remember."
"Sure, just don't expect much and take it easy on me. You realize this is just a movie."
"But it is you in the movie. So it makes it real."
The men stood and Choi Young initiated a lunge, with the actor responding to the attack, surprised himself at how his body's reflexes woke up with the right stimuli. He laughed excitedly, while Choi Young smiled back and continued. They went back and forth, the general quickly picking up the moves and getting happier by the minute. He did not expect this job to be so much fun for him and also to learn something new. The time flew and soon it was close to lunch.
"Dude, time for a break."
Choi Young ignored the call, continuing the exercise.
Hee Jun tried to come closer, but stepped back and out of the way, as the men were moving pretty quickly, taking up the space in the middle of the room. He sighed and sat back on the couch by the wall, watching. The general was masterfully avoiding high leg kicks and moving swiftly, he deflected the attack, punching his opponent's side and then hitting him with a quick, but light kick, the boy, losing balance started falling and Choi Young caught his fall, so that he would not land on his leg. He shook his head and glared, grumbling, "You should have told me your leg is injured."
"It's not," protested the boy, still keeping his leg off the ground and embarrassed.
"You have been favoring your other leg all the time. Tell me what's wrong, so that I can help find a proper way to maintain balance."
"It is not hurting or anything, I did not even know I was doing it." The boy seemed self-conscious. "I had an injury a long time ago. It healed and it does not hurt or anything."
"Well then, let's try again," he extended an arm and pulled the boy up.
Once on his feet, the actor touched his leg and Choi Young grabbed his wrist. "Is it where the discomfort is?" he asked concerned. He kneeled in front of the boy and palpated the area around his knee carefully, finding a spot and pressing hard, so that the boy had to bit his lip, he released the knot and the muscle cramp. He got up and as if nothing happened got into a stance, lifting his brows at the boy, who stared in amazement and moved his leg easily. "Wow, Daejang, thank you."
"Less talk, more action." And Choi Young threw a punch, surprised at how the boy grasped his hand and attempted to strike in response, but moving back, the general avoided the hit and twisted the boy's arm, pushing him to the ground. The actor lifted his hand, asking for permission to stop. Breathing heavily, the boy collapsed on the floor, while Choi Young stretched lazily as if he did not do much, barely breaking a sweat. He smirked, looking at his young partner, dying on the floor from exhaustion and only then noticed Hee Jun, lonely and waiting.
"What is going on?"
"Time for a break. I brought you food, Heung."
"Thanks." Choi Young sat beside his friend, who was holding a bottle of water with the cap open and ready, "Drink, you need to rehydrate."
"I am not thirsty."
"But it is not good for your health…" Hee Jun fussing like a mother hen, making Choi Young scoff, but pick up the bottle and take a sip, "Happy?"
"Daejang." The guy came over, after getting up off the floor, "Thank you. That was amazing! I am not sure if I will need this for this drama, but I sure feel like I learned a lot." And he bowed.
"Well, actually, me too. It seems that there are some interesting techniques that I was not familiar with before, so it was educational for both of us. Sit," and Choi Young moved, making a space for the actor, inadvertently pushing Hee Jun to the corner of the sofa, squishing him between the armrest and his body. "By the way, you will do a great job," said Choi Young, touching the young man's shoulder.
"No, Daejang, it's all thanks to you, really," replied the actor, giving Choi Young a small pat on the back. Hee Jun watched the whole exchange in surprise and when Choi Young didn't hit, but actually simply comforted the boy, he growled and snapped, freeing himself from his little corner, he pushed Choi Young, making him bump the actor's shoulder.
"What are you doing?" he turned, irritated, "Can't you seat still?"
"You… You…" Hee Jun was breathing heavily, his hands shaking.
The actor looked amused, but obviously having seen a lot of strange things happen on the movie set, he was calm and looked around for water. "Daejang, do you have an extra bottle?"
"No, but you can have mine," and ignoring Hee Jun's exasperated waving, he handed his bottle to the man.
"He- Heung!" Hee Jun screamed, making the two men turn to him in surprise. "Give me that!" and he pulled the bottle out of the actor's hands, spilling it all over his pants.
"Sorry, Daejang, I got your manager upset with something," and he lightly touched the general's forearm apologetically. "Sorry, I'm not sure what's wrong," he turned to Hee Jun, who completely lost all reason, now screaming.
"What do you think you are doing? Just because you got him a quick job and some clothes you think you can touch him like that! Let go of him!" He said, pushing the young man's hand away from Choi Young. "Keep your hands to yourself," and he slapped the actor's hand, the guy so startled, his jaw literary dropped open and he stared in total shock. "Sorry, maybe, it was not necessary, but my Heung always slaps me, if I get too handy, so that's how it is then," established Hee Jun, squeaking, high pitched. "You think because you are famous and called a sex idol, with your handsome face, beautiful eyes and pretty smile seducing innocent fans, you think you can have him too? I don't' think so! I saw him first!"
"Hee Jun, calm down, what is wrong with you?" Asked Choi Young, standing up, while the actor stood as well, surprised.
"Well he keeps touching you, and… I don't like it! I brought you some water and you give it to him! I found you first!" Choi Young smacked Hee Jun upside the head, hoping it will help him return to his senses, but he only whined and looked up surprised, "You hit me!"
"Yes, it is not the first time," said calmly Choi Young and turned to the young actor, apologizing. "I don't know what's gotten into him, he feels very passionate about our friendship, apparently."
"No problem." And still trying to appease the manager he asked, "What can I do?"
"You just stay out of this! Did you know he has a girlfriend and she is way prettier than you!"
"You have a girlfriend, I would love to meet her Daejang, I can arrange for a short tour, if you'd like," offered the boy, smiling.
Hee Jun gawked at him, annoyed, "I can get her a pass myself. Don't try to buy his affection. Stay away from him! He is mine!" Another slap found its way, now to Hee Jun's face, and a warning. "Stop this disgusting hysteria, right now!"
"You hit me again!" and the guy gasped, touching his burning cheek. "You saw him, right," he now turned to his competition for sympathy, and while the guy tried to figure out how to get out of this weird mess, Choi Young, grabbed Hee Jun by the arm and pulled him out of the room.
"Are you out of your mind? Acting like a jealous woman? It is so unbecoming a man! You really embarrassed me there!" he was so irritated, but mostly could not believe what just occurred.
"Dude, you promised to be MY friend and protect me. I devoted all my energy to help you get a job, and this guy strolls in and takes you away from me. You treat him so much nicer than me!"
Groaning and trying to keep calm, Choi Young, pressed the man's shoulder. "I am your friend and remember, I promised to protect you, mostly from myself. He was not touching me the way you do, bothering me, it was just a friendly tap between two men after they exercised together. Why am I even explaining myself to you?!" He closed his eyes, breathing in deeply to maintain composure, "If you wish to remain working with me, you should stop this nonsense once and forever. I never break my word – if I said I'm your friend, then I am."
Hee Jun, stared at Choi Young and his eyes filled with happy tears, "Heung," he lunged to hug him, and even sniffled into the man's sleeve.
"Again?" Choi Young's hand lifted to give him a really good beating, but Hee Jun indeed was acting more and more like a loyal puppy, than a man, and Choi Young only pulled away and keeping his hands on the man's shoulders to make sure there is enough distance between them, looked him directly in the eye and repeated, "Again?"
"No, that's it. Sorry."
"Go and apologize the one inside the room."
"OK, dude-Heung, I will." He hung his head in defeat and came into the room, only to quickly take a proud stance and announce, "I will not apologize for protecting my friend from your advances. However, I'm sorry for pushing your hand, you are a star after all." Only now he realized how far he's gone and that remembered that he actually liked and admired this actor.
"I already forgot it, well, I'll change, since now I look like I peed myself," and the boy laughed, making the atmosphere lighter, with Hee Jun left feeling very stupid.