“But I don’t think you should worry too much about it,” Ryeo continued. Zeno lifted his head and tilted his head in confusion.
“I think you’re heading in the right direction.”
Zeno couldn’t help it. A chuckle left his lips. “How did you deduce that?”
“You’re young,” Ryeo responded, leaning against the post, appearing like a common old man under the setting sun. He looked relaxed as if his life had been satisfactory until now.
“I started when I was younger, but at your age, I can’t compare to your acting skills.”
Zeno’s breath got caught in his throat. That was probably one of the best compliments he had received in his entire life. No, it was the best one.
He couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on his lips. However, he pursed them right away, feeling strange about it.
“But then again, you’re at a high point with such a young career,” he continued, and Zeno’s smile dropped right away.
“It is a direct relationship. The higher you are, the higher the stakes. The bigger the enemies. The more painful the losses. The more challenging the obstacles.”
Zeno nodded. He already knew about such, but at the same time didn’t. He might be old in terms of years, but he had never gone past 25. He had never lived a life like Ryeo Wang.
He never experienced getting old and enjoying the fruit of everything he had worked hard for.
“But I believe in you, young man,” Ryeo finally said, giving Zeno a pat on the shoulder. “It has been a while since I’ve seen such a talented young actor who genuinely appears like he enjoys acting.”
Zeno’s eyebrows raised. Well, that wasn’t really the case. He wouldn’t say he was enjoying it.
It was just… pretty fun.
“What you have isn’t normal, and I think you’re fully aware of that,” Ryeo continued. “Keep up with what you’re doing, and when the time comes that you truly need help, you can ask me for one more favor. My previous advice already counts as your first one.”
“Oh, and don’t get me wrong. I’m not doing this because I like you,” he added. “It’s payment for teaching me about the fire. I’ll get it right one day.”
Zeno chuckled and shook his head. “I’ll take your word on that.”
[Mission Accomplished: Find friendship]
Zeno scrutinized the notification for a couple of seconds before warmth spread through his chest. He found friendship in the most unexpected person. But then again, Ryeo was the closest to his real age, so it did make sense.
“Well, this old man is tired. I may look robust, but my body gets weak pretty easily,” he sighed, standing with trembling knees.
Zeno didn’t move to help him, knowing the old man wouldn’t appreciate it.
“Sir,” Zeno said before he could take another step forward.
This has been on his mind since they finished with their previous scene.
“Get that mole checked out, yeah?”
A small frown graced Ryeo’s forehead.
“The one on your neck,” Zeno added. “Has it been there since you were young?”
“I… don’t remember.”
Zeno nodded, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “It’s just to be sure.”
“I’m not saying this out of concern, but you know, I just wanted to let you know.”
***
Zeno squinted out the window of Moby’s severely dented truck as it rolled to a lazy stop in front of the familiar staircase. Well, even after a month, it seems that nothing has changed. The units were still unkempt and on the verge of collapse. Moby shifted into the park before exhaling deeply.
“I’ll have to drive you to the set in a while,” Moby muttered, sounding apologetic. “We need you for the modern scenes. Sorry. Your filming schedule is hectic because you’re the main character.”
Zeno nodded, already unclipping his seatbelt with the elegance of a man who had accepted chaos as a lifestyle. “I got it it. I’ll just freshen up.”
“Alright,” Moby said. “I’ll be waiting down here and taking a nap. Take your time. We still have around an hour and a half.”
Zeno was already out of the truck, waving vaguely without looking back. The cool city air brushed against his cheekbones—cheekbones that had become the obsession of at least three fan sites during his absence. His boots made a soft thud-thud against the stairs, and he glanced up at the peeling paint of the doors to his sides.
Were his friends waiting for him? Maybe. Probably.
He wasn’t expecting it, of course. He didn’t expect much of anything. But even Eli was kind of fond of him now, in a grumpy little brother way. And Doha seemed to like him even more after he helped with their small play. Oh, and Minji? Minji has always doted on Zeno.
So, maybe his first statement was a lie. There was a teeny, minuscule expectation in his heart that his friends would be waiting for him the moment he reached the top of the staircase.
But… there was nothing.
Zeno pursed his lips.
He frowned slightly. They weren’t there to greet him? It was the weekend. They had to be home. And they knew he was coming back. There were messages that Zeno saw and a whole conversation in the group chat that Doha renamed “Zeno’s Homecoming But Don’t Tell Him.”
Not that he was expecting anything. Definitely not.
He padded over to Minji’s room. It was once again empty. Weird. He peeked into Doha’s room—also empty, except for a half-eaten croissant balanced on a manga volume. Suspicious. Eli’s room was open, too, and the lights were on, but no sign of life. Their work/school shoes were here. Their bags were tossed in the corner.
“They’re hiding,” he muttered to himself. “Very subtle.”
Maxie was nowhere to be found, too. That devil was doing a good job suppressing her barks, huh?
He then shook his head. He didn’t have time for their antics. He still had to get ready to film the modern scenes of their drama. Time was limited because the first episode was set to air in two weeks, just as they started the second leg of their filming.
With that, Zeno turned toward his door and reached for the handle, twisting it open.
However, with his very first step—
WHACK.
A stinging slap landed on the back of his head with the precision of a military airstrike. He yelped and immediately stepped back to reveal the culprit—a middle-aged woman.
He frowned and assumed a fighting stance. “Who are you?”
The woman’s face became impossibly red as she glared at Zeno.
“Is that how you talk to your mom, huh?”