Joon Jae-An Inside Joke

It is a melodrama,' I replied. 'My role is of a millionaire, who returns to Korea after twenty years to exact revenge on those who killed his father. Eun-Sang sshi's role is of a detective, who is connected to my character's past.'

'Must be a very challenging role,' Tae-mong commented. 'Fans will be crying their hearts out! Do you relate to your character at all?'

'Sort of,' I said. 'Both of us were raised in another country, lost parents at a young age and want things we can never have.'

The audience went 'aww.'

'Want things you can't have?' Tae-mong echoed. 'What is it that you want but can't have? Is it a...girlfriend?'

The audience gasped. Lord forbid their idols get girlfriends, I thought. Even Taewon and Jan were looking at me with a puzzling look.

'Wanting to have a free schedule for once,' I replied smiling. 'I really need a holiday.'

The audience laughed.

'Surely that is now a luxury for idols,' Tae-mong laughed. 'Jokes apart, are you or are you not dating Eun-Sang sshi? You two are certainly very close.'

'We aren't close,' I said unabashedly. 'We're just colleagues, working in a drama together. Nothing more, nothing less. Next question please.'

The drama team will not be amused by my honesty. Eun-Sang will probably break things in her trailer because she got snubbed publicly. But what was the point of lying? All her efforts to date me were pointless anyway.

Tae-mong looked irritated at the lack of drama. He wanted more juicy, spicy stuff. Too bad he was not getting that.

'That was...refreshingly honest Joonjae sshi,' Tae-mong said. 'But seriously. Guys, you all are now in your thirties. Don't you all have any girlfriends? Not dating anyone?'

'No,' all three of us said in unison. We were so tired of answering this question that our responses were exactly the same.

'But you all must have ideal types,' Tae-mong pressed. Ugh, I thought. Every single fan probably knew the answers by heart.

'Ideal type?' Taewon pretended to ponder for a while. 'I prefer a girl who is very...petite. Filial and takes care of everyone.'

Liar, I thought. Taewon was the most commitment phobic guy I have ever come across. The guy just didn't want to settle down. All his previous relationships ended in the girl dumping him because of his commitment issues.

'My ideal type is a girl who is homely,' Jan quipped in. 'And has a hot body!'

He only cares about the latter.

Tae-mong turned to me. 'And you Joonjae ssi?'

I sighed. 'Someone with a big heart,' I said. 'A person, whom I cannot read.'

Tae-mong looked confused. I smiled and said, 'It's an inside joke.'

Moving on,' Tae-mong said, still confused. 'Taewon sshi. I heard you three bought a new house?'

'Yes,' Taewon said excitedly. 'We bought a new house at Hyehwa-dong. It's closer to our studio as well.'

'And it's a massive house,' Jan exclaimed. 'Taewon hyung designed the interior himself.'

'Taewon sshi, we didn't know you were an interior decorator as well!' Tae-mong mused.

'It's a hobby of mine,' Taewon said proudly. 'Sometimes, I design the interior of my friends' homes on their request. I can't do it too often though because of my busy schedule.'

'So you guys are happy in your new house?'

'We are,' Jan answered. Then he turned a bit somber. 'But there is one thing that bothers us there.'

'What is it?' Tae-mong asked, interested. Jan leaned in.

'It's all over the fandom blogs,' Jan said quietly. 'There are ghosts in that area.'

'What nonsense,' Tae-mong scoffed. Jan gave him a serious look.

'You might think it's all rubbish,' Jan said quietly. 'But I can't deny what I saw.'

'What did you see there?' Tae-mong asked slowly.

'I saw...' Jan paused. He looked scared. 'No, it's too scary. I can't.'

'Say it Jan,' Taewon comforted him. 'People should know.'

'Hyung,' Jan pleaded. 'I can't. It's...traumatizing.'

Taewon squeezed his shoulder.

'Fine,' Taewon said. 'I'll say it.'