I’m Not That Obsessive

Chapter 71

“Yes, thank you very much.”

I politely said goodbye and closed the front door. It was a repairman who came to fix the package locker next to the iron gate.

According to Mitchell, Jack had accidentally crashed into the locker booth while driving. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the booth was completely damaged, so a repairman came out.

Although I was limping, I could walk without crutches, so I tried to go out to the gate, but the repairman insisted on doing the job himself and ushered me back inside. 

Mitchell had gone to the filming set early in the morning, so I was alone. I wondered if Mitchell had specifically instructed the repairman to be considerate of my condition.

So I didn’t insist and received updates on the progress over the phone.

I suggested installing CCTV while we were at it, but Mitchell said to do it in a couple of months.

Though I couldn’t see much difference between now and two months later, I went along with Mitchell’s opinion. He probably just threw out a random date.

“Ah, I’m bored.”

I flopped down on the sofa and looked at my phone. Mitchell had contacted me 40 minutes ago, so I’d probably hear from him again soon if I waited a bit longer.

I thought it would be fine to follow him to the filming set even with the cast, but Mitchell wouldn’t let me leave the house. My stubbornness didn’t work.

In fact, because Mitchell had been regularly visiting the hospital room, many people became aware of how close we were.

Of course, no one thought of our relationship in a strange way. Around the time Mitchell was frequently visiting the hospital room, a scandal broke out between Mitchell and an actress named Brianna.

The boring story of Mitchell visiting a colleague’s hospital room was completely buried, and only news about Mitchell and Brianna came out. The timing was so perfect it seemed like someone had deliberately caused the scandal. We were lucky.

Thanks to this, my existence became awkward, like a sack of barley. No one paid attention to me.

That’s how I was discharged. On the day of my discharge, an article refuting the scandal was belatedly posted. It said that Mitchell had never met Brianna, either publicly or privately.

Before the absurd scandal could die down, another bomb dropped. Brianna said on a talk show that she’d like to meet Mitchell once.

“It’s unfair to have a scandal with someone I’ve never met. So, Mitchell, what do you say? How about we meet properly?”

Her statement heated up the entertainment industry. Just as the atmosphere was starting to suggest that the bold Brianna and Mitchell might actually get together, Mitchell’s interview was released.

“…I have no intention of dating anyone. I appreciate Brianna’s interest, but right now I want to focus on acting.”

It was a clean and polite rejection.

Although everything was sorted out, Mitchell’s story is still actively ongoing on the internet and SNS. That’s why conspicuous behavior was forbidden, and I had no choice but to stop shadowing Mitchell.

***

I had to drop out of “Racing Instinct” due to my leg injury, but “Fail to Start” was still left. I planned to fully recover my condition before filming began.

I picked up the script for “Fail to Start” that I had left on the table. It wasn’t the final version, so the stage directions were messily arranged and there were quite a few blank spaces.

Still, it wasn’t difficult to gauge what my role and Mitchell’s role were like.

“I guess I exist to love you.”

I read the line.

“Ugh. That’s cringy.”

I turned the page in disgust.

“The power of love is truly mysterious. I was born from that mystery… Ack! Is this possible?”

Why are the lines like this? Even if the genre is romance, it gives me goosebumps that I have to say these lines to Mitchell.

If my lines are like this, what about Mitchell’s?

“If you love me, couldn’t you get along with my lover too? The three of us together…”

Shit, what garbage.

It was my fault for signing the contract without properly reviewing the script. It was a fatal mistake to hastily grab it just looking at Director Angelio, afraid someone else might take it.

Still, while I just play a stupid role only looking at one person, Mitchell’s role is truly despicable. He’s a shameless guy pretending to be normal while keeping two men by his side.

Skimming through the incomplete script, most of it seemed to focus on emotional lines, and there was only one kiss scene.

Inner acting seemed to be the most important. I spent time practicing the cringeworthy lines.

I cheered when Mitchell came home earlier than expected, but unfortunately, he also brought some shocking news.

“What did you say?”

I shouted so loudly my throat hurt. That’s how astonishing the story was.

“What do you mean I might not be able to appear in the movie?”

Mitchell, fresh out of the shower, smelled of familiar shampoo. Wearing only black briefs, he ruffled his damp hair and sat down next to me.

I was dizzy from what Mitchell had said, but he just massaged my nape and playfully pinched my chest.

“You mean I have to do it alone without you? Really?”

“It’s a possibility.”

Mitchell’s appearance in the movie became uncertain. It felt like the flagship of “Fail to Start” was sinking.

One of the main reasons I chose “Fail to Start” was because Mitchell was my co-star.

I can’t express how happy I was at the prospect of being able to stick close to Mitchell throughout the work, regardless of our roles. That joy was short-lived, as the opportunity to be officially together crumbled like this.

“I’m telling you, it’s not final yet.”

Mitchell smiled slightly, seeing how serious I’d become. He patted my cheek and explained the situation in detail.

“All the guys with the money have changed.”

The reason was the tyranny of the suddenly changed production company. The production company started recommending another actor instead of Mitchell.

They wanted to cast an actor from the entertainment company established with their shares as the lead. It was Thompson, a British actor who had just entered Hollywood.

They were trying to completely change the lead actor, citing Mitchell’s high fee and claiming that Thompson’s British accent was more suitable for the role.

Normally, Mitchell would have declined the film appearance as soon as such noise arose. But I was caught in the middle. Unlike Mitchell, I had already signed the contract and couldn’t back out.

“Surely it won’t fall through? Director Angelio cast you first.”

Even as I spoke, I lacked confidence.

Director Angelio was also in a difficult situation due to the changed production company.

In terms of popularity, recognition, acting skills, and influence, Thompson was far behind Mitchell, but movie roles weren’t decided that simply.

And the very next day, my uneasy premonition became reality.

It was confirmed that the lead actor had been changed from Mitchell to Thompson Bunchel.

It felt like the world was collapsing. No, half-collapsing. Because I was planning to drop out along with Mitchell.

“Sigh… I wonder how much the penalty fee will be?”

It was sad to see the opportunity for my first leading role disappear, but I had no intention of acting without Mitchell. Since Mitchell had also given me this role, it made no sense for me to stay in the movie alone.

“I was going to pay the penalty fee for you, but…”

Mitchell trailed off and stared at me. I was tempted by his offer to handle the penalty fee, but his hesitant expression looked quite uncomfortable.

“If you want to do it alone, you should. It’s a good opportunity.”

Mitchell knew how eagerly I had been looking forward to working with Director Angelio. Even before this situation arose, I had frequently expressed my admiration for Director Angelio.

“It was my dream to make a movie with Director Angelio.”

“I’ve been a fan since I was in Korea.”

“He’s someone who can see three moves ahead.”

“Just thinking about working with him makes my heart race.”

“Mitchell, thank you so much. It’s all thanks to you.”

“I wonder if I might even win an award in America at this rate?”

I had said such things whenever I had the chance. Unintentionally, I had put pressure on Mitchell.

“No, how could I do it alone? Just, uh, just…”

I found myself stuttering, and the sharp-eyed Mitchell didn’t miss that moment.

“You should do it. We can’t always appear in the same movies for the rest of our lives. This will keep happening in the future.”

He wasn’t wrong. There was no guarantee that I could always join Mitchell’s movies. The problem was that the genre was queer cinema…

“Really, should I do it?”

“It’s okay. It’s not like our relationship will change just because you film that. Right?”

His tone seemed somewhat demanding of an answer, but since it wasn’t wrong anyway, I nodded vigorously.

“Of course. I’ll only think of you. And you’ll do the same.”

“That’s right.”

Mitchell’s voice became strangely calm. I was about to look closely at his face, wondering if he was upset, when he suddenly pounced on me. He carried me over his shoulder like a kidnapper and headed for the bedroom. Despite my considerable weight, he treated me like a big fluffy pillow.

He slung me over his shoulder roughly when carrying me, but when he put me down on the bed, he was incredibly gentle. When he put his head under my T-shirt, he was like a puppy digging in the ground, and when he sucked on my chest, he was like a thirsty castaway.

He was definitely in a hurry.

At that time, I didn’t realize. That a big change had come over Mitchell’s state of mind.

I should have noticed earlier when he burned down an entire mansion just to catch one bug.

He was much more twisted than I thought.

In other words… he was just like me.