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Wi Hajoon stood at the terrace of his hotel at 2 AM, still in his navy-blue night pajamas. The entire city of Busan was sleeping and despite the heavy tiredness, he couldn’t sleep.
30 June 2025. It had officially been two days since the third and final season of Squid Games was released. And today (yesterday?) was the last day of Squid Games Promotions.
Probably the first and the only time almost the entire starcast — Lee Jungjae, Lee Byunghun, Park Haesoo, Jung Hoyeon, Anupam Tripathi, Wi Hajoon, Park Gyuyoung, Lee Jinwook, Yim Siwan, Jo Yuri, Kang Haneul, Park Sunghoon, Kang Aeshim, Yang Donggeun, Choi Seunghyun, Won Jian, Lee Seohwan, Heo Sungtae, Kim Jooryoung, Lee Yoomi — from all three seasons — along with Director Hwang Donghyuk — had ever assembled as a part of a huge press conference.
The final press conference. The final fan event. The end of an era.
It had been a really long day for him. There had been reconciliations with his old friends, meeting all the actors, having a joint photoshoot with all of them, submitting his costumes for a YouTube video, interacting with the press, answering questions with crisp professionalism, and the best part, interacting with fans.
Hajoon was really proud of how far he had come, something he hadn’t believed he would ever achieve. Who would have thought that an ambitious small-town boy would ever be standing alongside so many big names of the industry?
Well, technically he didn’t like the plot for his own character Hwang Junho, and he was already ready to embrace the trolling and memes that were awaiting him from the last season itself. Director Hwang had promised him his own spin-off, but he didn’t have any high hopes.
Maybe some part of him still hoped for a Hwang Brothers spin-off, considering how the other actor — Lee Byunghun — wanted a backstory of his own character, Hwang Inho/Frontman.
But still, despite all that, Squid Games had been the biggest project in his entire career, which had now unfortunately come to an end. It’s just the beginning. There was still a lot he had to do in his life, considering that people now had their eyes set on him. He knew that now he was under pressure to perform well.
All the actors had posed together for one last time, holding hands and thanking the audience for their unanimous support. Once the event ended, all the actors finally began to leave too, promising to stay in touch with each other and even work together someday again.
“I’m gonna miss you the most of all, partner.” Park Gyuyoung mentioned. She had become his closest friend within the last six months, sitting with him during promotions, whispering inside jokes amongst themselves.
“Me too, bestie.” Hajoon smiled, as he and Gyuyoung shared a hug.
It was funny how they both had starred in two dramas — Romance is a Bonus Book and Squid Games — and not acted in a single scene together, besides maybe one non-interaction scene in the former. Well, technically this wasn’t the last time they were meeting. They both had one final shoot in a few days, a talk show hosted by Lee Minjung, Lee Byunghun’s wife.
Lee Minjung Noona was in the same agency as him. He did interact with her quite a bit. But he hadn’t gotten the chance to interact with him as much as he did with her.
He still had a few days before the shooting for Siren’s Kiss commenced. Now he could utilize his time boxing, maybe even try running marathons, learning English or trying to audition for more series. But before any of that, he was planning on visiting his parents in Wando, right on the following day.
“Couldn’t sleep?” He heard a familiar voice from behind. He didn’t even have to turn behind to check who it was, he already knew it. That voice. It was unmistakably his. Lee Byunghun.
Well, he was aware that he was living in the same hotel as Lee Byunghun, a bomb that one of his team members had casually dropped during their drive back to the hotel. But he hadn’t expected a meetup or interaction, considering how tired they all had been. Did Sunbaenim know I was living in this hotel too?
Hajoon finally turned behind. There he stood in front of the door, wearing a loose shirt and shorts. His hair was slightly messy, and he was wearing glasses, which somehow made him look even younger.
Maybe Hajoon could have been a tad-bit jealous of how insanely good the other man looked despite the evident exhaustion. They all had been constantly traveling, doing promotions, and barely had any free time.
Their eyes met briefly, before Byunghun approached him closer and stood beside him, his one hand resting on the railing. For a minute, neither spoke.
“Sunbaenim….” Hajoon finally found himself speaking. “...I didn’t think anyone would be awake at this hour.”
“Neither did I.” He replied. “I thought having some fresh air alone would help.”
Byunghun took a cigarette out of his pant’s pockets and lit it up. He even offered them to Hajoon. Hajoon hesitated briefly, before finally shaking his head in denial. He never smoked in real life, doing it only when a director demands it for a role that he’s portraying.
“Why not?” Byunghun asked. “Don’t tell me you actually have only one kidney.”
That earned him a chuckle from Hajoon. He had caught the “one-kidney” reference too easily. Hwang Junho, his very own character. He was aware of the older man’s witty sense of humor.
“I have two very healthy kidneys.” Hajoon replied to the dry joke. “It’s just that I don’t really smoke.”
“What a healthy choice!” Byunghun remarked, lighting up his cigarette and taking a small puff. Hajoon smiled. The silence between them didn’t feel dragged, it was peaceful, the only sounds coming from the streets or from the puffs of his cigarette.
The air around them had definitely changed. Hajoon was relieved how natural it felt to be standing next to Lee Byunghun, an actor he had always admired, in the middle of the night. He had always wanted to have a normal conversation with him.
“Today was such a long day.” Byunghun replied again. Hajoon turned to look at him.
“It sure was.” Hajoon replied, feeling overwhelmed by the previous day’s events.
“So tell me Hajoon….” Byunghun asked. “....what are your plans after this?”
“I am planning to go back home for a few days. It’s been a while since I’ve met my parents and friends back in Wando.” He answered. “And after that, I have to shoot for a mystery romance drama.”
Byunghun didn’t say anything. He simply took another puff of his cigarette and looked at the view from the hotel’s balcony. Busan was really beautiful. He didn’t remember the last time he enjoyed a view like this. He wanted to spend some time alone, but luckily, Hajoon’s company wasn’t bad. It was unexpectedly comforting.
“You should definitely visit Wando one day.” Hajoon added further. That earned him a look from Byunghun. “I promise I’ll be your tour guide when you do.”
Byunghun smiled at his innocent offer. “I’d like that.”
Hajoon smiled back. “So what are your plans, Sunbaenim?”
“I am planning to spend the next week with my kids. Perhaps even attend a few of my son’s basketball matches.” Byunghun replied. “His name is Junhoo too. Lee Junhoo. He’s ten now.”
Hajoon wasn’t too surprised. Lee Minjung Noona spoke about her kids a lot. A ten year old son and a two year old daughter. Lee Seoyi.
“After that, I’ll be busy with the promotions of my film ‘No Other Choice’, and then there’s a fanmeet tour as well, so yeah, it’s the normal frequent traveling again. ”
“It sure sounds tiring.” Hajoon remarked. Lee Byunghun wasn’t just an actor. He was also the founder of an agency. BH Entertainment. He was quite a busy man. How does he manage everything?
“It is.” Byunghun answered. “But at the end of the day, it’s all worth the fan’s reactions.”
Hajoon nodded his head. He loves his fans a lot.
“I do miss my children a lot when I’m away. My daughter’s just two, still too young to understand my profession. And I am grateful my wife and son both understand how important my work is, but sometimes I can’t help but wonder, what if I’m missing out on too much?”
Hajoon looked at him with sheer curiosity.
“There are times where I just feel like leaving everything in the middle and going back to them. I would do anything just to spend even a little more time with them. But then again, I can’t because my profession needs me.”
Actors are allowed to take breaks too, they shouldn’t over-exhaust themselves. Hajoon really wanted to say that. But he couldn’t. It wasn’t his place to. “I understand.”
“What are you doing out here? At this hour?” He finally asked.
“The same thing as you, I just wanted to spend some time with myself and clear my mind.” Hajoon replied immediately. “Today was just…..a lot. In a good way, of course. But still, a lot.”
“It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one feeling overwhelmed.” Byunghun replied, now flipping the cigarette in between his fingers.
Hajoon raised his eyebrows. “You? Feeling overwhelmed?”
Byunghun nodded his head. “Contrary to what y’all think, I’m not as confident as all you youngsters, kiddo. I can still get socially awkward sometimes.”
Kiddo. Hajoon didn’t know how to react to the new nickname he had received from his idol. He was aware of the atleast-twenty-years age gap between. Twenty-one years, actually. “Really?”
“Yes. The truth is that even after all these years, I tend to get nervous around fans.”
Hajoon was definitely not expecting that. Lee Byunghun, who normally seemed so bold and confident in public, tended to get nervous too.
“The popularity of Squid Games is really something else, isn’t it?” Byunghun spoke again, after a pause.
“Yeah. I had never expected it to become so huge.” Hajoon replied.
“No one had.” Byunghun answered.
“But now, it’s all over.” Hajoon said, his tone bittersweet from both happiness and sadness.
“I don’t think so.” Byunghun replied. “I still don’t think it’s the end.”
“Really?”
“Usually I don’t really get attached to my characters. But I’m invested in Hwang Inho’s story.” Byunghun answered truthfully.
Hajoon raised his eyebrow again. Invested in Hwang Inho, huh? Does that mean he thinks about Junho, or the Hwang Brothers plot too?
“Were you satisfied with season three’s ending?” He asked.
Hajoon didn’t reply, atleast not immediately. He wasn’t expecting this question from Lee Byunghun. That question.
“No.” Hajoon replied honestly. Byunghun turned around to face him completely now, stepping one step closer.
“Why not?” Byunghun teased. “Shouldn’t you be happy you won the prize money?”
“It’s not that.” Hajoon stuttered. “It’s just that…..ummm…..”
“Just say it.”
“What?”
“I’m not going to judge you, if that’s what you fear. Just say it, I promise you’ll feel better.” Byunghun replied.
“Uhhhh…..” Hajoon hesitated. “...I just feel like my character wasn’t explored enough. And that I didn’t have a proper storyline in the last two seasons. Imagine not being able to find the island for two whole seasons, and then boom, there’s a baby with a credit card on your table one day. It all made no sense.”
“Pffft….” Byunghun released a chuckle. He was laughing. Actually laughing at Hajoon’s words. Hajoon didn’t know whether to cry or laugh at the absurdity of any of this.
“Plus I really hated how we didn’t even get to talk properly. In our first meeting, I got shot by you. And in the second, I get completely ignored by you. We are brothers for god’s sake.”
“Half-brothers.” Byunghun corrected him. Hajoon looked at him. Really looked at him.
“Did that really ever matter, hyung?” He asked. Byunghun raised his eyebrows. “A hyung is a hyung. Nobody calls them half-hyung.”
“Half-hyung.” Both shared a laugh in unison. Well, in another universe, this could have been Inho and Junho having a fun banter.
“Well, you’re not the only one who thinks that way. I always felt our story was so incomplete too.”
WHAT?
What?
What?
Fucking what?
“You did?” Hajoon asked curiously.
“Yeah.” Byunghun replied. “Well, from Inho’s perspective, I do get that he wants to push his family away after losing his wife and child. He lost his humanity after winning his own games. But not caring about Junho at all?”
“You did save me from dying, though.” Junho recalled the dialogues from the last season. He told me to do whatever it took to keep you alive?
Why didn’t you just let me die back then?
“And then, I completely ignored you when we met. There was a baby in my hands and the island was being destroyed. But then yeah, I handed her over to you six months later because I trust you.”
“To be honest, that….” Hajoon pointed. “....wasn’t really like you at all.”
“Yeah.” Byunghun surprisingly seemed to agree with him. “I was supposed to be the older brother Junho looked upto as a child. The older brother who gave him a kidney without a word. The one who saved his life. Not the ignorant one who doesn’t care if Junho lived or died.”
Hajoon knew what he was talking about. Kill them all, including the detective.
“Woah, I never thought anyone else would think that.” Hajoon pointed. He couldn’t believe they were both discussing Squid Games plot at what….3 AM? (Well, who is keeping a track of time anyways?)
“There are so many questions unanswered about my character. We know he joined the games and won in 2015. But how did he cope up with his wife’s death? How did he detach himself from his family? What kind of a brother Inho was before this? Or perhaps, how was his life before any of that? How was his life after the island was destroyed?” Byunghun admitted.
Hajoon knew that feeling. There were a lot of questions left unanswered about his own character. How did Junho’s kidneys fail? How was his life before his brother disappeared? How was their bond before any of it happened? What will Junho do with the baby? All of the answers were either just predictions of his own, or fan theories.
“This is exactly why I’m still hopeful for a Frontman Spin-off. I really hope it happens, no matter how long it takes.”
“I’d like to see that as well.” Hajoon answered. I would love to be a part of it. I would love to work with you, once again. Byunghun looked at him and smiled.
“You’re a really good actor, Hajoon.” Byunghun suddenly replied out of nowhere. Hajoon froze. Because the last thing he was expecting was a compliment from Lee Byunghun — THE LEE BYUNGHUN.
He knew Lee Byunghun was really kind towards his junior artists, he had experienced it on the day of their first shoot, back in season 1. On the day when he had met Lee Byunghun for the first time and was too starstruck at him.
“I don’t think I’ve told you this, but I did watch a few of your scenes while dubbing. You did good. In fact, I was really impressed with your scenes.”
“Thank you, sunbaenim. That really means a lot to me.” Hajoon burst into a bright smile. His tiredness seemed to fade almost entirely.
“Anyways I should go. It’s late and I have a flight to catch.” Byunghun threw his overused cigarette at the nearest bin. Hajoon’s smile faded. He really wished the conversation would last longer. But Byunghun was right. He himself had a ferry to catch in the afternoon today.
“Good night, sunbaenim.” Without a warning, Byunghun stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Hajoon’s broad shoulder.
Hajoon froze. Like actually froze this time. Lee Byunghun — THE LEE BYUNGHUN — was hugging him, as if it was the most natural thing to do in this world. Because to him, it was. But for Hajoon, it definitely wasn't. His mind couldn’t process it. And when it did, he wrapped his arms around his neck, and buried his face onto his shoulder. He could feel Byunghun’s right hand gently ruffling his hair, just like how an Appa would caress his son’s hair.
“Goodbye, Hajoon. Take care.” He pulled back from the hug, patted Hajoon’s shoulder and turned to leave.
“Byunghun sunbaenim….” Byunghun stopped at his tracks, his back still facing Hajoon. “....I would love to work with you again.”
“Maybe One Day!” A smirk appeared on his face.
And with that, Lee Byunghun finally disappeared, the faint sound of his footsteps diminishing until it was entirely gone. For a minute, Hajoon just stood there, recollecting the entire conversation in his mind.
“Couldn’t sleep?”
“I’d like that.”
“Kiddo.”
“You’re a really good actor, Hajoon.”
“I was impressed by your scenes.”
“Goodbye, Hajoon. Take care.”
“Maybe one day!”
He was still feeling overwhelmed by the events of that day, but the conversation with Lee Byunghun eased him out a lot.
Before he knew it, his own feet were retreating him back to his own room. He shut his eyes and let sleep take over him. And for the first time in a while…..
He finally felt hopeful for the future!