#7 Love Story

The news about Jong Kook and Ji Hyo’s relationship showed no signs of stopping, but the two dealt with it in a calm manner. Especially Ji Hyo, she was responding in a completely different manner than she usually had.

Despite shouldering all the blame, she refused to hide the words within her.

There was an old saying that sincerity moves the heavens themselves.

The two’s response to the matter slowly seemed to prompt the public opinion to move into a more positive direction. But another event sent the public in an uproar, pouring oil onto a fire.

[Kim Jong Kook & Song Ji Hyo Relationship Confirmed. Are they pushing Running Man to cancellation?... The emerging rumors of Running Man being cancelled.]

The show’s popularity was not as high as it once had been but Running Man still remained the face of SBS’s Sunday variety lineup, no of its entire variety. Its influence overseas remained a force to be reckoned with. 

After their relationship had gotten out, there had been a couple tabloids within the entertainment world about whether Running Man was heading into cancellation but now it had developed into a full-fledged article.

Jae Suk was absolutely indignant. The bystanders were at a loss at his actions, coming from the man who was famous for his great patience and almost incapability for anger.

“What do you mean, we’re getting cancelled?”

Sunday evening… The Running Man production team and Jae Suk were in a private meeting.

Jae Suk had practically force-summoned the production team here. His voice was loud with his emotions, and the main PDs of the team couldn’t help but be startled.

“Jae Suk-ssi, let’s calm down a little and—”

“Excuse me but, how can I be calm in this situation? We’re talking about cancellation here. I mean if we are facing getting cancelled, just why is Jong Kook and Ji Hyo getting dragged into this?”

“Actually, there was some talk at the top regarding it when their relationship broke out. But….”

“So it’s true that the news will come out because of those two?”

“Yes, that’s what I have heard.”

Jo Hyo Jin who had been the main PD was away because of his work on the China Running Man and Im Hyung Taek PD, a substitute of sorts current led Running Man.

“Look here Im PD, what I want to say is…. of course we could get cancelled. That’s reasonable enough. But why is there the implication that this is because of Jong Kook and Ji Hyo…. Don’t you even feel sorry to the both of them?”

“I feel just as frustrated about this as you are.”

“Are we really getting cancelled?” Jae Suk asked again.

“They did mention it, but honestly I can’t say how things will turn out…..”

“When is Jo PD returning, was it this week?”

“This weekend.”

“Then let’s discuss this again when Jo PD returns…. What will you do from now on?”

“Well… This was all very sudden even for us, so we’re taken aback as well.”

“You should have some sort of plan, you can’t take your hands off of this and just watch.”

“Of course, we’re also trying our best but….” Im PD trailed off.

“But what?”

The production director hesitated, most probably because of Jae Suk’s cutting tone. Jae Suk was still frustrated for the sharp edge to his voice remained.

“What is it, hurry up and tell me.”

“I don’t think there will be a broadcast next week nor the week after.”

“What?”

“It would probably be an episode special I think……”

“Im PD, isn’t that implicitly confirming with the cancellation rumors then?”

“You can’t just assume that it is.”

“I’m not assuming, the situation is clearly flowing in that direction.”

“Ah that is…. I’m also at a loss of what to tell you.”

Jae Suk sighed in scowling exasperation. “Really now…..”

From head to toe there was not a single redeeming quality to the man.

Despite catching onto Jong Kook and Ji Hyo’s relationship, the production team had nonetheless pushed forth with their old concept and for that Jae Suk had complained heavily.

“Then….” Jae Suk began slowly.

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“It might be more work on your part but the production team should keep herding the discussion towards a more positive direction. And…”

Jae Suk’s tone was even more composed, trying to calm his agitated heart.

He swallowed and pulled the chair closer to speak.

“Make sure Jong Kook and Ji Hyo do not get connected to the show’s cancellation at all costs. No, you have to. If this really does lead the program being cancelled both of them might never be able to make a comeback.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I apologize for raising my voice earlier. Let’s work hard to resolve this issue.”

“Yes.” The production team had tensed up even more at seeing Jae Suk’s fury for the first time.

The national MC made an effort to calm himself and sighed, “What in the world should I do..”

Once a pot started leaking, it was very easy for water to leak out again even after the pot had been fixed.

The rumors of cancellation struck like a giant meteorite into the Running Man that had barely started to return to its old self…..

It pushed the program into the very brink of its existence.

“Ji Hyo-ya…..”

And at the very center of those whispers were Jong Kook and Ji Hyo. Jong Kook who was the most influential person in the show after Jae Suk, and Ji Hyo who held a significant position as the sole female member. All arrows of blame regarding the rumors headed towards the two’s direction.

All sorts of portal sites and fanpages focused their gaze on them, as well as social media and so many entertainment news.

Of course their situation had turned for the worse.

Work being delayed was a given, and even any photoshoots were pushed back. Jong Kook made the move to lengthen the time before his 8th album was planned to release.

“Oppa……”

She had grown a lot, but Ji Hyo still remained a woman of a sensitive and tender heart. There was nothing she could about the pointed fingers but to think that the rumors of cancellation would also be tied with it was a hard fact to bear.

Jong Kook’s recording studio that was a good place for avoiding attention… Inside Ji Hyo sat next to the singer, holding his larger hand tightly.

“Do you really think the show will get cancelled?”

The man’s heart ached like it was ripped to shreds at Ji Hyo’s voice, wavering as if on the verge of tears. He too struggled with the complicated agglomeration of his feelings, but held fast and comforted her.

“I doubt it… It won’t go all the way to getting cancelled.”

“But… I-If it did get cancelled….”

“Ji Hyo-ya…..”

“It would all be my fault….”

“Ji Hyo, what are you saying?”

“......”

It was a tough situation for words.

Despite not wanting to shed tears, the salty liquid fell from Ji Hyo’s eyes.

“What if it’s just me that quit? I can’t make everyone else suffer because of me.”

“Don’t say such things.”

“Oppa….”

“Don’t…. Please don’t….”

Ji Hyo was trying to put the burden entirely onto her shoulders.

It made Jong Kook even more infuriated that there was nothing he could do in this situation.

He continued, “If that really did happen, I’ll take responsibility so Ji Hyo—”

“If you do everything by yourself…. Then do you want me to just stand around and watch?”

“Ji Hyo-ya…..”

“That can’t ever happen. It can’t……” she replied, reverting back to formal speech.

“But Ji Hyo—”

“I….”

Suddenly Ji Hyo turned around to face Jong Kook. She was still on her knees, grasping his hand tightly as she looked up at him.

“Even if I’m hurting so much that I can’t bear it…. even if I’m so miserable….” She trailed off but continued, “If it’s with you I can get through it to love you.”

“Ji Hyo.”

“So please don’t blame yourself so much, and let’s go together. It’ll be easier that way.”

A part of his heart felt sore every time he saw this side of Ji Hyo.

He couldn’t express it in words so instead Jong Kook simply nodded his head and slipped his hand out before wrapping around hers again. A feeling he couldn’t describe filled his head.

The talk hastened onwards.

Within the SBS variety department the talk of cancellation went back and forth.

Both Jong Kook and Ji Hyo remained motionless in the face of the situation. They tried to do something, anything, but it constantly failed due to Jae Suk’s strong restraint.

Jong Kook mind grew complicated.

He needed to start some sort of gesture to untangle the twisted knot of events but he remained in a dilemma.

The Running Man production team wasn’t responding, and Ji Hyo said she would accept all the blame cleanly. And each time he wanted to express their honest feelings through any means, but Jae Suk’s protest time and time again meant he couldn’t.

It was like walking through a white darkness. A string of chaos.

“Jong Kook-ah…..”

Under usual circumstances, they would have met at a cafe but Jong Kook was the target for all paparazzi. Jae Suk headed straight to his house to dodge the watching eyes. Jong Kook’s distress emerged in the lines of his face.

“Hyung….”

“I’m sorry.”

“What are you trying to do, acting like that.”

“That is…..”

“You’re not going to say to just wait and see are you?”

“Of course not.”

“If not, why are you stopping me.”

“That’s— I don’t know what to say really but just trust me once and let’s wait a little longer.”

“Alright. Well, I’m going along with this because it’s you.”

“Thanks.”

“But it’s so frustrating I can’t stand it.”

“Is Ji Hyo doing alright?”

“Ji Hyo?”

At her name, Jong Kook’s eyebrows quivered slightly.

Had his heart changed? Jae Suk thought the movement strange.

“I’ve been looking after her too but since she never shows if she’s having a hard time or not….. I really can't tell,” Jae Suk offered.

“Ji Hyo….”

“Is Ji Hyo really alright?”

“She’s fine…. Almost to the point it’s weird.”

“Weird?”

“Honestly I was pretty surprised.”

“Why? Did she say something?”

“No, that’s not it….”

Jae Suk asked carefully, “Then what is it?....”

“Should I say she’s matured?…. Anyway she’s just took it in stride and said that no matter how difficult it is if we go together it will be less so…..”

“......”

“She felt so enormous to me somehow…..”

“I see.”

Jae Suk nodded.

It was a point he had also felt. Before Ji Hyo had felt so young to him, but somewhere along the way there were more and more times when her presence felt large, even larger than himself.

“The Ji Hyo that I knew was delicate and so full of feelings and cried easily, that’s how I saw her but….. Now she feels like a different person so it’s strange.”

“What's so strange about that,” Jae Suk said, a statement rather than a question.

“I can’t tell whether it’s love that made the person change, or she was just like that but never showed me that side of her….”

“She’s changed…. Very much so…..”

“I tried to reassure and shield her, but since I’m the one getting reassured…. I don’t know how to explain it.”

“.....”

“Can I really continue loving her like this?”

“What are you saying?”

Jong Kook toyed with his fingers and hung his head low, almost bitterly.

Jae Suk thought this image of Jong Kook odd.

“No, just…. I feel like it’s too great of a love for me.”

“Ya, where is there such a thing like that? If you guys like each other, that’s the end of it.”

“I know that too…. But every time I look at her I keep thinking that and I end up feeling sorry.”

“Really, you are just….”

Jae Suk’s mouth was dry.

He knew Jong Kook’s heart better than anyone, so he didn’t think there was much he could say. At Ji Hyo’s unexpected reaction, it was rather Jong Kook who was startled.

 <