#5 Together

Running Man filming started as usual.

The members worked their hardest through the long hours wanting to create even one more moment to laugh, to smile even as they spun a web of enclosing tension as the filming reached its .

The final mission consisted of nametag ripping and it was in this scenario that Ji Hyo and Jong Kook crossed paths.

The Commander lowered his guard as he approached the Ace. Countless cameras and their respective VJs followed, enveloping the two in a great black mass.

“Ji Hyo, have you seen Gwang Soo?”

“I saw him going over there.”

“Jae Suk-hyung and Gwang Soo are acting rather suspicious. I haven’t seen either one of them and you know they’re not the type to hide around.”

“Then should I go look for them, oppa?”

“But it’ll be dangerous going all by yourself.”

As he spoke, Ji Hyo sidled up to him and linked arms. They were close, closer than normal but at this point in the game the staff were willing to dismiss it as the simple happenings as the two formed an alliance and thought no more of it.

But it was in these cases of apparent normality that the unexpected happened. In a moment of vulnerability with Ji Hyo so near to him Jong Kook grew careless, absentmindedly wrapping his left hand around her waist and and the other slipping into the spaces between Ji Hyo’s fingers with a gentle caress.

The VJs following the two almost staggered back in surprise. There was something strange in the air between them. The accompanying PDs tried to mask their startled expressions and asked them to carry on swiftly.

Jong Kook seemed to think nothing wrong of it as he and Ji Hyo worked to flush the rest of the members out of hiding.

“What’s with those two?..”

“I’m getting a weird vibe from them.”

Perhaps it was because this was Jong Kook, the one famous for never letting his personal feelings show on broadcast. Either way the staff thought something was amiss as they continued following them around. The nametag ripping quickly grew complicated as Jae Suk pushed the very boundaries of the game through some intricate mental warfare, but eventually ended with the grasshopper ousting Jong Kook and himself in the process. Thus Ji Hyo fished the final victory from the then troubled waters.

The national MC’s tone was minced with playful awe as he commented, “Really, I was so, so close today. But anyhow, the win goes to our Mong Ji Hyo!”

“Just you wait, hyung.” Two pairs of eyes glared in comical fury at the aforementioned MC. Somewhere in the endless cycle of betrayal Gwang Soo and Haha had ended up with the short end of the stick, discarded like hunting dogs once the chase was over.

Their anger only fueled Jae Suk’s mirth as he laughed loudly. “You guys won’t win not even in a million years. You know why? Because you have anything in those thick brain of yours!”

“This calls for war! Let’s see about that next week, Yoo Jae Suk!” Haha shouted, and the scene ended. After the wrap up Jae Suk tended to everyone, clasping people on the shoulder for their hard work as Jong Kook turned to the staffs and members, bidding goodbyes.

“You’ve all worked hard today,” Jae Suk said smiling as he passed, the words both a thanks and the day’s farewell at once.

“Ah Jae Suk-ssi, can I ask you something?” The voice belonged to the last PD the resident emcee had greeted. He drew near now with a hesitant edge to his voice.

Jae Suk instantly caught that the tone was not one that bode good news. Finding that the rest of his fellow cast members were busy exchanging idle conversation and pleasantries, he led the PD to a more private area away from prying eyes and ears.

“What is it?”

“Hyung, did you know about this?” the PD questioned.

“Know about what?”

“The staff were saying that there’s something going on between Jong Kook-ssi and Ji Hyo-ssi.”

It had been a very well kept secret. None of the other members except Jae Suk had caught on, what with Jong Kook being someone unwilling to express his feelings openly and one so adamant about differentiating between work and personal life as well.

“W-What are you talking about?” The shock was written plain as day on Jae Suk’s face.

His PD nodded solemnly at his reaction. “The VJs were filming the the two when they met and told me that the atmosphere between them was very strange to say the least.”

So it’s finally happened.

Jae Suk swallowed bitterly.

He had noticed Jong Kook’s behavior when Ji Hyo was near all too well, the absentminded touches and lingering gazes and odd smiles— it was why he had told Jong Kook to be even more careful and yet the PD had still caught on.

“What exactly is going on?” the PD pressed, a sense of urgency to his tone.

Jae Suk was reluctant, wondering exactly how he should explain but decided that there was no use hiding the truth. “That’s right,” he answered. “They’re seeing each other, and they’re very happy together.”

“Just as I thought.”

“They haven’t told anyone yet, not even Gwang Soo. He probably thinks they’re just close friends.”

The PD only replied, “Of course personally, there’s nothing wrong with the fact they’re seeing each other. But if they continue their behavior on broadcast then this is going to be a problem—”

“Jong Kook that kid, he loses any sense of composure when he’s around Ji Hyo because he’s been holding his feelings back for a long time. So don’t be too hard on them, they are going to get better.”

“I understand. But you also have to know we’re not just filming by ourselves, the whole public is watching. I’m only worried this will have a negative influence on the show.”

“I’ll talk to them about it, so please just tell the staff to just overlook it and leave things at that.”

Jae Suk wanted to protect the two’s relationship more than anyone else— because he had never seen Jong Kook act this way before, because he believed that they complemented each other, brought out each other’s best in a way that he swore only soulmates possibly could.

But it wasn’t as if he wanted to give up the show either. He had thought about the issue countless times, turning it over in his mind ever since the two had told him, but it remained a persistent problem.

“Alright, I’ll do that then,” the PD answered. “However if this continues…. We won’t have any choice but to take care of it from our end.”

The subtle threat veiled in his words was not lost on Jae Suk. His brows furrowed for a brief instant but like a true professional he nodded his head and clasped the other’s shoulder as a fair and civil end to the discussi