༺ Requesting Cloud Support from a Shooting Star – 20 ༻
“Oh my, who is this? Kyung Seo, you’re here already?”
“Hello.”
The middle-aged actress who played the role of Kyung Seo’s mother in the drama approached with a smile and greeted him. She was an actress he had met before during a film shooting. Kyung Seo got up to return the greeting.
“Why did you dress up so handsomely? You’ll make everyone fall for you. Though you’re always good-looking.”
She quickly sized up Kyung Seo from head to toe, adding with a playful tone. Kyung Seo didn’t reply, just slightly narrowing his eyes.
“Anyway, there are still 30 minutes left, you came early. I guess the road wasn’t congested?”
He sneakily glanced at his watch at that remark. He knew he was early but didn’t realize that there were still 30 minutes left. Kyung Seo sighed inwardly as he responded.
“I wanted to look over the script.”
“That’s diligent of you. I like it!”
She gave a thumbs-up, and catching another actor’s eye, she immediately raised her hand and headed in that direction. Kyung Seo sat down again and pulled out the script. He had bookmarked Hee-wook’s lines for the day they met the supporting actors. His first appearance was in Episode 2.
In the drama, Kyung Seo was ‘Jung Hyuk,’ but Hee-wook was ‘Hee-wook.’ The names were the same, but the essence was completely different. In the script, Hee-wook was Jung Hyuk’s childhood friend and an ardent idol fan.
Hee-wook, what do you know? Do you know fandom?
Hee-wook, I feel sorry for your fans.
He scanned the script with a serious expression but then chuckled without realizing it. The thought of Hee-wook saying these lines made him laugh.
‘He himself should know his fans’ feelings.’
It was both funny and bitter. He used to think that Hee-wook truly understood the fans’ hearts, but during the time when the news stopped, he resented him every day. Does he even consider the waiting fans?
“Sigh……”
Anyway, imagining Hee-wook delivering such lines, joy was more predominant than bitterness. He felt a million times relieved that he was wearing a mask. Otherwise, people might have caught him smiling to himself and thought him a madman.
Just then, as he was intently reading Hee-wook’s lines,
“Hello!”
“Hello.”
At the sound of two familiar voices, Kyung Seo quickly looked up. The first person to have their temperature checked was Eun-sung. And behind him appeared Hee-wook.
Kyung Seo rapidly scanned Hee-wook’s appearance from head to toe. He had hidden his red hair under a black cap, and he was dressed in an oatmeal-colored hoodie, blue jeans, and black canvas shoes. Kyung Seo’s eyes lingered particularly long on the shoes. They were his favorite sneakers, worn often since long ago.
“Oh, you’re here? Hello!”
While Kyung Seo was focused on the script, quite a few actors had arrived. With a newly attentive glance, he looked at Dong-hoon, who was waving energetically at Eun-sung, pretending to be close friends.
‘When did he get here?’
He surely must have made a noisy entrance, but Kyung Seo hadn’t noticed at all. Whether he felt friendly from meeting at the supporting actors’ gathering, Dong-hoon hurried to greet Eun-sung. While the two exchanged brief conversation, Hye-jin, always good-humored, had joined them.
Eun-sung and Dong-hoon laughed rather loudly at something Hye-jin said. Kyung Seo looked at the three, who seemed to get along well, and then moved his eyes away. Hee-wook, who had been sticking close to Eun-sung, was now standing a few steps away, near the wall.
Kyung Seo narrowed his eyes and observed Hee-wook. He had expected him to greet others warmly or to stand next to Eun-sung and naturally be introduced. But instead, he was gradually stepping back. His tense expression and stiff posture were unfamiliar.
‘Is he shy?’
Chin in hand, Kyung Seo studied Hee-wook’s stern face closely. He seemed entirely different from the idol who, six years before, would smile warmly and greet a fan claiming to be there for the first time.
‘He spoke so well at the fan signing event…’
Watching Hee-wook, who was only looking around and not finding a seat, as if he was a child left by the waterside, Kyung Seo decided to speak to him. He couldn’t just stand by and watch his favorite person in trouble.
It was the moment he slammed his script shut before standing up. Although it wasn’t a loud noise, it seemed to create quite a ripple in the space. The attention of several people was drawn his way. Among them was Hee-wook.
Hee-wook’s eyes widened as he looked at Kyung Seo. Unintended eye contact left Kyung Seo flustered as he opened his mouth.
“A seat……”
The trembling of his lips was hidden by the mask, but his low, unsteady voice flowed out without filter.
“Won’t you sit?”
Even to himself, it sounded grim. Seeing Hee-wook frozen, a wave of embarrassment and regret washed over him. Pale, Kyung Seo reached out to point at the seat at the end of the row, where Hee-wook’s name was written.
“Ah, I’m sorry!”
Hee-wook checked the name and hurriedly took a seat.
Kyung Seo’s heart sank with the thought that he had only intended to help but had instead caused trouble and received an apology.
“…No.”
Kyung Seo replied, avoiding Hee-wook’s gaze, and opened his scriptbook again. The atmosphere on set momentarily became still.
The other actors, who had been chatting here and there, also noticed and found their seats one by one. They all quietly opened their scripts or whispered amongst themselves. The assistant director, returning from the bathroom, was about to enter when he hesitated, sensing an atmosphere not unlike an examination room, and checked the time.
Kyung Seo, his forehead resting in his hand due to a feeling of self-reproach, glanced over at Hee-wook. Hee-wook was organizing a script and pen on the desk. Only after confirming that he had returned to his usual state, Kyung Seo turned his gaze away.
“I’m Cheon Kyung Seo, playing the lead role of Jung Hyuk. Nice to meet you.”
The making camera moved, filming each actor one by one. Kyung Seo rose from his seat, gave a brief greeting, and bowed deeply.
“Yes! I’m Han Dong-hoon, playing the role of Han Geontae!”
“I’m Lee Eun-sung, playing the role of Lee Jae Seong.”
“Hello. I’m Kim Hyungkyun, playing the role of Jerry Kim.”
Those cast as group members like Kyung Seo greeted one by one, and introductions from other supporting actors followed. Almost last in line, Hee-wook finally rose from his seat.
“I’m Sung Hee-wook, playing the role of Hee-wook.”
Though it was as brief a greeting as anyone else’s, to Kyung Seo, it felt especially short.
“I’ll do my best.”
Every minute change in expression came across vividly at that moment. Kyung Seo, struggling to hide his tension, looked at Hee-wook’s forced smile until he felt another camera approaching and looked away.
The all-cast script reading began, with most of the cast participating. Kyung Seo, who had been leaning forward, straightened up as they got into Episode 2. It was a scene where ‘Jung Hyuk’ meets his friend ‘Hee-wook’ and converses with him.
“You like them that much? Those people?”
Jung Hyuk asks, watching Hee-wook excitedly chatter about a concert he recently attended for a female idol group he likes.
“They wouldn’t even know you.”
Kyung Seo recited this line with a hollow laugh inside. It was a common remark heard among idol fans.
‘If you attend diligently, they all recognize you.’
He muttered only to himself, pressing his temple with the end of his pen. Hee-wook had remembered him. If remembering ‘Yu-kyung’ instead of ‘Kyung Seo’ was a problem, it was a problem. It was then that Kyung Seo hid a bitter smile behind his mask.
“That’s not what matters.”
At Hee-wook’s voice, Kyung Seo lifted his head to look at him. Hee-wook spat out the words in a somewhat fervent tone, his gaze fixed on the script.
“I’m just grateful that they exist.”
Flushed cheeks, a trembling voice. It was a clear sign of nerves during his first script reading, but thanks to the peculiar line, he seemed truly overwhelmed by love for the entertainer.
The scene gave an impression that Hee-wook’s character was genuinely filled with gratitude and love for the idols he admired, making the reading all the more intriguing and realistic.
Kyung Seo unknowingly furrowed his brows. Hee-wook, burning with fervent affection for someone.
“……”
The brief moment seemed to twist and sharpen into thorns. A thorn pricked his heart. In his dazed moment, Director Cha coughed lightly beside him. Finally coming to his senses, Kyung Seo recited his following line.
“What are you… talking about?”
Kyung Seo finished speaking sullenly and touched his forehead. A sense of self-reproach washed over him, for he understood the words better than anyone else in the room.
The conversation between ‘Hyuk’ and ‘Hee-wook’ ended with that line. From the corner of his eye, Kyung Seo saw Hee-wook sweeping his hand across his chest.
The next cut was centered around the female lead. It was a brief respite for Kyung Seo. Wetting his throat with water and following the script with his eyes, Kyung Seo’s mind was preoccupied, and the dialogue didn’t properly reach his ears.
“I wish my favorite idol would be my fan in the next life.”
Among idol fans, especially those who spared no expense or time on their favorite idols, they would sometimes utter such fanciful remarks. Suddenly recalling that phrase, Kyung Seo stole a glance at Hee-wook.
What if Hee-wook’s role in the drama was not a friend, but a fan of ‘Jung Hyuk’? He imagined how it would feel if those words earlier were not about a fictional girl group but were directed at him.
“Thank you. For existing.”
He envisioned the scene of a younger Hee-wook speaking to ‘Yu-kyung’ warmer than sunshine, now speaking nervously to ‘Jung Hyuk.’
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His heart beat rapidly. Kyung Seo gratefully glanced at his analog wristwatch. It was fortunate he wore this watch. If he had been wearing a smartwatch, it would have sounded an alarm for an elevated heartbeat.
‘It would never work if it was the role of my fan.’
Kyung Seo quickly flipped through the script with a scowling expression. His heart continued to race. If he had acted in this state, he would have creaked terribly like a tin can robot.
‘It would have been a black mark in my acting career.’
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