"You have to understand—the scene we are shooting today is important" the director said to both leads. "I will do as many takes as I deem necessary to get the result I want. So please, stay focused and do your best."
He had taken them to the location that morning, where they spent a full hour rehearsing a mere five-minute scene. It was a breakup scene, in which the two lovers were forced to part for fear their secret would be revealed.
Ye-Jun tried hard to stay focused, as the director had advised. He tried to do his best, as was expected of him, despite the fact that his co-star, Ms. Myong Chae-Youn, was being especially flirty today. At any given moment, she was blowing him kisses or winking whenever the director looked the other way. He was so pissed off, he fantasized about yelling at her just to bring her back to her senses.
But he couldn't do that. This was his first project with the esteemed Mr. Han, and he had to be absolutely perfect. For the last four months, he had consequently endured Chae-Youn's constant harassment. He had made it clear there wouldn't be—couldn't be—anything between them. In fact, he found her so repellent that he would rather sleep with Mr. Han than with her. Even the fact that he had a girlfriend did nothing to contain her.
Only a couple more weeks to go. He was so close to being free of her. There would be promotional activities and joint appearances afterward, of course, but at least he wouldn't be forced to spend hours with her every other day.
Ye-Jun felt sick whenever they had romantic scenes, like today. Chae-Youn never held back. He still remembered their first kiss scene—her complete lack of professionalism when she had actually French-kissed him. At the time, he'd written it off as a misunderstanding, but that moment had become a sinister turning point. At the time, he thought he'd misunderstood, but that moment became a turning point. Her behavior became pressing, insistent. She wanted a piece of him, as she had so bluntly explained. One very particular piece. Ye-Jun had turned her down a million times, but she'd made it clear: by the end of filming, she would have what she wanted.
"Sir" Chae-Youn said as they prepared to return to basecamp for final touches, "I noticed that she doesn't kiss him goodbye. Shouldn't we try that? I feel the character is craving closure." Oh, she wasn't missing a chance.
"Ms. Myong, we will not do a kiss" the director answered, his tone final. "He is letting her go for her own safety. He cannot risk being seen."
"But breakup scenes are so dull without intimacy. I believe—" Chae-Youn continued, but was interrupted.
"My scene will not be dull if you do your job as expected," Mr. Han concluded, walking away. He was obviously pissed off. Just great.
"That old git..." Chae-Youn muttered to Ye-Jun in a low voice. "At least I have you to take my mind off his misery". Her hand brushed against his, supposedly absentmindedly.
Ye-Jun sighed and started walking. There was no point in talking to that woman.
"Oh... What I fancy even more is a reticent man who plays hard to get," Chae-Youn commented, chasing after him.
She was so talkative that Ye-Jun couldn't stay silent, or their escorts would wonder what was going on. "I'm not playing hard to get. I'm not interested" he said in a low voice, a smile plastered on his face.
"Come on... You've slept with half of local showbiz. Why shouldn't I get some?" she asked.
Ye-Jun shook his head. This girl had gone too far. "What nonsense are you talking about? What makes you say that?" he asked, his smile widening unnaturally.
"It's not a secret, Ye-Jun. Apart from your countless girlfriends over the years, rumor has it you love one-night stands with various crew members" she replied shamelessly.
"If there were such a rumor, I would have heard it. If you keep provoking me with these absurd claims, I will lose my temper in front of the whole crew. Guess what kind of rumors that would generate" Ye-Jun threatened her.
Chae-Youn giggled. "I know a true rumor: Ye-Jun never loses his temper" she said. "But half of what I said is true. You've had so many girls. And I don't even want a relationship. Isn't that the best deal?"
"My relationships are my personal life. Since you know all the rumors, you should have heard that I am also a professional who doesn't mix his personal life with his work," Ye-Jun reminded her.
"Wrong... You've dated actresses you worked with. I've been watching you closely," Chae-Youn said.
It was true. He had a couple of co-stars on his track record—probably more than he cared to admit. "I'll skip the part where you watch me, because that creeps me out, and I will make it clear that no relationship started on the set. I just met them there," he said, pointlessly defending his honor.
"So, does this mean I'll have you once filming is over?" she asked excitedly.
"No! I have a girlfriend!" he replied.
"I don't see any flame there. Try me; I'll spark you up," she said, leaning closer.
He didn't reply, instead quickening his pace to clear distance between them. For the entirety of their walk, they had maintained the illusion of two colleagues sharing a light conversation. But as they neared the base camp, the risk of being overheard grew. No matter how persistent Chae-Youn was, she remained a well-known actress, aware of her reputation. She wouldn't dare risk having scandalous stories get out.
Ye-Jun, a couple of metres ahead of the others, was heading towards his trailer—his cool, private trailer where he would put on the rest of his attire and the crew would help him with that damn wig and final makeup. He caught a glimpse of Mi-Suk. It was her turn to babysit. But the one standing next to her, wearing an awful yellow hat and having just turned to face him, was totally unexpected.
That French girl had the nerve to appear on his set! In front of him!
What was she doing here? Who told her to come?
Because of her, he wasn't allowed to go to the office whenever he wanted and had to submit a schedule just to visit. And now, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she just popped up here. He couldn't hide his feelings; his anger and frustration were carved into his face. But he had to control himself. So many eyes were on him. He had to maintain that freaking reputation.
He lowered his gaze and took a deep breath. Ye-Jun knew he had to channel his annoyance toward Mi-Suk, in case anyone was watching. He stopped in front of her, looked down from his full height, and asked: "You're here again... Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Hello, Ye-Jun. No, I don't. I deal with you all day and night; you're the reason I'm alive" Mi-Suk mocked him. That only stoked his anger further. But with the production crew nearby, what could he possibly say?
"While you are here, make yourself useful. Alert the makeup team that I'm ready" he ordered.
"Sir" Mi-Suk said, her voice pitched to carry to the nearby crew, "the makeup team knows their schedule. I'm not here to interfere with production tasks". Ye-Jun thought he had masked it all well. Without another word—without even turning to look at the intern—he walked to his trailer. He bumped into the girl with the wig—Ha-Yoon, was it? He wasn't certain.
"Good morning, Mr. Yeong!" she said.
"Hi! How are you doing today?" he asked kindly.
"Good! How about you?" she replied.
"It will turn out..." he replied, smiling.
Then she noticed that the makeup artist assigned to him, Su-Jin, was waiting outside the trailer. He had seen her early that morning before the rehearsal. She looked worried.
"What's up?" Ye-Jun asked.
"Mr.Yeong, while you were away, the air conditioning inside the trailer broke down. We have to do your makeup somewhere else. It's really hot in there" Su-Jin explained.
That sounded like a nightmare. During breaks and preparation, he found solace in that cool trailer. Why did this have to happen now? Today was already awful. He had to endure Chae-Youn, the intern's unexpected appearance, and now the air conditioning was faulty. What else could go wrong?
"Bummer... Where should we go?" he asked Su-Jin, a smile on his face. No matter how he felt, the crew was doing their job. He could never misbehave just because he was frustrated or having a bad day.
"Let's go to the main makeup station. It's cooler there because of the fans" Su-Jin proposed.
"Okay. Let me put the rest of the costume on, and I'll be there in five minutes. Unless I pass out from the heat..." he said, raising an eyebrow.
"I hope it won't come to that! I'll be waiting for you" Su-Jin said and walked away.
He entered the trailer -better said his sauna. The whole place was boiling. How was he supposed to put on all those heavy layers? He quickly started dressing, suffocating with every movement.
The day was just one problem after another.