The next day on the set, he was filming a scene with his lovely Chae-Youn. And not just any scene. It was a kissing scene.
She had already invited him to her trailer for a warm-up. She had forgotten - again - his statement that there was no chance he would ever touch her. The problem was that he would touch her. And kiss her. For the camera, of course, but still. He would need a good wash afterwards.
Even if these scenes were trivial under normal circumstances, his partner made him feel uncomfortable.
Earlier, during the rehearsal, with no kissing and touching of course, they discussed 'boundaries'. When they asked Chae-Youn if she was ok with neck kissing, she replied: 'Of course'. When she was asked if Ye-Jun could touch her lower back, Chae-Youn said, "For the art, he can touch whatever the director tells him to touch."
He could sense the longing in her voice, no matter how 'it's-only-business' she sounded. Luckily, Mr. Han was quite conservative.
He shivered in the mere thought that he would have to film a sex scene with Chae-Youn.
Ye-Jun wore Prince Sunhwa's heavy costume and headed for the station to get into the wig.
The hairdresser - he finally remembered her name was Ha-Yoon - finished her job, and it was then that he saw Mi-Suk and Christmas.
Mi-Suk had her usual smile on. But Christmas…
What is wrong with her? So it is something major…
She was approaching with her tail between her legs. No feisty stare -he could still smell the ramen on his clothes-, no sarcastic attitude -she did call him demented. Just a look of humility washed over her face.
Is she that fickle? Or completely scared?
He had to find out.
"Hey Ye-Jun! I'm here to make sure you have everything you need for your next scene," Mi-Suk announced.
"Will you stop irritating me?"
He suddenly felt himself flush.
"Come on… Is Chae-Youn behaving herself?" Mi-Suk insisted.
"I guess. It's not our first time, you know." He felt his cheeks warm up.
"Got it!" Mi-Suk said.
His eyes searched for Christmas. She was looking everywhere but him. Has the subject of conversation made her uncomfortable?
He felt the urge to investigate what was going on.
"What time will the news be released?" he asked, looking at Christmas.
Her eyes started darting around, unsure if she was the one to answer the question. So unlike the girl he knew…
"At six o'clock in the afternoon," Mi-Suk said, squinting her eyes.
"So, you know nothing?" he asked Christmas again. "Hasn't Mi-Suk informed you of the development?"
Christmas nodded, still avoiding him.
"Are you only good at judging people?" he attacked Christmas, trying to get a reaction from her - any reaction. His words sounded so harsh, he regretted saying them out loud.
Regardless of his cruelty, nothing.
That was super suspicious.
"Ye-Jun, what are you doing? Please, stop," Mi-Suk intervened.
She whispered something in Christmas's ear, and the intern walked away.
"What did you say to her?"
"That you are stressed about the scene."
"Oh, come on! It's my job!"
Mi-Suk's expression softened with empathy.
He didn't want compassion!
He quickly tried to derail her.
"What is wrong with her?" he asked, nodding towards the direction Christmas went.
Mi-Suk shook her head. "No idea. It all happened very fast. Now that I think about it, it was after I told her that you and Mi-Ok are history." After a beat, she asked: "You don't say? Is she sad because you broke up?"
"You're mad! Tell me if you find out."
She studied him with intense interest.
"I'm curious, that's all," he said and left for the scene.
They were going to shoot under a tree. How romantic.
When Chae-Youn arrived, everybody took position. He noticed Mi-Suk and Christmas standing behind the crew.
They were going to watch him make out with that piece of work.
I wish I could travel ten minutes into the future, to skip all this!
"We have rehearsed, now we roll. If you are ready, please take positions," Mr. Han said.
Ye-Jun stood below the tree and Chae-Youn in front of him.
The scene was supposed to be a passionate kiss between the illicit lovers. They needed to spice up the story somehow.
And the filming began.
"My love. Whispering this truth could cost me my head. But it is the only balm for my soul, the only strength I have to face the coming storm," Ye-Jun said.
Chae-Youn stepped closer. "I fear nothing. I fear only the silence you leave behind. I beg of you, stay."
"I cannot escape this fate. Any more than I can escape you."
He caressed her cheek tenderly. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.
She is pretending.
He had to hug her now.
Shit!
And afterward he was supposed to kiss her.
He leaned closer, very slowly. He hesitated for a second - he didn't need to pretend for that.
When their lips met, he sensed her warmth. But he felt like kissing a piece of wood.
Though her kiss wasn't a performance. It was possessive and chilling.
They parted for a few moments, according to the script.
When he looked into her eyes, he could see nothing but lust.
He froze. The next kiss was supposed to be deeper.
He pulled her closer. His hands cupped her face. He looked at her with longing - Prince Sunhwa was in love.
But he wasn't.
He was staring at a creature that compelled him.
To pull this off, his mind had to escape. He had to think of something else.
The first thought that jumped into his head was the intern and that strange behaviour.
He started forming scenarios in his mind, and started kissing Chae-Youn.
His movements were mechanical. His hands started their descent towards her lower back.
His mind was away. He was focused on analysing Christmas's complete resignation. That wasn't her. She was a fighter.
When he opened his eyes the face of Chae-Youn started to blur with that of the girl's.
Her look was intense, her lips open. She was craving more. But her face… he could no longer recognize it.
I need to finish the scene. There must be no second take!
And he kissed her hard.
He pulled her in his embrace. His hands gripped her waist. His fingers wanted to dig into her skin.
He gave everything he had to finish it. The soonest. One take. Only one.
His lips moved to her jaw and then he started kissing her neck.
He felt Chae-Youn arching back.
He even heard a tiny moan.
The scene was over and now they remained there, embraced. They were both breathing heavily.
"And cut! Excellent to both of you," Mr. Han said.
He quickly stepped back.
The makeup artist came to check on him. It wasn't necessary. They were done, weren't they? The director said it was 'excellent.'
Ye-Jun saw from afar Christmas. She had just watched him kissing another woman. He could talk to her about how that made him feel. How empty, how worthless.
But she wasn't writing a psychological analysis. She wouldn't care.
Like that moment. When he was filming, she used to steal glances at him. He had seen her peek at him, examining how he was when the shooting had finished.
Not today. She was just absent.
If she were to take a better look, she would understand. He was certain.
The makeup artist left.
Christmas finally looked at him.
Ye-Jun realised he had been waiting for it.
She didn't look away.
She didn't blush.
She studied him, slowly, as if she were seeing something that finally made sense.
Ye-Jun felt a tightness in his chest.
What was that look?
Right then, Chae-Youn approached him.
"I told you I am not like the others. I devoured you. And you liked it," she whispered, smiling provocatively.
He swallowed hard, his breath short.
He felt cheap. Used.
And then Mr. Han was heard again.
"In ten minutes we are rolling again. Reset for tight angles."
His blood froze.
He didn't have to look.
He knew Chae-Youn was already smiling.