Forest of Flowers (4)
"Haa..."
Right after filming wrapped, Han Da-sol climbed into her van and let out a deep sigh. Given that it was the first day of shooting, a wrap party would have been perfectly natural. But thanks to the firm philosophies of Director Seo Yeon-soo and Writer Ko A-rin, they had decided to save the bonding until every last scene was finished.
"Ah, ugh..."
She stopped herself from doing what had become an unconscious habit. Cupping her face in both hands, she was about to rub it dry. It was something she absolutely shouldn't do while wearing makeup. She had only recently corrected the tic that had plagued her for years. It still slipped out whenever her emotions ran high or she felt particularly down.
Inferiority. That was the true name of the feeling tormenting her. At only twenty-six, Han Da-sol found herself wrapped in a misery that made her wonder what she was even supposed to do.
There were plenty of geniuses in the world. People born with singular talent who stood at the top despite being younger than her; she knew that all too well. So why did this particular emotion surge inside her? And why, of all people, did it have to be directed at Woo Dan-wol?
She asked herself the question again and again, digging into the root of the feeling, searching for the reason behind it.
But if it were that easy to figure out, she wouldn't be struggling like this. She would have controlled it long ago. Like a true professional.
Professional? The word flashed through her mind and slipped from her lips.
"Professional… That's right. I am a professional."
She couldn't turn her inferiority into drive, but she could at least choose to act like herself. She was the lead of this drama. She was Han Da-sol, a legitimate actress.
"I can do this!"
She shouted it like a declaration to the world, a solemn vow filled with absolute belief that she would achieve everything she set out to do. At that exact moment, a voice drifted from the driver's seat.
"What role is it this time? Was there a part I didn't know about?"
"U-Unnie?! H-how long have you been..."
Han Da-sol stammered like a broken machine. She had assumed her manager wasn't there and had poured her heart out, only to make a complete fool of herself.
Her face flooded with shame, turning as red as a ripe tomato. Her mouth struggled to form a proper sentence. Her manager simply waved it off with an understanding smile. It wasn't as if this was the first strange thing she'd witnessed. The woman had grown used to it. In the end, the embarrassment belonged solely to Han Da-sol.
"Kyaaaaaaaack..."
"Why are you screaming? We're leaving."
On the way home after finishing her schedule, Han Da-sol hung her head like a criminal being taken to prison.
The next filming day, Woo Dan-wol began his greetings in high spirits. After finishing his makeup and making his rounds, he ran into Han Da-sol as she arrived on set. There were still about forty minutes until filming began. Most of the actors had tight schedules, so they usually arrived right on time. Han Da-sol was no exception.
"Senior, hello!"
"Mm, nice to see you."
She still found him difficult to deal with. Even though they would be glued together for the remainder of the shoot, she was gripped by the compulsion that she must not be overwhelmed by his presence.
Her expression remained stiff. It was Woo Dan-wol who extended his hand first. He was the one who noticed her condition faster than anyone, since they had to match their breathing on set.
If there was anything more important than the drama's ratings, it was the completion of the work itself. Success mattered, of course, but he loved watching dozens of staff members and actors pour their effort into creating a single world.
That was why he decided to help Han Da-sol. The question was how to help someone who felt inferior to him.
"Senior, could you please help me with something!"
"Huh?"
She looked puzzled. She might deny it, but to Woo Dan-wol, Han Da-sol was actually quite simple to read. The moment the thought crossed his mind, she would probably get angry, but the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth gave her away. She tried to maintain a blank face, but controlling every micro-expression was difficult. Having already watched every project she had ever been in, he knew for certain. She was in a good mood right now.
She was probably delighted that the junior she had assumed was more talented than her was asking for her help.
It was a little underhanded, but what could he do? If she liked it, that was enough.
"I'm analyzing the script, but I'm not sure about the breathing in this section."
"Shall we… run it together?"
"Thank you!"
Woo Dan-wol bowed at a perfect ninety degrees. Even for something so minor, he expressed sincere gratitude, and Han Da-sol's lips began to dance. Her cheeks lifted right along with them.
"Hmm… So it's from this part, right?"
"Yes. It seems..."
The two of them entered the waiting room, looking at the script and discussing the acting choices. It was indeed an ambiguous section. The emotional flow was difficult to pin down until they actually stepped onto the set and began filming.
Jin Da-yeon and Kang Min-hyuk, stranded for five days in a mountain lodge. Kang Min-hyuk was the one who had orchestrated the entire incident, so he was a separate case. Jin Da-yeon's emotions would swirl like a storm. Being surrounded by murderers planted a fundamental anxiety about the future in her heart.
From the second day onward, the criminals began to act, completely transforming the atmosphere of the story. Isolated by the blizzard, they were cut off from society. There would be no public authority to stop them. Except for the detective. The only one left was Jin Da-yeon.
"So this is where she starts to like Kang Min-hyuk."
"I hadn't thought of it happening right here."
No matter how much Woo Dan-wol used his ability to analyze the script and immerse himself in the role, the person who understood Jin Da-yeon best was Han Da-sol. Since it was the life she had to portray, she would have studied it more than anyone. Perhaps even more than he had.
But he didn't back down easily. When it came to acting, he poured his heart into it more than anyone. So Woo Dan-wol began to present his own interpretation.
"It's true that the time they spend together gradually increases. But emotions don't just appear out of nowhere, do they?"
"They don't appear suddenly?"
"Senior, have you never dated anyone?"
"......"
"......"
A sudden silence fell. Han Da-sol lowered her head, and he scratched his cheek. A belated attempt to smooth things over followed.
"I-I haven't dated anyone either..."
"Right. What would either of us know..."
The mood returned to normal. Having the common ground of being single seemed to create a stronger sense of connection between them.
"You don't have to use real magic to play a wizard, right?"
"Exactly, exactly."
Han Da-sol spoke with forced brightness. Woo Dan-wol tried to respond in kind, but another short silence visited the waiting room. Somewhere deep in her heart, she felt a twinge of bitterness.
Woo Dan-wol knew exactly what to do in a situation like this. He had decided she was the same type of person as him. It would definitely work.
"Shall we just run the lines together?"
"Let's do that."
So they began to act. Before the first murder took place, Jin Da-yeon, having revealed her true identity, tried to persuade Woo Dan-wol. They needed to get out of there.
But he, familiar with rural life and knowledgeable about blizzards, shook his head. The mansion was deep in the mountains. Whether they were murdered or frozen to death, the only choice available was death.
Jin Da-yeon, now aware of the reality, was consumed by anxiety. Kang Min-hyuk felt the same, but he comforted her. She was the one who was a stranger to this place. He was the one who knew it well.
"It doesn't matter if they're murderers or suspects."
"H-how..."
Woo Dan-wol's expression brightened. His face was full of determination. Even if the guests carried murder charges, he was the owner of the mansion. He was portraying a man whose values dictated that he must fulfill his proper duties.
"I am the owner of this mansion. I have a duty to look after my guests."
"......."
"We don't know when the blizzard will end. Everyone is stranded, so I must do what is expected of me."
Even as he spoke, the hand pouring hot water from the coffee pot was trembling. According to the script analysis, this was the moment Jin Da-yeon's gaze and feelings toward him should begin to change.
It was the favor born from his uniqueness rather than ordinary masculinity. And attraction between the opposite sex could become the catalyst for love at any moment.
The scene ended. The acting was over, but their difference of opinion continued.
"This is where it needs to build up slowly."
"No, this is certainly a trigger, but she shouldn't feel attraction yet, right?"
Their voices grew louder. Their opinions refused to meet. Eventually, the one with the greater hunger for acting excellence, Woo Dan-wol, spoke with genuine intensity.
"Senior."
"Yes?"
Her breathing hitched. It was the result of their debate growing increasingly heated. Woo Dan-wol's mouth opened, and her expression began to shift.
"Senior, you have to like me."
"Uh, um…?"
At first it was pure confusion. Woo Dan-wol was speaking from within the performance, but to her ears it sounded completely different. It was an unavoidable female instinct. Especially for someone with no dating experience, the instinct hit that much harder.
"It's true, isn't it?"
"Y-yes, it is..."
She agreed. But why was it so difficult to meet his eyes? She knew the words weren't truly meant for her. So why was her face growing hot?
The moment Woo Dan-wol opened his mouth again, the door to the waiting room opened. Lee Hye-ri, who had gone out to get coffee, had returned.
"Dan-wol, I bought coffee~"
"You are my entire world. Do you know that?"
"......"
Actress Han Da-sol sat there with a flushed face while Actor Woo Dan-wol was confessing to her.
Thud. Clatter.
The two iced Americanos she held in both hands dropped to the floor. The coffee spilled across the ground and soaked Lee Hye-ri's shoes, but she had no attention to spare for it. Her eyes were fixed on Woo Dan-wol and Han Da-sol as her mind desperately denied the reality before her.