My Beloved, My One and Only Rose
Rose, my love, my one and only rose. It's been a week since the founding of the Flame Troupe. So much has happened in that time. The biggest change of all...
"...Donghu sunbae-nim. Why are we at the Seoul Arts Center?"
"Who knows? I heard Edward Park, the chairman, pulled some strings... I don't know the details either."
The stage had shifted from Daehangno to the Seoul Arts Center. They'd even nailed down that there'd be no rental fee. On top of that, they'd secured shuttle buses for the kids too.
And that wasn't all.
"It's been ages since we've had a ratings battle with a docu! If it blows up, bonus pay—if it flops, cherry pie...!"
"Don't get reckless. Focus on the shoot. Our docu team just needs to... rise above the other three networks with pure skill."
"Docu Special Forces! Assembling right here, right now! Mission from PD Park accomplished perfectly! Choo~ooot!!!"
Nearby, staff from the three major networks were gearing up to film their documentaries. Donation boxes kept pouring in from everywhere, stacking up in the warehouse in real time.
The scale is insane.
This was over the top, even for them. Sure, Sim had given some hints via future messages, but...
[Flame Troupe Lights Up the World]
[Good Influence: Flame Troupe Delivers]
Just those two vague messages, so it'd been hard to gauge the actual size.
But I didn't expect it to be this big.
With things unfolding like this, my biggest worry was Bong Jinu sunbae. The rest of us actors in the troupe were used to this kind of chaos, but...
Sunbae, who'd only ever directed school plays before, was swamped right now.
"Director! Art team here! Any additions or changes to this section?"
"Uh? Oh, that... um, er, could the tree be bigger and more majestic?"
"Costume team! Any costume approvals needed? Please check the designs!"
"Whoa, make the prince's outfit the flashiest. The guy wearing it'll be so handsome anyway—the spotlight'll be on his face..."
He was coordinating everything, totally overwhelmed. But as they say, the capable ones show it from the start. Even in this unprecedented situation, he was knocking out tasks one by one. It was impressive.
We had about three months until the Flame Troupe's debut performance for the public. We needed to finish building the set, perfect the acting, and wrap the script by then.
He said the script's almost done.
So all that was left was the set and the acting. Normally, there'd be a promo period too, but...
With "Flame Troupe" still dominating real-time search trends, we didn't need extra hype. Plus, the premiere was just for kids anyway.
As I was lost in those thoughts...
"This is brutal. I feel like I'm gonna pass out."
Bong Jinu sunbae, having powered through his schedule, plopped down next to me.
"Phew, been hectic since morning—I forgot to pass this on."
"Pass what?"
"Yeah, the script... Finished it just before dawn."
Smooth.
The completed script for Star and Moon Story. The last version was just the side script for the Little Prince.
This one's the real deal.
Time to get a grasp on the full story.
"Thanks, sunbae. I'll do my best."
I said that and headed straight to my private dressing room.
Immerse.
I dove into the script.
++++++
At the same time.
Kim Sujin, who'd gotten the script from her mom...
"...I-is this for real?"
She sped through to the end, her eyes trembling uncontrollably.
"What's wrong? Something up?"
"The, the second half... Rose and the Little Prince..."
"Yeah? What about them?"
"They k-kiss."
The moment she heard her daughter, Kim Yuryeon frantically flipped to the back.
Is there really a scene like that?
She'd only checked her own parts so far, skipping the later Rose bits.
She hurriedly confirmed it.
"Honey, this isn't a kiss—it's just implied."
She felt a pang of needless worry.
The Little Prince deeply embraces the Rose, feeling her warmth.
Mistaking that line for a kiss. Kim Yuryeon smirked mischievously and prodded gently.
"Guessing you thought 'kiss' from that... Does that mean our girl wants to k-kiss Donghu...?"
"N-no! Wh-what kinda pervert are you turning me into! Mom, to your own daughter!"
"Wanting a kiss isn't perverted. I wanna kiss your dad every~ day? Am I a pervert then?"
"Th-that's 'cause you're in love!"
Kim Yuryeon beamed at her daughter's retort.
"Does one-sided love not count?"
"Mom!"
"Got it. Whew, look at that voice when you're worked up. So soft and gentle around Donghu."
"A-anyway...! So they do hug! Don't I need to diet or something?"
"Diet? Nonsense. You're prettiest just like this."
Kim Yuryeon pinched her daughter's cheeks.
How did her cute, lovable girl end up falling in love like this?
Actually, with Kim Donghu, 'end up' doesn't fit.
He was perfect in looks from the jump. And the personality backing it up? Unreal. A good person, through and through. Most folks couldn't stay that upright even if you forced them.
Kim Donghu just lived it genuinely. Plenty got hooked on his looks, then bailed on the personality.
But Donghu sets the trap with that unavoidable face, then seals the deal with his character?
As Kim Yuryeon happily daydreamed about her future son-in-law(?), Kim Sujin bolted toward Donghu's dressing room.
Knock knock. Courtesy knock.
Slam.
Door flew open. There sat Kim Donghu, casually munching snacks while reading the script.
Doesn't know how to read the room!
No, but if he's reading the script, he knows about the hug, right? How's he so chill?
You should've come rushing to me too!
Kim Donghu, you rascal.
"Kim Donghu, you're insane!"
Even as she said it, Kim Sujin plopped right next to him.
"Hey. Want some snacks? These are good."
"Sn-snacks? You're thinking about snacks right now? After the script?"
"Super touching, right? Totally get why it's called Star and Moon Story now."
"W-well, yeah."
Kim Sujin blinked at his words. It was touching. If she'd read it alone at night, she'd have teared up.
But the hug was a whole other issue.
No kiss, thank goodness...
Really! Truly! Honestly! Swearing to tell only the truth!
...Phew.
But still! How's he so calm about it?
"You saw the last scene, right?"
"Oh, the 'feel the warmth' bit? It's abstract, so I asked—quick hug's fine, or fake it if it's awkward."
"No way, faking it won't work. Even for kids, love's a big deal—you can't just pretend."
Kim Sujin clamped her mouth shut mid-sentence, face screaming realization of what she'd just spilled.
She paused, then popped some snacks from the table.
Nom nom.
"Right? Hugging's not easy, though."
We hadn't even done it in Shadow of the Eclipse. No real moment for it then, sure.
"That's why you came? Can't hug?"
"Wh-what?"
"Don't wanna fake it, don't wanna hug—so you came?"
Chin.
Kim Sujin clapped a hand over his mouth. Sure, the situation screamed misunderstanding, and yeah, she'd served it up herself, but...
No need to assume it's 'cause I hate it.
This heartless jerk! It's not always NO or YES—there's middle ground!
"No, it's... Rehearsal or blocking practice—if the hug feels off, it'll look weird, so I came early."
Tap tap.
Kim Donghu smiled with his eyes, tapping her hand. Move it, wanna talk. Gentle request.
Slide.
Hand off, answer on.
"Oh, so hug practice? Us hugging?"
Thwack!
Punched. He was slick dodging when it suited him, but straight fastball here?
Kim Sujin touched her flushed cheek. No mirror needed—face burning.
Thump thump.
Heart pounding huge at "hug."
Still, had to answer.
"Y-yeah, for that. Can't be awkward later!"
Strictly speaking, not our first hug. He'd held her once in Shadow of the Eclipse during intense emotional acting.
So technically second time.
But.
That was a one-off.
This Star and Moon Story hug? Multiple repeats. Practice essential for comfort.
"Wanna do a reading just us?"
"Huh?"
"Second half only. Reading together'll help us adjust."
"Wh-what? R-reading? Now?"
"Yeah, hold on—I got something ready."
Kim Donghu draped the prince's cape from the rack.
And somehow—prepped a fake rose, tucking it behind her left ear unconsciously.
"There, prep's sorta done."
Swish.
Thick fingers brush her hair, ear, cheek.
Kim Sujin couldn't adjust to this sudden moment.
Kim Donghu, dead serious, dove in.
"Rose, my love, my one and only rose."
That confession-like line.
"E-eep... Hic!"
Kim Sujin started hiccuping instead of her line.