Synergy
The table was laden with perfectly grilled steaks and a bounty of side dishes. Im Jun-ho, who hadn't even glanced at the menu before declaring, "Just bring whatever the chef recommends," might end up catching hell when he got home.
"Whoa, this is seriously delicious!"
But that wasn't Ha Moo-young's concern. He sliced off thick chunks of meat and shoved them into his mouth one after another.
On the table sat the script for Streets' Sunlight.
"So you're basically locked in for casting, then?"
"The director came all the way to my place, and we just happened to run into each other."
"That's not coincidence—that's fate."
"Anyway, that's how it went down!"
With that casual reply, he stabbed another piece of meat.
Kang Bora barely touched her food, just fidgeting with it. Im Jun-ho, slicing meat beside her, asked, "You wanna do this project that bad?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah..."
"Can't Moo-young hook you up?"
Why not? Moo-young nodded like it was no big deal. "Casting's the director's call, but an intro? Sure. What role you gunning for?"
The female parts were a nurse and a truck driver. The truck driver was a middle-aged woman, so probably not a fit. That left—
"Nurse."
"Figured. No other option."
She seemed smitten. Bora kept devouring the pages anxiously, as if someone might snatch it away.
Thank goodness they had the room to themselves—nice and private.
"So you'll juggle it with school?"
"Yeah. Movies are manageable. Drama was brutal, but Plague was okay. This one's mostly night shoots anyway."
Even as the lead, it should be fine. With filming wrapping in a couple months, as long as the schedule aligned, it wouldn't be too taxing.
"Man, time flies. Semester starts soon."
March was right around the corner. A whole year had blinked by. That short span had been packed with wonders too dazzling for words.
"Kids at school are gonna recognize you big time."
"Nah, doubt it. I'm a total loner."
"...What the hell? You cocky bastard."
Irritated, Jun-ho swiped the meat off Moo-young's plate. Moo-young smoothly pulled Jun-ho's food over to himself. The two erupted into their usual cafeteria antics, laughing and bickering noisily.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
"Hold up. It's Manager hyung."
Moo-young called a truce and raised his hand to answer. "Yeah, hyung? For real?"
He glanced at Bora while listening. She poked at her salad, meeting his eyes.
"Oh, Tae-seok hyung too? Awesome. Uh, hyung—you know Bora? Yeah, Jun-ho's girlfriend. She wants to audition—cool if she tags along?"
A quick exchange, and a bright smile bloomed on Moo-young's face. "Got it! Thanks for everything!"
"What'd he say?"
Bora pounced the second he hung up, eyes sparkling like he'd never seen. Where'd that cynical edge go?
"I'm 99.9% confirmed. Final meeting with the director and production next week, sign the contract right there. We've got Tae-seok hyung at our agency—he's auditioning for the host role."
"Tae-seok? Oh, the super buff guy?"
"You can join him. He said he'd put in a word."
Bora's mouth slowly fell open in delight. No words, but her vibe shifted completely.
"Th-thanks."
"Probably 'cause the movie's small-scale. Debut for the director too."
"Debut? No way."
And he wrote this? A widow forced to drive a truck in her dead husband's place. A macho-looking host with a soft heart. A panty thief who only steals underwear. And the nurse Bora fell for at first sight—
"Gotta diet."
"Again?"
The histrionic nurse. Four tangled lives orbiting a vampire at the center. The plot was airtight—no escape.
"Just this last bite. Ah—"
"Ah—"
Jun-ho fed her pityingly. Wait—that was Moo-young's meat!
"Next week when? Gotta flip my sleep, diet, and nail that uptight vibe."
"You don't need to fake uptight."
Smack! Bora flicked Jun-ho's forehead for the jab.
Moo-young checked his phone calendar. "Wednesday next week. I'll head straight from school."
* * *
Seoyeondae University. With orientation week underway, campus felt quieter than usual.
Moo-young stood in the hallway, hat pulled low.
"Whoa, is that Ha Moo-young?"
"Where?"
"There, the tall guy."
He was just standing there, but stares poured in. Without AirPods, he'd have waved and said, "Yep, that's me!"
"Ha Moo-young!"
"Yo, you made it."
His department rep and crew slapped his arm in greeting. Great to see familiar faces after so long.
"World-class shoes~"
"Quit it. Hand over the notes quick."
"Alright, freshman. Savor your senior's wisdom and study hard."
Unlike second-year them, Moo-young was still a first-year thanks to his semester off. Easy pickings for major notes. He grinned gratefully.
"Classes done?"
"Then let's grab food. New spot by school—legit fire."
So much to ask: from Plague to the syndromic You Are a Star, I Am a Star!
But Moo-young checked his watch with a regretful smile. "Gotta bounce. Got stuff."
"Stuff? Another gig?"
"Yeah. But I'll be here all semester—let's hang."
"Wait!"
The rep dramatically blocked his path. The crew swiftly flanked him too.
"What're you—"
"We've got news. I'm second-year rep. This guy's student council president. That's treasurer. And her, vice chief."
Huh? What was this? Everyone sporting titles?
Moo-young tilted his head puzzled. "You know what that means, friend?"
"You rigged it?"
"Dude! We got elected fair and square!"
"Oops, my bad. Sorry."
"Department events are our domain—we gotta make 'em epic. Duh."
They subtly nodded at the notes in his hand. "You know Prof. Kim Chang-o's strict?"
"Nah, first I've heard."
"Strict as hell. And mandatory Basics of Culture? Newbies drown in tears. Want notes and homework help? Then—"
"Oh! I get it."
"MT! Festival! Pretty please!"
"Hell yeah! Sounds fun!"
His dramatic plea got a breezy yes. Deflating them utterly.
"For real?"
"Missed out freshman year. Wanna do it proper. Might clash with shoots, but I'll make time. Sounds blast."
Drinking games with You Are a Star, I Am a Star crew? Epic. Moo-young's eyes sparkled.
Then Go Kyung-min called. "Oh? Yeah, gotta jet for real."
"Uh? Oh."
"Catch ya! Text the spot coords!"
Moo-young dashed down the stairs waving. Passersby whispered, glancing—but he didn't notice.
"Dude hasn't changed a bit."
"Good. Still a people person."
"Honestly, guy's due some swag for balance. Total haha universe."
"Hot, popular, clueless."
They chuckled, shaking heads.
Meanwhile, Moo-young hopped into Kyung-min's car at the gate. Tae-seok and Bora in the back.
"Moo-young!"
"Hyung! Hi, Bora!"
Tae-seok beamed; Bora looked tense, picking at her nails silently the short ride to Mapo.
Screech—
"We're here."
"This place?"
Tiny building. Smaller than Mongnett. Inside: no desk, straight to office.
A staffer stood welcoming. "Hi, Ha Moo-young. Tae-seok. Bora, right? Heard about you. I'm head manager."
"Hello."
"Director's in back. One sec. Boss!"
"Coming! Hi!"
A young guy hustled out—surprisingly youthful for president.
"Pleasure. This way."
Tiny meeting room. Bae Cheol-min waited.
Handshakes all around, scripts placed, meeting underway.
"Any script snags?"
No explicit bed scenes, but vampire core moments aplenty. Moo-young shot back cleanly. "Nah. Curious about shoot order, though. Scene 25's got me hyped."
The shared first "darkness" memory flashback. Vampire trapped decades in viscous black fluid—later revealed as primordial amniotic fluid. Back then: despair, rage, lament, torment. Brewing every grievance.
"Sticks in my head."
Writhing in sticky black ink-oil goo, screaming like oil-soaked raven. Crystal clear.
"I love that scene too."
"Oh, and interpretation snag at scene 89..."
Moo-young led into director-actor character deep-dive. Tae-seok and Bora listened rapt. Director turned to them. "Tae-seok, Bora—what's your take?"
"Same here. Hits hard yet light—love it. Dig the character's style too."
"Heavy dialect?"
"I-I can fix it—"
"Nah. Unique, good."
Tae-seok sighed relief. Bora shared her analysis passionately.
"This bit screams the nurse's anxiety best... Director?"
Suddenly, director teared up. Bora panicked. "Wh-what's wrong?"
"Sorry. Just... everyone wants my script? Unreal. Grateful, but you'll suffer with a nobody director..."
Art school at 28. Dream-chasing path led to first film at 30. Their enthusiasm? Dream or reality?
"C'mon, Director. You're no nobody."
Moo-young patted his hand, smiling. Fragile soul—how'd he craft this?
"I chose it myself!"
Comforted, president awkwardly shifted gears. Director liked them, but acting needed proof.
"Alright, quick read-through? Three-way scene?"
"Scene 74."
"Please?"
Moo-young, Tae-seok, Bora exchanged looks, nodding. He'd synced with each before, but trio? First time.
"Here we go."
The moment to test their synergy.