Backbiting
"Hello."
A few days later, right after the sun had peeked over the horizon. Hyo-jeong arrived at the set first with her manager. At Warehouse 8, marked with the nameplate Janie's House.
"You're here early?"
"My schedule wrapped up at dawn, so I came straight here—no traffic. Am I the first?"
She was dressed plainly, no makeup, but an actress was still an actress. Even bone-tired, how could she look so fresh and pure? The staff felt their sleepy eyes suddenly snap open.
"Yeah. But the set's not fully cleared yet."
"I heard about it roughly. There was some issue last time, right? Did it get sorted out?"
She covered a yawn with her hand as she asked. Three hours until filming started. Even subtracting makeup time, she could probably snag an hour's nap.
"Sorted out... well, sort of. Director had us do another full safety check on the warehouse. Because of that, Yu-na's solo scenes got pushed back."
"So Yu-na's coming this afternoon?"
"Yeah. She'll probably make it on time. Worst case, tomorrow—we have to clear Warehouse 8 and rebuild the set soon. The assistant director said to clear tomorrow's schedule, right?"
Ah. Damn. All-nighter confirmed. It meant they had to perfectly shoot all the scenes set in Janie's room before dismantling the set.
"To keep it from getting pushed further—"
Hyo-jeong forced a smile as she replied. Tomorrow was supposed to be a rainy day off, or so she'd hoped.
"We'll have to work hard. Oppa, coffee for me."
The "we" she meant was Yi Hi-jun and Moo-young. Her manager headed back out at the actress's request. Hyo-jeong sat blankly on the folding chair for makeup, staring at the tools.
"Unnie. Makeup now?"
"Yeah. Do it quick so I can nap in the car. We've gotta do Hi-jun and Moo-young when they get here too."
The youngest makeup artist gave an awkward smile and prepped her kit. Moo-young aside, Hi-jun was way older. Was she seeing Hyo-jeong as easy prey, or Hi-jun? ...
"Ah. Director."
Hyo-jeong spotted Jin Kyung-mun while sipping coffee, chin propped on her hand. They waved happily, grinning at each other.
"You here?"
"Yeah. Why so early?"
"Something came up. Oh, right—this is Lighting Director Lee Taek-kyeong."
"......Hello?"
Hyo-jeong greeted him, masking her confusion. The lighting director from last time had been someone else. The man with the beanie and thick beard just nodded curtly, saying nothing. Jin Kyung-mun patted his back.
"He's extremely quiet—you won't hear much from him. But he nails the lighting."
"Looking forward to working with you. Have we met before?"
"Circumstances. Today he's scouting. He'll join properly soon."
"......Oh? Sure."
"Go get your makeup done. Director, this way a sec."
Jin Kyung-mun led Lee Taek-kyeong away. Hyo-jeong sipped her coffee, eyebrow twitching in bewilderment.
"What the...?"
"Whoa, new lighting director for real."
"Why'd he switch all of a sudden?"
The youngest makeup artist soaked cotton with toner, chattering excitedly. She glanced at the passing staff and whispered.
"It blew up over that near-accident last time. I heard he was switching, but didn't think it'd happen this fast."
Fortunately, the rest of the staff stayed the same. Minimal blood for a team lead change. Only then did Hyo-jeong notice the weird vibe from the lighting crew. She'd thought it was just morning grogginess.
"But what's that?"
"Oh, the new skin from Doctor Martel. Why? Want your usual from the car?"
"Nah. Never seen it."
She had her own, but wasn't so finicky as to bring it to set. The youngest smoothed her skin texture, babbling on.
"It's surprisingly good. Fresh, and natural ingredients so it's gentle."
"Hmm. Yeah? Anyway, how was the set?"
"Filming? Yu-na and Moo-young?"
She hadn't seen it herself, so this was how she heard. Yu-na had prior work and a prodigy rep in the industry, so that tracked. But Hyo-jeong was curious about Moo-young.
"Did he do well?"
She couldn't forget that fresh shock from the reading. If he was that good just reading lines sitting down... how much energy did he pour out on set?
"He was insane."
The youngest paused mid-foundation, sighing in awe. Her eyes drifted past Hyo-jeong, lost in memory of those few days.
"Their chemistry was off the charts. Yu-na adores Moo-young, and she's great too, so the synergy exploded. Prep was flawless—no flubbed NGs. Director re-directed sometimes, but that's it."
"That good?"
"For real. You'll see today syncing with them."
First time with other actors besides Yu-na and Moo-young. Hyo-jeong rummaged her bag, pondering.
"Don't go heavy on makeup?"
"Got it. Dirt and dust before close-ups. Read your script. Nails clean?"
"Yeah. Hate wasting it. Just did them."
Brown shadow down to the nails. Desperate survivors in a sealed zone—no one pristine but staff.
Scrape.
"But Moo-young's new to acting, how's he that good? Personality too. Sweet."
"......You like him a lot?"
"Oh? Not just me—whole staff thinks so."
Just being near him spread freshness. And his looks? Made you grin involuntarily.
"So that's how he shoved out Hi-jun and snagged Louis."
"Huh?"
Hyo-jeong muttered, eyes fixed on her script. Then, innocently—
"You didn't know?"
She launched into trashing Hi-jun. Audition or not, agency meddling was obvious. Talent plus additives. The guy who snatched her boyfriend's spot. That was Hyo-jeong's take on Hi-jun.
"Louis was originally Hi-jun's."
"Really?"
"But Moo-young fit better, so director swapped."
"Hi-jun oppa would've suited too."
"Suited? Overdone. Same image, milking it forever. Won't or can't change."
"Ah......"
The youngest clamped her mouth at the bluntness. One thing she knew: when backtalk started, play deaf and blind. Get involved, get annoyed—or worse.
"Unnie. Eyes closed."
"First time seeing Hi-jun act today, right?"
"Yeah."
"Look forward. Honestly, I don't get the hype. Past hits show his size."
She smirked, chewing it over, savoring. Fatigue vanished. Fame outpacing substance, sure. Just lucky debut break.
"No outdoor, so light sunscreen. Hate feeling stuffy."
Hyo-jeong smiled brightly, focusing on script. The youngest diligently did foundation. She'd thought only them in the tent makeup nook...
Aha. So that's it.
Another staffer outside the tent flap had frozen, timing off. Meant to wait out the gossip, but caught gold.
"What're you doing?"
"Huh? Nothing. But hear that? Louis was originally Hi-jun's."
"Yeah? Suited him—why swap?"
"Dunno. Moo-young better actor?"
"Kid was nuts. For real."
"Right? Thought he was possessed."
The morning drowsiness chased by chatter rippled through the set.
"Whoa, so Moo-young booted Hi-jun?"
"Rookie? Epic."
"Honestly, no one's had Moo-young's on-set impact. Makes sense. Hi-jun's that soft romance sub-male specialist."
"Huh? Love Comment on, just leads?"
"That's why the flops."
"Ah, yeah."
The gossip spilled beyond the warehouse. Staff smoked by it, chattering—new lighting director, yesterday's soccer, dinner plans. Not just Hi-jun and Moo-young.
"Aigoo, here we go again!"
"Yeah. Let's head in."
One of countless chats. But to the subject, it loomed huge, stabbing the ear.
Yi Hi-jun, smoking around the corner, exhaled sharply.
"Fucking morning bullshit."
Irritated sigh. His manager fidgeted, eyeing him.
"I'll handle it."
"No. Makes us look stupider? Ruin first shoot vibe?"
He stubbed the cig roughly. Manager scanned around.
"Think he spread it?"
"Who? Ha Moo-young?"
"Yeah. How else staff know? Director wouldn't."
Ha Moo-young? Didn't seem the type. Or did it? Showbiz full of two-faces. Don't judge by looks. Yi Hi-jun shook his head, pulling another cig.
"Ignore, just do our thing well? Hi-jun-ah. Yeah? Rumors die."
"Fuck it."
As he rummaged his pocket again.
"Why follow?"
"Smoking alone's no fun, right?"
"What good smoke."
Moo-young and Go Kyung-min approached the smoking area, just arrived. Moo-young insisted on tagging his manager for one quick cig. Spotted Hi-jun, greeted warmly.
"Hello—! Sunbae-nim!"
"Ah. Hello. Moo-young's manager, Go Kyung-min."
"First since ritual after that test. Please take care today, sunbae-nim!"
Big smile, another 90-degree bow. Yi Hi-jun crumpled his unlit cig, glaring. Speak of the devil—perfect timing?
"Sunbae-nim?"
Hi-jun scowled, no reply. Moo-young tilted his head, puzzled. Sick?
"......Hey."
"Yes?"
"Shut it. Before it's no fun."
"Shut what? Oh, hate greetings?"
Weirdo. Hating hellos? As Moo-young brushed it off, Go Kyung-min clocked the hostility.
What? Super aggressive.
"......Did we mess up?"
"Don't yap behind backs. Snagged Louis on skill? If I refused Jin, you'd be out too. Know your place."
"......?"
Moo-young just blinked. Utter confusion—like wrong language.
No clue.
"Sunbae-nim? No idea what you mean."
"You told staff? Trashed me for Louis, you grabbed it."
"Me? I did?"
He pointed at himself, startled. What bullshit out of nowhere?
"No—didn't say that. Never thought it. Just director's call, right?"
"Right. Moo-young wouldn't, we keep him in line. No idea the situation, but misunderstanding."
Two men denying vehemently. Yi Hi-jun and his manager hesitated. Actor could lie, but manager's sincerity shone too clear.
"For real?"
"Yes! Totally!"
Moo-young waved hands, protesting innocence. Yi Hi-jun smirked, like he'd thought of fun.
"We got scenes together today, right?"
"Yes. Two."
"Flub a few in a row."
Like a noob shaking. Then Hi-jun could "help," show senior prowess.
As he basked in his clever plan.
"Don't wanna."
Moo-young's firm rebuff hit back.
"What?"
"NG means staff suffer."