Finally in Front of the Camera
Moo-young and Song A finally stood in front of the camera. The gazes of dozens of staff felt as burdensome as lenses piercing right through him.
Sensing his tension, perhaps, Song A let out a light laugh.
"Just do it like always. Like always."
"Ah. Is it that obvious?"
"I can smell the strawberry scent from here."
Moo-young laughed at her joke too. Just then, PD Lee Yu-jin, the assistant director, and a few staff approached them to check their movements.
"Both of you, look at this angle here."
The university hallway. Being the weekend, it would feel deserted except for a few club rooms. PD Lee Yu-jin and the assistant director pointed with their hands to explain positions.
"While messing around trying to grab each other in the hallway, Do-ha catches Mi-ran just like that. And keep smiling even after."
"How long?"
"About... ten seconds?"
As their eyes met and they smiled, the sounds around them faded, and Do-ha leaned in closer for a kiss. Mi-ran playfully clamped her mouth shut.
"This part will only catch your profiles. We'll shoot lights from behind, so try not to use your left hand much. It'll cast shadows."
"Ah. Got it, got it."
Being a set, the opaque glass windows looked out not to the outside but to a typical studio. The lighting team would bustle with machines to send out beams of light.
"And when you pinch your nose for the line, it'll close up on Mi-ran's face only, so mind your expressions."
"It cuts here anyway, right?"
"Yeah. I'll say it again."
Do-ha playfully pinched Mi-ran's nose as she clamped her mouth shut. Mi-ran rolled her twinkling eyes, holding back laughter. Finally unable to hold her breath, the moment she burst out Puha!—that was when he dove in for the kiss.
"How much should I lean on the window frame?"
"About like this?"
At Moo-young's question, PD Lee Yu-jin grabbed Song A's waist and leaned slightly. Like that, three—no, four including the assistant director—painstakingly mapped out the movements.
"How's that? Got it?"
"Yes. But grabbing faces might smudge the makeup—Song A noona, you okay?"
"Just grab lightly."
"Okay."
After coordinating even the fine details, it was time for the real shoot. The staff buzzed about busily.
Once standby was called, this time Song A looked awkward. Acting itself was new to her, so a kiss scene was her first too.
"Haha. Now I'm the one shaking."
But Moo-young just grinned. Having run through the movements once, he now had a feel for what PD Lee Yu-jin wanted and how it should look on screen.
"Alright! Here we go! Standby!"
"Ready—! Action!"
They started a bit apart, then dove into acting at the action cue. Mi-ran raised her hand, unable to hold back a laugh.
"Ah, sorry! Sunbae, I'm really sorry!"
"Sorry with words only?"
"But what can I do? I had no choice!"
"Then why no contact—"
"Euaaa! Puahaha!"
Mi-ran dodged this way and that as Do-ha snatched at her. When he tickled her side playfully, they tumbled together, laughing so hard the hallway seemed to shake.
"Hahaha... Ah. Really..."
They laughed so happily tears welled up. Do-ha tightened his hold around her waist, still chuckling. Their faces drew closer. His fair skin and brown eyes glowed purely in the sunlight—beautiful.
"Hup!"
But Mi-ran clamped her mouth shut playfully. Do-ha tapped her lips and whispered. His languid voice was oddly alluring.
"Say ahh."
"It's gross—"
Try it if you dare, Mi-ran mumbled, blinking defiantly. Do-ha stared straight at her face. Then slowly, he pinched her nose shut.
"You gotta breathe sometime?"
"......"
Mi-ran's face flushed redder by the second. Not just from holding her breath, but the situation itself was insanely embarrassing. Do-ha's intense gaze didn't waver, and finally Mi-ran surrendered.
"Puhat—!"
As she exhaled and opened her mouth, Do-ha seized the moment for the kiss. Sunlight poured in even brighter. Sparkling through the opaque glass window.
Okay. Fade in here. PD Lee Yu-jin murmured to herself, watching the monitor. She pictured the focus shifting from them to the window, the screen brightening.
Whoa, wow. Amazing.
Perfect. They match so well.
The staff all gulped like they'd stolen a glimpse of the lovers' secret. Then PD Lee Yu-jin's voice rang out.
"Okaay! Cut! Loved it! Great job!"
At that, they turned. Their flushed faces broke into shy smiles. Moo-young wiped his mouth and looked for Go Kyung-min.
"...Hyung?"
Far off, his manager stood frozen like a statue, mouth agape. Moo-young waved, and he came running with water and candy.
"What's up?"
"Dude, you... whew. Yeah. Better solo. You nailed it. No, really."
Moo-young burst out laughing at the manager's rambling awe. Song A, fixing her lipstick, did the same.
"Even this old guy's heart went soft watching, and this'll be huge. Viewers'll be hugging pillows, screaming, losing it."
"That'd be awesome. Haha."
"Alright. Fix makeup and we'll shoot Song A's face next."
"Yesss. Just hold me?"
"Yeah. Moo-young, you were too good!"
PD Lee Yu-jin kept slapping his back in praise. She'd expected massive awkwardness since it was both their first kiss scenes...
Song A's a bit clumsy, but it fits Mi-ran perfectly. And Moo-young—how'd he pull that off?
She smiled inwardly, prepping the next take. Nailed the casting. Do-ha incarnate!
"Moo-young. That pose from before."
"Yes. Going."
The shooting continued. Moo-young wrapped his arm around Song A's waist, twisting his body slightly. The camera came over his shoulder for a close-up of her face—from Do-ha's POV on Mi-ran's expression.
"Okay! Good! Next!"
"Great vibe on set today?"
"When isn't it? My gut says this'll take us to number one. Ratings champ."
The staff all sensed it instinctively. People are gonna love this. Reactions off the charts. Even gruff uncle staff, veterans of countless such scenes, were melting... Teens full of feels? Forget about it.
"Okay! Let's go!"
PD Lee Yu-jin must've known it subconsciously too—her "okay" calls rang higher than usual.
And on the night Moo-young and Song A's kiss scene aired. Moo-young dragged his half-asleep body to a Korean restaurant. A meeting with advertisers ahead of a CF contract.
"Up here?"
Moo-young asked, mask and cap pulled low.
"Yeah. Eat whatever you want."
"Appetite gone from exhaustion... but free food? Gotta eat. Hehe."
With the offer in, this was to check if he fit the ad image, explain the storyboard, hash out schedules and terms.
"Welcome. Reservation?"
"Yes. Go Kyung-min."
"This way."
Fancy Korean spot—first time. Trickling artificial stream, nature-friendly decor hit the eyes. As Moo-young opened the door, the execs were already seated.
"Hello."
"Oh, hello."
"Come on in. Tough finishing work."
"No, sorry to keep you so late."
ROS Company's PR team. With Moo-young's drama schedule tight, they'd scheduled late.
Handshakes, then seats.
"Thanks for considering our ad positively. Here's the detailed storyboard. Should eat first, but it's so late."
"No, fine. Over food. Wouldn't want you heading home past midnight."
Hm? Moo-young tilted his head at the storyboard. He'd thought it was from You Are a Star, I Am a Star's popularity, but this was from Plague.
Chocolate!
"Loui was so memorable. Our team saw it two, three times in theaters."
"Wow, really? Thank you."
"We're newish, but—"
The staff were polite, enthusiastic. Not easy for young Moo-young, a rookie not yet top star.
"Especially with our product's kid-heavy customers. Company donates 1% profits in thanks, and new 'Chocolate Balls' tie into charity events."
"Wow, that's great. Didn't know."
Famous products? Maybe one or two. Moo-young wasn't big on snacks anyway.
"What're Chocolate Balls?"
"Pour milk, becomes chocolate milk. Rich chocolate syrup inside—sweet, tasty. Benchmarked famous Italian chocolate."
In Italy, coffee instead. Good solo, or mixed hot water/milk—perfect snack.
"...Would joining help?"
"Pardon?"
"You said 1% profits donated. If I sell tons, that helps more, right?"
Moo-young grinned. Image matches personality! The staff smiled at the milk-pure young man's question.
"Of course."
"Great. Well. Eat first."
They ate late-night snacks in warm vibes. Water pitcher emptied. Moo-young rang, no response.
"Hm? Busy?"
"Want me to go?"
"No, I'll get it. Eat, hyung."
Moo-young wandered out with the pitcher. Late night, quiet. At the counter, staff huddled heads together. Curious, he peeked.
"Kyaa! It happened! It happened! Finally!"
"Shh! Quiet!"
"OMG! Insane. Love it!"
"Euaaa! Happened! Huge."
What? Moo-young peeked over.
Phone screen: You Are a Star, I Am a Star kiss scene.
"Euaaa."
"Quiet, I said!"
"Excuse me—"
"Yes? Aaaah!"
The startled staff whirled, stumbling with a shriek. Moo-young smiled awkwardly, holding the pitcher.
"More water?"
"Y-, yes, sorry."
The drama character suddenly real—who wouldn't jump? Moo-young's bare tired face was embarrassing too.
"Drama's fun, huh?"
"Yes! Super hooked. Total fan, Moo-young."
"We go nuts for air time. Best."
Moo-young thanked the chattering staff, refilled pitcher, returned.
Go Kyung-min eyed his grinning face.
"What?"
"Staff outside watching our drama."
"Ah, right. Ending soon? Next project set?"
Next gig was key for modeling points. Ongoing activity preferred.
Moo-young continued the meeting.
Ding. Post-finale, group chat pinged with PD Lee Yu-jin's message. Moo-young missed it amid eating and talking.