Belated Seventeenth Birthday
The next day, Woojin took it easy at his lodging, slowly sorting through his thoughts while resting. Then, the morning after that—a full day later—Woojin, who had finally left the set after so long, headed straight to his family home in Incheon.
As always—
Ding-dong.
“Oh my! Son?! What brings you here without a heads-up when you're so busy?”
“Oh? You're here, little bro.”
The two women rushed out barefoot to greet him.
“Eaten yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Aigoo, you must be starving! What should I make you?”
“Whoa~ Mom's reaction though?! She told me yesterday to eat before coming home. Isn't this blatant favoritism?!”
Woohee huffed dramatically, pulling a mischievous face.
Mom patted her daughter's cheek affectionately as she hurried to the kitchen, her face blooming with smiles. Seeing that radiant grin made Woojin think, Come to think of it, it's been over half a year since my last visit...
He always meant to come home more often, but actually doing it was another story. Back when he was a trainee, he'd rationalize avoiding Mom and Sis by claiming he had no face to show them after repeated failures. Now that he'd regressed and was finally achieving the success he'd dreamed of, he still couldn't see them because of his packed schedule. The situation had flipped 180 degrees, but he was still neglecting the family that mattered most.
That left him with a constant sense of debt toward Mom and Sis—a guilt that had only grown during Burnt and Hidden Marks.
Through the events of the other day, his full understanding of his father had finally settled deep within him. By the same token, Mom and Sis must have understood Woojin all this time, even as he clung to his dream of acting. Now that he realized how hard it was to silently support, wait for, and understand someone like that, a surge of emotion welled up in his chest.
Woojin swallowed back the tears threatening to fall without letting the two women notice and stepped into the living room.
The worn-out sofa, old TV, antique dresser—everything was the same. A bittersweet smile tugged at Woojin's lips.
Mom's too much...
His pay from Red Petal, plus the running guarantee, far exceeded what he'd earned from that S Company coffee ad. With no real expenses, Woojin had sent most of it to Mom and Sis. Yet the furniture in the house hadn't changed a bit. It was still modest and frugal.
Sis was the same. Once, when he'd sent her pocket money, every single won came back untouched—with a note calling herself “the world's most upright big sis who doesn't covet her little brother's things.”
They bickered on the surface, but no one cared for him more than his sister.
Swipe.
His nose tingled unexpectedly. Lately, everyday emotions felt sharper than before—was it just his imagination? Woojin glanced toward the kitchen.
The sight of mother and daughter preparing the meal together filled the house with a warm, simple happiness that seeped into every corner.
A moment later.
“Hey, Baek Woojin!”
“What?”
“Here, eat up. Who's a good boy?”
Woohee beckoned him playfully.
“...Am I a dog?”
“Hey now! When your big sis personally sets the table, you say 'Thank you!' without complaint. Where else in the world do you find a sister like me?”
There it was. He'd wondered why Baek Woohee was so quiet.
“Hold on.”
Woojin pulled something from his bag—a small photo frame with a family picture he'd carried around the set. He placed it on the empty spot at the four-person dining table.
“It's been ages since we all sat down for a family meal. Dad should join us too.”
At his words, Mom and Woohee nodded silently, smiling.
Just a few months ago, he couldn't have brought it up so casually without killing the mood. Now? It felt natural. If anything, he regretted not doing this sooner.
“You made this yourself, Sis?”
“Yeah, why? Just looking at it makes my heart race—it's that delicious-looking.”
“Nah, not at all. It looks like it ruins the appetite ju—.”
Thwack!
“Ow! Why'd you hit me?!”
“After all my effort... Hmph!”
Another round of their usual chaotic sibling banter, full of noise and laughter. Mom's hearty chuckles showed no sign of stopping.
Dad's smile in the photo—holding Mom's hand warmly—probably echoed the same.
All this time... it took so long.
* * *
The conversation flowed nonstop over the meal, like unleashing all the pent-up stories from the Red Petal premiere at once.
They were curious about Burnt and Hidden Marks above all, of course. It wasn't just Woojin's story—it tied into them too.
Woojin shared every behind-the-scenes detail from those intense four months of filming, unfiltered. To Mom and Sis, it was riveting.
Midway through the lively chat—
Rrrrr.
Woojin's phone buzzed. It was Director Ra.
“Excuse me a sec.”
He stepped into his room to answer.
—Woojin, you free to talk?
“Yes, Director. Go ahead.”
—I just sent the final script to your email.
“Checking now.”
Woojin opened his laptop. Heart pounding, he clicked the email subject: [Hidden Marks Final.pdf]
The final script file for Hidden Marks was attached.
“File's open.”
—Check scenes 24 and 31.
Woojin scrolled down with the mouse.
S#24
Protagonist POV: Firefighter Baek Seong-ho's most desired activity right now.
No fixed format. No fixed lines.
S#31
Protagonist POV: Flashback to firefighter Baek Seong-ho's happiest memory.
(Line adjustments to be discussed as needed.)
—As discussed, left them blank. Did you talk it over with your family?
“Not yet. About to.”
—Got it. Let me know once it's settled.
“Yes, Director.”
He hung up and printed the script right away. Watching the pages emerge one by one, Woojin fell silent, lost in thought.
Once printing finished, he grabbed the script and returned to the table.
“What's that?”
Woohee eyed the stack of papers curiously.
“The Hidden Marks script I mentioned.”
“Lemme see.”
She scooted next to Mom, flipping through eagerly. The pages flew by—until,
“Huh? Why's this blank?”
Woohee pointed to scene 24.
“Hold up. The protagonist's name is weird too... Isn't it Lee Woo? What's Seong-ho?”
“Dad's name.”
“What?!”
“Mom, Sis.”
Woojin looked between them before continuing slowly.
“If it's okay with you two, I'd love to film those scenes together.”
Their eyes went wide.
What did he just say?
* * *
Two days earlier.
“Baek Seong-ho—my father's name.”
Director Ra had gotten chills the moment Woojin said it. The meaning behind those words:
“There's something my father always wanted to do before he passed, but never got the chance.”
He wanted to fulfill his late father's wish, even if just in the movie—where Dad might be watching from somewhere.
Both scenes were handheld shots from the protagonist's POV, capturing everyday life. Anything fitting the film's tone and flow could work.
“What is it?”
The director asked cautiously.
“...A party.”
“...?”
“My sister's seventeenth birthday party.”
Woojin's trembling voice pierced the director's heart. His eyes held an earnest plea unlike any before.
“Uncle Youngjae told me. On the morning he passed, Uncle and the others urged him—including you—to go home early and spend time with the kids after days camped at the station. 'Please, just go.'
“...”
“Then the dispatch call came. Uncle said he saw Dad fiddling with the family photo.”
Woojin continued softly.
“Since I've been given this chance to carry his name, I want to resolve that regret in the film, at least.”
Director Ra patted Woojin's shoulder and nodded. They both knew it stemmed from Hidden Marks' mockumentary style—the key word they'd emphasized from the start.
The director accepted without hesitation, moved by the actor's sincerity.
* * *
“I suggested it first. What if we did this?”
Woojin gazed steadily at Woohee.
Tears already streamed down her face. Mom calmly wiped them for her.
Woojin explained the scenes in detail, then took his sister's hand warmly.
“Sis. As the eldest, and as my sister... you've pretended to be strong for this pathetic little brother, acting unscathed. Thank you—and sorry for all the hardship.”
“...”
“Thanks to you, I overcame it. Now, I hope your wounds—the ones I ignored while fixated on mine—can heal too. That's why I want us to do this together.”
Woojin smiled.
“...Yeah.”
Woohee whispered through sobs.
Mom watched the siblings, eyes reddening but holding back tears. That let Woojin smile even brighter.
Yeah, this isn't sad.
It was what? Jidoorakmi—joy at the forefront, pleasure to the very end. The ultimate happiness, lingering longest.
Now, he would protect and comfort the Mom and Sis who'd done it for him all along.
* * *
After his break, Woojin returned to set, and the final shoot for Burnt and Hidden Marks wrapped in a flash.
The only regret? No time to savor the crank-up after four epic months—Hidden Marks still had scenes left.
With Burnt and Hidden Marks done, the crew scaled down naturally. He promised Yoon Mal-geum-sae and Kwon Hyeok-jin a reunion at the post-wrap party once Hidden Marks finished, easing their brief goodbye.
Not a secret: Team Leader Kim Tae-gon swooped in eagle-eyed to pick up the manageless duo, as always.
A week later, on the weekend, the car carrying Woojin's family pulled into Mapo-gu.
“This the film company you called 'outer meek, inner strong'?”
Woohee pushed her sunglasses up onto her forehead and peered at the building.
“Yeah. Anyway, take off those shades? It's winter...”
“Mind your own business.”
She'd sworn she wouldn't stand out.
“You sure this is fine? Mom aside, Baek Woohee—you'll get recognized on screen.”
“Aigoo, everyone around already knows you're my little bro.”
“For real?”
“Hey. Long hair on your face makes me; short hair on mine makes you. Baek's not common either. Only idiots wouldn't know.”
...True. Despite the two-year gap, they'd always been pegged as twins since kids.
“I fend off autograph requests daily—it's war. Can't you feel this big sis's love, little bro?”
Woohee shrugged and headed inside. Woojin shook his head with a sigh, taking Mom's hand as he followed.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Ra Ho-chan, the director working with Woojin.”
“Hello. I'm Woojin's mom. I've heard so much about you.”
“I'm his sister, Baek Woohee. Nice to meet you!”
Simple greetings exchanged. Woohee stayed bubbly; Mom kept thanking him for looking after her son.
The simple shoot had the office dressed like a cozy home. In the warm atmosphere, Director Ra explained everything thoroughly and kindly.
“Mom, Sis—no pressure. No set lines or actions. Just talk and move naturally.”
“Got it, son.”
“No worries.”
“I'm not worried. You are. Remember one thing: From now, I'm Baek Seong-ho. Seong-ho. Got it? No Baek Woojin.”
“Sis~ Enough nagging. I'm not dumb.”
Heh heh heh.
Director Ra chuckled softly from afar, watching the real-life sibling squabble he'd only heard about. Woojin's new side intrigued him.
Soon, prep wrapped. Mom and Woohee sat facing each other, chatting casually.
“Action!”
On cue, Woojin entered—one hand with the camera, the other holding a lit cake.
“Sis, happy birthday.”
The seventeenth birthday party... twelve years late.