Maybe I've Got a Coffee Jinx Now?
At this rate, I was starting to think I had some kind of coffee jinx. It happened during my cameo on Chosun Sunshine last time, and now again. What the hell was going on every time I just went out to buy coffee…
“Oh, thanks.”
Lee Kang-sik took the coffee but stayed silent for a long while. Woojin, watching him quietly, finally spoke up.
“You okay?”
“…With what?”
“With Jo Seung-cheol sunbaenim.”
“What's there to be okay or not about? Just a little spat between old guys.”
“Still. People's hearts aren't that simple, right?”
At Woojin's words, Lee Kang-sik let out a wry chuckle and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. He exhaled a puff of smoke and turned to Woojin.
“Getting old… makes me embarrassed to even face my juniors.”
“These things happen. I've been through plenty myself.”
“Hahaha! My kid's giving me some bland comfort here.”
Woojin naturally sat down beside him. He'd already felt their bond growing closer many times over, but it still amazed him that they could have such unguarded conversations now. A word of comfort might even come off as nosy to some. There had to be emotions between Lee Kang-sik sunbae and Jo Seung-cheol sunbae that only they could understand.
Yet here was the senior, listening openly to his junior. That alone gave Woojin full confidence in the senior's fondness for him.
“My heart didn't want to, but when that Seung-cheol punk came at me, my body reacted the opposite.”
“No hard feelings toward Seung-cheol sunbaenim, then?”
“…Time heals all wounds. It's been ages since I forgot.”
Woojin nodded. He understood where Lee Kang-sik was coming from, to an extent. His feelings toward Ahn Jong-hoon were similar. Well, not forgotten like the sunbae's, of course… Just that if he got a chance for a pure acting showdown, great—but he wasn't dwelling on it. No interest or energy to spare for the guy. He was too busy focusing on the tasks at hand.
With time, wouldn't it all fade? Just like with the sunbae.
“Now I need to swallow my pride and soften up a bit.”
Lee Kang-sik stubbed out his cigarette and said.
“I'll head in first.”
Woojin stood and started walking away.
“Where you off to?”
“Gotta see Jo sunbaenim too.”
“Shrimp gets the back blown off in a whale fight, huh? Tough luck playing peacemaker for us old folks.”
“…If you know that, cheer up quick. If you two fight, I'm the one who suffers.”
“Haha! Got it. Go see Seung-cheol.”
“Yes, sir. Take your time coming in.”
Lee Kang-sik laughed heartily and waved him off. Woojin grabbed another coffee and headed to Jo Seung-cheol.
The actors' waiting area, makeshift in one corner of the set. Jo Seung-cheol sat alone there, looking much like Lee Kang-sik—quiet, lost in thought.
Same feelings, huh.
It was obvious at a glance.
“Sunbaenim?”
“……?”
Jo Seung-cheol whipped around, eyes wide at Woojin's voice.
“Coffee for you. Bought it specially for you, sunbaenim!”
“Oh… yeah. Thanks.”
Jo Seung-cheol seemed a bit flustered. Understandable. How many young juniors would approach so casually despite the vast gap in age and experience? They'd barely exchanged greetings at the reading—no prior closeness.
And in this atmosphere? It must have hit like a fresh shock.
“Never got a chance to chat with you before. Been a shame.”
Woojin smiled as he said it. Jo Seung-cheol finally relaxed, sipping his coffee.
“Scared me back there, huh?”
“Pardon? What? I didn't see a thing.”
At the junior's deadpan, a smile tugged at Jo Seung-cheol's lips. Woojin added carefully.
“Stuff like that happens on set all the time. Totally understandable.”
“Everyone must've been shocked…”
Jo Seung-cheol scratched his head sheepishly. For some reason, Woojin's mere presence soothed him. He naturally opened up with much the same story Lee Kang-sik had shared, and Woojin listened attentively. Their conversation flowed—not too short, not too long.
Soon after,
“Well, sunbaenim, see you later.”
“Yeah. Thanks again—I'll enjoy it.”
“Yes, sir! Fighting!”
Having wrapped up with the two culprits(?), Woojin headed straight for the director's chair. Woo Seung-hyun PD, who'd been fidgeting anxiously, jumped up at the sight of him.
“Woojin! How'd it go? Sunbaenims feeling better…?”
Woojin flashed a thumbs-up.
“Mission complete.”
“Phew, what a relief. Nothing trickier for production than actors clashing or arguing.”
The PD wiped sweat from his brow with a sigh.
“This is probably the first and last time they'll raise voices at each other. Don't worry.”
Woojin said softly. The PD joked back,
“Still, might need you out here till we wrap episode 2, Woojin. Haha!”
“I'd come even if you told me not to!”
Woojin replied with easy confidence. Good that it worked out, but…
Both sunbaenims thinking the same thing, huh…
Pondering, Woojin asked the PD,
“Director, no shoot tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, episode 2 is the day after. Why?”
“Hmm… How about drinks after wrap tonight?”
“Drinks?”
“Yeah, since everyone's staying at the dorms for the shoot the day after.”
“Everyone?”
The PD looked puzzled, so Woojin leaned in and whispered. The PD's face lit up.
“Great idea!”
“Cool. I'll text the spot after wrap.”
A meaningful smile played on Woojin's lips. Might as well,
meddle just this once.
* * *
The set, paused briefly by the commotion, soon buzzed with harmony again thanks to Woojin's efforts(?). While he smoothed things over with the two seniors, Jun-an passed out “one coffee per person” to the crew. Shooting prep, delayed a bit, picked up speed.
“Great work, everyone!”
Woojin wandered the set, greeting people. Sitting idle at the director's spot was too boring.
“Ah, thanks for the coffee!”
“No problem. Uh, your name?”
“Lee Seung-shin from makeup!”
“Park Cheol-min, lighting team!”
He made the rounds, learning each staff member's name. Basic manners for an actor. They'd spend months together—knowing faces and names was a given.
And that wasn't all.
“Sorry to bother, but I'm a huge fan. Photo, maybe…?”
Strolling alone, extras huddled in a corner approached shyly.
“Hey? You look familiar… We've met?”
“You remember me?!”
“Wait… Red Petals extra?”
“Yes!”
Connections from one set circled back. Even fleeting ones felt joyful upon reunion.
Truth be told, extras asking leads for photos was rare on set—almost unheard of. An invisible aura kept them apart; the extra lead would faint at the sight.
But,
“Meeting again like this—fate! Group shot~”
“Really?!”
“Thank you!”
Woojin bowed first, thanking them. Fans who liked him—no airs as a lead. Just actor to actor, equals.
Who knew? Some might say he roamed too freely. But Woojin wanted close ties with everyone on set, regardless of position or role.
- Click!
Starting with the shy extras, a crowd gathered around Woojin. Sure enough, the extra lead, back from a break, came rushing—but,
“Hold up, lead!”
Woo PD stopped him.
“Aigoo, sorry. I'll manage the extras—”
“No need. Let them do what they want.”
“Pardon?”
“That's Woojin's style.”
“Still…”
“Looks good, doesn't it?”
The PD smiled. Having watched Woojin closely during Wanted as assistant director, he loved this side of him.
“What's this, sudden fan meet?”
Lee Kang-sik approached Woo PD, who gazed warmly at Woojin snapping selfies with extras.
“Our kid's got great people skills, eh?”
“Lifts the mood without messing up schedule or bothering staff. Tough balance.”
“He was like that before?”
“Yep. Atmosphere maker, considerate to crew. Same as always.”
“Heh, people don't change easy. That's his strength.”
Lee Kang-sik patted the PD's shoulder and turned.
“Oh, sunbaenim. Free for dinner?”
“Nothing on. Why?”
“Woojin wants drinks after wrap, with you.”
“Hey, count me in.”
“Perfect. I'll tell him.”
Lee Kang-sik nodded and left. The PD called out,
“Alright, let's shoot!”
* * *
The first scene brutally captured the Aung San bombing's horror. Conveying the raw emotions of Lee Jin-tae and Yoon Jong-su alone took the day. The following shots with Burmese officials, police, Korean government reps, reporters—all extras—wrapped smoothly.
After,
“I'm heading out first!”
Woojin left faster than anyone. Rain started pattering right as wrap.
Perfect timing.
“Where to?”
“Rainy day? Makgeolli house from before.”
“Roger!”
Woojin and Jun-an headed to a nearby traditional spot. They'd just settled in a corner when—
- Ting-a-ling~
“Sunbaenim, over here!”
In came Jo Seung-cheol.
“Wait long?”
“Nah, we just got here. This is my manager hyung.”
“Hello, sunbaenim. Song Jun-an.”
“Haha, nice to meet you.”
“Speak casually.”
“Alright.”
Jo Seung-cheol, less familiar than Lee Kang-sik, still warmed up fast—their set chat had worked wonders. No awkward silences.
- Ting-a-ling~
Then, the door opened. All eyes turned. In came Woo PD and Lee Kang-sik.
“Huh?”
“What're you doing here?”
Lee Kang-sik and Jo Seung-cheol's gazes met.