Chapter Text
“Last take for 'Meet Me Tonight' music video, everyone!” The AD reminded the crew in the made-up bedroom set, and the studio bustled with renewed energy.
But the harsh lights and the small number of people moving about only brought a fresh wave of nerves through her. She closed her eyes, and breathed in deeply. It was the last take but she still felt the butterflies in her stomach as strongly as before.
‘I’m Kim Minjeong. I’m here because I worked hard for this. I want this,’ she repeated inside her head. It was a mantra she had kept ever since she pursued acting. It had been a tough but fruitful few years, so it helped to have a constant reminder that it had always been her dream.
Even if she was more known and loved in South Korea as an actress, she was finally able to showcase her talent in singing when she was featured by Caro, a popular solo artist, who had been in the industry longer than her.
The whole collaboration for 'Meet Me Tonight' was kept under wraps. Her agency, Black and Gold, was extra careful with this new step in her career. Sure, the people loved her as Kim Minjeong, the ever-adorable actress, who played the adorable and willful crown princess in a primetime period drama. She had gained a decent following through it. But to try having a singing career as well? Being featured in the song and acting in its music video was the best way to introduce her, and test the fans’ reactions.
The last scene was supposed to be easy, but then, a lot of things had already happened behind-the-scenes a month before that moment...
Caro also took the time to drop by again at the studio, and check in on her. The pretty singer who was dressed casually in a black blazer, and short denim shorts, stood behind the director. When their eyes met, Caro gave her a wide, encouraging smile, and two thumbs up.
It eased Minjeong a little, but it was short-lived, as she caught sight of a crew member with straight black hair...
The flutters in her stomach made a sudden turn. A bit of frustration mixed in. She cursed silently before she schooled her expression into an enamored one.
“Lights! Camera...”
Sori, the newbie actress Minjeong was acting alongside her for the music video, had taken position beside her on the bed. And when her own verse backed by Caro’s light, airy voice came echoing out of the speakers, she also resumed character.
“Action!”
Minjeong pushed back the intense emotions rising in her chest, the emotions she got reminded of. It was unneeded in the scene where she was to share a soft kiss with Sori in a supposed-to-be tender, climactic part in the music video.
Sori gently took her hand, and linked their fingers together as they leaned closer. Minjeong closed the gap between them, and nuzzled her nose along Sori’s smooth jaw. She brought her free arm around Sori’s waist and pulled the girl closer, just like what the script had said.
But in a sudden burst of inspiration... or maybe, arrogance, Minjeong furtively whispered close to Sori's ear, “I’m going to fully kiss you. Do you consent?”
Sori’s breathing stuttered, but Minjeong felt a soft, shaky "go for it" against her skin.
And after a few beats when their lips lightly brushed, Minjeong pulled Sori closer, and pressed her lips fully onto the other girl’s. Sori took the chance and moved their bodies tighter.
The heavy bass of 'Meet Me Tonight' thudded in time with Minjeong’s heart. It momentarily crossed her mind that maybe filming the kiss scene should be the thing that the song would remind her most of...
...And not of private meetings, a recent past she'd rather forget, and discussions about what was real and what wasn’t.
Minjeong almost-accidentally bit hard on Sori’s lower lip as intrusive thoughts filled her head. Her scene partner’s skin was soft and warm, emanating through the fabric of their silk pajamas. The coldness of her own hands, fading with every second it went on...
...But she couldn’t immerse herself in the moment.
And it angered her.
Visions of her managed to invade Minjeong's mind.
Minjeong was suddenly conscious of her own movements, of a certain pair of dark cat-like eyes that never seemed to leave her mind the past few days. She shouldn't--
“Cut!”
Minjeong pulled back a little to give Sori a chaste kiss on the cheek before she completely gathered herself up. Her scene partner blushed, but Minjeong didn’t look back to dwell on it.
“That’s a wrap for 'Meet Me Tonight!'” The director’s voice echoed inside the studio. And the tense atmosphere her sudden change in kiss had brought quickly dispersed as everyone broke into applause.
Minjeong stepped away from the bed to join Caro who met her halfway. She bowed in greeting, “Unnie, filming’s over!”
Caro’s face was a little red, as she beamed at her. “I don’t know if they could use that last take, but that was hot.”
Minjeong only laughed it off. She felt empty about the on-screen kiss, but she was convincing enough, it seemed.
As the assistant director recited the names of the people involved in acknowledgment, she and Caro faced the rest of the staff and crew that had gathered for the last day, and bowed repeatedly.
Minjeong could sense the energy of the room and of the people they had worked alongside with. She could feel the heat of the moment. It was what she loved most about filming. She wouldn’t get tired of experiencing it, of being at the center of it, of being around it, and in it.
Caro was being accompanied by her manager towards the exit, when the director came to greet Minjeong.
“Minjeong-sshi, you didn’t need to overdo the last take,” the director told her, chuckling nervously. “It was just for safety.”
“I don’t mind, really, director-nim. Now, you have more footage to choose from,” she said, making sure to return every bow for her. “I also asked my scene partner earlier, and she was okay with it. Like you said, it was the last take.”
The director shrugged it away, eventually letting it all go with a tight smile. “I just don’t want your agency to think we're keeping you too long. You’re supposed to be out of here 30 minutes ago.”
Minjeong gaped. She bowed in apology, suddenly flustered. She was still buzzing with energy. She didn't notice how late it already was. “I apologize. I didn’t consider that.”
“It’s fine,” the director waved it off, bowing in return.
Their prod manager caught their attention from the other side of the set, and signaled at his clipboard.
The director acknowledged him with a nod before promptly letting Minjeong on her way, but not without saying, “It’s a pleasure working with you. You’ve done well, like always, Kim Minjeong-sshi.” Then he was pulled away by a crew member.
Minjeong was busy saying her goodbyes, and flashing everyone around her a polite smile when her own manager unnie, appeared behind her.
Hyesun was unusually grave, but Minjeong didn’t mind it anymore as she was wrapped in a thick coat, and gently led by her elbow towards the exit.
Her manager informed her in a low voice, “I already reported back to the agency about wrapping up. Let’s just get you back to the dressing room and out of here before midnight.”
The mention of the ‘dressing room’ brought back the heavy thumping in her chest. And instead of acknowledging her manager’s words, she asked quietly, “Unnie, can you ask for Sori’s number?”
Hyesun frowned, not taking her eyes away from her company phone. “Who?”
“My love interest in the video.”
Her manager drew a long, deep breath before steering them towards an empty hallway. “She’s new at her agency.”
“I don’t care, unnie,” Minjeong replied, wrapping the thick coat tighter around herself. “Please, get me her number.”
“Why?” Hyesun’s look was unconvinced, but she was already typing something on her phone.
Minjeong half-heartedly hoped that her manager was already reaching her contacts, and would just--
“You don’t even like her like that.”
Minjeong let a group from Wardrobe pass by before muttering, “You don’t know what I’m feeling.” A rumor about her hooking up with a newbie actress before it could even happen was highly unneeded.
Hyesun finally looked up from typing on her phone. “Maybe, but I definitely know what you’re not feeling.”
Minjeong ignored the twinge in her heart. It may no longer felt hollow. It was still a pang nonetheless.
“And that girl, she’s not it,” Hyesun added with certainty. “Stop using people like that.”
Minjeong’s jaw clamped shut in reflex. She could have said something in return. Argue, stick up for what she said she wanted. Anything...
But if there was one thing she couldn't do for herself, it was to keep up an act off-screen, and still not be hurt by that need to pretend.
The lights, the stage, the glamour... They felt different from when she first started in the industry.
That the words of admiration, of acclaim... They would sound hollow after every repetition.
It was exhausting to put on a façade, an act on and off-screen. Her life had been a long series of pretense, and she wondered sometimes, with frustration filling her heart, why she even endured acting in the first place.
It was exhausting to deny herself of the things that she--
Minjeong might not know when it started--
She fully laid eyes on straight black hair and small pale face...
Yu Jimin.
The older girl was already inside the dressing room when they reached it. She was sitting alone at the corner, away from the mirrors. She was wearing a simple white shirt, and a blank expression on her face. Her long legs clad in black jeans were crossed by the ankles. Jimin didn’t look up as they entered. She just kept on texting. The 'crew member' with the long straight hair she had caught sight of at the set might have been Jimin after all.
Did Jimin watch the whole scene? Did she see... Did she see the unscripted full kiss?
Minjeong bit the insides of her mouth as the other girl kept ignoring her, even with Hyesun’s pointed stares at them both. When she didn’t move by the door, her manager unnie just heaved a resigned sigh, and started packing up their things.
She had shared a room with Jimin countless of times, but the emotions it brought had become more confusing over time.
Minjeong pushed herself away from the door, and occupied the chair in front of the wide, lit mirrors. There were congratulatory flower bouquets around the room, but the most familiar one was at the other end of the make-up table. A single white rose with a black ribbon wrapped around its long stem. She didn’t need to check who it was from. She had received it countless times over the years since her official signing at Black and Gold to be sure that it would either hold no card or have one with an occasional 'Keep your head up,' or 'You can do this' printed on a card attached to it.
Always unsigned, but always present.
That single stalk of white rose was the only flower she would bring home, while the rest of the bouquets were brought straight to the agency. She welcomed the presence of it, especially around Jimin and the ‘confusing’ feelings the girl would bring out of her.
Hyesun cleared her throat, and broke the silence, “Do you need a ride back to your hotel, Jimin-sshi?”
Minjeong watched Jimin look up from her phone. The taller girl’s eyes immediately landed on hers, a little too briefly before turning to Hyesun.
“We can drop you off.” Her manager zipped up the bag of clothes for the stylists to pick up. “Your place is on the way to Minjeong’s.”
Minjeong’s hand trembled as Jimin politely declined. “I’m good. Chulsoo-sshi has errands at the neighboring studio. He'll pick me in a minute. But thank you for offering, Hyesun-sshi.”
Minjeong busied herself by removing some of her make-up instead of meeting Hyesun’s sharp stare directed at her through the mirror’s reflection. Her manager must have been waiting for her to invite Jimin herself, but Minjeong couldn’t do it. Not after everything that had happened between her and the older girl.
She was even surprised that Jimin had waited that long alone in the dressing room. She would have wondered for a moment why, but then, after a few seconds, she had gotten her answer.
Jimin suddenly got up, and crossed the small room to where a clipboard holding the printed filming schedule lay. Using the attached pen, she briskly jotted something down at the bottom of it. Then without pause, Jimin brought the clipboard over to her.
Minjeong looked down at the set of numbers in Jimin’s neat handwriting. Confused, she looked up to see Jimin’s expressionless face. “What’s this?”
“Soonyoung’s number,” Jimin replied, locking her phone before sliding it in her jeans pocket.
“Who?”
“The actress you kissed earlier.” Jimin’s eyes were still unreadable.
Minjeong had to school her own features to mask the sharp tug at her heart, and the realization that Jimin had stayed around for the kiss... And for... Was she that callous and self-centered to not even know her scene partner’s correct name?
Maybe Hyesun was right with her indirect accusation earlier. Maybe she was...
“She’s a colleague’s younger sister,” Jimin added, with a hint of warning in her tone. Then she turned to grab her leather jacket folded on her former seat.
Minjeong glanced at her manager unnie who only shrugged. Hyesun did reach out to her contacts to get Sori—Soonyoung’s number.
Another familiar sensation prickled at the corners of her eyes, and she refused to look at anyone anymore.
Not at the sympathetic expression on Hyesun’s face.
Especially not at the indifference on Jimin’s.
“You wanted her number, right?” And with that, Jimin left the dressing room without waiting for her reply.
Minjeong clamped her jaw shut, trying hard not to close her eyes and let the welling tears spill. She didn’t know how things had come to this.
She knew exactly how...
...But just like her feelings and many other things in her life, at that moment, she just didn’t want to admit it.
To be continued (in the distant future)...