Chapter Text
"Is it normal for your husband to blow kisses while walking backwards?" asked Hanni, pointing to the screen of her phone where a video of her and Luka at their last public appearance was playing. "Look at this! He looks like a drunk penguin."
"Hey!" protested Luka, throwing a cushion at her, which Hanni deftly dodged. "We can't all be the great actress Hanni, star of three hit dramas."
"At least I don't have to walk backwards for attention, Mr. 'face of all the fashion magazines'," Hanni countered with a smirk.
Jiwon watched the exchange with amusement as she poured tea. "You’re like five-year-olds," she muttered, used to the playful bickering between her husband and her best friend.
"It's all about marketing," sighed Luka, plopping dramatically onto the couch. "Who knew the best way to boost our careers would be to fake a relationship?"
"Ah, yes, our agencies' brilliant idea," Hanni rolled her eyes. "'Rising actress and international model dating.' Sounds like a perfect headline."
"Hey, don't complain so much," Jiwon interjected. "The photos of you guys 'accidentally' hanging out at the same cafe have increased your followers by 50%."
"And the photos of Hanni visiting my photo shoots have doubled my contracts," Luka added with a satisfied smile.
"Anyway," Hanni waved a hand, "you could at least act more natural. Who throws kisses walking backwards?"
"That was an artistic angle!"
"Oh!" exclaimed Jiwon suddenly, as if she had just remembered something important. "Speaking of acting... how would you like to star in my new project?"
Hanni raised an eyebrow, curious. Jiwon's last production had been a total success. "What's it about?"
"It's a lesbian show," Jiwon replied with a mysterious smile.
"And...?" insisted Hanni.
"And that's all I can say for now."
Hanni shrugged. "Well, why not, I have no problem playing someone with a different sexual orientation than my own." She paused and added, "Who will be the other protagonist?"
"I have someone in mind," Jiwon replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.
* * *
Somewhere else in the city, Minji was walking in circles around her music studio, tapping the air with her index fingers as if playing an invisible drum kit. Her steps followed an erratic pattern as she hummed melodies and made percussive sounds with her mouth.
"One, two, three… no, no… maybe… one, two… yes!" she would murmur, occasionally pausing to note in her notebook when a particular rhythm seemed promising.
From an armchair in the corner, Haerin watched her with a mixture of amusement and concern. Her best friend and fellow producer had been working on that new beat for hours.
"Have you eaten yet?"
"No," Minji replied without stopping moving, her fingers still scoring invisible beats in the air.
"Park Jiwon called," Haerin blurted out suddenly.
Minji stopped dead in her tracks, her hands frozen in mid-air. "The Park Jiwon—the same one who made 'Love wins all'?"
"The same one. She wants us to work on the soundtrack for her new project and invited us to dinner to discuss it."
"Park Jiwon wants to work with us!" exclaimed Minji, a beaming smile lighting up her usually hidden face.
"So, will you stop pacing in circles so we can go?"
Minji slammed her notebook shut and ran to put away her beat file. "Give me five minutes," she said as she reached for her trademark black cap. As a music producer, she had decided to keep her face anonymous, letting her music speak for itself.
* * *
Jiwon's chosen restaurant was elegant but cozy, with dim lights and discreetly separated tables that ensured the diners' privacy.
"Why am I here?" asked Hanni, sitting across from Jiwon, her arms crossed as she frowned with curiosity.
"You're the protagonist, you need to know everything," Jiwon replied. "Besides, don't you want to meet the people who will be creating the music for your next starring show?"
Luka, who had invited himself, absentmindedly played with a napkin. "I just came for the free food."
"Excuse me, Park Jiwon?"
Everyone at the table turned toward the voice. In front of them were two women: one tall, with thick eyebrows, dressed entirely in black, including black-framed glasses and a cap; and another shorter, cat-eyed woman in a long skirt and gray sweatshirt.
Jiwon stood up with a beaming smile. "Minji, Haerin! I'm so glad you could come." After hugging them, she turned to the table. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Hanni, our protagonist, you've probably seen her in 'Lucid Dream' or 'Dancing in the Rain'." Hanni gave a little bow. "And this is Luka, international model and face of several luxury brands."
"And my boyfriend," Hanni added automatically, as if it were a rehearsed script.
"And this is Kim Minji and Kang Haerin, the top music producers at the moment."
Hanni's mouth opened slightly along with her eyes at the sight of the woman in black sitting next to her. "I can't believe you're Kim Minji."
"Why?" asked Minji, tilting her head curiously.
"No offense, but I thought you were a curious-looking man. You know, since you never show your face."
"So what am I then?" asked Minji with a sly smile, taking off her glasses to clean them with a napkin, revealing an intense glare from her brown eyes that bore into Hanni's.
"Hot," Hanni blurted out without filter, her eyes roaming over the newly revealed face with obvious appreciation.
"Hanni!" exclaimed Jiwon, shocked.
Minji only laughed, a melodious sound that made Hanni unconsciously lean forward. "Thanks for the compliment," she replied, winking at her before putting her glasses back on.
"Weren’t you Luka's girlfriend?" asked Haerin, confused and directing her gaze to him. "Doesn't it bother you that she said that in front of you?"
Luka laughed. "Hanni is like that," was all his explanation, exchanging a complicit look with Jiwon.
"Anyway," Jiwon interrupted, "let's talk business. I've followed your work for years. The way you blend genres and create unique and fresh atmospheres in your music… it's exactly what I need for this project."
The conversation turned to music, with Minji and Haerin sharing their vision and creative process. Hanni, however, found it difficult to concentrate, her gaze constantly straying to Minji, who seemed equally distracted, playing with the rim of her glasses whenever their eyes met.
After a brief discussion about the project and the signing of contracts, Hanni asked about the bathroom.
"I'll walk you," Minji offered, getting up in one fluid motion. "I need to stretch my legs anyway."
As the two women walked away, Jiwon smiled mischievously. "I think I found my other protagonist."
"Minji?!” exclaimed Haerin, her eyes wide. "But she never… she doesn’t…"
"Did you notice how they looked at each other?" interrupted Luka, leaning forward with interest. "There was more chemistry there than in all our 'romantic' encounters combined."
Jiwon nodded in satisfaction. "Sometimes, the best casting happens by accident."
Haerin stared at them more confused than ever. Why would someone's boyfriend say that? Maybe it was an open relationship, she thought. Who was she to judge.
"But... Minji has never acted," Haerin noted, dropping the subject of Hanni and Luka's strange relationship. "Besides, she hides her face, I don't think she would accept such exposure."
"I'll talk it over with her in private later," is all Jiwon replied, still with that mischievous grin.