Chapter Text
Hwang In-ho has been trying and perfecting his new movie script for months now. He had to make sure everything was perfect. Everything. He was a well known director in the movie world. He couldn't afford to mess up. No mess ups, no mistakes.
His assistant and right-hand, Kang Dae-ho was helping with the casting. In-ho didn't bother to look on the list of actors that had been cast, he trusted Dae-ho with this. And what a mistake he did. One out of many mistakes he was about to make.
8:30 in the morning. In-ho was drinking a poorly made coffee he made himself since Dae-ho didn't arrive yet. He hadn't slept much last night, all he thought about was this movie. The fact that his whole career will depend on how this movie will perform. It was a huge pressure on his shoulders, but he will pull this off, he knew it.
After around 30 minutes, Dae-ho finally arrived, behind him a crew of actors.
"Mr Hwang!" Dae-ho beamed, calling In-ho. "Come meet our actors!"
In-ho softly nodded, sitting up from his chair and walked up to Dae-ho and the crew, the man smiling and walking to the side, allowing In-ho to see the actors. Dae-ho did a great job, that's for sure.
"Hwang In-ho. Some of you must know me already." In-ho said, extending his arm to one of the actors for a handshake.
"An honor to meet you in person. Ali Abdul!" The curly haired man shook In-ho's hand, smiling at him.
"Yoo! In-ho my man! Didn't know I'll be acting for ya and yet I'm not disappointed." One of the actors in the back walked up to In-ho. Cho Sang-woo. Him and In-ho had some kind of history but in the end, they were friends. Sang-woo held a hand up for a high-five.
"You really picked good ones Dae-ho." In-ho chuckled, high-fiving Sang-woo.
And then.
"It's been a while."
In-ho heard a familiar voice. Way too familiar. A voice he hoped he'd never hear again. "And when I thought I wouldn't see you again for good." He heard the voice again, now getting closer.
The owner of the voice was now right in front of him now. Seong Gi-hun.
The taller man looked at the shorter man, then spoke again. "I suppose you still remember me, hm?"
In-ho turned to Dae-ho who was watching the whole interaction confusedly. "Ahem.. Dae-ho?"
"Need anything Mr Hwang?"
"Can we talk. Privately."
Dae-ho nodded, still really not knowing what was happening, then In-ho practically dragged him into a more private place on the building, so the two of them would be alone.
"Dae-ho. Can I please take a look at the casting list." He tried his best to keep his calm, and he was doing a pretty good job. So far.
Dae-ho gave him a thumbs up, ran to his office, took the list and came back, handing it to In-ho. In-ho took it and started to read it, and there he was. Seong Gi-hun. The first on the list. "Fuck it..."
"Anything wrong..? Something wrong with the cast? Did I do something? I'm sorry if I—"
"You didn't do anything Dae-ho." In-ho interrupted him, still staring at the name on the top of the list.
He took a deep breath and started speaking. His calm facade slowly but surely slipping. "Say.. Seong Gi-hun... Where— where did you find him..?"
"Oh, Mr Seong?" Dae-ho smiled. "I mean, he's a pretty famous actor! He won 29 nominations out of 35 and was in more than 10 movies! People love him and I thought he'd be a great addition."
Right.. he forgot about how loved the man was.
"And.. did he know about who directed it...?"
"Actually yeah, he seemed pretty excited to start filming! Do you know him or something?"
In-ho's stomach twisted and his chest tightened. Of course he knew the man. He knew the man for more than he'd like to admit. Seong Gi-hun.. oh, what he would give to live the past memories again. But he knows Gi-hun does not feel the same anymore. It shouldn't hurt.. In-ho was the one who decided their relationship was 'harmful for his image' long before Gi-hun became this famous. It wouldn't hurt, it shouldn't hurt...
After a little while, In-ho answered, clearing his throat slightly. "It's.. complicated."
Dae-ho knew better than to push his luck, he nodded and decided to change the subject. "Yeah.. yeah, understandable, so... Should we start filming today?"
"I think we should let the actors get used to their roles first."
"Right, right.... Need anything? A coffee? A tea? Something to eat?"
"A.. coffee would be nice."
Dae-ho nodded and smiled, running out of the room. In-ho returned to the set where everyone was waiting for him. He picked up a box where the scrips were, opened it and handed them to everyone.
"I'm defo being one of the main characters!" Sang-woo exclaimed.
"Of course you are.." In-ho replied, chuckling slightly, then turned to Gi-hun.. shit...
"So.. ahem— Mr Seong-"
"Let's cut the formalities. Just call me Gi-hun." Gi-hun interrupted In-ho. In-ho quickly cleared his throat before speaking up again.
"Right.. Gi-hun... So- what role did you.. did you choose to play...?"
"Second main."
"That's.. that's good... Haha.." God, he was embarrassing himself so bad, and he would've embarrassed himself more if Dae-ho didn't come in clutch with his coffee. Damn, he needed to pay this man better honestly.
"Coffee, sir!" Dae-ho handed the coffee to In-ho, him taking a sip.
"Thank you Dae-ho."
The day went rather smoothly, Dae-ho showed everyone around. They looked through the clothing, the make-up and everyone read the script. The filming was about to start in a few weeks.
"I suppose this was all for today." In-ho said, now drinking his 5th cup of coffee of the day if we don't count that sad excuse of a coffee he made himself in the morning. Dae-ho thought it was kind of weird that he was drinking this much coffee today, but he knew better than to ask anything. "Tomorrow, 10:30 everyone should be here. Understood?"
"No worries man, we'll be here!" Sang-woo said before leaving.
In-ho nodded and went outside, getting in his car and ready to get home. Tomorrow, and the day after, and so on, and the other day, they're going to be big days. He was finally putting his newest movie idea into action. A movie like no other movies he directed in the past.
Before starting his car he saw Sang-woo and Gi-hun leaving the building together. He didn't really pay much attention to that.. after all, the actors needed to get to know each other in order to act smoothly.
And then.
He saw Sang-woo slowly pulling Gi-hun in, putting his hands on the other's waist and kissing him.
What.
Wait a minute.
Wait.
Yeah, him and Sang-woo weren't the bestest of friends, but Sang-woo KNEW about In-ho's past with Gi-hun.
Did he see correctly?
Did he start to hallucinate from all the coffees he drank today?
In-ho rubbed his eyes and looked back at the spot the two were, and surely enough, the two men were still there. They weren't still kissing tho, they just hugged for a few seconds before Gi-hun pulled away and walked to his car, Sang-woo doing the same.
In-ho didn't believe what he saw.
He shouldn't care.
Gi-hun had the right to be happy.
And what if Sang-woo got together with his ex? Why would this concern him?
He was the one who broke up with Gi-hun.
He shouldn't care..
He shouldn't...