How nice would it be if he could turn back time?
If possible, to before coming to this MT disguised as script reading.
Dohyeong sat in his seat with an awkward expression, rolling his eyes here and there. And he stared intently at Wootae sitting by the door.
Although he usually relied on Wootae a lot, he needed him terribly at this moment.
“Kim Dohyeong-ssi, about this line here.”
Haesung’s tremendous interest was burdensome. He didn’t stick close to him, but the frequency of him speaking using the script as an excuse had increased.
If it were only that, it would rather be fortunate.
“Sunbae-nim, it seems Yehyun has a bit more lines to match with Onyoung. Would it be okay if I borrow Kim Dohyeong-ssi first?”
Yuchan was blatantly keeping Haesung in check.
Haesung had no feelings whatsoever for him. He thought that stabbing in when he showed weakness was simply a remnant of the past.
Therefore, there was no reason for Yuchan to keep Haesung in check. Even if he said he liked him, there was no need to be wary of an ex-husband who married without love and even reached divorce, right?
So right now, the subtle nerve war between Yuchan and Haesung was something he couldn’t quite get used to. He could only hope that script reading would start soon, and that this uncomfortable atmosphere would disappear.
“I’m sorry, but I think the two of us need to match our lines first to show a more developed relationship than the previous work. Choi Yuchan-ssi.”
“Don’t you think those who’ve already matched can just think of the last work? This is Kim Dohyeong-ssi and my first work together. Please yield a bit, veteran sunbae-nim.”
His neck became stiff at the tense battle of wills where neither backed down. When fatigue came rushing in and he slightly tilted his head back—
“Then let’s have Kim Dohyeong-ssi decide.”
At Haesung’s following words, Dohyeong straightened his head again.
“That’s right. Dohyeong, what will you do?”
When even Yuchan, whom he trusted, asked the same thing, his mouth shut tight.
He turned his head, anxious that someone might be looking at them.
As expected, his eyes met numerous gazes glancing this way.
With the scandal already broken, he couldn’t let worse stories spread. But he couldn’t think of a method. What should he do?
When his anxious feelings were growing larger, Soyeon, who couldn’t bear to watch anymore, tapped the desk.
“Dohyeong-ssi.”
“Yes?”
“Can you come and match lines with me for a bit? Maybe because it’s a line we do together, I can’t figure it out alone.”
It was welcome news while listening. At Soyeon’s words, Dohyeong smiled brightly and stood up. Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he sat beside her and opened the script.
Yuchan and Haesung, who were watching that scene, blinked their eyes as if flustered. After looking at each other once, they silently turned their heads and looked down at their scripts.
At the silence that suddenly began to flow, Dohyeong rolled his eyes slightly to look ahead.
‘…Really, why are they acting like that?’
Dohyeong, who secretly let out a sigh, examined the script again, and Soyeon snorted.
“Really funny, isn’t it?”
“Pardon?”
“Those two, I mean.”
When she specifically said ‘those two,’ he ended up glancing at Yuchan and Haesung once more.
“They look desperate for Kim Dohyeong-ssi, is it just me seeing it?”
And at Soyeon’s following words, he slowly turned his head.
“Dohyeong-ssi, don’t you see it?”
Dohyeong, who had been quietly chewing on her words, smiled awkwardly.
“Ah, right. Sunbae-nim. I looked at this part carefully, and there’s a part I don’t quite understand… Could you take a look?”
He awkwardly glossed over it. Dohyeong tightly gripped the script and turned his head sharply.
“Just looking at it…”
But Soyeon didn’t continue her words. Because it seemed better for Dohyeong to realize it himself rather than her telling him the following words.
Soyeon quietly observed Yuchan and Haesung, who were ignoring each other and concentrating on the script while resting her chin. It seemed like it would be more fun than she thought.
If so, her job would be to intermittently hold onto Dohyeong so he wouldn’t be swept away by them.
Because she didn’t want to see Dohyeong shaken because of people, at least.
Because she felt very sorry for him, who had sufficient talent but was overshadowed by Haesung’s shadow.
“I’m on Kim Dohyeong-ssi’s side.”
At the words casually thrown out, Dohyeong’s hand flinched.
“From now on, don’t get swept away by people and get hurt anymore.”
At the voice that continued silently, he smiled with difficulty. He was about to say he wanted to do that too, but ended it by nodding his head.
Don’t get swept away by people and get hurt. Somehow, he kept chewing on Soyeon’s words for a long time.
***
People should know moderation.
It was a phrase that circled in Dohyeong’s mind all day.
Even during script reading, Haesung and Yuchan strangely engaged in a nerve war. It was a perfect interpretation given the antagonistic character setting, but it went too far, so Director Na restrained them several times.
“Everyone’s feeling drained, right? Alright, let’s eat and resume. That would be good, right?”
Perhaps thanks to Director Na’s jest, the atmosphere was quickly refreshed.
Thanks to the production company preparing a barbecue party, all the staff and actors came outside.
Dohyeong also came out of the building and stood at a distance, watching the scene. Since preparations were still in progress, it was more comfortable to watch the bustling scene from a distance for a while.
Just why are they acting like that, when the doubt wouldn’t leave his head—
“Dohyeong.”
Yuchan’s voice came from behind.
“What are you doing?”
“Watching.”
“Watching what?”
“The barbecue party.”
He might have gotten it wrong, but he ended up being blunt for no reason.
Yuchan glanced at Dohyeong, who was looking only ahead with his hands clasped behind his back.
“Are you in a bad mood?”
Sometimes a single word would press the switch of emotion with a click. Right now, he felt like Yuchan had pressed that switch of his.
Dohyeong, who had been holding his breath, turned his head and glared at Yuchan.
“Why are you doing this?”
“…Huh?”
“Are you going to keep growling at Jung Haesung-ssi like that?”
Really funny. It was clearly a situation where Dohyeong was angry, but even in the midst of this, the fact that he called Haesung ‘Jung Haesung-ssi’ felt good.
It seemed to show that he had a clear line with him. Seeing how a smile kept sneaking out even at something like this, he was definitely a severe case.
“When did I—”
“When?”
He felt like he was being scolded. Yuchan looked at Dohyeong while stroking his lower lip.
He should make an excuse, but his mouth wouldn’t quite open.
No, rather than that, his gaze kept going to Dohyeong’s lips moving and fidgeting. Even though he knew he shouldn’t do this, he couldn’t stop the instinctive desire that surged up first.
“Choi Yuchan.”
Finally, after Dohyeong’s very angry call continued once more, he came to his senses.
“Huh?”
“Are you listening to me?”
“Of course I’m listening.”
Yuchan scratched his head as if embarrassed. And he checked on Haesung sitting on a chair in the distance.
What would be good to say?
That Haesung said what kind of relationship he wants to remain with Dohyeong?
Or Haesung’s true feelings?
No. It was right not to reveal any of it. If Dohyeong, who hasn’t completely shaken off Haesung yet, heard those words…
‘He might waver.’
Although it can’t be helped that he realizes through Haesung’s actions, interfering with that wouldn’t be wrong.
“Just.”
“What?”
“I just don’t like him. From one to ten, everything.”
He thought it was an answer befitting Choi Yuchan.
There were various reasons that followed. As Dohyeong’s close friend, because he’s someone who hurt him. As someone who confessed to Dohyeong, his ex-husband couldn’t look good.
Just thinking about those two things, he was certain his answer wouldn’t seem strange.
“I never liked Jung Haesung in the first place.”
“Even so, this is work. Honestly speaking, I’m more uncomfortable and displeased. You know?”
Clearly, he should have nodded. But Yuchan ended up fixating on Dohyeong’s other words again.
“…You don’t like Jung Haesung?”
“Hey.”
“Sorry, sorry.”
Yuchan, who smiled awkwardly, scratched his head. What if he thinks I’m not properly listening to what Dohyeong is saying—that worry came.
“I know. That you’re more uncomfortable and displeased. It’s not like I don’t know.”
“But if you do this too, I’m even more on edge. Everyone already knows you and I are close. If they think you’re doing this because of me, what does that make my position?”
He wanted to ask why he was connecting it to himself, but people’s gazes might not be like that. There definitely exist people who think he’s putting up walls to Haesung for no reason because of him.
If that happened, Dohyeong’s reputation would definitely crack too.
“Even if you don’t feel like it, treat him like a senior. Why are you being like this when you’re not even an amateur or rookie?”
What would he say if he said that even the sight of Dohyeong scolding him with eyes full of strength was cute and lovable? He would definitely get scolded more.
Thinking that lying flat was the answer at times like this, he firmly grasped Dohyeong’s arm.
“Okay. I’m sorry. Don’t scold me, okay? I was wrong.”
At the sight of Yuchan shaking his arm left and right and making an apologetic expression, Dohyeong let out an empty laugh.
“What are you doing?”
“Acting cute.”
“So why are you acting cute?”
“To get favor.”
I can’t believe this. Dohyeong, who burst out laughing, slightly pushed Yuchan away.
“That’s enough, don’t do that from now on. I get uncomfortable too.”
“Yeah. Okay.”
At the sight of Yuchan answering immediately, Dohyeong smiled faintly. He thought the barbecue preparations were slowly finishing, when Director Na over there waved his hand and called Dohyeong.
“Dohyeong-ssi! Come here for a moment!”
When Yuchan and Dohyeong turned their heads together, Haesung, who was with Director Na, was standing tall and looking at the two of them.
Somehow he didn’t have a good feeling. It was a sense of déjà vu that both Dohyeong and Yuchan felt.
But since Director Na was calling, he couldn’t not go. While pulling out his arm caught by Yuchan, he tapped the back of his hand.
“I’ll be back.”
Dohyeong left behind Yuchan, who smiled brightly and nodded, and approached closer to where Director Na and Haesung were.
“What is it?”
“I was just thinking while talking with Haesung-ssi.”
They say ominous premonitions don’t miss, but this time he desperately hoped it would miss.
“I’m not worried about the love line with Yuchan-ssi. You two are so close.”
“Ah…”
Friends and lovers are different. He tried to say it but shut his mouth tight. Because he thought he was the only one who thought of him as a friend.
“But I’m a bit worried about Jung Haesung-ssi and Kim Dohyeong-ssi here. You need to show a relationship that’s become a bit closer than the last work.”
Again, anxiety crept up. He swallowed dry saliva and smiled awkwardly.
“It’s a bit… difficult for the two of them to do that, right?”
At Director Na’s awkward smile, Dohyeong also forced the corners of his mouth up.
“It would be easier to just speak straightforwardly.”
At the sight of Director Na unable to continue his words properly, Haesung cut off his words as if frustrated.
And he turned to Dohyeong. Eyes that still seemed to have no emotional wavering were staring intently at him.
“The story is to stick together with me during the 3 nights and 4 days of script reading here. We need to get used to it from now on so it will naturally show in the acting.”
“…If that’s the reason, shouldn’t I stick with Yuchan more?”
Isn’t that right—the eyes asking were somehow utterly chilly, but—
At Haesung’s returning answer, a sigh burst out without him knowing.
“I’m proposing this for relationship recovery with me, who is less close, not Choi Yuchan-ssi who is already close. For Jung Haesung, who is awkward and distant.”
Really, what could be in this man’s head? It was a moment when he became absorbed in thought.
