Although accidents and controversies continued endlessly, filming went on.
Due to Hakyung being hospitalized because of his injury, the writer replaced his role with another character.
It was possible because the role Hakyung took on didn’t have much weight to begin with.
Two weeks passed that way, and before they knew it, the day to film the last scene had arrived.
“It’s the last day today, so let’s all do our best. There’s no one here who isn’t ambitious, right!”
Everyone laughed out loud at Director Na’s comment.
Filming began in earnest. A scene where Hyea and Yujin, who had been misunderstanding due to some incident, reconfirm each other’s feelings.
The ones who played the biggest role in clearing up that misunderstanding were Yehyun and Onyoung, the two of them.
Filming continued smoothly without any particular problems.
However, the words “last filming” seemed to have become a burden that wasn’t quite a burden for everyone.
“Director-nim. Would it be okay to take the bust shot one more time?”
They had already filmed the same scene three or four times.
But Director Na granted the actors’ requests without showing any displeasure.
Because he knew all too well how greatly the words “last episode” would affect people.
A modest party in the rooftop room where Hyea had been staying temporarily.
To match the name of <Glass Holding Stars>, the filming time was in the middle of the night.
Despite the fairly cool breeze, none of the actors showed any complaints.
“Part 12, Scene 45. Hyea and Yehyun’s last lines, Take 5 going.”
“Action!”
With Director Na’s signal, Soyeon’s gaze changed.
Fatigue and tiredness disappeared completely, and Hyea, smiling with satisfaction, was before Dohyeong’s eyes.
“Thank you.”
At Hyea’s line, Yehyun doesn’t give any answer.
He just silently turns his head and quietly watches her.
That gaze had to contain many emotions.
The old love who didn’t become his person, and because of that, the bitterness of wondering if she shines even more brilliantly. Along with his heart that had grown distant at some point, which he could no longer express with the word love.
The change in emotions where the name ‘colleague’ now fit better had to be revealed in both expression and gaze.
“If it weren’t for Yehyun-ssi… I would have misunderstood Yujin-ssi without fail. Because I didn’t have the courage to ask about his true feelings. So thank you.”
Yehyun smiles. After thinking about something for a while, he looks alternately at the glass in his hand once, then at Hyea once, and shrugs.
“Isn’t that how people are? If you don’t speak, you don’t know, and if you don’t ask, you don’t know either. Words and actions require courage, but the more you love, the less courage you have.”
“……”
“It’s true that I pushed Hyea-ssi’s back, but if you hadn’t had the courage yourself, it would have been different.”
“That’s true.”
“So I’m saying there’s no need to thank me.”
Yehyun turns to Hyea. A person from the past exists for everyone. It’s just a difference in how you wrap it up, what shape and color you leave it in your heart.
What kind of existence was Hyea to him? It was the part Dohyeong had pondered countless times while looking at the script.
The conclusion he reached that way was one.
“The sight of Hyea-ssi establishing her happiness triumphantly.”
For Yehyun, Hyea was a signpost or guidebook.
Though not his first love, she was an existence that evoked feelings equivalent to that.
She was the catalyst that made him feel pride in his profession as an astronomer.
Furthermore, a strong person who knew how to protect her own love and happiness.
A spring breeze that blew into Yehyun’s bland and rigid life.
That was Hyea’s definition imprinted on Yehyun.
“Thanks to you, I was able to move too.”
“Then what about Yehyun-ssi?”
At the following question, Yehyun, who had been sipping his drink, glanced at Hyea.
The filming site was quiet. Director Na watched the monitor with a satisfied expression, and Haesung also quietly watched Dohyeong acting.
It could be asserted as definite growth. Because he was clearly showing that he had been living as Yehyun since the day he received the script.
“Did Yehyun-ssi find your happiness?”
According to the original script, he should have nodded silently.
But Dohyeong ended up smiling radiantly without realizing it. As if shy, he lowered his head slightly, then raised it again to make eye contact with her.
It wasn’t a contrived or calculated smile.
Because it was a smile that melted directly into the line he had to deliver back, Director Na didn’t bother calling cut.
Everyone was admiring Dohyeong’s emotional acting.
“I felt like I was holding an empty glass.”
Though the line was delivered plainly, there was a subtle tremor buried in that voice.
Yehyun, who had been looking down at the glass in his hand, turns to Hyea as is.
Conversely, he should have smiled brightly in this scene.
“One day, one moment. Stars poured down. Before me.”
He just held a gentle smile.
But his gaze doesn’t waver. As if proving that his decision and choice weren’t wrong.
“Yehyun-ssi!”
When Onyoung’s voice was heard from behind, Yehyun glanced back slightly.
After watching Onyoung urging him to come quickly and eat meat, he stood up from his seat and faced Hyea.
“It was filled like that. That glass I was holding.”
With those final words, Yehyun stands up while shaking the glass in his hand.
Then he goes to where everyone is gathered, taps Yujin’s shoulder, and gestures with his chin as if telling him to go to Hyea.
What follows is the sight of Yehyun and Onyoung sitting side by side, clasping hands tightly.
And the sight of Yujin and Hyea sitting close together, talking about the future.
The camera captured the four people whose appearance would later have narration added.
How long did the long, long silence continue?
“Cut! That’s the best one we’ve shot today!”
With Director Na’s booming voice, the actors let out sighs and stood up from their seats.
Everyone’s faces wore bright smiles.
Director Na looked at the four people with an expression full of emotion.
He took a deep breath in and out. Bowed his head again. Director Na, who couldn’t continue speaking for a while, brought the radio connected to the speaker to his lips.
After filming the last scene of the drama, it was a rite of passage Director Na did habitually.
“The filming team, art team, costume team, props team who worked hard even in this cold weather. And all the staff. Thank you. Thank you to all the actors who made the children in the script come alive and breathe. Today, we conclude the filming of <Glass Holding Stars>. It was possible because of everyone’s hard work. But this isn’t the end. We’re just putting a period to start again in another form. You’ve all worked hard.”
“You’ve all worked hard!”
“Good work!”
Greetings signaling the end and words of encouragement saying they worked hard burst out from here and there.
“Now, lastly, the actors should say a word each. You can’t skip this when working with Na Taeseok!”
And the last rite of passage.
It was for the actors to each leave a word.
The first to grab the radio was Soyeon.
“This is something to say at the wrap party. We’re doing it already?”
“Of course. We should.”
“Really, Director-nim is still the same.”
Though she was smiling sheepishly, Soyeon’s eyes were already reddened.
Soyeon, who couldn’t continue speaking for a while, carefully opened her mouth.
“Thank you. I always feel this, but when filming with Director Na, my heart becomes warm. I was able to think once more about why I became today’s Jeon Soyeon. You’ve all worked hard. And really, really… thank you.”
Soyeon, who had been desperately swallowing her tears, quickly passed the radio to Haesung.
Ahem, Haesung, who coughed briefly, glanced at Soyeon once and stared quietly at Director Na.
“Usually at these occasions, not speaking at length is my personality, but.”
Everyone burst into laughter once.
Hmm, Haesung, who pondered at length, opened his mouth again.
“Sometimes I think this. If I weren’t Jung Haesung, wouldn’t I have been able to experience more diverse things? Of course, I know well that it’s a complaint made on a full stomach.”
Was he always that talkative?
People who had experience working with Haesung all whispered in surprise.
Director Na was also considerably surprised, but looked at Haesung with an intrigued expression.
“But this project was different. I was grateful to be Jung Haesung. Because the name Jung Haesung exists, wasn’t I able to work on this drama together? You’ve all worked so hard. I’m really, truly grateful to all the staff who helped me endure the site day by day.”
It was different from the old Haesung who would always end with just one phrase: you’ve worked hard.
But everyone cheered at such a change in Haesung.
“You’re cool, Jung Haesung!”
At the shout heard from somewhere, the staff burst into laughter once more.
Riding the atmosphere, the next to grab the radio was Yuchan.
“Yes. I’ll go short and sweet. Giving up other offers and choosing this drama. I think that’s the best thing I’ve done in my life. Thank you all. You’ve worked hard!”
A booming voice followed, and Yuchan, as if embarrassed, quickly passed the radio to Dohyeong.
“Ah, this kind of thing is awkward.”
While the staff burst into laughter at Yuchan covering his face with both hands and whining, Director Na’s gaze turned to Dohyeong.
Dohyeong, holding the radio, couldn’t continue speaking for quite a while.
Standing there blankly, continuing his thoughts, he slowly opened his mouth.
“I still don’t know what to say. Please understand even if I ramble. I’m sorry. It’s just, for me, even this moment feels like a dream.”
Dohyeong, who had been forcing a smile, bows his head. He sniffles once at his stinging nose, then raises his head again to continue.
“I thought I’d never stand in front of a camera again. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to act a second time. I thought there would never be another time when I’d experience… a last moment like this. So all the more, this moment is deeply moving to me. It’s overwhelming.”
Haesung stiffened his face for a moment, then soon made a bitter expression and lowered his head.
Perhaps the transgression he committed would always follow him like a tag.
But he must bear it. He had decided to, and he must.
Because actions come with consequences.
“Thank you for helping me grow into a better Kim Dohyeong. With <Glass Holding Stars>, I feel like I’ve climbed one step higher. Really, you’ve all worked so hard. Thank you all.”
In the end, unable to swallow the overwhelming feelings, he burst into tears.
It was a work that held too much meaning.
A sequel to the work that was both the beginning and end of Kim Dohyeong.
He started again there. This moment of taking new steps and successfully concluding felt just like a dream to Dohyeong.
“You’ve worked hard!”
“Kim Dohyeong is cool!”
“Director Na Taeseok is the best!”
With voices popping out from here and there, applause for each other continued.
The last filming of <Glass Holding Stars>. The pitch-black night sky was beautiful, and the air was clear.
People smiling brightly and the good ending they achieved.
It was certain to remain as a precious memory for everyone.
