Chapter 15. Lingering Regret Stems from Remorse (5)
They say life is a series of hardships and repeated trials.
Dohyeong was, at this very moment, feeling those words down to his bones.
It was fine up until taking the couple poster and then the individual posters.
When Haesung was filming, Yuchan had snatched him away as if he’d been waiting, so he couldn’t just stand there quietly watching like when they took the couple shot earlier.
But what remained was the group photo.
Even when he heard they would continue filming on the rooftop of the studio building, he didn’t think it would become this kind of situation.
The explanation that they would add effects of a starry night sky like the title of the work was also interesting.
It was literally something where he just needed to focus on filming, but the situation strangely turned around with one comment Haesung casually threw out.
“Yujin and Yehyun, who were in an opposing structure in the previous work, have a different relationship in this work – how about emphasizing that part? There are scenes where Yujin receives help from Yehyun, and it seems like a season where Yujin also realizes a lot through Yehyun.”
The photographer praised Haesung to no end, saying it was a really good idea. Director Na, who arrived late, smiled with satisfaction at the words that he seemed to have studied the characters a lot.
In the end, the composition where Haesung and Soyeon were supposed to stand in the front row and Dohyeong and Yuchan in the back row changed very slightly.
Dohyeong and Yuchan stood in the front row, and Soyeon and Haesung climbed a ladder to look down at the two.
Dohyeong, who should have stood behind Soyeon, ended up standing in front of Haesung with that one comment. The difference was only about one space. He hadn’t made any special requests, just changed where they were standing, but the feeling was subtle.
The more various emotions surged, the more his fatigue doubled. He desperately wanted to finish filming quickly and go home.
“Now, lastly… let’s show the relationship between the four people that each of you thinks. It would be good if that could be captured in one angle.”
The four people exchanged glances with each other. The relationship between the four people that each thought of. There was something that came to mind, but doubt remained whether this would become a harmonious picture.
But since the photographer requested it, he couldn’t refuse. Director Na had already given the okay sign too, and if this photo was difficult to use, they could use another photo.
Dohyeong’s gaze passed Haesung and went to Soyeon. And when he faced Yuchan standing beside him.
‘It’s okay.’
A gentle word whispered silently gave him an unknown conviction. That even if he acted as he thought, there would be no problem at all.
He just needed to show Yehyun exactly as he thought of him. Believing in himself would mean believing in the role too. Dohyeong, who had been looking at Yuchan for a while, nodded.
The assistant writer raised the slate high. All four knew very well that it was a signal to just melt into their respective roles.
The slate floating in the air snapped together with a loud sound! And the four people expressed the character’s poses and expressions as they interpreted them.
It was truly a strange and fascinating situation.
Yuchan and Dohyeong clasped hands as if they had made a promise. However, Dohyeong was avoiding his gaze, while Yuchan was still looking at Dohyeong with a pleased smile.
Among them, what caught the eye most was definitely Haesung. While holding hands with Soyeon and making eye contact, his other hand was gripping Dohyeong’s shoulder tightly.
‘You are the only answer.’
It was the story told to Yehyun when the trials given to the protagonists were resolved. It was the same in the previous work, and it was a line that appeared in this work as well.
The interpretation that ultimately all events’ keywords were held by Yehyun was said to be the work’s trademark. Dohyeong also remembered the original author’s interview.
“Good, very good!”
When the shutter was pressed repeatedly, the slate snapped together once more! It was a signal to change poses.
Yuchan looked up at Haesung as if he’d been waiting and put strength in his eyes.
In the drama, Onyoung checks Yujin who persistently comes to find Yehyun. He remembered reading in the proposal that the opposing structure shown in Part 1 had somehow developed into fraternal affection.
The look Yuchan expressed was probably personal emotion toward Haesung.
Haesung turned Dohyeong’s body halfway to make him look back at himself, and Dohyeong was still holding Yuchan’s hand while looking at Soyeon.
She also faced Dohyeong and reached out her hand. It was a pose befitting that line about him being the answer.
Only after several shutter sounds were heard did all filming end.
“Good! That was good! As expected, these four were nothing to worry about!”
The photographer’s hearty laughter was heard, and Dohyeong let out a big sigh and gave Soyeon a slight eye greeting.
He was just grateful that she moved exactly as he thought.
Now he should have perfectly finished filming with words of appreciation for their hard work, but Haesung, who was gripping his shoulder, didn’t lower his hand.
Flustered, he looked up at him, but only the gaze looking down at him was fixed. His hand was still stopped.
“Jung Haesung-ssi.”
It was Yuchan who grabbed his wrist. Soon Haesung’s gaze turned to him. The look that left Dohyeong quickly cooled.
“Filming is over.”
“I know.”
Haesung took his hand off Dohyeong’s shoulder and brushed off Yuchan’s hand with a thud.
Considering Jung Haesung’s usual personality, it didn’t seem like a particularly strange gesture.
“Let’s go, Dohyeong. You really worked hard today.”
Yuchan deliberately wrapped his arm around Dohyeong’s shoulder and patted him.
Pulling him to his side and pressing close was behavior to check Haesung who would be watching them from behind.
Dohyeong, who knew everything, also calmly followed him.
He didn’t need to worry about Haesung’s gaze anymore. He shouldn’t be conscious of him. Only then could he escape from this past too.
Soyeon approached Haesung’s side as he quietly watched the two people moving away. She, who had been watching them for a while with her arms crossed, slightly turned her head.
“The character interpretation is perfect, but the look in your eyes wasn’t Yujin’s. Jung Haesung-ssi.”
“……”
Haesung, who looked back at Soyeon, slightly furrowed his brow.
Why was she interfering with him about everything since earlier?
Feeling annoyed and trying to ignore her words and move on, Soyeon grabbed his wrist firmly.
“What.”
And naturally pulled him toward herself. She, who brought her lips close to his ear, held her breath and then slowly exhaled while moving her lips.
“If you want to catch Kim Dohyeong-ssi, you’ll have to break that pride of yours first. As the upright top star Jung Haesung, you’ll never catch Kim Dohyeong.”
It was a euphemism, but Haesung knew what she meant. Breaking his pride probably wasn’t just about abandoning Jung Haesung’s appearance.
No, the premise was wrong from the start.
He didn’t want to catch Dohyeong. Since he knew they couldn’t get along like before, he thought it would be good to remain just as hyung and dongsaeng who knew each other, or at least as seniors and juniors in the same industry.
If even that was difficult, he just thought it would be good if he could at least accept his apology. Yeah, that would have been everything. What did the woman in front of him see?
At Haesung’s shaking eyes, Soyeon smiled faintly and patted his chest. Then she straightened her back and walked toward where the staff had gathered.
“Thank you for your hard work, the atmosphere on set today was so good.”
Even at her excited voice, Haesung couldn’t smile easily.
He just let out an annoyed sigh forcefully and turned his head irritably.
***
After filming ended, a simple after-party followed. It was Director Na’s will to feed meat to all the staff who worked hard filming.
A separate place was prepared for the actors, but Soyeon shook her head and moved to where the female staff were.
In the end, only Haesung, Dohyeong, and Yuchan remained at the table. The awkwardness was suffocating.
Only the sound of meat cooking on the grill and the voices of people loudly chattering while clinking glasses filled their surroundings.
“You don’t seem to drink.”
It was Yuchan who spoke first. He, who had filled Dohyeong’s glass and his own, glanced at Haesung.
“Yes, I don’t drink at occasions like this.”
At the sharp response, Yuchan furrowed his brow.
‘Damn expensive attitude.’
He decided not to let the words lingering in his mouth burst out.
After all, Haesung was definitely his senior.
“Let’s toast just between us.”
Once with the photographer, once with the director, once with the staff. So this was exactly the fourth toast. Dohyeong smiled lightly and clinked his full glass against Yuchan’s.
Actually, his stomach wasn’t in condition to drink more. He just didn’t want to ruin the atmosphere.
When he gripped his glass firmly as if he had made some decision.
“Huh?”
Haesung snatched away Dohyeong’s glass. The alcohol that had filled the glass overflowed onto his hand. It wasn’t just Dohyeong who was startled. Yuchan also looked at him with flustered eyes.
“…Jung Haesung-ssi.”
At Dohyeong’s call, Haesung shrugged his shoulders.
“Didn’t you say you don’t drink?”
He snorted at Yuchan who asked in bewilderment.
Yuchan sighed deeply while watching Haesung clean his mouth and hands with tissue.
Why did he drink Dohyeong’s alcohol? Was it because he poured it? He shouldn’t show that he felt bad, but the displeasure showing on his face couldn’t be hidden.
He filled Dohyeong’s and his glass again. The sound of alcohol pouring was quite cheerful.
He won’t interfere this time. When they clinked glasses with smiles, Haesung snatched Dohyeong’s glass as if he’d been waiting. It was exactly the same situation as before.
The difference was that he was glaring at Yuchan with strength in his eyes. There was no change in expression even while swallowing the alcohol.
Finally, Yuchan, who had been watching, also couldn’t hold back anymore and raised his voice.
“Why are you doing this? You said you don’t drink.”
Haesung, who placed the now-empty glass in front of himself after swallowing the alcohol, furrowed his brow. And he glanced at Dohyeong sitting beside him.
He soon let out a deep sigh and shook his head. Then he tapped his phone screen, checked the date, and clicked his tongue briefly.
‘…Why is he doing that?’
Flustered, Dohyeong touched his own face. He could feel heat with his fingertips. Had he turned unpleasantly red?
And he quietly watched Haesung looking around. After hesitating several times about what to say, he quietly opened his mouth.
“Stop feeding him.”
“What does Jung Haesung-ssi have to do with it?”
“Kim Dohyeong-ssi is in a period where he can’t handle alcohol right now.”
“…What did you say?”
At Yuchan’s clearly flustered expression, Haesung shook his head and sent a message to Manager Do.
The content was asking him to contact Wootae so Dohyeong could go straight home.
“What do you know?”
“Heat cycle.”
At the words thrown out bluntly, Dohyeong looked at his phone in surprise. A heat cycle notification that came at regular intervals was already on the screen.
“He has a constitution that can’t handle alcohol before his heat cycle. Feed him moderately and send him home now.”
