“Don’t leave behind any food.”

A lady, who was mixing the hot soup said as he scooped a bowl of rice.

“It was a buffet yesterday.”

“And today, it’s like school food.”

Maru glanced at the younger actors who grumbled about the food before grabbing some mumallaengi[1] with the tongs. It seemed that yesterday’s dinner was just special. Perhaps they were called as a special service to commemorate the shoot. He ate the sticky rice. This was fine. It wasn’t like he was here to eat food after all.

After finishing breakfast, it was 7. Even though the schedule stated that the shoot would begin at 7, no one seemed to be in a hurry. The schedule was just a schedule after all.

“I don’t think I apologized to you properly yesterday.”

He heard a voice when he was inserting some coins into the coffee vending machine. He grabbed the cup and turned around. Uljin was standing there with an awkward expression.

“Would you like some coffee?”

“Uh, yeah.”

He gave him the coffee before buying another one. He gave some bills to the younger actors before moving locations with Uljin.

“I must have not been right in my mind yesterday. I thought about apologizing to you properly after the shoot, but….”

“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m injured. Don’t mind it.”

“Sorry.”

“I said you don’t need to apologize.”

Uljin seemed to have something more to say, but Maru just left after saying words of encouragement. There was neither a reason for him to stay close to him nor one to stay far away from him. Not liking someone was different from working with that person. Uljin was a business associate that he may have to meet several times in the future. Just because he didn’t like the guy didn’t mean that he should oppose the guy on every single thing. It was better to maintain a relationship of just ‘acquaintances’. Of course, he still wished for Uljin to stumble on a rock and fall down one day in his mind.

“Uhm, I said I’m really sorry.”

Uljin grabbed Maru’s shoulder. Maru looked down at his hand. Thanks to Uljin shaking his body, he spilled the coffee. The coffee was on the back of his hand and it was quite hot.

“Are you okay?”

Maru shook off his hand. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to get a burn. Uljin’s attitude ticked him off more than the spilled coffee. He could feel desperation from his apology. It was as though something big would happen if he did not get forgiveness from Maru. Uljin pushed the apology onto him. His eyes looked desperate. Just what was pushing this young fellow’s back so much?

Just as he was about to ask something to probe his heart, someone interfered.

“Uljin.”

“Yes, Giwoo.”

“What are you doing?”

“No, the thing is-.”

“From afar, it seemed like you were forcefully holding him back. Do you have an ill will against him or something?”

“No! This time it was just a mistake. Maru, isn’t that right?”

Maru nodded for now.

“It’s your second mistake already. Mr. Maru almost got hurt again. Are you okay, Mr. Maru? I saw you spill some coffee on your hands.”

“It’s nothing major, so don’t worry about it.”

Maru drank the cooled coffee in one gulp.

“Uhm, Maru.”

“I’m really okay, and you don’t have to apologize for yesterday’s matters so don’t worry about it. Is everything good now?”

“Okay….” Uljin replied awkwardly.

“I’m going then. Do your best too, Mr. Giwoo.”

He crumpled the paper cup and threw it in the trash before turning around. Just now, Uljin was glimpsing at Giwoo as he talked just now. Maru could see the gloominess of a subordinate standing in front of his superior. Perhaps the two weren’t friends?

“Hyung. They told us to get makeup.”

“Coming,” Maru replied to the younger actor before turning around.

Giwoo was smiling back at him.

* * *

She took a deep breath and breathed back out. In front of her was a giant set. The entrance to the set, that was square like a storage vault, opened and the cars started driving in. She could hear the words ‘slow down’, which were shouted.

“Why do you look like you’re out of yourself?”

“That startled me.”

She was startled by Yoo Jiseok who just popped up in front of her face and walked backwards.

“Damn, that’s a reaction that’s worth teasing.”

“Please, greet people ordinarily.”

“I said hello from behind you and you didn’t hear me. I crawled on the ground in front of you and you still didn’t recognize me.”

Jiseok dusted his clothes as he smiled. She was flabbergasted. He crawled on asphalt just to prank her? He really wasn’t normal.

“It’s my first sitcom! I’m insanely excited.”

She made a powerless smile as she saw Jiseok hopping around everywhere. Jiseok also said that this was the first time he was doing a sitcom. He played the main character’s friend who constantly visited his house. He was a minor role that had a lot of lines and appearances, almost to the point that he was practically a supporting role. If she was the one playing that role, she would have been staring at the script with nervousness right now, but Jiseok looked around the set like he was here on a tour and talked to the staff. There wasn’t any nervousness around him.

“Aren’t you nervous?”

“I am nervous.”

He replied as though it was only natural. She chuckled.

“You’re amazing.”

“What is?”

“Your mindlessness. You don’t even know nervousness.”

“I said I am nervous.”

Just where was nervousness in his smiling face? Looking at the excited Jiseok, she felt that she could calm down a little.

“I really should learn from you a little.”

“I guess there’s indeed a lot to learn from me.”

“Geez, you just won’t stop at anything huh. Are you always this talkative when you’re with Maru as well?”

“I’m a consistent guy. I’m always ready to talk whenever and wherever. People say I’m the type of guy whose mouth would float when I drown, and that was good. What a compliment is that?”

“That’s not a compliment. That’s an insult.”

“Tsk, tsk. You live a tight life. Even if I drown, if my mouth floats, I will get to live at least. It’s a good ability, isn’t it?”

“I’m even more surprised that you’re actually feeling that way. You’ve been like that since you were young, haven’t you?”

“No.”

“Lies.”

“It’s true. I used to practically live in a hospital so I was really quiet. I didn’t have any friends at school either, so it made me even quieter.”

The words he was saying with a smile were definitely words that shouldn’t be said with a smile. She stared at Jiseok. She couldn’t see a hint of joking from his face.

“Were you sick…?”

“I was really sick. I had a hard time breathing! But who do you think I am? I soon got rid of my illness and got up.”

“And you’re all okay now?”

“...Well, I’m definitely a lot better than before.”

Jiseok spun around on the spot and shouted ‘tada!’. People’s hearts couldn’t be read from the surface, and it seemed that Jiseok was hiding pain under his smiles.

“What is up with those bitter eyes? Are you pitying me? Then I guess I should say this again. If you want to pity me, give me money instead.”

Saying that, Jiseok put out his hand. She chuckled before taking out a 100 won coin from her pocket and putting it in his hand.

“I guess it’s good that such a wordless guy became so talkative then.”

“It is a good thing. It’s because there was a time I stayed in bed that I can do this now.”

“How optimistic. It looks good on you.”

“Of course. Since we’re saying this, why don’t you introduce me to a pretty girlfriend who’s also optimistic?”

“Should I really introduce one?”

“Oh, who is it?”

“Yoojin.”

“You’re my enemy starting now. Don’t talk to me.”

“I thought you wanted me to introduce you to a pretty girl.”

“I said don’t talk to me.”

Jiseok then stomped his way into the set. Seeing that, she burst out laughing.

* * *

“Man, a loyal man.”

-What the heck is that?

“Your nickname from now on. Your girlfriend is doing very well. She looked a little nervous at first, but she looks okay now.”

-That’s good, thanks for caring about her.

“I don’t dare disobey you, milord. How’s it on your side?”

-Over here? It’s been an hour since I started waiting under the sun.

“Watch out not to get sunburns. Remember to apply sunscreen.”

-I can’t because I’m a beggar.

“Then I guess you have no choice but to endure. Oh, and meet me next week. I heard you are starting a movie. This bro will help you out.”

-Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Good luck with the shoot.

“Thanks.”

Jiseok hung up before looking next to him. He could see her who was watching the set being torn apart. Maru, who looked like he had no worries at all, asked him for a favor. It seemed that he really treated her as someone precious.

“Hello.”

A greeting could be heard from the entrance. When he looked, he saw a woman coming in wearing a black dress.

‘There she is.’

Lee Miyoon. The veteran actress who was known to be quite scary, appeared. She walked as she received the greetings of the people around. Jiseok also bowed and greeted her when she passed by. She was the last person to play pranks on.

“Over there, you.”

Miyoon pointed a finger. Jiseok followed her finger and clenched his teeth when he saw her at that place.

“Aren’t you an actor?”

“Ah, yes. I am.”

“You are? Then why aren’t you greeting me?”

“Sorry, I was just looking around the set.”

“Aha, really? Looks like the juniors treat the set as more important than the seniors, huh? Forget it, get going.”

Miyoon waved and walked away as she smiled with her wrinkly face. Jiseok approached her and whispered in a small voice.

“You okay?”

“No, I don’t think I am. I’ve just been targeted, right?”

“No way.”

“I’m not?”

“She told you to go, so it should be fine?”

Jiseok spoke as he watched Miyoon walk to the waiting room. He was a little worried since she was known to have a dirty personality.

“Ah, I don’t know anymore. If she says something, I guess I will have to apologize again,” she spoke as she shook her head.

“Sorry. I should have told you about it.”

“You shouldn’t be. I was the one who didn’t see her coming. Oh, and also.”

She took two steps away from him.

“Let’s not stay together.”

“Why?”

“Because you might get caught up in this. People say she’s a scary woman so let’s not stay together for the day.”

“Hey, what do you consider me as?”

“I get it, so don’t talk to me for a while, okay?”

“Hey.”

Jiseok smiled bitterly as he saw her walk to the other side. She was just sighing in nervousness until moments ago, and now she was worried about him.

“Please gather round! We need to check the clothing.”

The clothing team called for everyone. Jiseok walked up to her. She hinted to him to walk away, but Jiseok just smiled. Even if he received insults, how many insults would he receive? Ignoring a friend just because he was scared was something unacceptable for him. Moreover, Maru asked a favor as well. He had to be insulted together even if it was just out of a sense of duty.

“Let’s go,” Jiseok spoke as he pushed her, who had a powerless smile on her face.

* * *

“The world sure has become better now, hasn’t it?”

“Sorry?”

Miyoon glared at the manager. This new manager, who had worked with her for a week now was in a worse state than the last manager. He always asked back whenever she said something, and always talked about something else when she was hinting him to suck up. The reason she still kept him around was because….

“Come over here.”

Miyoon saw her manager frown for an instant before he made a smile. Disgust flashed by on his face, but Miyoon did not mind. In fact, she felt better. Being able to do whatever she wanted to people who hated her gave her inexplicable pleasure. She couldn’t be happier when she found people that did not submit to power. It meant that she could see the moment of such a person’s collapse into depravity.

Miyoon looked up at the manager who stood in front of her. He was tall and burly. Above all, though, he had a girly face. She raised her hand and tapped on his chest.

“Manager Park, you did some chest exercise huh.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Who are you trying to please with all that muscle? You have a girlfriend?”

“Haha….”

“How cute.”

The way he acted was frustrating, but his looks were just to her liking. Just as she was about to extend her hand to his ass,

“Uhm, ma’am.”

“No, no. Don’t call me ma’am, call me noona. Why don’t you listen to my words?”

“...Yes, noona. There’s a call for you.”

The manager handed her her phone. Miyoon thought that even his flustered expression was cute before checking the name on the screen.

“Leave the room for now. And don’t let anyone in.”

“Yes.”

After the manager left, Miyoon received the call.

“Oh, it’s rare for president Hong to give me a call like this. What’s up? Ah, yes. Really? Hoho, that’s good for me too. You really know me too well, president Hong. Alright, okay. Phew, I was feeling bad just now, and your words made me feel better. Oh, it’s nothing. An ugly bitch didn’t even greet me, that’s all. Yes. That’s how kids are these days. They are so cocky. Yes, yes. Then see you after the shoot.”

Miyoon burst out in laughter as she hung up.

[1] Seasoned spicy dried radish strips.