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Chapter 10
Filming the day before a day off is always grueling.
The director always insisted on pushing through the night to finish shooting by the next morning if there was a break scheduled.
After more than sixteen hours of outdoor shooting, both the actors and the staff were barely keeping it together.
On top of that, Sarah, being a minor supporting role, had to wait four or five hours between shooting one scene and the next.
“Prepare for scene twelve!”
As the water truck arrived on set, the assistant director ran around shouting.
Mugeom appeared, his face soaked with exhaustion.
“Director Kwak must be crazy. Filming a rain scene in the middle of winter?”
“That’s why we need to get it right in one take.”
“According to the script, you don’t even use an umbrella. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
“I’m a supporting actor. I do what I’m told.”
Sarah replied nonchalantly.
Compared to the time a few months ago when she had shot seven long takes running barefoot through the mountains at night and wailing for Night of Wishes, this was nothing.
“Oh, right. You’re supposed to shoot a movie with Director Choi, right?”
“Yeah. If all goes well, filming might start this summer.”
“Summer? Hmm… From what I’ve heard, that might fall through…”
Mugeom trailed off, raising one eyebrow.
Remembering he had heard something similar from Mirae, Sarah straightened her back.
“What? Why? Are you sure?”
“The investors liked the script but apparently don’t trust Director Choi. They suggested changing directors, or else they won’t invest.”
“What’s wrong with Eunyeong?”
Sarah frowned and shook with agitation.
Mugeom shrugged.
“You know as well as I do. Director Choi’s last two films both flopped. The investors are just being cautious.”
“That wasn’t Eunyeong’s fault. Who could have predicted the lead actor would get arrested for drugs after the release? That crazy Park Sangcheol, ugh.”
“True, but…”
“And Sonagi and the film before that—because of that fraudster, Director Kang, meddling, the distributor gave up, so the release was a disaster.”
“Uh… yeah…”
“Sarah, it’s time for rehearsal.”
For once, Sarah huffed and vented her frustration.
If Mirae hadn’t intervened, she could have yelled for another hour.
Following Mirae’s lead, Mugeom, Seyeon, and Sarah gathered to go over lines and blocking.
“Once we shoot this, today’s filming is done. Let’s do it quickly.”
“Yes.”
Seyeon replied quietly. Sarah lightly tapped Mugeom’s shoulder.
“You take care of yourself first, oppa.”
“Oh? Cha Minseo. Eyes very disobedient to your beloved oppa, huh? Show some love now. Huh?”
“What are you saying?”
Minseo’s lips twitched. She had a hopeless crush on the male lead, Kang Yuchan.
Once the scene was ready, the director called out from his chair:
“Scene twelve, rolling! Cue!”
Under the dark night, faint streetlights glimmered as a gentle rain began to fall.
Beneath it, a shy couple, seemingly just starting their romance, held each other tenderly, gazing into each other’s eyes.
Seeing this, Minseo’s pupils shook. It was a dreadful reality she didn’t want to believe.
“Yuchan… oppa.”
Minseo dropped the umbrella she was holding.
The sound echoed enough that the couple noticed her presence.
“Cha Minseo? How are you here?”
“What are you two? What’s going on? Practicing acting?”
Trying to sound calm, her voice betrayed her entirely, trembling uncontrollably.
Kang Yuchan held Oh Bitna’s hand tightly.
“We decided to start dating recently. I hope you’ll congratulate us.”
“What? Oppa, are you crazy? Dating her? That totally ruins your image!”
“Cha Minseo, watch your words.”
Kang Yuchan’s tone was sharp.
“She’s the one I love.”
“Love?”
Hearing the word, Minseo laughed hysterically.
Her laughter echoed eerily in the rain-soaked darkness.
“You love that woman you’ve known for only a few months? Love?”
“Yes. Me and Yuchan. We love each other.”
Standing behind Kang Yuchan until now, Oh Bitna finally stepped forward.
“Ha, what do you know about love regarding Yuchan oppa? Hey, the one who loves Kang Yuchan isn’t you—it’s me. I’ve been by his side for five years, got it?”
“But the person Yuchan oppa loves is me, not you.”
“…”
“Not you who’ve been by his side for five years.”
Oh Bitna sneered.
Minseo slowly closed her eyes and opened them again.
Rainwater streamed down her cheeks.
A brief—or long—silence followed.
“…I shouldn’t have let trash like you be next to oppa. I should’ve removed the stinking thing sooner.”
“Cha Minseo, are you crazy? What do you mean? Apologize to Bitna immediately!”
“I’m not the crazy one—oppa is! That woman doesn’t deserve you! Wake up. She’s just a parasite clinging to your popularity! A bug! Why don’t you get it? The one who truly loves Kang Yuchan isn’t her, it’s me!”
Minseo screamed with her whole body.
Her anguish contained everything: anger, fear, sorrow, love, and unfathomable despair.
Amazingly, it all coalesced into her performance.
She opened her mouth but no sound came out.
Tears silently streamed from her empty pupils.
The night was filled with the sound of rain.
Watching her on the monitor, the director shivered slightly.
Her eyes, glimpsed through the darkness, were empty.
Some staff, seeing this void, gawked at Sarah with mouths slightly open.
Just looking into her eyes felt like the space had shifted.
“What a waste… such a waste.”
The director muttered unconsciously.
The more he worked with Sarah, the more maddening it was that she had been cast as a supporting role rather than a lead.
‘If only she weren’t restricted by the bureau…’
He bit his lip, briefly fantasizing, Should I switch her to lead and reshoot the drama?
With Minseo’s lines finished, the set fell into silence.
It was Seyeon’s turn next.
Distracted, Seyeon realized it late and opened her mouth.
“Although Yuchan oppa… I, I… ah, I’m sorry.”
“Cut. Ha… of all times… what a waste. Great emotion, though.”
Director Kwak smacked his lips, frustrated.
Mirae, waiting behind, quickly wrapped Sarah in a thick towel.
Shivering, Sarah moved to the camera to monitor the playback.
“How was it, director?”
“What can I say? Our actor Seo’s eyes were amazing. Let’s do another close-up take.”
Director Kwak glared at Seyeon with a mixture of regret and frustration.
Seyeon, preoccupied with someone else, didn’t notice the disapproving glance.
She smiled brightly and ran over to greet someone.
“Writer! Hello!”
“Oh? Writer Seong. When did you arrive?”
“I had work nearby, and since filming was going late, I dropped by. Seyeon, thanks for staying so late.”
Ah, it was because of Writer Seong.
Seyeon had been distracted at the end because she was conscious of Seong Jihee.
“What’s with her? Messing up and running over to Writer Seong? Not even joking.”
Mugeom noticed too, his tone full of irritation.
Sarah also had words at the tip of her tongue but held back because Writer Seong spoke first.
“Sarah, your acting is improving so much. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you for saying that, writer.”
“Grateful? I’m the grateful one. According to Director Kwak, after Sarah joined, all the ads sold out.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“Writer, sorry to interrupt, but Sarah needs to change costumes.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize.”
Finally, Mirae took Sarah to the waiting room.
Her clothes were soaked through, making a squelching sound when removed.
“Ah, it’s freezing. I’m literally going to die. Seriously.”
“Are you okay? Oh dear, you’d catch a cold in this weather.”
