How could I have overlooked something so crucial?
Reflecting on my performance after Jaehoon’s words, I realized there wasn’t a single trace of his essence in my acting.
“Idiot,” I muttered to myself.
The performance I’d just delivered wasn’t that of Jaehoon’s younger self—it was merely a one-man show by an actor playing a psychopath.
“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice tinged with regret.
“No need to apologize,” Jaehoon replied lightly. “We haven’t even started filming yet, right?”
His words carried an unspoken directive: fix the issues he’d pointed out before shooting began.
“Yeah, you’re right,” I agreed, nodding.
Now that I knew the problem, all I had to do was correct it. Satisfied that his point had landed, Jaehoon returned to his usual relaxed demeanor and resumed eating.
“They say web dramas are tougher to shoot than regular ones. How’re you holding up?” he asked, his tone casual but curious.
Web dramas, often low-budget, were notorious for their tight schedules, cramming as much filming as possible into a short window to save costs.
“It was a bit tough,” I admitted, “but I had fun, so it didn’t feel too bad.”
“That’s the spirit of a rookie,” he said with a grin. “No need to get caught up in petty rivalries, right?”
Been there, done that with you on our last project, I thought, chuckling inwardly.
“Haha, yeah,” I said, brushing off his comment with a good-natured laugh.
“Have fun while you’re still new,” he continued. “Anyone recognizing you yet?”
“Not really,” I replied.
The staff I worked with occasionally mentioned they enjoyed the drama, but no random passerby had ever recognized me on the street.
“Really? I heard people were saying you’re pretty good-looking,” Jaehoon teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Seriously?” I asked, surprised.
I’d been so busy filming that I barely had time to check the drama on VOD, let alone scour the internet for reactions to my character.
“All I’ve heard is people talking about you,” I said, deflecting.
I recalled how Jewook and Jibin couldn’t stop praising Jaehoon’s acting on set.
“Nah, they’re talking about you too,” Jaehoon said earnestly. “Honestly, you’re getting better reactions than Beomwoo.”
Coming from Jaehoon, who wasn’t one for empty flattery, his words piqued my interest.
People are actually responding well to me?
***
The final day of filming for Today’s Fruit Shop had finally arrived.
“Welcome to the fruit shop!”
I called out, delivering my line with a smile.
“Cut! Great job, everyone!” the director shouted.
The last “cut” echoed through the fruit shop set, marking the end of my second drama.
“You all worked hard!” the director called out.
“Thank you!” we responded in unison, the set buzzing with a mix of exhaustion and relief.
The staff handed each of us—me, Taewoon, Jewook, and Jibin—a bouquet of flowers, while the making-of camera captured the moment.
“Thank you so much,” I said, accepting mine with a bow.
“Everyone, please share a few words about wrapping up!” the director prompted.
“I’m just so happy we could finish this drama safely,” Taewoon began, his voice thick with emotion. His eyes glistened slightly, and I understood why.
It wasn’t easy for a rookie to lead a drama, and he’d stumbled early on.
“You did great,” I said softly, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat.
Taewoon glanced at me, nodded, and smiled as if to say he was okay.
“It was such a joy filming with these amazing friends,” Jibin chimed in, his enthusiasm infectious.
“This moment will stay with me forever. Thank you,” Jewook added, his voice steady but heartfelt.
I turned to the camera, my heart full.
“I was so happy to be Dohwan. Please show Today’s Fruit Shop lots of love!”
“Great work, everyone!” the director called out again.
The making-of camera shut off, and the atmosphere relaxed as we chatted with each other.
“You guys worked hard,” I said, grinning at my co-stars.
“Man, it feels like I need to come back for shooting tomorrow,” Jewook said with a wistful laugh. “It’s hard to believe it’s over.”
“Same,” Taewoon agreed. “I’m gonna go home and double-check tomorrow’s call time out of habit.”
“What are you two talking about?” Jibin interjected, his voice brimming with relief.
“I’m thrilled I finally get to sleep!”
Unlike Taewoon and Jewook’s bittersweet sentiments, Jibin’s joy was palpable, and I couldn’t help but share his excitement.
Tomorrow, I’m sleeping all day and hanging out with Jayden, I thought.
With shoots often stretching into the early morning, I could barely remember the last time I’d seen Jayden or Kyungho properly.
***
“Everyone heading straight to the wrap party?” someone asked.
“I’ll be a bit late,” I replied.
“Huh? Why?”
“Got somewhere to be?”
“I’ve got a quick errand to run, but I’ll join you guys soon,” I said vaguely.
“What kind of errand?” they pressed, their curiosity piqued.
My routine was usually home-to-set and back, so the idea of me having “other plans” seemed to intrigue them.
“It’s nothing big. I won’t be too late,” I assured them, keeping it vague.
Jaehoon’s film, which had been re-released, was having its final screening tonight, and I’d decided to make time to see it.
A few days after my audition, I’d gotten the call that I’d been cast, and since then, I’d been diving deep into analyzing Jaehoon’s acting style.
“What’s with the mystery? Got a commercial meeting or something?” Jibin teased.
“Nope, nothing like that,” I said with a laugh.
“You better not be sneaking off to make bank without us,” Jewook added playfully.
“Don’t worry about it,” I reassured them.
My role in The Forest Painted by Clouds was still a secret.
The director had insisted on keeping my casting under wraps for a plot twist, so I couldn’t breathe a word about it.
“I just want some beef,” Jibin groaned.
“Hurry up, we’ll save you some,” Taewoon promised.
“I might eat it all first!” Jibin shot back with a grin.
Leaving their banter behind, I headed with Hayoon to a nearby theater.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I said to Hayoon, feeling guilty. “I can go alone.”
“No way, what kind of manager would I be?” he replied, brushing off my concern.
I felt bad that he was missing the wrap party to tag along with me, but Hayoon just waved it off.
“Let’s watch it quick and get some good food ourselves,” he said.
“Sounds good.”
The re-released film wasn’t drawing a big crowd, so the theater was sparsely populated.
If it wasn’t the director’s cut, I’d be at the wrap party by now, I thought.
The director’s cut hadn’t been released on VOD or streaming platforms yet, so I’d made a point to carve out time to see it in theaters.
Watching the director’s cut after the theatrical version, I noticed new details and foreshadowing I hadn’t caught before.
My main focus, of course, was Jaehoon.
Whoa, that’s it!
On the big screen, Jaehoon’s expressions and movements stood out vividly.
I mentally cataloged every nuance, determined not to regret postponing the wrap party.
Before I knew it, three hours had flown by.
“Let’s go, hyung,” I said to Hayoon as we left the theater.
“Yeah.”
I checked my phone and saw a flood of messages asking where I was.
Taewoon had sent the most, his texts growing increasingly frantic.
[Hurry up, it’s wild here. Everyone’s acting like there’s no tomorrow!]
[Jewook hyung is downing drinks like they’re water!]
“Looks like they’re still at the barbecue place,” I said, showing Hayoon the texts.
“Really?” he replied, amused.
“Let’s get there quick and eat!” I said, my stomach rumbling at the thought of grilled meat.
The wrap party had apparently started later than expected due to cleanup on set, and it was still in full swing.
“Hold on, let me settle the parking first,” Hayoon said.
“Okay.”
As Hayoon went to handle the parking, I texted Taewoon that I was on my way.
Just then, a soft voice called out to me from behind.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes?” I turned around to see a young woman in her twenties standing there, her eyes bright with excitement.
“Um, are you… from Blue Sky Spring?” she asked hesitantly.
“Oh! Yeah, that’s me,” I replied, stunned.
How did she recognize me?
The idea of someone spotting me in real life felt surreal.
“Wow! I love the drama!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement.
“Thank you,” I said, grinning.
“Would it be okay to get your autograph? If it’s not too much trouble…”
“An autograph?” I froze. I hadn’t even thought about preparing one.
Who would’ve expected someone to ask for my autograph?
“Is that… not okay?” she asked, her face falling.
“No, it’s not that,” I stammered, trying to recover.
“What’s going on?” Hayoon asked, returning with a serious expression.
He must’ve noticed my discomfort, and his already intimidating face looked even sterner than usual.
The woman, clearly mistaking Hayoon for a bodyguard, started to back away. “Oh, if it’s a problem, I’m sorry…”
“No, no! It’s fine!” I said quickly, stopping her. “I just don’t have an autograph ready yet, that’s all.”
Hayoon glanced at me, then at her, and his expression softened slightly as he realized what was happening.
A subtle smile tugged at his lips—though only I could tell he was pleased.
“Oh, you don’t have one yet? That’s okay, I’ll get it next time then!” she said, turning to leave.
“Wait!” Hayoon called out, stopping her again.
“Y-yes?” she said, startled.
“Give me your phone,” he said.
“Uh, I didn’t take any pictures!” she said defensively, clearly wary.
“No, I mean I’ll take a photo for you,” Hayoon clarified.
“Oh?”
“We’ll make sure he gets an autograph soon,” Hayoon continued. “For now, how about a photo instead?”
“Oh, thank you!” she said, her face lighting up as she handed over her phone.
Hayoon took charge, directing us like a seasoned photographer. “A little to the left… okay, perfect. One, two, three!”
He snapped several shots, adjusting angles and even instructing me to tilt my head slightly for a warmer vibe. Finally, he handed the phone back with a satisfied nod.
“Thank you!” she said, checking the photos. Her eyes widened.
“Wow!”
She’d been worried she might look tired next to a celebrity, but Hayoon’s expert timing, lighting, and angles had produced a flawless two-shot.
It was practically a once-in-a-lifetime photo.
“Please keep supporting Hyunjae!” I said warmly.
“I will! You’re so handsome!” she replied, beaming as she walked away.
Watching her leave, so happy and excited, lifted my spirits too.
“Nice job, hyung,” I said to Hayoon.
“I was so nervous,” he admitted, laughing softly.
“Nervous? You?” I teased.
“Yeah, it’s my first time dealing with a fan,” he said, scratching the back of his head.
It was funny to think of Hayoon, of all people, getting nervous over a fan, but it made sense in his own way.
“I guess I need to come up with a signature,” I said.
“Yeah, we didn’t think of that,” Hayoon agreed. “It’s such a basic thing, but with all the filming and auditions, I forgot you’re actually a celebrity now.”
“Let’s make one tomorrow,” I said.
“Deal. By the way, how’d I do with the photos? Pretty good, right?”
“They were amazing! How’d you learn to take pictures like that?”
“I studied a bit,” he said modestly.
“Studied?”
“Yeah, they say a good manager needs to know how to take great photos,” he explained.
I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “Who says that?”
“I’ve been watching StarStar posts, checking out trends and how people take photos these days,” he said, his face serious but his ears turning red.
The image of Hayoon, this hulking guy, meticulously studying social media for photo trends made me burst out laughing.
“Hyung, you’re the best,” I said, still chuckling.
“Come on, let’s go,” he said, embarrassed but smiling as he started walking.
But before we could take another step, another voice piped up.
“Excuse me, could we get a photo too?”
“Me?” I asked, turning to see another person approaching, clearly a fan.
“I love your drama!” they said excitedly.
What’s going on? How do they keep recognizing me?
It seemed like they’d been watching me the whole time, waiting for their chance after my conversation with Hayoon.
“Sure, I’ll take the photo,” Hayoon said, stepping up again with a grin.
“Thank you!” the fan said, thrilled.
“Hyung, what is happening right now?” I whispered to Hayoon, still dazed as we sent the second fan off.
“No idea,” he said, just as bewildered but clearly enjoying the moment.