“I still can’t believe I’m here. It’s such an honor!”
“Haha, this guy’s really fired up.”
Senior Jung Heeseok let out a short laugh and put a straw in his mouth.
The sound of him quickly drinking his coffee echoed rather loudly.
He placed the now-empty takeaway cup down in an instant, and his gaze immediately locked onto me. “Bongsik?”
“Ah, yes, that’s right. I’m Yoo Chaemin, playing the role of Jung Bongsik. I look forward to working with you all.” “Heh heh, you’re really handsome.”
“Th-thank you…”
At that moment, someone quietly snickered. It was Ji Minsung.
When all eyes turned to him, he quickly blinked and then waved his hand dismissively.
“Ah, sorry.”
“What’s with you? Why are you laughing? Is being called handsome funny?”
Senior Jung teased playfully, and Ji Minsung smiled good-naturedly.
“No, it’s not that it’s funny or anything…”
Trailing off, he glanced at me, and his smile deepened.
“I’m just jealous.” Well, I don’t think that’s what he meant.
“I sometimes think if I looked like that, maybe life would be a bit easier…”
“Hahaha, why? Minsung, you’re already handsome enough.”
“Oh no, not at all!” There was a hint of sarcasm in Ji Minsung’s words, but Senior Jung just treated it as a light joke.
“But seriously, you’re really good-looking. Is it because you were an idol before?”
The topic, which I hadn’t even brought up, came out from someone else’s mouth. “Oh, Bongsik was an idol?” Senior Jung muttered quietly.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Senior, you don’t know the song ‘Summer Party,’ do you? It was a hit a few years ago. The idol group that sang that song is where he came from, right?” The hidden barb in Ji Minsung’s soft, gentle voice was cleverly disguised.
“That’s right! I really liked that song. I still sing it sometimes at karaoke.”
Han Yuri, who had been mostly quiet and just reacting, finally spoke.
I didn’t know what to say and just smiled. “It’s really amazing. Who would’ve thought I’d be filming a movie with someone who used to sing on stage?”
Ji Minsung glanced at me again and soon smiled brightly. ‘Haha… This is really driving me crazy.’
‘Why is he acting like this?’
I couldn’t understand Ji Minsung’s behavior from A to Z.
To my knowledge, this was the first time Ji Minsung and Yoo Chaemin had met, as this film was their first project together.
Ji Minsung started acting somewhat late but quickly drew public attention with his smooth, pleasant voice and good looks.
He was what you’d call a rising star.
‘I get that the good response to his previous work might cause pressure or impatience for the next one.’ But what did that have to do with Yoo Chaemin’s attitude?
Even saying it was some kind of rivalry felt risky from my perspective. Because when you look at just their names—Yoo Chaemin and Ji Minsung—the difference was glaring.
‘One debuted as an actor but hasn’t been able to shake off criticism of poor acting, and the other debuted late but is rising quickly with favorable reviews…’
What exactly was making Ji Minsung act this way?
I racked my brain but couldn’t come up with a clear answer. I could only assume that he was annoyed about the notoriously bad actor appearing in his precious film debut.
‘Yeah, that’s probably the best way to think about it.’ Just as I was convincing myself, I felt a gaze on me from somewhere. When I turned, Senior Kim Eun hye was quietly watching me.
Our eyes met, and she gave a faint smile and shrugged her shoulders. Having spoken to her a few times on set, I understood what she wanted to say.
‘Don’t worry about it. Just show them with your acting.’ That was exactly what she had told me on set. ‘Right now, I need to focus only on my own acting.’
There was no room for me to worry about Ji Minsung.
How I portrayed Jung Bongsik in this film would determine how the public perceived Yoo Chaemin.
“……”
That is, unless Ji Minsung deliberately decided to mess with me more.
***
The first time the members of gathered together was in a pitifully shabby basement storage room.
The fluorescent lights, well past their replacement date, flickered intermittently, and the musty smell of mildew unique to basements filled the air.
“Oh my god! Are you crazy? I can’t work in a place like this!”
Ivona, who was the most sensitive about the environment, recoiled and stood up.
As she stomped loudly toward the exit of the basement storage, Yeo Eunsoo grabbed her with a low voice.
“Hello? Is this Dispatch? I have a tip for you~”
“Hey, you crazy—!”
Ivona flared up and tried to hit Yeo Eunsoo on the head, but her hand was quickly caught.
Ivona’s arm trembled.
“Don’t you speak nicely to your sister, Ivona?”
“Look who’s talking! You blackmailer!”
“Ah, really? Can I report that your darling is a drug user?”
Yeo Eunsoo brought the phone to her ear again.
“I’m sorry! I was wrong, sister!”
Ivona had no choice but to kneel.
Despite her words and actions, her eyes burned with a desire for revenge, but Yeo Eunsoo smiled as if that was just cute.
“Alright, Ivona. Once we finish this, we won’t have to see each other again, so let’s do this well, okay?”
“…Yes…”
In the end, Ivona returned to her spot empty-handed.
Yeo Eunsoo looked at her for a moment and then said with a casual toss, “But if possible, break up.
You probably won’t quit the drugs otherwise.”
“Mind your own business!”
“Rude much?”
“…Yo.”
Ivona flared up again but couldn’t keep it up for long. Kim Cheolsoo, who had been watching the situation with a disapproving look, clicked his tongue softly. “Enough. Let’s just start the meeting. Isn’t that why we’re here?”
“Yeah, honey.”
Yeo Eunsoo responded eagerly.
Her hands propping up her chin made Kim Cheolsoo’s face scrunch up. “Hu-hu-honey…?” From a corner, Jung Bongsik muttered quietly. Hearing him, Ivona covered her eyes with both hands.
“Ack, I saw the ugly guy!”
“S-s-sorry, sorry…”
“You stutter too! Ah, sister, where did you find such a loser?”
“Watch your mouth, Ivona. Bongsik.”
“Bongsik? Even that name sounds lame!”
Ivona recoiled and moved away from Jung Bongsik.
She even picked up a chair to put distance between them. He might have been hurt by that, but he didn’t have time to feel anything.
He was too thrilled that Yeo Eunsoo had taken his side. Yeo Eunsoo, who was scrutinizing her gathered colleagues, shook her head.
“Sigh…” Was this really the best they could do? She steeled her resolve. Although each of them was missing a few screws, they were still well-known figures in this industry.
Jung Bongsik was a bit of a problem, but that loser would do anything she said, so it didn’t matter.
Just then, the screech of an iron door opening echoed. All eyes turned. From the darkness, someone slowly emerged.
A tall man with an intimidating presence and a scar from a knife wound on his left cheek.
“Teddy Jang?”
Ivona shouted as she stared at his face. Kim Cheolsoo glared at Yeo Eunsoo with a grim expression as if confirming her words.
“What’s that?”
“Honey, what do you mean ‘that’ to a person?”
Yeo Eunsoo shrugged in response with a fresh tone.
“You all know, right? ‘Agui.’”
“Agui? No way, is that the Agui?”
The disbelief in their voices made Yeo Eunsoo nod. “Yes. That Agui. You’ve only heard the name, so it’s the first time seeing his face, right?”
Yeo Eunsoo exchanged glances with the man. He slowly moved and plopped down in an empty seat. The terrified Jung Bongsik immediately hid behind his chair.
“I’m Jang Gwangchul.” A deep voice came from the man, Jang Gwangchul. “Jang? Wait a minute, Jang… Could it be…!”
“Right. He’s Teddy Jang’s twin brother. Surprised?”
“Wow… No way! Teddy Jang had a twin brother? And that twin brother is Agui?!”
Who was Agui?
He was a man rumored to be from the Philippine Mafia.
He was infamous for money laundering, kidnappings, blackmail—he did anything for money. Currently, he was a major player in South Korea’s underground market.
A man who insisted on having money in hand before spending—he got the nickname ‘Agui,’ meaning ‘grip’ or ‘claw’ for his tight hold on cash.
“How can we believe the twin brother of Teddy Jang?”
Kim Cheolsoo said in a hardened voice.
“Ah, honey. I’m really sick of your suspicious nature~”
“Hey, Yeo Eunsoo.”
“Satin.” Yeo Eunsoo corrected his words sharply, then smiled as if nothing had happened.
Even actors would be impressed by her quick and natural expression change. “Who did this scar on Jang Gwangchul’s cheek?”
No one answered, but everyone sensed the correct answer. “That’s enough, right? Don’t waste energy doubting unnecessarily. Okay?”
Her smile deepened as she slowly scanned the members.
“We’re all in the same boat, so we shouldn’t do that. Right?”
Her tone was gentle, but her voice suddenly dropped and roughened, and her eyes shone fiercely.
It was a warning that betrayal was out of the question. Satisfied with the stiff atmosphere, Yeo Eunsoo smiled.
She stood up and clapped her hands. “Alright, let’s really start the meeting.”
Director Lee Seungheon, who had been watching the filming seriously, called out.
“Cut! Okay!”
The tense atmosphere instantly loosened. Most of the actors stood up with satisfied expressions.
After monitoring, the next shoot started immediately.
“No, sister. Is your hair just decoration?”
“Ivona, I might have a brain under this decorated hair, but your hair is just a flowerpot for growing strands.”
“Hey, Yeo Eunsoo!”
“Shut up. I’m against that plan too. Is that even a plan? It’s way too reckless!”
“…Not bad, though.”
“That’s just your opinion!”
The meeting was a complete mess.
No, I’m not even sure calling it a meeting was accurate.
Yeo Eunsoo, Ivona, and Kim Cheolsoo’s opinions clashed endlessly.
Jang Gwangchul quietly sided with Yeo Eunsoo’s plan, irritating Kim Cheolsoo and Ivona. And Jung Bongsik… “Hiccup, uh…” He anxiously tapped the laptop keyboard nonstop.
He was thoroughly following Yeo Eunsoo’s instruction to record and organize everything from the meeting.
“Cut! Okay!”
After several NGs, the okay sign was given once again.
This was one of the smoother shoots.
“……”
But the expression of Director Lee Seungheon, who should have been the most pleased with this situation, was somehow dark.