The Day Doom Knocked on Our Doors

Chapter 10: Dawning

Seo In Guk, as an actor, prides himself with the fact that he's doing his best as an artist. Every time he has a project, he enhances his skills and polishes his craft. He makes sure that he's able to capture the real nature of the characters he's portraying so he can deliver it properly to the audiences.

If asked, he would confess, this current work is quite a challenge. Acting as another human being is different from taking on a role of an immortal. More than that, he wants to also express the complexity of the role he was given as it doesn't require him to be only unaffected but also is actually affected at the same time.

For this particular scene they are going to film, he's glad to have read in the script that his character will be showing a bit of vulnerability. Since his character is supposedly unfeeling, it's kind of a nice break to film some scenes that required deep emotions. In this case, he'll have to show the audiences that he's feeling something but can't quite pin the exact emotion yet. Challenging. But also an opportunity for him to showcase his acting ability.

He thought he was well prepared for the scene and was actually excited about it until he heard the director say "Action!". About a few yards from him stood Park Bo Young, smiling as the camera has not focused on her yet. In that moment, a certain kind of awareness dawned on him.

In a few weeks, he will no longer see that smile. Point in fact, he will no longer see her. Permanently. And that, that understanding of their situation, made him uneasy. He felt like someone just squeezed his heart.

At first, he was just thinking about taking risks since he's going to die anyway. What he never took into account is that not seeing her anymore, actually scared him. Funny how in his journey of mastering his acting skills, he's now finding out that from all the characters he's played before and this one, the one he can relate with the most is the immortal.

There was no telling from an outsider's point of view what transpired for In Guk in those few seconds when the camera rolled. Everyone on the set was just awestrucked at how Seo In Guk delivered. They had no idea that in that short scene, the emotion he showed was a collection of all the things that he felt was close to home and not an emotion that is a product of his simulations.

When he got to where Bo Young stood waiting for him, he was so overcome with a mix of emotions, that he almost struggled to keep his composure. He's thankful for the few seconds where the camera focused on her face. This allowed him to gather himself and do his work properly. The hand she placed on his back also helped. He found himself comforted in a way, despite the gesture being in the script.

"It's going to be alright." He heard her whisper, when the camera focused on him in turn.

And just like that, another revelation of his true feelings dawned on him. He doesn't just like Park Bo Young. He loves her.

----

While Bo Young was sure no one else noticed, she was astonished by the fact that she did. Apparently, having stayed in the same house as he does, earned her the ability to understand what's going on with him without him even saying anything. She can tell, as soon as he was near enough, he is in pain. Pain which, she's certain, belonged to In Guk's and not his character's.

She couldn't quite pin it yet, however, what his exact reasons were. But if she would guess, it's probably because of the same reason she's hurting. Seeing him walk towards her and realizing she will never see him make his way to her again in the next few weeks made her heart ache.

"It's going to be alright." She whispered. More to herself, than to him. Loving Seo In Guk gave her fears she, not even for a moment, knew she would experience.

I love him?

Bo Young smiled at the dawning of her true feelings. It may be scary, yes. But she also felt it in her heart she wouldn't have it any other way.

He was someone she was hoping to work with from long ago. She had always been curious about him. And he came to her at a time when everything she knew will not be within her reach anymore. It's destiny. A parting gift the divine graced her with.

"Cut!"

"This is really beautiful." The director commented as he showed the screenwriter what he took. The latter agreed with a nod. "You want to check what we shot?" The director asked both actors.

In Guk and Bo Young exchanged glances before they made their way to where the staff were, watching what they just filmed. They were talking in whispers probably voicing out their comments while making sure the actors don't get discouraged in case it didn't turn up well. Judging on the expressions they wore on their faces though, it seemed they did a great job.

"Look at this." The director pointed on the screen. "Wo~w." He added still amazed at the way Seo In Guk expressed what he imagined it to look like.

"If you're loved by the camera director, you come out pretty on the screen." Bo Young, shared to the camera man filming behind the scenes. "I should also get on his good side." She added jokingly.

----

"You only have 61 days left. I'm quite amused that none of you seem to think this is real." Myul Mang, who now looks like Lee Soo Hyuk, said as he sat between Bo Young and In Guk on the couch, separating them.

"On the contrary we do think it's real. We've accepted what's going to happen. Why do you think we arranged living together? And why do you always turn into someone we're uncomfortable with anyway?" Bo Young asked, raising a fist in an act of hitting Myul Mang, to her annoyance. Both Myul Mang and In Guk laughed at her display which annoyed her more.

"Ya!" She continued. "Stop laughing. It feels like I'm being ganged up by my colleagues." Her fist never left the air.

"Why are you laughing with him? I'll deal with you later." Bo Young added, addressing In Guk. He couldn't help but laugh more at her expense.

Damn it! Why is it so difficult to hate you?

"She thinks it's difficult to hate you." Myul Mang shared with In Guk. The immortal can after all hear thoughts.

"Really?" In Guk asked, suddenly interested. He stopped laughing and painted an amused smile on his face.

Lord have mercy!

"I think you should also keep smiling like that. She likes it." Myul Mang continued to reveal Bo Young's thoughts about In Guk.

"Ya! Stop listening!" Bo Young said slapping the immortal on the arm with her hand. Or at least that's what she thought she's doing. That wasn't the case however.

Myul Mang disappeared and her hand landed on the only other existence left in the room. Specifically, it landed on one of Seo In Guk's thighs. He was so nonplussed, his smile dropped.

It was safe to say, none of them was able to sleep peacefully that night. As to the context of why, only the both of them will know.