Actor, 𝕭𝖆𝖓𝖌 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖓 [UNDEREDITING]

8 ; Actor

It wasn't long before a knock came at the door and a short man walked in with a large jumper swallowing his body. He was singing loudly as he walked in and when we made eye contact he suddenly stopped and bowed. 

"I didn't know you were here." He smiled sheepishly as Chan laughed at him, "I'm Changbin."

"Korain." I smiled and shook his hand gently, and then I lifted my knees back to my chest.

"Binnie, come sit. We need some help." Chan said, and I noticed the nicknames he was calling people.

Binnie, that was a cute nickname. He calls me Rain which I thought was really cute, but it seems that he just has nicknames for everyone. Why was I so bothered by it? It was just nicknames, it's not like the nicknames meant anything. They were probably just easier for him to say. Plus, Chan seemed like a kind person at heart and probably was something he done out of pure happiness.

"Help with what?" Changbin asked from the couch behind us.

"The OST. The song is about a young lover who feels the need to apologise for loving someone older." Chan announced and I watched the two communicate as Chan showed Changbin the 'chorus' we had written down.

"Ooo, that's catchy!" Changbin cheered and I smiled because that's what I said too. 

"Rain-ah, Changbin is a good lyricist, watch him come up with something immediately." Chan winked at me and I felt my face heat up at the nickname I was suddenly aware of, so I turned to Changbin.

Changbin was sitting back against the couch, his lips moving so he could mumble ideas to himself. He slowly got louder, forming some sort of melody with the lyrics we already had. It sounded good, for a first attempt. I think everyone in the room could sense something was missing though. 

"You got an instrumental?" Changbin asked and Chan awkwardly laughed and shook his head.

I watched quietly as Changbin shuffled forward to reach Chan's laptop, and he started moving software around and making a soft piano instrumental. It was only a 15 second start of a melody but it actually sounded really nice, and soft. I could feel the talent radiating from his fingers, and Chan was nodding along. I could see the frown on his forehead as he concentrated. 

Why did my producer want me to help them? How was I meant to help?

"Some soft drums might sound nice." I muttered, and both of them looked at me, "You know...Just because some of you are rappers..."

That was silly of me. I truly had no experience with instruments and now I was just randomly recommending some instruments that might benefit..

"Your onto something Korain-ah." Changbin snapped his fingers, and I was shocked that I actually had the ability to give them some ideas, "We need some soft snare drums."

Chan looked at me and pat my head over my hood, and I nodded awkwardly. For the next half an hour, I sat nearly in silence as the two musicians worked their magic to come up with something they called version 1 of the instrumental. It was calming but also upbeat and entertaining. I really like what they had come up with.

"Thank you Binnie." Chan said with a smile and a wave, I waved too as Changbin left the room, stating he wanted a sandwich.

I looked at anywhere but Chan, feeling the awkward atmosphere for the first time since we met. I don't know what the tension was that I was feeling, but it was obvious Chan wasn't feeling it as he began talking as saving the instrumental on his computer. Why was I feeling so strange around him now?

I suddenly felt a hand on my forehead and I flinched sub-consciously. Chan was worried, his eyes were checking my whole face as I looked at him, and he wasn't smiling anymore. He took my hood down, and my hair was probably a mess, and he put his hand back on my forehead again. His hand was cold compared to my forehead.

"Rain-ah, are you okay?" Chan asked, "Your forehead is boiling." 

"Yeah, I'm fine hyung." I smiled and brought his hand from my forehead into my lap. 

"Are you sure?" Chan asked again, "Do you want to head home now?"

I glanced up at him, our faces mere inches apart, and I could see the way his eyes softened, as if he were addressing a young child. A heavy sigh escaped my lips; I wasn't some naïve kid. Sure, I might have appeared younger than my years, but I was more than capable of looking after myself. With a mixture of defiance and curiosity, I slid my hand gently around the back of Chan's head, pulling him closer until our foreheads almost touched. The warmth of our breath mingled in the narrow space that separated us, creating an intimate atmosphere that made my heart race. It all happened so quickly, and as the moment lingered, a wave of uncertainty washed over me, making me question whether I'd crossed a line I hadn't meant to touch.

"I can take care of myself hyung." I said, hoping my eyes would show my seriousness. 

I felt nothing bad about being taken care of or someone taking care of me, but when they worry about something untrivial, I hated when they were babying me. Mostly I disliked it when Chan babied me, because I knew he was doing it because he genuinely thought I was a baby...

 or if it's someone that I don't want to worry about me then I dislike it. Chan is someone that I don't want to worry about me, yet, I don't really know why. I didn't like older people to feel like they had to be a parent to me. There's not many things I don't like but it's definitely feeling inferior to someone older.

"Okay." Chan said seriously, and I let go of the back of his head. 

"Perhaps I should go home hyung." I said, and the atmosphere was definitely tense now. I was sorry to have caused some discomfort, but I'm glad I said something. I didn't want to dislike Chan in the future from how he treated me.

"Yeah. It's 9pm now." Chan said and he stood up first and waited for me to stand up.

I stood up from the chair, and walked to the studio door. I turned to Chan, practically turning and crashing into him. I felt my face get hot again and I took a step back and smiled.

"So-"

"I'll walk you to the front of the door." Chan said and I nodded quickly.

We entered the elevator, and I called for a taxi quickly. Once we got to the lobby on the bottom floor, I followed Chan out the front door of the entertainment building. It was a chilly September night so I hugged my hoodie close to my body, and looked out for the taxi.

"Rain-ah, I'll message you about the restaurant, okay?" Chan confirmed and I nodded with a smile. I forgot about the hang out we arranged to get some inspiration for the lyrics.

"Okay. See you later." I bowed one last time, and he hesitated before walking back inside. 

I sighed. The tension was still there, but I know I was the cause for it. It was stressing me out because I never normally feel awkward with people, but when Chan fawned over my like a little kid, it made my stomach feel weird. And the whole nickname situation, why was I sad when he didn't have a nickname for just me alone?

How annoying.