Actor, 𝕭𝖆𝖓𝖌 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖓 [UNDEREDITING]

12 ; Actor

I had spent the entire day immersed in the whirlwind of filming, completely absorbed in my work, and not once did I manage to sneak a glance at my phone to check for any messages from Chan. An undercurrent of nervous energy buzzed through me all day, making it difficult to find a moment of calm in between takes and scenes. Chan's birthday livestream lingered in my thoughts like a persistent echo, and I couldn't shake my curiosity about how it had unfolded. Did he unwrap the gift I had sent him during the live? Had he stumbled upon my letter amidst all the excitement, perhaps reading it aloud in the heat of the moment?

I arrived on set at 8 a.m. sharp, my heartbeat quickening with anticipation as we plunged into the day's shoot. The hours blurred together, and before I knew it, we had been labouring nonstop until 7 p.m. The schedule for the day included a series of night time shots that required perfect lighting and meticulous choreography, adding to the sense of urgency swirling around us. I was acutely aware that in just a week, my work would take me all the way down to Busan, the bustling coastal city that promised its own set of challenges and adventures.

Reflecting on my feelings, I realized that confessing to Chan had come at a particularly tumultuous time in both our lives. I had taken a leap of faith, knowing full well that he could have easily turned me down. Yet here I was, consumed by thoughts of what could have been, hoping to hear back from him soon and anxious about the vulnerability I had exposed in sharing my heart.

"Okay. That's it for today, everyone give yourself an applause." The director shouted out, and I clapped and hugged So-Joon who was beside me.

"Congrats Korain-ah." So-Joon said and I smiled at him, we had been working as a good team recently.

"Yes. We had a good day!" I replied happily, excited to finish for the day, but nervous for any messages I might have.

I walked to my manager who followed me to get changed back into my clothes. My manager usually comes to the late night shoots to drive me home. As I was changing into my clothes, I was thinking about a scene I filmed today with Ji-woo. As a senior actress, I always thought it would be awkward but the way she would pat my head in and after scenes, reminded me of Chan.

"Are you ready Korain-ah?" I heard my manager ask from outside the little room I was in.

I got dressed quickly and exited the room. I asked my manager for my phone and he put it in my hands. I took a second, bracing myself for no messages, or a long message where he's rejecting my confession. I clicked the on button, and well...

I shouldn't be surprised. After all, I took a second to brace for it. I had no messages, nothing, not even notifications. I sighed, and closed my eyes. I guess the sudden confession must've caught Chan off guard, or even worse, he just didn't want anything to do with me anymore. I should stop thinking so pessimistically, I mean, it's Chan...Maybe, he was still thinking about it.

That's it. He was still thinking about my offer. I would check with him tomorrow, and ask him directly if he wants to reject me. 

"Korain-ah, see you tomorrow!" So-Joon shouted before he got into a car with his own manager. I waved goodbye as they drove off. 

I trailed behind my manager as we stepped off the bustling set, where the production team lingered for a little while longer to wrap up the day's work. As we made our way towards the parking lot, I noticed the sleek black car that my manager drives. It caught my eye not just for its polished exterior, but also because it had undergone a transformation with a fresh set of stylish new wheels. Just the other week, I remembered him mentioning that one of his tyres had been slightly popped and deflated, leaving him inconvenienced. 

"Hyung! These new tyres look nice." I exclaimed as I took a closer look at them.

"Oh yeah! Korain-ah look!" My manager quickly opened his door, and I watched him click a button in his car. The wheels lit up, and there was some LED's that lit up around his wheel. It was currently orange, turning to a pink.

"Wow, hyung!" I laughed at the over the top design he had got for his new wheels.

"Korain-ah?"

I looked up at my manager thinking he was trying to show me something, but instead his eyes were trained elsewhere. I followed his eyes sight and turned around. Chan was standing there in all his glory. I smiled at the sight of him, although at the back of my mind, I know he could be here to reject me in person. 

It was like Chan to be kind enough to talk through the reasonings behind his rejection.

"Chan?"

He was dressed casually in a soft, simple grey jumper that hung comfortably around his shoulders, paired with a pair of shorts that seemed to accentuate the easy-going vibe he radiated. His choice of white socks, slightly crumpled at the ankles, and pristine white trainers completed his laid-back look. In that moment, he was just being himself, and despite the casualness of his attire, I found it difficult to tear my gaze away from him.

From beneath the cap perched on his head, I could glimpse his bare face, free from the layers of makeup he typically wore for performances. After a long day of filming a birthday live event, he likely took a moment to read through my letters, written with heartfelt sincerity. I couldn't help but wonder if the act of wiping off his makeup held some significance; perhaps he was signalling a return to authenticity or simply allowing himself to breathe, devoid of the façade of celebrity. The thought lingered in my mind, leaving me curious about the deeper meaning behind his actions.

"Are you free right now?" He asked, and he bowed kindly to my manager before walking up to me. 

"He currently has to go home-"

"Yeah I'm free right now." I cut in quickly, although I'm close to my manager, he can't know about my feelings for Chan.

"Korain-"

"It's fine hyung. Chan will drive me home." I said with a smile, completely throwing Chan under the bus, but when I looked at him, he smiled and nodded too. I was grateful for it.

"Don't worry, I'll get him back home safe." Chan said and he gently grabbed the sleeve of my jumper and walked me to his car which was parked down the road outside of set.

I got in the passenger side of his car and waited as Chan sat down. He didn't say a word for a few minutes and I waited patiently. I turned to look at the interior of his car, and it as super clean in here. I saw in the back seat, he had placed my basket there and suddenly, I felt my heart drop.

"Chan?"

"Korain-ah. Shall we talk about your letter?"

All I could do was nod and gulp down what seemed to be something horrible tasting. I watched him out the corner of my eye carefully, as if any movement might trigger him to reject me harshly. I felt like I was walking on a tightrope even though Chan was one of the nicest people. 

"I guess I should say thank you for being direct with your feelings. I actually appreciated it when you just said it out right. Can I ask how you know you have feelings for me, after all, it's only been a few weeks since we met."

I sighed, how do I explain this?

"Can we drive somewhere while I find the right words to explain it?" I asked, hoping to make the atmosphere more comfortable for the both of us.

"Sure, let's go on a drive." Chan said, and we both put our seatbelts on and he started driving.