So Sweet And So Bitter

IX.

> Mingyu <

"Is the exam season over?" I ask my sister through the phone as I'm eating a donut during our 20-minute break.

"No, I have one exam left to take" Her voice sounds tired. I can't imagine being in her place, I always hated studying. University life is definitely not for the weak, probably one of the reasons I barely got out of there. Even as a kid I was used to crying while doing homework.

Of course that doesn't mean I didn't work hard to get where I am now, becoming an actor was quite a journey, but it took me a lot to have even an ounce of fame. Our debut in Seventeen wasn't that successful and because my acting skills were quite lacking, since I was just a teenager scouted because of "looks", I didn't get many opportunities to go on with my career. I took acting classes, I was still studying and I did everything I had to to continue that path.

"Mingyu?" I realize my sister's been speaking on the phone.

"Yeah I'm listening"

"I asked you a question" She laughs a little and I feel relieved that she didn't take it personally.

"Can you repeat, I spaced out"

"Is it a problem if I can't be there on your birthday?"

"No it isn't. Why?" It's not like I'm a kid anymore, the only thing I take advantage of on my day is unlimited drinking and this year it's even on a saturday so I'm pretty lucky. Still there are fifteen days left until then, it must be something important if she is asking me so carefully. As a matter of fact she proceeds with an explanation of the seminar she got invited to in Osaka, I don't even know what connections and how she used for such an opportunity but I'm happy for her.

"Ok I have to go now, bye bye" I hang up on the phone and head back to the stage.

I walk up to Wonwoo. "Let's finish this fast, we have a long night ahead of us" He nods. We have the photo shoot this evening, in exactly three and a half hours and as expected I have no idea of the kind of work we're going to do.

- - -

I get on the driver's seat just as Wonwoo is choosing a playlist for the car ride and "Eight" by IU starts playing. At least this way there won't be any awkward silence between us while we're heading to a public garden just outside of the city. 

"We're actually going to shoot a music video today" I feel Wonwoo's gaze on me as he speaks. 

"What kind of music video?" 

"It's pretty chill, it doesn't take too many clips. I already did another of this artist's music videos last year." 

"And this is your last one. Are you sure you want to quit?" I'm afraid of asking too much but mine is a genuine concern, we might not be friends but we have known each other for a long time. 

"Yes, my mother's hospital bills are taken care of. I'm not doing this because of you or Minghao, I just don't need to anymore." The stoplight becomes red and I take the chance to glance at him. "I might come back to it one day but for now I'm done." His eyes turn to mine and I give him a little smile nodding. 

"What genre is it?"

"R&B soul" 

"Cool" I smile excitedly.

- - -

"Hello Jaemin, this is Kim Mingyu" I bow a little as Wonwoo introduces us. "Mingyu, this is Kim Jaemin, also known as Gemini" 

The blonde guy extends his arm for me to shake. "It's nice to meet you" He looks older than me and a little scary but he smiles at me and he seems friendly, I shouldn't have thought of him like that but I guess it's just a human thing.