Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 11

By the time the shoot was over it was already night. We packed up and returned. The car ride was quiet, the city lights blurring past the windows as we made our way back to the hotel. Arc had settled into the last row, exhaustion clear in the way he lay across the seat, an eye mask over his face. It was only then that I realized how much he must have pushed himself today, and I felt a small twinge of admiration. With his guard down, he looked almost peaceful, a stark contrast to the intense, captivating presence he had in front of the camera.

Not wanting to disturb him, I took my seat in the middle row alongside Jihoon. He gave me a nod before leaning back, closing his eyes in what I assumed was a moment of rest. I pulled out my phone to check messages, and it didn't take long for a barrage of notifications to appear.

It seemed I'd been added to multiple group chats for the crew. Most of the messages were logistical details about Arc's upcoming concert, which was scheduled for the next week. I scrolled through, mentally preparing myself for what sounded like a busy day.

Amid the message chain, my best friend Evelyn's contact caught my eye. She had dropped a message in one of the groups, and the sight of her name was a comforting reminder of normalcy in the midst of all this chaos. I quickly sent her a personal message:

Lila: Hey, where are you right now?

Within seconds, her reply popped up.

Evelyn: In the hotel, just discussing some details with the crew. Why, are you on your way back?

Lila: Yeah, I'll be there in about 30 minutes

Evelyn:Cool! Meeting should be wrapped up by then

I couldn't help but smile back at the screen, her enthusiasm contagious. Even amidst all this, it was nice to know Evelyn was here, someone familiar who understood both the surrealness of this world and my place in it. I leaned back, glancing once at Arc's resting form before focusing on the road ahead, already looking forward to catching up with Evelyn.

The car pulled into the hotel's underground parking, and Jihoon gently nudged Arc awake as we came to a stop. Arc blinked, still half-asleep, and pulled his hood up and face mask on before stepping out of the car. He moved slowly, clearly exhausted, shuffling towards the elevator. Once inside, he leaned heavily against the wall, eyes half-closed as if he could drift off again any second.

Jihoon checked his phone and frowned, then spoke up. "프로듀서가 위층에서 기다리고 있어 (The producer's waiting for you upstairs)," he said, his tone sympathetic but firm. "그는 내일 녹음에 대해 논의해야 합니다. (He needs to discuss tomorrow's recording.)"

Arc sighed deeply, a flicker of frustration crossing his face, but he straightened up, nodding. "내가 5분 안에 거기 도착할 거라고 전해줘. 먼저 얼굴을 씻어야 해요. (Tell him I'll be there in five. Just need to wash my face first)." With that, he headed towards his room, his steps heavy with fatigue.

As we reached the lobby, I spotted the spread of food laid out for the staff's dinner. I quickly noticed the coffee machine and made a cup just the way Arc had it in the morning. He would need it for the long night ahead.

I made my way towards his room, the cup in hand, and was just about to knock when the door opened. Arc stood there, his face freshly washed, his hair still damp at the ends, though his fatigue was still evident.

"뭐 필요한 거 있어요? (Did you need something?)" he asked, a bit surprised.

I smiled and lifted the cup. "그건 아니고요. 사실, 당신에게 필요한 게 있어요. (Not exactly. But I have something you need.)"