Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-37(pretending)

After the scavenger hunt wrapped up, the cast gathered for a short briefing on the next part of the shoot. The director stood in front of the group, his clipboard in hand, but his eyes kept flicking toward Chaeryeong and Taehyun.

Even without a single word exchanged between them, the tension was palpable. Chaeryeong avoided Taehyun's gaze at all costs, while Taehyun crossed his arms and stared at the floor, his jaw tight. The usually vibrant energy between them had been replaced by an unbearable silence.

The director cleared his throat, snapping their attention back to him. "Alright, everyone. You all did great in the scavenger hunt, but let's talk about the next segment." He paused and pointed directly at Chaeryeong and Taehyun. "Especially you two."

Chaeryeong's heart sank. Why us?

"You're fan favorites, you know," the director continued, glancing between them. "Your time as MCs was iconic—viewers still talk about your chemistry."

Taehyun looked up, his eyes meeting the director's. "We'll do our best," he said simply, his voice neutral.

The director, however, wasn't convinced. "Taehyun, Chaeryeong, I know something's off." He gestured vaguely between them. "The energy you two used to bring—that spark—it's missing. I get that this is a different setting, but the fans? They're expecting you both to light up the screen like you always have."

Chaeryeong's throat tightened. She forced a smile, though it felt brittle. "We'll bring it back," she promised, her voice quieter than she intended.

The director raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Look, I'm not asking for miracles. Just... try to loosen up. Act like you did back when you were MCs. Play off each other. Have fun. That's what the audience wants to see."

The rest of the cast exchanged curious glances but didn't say anything.

"Remember," the director added, his tone firm, "this variety show isn't just about games. It's about showing your personalities. If the fans sense something's wrong, we're in trouble. Got it?"

Chaeryeong nodded reluctantly, stealing a glance at Taehyun. He was looking at her, his expression unreadable.

The next shoot required each team to perform a lighthearted skit based on a prompt they were given. Unsurprisingly, Chaeryeong and Taehyun's prompt was "The Reunion of Two Old Friends."

As they rehearsed in a quiet corner of the set, the tension between them only seemed to grow.

"So," Chaeryeong started awkwardly, holding the script in her hands. "How do we want to do this?"

Taehyun leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "I don't know. Just like old times, I guess."

She sighed, frustrated. "It's not that simple, Taehyun."

"It could be," he said quietly, his gaze piercing.

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. But before she could respond, a staff member called out, "You two ready? We're shooting in five!"

Chaeryeong forced a smile. "Ready!" she called back, though she felt anything but.

When the cameras started rolling, Chaeryeong and Taehyun stood under the bright lights, their smiles forced as they began the skit.

"Wow, it's been years!" Chaeryeong said, her voice unnaturally chipper as she delivered her line. "You haven't changed at all!"

Taehyun responded with a scripted laugh, but the stiffness in his tone was evident. "Neither have you!"

The director's voice rang out from behind the camera. "Cut! Guys, come on. That was... awkward. You're supposed to be old friends catching up, not strangers meeting for the first time."

The cast chuckled nervously, but the director wasn't amused. He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "What's going on with you two? Where's the playful banter? The inside jokes? The chemistry?"

Chaeryeong clenched her fists, feeling the pressure mounting. "We'll do better," she said quickly.

"You'd better," the director said, stepping back. "Take five, and then we'll try again. I need you to act natural—like you used to."

As the staff reset the cameras, Chaeryeong turned to Taehyun, her voice low. "We need to figure this out. Fast."

Taehyun sighed, running a hand through his hair. "What do you want me to do, Chaeryeong? Pretend like nothing's happened? Pretend like we're still..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

"Yes," she said, her voice trembling. "That's exactly what I want. Just for now. Please."

He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. "Fine. Let's give them what they want."

When the cameras started rolling again, something shifted. Chaeryeong forced herself to laugh a little louder, to lean into the playful banter they used to share. Taehyun responded in kind, his lines delivered with more warmth, his eyes crinkling slightly as he smiled at her.

By the time they finished the skit, the director was clapping. "That's what I'm talking about!" he said, beaming. "Great work, you two."

But as the applause died down and the cameras stopped rolling, the weight of their act settled heavily between them.

"We're good at pretending, aren't we?" Taehyun said softly, his smile fading as he looked at her.

Chaeryeong's chest tightened, but she didn't respond. She simply turned away, the hollow feeling in her heart growing stronger.