Shadows of the Spotlight

Chapter 65

By the time we reached the filming location, the crew had already set up everything. The venue was nestled deep in the woods, surrounded by towering trees that filtered the sunlight through their branches, casting soft, golden hues over the clearing. The moment I stepped out of the van, I was hit by the rich scent of earth and pine. It was serene—completely removed from the noise and chaos of the city.

I made my way toward the coffee station first, pouring myself a steaming cup. Just as I was about to take a sip, a familiar voice stopped me.

"Having coffee on an empty stomach?"

I turned around to see Arc standing a few steps away, his arms crossed as he eyed me knowingly. He was dressed in a white shirt with delicate prints, paired with black pants. His hair was styled with most of it swept up, except for a few strands that had been left loose over his forehead, slightly covering one of his eyes. It gave him a serious yet effortlessly mysterious look.

"Yeah, I didn't get to eat breakfast," I admitted, lowering the cup slightly.

He sighed and gestured toward another table. "There's some toast over there. Have some before drinking coffee."

I followed his gaze and realized I had completely overlooked the food table. Sheepishly, I murmured a quiet "Thanks" before heading over to grab a plate. I placed my coffee cup on the plate and took a bite of toast before turning back to Arc, raising the half-eaten piece slightly as if to silently ask, Happy now?

He gave me a small smile in response, his expression softening for a moment.

"Did you have breakfast?" I asked.

Arc scratched the back of his head, a slight smirk playing at his lips. "No. I'm on a diet. I'll eat later."

I was about to ask him more when a presence beside him made me pause. Han A-Su had joined him, effortlessly slipping into the space next to him as if she belonged there.

She was already dressed for the shoot—her hair and makeup flawless, her posture poised. But what caught my attention wasn't her beauty or the way she carried herself. It was her outfit.

The fabric of her dress... It was the same as Arc's shirt.

The realization hit me like a slow burn. The matching outfits reminded me of the couple shirts Arc had once prepared for us. At the time, I had thought of it as a sweet, intimate gesture. A small, quiet way of showing that we belonged together.

But now, seeing him and Han A-Su in coordinated outfits, standing side by side, that once cherished memory felt a little bitter.

Han A-Su turned toward Arc with a bright smile, tilting her head slightly. "내 모습은 어때요? (How do I look?)" she asked, her voice light but expectant.

Arc glanced at her, then gave her a more deliberate look. After a moment, he raised his hand and made a small circular motion with his index finger, a gesture he had done towards me when I had tried on my dress in LA. It seemed Han A-Su understood the gesture and immediately turned around, giving him a full view of the outfit.

"그게 바로 내가 상상했던 모습이야 (That's exactly the look I had envisioned)," Arc said, nodding in approval. "의상팀이 훌륭한 일을 했습니다.(The costume team did a great job.)"

A-Su beamed. "So I look pretty?"

Arc didn't pause. "Yes. You always look pretty."

The ease between them was impossible to miss. As the director, Mr. Kim Song-uh, approached to go over the upcoming scene, the two of them shifted their attention back to work, but something in the way they stood together—their effortless conversation, the subtle familiarity—lingered in the air long after they'd gone silent.