ONCE (JoongNine AU)

Chapter 2

5 years ago, The First Kiss

Joong

The thin lips that moved on mine felt foreign, warm, moist and pliant. I didn't know what to do, but instinct told me to move mine in reply. I was awkward, rushing and didn't know how to set the pace.

"Cut!", the voice of the director was such a saving grace in this awkward moment.

"Joong? What was that?", the director asked me. I looked down in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, P'Nam, one more time", I said with a nervous voice. P'Nam nodded and we shot again. But, the second take also did not satisfy the director.

"Are you nervous, Joong? Alright, we break for half an hour. Get yourself mentally and physically ready. Your body is too stiff. Look more natural after this. Forget this is a shoot and just kiss liked you really like your partner, okay?". I took a deep breath and nodded.

This was really embarrassing and uncomfortable for me. But, when I signed up to act in the series, I should have prepared well, not caused a delay such as this. I excused myself and went to the dressing room that was empty. The staff must had gone for a coffee break while the filming was in progress.

When I heard the door to the room was opened, and a sweet face looking and came in, I diverted my eyes from the said person. I didn't know what to say.

"Joong", he said and held my hand. I looked up and felt guilty. "That was your first kiss, wasn't it?". My eyes widened that Nine knew about it. Nine just smiled a little and tapped my hand, "I was once a teenager liked you, and maybe a little naughtier than how you are right now. We were brought up in different culture and environment, so don't feel guilty about what happened".

"What to do P'? The shoot would resume in a while. How should I know what to do in a short time? It's my fault, I should have told you during the workshop, but I thought it was easy, just a kiss. I didn't know that they will shoot in different angles and with a certain...expectation".

"Do you trust P'?", he asked and looked directly into my eyes. I just nodded. "Then, let's practice for a bit". My mouth hung opened. I was speechless. Even in workshop, we just angled our head and didn't kiss for real. "If you're uncomfortable, then it's alright, we'll do it during the shoot again". I was not going to cause another delay for the shoot that supposed to be finished in an hour that had already dragged to extra time.

"I'm so sorry na, P'Nine, that you have to do this", I said and looked down again. I felt his touch on my chin, urging me to raise my head. He massaged my shoulders and then rubbed my arms so I could relax. "Take a few deep breaths, Joong. You're too stiff", he said and smiled. I did and it calmed me down a bit. "Since you should lead, move closer slowly towards me". I moved, yet the calm heart started to beat strongly again, when Nine also moved slowly to meet me halfway. "Open your lips apart a bit, and kiss me first, Joong. Don't rush, you lead and then should give me moments to kiss back too. I will follow your pace". I followed his instructions, but my nervousness cause me to kiss strongly at the start.

Nine laughed and pushed me back a little. "Too strong. This supposed to be our first kiss in the series, so not too strong. Saved that for later. And, closing your eyes might ease the nervousness too. Now, start again". I moved closer again, parted my lips and kissed Nine softly, Nine returned the kiss, and my lips moved on him again for the second time, more solid than the first, he imitated the pace and the pressure that I gave. I leaned back and opened my eyes. "Much better, Joong. But your lips are still a little stiff. To make it looks natural, try to do it in a relax manner, loosen you jaws a bit. Maybe, think of eating an ice-cream, that you want to suck a bit before it turned to liquid". I took another deep breath, and decided to imagine kissing someone that I really had a longtime crush on, though that was never the case. What an innocent life I had, no crush, kiss nor love.

"Nine...", I called his name quietly, and caressed his face, my fingers trail down from his cheeks to his neck. Nine's eyes dimmed unconsciously, and time seemed to stop moving. I looked at his face thoroughly, those eyelashes lowered halfway, covering the eyes, the cute nose and those lips that already parted slightly. Nine really is pretty. That was what I thought when I first saw him during the audition. But, after we were paired up, his demeanor was quite manly, so, I'd forgotten how pretty he is, until now. Looking at him again in an arrested time liked this, suddenly sparked a giddy feeling inside of me. Why do this feeling feel wrong, but also right at the same time?

I moved closer, closed my eyes and kissed him without thinking of any steps, just from a feeling, alone. Nine was frozen for the first few kisses, but slowly, returned my kisses back. My hand that held his neck, moved lower to his back and pulled him closer to me. In contrast, Nine's hands raised to link at the back of my neck. How many kisses, I lost count, until the sound of voices that was coming from outside of the room; signaling that some of the staffs must had returned from the coffee break; caused us to part, just in time to straighten our shirt before the door to the room was opened.

"Oh, Nong Nine, None Joong. The room is hot, na? You looked flushed. Here, takes a break, drink some ice coffee to cool down". The makeup artist said without suspecting anything, lucky of the heat from the hot weather that really make the room a bit warm. "Thank you P', but I need a restroom break", Nine said and immediately went out from the room after bowing in greeting to the senior.

I took the iced coffee that the senior offered and flushed down all the heat from my face that had yet to cool down. What had just happened? I also couldn't grasp it clearly yet. But, at least, I know now what to do for the shoot that would resume in 15 more minutes.