Ryu Jinsang. This was a name I was hoping to never hear again, after high school. Of course, that was impossible since his father was also an actor, and quite popular he was. In my industry, you don't forget those with talent. They only rise, and you see their names plastered around almost everywhere.
Jinsang's name was mentioned in many articles regarding Ryu Myung. In fact, there wasn't a single headline where the father and son weren't brought up simultaneously. It was Ryu Myung's son this, and Ryu Myung's son that.
It was like Ryu Jinsang never left my life.
I knew that he was studying to become an actor; he talked all about it at school, laughing with his friends, and his ambition was mentioned in every single news article. It's no surprise that he's taking after his father.
This might just be his first movie. I don't know whether he is a good actor, but I hope he sucks so I never have to see him again. I hope he only got lucky with the auditions and that acting is not even his thing.
I want to see him fail so badly. Is that too much to ask?
He let go of my hand and pulled back, plastering a fake smile that was so bright, I almost thought he was genuinely happy to see me. Almost.
"It's great to see you again, Seo Chungae," he grits out. I'm the only one in this room who notices his disdain and unease, because when I look around, I see that the others are smiling, totally unperturbed regarding his behavior.
"Oh, do you two know each other?" Director Kim asks with a smile.
"No—" I start to say, but the bastard cuts me off.
"Of course," he replies brightly, making my blood boil. "We used to go to the same high school. I knew him quite well, too; he was always a hard worker, using all of his free time to study. Seeing him get this far in life makes me feel so very proud of him. He deserves it, after all."
He did not just say that. That fucker did not just say that. This lying, two-faced asshole.
The Director's eyes widen slightly in surprise, his smile widening in pleasure. "Oh, that's wonderful! It's good to see that you two are friends. For such a long time, too."
"That's not—" I try to speak up for myself again, but once again, I'm interrupted by Ryu Jinsang.
"Of course, we are," he says, his voice a few octaves too low, sending a glare at me that makes me freeze, the words I was about to say sticking in my throat. What the hell? I can't still be scared of this asshole, can I? Even after ten years? "We're such good friends, aren't we, Chungae?"
I clench my fists even tighter, this time actually drawing blood. I say nothing, choosing not to answer, but my silence means I don't deny the statement, and that's answer enough for the director. Why am I staying quiet? If I tell the director that Jinsang and I had a bad history together, will he throw him out? Will Jinsang lose the chance to act in this movie?
No. Of course not. Not when his father is Ryu fucking Myung.
Director Kim smiles contentedly and sits back down, picking up a wineglass and sipping its contents. "Well, then. I'm pleased to say that the production of this film shouldn't be too problematic, as long as you work diligently for your part."
No problems, my ass. This is a total nightmare.
"You have all gotten your scripts, correct?" The director asks, setting his wineglass down. The actresses and actors nod in response, some beginning to thank him for this chance.
We'd gotten our scripts last week, and shooting starts on Monday. That's in two days, and I haven't had the time to check mine yet. I hope this doesn't count as incompetence. In all my six years of acting, I have never been lazy with work. I'm just busy, is all.
"When shooting starts, the director says sternly. "I don't want any of you forgetting your lines. I only cast the best of the best, and I expect an outstanding performance in this movie. Retakes will be kept to a minimum. Do you all understand?"
"Yes, Director," we all mumble, the tension in the room palpable. The director went from being a friendly co-worker to a strict teacher within seconds
"Putting that aside, I called you all here so you can get to know each other. The better you know your coworker, the better your acting will be." The director then turns to me. "Since Mr. Seo Chungae and Mr. Ryu Jinsang are friends, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle for you two. Both of your scenes require extreme emotional depth, so I was delighted to find out that you are good friends!"
My jaw goes slack at his beaming. Ryu Jinsang and I are anything but friends, but the glare the bastard sends in my direction shuts me up. He still can't stop making trouble for me, even though he is no longer a cranky teenager. But his temper is still the same, and so is that bratty attitude.
But something that the director said tugs at my conscience. He said that our scenes required 'extreme emotional depth'. I wonder why. This is supposed to be a boy love movie, and the only characters that would have 'extreme' drama between them would be—
No way. This better not be what I think it is.
I abruptly stand up from my chair, bringing everyone's attention to me. My mouth opens and closes in protest, but no words come out. Ryu Jinsang is the one playing my character's lover? Absolutely not!
"Is something the matter, Seo Chungae?" Jinsang purrs mockingly to get a rise out of me. He still has that habit of his. But I won't rise to the bait. He wants me to point out that I don't want to work with him, but I won't give him the satisfaction of my protests.
"No, it's nothing," I mutter, seating myself once again. "I just remembered I had something important to do, but it can wait."
"Do you have to go?" The director asks. "You have yet to talk to the others."
"I'm sorry, but I can only spare ten minutes."
The director ponders between taking those minutes and letting me go. He didn't think too long, because his answer was almost instantaneous. "You can go if it's important. You can talk to the others another time. We have months of filming ahead, after all."
"Thank you, Director," I mutter, getting up from my seat. I look at my manager to see if he's going, but he just shakes his head.
"Do you want me to give you a ride, Seo Chungae?" Ryu Jinsang opens his mouth, making me tense. The hell? Does he think I'm going to go with him? No way!
"My car is parked in the parking lot, so no, thank you," I reply coldly, moving towards the door to make my escape. But his hand on my shoulder stops me cold.
"Then at least let me walk you to your car. After all, what kind of friend would I be if I just let you go on your own?" His voice is menacing, threatening, leaving no room for argument. The others watch, anticipating my answer. Suddenly, I'm hit with the urge to laugh out loud. I see what he's doing. He's pretending to be nice in front of everyone, leaving me no choice but to reciprocate. If I don't, they'd think I'm rude to all of my friends.
After a few long seconds of agonizing contemplation, I grit out a response that physically hurts me.
"Sure."
✽ ✽ ✽
The walk to the parking lot was surprisingly quiet, not one of us making a sound. I made sure to keep a safe distance away from him, lest he try something funny. He didn't even try to make small talk, which makes me wonder why he followed me. He wouldn't have asked—no, threatened—to walk me to my car in front of everyone if he didn't want something. What it is, I might soon find out.
When we reach my car, I wordlessly take out my keys, fumbling with the remote to unlock the door. But I don't get to press the button, because just then, my back hits the car with a painful force as my car keys fly out of my hand, landing a few feet away. My gaze travels to the front, and I freeze, seeing Ryu Jinsang's face only a few inches away from mine. He pushes a knee between my legs, keeping me trapped and completely at his mercy. I knew it. There was no way he was letting me go this easily.
"You know, ignoring your friend is a rude habit, don't you think?" he snarls menacingly. I swallow the sudden dryness in my throat in an attempt to dispel it. Why am I afraid of him?
"Yeah, friend. What a joke." I scoff, managing to keep my voice unfazed. "Do you have memory loss, or something?"
He slams a hand down on my car, making the alarms blare, trapping me even further. If anything happens to my car...I swear to God, he will pay.
"Who would have known," he mutters, staring me up and down, "that someone like you would become a famous actor? The nerd from high school?" He chuckles coldly. "I wouldn't have believed it back then."
"I don't care," I try to push him away, but he doesn't budge, standing firm.
"I'm surprised you didn't jump when you were about to," the statement causes me to still, the words hitting home. "But you know what?" He whispers softly, making me increasingly uncomfortable. "I'm glad you didn't. Toying with you would be much more fun."
I smile stiffly, sarcastically. Yep. He didn't fucking change. "I'm not the same wimp I was in high school. Good luck trying to break me, bastard." My insult does little to faze him, and he smiles lazily, infuriating me.
"That's no way to talk to your co-worker," he murmurs, leaning in. "Especially when we're supposed to be lovers."
"Shut the hell up," I snarl, hitting his chest, trying to get this oaf to move. "You're nothing to me. Not even my co-worker. I am not working with you!"
"So, what?" He laughs in my face. "You're going to give up your role? Just like that? Now, where's the fun if breaking you is this easy?"
"No, the hell I'm not! I'm not giving up my role. You stopped affecting me a long time ago."
He laughs again, having fun in this situation. "Oh? But you seem very affected. You seem so angry, it looks like you might hit me." He snickers, making my blood boil.
"Don't test me, you fucker," I say dangerously, my voice low.
"Or what?" He copies me, lowering his voice to match my tone.
"You don't know me," I say instead. "It's been ten years. People change. But not you, clearly."
"..."
He says nothing, but a muscle in his jaw twitches, indicating that I've finally hit a nerve. I gulp, expecting him to hit me, but instead, he just backs off, letting me go. That was...weird. Why would he do that? I remember that he beat anyone who stood up to him to a pulp, back in school. So why...?
"You might have changed." His voice holds no decipherable emotion. "But it doesn't bother me. To me, you'll always be the same weak nerd, who's all bark but no bite." With those final words, he walks off, leaving me seething in the parking lot.
I am not weak. I'll show him. He doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does. This time, I can fight. And if he provokes me, I won't hold back.