Set to Fail // Minsung (BOOK 1 OF 2 'SET SERIES')

STF 02

Fifteen minutes later, he was in the makeup chair, legs bouncing slightly, fingers tapping his thighs like morse code. He was mentally reciting his lines, trying not to look across the room where Minho was laughing at something. His voice was too clear, too confident, too everything Jisung wasn't.

"Stop looking so constipated," a voice said behind him.

Jisung blinked at the mirror. A tall guy with sharp features and dramatic cheekbones stood behind him, holding a makeup pouch and making a 'I'm so so done with everyone and everything' face like it was his job.

"I'm Hyunjin," he declared like he was entering a drag competition. "Your official beauty overlord. Also your makeup artist-slash-coordi. Also your emotional support dancer if this drama ends up cursed. Which it will. Because Minho hyung's in it."

"Wait- minho's your hyung?" Jisung asked, mildly stunned.

Hyunjin nodded while tying up his hair with a pastel pink scrunchie. "Known him since forever. He's annoying. You'll learn to love him. Eventually. Probably."

Jisung gave a soft, dry laugh. "Doubt that."

Hyunjin studied him through the mirror for a second, eyes kind even though he was clearly three seconds from gossip. "You two don't get along?"

"we haven't talked much," jisung said, the words slow and vague on purpose.

Hyunjin nodded like he understood more than jisung said. "He's not as cold as he looks. Just... Weird with new people."

Jisung hummed, unsure whether that was meant to make him feel better or worse. Then Chan arrived. He came in with his curls bouncing, dimples flashing, a literal bottle of water mid-air as he tossed it to hyunjin with perfect aim.

"Yo, hyunjin!"

Then his eyes landed on jisung. "You're jisung, right?"

Jisung blinked. "Yeah?"

Chan grinned like they were already friends and offered his hand. "I'm chan. I help minho out sometimes. Kinda his handler-slash-friend-slash-occasional babysitter."

Jisung shook his hand slowly. "Nice to meet you."

Chan leaned in a little, voice softer now. "Just so you know, minho's not the dick people think he is. He wanted to be here yesterday. Had some family stuff. I swear."

Jisung froze for a second. "Oh. He didn't say that."

Chan tilted his head. "yeah, well. He sucks at explaining himself. You'll see."

And the thing was... Jisung wanted to believe him. Really, genuinely wanted to. But that stupid voice in his head, still loud, still mean- wouldn't shut up.

The one that remembered the two PAs outside. The whispers.

The jokes. You're not good enough. You're the downgrade.

By mid-afternoon, most of the cast had arrived. The studio buzzed with energy laughs, inside jokes, crew chatting casually while checking lighting setups. The room felt warm. Full.

Jisung? Sat in a corner with Hyunjin and his script, occasionally sipping water he wasn't thirsty for.

He watched as Minho leaned against the wall, laughing at something Seungmin said. Watched as felix walked in, bright and grinning, immediately flinging his arms around Minho like it was nothing. Watched as Chan handed him a drink and ruffled his hair like they did it every day.

It was obvious. Painfully obvious. They all knew each other. They all fit.

Minho was the center of the circle. And Jisung was orbiting outside of it, quiet and unsure and very, very alone.

"Okay, lovers," the director called out with a clap of his hands, his voice loud and playful. "let's try the camera block for the first scene tomorrow—Eunjo and Jaewon's intro. Chemistry check, please."

Jisung stood up fast, heart pounding like it had been waiting for this cue.

Minho was already on his way over. Their eyes met. And this time, minho didn't wait. He stopped him.

"Hey," he said, more direct now. "Seriously. Are we good?"

Jisung blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You've been... Kinda um. Ignoring me. Never mind."

Jisung forced a smile, a small one that didn't reach anywhere near his eyes. "Maybe i'm just nervous."

Minho looked at him like he wasn't buying it, but nodded anyway. "Okay."

There was a pause. Jisung thought maybe he'd say something else. Something that would make this all feel less heavy. But he didn't. They walked to set together, scripts in hand, silence walking between them like a third wheel.

The scene was simple. Eunjo, flustered, injured, desperate stumbles into the temple. Jaewon, cool and unreadable, catches him. Their hands touch. Eyes meet. The spark.

Easy... In theory.

But as soon as the camera rolled, jisung couldn't look at him right. Couldn't breathe right. Minho's delivery was perfect, measured, soft, full of depth. And jisung? Jisung fumbled. Once. Twice.

"Sorry, um can we go again?"

"Sure," minho said gently.

They reset. Again. And again. By the fourth take, the director called it. "That's good. Let's leave it there."

Jisung stepped off set and let out a breath like he'd been holding it since morning. Hyunjin handed him water. "You did fine."

"Sure," jisung muttered, unconvinced.

"You're in your head," hyunjin said with a shrug. "You've got good instincts, but your brain's trying to sabotage you."

Jisung raised an eyebrow. "You do makeup and therapy?"

Hyunjin grinned. "multi-talented, baby."

As the crew started packing up, Jisung felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned...minho.

"Hey," minho said, awkward but sincere. "You free after this?"

Jisung froze.

He knew what he should say. Yes. Let's grab coffee. Clear the air. Run lines. Whatever.

But his chest still felt tight, full of things he hadn't said. Hadn't unpacked.

"Sorry," he said. "i've got plans."

Minho blinked. "oh. Yeah. No problem."

He nodded once, stepped back, and walked off.

Jisung stayed frozen in place, eyes on the door.

Hyunjin came up beside him, quieter now. "you know," he said softly, "uh- minho hyung doesn't let people in easily. He.. Struggles with that.. But when he does... He means it. And um I can tell he's trying real hard rn..."

Jisung didn't answer. Just smiled, thin and hollow.

"yeah," he said. "we'll see."