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

STF 06

the decision came quietly. jisung was brushing his teeth, staring at himself in the bathroom mirror, when the thought slid into his head like a whisper- fake it till you make it. that's what everyone said, right?

so maybe if he just pretended hard enough, pretended he was fine, that he belonged, that he wasn't falling apart inside—then eventually it'd start to feel real. maybe if he smiled enough, no one would see the cracks.

the next morning, he showed up to set thirty minutes early. smiling.

hyunjin blinked when he walked into the trailer. "whoa. you okay?"

"never better!" jisung beamed, flopping into the chair. "did you do something new with your hair? you look hot."

hyunjin stared at him like he'd grown a second head, then smirked. "well, shit. thanks."

on set, jisung laughed at jokes that weren't funny. he complimented staff outfits. offered to run lines with literally anyone. even did a spontaneous little dance during lunch that made felix laugh so hard he choked on his iced coffee.

minho, watching from across the room, didn't laugh. he watched. closely.

and jisung? was perfect. every scene he nailed. every delivery hit. every reaction was polished and practiced and just the right amount of emotional. it was good. too good.

the director loved it. the crew loved it. the fans on social media ate it up.

"jisung's improvement is insane!"

"he's glowing lately."

"this man was born to be a lead."

"jisung's smile >>>>"

everyone bought it. except him. and minho.

three days passed like that. three days of bubblegum sunshine and rehearsed laughter. of faking comfort and chemistry and warmth. three days of minho watching him like he was trying to figure out what was missing.

then, on the fourth day, it happened. they were filming late, finishing up a soft scene—jaewon and eunjo talking under the stars. quiet. gentle. not romantic, just... safe. jisung smiled through the whole thing, hit every cue.

when they wrapped, he stood and bowed out of habit. "thank you everyone!" the staff clapped, lights dimmed. jisung turned to leave when minho caught his arm.

"hey."

jisung blinked. "what's up?"

minho stared at him for a long second, then quietly said, "you're being fake."

jisung's smile faltered. "excuse me?"

"you're faking it."

jisung's voice dropped. "i'm literally acting. that's the job."

minho shook his head. "no. i mean you. outside of scenes. you're... not you."

jisung's eyes narrowed. "you don't even know me."

"i was starting to," minho said. "back when you used to flinch and mumble and look like you were about to throw up every time someone complimented you."

"wow, thanks."

"i'm not saying it was good," minho said, stepping closer. "i'm saying it was real. you were real. now you're just smiling through everything like a puppet."

jisung laughed, sharp and hollow. "maybe that's what people want."

minho's voice was quieter now. "even when your acting was off, or your lines cracked, or you forgot to breathe—you still looked like you loved it."

jisung looked away.

minho continued, softer. "now you just look... empty."

there was a long pause. jisung's jaw clenched. "you think this is easy?"

"no," minho said. "i think it's killing you."

jisung's breath caught.

"i don't know what you heard the other night," minho added, voice careful now, "but i wasn't mocking you."

jisung didn't respond.

"jisung."

still nothing.

"i know what it's like to pretend you're okay just to make everyone else comfortable," minho said finally. "but you don't owe that to anyone."

jisung's lips parted like he might say something, but then someone called for them from set. jisung pulled his arm gently from minho's grip.

"i'm fine," he said quietly. "but thanks."

minho didn't stop him. didn't call after him. just stood there. watching. again.

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