"You get a script too?" Dokja asked. Rok Soo let out a muffled sound as he's chewing grilled meat. "What is it called?"
"Trash of the Count's Family."
"That sounds cheesy just like ours." Han Sooyoung said. Rok Soo nodded in agreement." Still, the protagonist is interesting. That's why I accept the role."
Definitely not because of the 2 months vacation.
"Are you sure it's not because of the 2 months vacation you were promised by your company?" Han Sooyoung laughed as she continued, " In our script, there's a second protagonist and I heard the actor that will play this role is that new actor who's been extremely popular lately."
Rok Soo, who's been eating, chipped in, "His name is Yoo Jonghyuk, right?"
Yoo Jonghyuk, an upcoming new actor. His godly handsome face, body packed with muscle and impeccable acting skills. He's the dark horse in the entertainment industry this year.
"Can he act well as the rumours say though?" Rok Soo inquired." I mean, the script you got is from one of the famous scriptwriters so I do not doubt that even the director will be a pain if he invited both of you to have main roles. This kind of director who invited veteran actors can not withstand noob acting."
"Who knows? We can only wait for the shooting to start." Dokja answered. " You have last year's dark horse as the main cast, right? His name is Choi han if I remember correctly."
"Hmm…" Rok Soo's blank face pondered for a moment. Then, his pale pink lips start to move," Don't you think that both of our lineup for the main cast are kind of rich? In my case, setting aside Choi han, they even invite Albert, that vicious-looking old man and that famous kid voice actor too. In short, all of the main cast are either veteran actors or international actors."
"That's true. I guess the sponsor is simply a rich young masters." Sounded Han Sooyoung. "And picky too."
"We will know the reason sooner or later," Dokja said. "By the way, Yoojin called saying that he'll be back in two days."
Rok Soo stopped eating as he asked, "So fast? I thought he said he'll be gone for two years? There's one month left."
"The shooting ended early." Rok Soo hummed in understanding.
They chatted and ate until midnight as it's been such a long time they didn't meet, each have work and responsibility as an adult and actor. Sooyoung and Dokja became best friend in high school while Rok Soo and Yoojin during university. The life as a student ended and each bearing their own responsibility.
Thus, they lost contact with each other.
When they met in the industry as a newbie, they can only laughed. Bewildered at the play of fate, pulling their existence together.
Once again, just like before, they supported each other until they become what they are now.
*****
Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!
Slender and fair hand turned off the phone alarm as a whispering voice sounded in the quiet room.
"Ugh...I drank too much last night," Waking up from the bed, Dokja's fair, lean body came to light. Dokja's face is not handsome like Rok Soo but with those long eyelashes, fair skin and lean body coupled with incredible acting skill and a wide range of knowledge, he gained a large fanbase worldwide. Different from the other, his fans are rational, mature and consist of adults more than young people as they appreciate Dokja's skill more than his face. (Though honestly, they loved looking at his lean and fair body ☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆)
Dokja washed up and read a novel he's been binging nowadays as he waits for his manager, Lee Jung Hoon.
The door was clicked open as a man with a tall figure entered. "Dokja-ssi, let's get going. We don't want to be stuck in traffic jams." Dokja stood up and put on his usual cheap smile, "Okay."
"I bought breakfast for you. Eat in the car"
"There's no tomatoes in it, right?" His manager smiled at this remark and shook his head. "Don't worry. It's just a congee."
Half an hour later, they arrived at the studio where all the main cast will take a picture for the promotional posters. The building size is similar to that of a football stadium and there are a few small buildings scattered around it. They entered the main building and were greeted by the camera's clicking sound and people here and there doing their tasks. A man came up to them," Kim Dokja-ssi, you arrived early. Please follow me to the meeting room."
In the room, several people could be seen and of course, Han Sooyoung is there too pointing to the seat beside her when she sees Dokja. "Dokja-ssi, please wait here. The director will come later. Dokja-ssi's manager please follow me. We want to give the shooting schedule and other information."
Sitting down, he whispered while looking around, "This is rich."
Sooyoung nodded," Look, the one who's laying on the couch is Yoo Jonghyuk." Dokja looks over and finds himself can't stop staring. That man is more handsome than what he had seen in one of the magazines. That face and body that as if was carved by God itself, handsome is an understatement. Forcing himself to turn away, Dokja muttered, "Crazy.. How can someone be that handsome?"
Sooyoung giggled, "Shocked, aren't you? We'll see his acting later. Do you wanna bet? I bet he can act flawlessly more than you."
Dokja face scrunched up, "You're comparing me to a newbie now, huh?" Before Sooyoung could reply, the door opened and revealed a stout looking middle aged man. He scans the people in the room one by one and that sharp gaze has a satisfied glint especially when looking at Dokja and Jonghyuk who has now sat on one of the chairs around the table. Coincidentally, it's next to Dokja.
(A/N: o(≧▽≦)o )
The director introduced himself, "My name is Lee Jeong Hoon. Call me whatever you want. I'm sure all of you have reviewed the script and understand the story so I won't explain it. This series is a big project and a big figures sponsor it."
That's why they can afford actors like us.
" They want the best so I hope you can give it your all. The manuscript on the table contains more information about this series. Any questions?"
"..."
"I'll take that as no. You guys can go prepare. There's only a photoshoot today and tomorrow we'll record a promotional video. Oh, before I forget. Pack your clothes after the shooting because all of you have to stay at a bungalow. The location has been given to your manager."
The words 'packed' and 'bungalow' finally create some noises from these actors. A boy with brown hair refuted, " Do we have to stay there? I want to stay at my house!"
As an actor, it's perfectly normal if you have to stay in a hotel or something similar because their job sometimes require them to shoot elsewhere. But, if they could choose, their house are definitely the first choice.
"No you can't. I have told you, the sponsor to this series is a big figure. He wants to launch an entertainment show about the daily life of you during the shooting. Don't make that face, I'm lazy too you know but a sponsor's words is like a god's order. Moreover, we are not the only one that has to do this. This show is a collaboration of our series, Omniscient Reader and another new series, Trash of the Count's Family. We are not the only unfortunate one." The director sighed in dismay. He must be dealing with the so-called sponsor's tantrum these days.
The boy can only sit in defeat hearing that. After all, without a sponsor, this series will be cancelled. He can't miss the chance to be in the same series with his idol. The boy becomes cheerful again thinking about his idol and his gaze goes to the man who's been talking with a woman eating lollipop.
Kim Dokja, oblivious to the fact that a fanboy of his is contemplating on how to approach him, continues to talk with Sooyoung, "Looks like we'll meet Rok Soo there." Sooyoung nodded.
"Jonghyuk-ssi, Dokja-ssi and Sooyoung-ssi, please follow me to the dressing room." one of the staff beckons them to follow as the others had gone to prepare, leaving the three of them.
At the dressing room, except for the occasional chatting between Dokja and Sooyoung, Jonghyuk kept quiet the whole time. This continued until one of the staff in charge of them said, "Dokja-ssi, your skin is so smooth and fair. Not to mention your long eyelashes, even women don't have that." Dokja can only smile and says thank you as he glares at Sooyoung who's face struggles to keep from laughing as they are wearing makeup right now. At this point, he suddenly remembered about the other guy, Jonghyuk. He glanced at him and their eyes met.
One..
Two..
Three..
He quickly takes his gaze back but somehow, he knows that Jonghyuk is still looking at him.
Minutes later, they are done. The photoshoot has started but it is not their turn so Dokja sits on a chair and reads a web novel. Han Sooyoung, seeing this couldn't help but snort at this man. She dragged a chair to sit next to him," If I didn't know better, I thought Dokja from the story had manifested itself before me."
Dokja in the story was stated to be someone who loved reading web novels as he coped with the bullying he experienced as a teenager.
When the world's Apocalypse arrives, he survives with his knowledge and his skills as a reader. He's not a selfless character but always sacrificed himself to protect his team. This leads to his teammates's frustration over and over again. He is cautious and detached himself from others yet still trusts them. In the script, he was often found seated while reading something on his phone but when a character took a peek, it's only a blank page. If only they see what Dokja sees. If only they know what it means to him.
The way Kim Dokja sat down and read a web novel mirrored the 'Dokja' from the script. The onlookers couldn't help but stare to confirm whether it's the actor or the character itself
"Sooyoung-ssi, it's your turn." She glanced at Dokja before went to take the photo.
Dokja, once again oblivious toward the people around him didn't notice a tall figure walking toward him until he felt a looming pressure. He look up and met the eyes of someone.
"Can I sit there?"
It's Jonghyuk.