Dokja stared at the man and put on his usual smile, "...sure."
Yoo Jonghyuk sat on the chair and stared straight at Sooyoung as if she's his nemesis. But, Dokja could feel the occasional glance from the man. Dokja decided to return the stare and he could see Jonghyuk a little bit flustered at the attention. Not that his poker face changed though.
Still, it's Kim Dokja. The people who're close to this man know how sly and cunning he could be. It's easy for him to know that this dark horse is a little fan of his. This is interesting..he thought. Like the rat bastard he is, Dokja starts a conversation just to tease the man further.
"Jonghyuk-ssi, I'm in your care from now on," Dokja put on his brightest and gentle smile.
As expected, Jonghyuk became stiff like a robot and replied after a while.
"...Yes, likewise, I'm in your care too."
"How is it? Are there any problems you have with the script, Jonghyuk-ssi?"
"No, it's okay. I'm doing just fine."
Dokja chuckled, "As expected from this year's dark horse!"
"No, you flatter me...and.." He trailed and Dokja didn't hear it.
"Hm?"
"You don't have to call me with honorifics since I'm younger.." His ears and neck are beaten red. It's a mystery why his face isn't.
Dokja was taken aback and laughed a little. He said, "Well, Jonghyuk-ah~" Dokja purposely said in an octave lower voice.
This time, Jonghyuk's whole face is as red as a tomato.
Han Sooyoung, who's been watching from afar, couldn't help but click her tongue.
'Looks like this newbie gonna be eaten clean.'
*****
Rok Soo is in a bad mood. His whole being exudes discontentment.
The director just said to him that they have to stay in a bungalow during the whole shooting process that is probably gonna take half a year or a year. He didn't want to sleep under the same rooftop with other people.
Knowing Rok Soo too well, the director added, " Each of you will get a single room. Including the ORV's main cast. The bungalow is huge so you don't have to worry about it being crowded. We only want to record the daily life of the actors, don't think too much. Just be yourself. You all know what you can't do so I don't have to warn you. Any questions?"
Appeased a little, Rok Soo and the others in the room shake their heads. He will comply for the 2 months vacation.
"Good. Go change. We'll have to shoot for the promotional poster and the movie cover."
Rok Soo went to the dressing room and was greeted by the sight of someone who's clad in a white shirt and pale brown pants, the sleeves have been folded up, showcasing the person's fair skin more. His dark brown hair was slicked back, sword-like eyebrows and brown eyes gazed at Rok Soo.
His hyung, a half Korean is the one who will play Alberu Crossman, the crown prince of the Roan Kingdom in this series. His real name is Albert and was known to be righteous among his fans.
Rok Soo once thought, ‘which part of this guy is righteous?’
The said person shot Rok Soo with his brightest smile. "My dongsaeng is here. It's been such a long time. How are you? I miss you all the time in New York."
'His glib tongue is still there, I see. It's getting more ridiculous than before, though.'
Rok Soo smiled, put on a sad expression and activated his glib tongue too, "Hyung-nim, I'm okay. It's just that, without you here all these years, I felt empty and lost a little. So I'm glad we can act together again." He then smiled brightly.
Albert, no, Alberu, snorted quietly enough that the staff in the room did not hear that, 'Funny punk.'
They starred in several dramas together in the past and now have become close enough to get dinner together or call each other and exchange a few jokes.
"You two, please change into this outfit. We have to dye your hair and do makeup after that." The staff called for them. "By the way, where's that kid named Choi Han?" As soon as the staff spoke, the door was opened and a black hair and eyes kid entered. He's tall and has the body of an athlete.
"There you are. Here, change your clothes."
Choi Han’s eyes stayed on Rok Soo from the beginning as he said, "Rok Soo hyung, glad to work with you again." His eyes blinking innocently, staring at Rok Soo.
They met last year, in a movie called War. Choi Han as the protagonist and Rok Soo as the antagonist. This movie is set in the past and the protagonist is an admiral who went through countless wars and finally won the war by killing the enemy's admiral which is the character Rok Soo played as. This is the movie that won first place on the Billboard and Choi Han became the dark horse of the year.
"Hmm...you only greet him? What about me?" Alberu, as annoying as he can get, chided in. Those innocent gazes change as he turns to look at Alberu.
"We just met yesterday for dinner." Choi Han replied curtly as Alberu snickered at the change of demeanour.
“We have to move out in the morning, right?" Rok Soo asks one of the staff helping him change into a set of noble attire.”Yeah, it’s in the morning. The ORV’S team will be moving out in the afternoon after all.”
‘Why do we have to move out in the morning while that rat bastard can move in the afternoon?’ Rok Soo grumbled inwardly. Just then, the staff exclaimed, “Done! Now go dye your hair and wear makeup. We want to finish fast today so that you can pack your things. Choi Han-ssi, you just need to wear light makeup, you're the first to take a photo so don't wait for these guys to finish." Choi Han nodded.
While Rok Soo and Alberu's hair in the process, each coloured red and golden blonde, Choi Han has finished his makeup and went first.
Hours later, Rok Soo and Alberu stand side by side, one in black military attire with silver accessories and the other in white imperial clothing with golden thread as decoration, looking at the mirror. With Alberu giving off a flash of brilliance and amicable aura and Rok Soo exuding languid and elegant feeling, the staff around them could only gape in awe and adoration.
'No doubt, the characters are made for them.' they thought.
When they entered the studio for shooting, gasps could be heard around them, mainly from the staff.
They are stunning, mesmerising and elegant.
The cameraman and the director, who's been focusing on one of the female actors that play Rosalyn, the red-haired great mage from the script, beckons them to come. The female actor smiles politely when they bypass each other. Rok Soo knows that women are one of the renowned models in the world who embraced both acting and modelling at such a young age. She's not Korean and her name is Rose.
"You go first, Rok Soo." The director said.
The stage wasn't decorated by anything but a mere expensive-looking couch in the middle of it. There's another large empty area beside it, probably for the picture without using any prop.
Rok Soo went to the empty area first. Suddenly, he got an idea. "Director, is there any red wine or something similar to it?" Hearing his request, the director was taken aback for a moment before complying with the young man's request. The director seems to understand what Rok Soo wants to do. They don't have the red wine but a fruit juice that looks similar. Thank God the prop team has the wine glass(who knows why they have it).
Carrying the glass of red juice, Rok Soo placed it near the couch and went to stand in the middle of the empty area again.
He stood straight and stiff while looking directly into the camera's lens.
Something seems to creep up along the cameraman's spine as Rok Soo does that. His gaze looks so cold and ruthless that you couldn't help but suffocate.
Everyone was in the same situation with the same thought except for a certain blond and black-haired man. The blond man chuckled looking at his dongsaeng who had captured the gaze of the other people in the room. Just like before, this situation happened when they worked together for the first time.
You couldn't help but be suffocated. Then, when you realise it, you already fall too deep in those rreddish-browneyes.
His thought was interrupted when a glass-shattering sound steals his attention.
Rock Soo smashed the glass. No one stops him though. No one dared to.
The trashy young master, Cale Henituse, now in front of them, smiled like a deranged man while looking at the camera.
If the cameramen felt suffocated before, now, he's shaking from the crazy smile and glass's shards in Rok Soo' hand.
****
"Dokja, it's your turn!" Called the director, saving the poor dark horse from the overwhelming attention he got. The rat stood up and got ready, leaving the dark horse's brain to stop working completely by the words he said, "Let's have lunch together later, Jonghyuk-ah."
With that being said, Dokja is a veteran and renowned actor who has won many awards and has worked with international actors many times. This international actor has a work ethic too.
He didn't take his work lightly, no matter how easy it is.
The prop team decorated the set to look like an ancient library, full of books and has a mysterious yet old vibe. It is to match with how the story is going to progress.
Dokja didn't bother to leave his phone but instead took it with him. He stood in between the bookshelves, before leaning onto one of them and turning on his phone, acting as if he was reading something. His eyes look hazy when you look at him closely, lips shut closely as if he's feeling frustrated from something. In the next second, he turned toward the cameramen and put the phone on his lips before smiling lightly, eyes glinting in delight.
Note that the cameramen have started to take pictures long before.
All of this took a long while, it's Jonghyuk's turn. Dokja went to sit beside Sooyoung and observe the man. Sooyoung said, "Don't tease our dark horse too much." Dokja chuckled, "Never thought you cared for him."
"Excuse me, I'm being the nice sunbae I am, thank you."
"Well, he's cute. How can I not tease him? By the way, I'm gonna get lunch with him. You can eat by yourself."
"Tch, ditching your friend for your man, huh?"
"No, he's not mine, yet."
"Whatever."
They continue to watch the man. It's a surprise, with how good his skills are. Especially for Dokja who has seen how that man acted in front of him before.
He could not see those flustered eyes but instead, he could see the sunfish bastard from the script. Eyebrows were pulled tight and he looked at people as if they were just a little fledgeling in those deep and dark eyes.
After a while, Dokja was called again by the director. "We will take a picture for the movie cover now. You and Jonghyuk. Then, we can wrap up for today."
Dokja glanced at Jonghyuk, "How should we pose, Jonghyuk-ah." Jonghyuk took a second before replying, "We can do it like this." He proceeded to whisper something and they both began working for the movie cover.
Using the bookshelf, Dokja went to the left side and Jonghyuk went to the other side. They both leaned onto it before gazing upward. There's no smile and only a solemn gaze could be seen. As if on cue, they both started to stretch out their hand as if reaching for something. Lost expressions painted their faces and tiredness could be seen in their eyes.
"Somehow, this looks painful to watch." one of the staff unconsciously mumbled. Later, when this cover came out, fans would say, "They are so close yet so far."
The movie cover didn't take a lot of time and they managed to finish just right in time for lunch. "Jonghyuk-ah, would you mind if I brought you to a normal restaurant?"
"..No, it's okay."
"Then, let's go?"
"Yes...Ah, how about we go with my car?"
"You have a car? What about your manager?"
"Don't worry, he didn't come with me today so I drove my car."
"Well then, we go with your car. My manager needs to do something anyway." As they were about to leave, Han Sooyoung decided to interfere. "Oi, don't go too far," she whispered. To say he's not shocked is a lie. Dokja doesn't understand why Sooyoung is being like this but still agrees with her, "okay, I get it."
He doesn't get it.
Han Sooyoung, who knew this, for the nth time, clicked her tongue. She doesn't say the warning for Jonghyuk, it is for Dokja. She knew that Dokja didn't see the crazy glint in Jonghyuk's eyes when he's busy taking pictures. He was staring at him, eyes painted in obsession.
'Well, whatever. That Jonghyuk wouldn't dare to do it on their first day knowing each other."
A/N: Yes, Choi han and Jonghyuk are younger. Different from Jonghyuk who ADMIRE Dokja since before he became an actor, Choi has started to ADMIRE Rok Soo after their first working together. That's the difference.
There's a chance that I have to edit this chapter again(already edited) because I'm not satisfied so I will tell you when I did.
Anyway, thank you for the vote and love. Hope you enjoy this chapter.