DongMin was in the make-up room, standing at a corner as he was waiting for Jimin to be ready for the shooting. Usually, he does not follow him in such rooms except if he has work relating things to discuss with him and the time he has at hand is limited but after what happened earlier, he does not plan on letting him get out of his sight.
While standing there, however, he found himself being worried not only for Jimin but you too, since he had no idea what you and Jimin had planned and where were you right now or doing what exactly. He couldn't help but feel uneasy at the thought that you may be doing something dangerous and you could get in trouble, yet dared not texted you and ask since he knew that you most likely would ignore him, to not say worse.
He was aware that if he was to display the slightest care towards you, you most likely would hate that and get mad at him, for he had no place to be worrying or caring towards you after what he had done to you. He knew he was at fault and surely he had regretted it but apologizing was not something he was ever planning to do, because he already knew your reply to that and he found himself worthy of your rejection.
So many years have passed and he sure was just fine, not thinking about you often nor dwelling in guilt as long as he used to at a point for he had cheated on you and hurt you, but now that he had you in his daily life again, his feelings did not allow him to be as neutral as he wished to think he was towards your existence. Even he felt bothered when he was to catch himself caring about you, like that certain moment he was.
"Are we on time?"Jimin's voice brought his mind back to the present moment and DongMin checked the screen of his phone before giving him a positive reply.
Jimin stood from his chair and walked towards the exit after that, intending to reach the ballroom where the rest of the crew should be, getting ready to film this bittersweet dance scene that he was fond of while reading it on his script. It was from the few moments that he had taken a personal liking in this series he was shooting, a scene he was almost looking forward to filming since he read of it. The complexity of the emotions the characters carry while in that event, had him more than intrigued, for emotional wars within someone's soul was something he always played well.
It was familiar to him. The taste of the ashes such inner buttles leave on someone's mouth. The smell of wounded egos and the dripping blood of cut-up pieces of a heart. He had never failed at acting such complexities the best way anyone had seen in this field and to this day no one had questioned him how he made it. Even if they were to, however, he sure would have no other choice but to reply with a lie, for he is supposed to have it all and be a human happy with their life and the blessings he had obtained.
However, many had asked him about how he had managed to develop his acting abilities to this extent without ever studying for the craft of acting as Jimin had not finished any acting courses or undergone any training. He was known as an actor, that had the skill of acting in his nature and many claimed of him to be a born talent yet he sure knew that he was not born like this. He sure agreed that it was natural though, cause it flowed from within him as easy as he breathes.
Every time Jimin was faced with such questions and claims, he never agreed publicly on them, instead, he always said that everything had a price and for every skill, people need to put efforts and cultivate it right, and he just like any other, had surely paid the price to obtain his. Claims that were true yet no one believed him, that becoming a boost to the claims that portrayed him as humble. It was really funny to him, how you can say the truth, yet people will accept the truth they prefer, but no matter how laughable he found it, he could not ridicule that behaviour for it was relatable.
"Em...can I ask you something?" DongMin spoke lowly at him as they stood in front of the elevator, and called for it to come.
"Sure, what's about?"
"Well..can you like explain to me what is going on exactly? Like what business do you have with Jeon, and what did you send Y/N to do exactly?" DongMin dared speak of his wonders as the elevator door welcomed them in and Jimin proceeded to step inside and waited for the door to close and leave them in their privacy as they were the only ones currently occupying it.
"I could easily explain if I wanted to explain that is, and since you don't know so far, it obviously means that I don't want you to know." Jimin's response was quite straightforward and DongMin couldn't help but feel slightly bothered by his words, as a deep exhale escaped his lips and his head shot upwards in desperation.
"You are still mad at me that I lied about Y/N being an actor trainee, aren't you?" He glanced towards him and Jimin didn't bother to face him as he gave him his reply.
"I don't forget easily and I certainly don't forgive easily. Just try a bit harder to restore the trust I lost in you if you feel wronged."
"Hey, seriously....I apologised so many times." DongMin complained right as the elevator door set them free and Jimin smiled for a moment, enjoying his manager's whining behaviour that contradicted by a lot, the serious and collected image he usually tries to pull off in front of others.
"Actions have consequences, my friend, it is what it is." They kept walked down the hall and DongMin proceeded to speed up his pace so he could reach the door sooner than Jimin and open it for him and so he did, making Jimin halt for a moment and laugh a bit at the fact that he was already trying to get on his good side.
They entered the ballroom and found it full of extras, as they were expecting along with cameramen and drones that were flying around the room, ready to take the best shots. The crew seemed to have finished already with setting the movement sensor cameras on the walls and the mics to ensure the perfect sound. All the extras were already dressed and in position and the live orchestra was already playing the pieces the director had chosen for the scene.
On the top of the stair at the opposite side where Jimin stood, he took notice of his co-star, standing in a beautiful gown that was deliberately better than any other dress any female had on, in that room. She was gazing down at the scene, with sparkles of interest in her eyes, yet Jimin found himself quite indifferent to the glamour that was surounded him, however, he showed no such thing. All he did was smile as he stepped further into the room, bowing his head lightly to everyone that caught his eye, no matter if he knew them or not, till he reached near the director and received from him a final summary of what he wanted from the scene.
"You have to look broken yet furious like you want to kill her for this but you also can't help but be desperately in love with her. I want that push and pull of emotion all over this scene."
"Got it." That was all he replied as he maintained eye contact with the director and the man stood there for a bit, before patting his shoulder and walking away, giving more instructions to other people, in an attempt to ensure the perfection of this scene.
"Hey, are your ribs still in pain by the way?" DongMin appeared by his side, having just remembered that he had yet to ask him about that however the glance Jimin gave him, made it clear to him, that he shouldn't have mentioned it and made him recall it since he was most likely doing his best to trick himself that such pain did not exist on him.
"Fine, you don't have to look at me like that. I was just worried."
"Are you sure you asked because of that? Cause I think you are just trying too hard for my forgiveness all of a sudden." Jimin decided to tease him a bit and he sure enjoyed the offended expression that took over his face.
"Yah! How dare you think of me like that? We have been working together for such a long time, have I not taken care of you, huh?"
"You sure are entertaining today." Jimin laughed a bit as he spoke, making DongMin give him a death stare as he was definitely done with him at this point.
"Jimin be serious." He told him and Jimin let his smile fade instantly, in such a drastic way that gave chills to DongMin and made him feel a wave of instant regret hit him.
"You can be however you want, I didn't mean anything...this place sure is huge, huh." He tried to change the conversation yet Jimin kept looking at him, in a steady way, till his demanding energy brought DongMin's eyes to return on him reluctantly.
"Be careful what you wish for and don't ask of me things that you are not sure if you can handle." He told him and DongMin couldn't help but apologise, realizing his mistake and understanding exactly what was that had ticked him off, for Jimin was the kindest, polite and helpful person he had ever met but if someone was to address him in an ordering tone, he would not hesitate to shove them in their place.
"Anyway, why were you asking about Y/N earlier? What's worrying you so much?"Jimin led the conversation on safer grounds himself now that he had made himself clear and DongMin uttered his worry without hesitation, taking on this chance to change this weird atmosphere between them.
"If you have sent her to tail the actor, then I couldn't help but be a bit worried since she may get in trouble and they are also filming by the pool."
"So? What's wrong with the pool?" Jimin raised an eyebrow as he looked at him, unable to see what was worrying about that.
"Don't you know? Y/N is afraid of water."
"You mean she doesn't know how to swim?"
"No, no, she does...It's just that...she had a traumatic experience and since then, she avoids getting too close to masses of water." DongMin continued his explanation and his words didn't fail to make Jimin worry too even though he trusted you on taking care of yourself.
You had no reason to get too close to that pool and look inside those waters for too long and now he truly hoped that you wouldn't.
"Go find out for how much more they will be filming and be discrete about it."DongMin didn't hesitate to leave and see to his words and Jimin proceeded to take his phone out and text you, in hopes that you would give him a reply before his shooting was to start.
" Are you okay?"
He gazed at his screen, waiting for a reply that unfortunately didn't come in time and he put his phone aside, leaving the thoughts of you along with it as he had to focus on his acting for now.
---To be continued...