Chapter Text
"So, is this your first time on a film set?"
A blue-haired woman with a bob cut asked, confidently pushing the door open with her shoulder. The man walking beside her lowered his gaze.
"Yeah, just never found the time..."
"Hmph, you're the head screenwriter, yet you don't even check on the work," she replied softly, but with a hint of regret.
Their approach was interrupted by a cheerful voice.
"Haje! Hi! Oh, and Soleum's with you! Good to see you, buddy!"
The voice belonged to a tall, brown-haired guy with his arms spread wide, clearly ready for a hug.
"Just missing our Squad Commander Jaheon, and Team D will be all assembled. Just like the good old days."
The memories of that time were some of Kim Soleum's favorites. It was a university story. It so happened that the four of them studied in the same department film production. Though they were in different years. And then one day, a short film contest was announced. A team was formed: cinematographer Lee Jaheon, screenwriter Kim Soleum, actress Eun Haje, and sound engineer, who also doubled as the editor, Park Minseong.
They didn't get first place, but they received a special mention, which was also very gratifying. Lee Jaheon was called the "Squad Commander" simply because he was the senior and the team captain. They'd been friends ever since.
"Minseong, calm down," Hajae snorted, deftly dodging his hug while holding a bag of snacks and canned coffees. "And isn't the Squad Commander right here?"
"Yes, I'm here."
"Hello, boss," the girl and the two hugging guys chorused. Kim Soleum couldn't escape his tactile older friend, nor did he try very hard, as he was also happy to see him.
Team D arrived just as the break was ending. On the way, they handed donuts to their editor, who immediately began devouring them. He staunchly defended them from the Art Director, who looked like a mad scientist—which was, in other words, his usual look.
A commotion rose around them. Haje was dragged away by the makeup artists, and Jaheon went to adjust the camera. Park Minseong, however, stayed next to Kim Soleum, explaining what was happening on set.
"I'm so happy for you, junior," he said, popping open a can. "Your first film as the head screenwriter. The moment I found out who was writing the story, I agreed immediately. You deserve to be here, and many would confirm that."
Kim Soleum was washed over by a pleasant warmth from the praise and the reunion with his old friends.
"Thank you, Minseong. I'm really happy to be working with you again, too."
"Ah, it's nothing..." the sound engineer replied, scratching his head awkwardly. "By the way, our producer is an amazing person; he managed to invite that host! The role is small, of course, but it'll save a ton on advertising..."
Quickly looking around, Park Minseong leaned right into Soleum's ear and whispered: "And there are rumors that the host offered to be in it himself. And supposedly because of someone specific."
"Gossiping without me?" a melodic baritone with a slight American accent suddenly sounded behind them.
"W-what? No, Mr. Braun! We were talking about... the weather, work, the weather at work!" Park Minseong began waving his hands, trying to change the subject.
"Relax, I understand completely," Braun said with a wave of his hand. "It's not for nothing they call me a showbiz shark."
A light laugh slipped into his voice. Along with his soft smile and warm gaze, Kim Soleum understood why this man was so popular. A blond with perfectly styled hair, sparkling blue eyes, and a light three-piece suit. A popular TV host with his own show, and more recently, the owner of an explosively popular podcast.
While Kim Soleum was contemplating the man before him, active work began on set, forcing Minseong to hastily leave his friend and attend to his duties.
The tall man made a smooth gesture with his hand.
"Shall we step aside? I'm afraid we might disturb the creative process."
As they approached a wall, Braun decided to strike up a conversation.
"By the way, dear Mr. Screenwriter," the host said casually, though he watched his companion's reaction intently out of the corner of his eye, "what if that rumor turns out to be true?"
"Excuse me?" Soleum almost tripped over a cable in surprise. His cheeks instantly flushed, and he lowered his head.
The screenwriter stubbornly stared at the rectangular shadow cast by the host, but that scorching gaze seemed intent on burning a hole right through him. Gathering his courage, Kim Soleum looked up, but the host had already turned away. His gaze was directed at Haje, who was zealously rummaging through a pile of props, looking for important papers. As Kim Soleum remembered from the script, she was supposed to be caught by two police officers next.
"Please forgive this host for such an indecent joke," the blond coughed awkwardly, shifting his gaze back to the shorter man beside him. "It's just... you look incredibly cute when you blush."
"Th-thank you?" His cheeks burned even brighter than before.
"So modest!" The host shook his head gently. "Mr. Soleum, I assure you, you could easily act in films yourself. I'm sure you'd be made a star in no time. Your ideas... they're unique. You create the most unforgettable scenes with truly amazing twists. I say this as someone who knows a thing or two about it."
"Mr. Braun, I think you're flattering me too much. But... does that mean you've seen the projects I've worked on?" Kim Soleum couldn't hide the surprise in his voice.
Braun smiled, blinked a couple of times with his green eyes, and his smile grew wider and a little... shy.
"I've been following your work since one of your earliest projects. I can be proud that I spotted your talent so early, compared to others." He coughed lightly, and a faint blush appeared on his cheekbones. "It's awkward to admit, but the rumor is the absolute truth. I agreed to be in this film for you. The opportunity to participate, Mr. Soleum, in your first solo work and to finally meet you is a truly immense pleasure for me..."
After giving him a moment to process the words, Braun continued.
"And, seizing the moment, I'd like to invite you to be a guest on one of my podcasts, sometime closer to the end of filming. What do you think about that?"
The proposal hung in the air. Kim Soleum felt his knees go slightly weak. His first impulse was to politely refuse. But he looked at Brown again. In the host's usually confident green eyes, he saw genuine hope and even a faint plea.
"That's, um, a very tempting offer..." Kim Soleum sighed and gave in to the charm of the taller man. "Why not?"
The screenwriter was immediately met by a dazzling smile from the man opposite him.
"God, thank you so much!" Braun exclaimed, his joy so childlike and immediate that Soleum couldn't help but smile back. "I promise, I'll make that episode the best one yet!"
Turning to leave and attend to his business, the TV host looked incredibly happy. Even his perfectly styled hair seemed to bounce cheerfully, .
The screenwriter's cheeks were still burning, and a shiver ran down his spine.