Joy and Ji-Hoo sat side by side on their beds, both in matching pajamas—Comfortable, oversized shirts and soft cotton pants.
The room had fallen into a quiet, tired stillness. Their shoulders were slightly hunched, eyes drooping from exhaustion, and silence stretched between them, thick and awkward.
After a moment, Ji-Hoo broke the silence, voice husky but teasing.
"So… uh, Joy… Ha-Joon told us they'd be kissing, right?" he said, glancing sideways with a mischievous grin.
Joy blinked, caught off guard, then nodded slowly, a little uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I guess so…" she replied, voice tentative, not entirely pleased with the conversation but willing to play along.
Ji-Hoo hesitated for a beat, then grinned even wider, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Hey, so… we should practice," he said casually, leaning closer. "Because we need to make it a hit, right?"
Joy's eyes widened, and she shot him a sharp look.
"What?" she said, voice rising slightly. Her face fell into a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance.
Ji-Hoo chuckled softly, trying to keep a straight face.
"I mean, just practice once. For fun. And then, the shoot. Nothing more, I swear," he added, giving her his most adorable puppy-dog eyes accompanied by his green irises and adorable dimple.
Joy exhaled sharply, hesitating, then sighed.
"Fine… but only once," she said, reluctantly.
"Great," Ji-Hoo said, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
"Okay, so… how do we do this?"
Joy looked skeptical but curious. "Um… I dunno. How?"
Ji-Hoo grinned mischievously. "Don't worry," he said softly. "Just close your eyes."
Reluctantly, Joy did as he said, her eyelids fluttering shut.
She felt a gentle hand settle on her waist, warm and light. Her heart skipped a beat. Then, she became aware of Ji-Hoo's breath brushing softly against her face.
Without warning, she felt the gentle press of Ji-Hoo's lips on hers—a soft, tentative kiss. It was gentle, innocent even, but somehow... nice. Her cheeks warmed instantly, and her breathing grew shallow.
Ji-Hoo slowly pulled back, a sly smirk on his face. "See? Easy," he whispered, eyes glinting mischievously.
Joy blinked, still blushing fiercely, her eyes fluttering open.
"What just happened?" she asked softly, voice trembling.
Ji-Hoo grinned wider. "I kissed you," he said casually, as if that was the most natural thing in the world.
Her cheeks flooded with heat. "You liked it," he teased, voice playful.
"No! Eww, no," Joy shot back, kicking him lightly off the bed. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over herself, face burning with embarrassment.
Ji-Hoo chuckled, lying back with a satisfied smile, clearly enjoying her reaction. Joy buried her face in the pillow, trying to hide her blush, still flustered but secretly amused by his antics.
The morning sun, filtered through the umbrella's shade, warmed Joy's face.
She sat on a park bench, a simple, casual outfit – a light blue t-shirt and jeans – hiding the nervous energy that flickered beneath the surface.
Her short, brown hair was tied back neatly, and her glasses perched on her nose, framing a face that was a mixture of weariness and quiet determination.
Suddenly, a hand, warm and firm, touched her shoulder.
Joon-Seo materialized beside her, a smile playing on his lips, but his eyes held a gravity that belied the lightness of his demeanor.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice a low, measured tone.
Joy looked up, catching his gaze, then quickly lowered her eyes again.
"That's my question..." she replied, her voice barely a whisper, a hint of defiance in her tone.
Joon-Seo's smile faded, replaced by a worried frown.
"Joy, I'm sorry, but I just have to tell you the truth. He's not good for you." His words hung in the air, heavy with concern.
"I am the only thing you have in this world. Why don't you trust me?" His voice softened, laced with a genuine plea.
He lowered himself to his knees in front of her, his posture conveying a deep empathy. The gesture was a stark contrast to his earlier calm demeanor, a clear demonstration of his growing anxiety.
Joy shook her head, her voice trembling slightly.
"He is good for me. I love him, Joon-Seo. So much. I... I..." She trailed off, unable to articulate the full depth of her feelings, the words catching in her throat.
The unspoken longing, the fear of losing him, the pain of the truth, all poured out in that single, incomplete sentence.
Joon-Seo scooped his hand on her cheeks, rubbing it slightly '' He is not he is a thug... a street guy...he is a bad influence... Promise me you will never go to him ever again...'' Voice low holding a quiet authority.
Joy looked at him in the eyes, not Dearing to speak up, Joon-Seo nodded and sighs in satisfaction.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the room like a blade. "CUT!"
Joon-Seo stood up abruptly, his face twisting into a look of annoyance.
He brushed past the others, then sat down exactly where Ha-Joon sat, crossing his arms with a huff.
His frustration was palpable, but he kept his composure, waiting for the next take.
After a moment, Joy returned, a bright smile spreading across her face. She approached Joon-Seo with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"What a great actor you are," she said playfully, giving him a sly grin.
Joon-Seo smirked, running a hand through his hair.
"Okay, guys," he said, voice calmer now but with a hint of frustration still lingering. "Let's do it again—this time, from another angle."
Just then, Nira's soft but slightly higher-pitched voice chimed in, "Quiet on set," signaling everyone to settle down.
After the shoot wrapped up, everyone was exhausted.
The crew packed up their equipment, and the cast found a quiet spot by the sea to take a break.
The gentle sound of waves lapping against the shore mixed with the soft whisper of the wind.
Ha-Joon and In-Su wandered to the edge of the water, where they began building a sandcastle, their hands working rhythmically as they shaped the sand into towers and walls.
The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.
As they worked, In-Su suddenly broke the silence, his voice soft but tinged with a hint of nostalgia.
"Do you remember? Sora… I showed you her picture yesterday," he asked, gathering sand carefully between his fingers.
The wind played with his hair, tousled and silver, as he looked out over the sea.
Ha-Joon paused, brushing some sand from his grey hair
. He looked at In-Su with a gentle smile. "Yes… The cute girl in the picture? Yeah, I remember her. What happened?" he replied, curiosity and warmth in his voice.
In-Su hesitated for a moment, then looked directly at Ha-Joon, his expression serious. "How would you react if I told you that was me?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Ha-Joon's eyes widened in surprise. He paused, processing the words.
His eyebrows furrowed as he looked at In-Su, trying to understand.
"Uh… I'm sure that's not you," he said, a nervous chuckle escaping him.
"You're a boy… I mean, you're definitely a boy," he added, teasing himself with a giggle.
In-Su shook his head gently, a faint smile on his lips. "Ha-Joon, she's a boy too I mean she's me—just with long hair," he explained softly.
Then, with a quiet but firm voice, he added, "She is me."
Ha-Joon's eyes snapped wide open, and his face shifted into one of shock and confusion.
He slowly stood up, the realization dawning on him.
His voice trembled as he asked, "What? Sora is you? No way..." His brow furrowed deeply, struggling to grasp what In-Su was telling him.
In-Su stepped closer, his gaze intense and reassuring.
"I'm not kidding," he said earnestly.
''I used to be a girl. I'm not transgender—I know that's complicated—but it's a long, bizarre story. You'll understand if you just remember." he said.
He reached out, gently placing both of his hands on Ha-Joon's shoulders, his eyes locking onto his.
His voice grew deeper, more serious. "Just remember—remember who you are, Ha-Joon. Remember… Remember."
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Ha-Joon's head.
His eyes squeezed shut, and he started shaking his head violently as if trying to shake off an invisible force.
His vision blurred, the world spinning in a dizzying swirl.
He saw fragments—images of himself and Sora, a swirl of memories and faces. In-Su's face appeared among the blurry figures, blood dripping from his head.
Suddenly, in a burst of frustration, Ha-Joon shouted loudly, "Argh!" his face twisting with anger and exasperation.
But as the shout echoed , his knees buckled unexpectedly.
His body went limp, and he fainted, collapsing onto the floor with a soft thud.
In-Su was quickest to react.
Without hesitation, he hurried forward, kneeling beside Ha-Joon urgently.
His face was a mix of concern and panic as he gently caught Ha-Joon's trembling body, supporting him carefully.
His eyes roam through Ha-Joon's body , searching for signs of what might have caused this sudden collapse.
"Ha-Joon! Hey, are you okay? Say something," In-Su called out sharply, his voice trembling with worry.
He lightly shook Ha-Joon's shoulder, trying to rouse him.
Meanwhile, Joy, Yuki, Nira, and Joon-Seo rushed over in a flurry of concern.
Joy was the first to kneel beside Ha-Joon, her face etched with worry as she looked at him closely, checking for any signs of injury or distress.
Her hands hovered near him, unsure whether to touch or wait.
Yuki and Nira stood just behind, their eyes wide with shock.
Yuki's brow furrowed, and Nira's lips pressed into a tight line as they watched anxiously.
Joon-Seo stepped forward swiftly, his voice firm but caring. "Take him to his room," he ordered, glancing at the others.
His tone was commanding but not harsh, showing his concern.
Everyone nodded quickly in agreement.
In-Su carefully lifted Ha-Joon, supporting him as they prepared to move him. Joy gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Ha-Joon's forehead, her eyes filled with worry.
As they gently carried Ha-Joon away, the room remained tense, filled with worry and silent concern for their friend's sudden collapse.