Ye-Jun was sitting on a director's chair. The electric fan was making the summer heat bearable, but couldn't cool the intensity beneath his chest. Christmas was walking again around the set, carefree. Confident.
Like she never threatened him.
Like she never tried to confuse him.
Like she owned the place.
Like she wasn't standing on his playground.
His eyes were following her around.
She chatted cheerfully with the production assistants. She carefully helped Su-Jin, the makeup artist, with some boxes. She handed some papers to the assistant director with a smile that seemed to say she was proud of her work.
Christmas was a surprise today. She wore something different than usual - like the same pair of jeans, topped with an extra large T-shirt, or some oversized shirt that would have belonged in a man's closet.
Today, she was wearing a skirt. A mid-length yellow skirt. What was it with yellow and that girl? On top, she was wearing a white top that was actually tight. The skirt hugged her waist and flared out gently over her hips and legs.
She has a waist…
It was the first time he had allowed himself to notice that part of her body.
It's not a bad waist… And with the skirt, the way she moves, she has a certain… elegance. Had she always been so elegant?
"Tell me I'm not losing to her."
That was Myong Chae-Youn's voice, who was sitting next to him, waiting for the next scene.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, barely glancing at her.
"You've been devouring her with your eyes."
"Who?"
"That Christmas girl of yours!" Chae-Youn whispered.
It wasn't clear what bothered him more; the fact that she was always watching him or that she kept reaching such preposterous conclusions?
"I'm not devouring anyone! I'm watching my surroundings."
"I know about those things, honey, no need to lie. Let me assure you that I don't mind sharing. Up for a threesome? Or can't you handle us both?"
His breath hitched. Ye-Jun's heart missed a beat. He heard so many dirty proposals from that woman; always felt repulsed. Why did his mind freeze for a split second this time?
Was it because she added Christmas into her filth?
Shit! She noticed!
Chae-Youn's eyes lit up with excitement. She crossed her long legs, the dress leaving one totally uncovered, and leaned closer to him.
"Dirty boy… Was that what you wanted this whole time? You should have just asked…" she whispered and her fingers caressed the back of his hand.
His blood ran cold. He welcomed the familiar wave of disgust she usually caused him.
He leaned even closer and hoped what he was about to say would be crystal clear.
"Chae-Youn darling, you have been harassing me for two years now. I never did and never will do anything with you. Not alone, not with a football team, and certainly not with her."
He sat back in his chair, his face cold as stone, fighting to calm down. Chae-Youn backed off, her smile fading away.
Ye-Jun stood up. He wanted to take a short walk to stretch his legs. With that tight costume on, it wasn't the best idea in the heat. Being next to Chae-Youn seemed a worse idea. What he said would probably keep her silent for the day. But then again he wasn't sure.
As he took some steps beyond the basecamp, he stopped still. A cold sweat broke out on his brow.
He noticed it.
A figure. A man looking like a crew member. Wearing a black cap and dark glasses. Pinning him with his gaze. Carefully taking shots of him.
He had been used to these shadows over the years. Yet they kept creeping him out.
Like the envelopes they received every month. After the payment was made. Chloe was keeping them. Just in case.
It was a constant reminder.
'We are a threat. We will not let you forget about us.'
That was what they were saying. And they were listening. He and Chloe.
No matter how the deal was made, no matter how the money was laundered and clean, they weren't dealing with guys who played by the rules.
And then, there was the periodic visit. He would come by the office any time now.
That was the moment he feared most. The moment he would become a scared boy in the alley again.
A notification on his phone made him move again.
'Hello! Confirming our appointment tonight at 9.00.'
It was Hana.
A flickering smile broke on his lips. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.
Strange world. Everything was easier when it came with a price tag - even breathing.
'Looking forward to it,' he wrote.
__________________
Ye-Jun disposed of the condom and sank back against his pillows. He felt relaxed. Alive.
Hana, next to him, covered only the bare essentials with the sheet and let her beautiful long legs swivel left and right - like she was enjoying the moment.
"What do you want to do now?" she asked as usual.
"Let's hang out here. Talk…" he suggested.
"What about?" she said smiling.
Rolling onto her stomach, she propped her chin on her hands. The sheet had slipped, baring a good portion of her buttock, but she made no move to cover herself. Instead, she bent her knees up in the air and casually crossed her ankles.
Every move she made drove him crazy.
"I have a question. I keep asking myself… But I want to ask you now. Are your orgasms real?"
"Yes, they are!"
Her smile was the usual one. He hated that he knew it so well.
What a stupid question! Of course she would answer that way!
He could have sworn that he had felt her tighten around him now and then. But her reply? She was performing.
"Are you looking for validation, Mr. Yeong?" she asked. "I'm here to give it to you," she continued, her voice a seductive whisper.
"It's not that! I'm just wondering… What is this to you?"
Her face tightened. "You know what it is. I'm here for you."
"How did you get yourself into this?" he persisted.
Hana landed her legs on the bed, rolled to her side and pulled the sheet up to her chest.
"Ye-Jun, you know the rules…"
"We've known each other for a long time. Tell me only what is permitted."
She looked up at the ceiling and let out a sharp breath
"I want to start my own business. And I don't want another loan," she said.
He found himself blinking. It wasn't the answer he was expecting - to be honest with himself he didn't know what he was expecting at all.
"That's… admirable!"
She giggled at his comment.
"No job is easy. And I have a day job as well. But I'm lucky with my clientele," she said with a smile. "And you are my favourite customer," Hana continued, after a beat.
"What's your day job?" he asked, filled with curiosity.
"Crossing boundaries again, Ye-Jun," she warned him, playfully but firmly.
It wasn't like he wanted to learn more about her life. He was just curious. How such a beautiful and sophisticated woman sells her body to strangers. High-class strangers at least.
But there were rules. No requests for personal information. No intimate feelings. No persistent communication.
Or the agency would blacklist the client.
"Sorry! What makes me your favourite?"
"You don't ask for crazy stuff. And you are always polite."
Was it that simple?
"Like you value me," she added.
"I value our collaboration."
"Indeed. We work well together… You should try someone new one day. I've seen many beautiful girls recently."
Her proposal… New girl? Had she forgotten what he told her before?
"I'm not interested. You know that what I'm looking for is someone trustworthy. And currently I only trust you."
"Yeah… You're right. But you are missing out…"
He didn't like where this conversation was heading. He felt she was afraid he had developed feelings for her. Their deal was the most real thing he had in his life. Why ruin it?
He decided to end that discussion. But he didn't want to let her go yet. If he couldn't have her company for conversation, he would keep her closer the only other way he knew; with what his money bought.
"We still have time, right?"
"Yes, we do!" Hana replied with her usual sultry smile.
She slowly lowered the sheet, revealing inch by inch her naked body - her incredible, available body.
Ye-Jun reached for the next condom. It was so simple.
Hana and Chae-Youn thought that he was just as simple. That he was looking for fun, for variety. If they knew him better they could see what he was looking for. What he was afraid of.
That intern had read him in a fraction of a second. What she offered him back in the office, paralysed him.
He pulled Hana closer, kissing her deeply. It was useless.
He couldn't get her out of his mind.