On that beautiful August day, a pleasant morning chill reminded that autumn was just around the corner. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, in a luxurious hotel, preparations were underway for filming a promotional video for a drama based on the SoMi's book.
Do Hwan arrived long before the start of filming. While the team prepared him for filming, he carefully reviewed the short script for his role. His ironed suit was ready and waiting. The stylists worked their magic to make him look like a wealthy CEO on camera, styling his hair, applying light makeup and removing the slightest imperfections. In the next room, Kim SeRa — a top actress beloved by all of Korea, and Do Hwan's new drama partner — was also getting ready.
The location resembled a fairy-tale setting. There was a huge swimming pool and spacious sun loungers for VIP guests, as well as rose bushes. A little further away was a path leading to a garden filled with rare trees and exotic plants. From there, there was a breathtaking view of Seoul, where the skyscrapers sparkled in the sunlight.
Filming began. First, they took a few photos for future posters and then filmed a short teaser video. The director carefully directed the process, explaining every movement: "Look here, raise your hand, move your leg slightly to the side, turn your head like this..." Everything had to be perfect, just as it was in the script.
SoMi hadn't arrived yet, and Do Hwan looked around for her between takes, but without success. During another break, he went out into the hotel lobby and started typing a message:
"Hi. When are you coming? Filming has already started. You're going to miss all the fun."
He was about to press "Send" when an expensive black car pulled up outside. The door opened and Do Hwan saw her. SoMi was wearing a white trouser suit, high heels and a small handbag. She got out of the car, beaming with a smile. His face lit up too, and he started to rush forward to meet her, but then he stopped.
The director got out of the car next. He was impeccably dressed with perfect hair and a polished chin. Do Hwan felt a nasty tightening inside, as if someone had run a cold knife across his stomach. The mere thought that this "moron" was still with SoMi disgusted him.
He locked his phone, put it in his pocket and turned back to the set. His mood instantly soured. He was no longer thinking about filming or work, but only about SoMi and the genuine joy on her face when she was with the director. He walked with long strides, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white and his teeth gnashed with rage.
SoMi was warmly welcomed on set. The director was genuinely happy to see her and invited her to sit in his chair so that she could evaluate his work and tell him if he was doing everything correctly. The girl thanked him, but all she really wanted was to see Do Hwan. The memory of the previous evening, with his bare chest, his care, and that special gift, still glowed brightly in her heart. At the mere thought of him, goose bumps covered her body and butterflies fluttered in her stomach again.
And then the moment came. Their eyes met. SoMi felt warmth spread through her while Do Hwan responded with a cold, indifferent stare. She smiled, waved and said hello. He just glanced in her direction and turned back to the make-up artists who were fixing his hair. SoMi didn't immediately understand what was wrong with him, but she sensed that something was amiss. Rather than calming her down, this made her a little angry. After all, the last time they had met, they had seemed to find common ground, but now he was cold and closed off again.
Filming continued. Actress Kim SeRa sat on a sun lounger wearing a white swimsuit and a light robe draped over her shoulders. Do Hwan wore white trousers and a shirt with the top button undone. He couldn't help but glance at SoMi, who was being leaned towards by the director, who was whispering in her ear and touching her — first her hand, then her waist — while standing too close behind her.
It seemed like a deliberate attempt to wind him up, as the director clearly remembered their conversation that evening when he asked SoMi out on a date and observed Do Hwan's reaction to her. Adding fuel to the fire was the fact that Kim Seong Joon knew that Do Hwan was SoMi's neighbour and that they often had dinner together and went to dance classes.
At first, everything went according to plan. But when the director ordered Do Hwan to add a "little passion" during the "almost kiss" scene with the actress, he seemed to change. His modesty and restraint disappeared and he suddenly became bold and passionate. His arms confidently embraced his partner and his lips were dangerously close to hers. Kim SeRa kept up with him, improvising alongside him. She unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his perfectly toned abs, as if painted by a master. Her fingers got lost in his hair and his head tilted back slightly. His hands slid shamelessly over her shoulders, waist and bare legs. Despite the already hot August day, the atmosphere on the set was heating up with every passing second.
Everyone on set exchanged glances, unsure of how to react to such intense scenes. It seemed that the director had no intention of stopping the shoot, despite being slightly shocked by the sudden change to the script and the actors behaviour in front of the camera.
SoMi silently observed everything that was happening. The smile on her face instantly disappeared and her pleasant feelings turned to rage, making her grind her teeth. She waited a long time for either the director to shout "Cut!" or for Do Hwan himself to stop. But neither happened. Then, when the actors were too close and Do Hwan's lips almost touched the actress's, SoMi shouted:
"Stop!" Everyone froze. "Enough! Finish filming! There won't be any drama!" She turned and left the set.
"Ms. SoMi! What are you saying?" The director fidgeted in his chair. "Ok, that's it. Stop. We need a break."
Do Hwan came to his senses a moment later, hovering over the actress. Suddenly, everything became clear, as if he had emerged from a trance. Looking around, he realised what he had done when he saw the shocked faces of everyone on the set. The director's Kim sly, satisfied look seemed to scream, "Well done! You did everything right! Now SoMi is definitely mine."
He jumped up and rushed after SoMi, his shirt torn open.
"SoMi, stop!" he shouted. "SoMi, wait! Let me explain everything." He grabbed her hand, but she jerked away as though she had touched a hot iron.
"Explain what?" Her scream cut through the air, echoing in the empty lobby. "What are you doing? First you offer my book to the director, and now you're destroying what's dear and important to me. What's wrong with you? You know how much this book means to me. I wrote it with all my heart, dreaming of romance, and you've turned it into dirty porn..."
He opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat.
"SoMi, it's not like that. I..." He clenched his fingers nervously, feeling as though his whole world was hanging by a thread. "It's just..." he shouted. "It's because the director Kim..."
"Oh, him again. What did he tell you that makes you fall silent and act like this whenever his name is mentioned? Why are you acting like this? Like a little boy who's had his toy taken away. I can't keep up with your emotions and actions. One moment you're friendly and the next you're cold and won't even look at me."
"Because I don't want to see you with that idiot," he finally blurted out in a trembling voice.
"What?" she asked, raising her eyebrows suspiciously. "Who are you talking about?"
"Seong Joon. He's disgusting and says some not-so-nice things about you."
"Then why are you telling me this now? What does it have to do with what you just did?" Her voice trembled with anger and pain, but there was only silence in response. "In just one second, you destroyed my dream, which I had waited ten years for!" Tears rolled down her cheeks. She turned away. "I hate you!" she shouted over her shoulder.
"SoMi..." Do Hwan reached out to her, trying to stop her, but she ran to the exit. The boy remained standing in the middle of the empty lobby. His hands fell to his sides and the feeling of loss overwhelmed him more than any insult ever could. Her last words hurt his heart, which beat wildly with feelings for her, as well as with rage, resentment and hatred towards himself. His chest heaved with each sharp breath. He clenched his fists until they hurt, biting the inside of his lip until it bled. He could taste the blood.
Grabbing his head, he ruffled his hair and strode back to the set, where chaos reigned. The director Kang rushed after SoMi, hoping to convince her to change her mind. The staff had already started packing up the cameras and everything else. Only Kim SeRa was in no hurry.
"You're hot-headed. We'll have to do it again without cameras," she said, further irritating the already angry Do Hwan.
He grabbed his jacket and went to the bar, wanting to get drunk and forget everything. He had just pushed away the person he loved, ruined his career and probably ruined his reputation too. What could be worse?
Oh yes, exactly: Seong Joon's happy smile as he said goodbye. It seemed that he had got his trophy after all, just as he had said.