#55
Why am I the one who has to be embarrassed? It was the moment when my plan to quietly ask Imun in the van completely fell apart. After glaring at Imun, who was holding my hand tightly and not letting go, I quickly pushed him into the car before he could say any more unnecessary things.
We joined up with unfamiliar men in the broadcasting station lobby. They were the friends of the members who would be participating in the filming together. After briefly introducing ourselves to each other, we all moved into the building together.
The members and managers walked with no hesitation, as if they already knew the meeting location. After passing through corridor-like mazes, we entered the conference room where staff members were already waiting and greeted us with bright expressions.
After checking the camera positions placed throughout the room, I sat down. It seemed the filming had already begun from this preliminary meeting.
“Thank you for coming in such cold weather. But… why do the On The Sky members look so unhappy?”
The woman who introduced herself as PD Lee asked curiously. It seemed that even after Imun and I had fallen asleep, the members had enjoyed a burning night for a long time.
“Yesterday, we had celebration drinks.” Just as expected, Sura answered in a gloomy voice, unable to shake off the effects of alcohol. As PD Lee was about to open her mouth in confusion, Imun naturally jumped into the conversation.
“We had a small party among members to celebrate the end of our activities.”
“Oh, I see, that’s what it meant.”
After discussing the celebration party for quite some time, PD Lee nodded as if she finally understood the situation.
“Then I’ll try to finish today’s meeting as quickly as possible. You can record self-cam footage with the handycams we’ll distribute. As you know, for the filming, the first day is exploring Seoul city, the next two days are a group trip, and for the last two days, you can choose places you’ve actually wanted to visit…”
Noticing Hajun diligently taking notes on PD Lee’s words, Imun quietly tipped him off. “Hyung, it’s all written in the materials.” “Oh, is it?” While quietly watching him flip through the materials with an embarrassed smile, I felt a piercing gaze from the front.
PD Lee was staring at me with strange eyes. After giving her a bright smile, Imun teased Hajun.
There was a brief Q&A session between the cast and production team. Around the time when no more questions were coming up, PD Lee clapped her hands loudly and delivered closing remarks.
“Then we’ll end the preliminary meeting here. By the way, although the last schedule is an impromptu trip, as you know, we still need to arrange locations in advance. Please contact our writing team by tonight.”
At the end of her words, the assistant director handed out camcorders one by one. While testing the unexpectedly heavy weight, Hajun tilted his head.
Is there really a need to increase our luggage? After looking at the members who had each received the same item, he whispered to Imun.
“Do I need to take this too?”
“Well… it wouldn’t hurt to have it.”
He mischievously whispered in my ear, as if mimicking my actions. “Ah, stop teasing me.” Hajun grumpily pushed away Imun, who had somehow attached himself closely to his side.
It didn’t feel real that broadcast filming would begin tomorrow. While fiddling with the camera, he carefully considered the upcoming schedule.
- My Private Trip
“Kyaaaa! Imuuuun! Noona’s over heeeere! Over heeere!”
“Seo Imuuuuun! Imuuuun! I love yoooou! Imuuuun!”
Every time the fans’ loud voices rang out, Hajun jerked his head in surprise. Why here of all places? The place where Imun and he had gotten out of the van was Hongdae, famous for being a street for young people in the bustling area.
In the crowded throng, it was difficult to take even a single step freely due to fans trying to approach through the bodyguards. As he kept looking around anxiously, Imun wrapped one arm around his body as if to protect him.
“I’m sorry… There must be fan signings too, I thought I picked well.”
It wasn’t just showing off! Recalling the opening shoot in front of the broadcasting station an hour ago, he made a dejected expression. It was because he was the cause of things getting to this state, having volunteered blindly when the PD said they would select filming locations by random draw.
On the paper he picked up with groundless confidence was written “Youth Tour,” a phrase difficult to understand the meaning of. He envied Rai and Sura who had picked “Food Tour” and “Palace Tour” and disappeared smoothly, unconsciously twitching the corner of his mouth.
Still, they were better off than Saha, who had picked “Amusement Park Tour” and fell to his knees on the ground. He was consoling himself by imagining Saha being swept up by crowds throughout the filming at a downtown Seoul amusement park when Imun embraced his body more tightly with a comfortable smile.
“No, people would have crowded around us wherever we went. Don’t worry about it.”
“Still… this place seems too open. Let’s quickly go inside somewhere too.”
“Haha, yes. Our first destination is… the VR game room, right?”
The youngest writer blinked her eyes quickly at Imun’s question as he turned around. She looked like she hadn’t expected to be asked a question. As soon as he saw her belatedly nodding, Hajun excitedly shrugged his shoulders.
Finally going to try it! Though he had only heard abundant rumors, he had never actually played VR games before. He wasn’t interested enough to buy the equipment, nor did he desperately want to do it enough to visit a game room alone. So he had just thought he would try it someday, but—
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Just because I’m happy!”
I guess this is why I saved it—to do it with you. Hajun laughed playfully and grabbed Imun’s wrist to lead him. The thought of playing with him all day today made him hum automatically.
The play rooms were clearly visible through the glass doors. “Wow, this is really amazing. Look at that.” After briefly admiring the goggles hanging abundantly in each room divided by walls, he discreetly approached the counter.
“Is this… the type of games? There are so many varieties.”
While eagerly flipping through the menu with hawk eyes, he suddenly realized his side felt empty. “What are you doing? Come here quickly!” After bringing Imun, who was leaning diagonally against the entrance and snickering, to his side, he handed him the list.
“Hyung, why are you so excited?”
“This is my first time playing VR games. Have you tried it before?”
“Ah… me too. It’s my first time too.”
“Really? I was going to ask you about it. There are too many games to choose from. They all look fun, what should I do?”
“Hmm, then how about the ones marked as recommendations?”
“You’re really smart.” Hajun patted Imun’s back vigorously as if to say ‘well done.’ Imun’s face softened at the kindness of overly praising him for something trivial.
Hajun seemed to have no intention of hiding his excitement at all. His brown hair swayed along with his body movements, shaking left and right. I want to touch it. Before his unconsciously extended hand could reach it, Hajun quickly stepped aside.
“The stylist worked hard on this hair, it shouldn’t get messed up.”
“Is my makeup still okay?” Hajun busily looked around to find a place to check his face. While handing over his phone switched to selfie mode, Imun observed him implicitly.
Hajun’s appearance, having visited a hair and makeup shop for the filming, looked quite impressive. Since he was already a person who attracted attention, now with a professional’s careful touch added, he was no less than most celebrities.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve had someone so worth dolling up.’ Recalling the words of the stylist who had taken care of him, Imun smiled nonchalantly.
“Yes, you look completely like an idol.”
“Stop flattering me. If a real idol says something like that, what does that make me?”
Only then did he slightly regret his past action of not stopping Hajun’s variety show appearance, having been swayed by plausible persuasion. Should I have refused more firmly? Watching the back of his embarrassed head, Imun silently bit his cheek.
From the moment filming began, an inexplicable anxiety had been rising. He kept worrying about Hajun, who was focused on choosing games and ignoring him, and the situation of capturing him through the lens.
It was difficult to convince even himself that it was just because he was worried about Hajun. Perhaps he was feeling jealousy, as Hajun had said.
As long as hyung is happy, it’s fine. He didn’t want to show his unsettled feelings, which even he couldn’t understand, to Hajun who was more excited than ever. He smiled even more brightly and stayed close to his side.
*
After much consideration, Hajun chose two games. One was a high-rise building tightrope game that people often play as an introduction, and the other was a shooting game where you survive in an abandoned building swarming with zombies.
“What about other games? Are you only going to play these two?” “Hmm, for now? Don’t you want to play anything?” Although he gave Imun the choice when he frowned at the games, the only answer that came back was a benevolent one—that anything hyung wanted to do was fine.
After moving the filming location to the play room, they learned the controls and started the first game.
“It doesn’t feel completely real, but it’s a bit thrilling, isn’t it?”
He quickly walked across the tightrope that looked like a thousand-foot cliff and picked up a cake. Even knowing it was fake, the technology that made you mistake the sense of space was simply amazing.
The game was simpler than expected, so it got boring quickly. When Hajun took off his goggles after playing a few rounds, Imun stood up from his chair.
“It doesn’t seem that realistic, I guess.”
“Well, whatever.”
Since he also said it was his first time playing VR games, his eyes would have been as wide as mine. “Here, try it!” Instead of giving a detailed explanation, he put the goggles on Imun and turned his eyes to the TV.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
