"It’s already morning…"
Minjae barely remembered everything that had happened last night. The moment he laid down on his bed, everything went black. Unfortunately, his much-needed rest felt like it lasted only a few minutes before the alarm on his phone blasted obnoxiously.
’The fuck is this alarm ringing for?’
Groaning, Minjae slapped his hand over the screen, fumbling to turn it off. He was frustrated and slightly annoyed. His entire body was aching—his shoulders felt stiff, his legs wobbly, and his throat was still dry from all the shouting and lip-syncing.
Minjae stared at the ceiling for a moment, contemplating his life choices.
Did I really sign up for this willingly?
Yes, he did.
And so, without a choice, even if he felt as if he was dying, he stood up.
He looked at the time on his phone and sighed.
"Yeah, I really need to move now."
It was already 9:17, and Donghyun was supposed to fetch him by 9:30.
- - -
By the time Minjae arrived at the filming location, the production team was already busy setting up for the next scene. Director Hwang stood by the monitors, checking the angle of the cameras while the assistant director gave out instructions.
As Minjae stepped out of the car, a few staff members greeted him.
"Minjae-ssi, good morning!"
"You worked hard yesterday! Ready for another long day?"
"Are you still tired, Minjae?"
"I hope our dear Minjae was able to rest~"
Minjae forced a polite smile as he accepted the enthusiastic greetings.
"Good morning, everyone! Let’s do our best today."
He may be smiling, but in reality, he wanted to turn around and go back to sleep.
Donghyun, who noticed it on the side, couldn’t help but chuckle.
"You’re tired, aren’t you?"
"Yes, hyung,"
"Well, at least you got a few hours of sleep. That’s better than none. I’m telling you this, but there will be days that you’d barely close your eyes. What you’re experiencing right now is just the tip of the iceberg."
"I know, hyung." Minjae sighed dramatically.
He knew very well how tiring it could be, and even though that was what he was aiming for, he still couldn’t help but be tired just by thinking of it.
Well, at least he knew that he was on the right path.
Before Minjae could delve into it further, someone approached him hastily.
"Minjae-ssi, we need to get you into hair and makeup. The first scene starts in an hour."
Right.
There was no time to waste.
- - -
On Set
Minjae was adjusting his clothes as he walked toward the filming area.
"Goodluck, Minjae!"
"Show us what you got!"
"We’re excited to see you act again!"
Staff members smiled at Minjae, saying encouraging words as he passed by them.
As Minjae arrived at the very place for his first scene, he couldn’t help but nod. The set designers had done an incredible job again.
His set for today was a private waiting room designed only for him. It was sleek and modern, filled with subtle signs of both luxury and fame.
There was a big leather couch, a few long tables with music sheets and instruments, and a whole desk of him with an open laptop on top displaying a paused video of his last performance.
His first scene for today was lighter compared to yesterday, though filled with heavy emotions. He’d be acting with Jihoon, who will be playing the role of Nam Junho, his supposed closest friend in the industry.
The first scene of the day was a crucial one. Minjae was supposed to be filming a heated argument with Jihoon.
"Minjae hyung!"
Jihoon was already there, waiting for Minjae. He was flipping through his script, quite nervous about what was to happen.
"Hi Jihoon." Minjae smiled as he reached out for a fist bump.
"Are you ready?"
"Don’t remind me, hyung," Jihoon groaned, slightly shaking his head out of nervousness.
"I’m about to piss my pants here," Jihoon spatted, and even though he was joking, there was seriousness in his face.
It seemed like the man was really scared.
"Well, that’s better than accidentally shitting." Minjae chuckled.
"Really, hyung," Jihoon shook his head, though he could admit that it made him less nervous.
"Minjae, Jihoon, we’ll be rolling in five. Get into position."
Director Hwang called them over, his voice cutting through the chatter of the staff.
The two actors both straightened up their backs. As if they weren’t just joking around earlier, the two of them got into positions, and the emotions on their faces also changed abruptly.
~
The room was silent except for the hum of an air purifier in the background. Minjae sat on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands clasped together. His character was supposed to look drained, physically and emotionally.
The cameras panned his face, focusing on his eyes that were distant and unfocused.
Then, the door slammed open.
Junho, Jihoon’s character, stormed in, his face filled with frustration. He didn’t even bother knocking at the door.
"Taeyung," Jihoon’s voice was sharp, filled with disbelief.
"What the hell is this I’m hearing?"
Minjae didn’t bother to look up. He simply let out a sigh and answered.
"What now?"
"What now?" Jihoon repeated, his tone rising. He strode across the room and threw a magazine onto the table.
The bold headline read:
"Lee Taeyung to Retire? Idol Star’s Future in Question."
"So?" Minjae glanced at it, then looked away, unfazed. He looked as if he knew about it already.
Jihoon scoffed, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
"So? That’s all you have to say? This article is everywhere. The fans, our fellow artists, everyone’s losing their minds. And you… you don’t even care?"
"What do you want me to say?" Minjae finally met his gaze, his eyes tired, without any emotions.
"I want you to tell me it’s not true," Jihoon shot back. "That you’re not just throwing everything away."
Minjae exhaled heavily, leaning back against the couch. The cameras focused on the expression of his face.
"What if I am?"
A beat of silence surrounded them.
Jihoon’s jaw clenched.
"Are you serious?"
Minjae didn’t answer immediately. He looked away, his fingers tightening around the edge of his jacket. He looked as if he was thinking, though it didn’t last for a few seconds.
"I’m tired…." Minjae’s voice was quieter this time.
"You just don’t get it."