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Koreaboo ✔️
@Koreaboo
[CONFIRMED] #AhnYujin and #JangWonyoung to star in new historical romance Drama.
Soompi ✔️
@soompi
Ahn Yujin and Jang Wonyoung have been confirmed to play lead roles of SBS’ latest drama ‘Timeless Us’.
—
The clicks of heel against the marble floor was heard, ringing against the corridors of the convention center as the woman strut through. Her eyes settled upon the large open doors, a security kindly smiling at her the moment she came to view. Her lips turned upwards in return.
Then blaring flashes of light reached her eyes the moment she took a step out.
The woman didn’t flinch, her smile merely growing as every click of the cameras spun everywhere around her.
”Yujin! An autograph please!”
Her attention turned towards a young fan, taking the pen from their hold and biting it’s cap between her teeth to take it off. Yujin chuckled under her breath at the amount of camera clicks that began increasing the moment she did so.
Signing smoothly across the paper, she pushed the cap back on before handing both items back. The woman didn’t turn her heel before sending a wave.
The chandeliers glistened up above, Yujin’s eyes catching her own reflection as she walked through the red carpet, what seemed like endless clicks and blinding white flashes had faded away to the background of her senses.
“You’ve stole the show.” A voice spoke out from beside her, the actress taking a glass of champagne easily from a waiter that passed.
Yujin turned her head, sipping on the glass shortly. Her lips pursed into a humble smile. “I wouldn’t say so, I’m sure the fashion show will be much more intriguing than my invite.”
”I highly doubt that.” Rei said with a shake of her head, laughing at Yujin’s bluntness. “Do you know who you are?”
The woman shrugged playfully, lending an arm to Rei as they made their way over to another area. “I’ve heard more and less?”
”You are unbelievable.”
”So I’ve been called.”
”Ms. Naoi! Ms. Ahn! A photo please!” A photographer called over, the two immediately adjusting their view towards the camera. Once the flash and click were out of attention, Yujin fixed her gaze on the empty runway.
”How’s the drama you just got casted in?”
Yujin took another sip of the champagne, “Ah, you mean SBS’?”
The Japanese nodded, “Have you started script reading?”
“Nope.” She shook her head, “We’re doing it in a few days though, by Sunday, I believe. It’s been going okay though, I’ve mostly just tried to familiarise myself with the character, it didn’t take so long.”
”So you haven’t met her?” Rei then questioned, a teasing smile on her face.
Yujin’s eyebrows furrowed, “Who?”
”Jang Wonyoung, dumbass.”
The actress smiled, chuckling. “No, not at the moment.”
”How’d you think she’d be?”
”I think she’ll be fun? I’m not too sure..”
”You say that with every co-star.”
“Am I not allowed to?” Yujin said, raising an eyebrow playfully. “No but in all truth, she does look fun to act with, I’m counting on that. In the mean time I’m counting on this champagne to take my last night in Paris to the stars.”
Fashion Week was an annual event she was invited for. Being an ambassador brings many perks to her, and it’s as fun as it looks. Despite the thousands of camera that had nearly blinded her, Yujin seemed unbothered. Whether it’d be her arriving in the airport, getting off her car, or literally just being in some event, there was always eyes on her.
So, she didn’t bother to look too dashingly eye catching when she walked out onto the streets of Paris for the last time that week (at least until her next invite). Gone was her lent thousands of dollar dress, and what wrapped around her tonight was a simple loose dress shirt paired with brown slacks.
The actress hung her coat against her shoulders, not bothering to pull it closer to her despite the cold air of the night. Sunghoon was definitely going to kill her for going out alone at this time.
Her boots scratched against the pavement slightly, walking up the steps to land herself a view of the large river. Lights of the cruise ship sailing across reflecting itself across the bodies of water. Yujin who stood under a lamp post leaned herself onto the stone balcony.
A sense of melodrama washed over her, the distant sounds of cars fading into the background as her ears focused on the small sounds of the river, the water crashing against the standings of the bridge being comforting whispers that landed softly. She sighed, a frown unconsciously turning by her face, replacing her thin-lipped expression moments ago.
The world all seemed so quiet. So serene. For the first time in a while, her mind wasn’t completely too loud. Her ears didn’t hear countless of clicks, there were no shouts of her name, and those flashes of light were replaced with a softer golden tone. She was alone, and she was grateful to do so.
Then again a part of her wished she had some small bit of company. But it had to be specific. Not her manager, Sunghoon, he practically follows her everywhere already due to his job description. Not her friends, just.. some random stranger. It’d be ironic, probably awkward, but it’d be somehow nice.
She felt like she was close to falling asleep, her whole body falling loose against the stone edge as her shoulders fell. The wind blowing against her was what mostly kept her at bay.
”Uhm.. hi, sorry, but can I have your autograph? I’m a really big fan—”
The sudden voice made her jump, but when Yujin turned, she felt herself grounded once more when she realised the question wasn’t directed towards her. That made more sense on why it didn’t sound too close.
Then, she saw the owner of the voice, a young girl looking expectantly at a tall woman who was about to enter the backseat of a parked car. She was visibly just as tall as Yujin. She couldn’t see her face, her view blocked by the actress’ back. She wore a checkered coat, and her heel turned to face the said fan. Under the dark lighting and slightly far distance, Yujin could picture out some of her features.
She watched her sign the notebook handed, and Yujin watched with a small smile growing on her face on how the fan’s grin turned bright. It was heart warming, in a way. Even though her paranoia was creeping up her own consciousness moments before.
Then, the signer turned back fully, the lighting angling her to make Yujin see the face that had been digging up her curiosity during the past seconds. And my, she felt her breath hitch.
Jang Wonyoung stood with a light smile plastered on, her face scrunching adorably ever so slightly as she waved goodbye to the happily made fan. Her gaze was soft, Yujin swore a bit of tiredness was hidden behind them, but Wonyoung remained composed. Talking a bit to her manager who now stood outside by the car’s door. She watched how she laughed, eyes turning into crescents, teeth showing before she covered them with her hand. How she nodded softly, how her lips moved against the air as she spoke about topics Yujin can’t even think of at the moment due to her mind going completely blank at the sight of the actress standing a few feet away from her.
Wonyoung got in the car, and it wasn’t until it drove off to who knows where that Yujin finally could drag her attention back to the river in front of her.
The distant sound of the river’s waters crashing against the bridge didn’t come to mind anymore, neither did the cruises that passed by. Instead, what took over her senses was the beating of her heart that suddenly felt too loud against her ears, the sudden warmth that blossomed against her even though France’s cold air was persistent on blowing, and her jittery feet that kept adjusting her stand against the ground.
Her thoughts felt all jumbled, as if her own consciousness was trying to figure out a crossword puzzle with it’s clues blanked out. One thing she knew, however, was that Jang Wonyoung looked more prettier than she did in her laptop screen.
Seeing her in the flesh somehow felt overwhelming. It was as if all the blood pumping inside Yujin’s body stopped functioning and left her brain hay-wired. Just like the first time she had seen her from the pixels of the google search engine, Wonyoung left a haunting familiarity that wrapped desperately around her.
And so, with an unconscious shudder she had let out, Yujin made her way back into her hotel. Taking a glimpse of the full moon that hung by the sky as she walked, the actress slept with the gorgeous co-star lingering in her mind.
—
“Jang Wonyoung was in Paris too. Why didn’t you tell me?” She questioned, a tone of disappointment slipping through more than it should. She scrolled through the article link talking about the younger actress’ appearance for fashion week as well, a frown somehow tugged deeper in her face when she read that the girl had arrived literally just one day after herself.
Sunghoon gave an apologetic look as he drove, “I thought you already knew.”
”I didn’t.” She said with a click of her tongue, realising how cranky she sounded immediately before she cleared her throat. “Look, sorry. I mean I just thought if I get a head start on meeting her it’d be easier said than done to get our chemistry for the drama.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I’ll tell you if theres a possibility of you crossing paths with her again.” The manager said with a nod, turning the car as they made their way over into the studio building.
”It’s fine, Sunghoon, theres no need to. The script reading is happening tomorrow. Anyway, whats the rest of my schedule?”
Sunghoon thought for a bit, “Well, we’re on our way to the award show. You’ll be an MC as you know. Then we’ll go to another studio to shoot a brand deal advertisement, the one that was postponed the other day — and that’s about it.”
Yujin hummed, taking her phone to view the timestamp displayed on her lockscreen. 5:47 PM.
”..And when’s the award show finishing, estimatedly?”
“Around 8 or half to nine.”
”PM, right?” Yujin joked.
”I think your fans are gonna riot if we let you work till the morning. Your schedule’s already packed as it is.”
She chuckled, “I’m a very busy woman.”
Hair and makeup thankfully didn’t take too long. Yujin reviewed the script a few more times, adjusting the off shoulder velvet blue dress she had worn before pulling her attention away. The actress stood up quickly the moment she checked the current time, the clock ticking in her ears in a countdown as she quickly made her way out of the green room. Unfortunately, Yujin wasn’t the most familiar with the studio.
She asked multiple times, speed walking through the hallways as she did so, hoping she’d be in position in time before the stage lift took her up — but then she turned a corner, and bumped into someone abruptly.
She could see how the person lost balance, Yujin nearly did so too if it weren’t for the door handle nearby for her to hold. In the bare quick second, Yujin’s hand went to hold the person by the wrist, catching her breath discreetly before gazing at the person she had just—
“Wonyoung?”
”Ah.. sunbaenim..”
Her eyes widened in surprise, Wonyoung’s expression reflecting her. Yujin’s hand carefully let them selves go from the younger’s wrist, fingers shifting as she let them down to her own side. She was dressed in a red silk dress, hair styled by a middle part to fall against her front. And suddenly, the older’s mouth couldn’t control it self.
”You look pretty.”
It was barely above a whisper, yet still Wonyoung was caught off guard. Her ears growing warm at the sudden compliment, not knowing what or how to respond with as her voice felt stuck in her throat.
Yujin blinked, composing herself quickly. Her confident persona shown in front of cameras suddenly diminishing like a toy shoved in a box. “Apologies for bumping into you.”
The younger cleared her throat, mustering up a kind smile at her. She glanced at the MC script held. “Don’t worry about it, I apologise too, you must’ve been in a rush.”
“Only a bit.” Yujin tried to joke, resulting in the laugh that she heard coming from the other actress. Did the heater suddenly rose in temperature?
“I’ll.. get going then?” Wonyoung then said, not even sure with her sentence. Yujin absent mindedly nodded, eyes endearing yet so lost as she tried to encapture the moment between her and the beauty standing upon her. She wasn’t sure if she was breathing anymore, but seeing how she hadn’t moved at all she ignored her fidgeting hands and decided to speak again.
”I’d love to talk to you more but—“
”Yujin, there you are! Come on, into position, you’re up in a minute.”
Both of the actresses glanced at the staff calling, Wonyoung took a step back further.
“I’ll be there.” The actress responded then, turning to Wonyoung who was now gazing back at her once again. She smiled sheepishly. “Duty calls.”
”Some other time?” Wonyoung offered with a chuckle.
”With pleasure, definitely.”
She didn’t think walking away would feel so heavy, but there she was, her neck practically begging to turn and catch one last glimpse of the dark haired woman. It took every fiber of Yujin’s bones to not crane her neck, to halt her steps, to stop and turn to see her once again.
It was like her own thoughts were battling in a civil war, she could feel how her grip around the script card become firm, causing the crease against the paper.
But she was human after all.
Yujin stopped her feet, turning to look back, and alike that night in Paris merely two days ago — she watched as Jang Wonyoung left to god knows where. The ends of her red dress trailing behind her as she walked along the hallways, heels echoing going faint by Yujin’s ear if she focused on it.
It was only when the actress made herself walk again towards the backstage area, mic in hand, that she had exhaled her breath. Shoulders falling down with the image of Jang Wonyoung plaguing her mind as if it was the first time she saw her. Then, after however many seconds; her name was called, and the screen rose up — revealing the bright stage lights that shone upon her.
Yujin stepped out, her usual camera smile charmingly placed on almost immediately. She waved to the fans before walking up to the center, her MC partner, Jung Sungchan following standing beside her.
Her grin grew genuine when she heard the cheer of fans as she did her introduction. “Joining Sungchan-ssi, I’ll be hosting as a special MC for tonight. I’m Ahn Yujin and it’s very nice to meet you all!”
—
“You are staring.”
”Am I?”
”You’re asking me?” Jiwon deadpanned through her silent whisper.
Wonyoung sent Jiwon a gaze, clearly telling her to shut up. The blonde haired actress gave her a challenging look in return, eyes glancing at the script before going back to Wonyoung.
Wonyoung’s attention, however, had been on and off far from the script folder flipped open in front of her. Instead, her attention was focused on the short haired woman sitting across the table for their script reading.
A part of her head thought that she couldn’t believe she landed a role where Ahn Yujin was her co-star, and a part of her head was glad Ahn Yujin was her co-star.
The older’s eyes were focused on her own folder, something Wonyoung knew she should’ve been doing, but stolen the glances was a temptation she had gotten herself hooked into.
She felt Jiwon nudge at her side, and the young actress took it upon herself to drag her head down towards the folder this time. Not knowing when she did, it was Yujin who turned her eyes on her.
However, it lasted for merely a few seconds, an unreadable expression placed on her face as she looked away onto an actor who was having his turn to say his lines.
But then, her eyes dragged itself back to Wonyoung, noticing her character’s name written down. Then, her voice spoke, soft — careful, and a hint of nervousness.
“You’ll write to me right?” The girl questioned, following the script. Her eyes meeting Yujin’s in one lock. It was like a click. But it wasn’t the type of click from those cameras she’d hear, and it most certainly was not the buzzing irritation she had so desperately tried to push away that she felt.
It was the type of click you’d hear when you perfectly put two puzzle pieces together, and it was the buzz of satisfaction you’d feel once you find out they’re the missing piece you’ve been searching for after a very—very long time.
And for a second, as brown eyes met the mirroring ones that stared right into her, she felt like she was replaying an old broken film reel that was projected onto her mind. A memory unable to surface itself due to passing time. Déjà Vu wasn’t enough to describe her train of thoughts. Yujin felt like she was lost in a labyrinth of books in her mind, books that were shoved into very tall wooden bookcases that towered over her with no ladders given. She’s trying to find an answer, an answer or a picture as to what familiarity Wonyoung’s whole presence was.
But she couldn’t spiral now when the girl looked at her with expectant eyes. Yujin swallowed the lump in her throat, quickly getting herself into her character with not that much shift needed. A small smile tugged one corner of her lips.
“I wouldn’t dare of not doing so.”
Wonyoung smiled at her, breaking their connected gaze as she clicked her pen to scribble something along a piece of paper.
The actress didn’t need to do much to steal Yujin’s attention. She placed the pen down, the voices of the other actors and actresses fading into the background as they did their own lines. She turned the scribbled paper around to Yujin’s view.
’Coffee after this? You said we’d talk.’
Yujin for some reason couldn’t contain the grin that grew on her face, looking at Wonyoung who had a playful pout as she discreetly showed Yujin the paper. It happened again, the sudden loud drum of her heartbeat against her ears. How could Yujin decline?
See, they haven’t even had an actual proper conversation besides the one yesterday by the awards show, but the thought of just having Wonyoung’s presence by her brought her comfort. And it was weird considering how she didn’t let people in her space all so easily. Yes, Yujin may have the skills to be friendly and open with her past co-stars or strangers in general, but not many got to actually know her.
Or maybe, it was Wonyoung who just had the talent to make others comfortable around her. Whatever the answer was, she had her answer for the offer.
She quietly ripped a piece of paper from her notebook, writing her own note in return.
’On one condition: I get to pick the place.’
Wonyoung didn’t need to squint her eyes to read it, smiling and trying to hide her triumph behind it — at least she didn’t fail so miserably like Yujin did when she saw her nod.
It was the giddy feeling she last felt when she was barely in high school, secretly passing notes and holding in her laugh as so the teacher wouldn’t notice. It was childish, especially in their setting of a script reading at the moment, but truth be told — Yujin wouldn’t let it happen any other way.
—
“Try it! I swear it’s good!” Wonyoung said surely, handing Yujin the pistachio ice cream.
The actress looked at the dessert unsurely, “It’s toothpase, Wonyoung.”
”Come on, sunbaenim—“
”Yujin.”
Wonyoung raised her eyebrows, confused “What?”
Yujin took the ice cream, her hesitance slightly showing as she did, unsure about the toothpaste-y dessert. Yet she smiled, “Drop the formalities, Wonyoung, you can call me Yujin — or unnie could do too.”
Wonyoung stood with a nervous chuckle, but nodded nonetheless, washing the jitters away as her gaze switched between the ice cream and the actress.
She watched as Yujin placed the spoon in her mouth, her unsure eyes slowly forming into a surprised one, glaring at the ice cream as if it was not real. Wonyoung’s shoulders shook with a laugh.
”I told you so, didn’t I?” The younger teased smugly, dipping her own spoon and taking her own bite, humming in delight.
Yujin tried her best to mask her satisfaction over the somehow delicious ice cream. She shook her head, but completely failed at the mask when her hand dragged the spoon itself to take another bite.
“This is.. tolerable..”
Wonyoung laughed, clapping as her head was thrown back at the sight of Yujin’s for once horrible acting. Hand flying over her mouth as she couldn’t believe how petty she was being.
And then, again, Yujin gets reminded of that night in Paris of when she saw Wonyoung for the first time in reality. For the first time in the three dimensional view of the earth and not just her laptop. She doesn’t count on how many times she had repeated the memory, the weird feelings she felt, the hitch of her breath.
The setting sun was shining through the window panes, it’s golden hues hitting Wonyoung in somehow such a perfect ratio. Hugging her figure with the warmth of it’s bright rays, she watched at every exhale she let out, how her chest heaved as the sounds of laughter escaped from her mouth. Yujin felt like someone paused her heart as if it was a video game, and she held herself back with everything from clutching her rapid chest.
She would do everything, and she really meant everything to hear her laugh again. It sounded so care free, so relaxed. An atmosphere Yujin wasn’t exactly used to. And she was confused, very confused, on what was happening to her own being. It was like Wonyoung was slowly opening up layers of her like a christmas present, and it was weird that Yujin let her do so — especially when they’ve just met.
It was to no surprise that Yujin had grown a lot of paranoia from the past years. Yes, the fame was something she’d always be grateful for — but a price was to be paid. Feeling the need to go out at late night all the time whether it be just to grab a snack or buy groceries, having to rent out restaurants just to have dinner with her parents, having streets be swarmed just cause people had info she was at some random store — all of it caused for her to feel like she’d always have a pair of eyes on her everywhere she went.
But with Wonyoung here, she forgot about them. She forgot about pretending to not hear what people whisper when she passed by out and about, she forgot about the prying eyes that might stare at her, she forgot about the phone cameras trying to secretly shoot a glimpse of her. All her attention was on the younger actress in front of her, smiling so bright, with the sound of a laugh Yujin knows can bring company.
For once, Ahn Yujin didn’t feel so lonely.
So she let her shoulders drop, she let them shook as she released her own sets of laughter, the world fading behind her. The small amount of people in the café didn’t surface at all to her mind. To her; all that was in the present was her, Wonyoung, their stupidly delicious pistachio ice cream, their booth, and the warm sunset that shone upon them.
Oh, and one thing.
Her very, very, erratical heart.
“Fine, You win.” Yujin said once she calmed down, shaking her head as she took another bite. Her smile was wide, dimples showing with ease.
Wonyoung leaned her cheek against her hand, her elbow pressed against the table. Her smile turned into a winning smirk. ”I know I did.”
”Getting arrogant now?” Yujin teased back, she folded her arms. “I’m your senior, remember that.”
The younger rose an eyebrow teasingly, “Oh? Now who was the one offering to drop the formalities moments ago, Yujin?”
“..Hmph.”
And, just like that, her confidence dissipated. Ears for sure now turning red, so much for her charming and easy going image huh? The actress held herself to not shrink into the leather seat of the booth, head turning away from Wonyoung to look at through the window. Lips frowning in embarrassment.
The older slightly jumped at the sudden cold cream that landed on the side of her cheek, fingers carefully reaching it to realise it was the pistachio ice cream. Her attention forcefully turning back to Wonyoung who held a cheeky smile, eyes ever so playfully acting innocent.
She drew the spoon away, giggling under her breath as she watched Yujin’s expression.
”No I mean—Gosh,” The older mumbled, her tone becoming higher. She took the tissue by the table and wiped it across her smeared cheek. “I’m annoyed.”
It came more of as a whine than a firm statement. A statement which had no truth laced in it at all.
But then, Wonyoung’s laughter filled her ears again, and Yujin couldn’t help but to fight her smile away.
Instead, noticing how the girl was occupied laughing over her, Yujin took her own spoon and smeared the ice cream against Wonyoung’s nose.
The younger actress jumped, muffling her squeal with her hand as they were in public. She looked baffled at Yujin, who now was the one wearing the smug expression, chuckles being exhaled out of her mouth.
The older watched as Wonyoung dragged her spoon upwards again, bringing the ice cream over towards Yujin’s face, but she caught her by her wrist.
”I’m starting to think you dislike the ice cream if you’d rather put it on our faces than eating it.”
She took the spoon from Wonyoung, swirling it around the air, making engine noises with her voice — her cheeky grin mimicking the other actress moments before. She halted in front of her lips. “Open up!”
Wonyoung felt the blood rush onto her face, and she guessed due to the bright lighting the woman that sat across from her was more than aware of it. Judging from Yujin’s smirk, she did notice.
She opened up her mouth, taking the bite off of the spoon with a scrunch on her face. Wonyoung pursed her lips, quickly composing herself as she swallowed the ice cream down.
Usually, with any other person she’d be paired with, she would act just fine. Just as natural as she should be, whether it’d be on camera or off, it was always depending on who her character was.
But no, this case felt different. It felt new, thrilling, exciting. Sure, her character felt very similar to her and it was probably why Wonyoung got into her role easily. But the chemistry growing with Yujin? she couldn’t really tell.
They haven’t even started shooting; and right now in this cafe, it wasn’t their characters, it was them. It wasn’t Ahn Yujin, South Korea’s pride and it wasn’t Jang Wonyoung — The quick rising actress who received the title of ‘The nation’s princess’ in just a year after her debut.
In that café, in Seoul, in the year of 2024 — Ahn Yujin and Jang Wonyoung were enjoying their evening together with some cups of ice cream. They were enjoying their time together with no worries of prying eyes on them, they were just themselves. Just Yujin, and just Wonyoung.
—
“Yujin, sorry if I’m disturbing you but can we take a photo together?”
Sunghoon immediately stepped in, standing in front. “No photos, sorry.”
Yujin held him by his arm, sending a reassuring smile as she turned her attention away from the vinyl records on display. The girl gave a nod to the fan, watching how their expression turned immediately at her answer. The actress leaned into the camera selfie, posing before pulling away once a few photos were taken.
“Thank you! I hope you have a great time in New York!” The girl said with a wave, Yujin grinned, muttering a small thanks — waving back as she watched the fan leave the store.
”You have 10 minutes before those photos possibly rise into social media and there will be a crowd waiting for us outside.” Sunghoon reminded carefully, his arms placed by his back. A part of his voice was stern, yet another was sympathetic.
“It’s fine, it’s like any usual day after all.” Yujin shrugged, unusually non-chalant. The girl picked out some vinyls before buying them out.
Currently, they were in Manhattan for filming. It had been their fourth week — and Yujin, as ridiculous as it sounds — was wearing her character’s military uniform underneath her puffer jacket. Needless to say, they were given a break for an hour, and the girl immediately knew where she wanted to go. An hour wasn’t enough to remove her costume, hair, and make up all more casually, so she just decided to leave it as it is.
”Can we pick up some pistachio?”
”Since when did you..”
”You’ve asked me that.. a lot, hoon. Did you realise?”
Sunghoon blinked, “I can’t believe you’ve switched onto that side of the field.”
”Please, I’m the one who’s supposed to be the soldier here. You speak as if you were one yourself.” Yujin joked, shaking her head.
“At this point, I won’t be surprised if I wasn’t.”
The two laughed, Yujin rolling her eyes at her manager’s words. The ride to the set didn’t take too long as the location was near. The actress took a sip of her americano, walking into set as she greeted some of the staffs that passed by. Her gaze explored itself around, the vintage housings built, the old outfits the extras had to wore.
It was probably one of her favourite things of her job. Entering a completely new world whether it be fiction or not — or in this case, in present or past, or even the future.
”Wheres Wonyoung?” She questioned at one of the producers, placing her cup down by the table as she took off her padded jacket. Her eyes searched everywhere for the dark haired actress, only to no prevail.
Yujin adjusted her tie slightly, letting the make up artist fix her lipstick with a brush.
“She went out to some antique shop down the block earlier. She should be back in a bit.”
Her ears perked at the mention. “Antique shop?”
“Yeah,” The producer hummed, “Theres one nearby as it turns out.”
[…]
The actress took off her sunglasses, halting her steps along the sidewalk. Her eyes landing upon a vintage shop that looked like it had been there for possibly longer than Wonyoung’s entire life, the small renovations being the only thing that’s properly holding it up.
Her head tilted as she read the sign, ‘Items dating back till 1920’s! Photos 25 cents each!’ Then — a painted red one was held up below it ‘CLOSING SALE’.
Wonyoung wasn’t much of an oldish lover type of person, she loved modernity just as much as she loved her coffee. Which was a lot. The simplicity that has grown along time was something she was glad she had.
But a voice in her head told her to stop. To walk in. It was intriguing, to say the least. And perhaps, she might get more inspiration to immerse herself in her current character’s role due to the story’s time setting.
”Can I go in for a bit? She questioned her manager, smiling when she saw her nod.
Wonyoung pushed the door, the wooden flooring under her creaking the moment she stepped in. A bell rang, notifying a customer’s entrance. The shop was warm, causing Wonyoung to take off her jacket, hanging it by her arm.
Her shoulders jumped when she turned a corner to meet an old woman standing next to a shelf, cleaning it thoroughly with a smile on her face.
“Collections are on the east shelf, dear.”
”Collections?—“
The old woman turned to her, looking at her up and down and studying her face for a second. Wonyoung felt more confused rather than uncomfortable.
”You’re one of those people that loves to collect old things aren’t you? Judging by your dress, of course.”
Right, she was still in her character’s costume.
Wonyoung chuckled in understanding, nodding along. “Oh yeah, I do.”
”Well come on over here,” The old woman said, carefully setting the duster down and moving across the bookshelves — Wonyoung following absent-mindedly as she led her towards an area by a window pane.
”You can look around, buy some if you want it.” She’d then say, lightly patting Wonyoung’s shoulder before leaving her.
Wonyoung smiled kindly, thanking the woman as she left. Her attention turned; a cardboard box was filled with black and white photos, vinyls, and cassette tapes.
Her fingers reached to touch the printed pictures, thumb brushing over lightly — afraid if she held them properly it’d fold and crease.
Some pictures were yellowed, stained with liquid, some had rips and creases, and few were in good condition. Nonetheless, Wonyoung’s curiosity only grew as she looked through them.
Her hand carefully dug through, she wanted to buy something — at least. One or two items would be nice, and perhaps, she could make a gift for Yujin’s upcoming birthday too.
She knew the girl loved vinyl’s and was a sucker for vintage things, so maybe Wonyoung had scored a point. The actress’ hands stopped on a random vinyl, pulling it out to notice it was a Harry James record. She wasn’t too familiar of his music due to their period of time, but she had heard his name once or twice — she was sure it was from some random film. But that was besides the point. She took the record, unbeknownst to herself that a smile suddenly grew on her face.
Wonyoung held the vinyl on her other hand, one that held her jacket. Her free hand still feeling the need to roam around. The actress fixed her gaze on the cardboard box, feeling a leather textured structure underneath.
She carefully pulled it up, It was a bit heavy, but she managed. Then Wonyoung saw it, a leather bound box — beautifully handcrafted with it’s yellow stitchings.
Then again, that voice. She felt like she was hallucinating, as if in some trance. That voice that told her to stop and enter the shop, told her to open the box. It sounded familiar, but so lost, so quiet.
Her slender hands turned it, clicking the latch open. Hesitant filling her to the brim, but her curiosity still grew. With a small breath, the girl flipped it open.
There, sat in the black velvet were two pair of silver bracelets. Wonyoung didn’t know why she felt so star-strucked over the accessory. But as her fingers glide through the chain, the metal having no rust and still shining upon the sunlight that shone, she felt herself shudder even more.
An emotion she couldn’t quite describe hit her. Familiarity? euphoric? It was too hard to pin out, like digging thousands of meters underground with just a pair of hands. It felt out of a reach, something called to her, but it was too distant to get a picture.
She carefully shut the box, locking it’s latch as she took it with her to the counter. The actress smiled at the old lady, pushing the leather box and vinyl forward.
”Ah, you’ve found it?”
”Sorry..?” Wonyoung asked, confused once again.
”It’s a special one, isn’t it?” The old woman said with a grin, “You can pay for the vinyl, the bracelet is free.”
Wonyoung immediately shook her head, reaching in her wallet. “Oh—no, no, it’s fine, you can name the price seriously.”
”I’m only handing it free to you.”
Her eyebrows furrowed, but she shook her head still. “It’s okay, I can pay.”
”I know you can dear, take it as a gift.” The old woman softly spoke, already preparing a bag as she placed the vinyl and leather box in. “The vinyl’s $10.”
Wonyoung bit her lip, unsure. “Really?”
”You’ve read the sign I believe? The vinyl’s originally on $30.”
”Oh.. when are you closing?” She then questioned softly, hoping it wasn’t too sensitive to ask.
”Tomorrow.” The old woman responded, still smiling as she handed Wonyoung the bag of items. “Explains the boxes, right? You’re in luck.”
A look of bittersweet was held in the woman’s eyes, but her whole face remained optimistic. Wonyoung smiled back at her, giving her a folded dollar. “Thank you.”
It was only when the actress left the store, did the old woman realise the folded money was a hundred dollar bill.
[…]
“I’m here! Sorry, the traffic was a bit heavy.” Wonyoung said, speed walking into set. “I’ve ordered some coffee for everyone, by the way, they’re in my van. Take it before it turns cold!”
Yujin laughed, hearing some staffs cheer at the statement. The older turned her feet to face her, handing out the cup of pistachio ice cream over. Wonyoung’s eyes softened at the gesture.
”You bought me pistachio?”
”You’ve poisoned me with it.”
A hearty laugh was let out of her, Wonyoung taking the ice cream cup in hand. Her other one going over to give Yujin a paper bag.
”What’s this?” The older questioned, eyebrows raised in surprise as she sat down on her chair.
”An early gift.”
”Wonyoung.. my birthday’s not in a week. Besides yours is first before mine.” The senior said, thoroughly touched yet guilt suddenly surfaced.
“Well, the gift’s not about me, unnie. And besides, the vintage shop by the block was totally something you’d like. I’d say it’s a jackpot.” She explained, nudging Yujin by her side gently. “Open it.”
Yujin was about to talk once more, yet Wonyoung’s gaze made her completely shut her mouth. She opened up the paper bag, and judging by how her eyes suddenly ‘sparkled’ at the sight of the vinyl, Wonyoung was sure she hit a jackpot.
”No way!”
”Yes way.”
”Wow this is—“ Yujin laughed, grinning ear to ear. “This is crazy. How’d you know I’ve been wanting his vinyl?”
”I didn’t.” The younger said honestly, face replicating Yujin’s with her own grin. “I picked it, it just felt right. I’m glad you like it though.”
”Wonyoung, I love it.” The actress said with zero hesitance. “This is amazing, thank you, seriously.”
She caressed Yujin’s arm. ”It isn’t all. Check inside again.”
”You got me more?—“
”Only one more.”
”Wonyoung—“
”Open it, Yujin.”
The older shook her head, smiling nonetheless as she dug her hand into the paper bag, taking out the leather box. Her face contorted into wonder, excitement, and confusion all at the same time. Her nail flicked the gold latch open, and Yujin’s heart suddenly did the thing where it thumped more faster than necessarily normal.
”Two.. bracelets?” Yujin muttered, her smile lasting on her face as she touched it’s chain. Her eyes filled with nostalgia, somehow. It wasn’t that she disliked it, hell, Yujin was amazed. It was simply pretty. But she couldn’t really imagine wearing both at the same time.
Wonyoung carefully took one, dragging it onto her wrist and clicking it close. The actress then pulled on her senior’s wrist, taking the other bracelet and placing it on her.
”Now we’re matching.” The younger grinned.
And again, her core organ decided to pump more blood than it should.
Yujin couldn’t stop the smile that only grew wider on her face as she looked at Wonyoung and their matching silver bracelets. A crazy thought shot at her head, like a firework ready to spring fire onto the air.
A part of her, desperately—and utterly wished to have the ability to lean closer and bring her into a kiss.
They were friends, possibly close friends, but they were in their own line of work. Wonyoung was her co-star, and as much as how ever many views their drama will get if someone catches them kissing right now, she doesn’t want the younger to fall into the hypnosis of those bright cameras — those annoying clicks.
Yujin had a name in their industry, and right now, so does Wonyoung. In fact, she just made her name. It would be a career suicide to drag her into it.
She wishes she had that ability of selfishness and confidence each of her characters had.
The blood rushed rapidly onto her, hitching her breath and halting her movements. In a desperate attempt of forgetting the humiliation, she engulfed Wonyoung into a hug.
Maybe the younger could feel or see how warm her ears were, but Yujin hoped she was too busy hugging her to realise.
“Oh there you two are, we’re recording the kiss scene in a bit, you should prepare!”
Wonyoung froze in her spot, her hand bringing Yujin away from the warmth they shared. Yujin merely nodded, acting non-chalant while her head felt like spinning on a ferris wheel, only that it’s speed was ten times worse.
“I—“
The senior cleared her throat, taking a few steps behind. “I need to revise my lines.”
”Yeah, so do I.” Wonyoung responded a little too quickly, turning on her heel as she walked away.
[…]
”Sunghoon I can’t do this.”
The manager sighed, shaking his head as he watched Yujin pace back and forth in the trailer, stopping in front of the mirror more than multiple times to fix the badges of her character’s costume. As much as he felt nervous for the talent, it was entertaining.
”Do what you usually do?” He suggested, taking a sip from his cup of coffee. He hummed. “That co-star of yours really know where to buy some good caffeine.”
The actress groaned, “Not the point.”
Yujin’s index finger brushed over her own lips, one that had kissed too many actress and actors the world would kill to. She was practically more than experienced at this, but she was panicking with the level of an undergraduate from an acting major.
”What if she hates soda? I did drank soda minutes ago.”
“Yujin—“
”Or what if she gets disgusted? That’s kind of funny but thinking of it makes my pride hurt.”
”Yujin.” Sunghoon deadpanned this time, causing the girl to drop her head to her hands. “You’ll be fine, I don’t know why you’re overthinking it considering how many times you’ve done this, but you’ll do fine. Did you forget the amount of awards you’ve won from kissing scenes too?”
”It’s Wonyoung, Hoon.”
Gears seemed to shift in his head at that statement. The manager’s lips turned by one corner, clearly a look of teasing unable to be wiped off now. ”Then it’s your chance.”
The actress blinked, turning her face away at the warmth that suddenly jolted through her body, she muttered a stuttered thanks, before leaving and shutting the trailer door a little too loose.
Yujin wished she could splash water on herself, but it would wash away her make up — and the make up artist was definitely going to despise her if she does. Technically it was water proof for the scene that was about to be shot, but Yujin thought so nevertheless.
She walked towards the designated area with heavy steps, one that made her heart heavier every time she walked closer.
But then she met Wonyoung’s eyes as the girl stood by the cameras which were about to roll. The make up artist that fixed her lipstick moved away, her work done. Which left Yujin to walk forward to her own spot.
She couldn’t tell whether their locked eyes calmed her down or sped her heart even more.
“Rain machine’s turning on!” A staff yelled, the older watched as Wonyoung’s shoulder slightly jumped at the contact of the pouring water hitting against them. A smile on her face.
Yujin fixed her gaze on the woman in front of her, ignoring the drops of the rain machine that fell. And then, she heard it.
”Three, two, one.. Action!”
Then, with shaky hands she tried to hide, she pulled Wonyoung close — as if desperate (which she truly was). Her hands placed it self by her back as her lips were magnetically pulled into the younger’s own. The next second they were sealed; and despite their soaked, cold clothes, the warmth that grew was not to be ignored. Wonyoung felt as amazing as she imagined, she tasted as good as she thought. Her thoughts were colliding on her like pieces of dominos, and Yujin couldn’t help but to fall deeper into the tower of stairs she had just tripped on.
Wonyoungs hands cupped her cheek, grazing her jaw with her thumb when Yujin tilted her head to the side. Seeing to be giving a better angle towards the camera, when in reality she was chasing her high in the addiction of her co-star’s lips. Emotions weren’t enough to describe how she felt. Words weren’t enough to describe how filling it was.
The younger parted her lips, reaching for air in the short moment before reconnecting them together, hand pressing against Yujin’s nape. What started from locked lips moving against one turned into opened mouth kisses filled with desire.
Maybe it was the way Yujin caressed Wonyoung’s waist, the way she kissed her like she’s waited over decades, the way her tongue danced with her’s like there was no one else in the world except for them.
Then, the rain started to slow down, and Yujin was reminded of the shooting cameras with them. She gently pulled away, catching her breath through the heat of the moment, watching Wonyoung’s eyes flutter open to look at her. Her chest heaved, and Yujin bit on her impulse thought, dragging her thumb to brush away the water that fell against her lips.
Her head blanked. The scripted lines she memorised merely minutes ago in her trailer going blurry in her mind. So she went off-script, doing the things that first came to mind. She pulled Wonyoung into a hug. Releasing an exhale of breath when the younger tightened her hold against her.
It was only then when the images of those printed papers became not too blurry to think of. With another intake of breath, Yujin spoke it out.
“I missed you.”
The rain machine stopped, and the director’s yell of ‘Cut!’ brought her back to the reality of where they stood.
The two parted away from the hug, watching as the director send a thumbs up. Yujin jumped when she suddenly heard Wonyoung’s squeal.
”God it’s cold!”
She laughed, swollen lips and all. Yujin’s chuckles followed forward, ignoring the fast pace of her heart drumming right through her ears. She helped adjusted the blanket the staff place over Wonyoung’s frame, not realising the one put on her herself.
Unknowingly to her, she wasn’t the only one having an internal panic.
In Wonyoung’s mind, her memory replayed back to a few days ago. In her hotel room, where she was having a conversation with Jiwon. One statement stuck out most.
”You know everyone says she’s a good kisser.”
Ahn Yujin, in fact, is a very good kisser.
To the point where it apparently left to linger on Wonyoung’s lips.
—
Yujin lent her hand to Wonyoung as they went up the stage. Arms interlocking once they’ve reached the center, and alike always, the camera flash shot white glares against their eyes.
The older girl turned her smile, leaning slightly to Wonyoung’s ear to say speak louder to the other actress due to the loud shouts of their names.
”What pose should we do?”
Wonyoung chuckled, looking at Yujin surprised. She didn’t expect for her to ask her in the middle of the photo snapshots. But as Yujin looked at her expectantly with a soft smile on her face, her response was done with her actions.
She offered half of a heart, the older’s gaze understanding as her own laugh shortly escaped her lips. Yujin completed it, posing back towards the cameras.
The flashes grew brighter, both of their eyes unblinking as they kept waving and posing other various options. It was only when the photo time was over, did Yujin realise she had held her breath.
The shudder was nearly silent, but with Wonyoung standing close to her, she was able to hear so. It made her look at Yujin with concerned eyes, the older seemingly oblivious to Wonyoung’s worry was too focused on leading them inside their venue.
It has been a total of six months of shooting, and the drama was about to release in two days. Their schedules were packed, and right now, they were attending an award show together. Together.
See, the awards were coming up one way or another. Due to their drama release date nearing, their companies had decided to have them have the other as their ‘date’ to the award shows to promote their series.
Wonyoung stopped her steps once they were out of the red carpet, causing Yujin to turn, her eyes with questions. The younger placed a hand by her arm, looking at her softly. “Are you okay?”
Yujin’s confidence faltered at that question.
“Of course, why ask?”
“You’re a bit..” She paused, glancing at Yujin’s fidgety hands that were shoved in her fists. “Jittery.. Is everything fine?”
“I’m.. okay.” Yujin said, smiling reassuringly. “Just a bit nervous.”
“Just a bit?” Wonyoung questioned, trying to search for the lie beneath Yujin’s eyes.
The senior hummed, hand placed on her shoulder gently. “Thank you for asking.”
Yujin’s life was a luxury people would die to have. Whether it be the attention, the love, the privileges given like their reserved seats for the award show — fashion show, or whatever invited event that had your own name written on it was something she was heavily grateful for. It could also be the money. The clothes she had were sure on the high-ends of the market. Or maybe having your face printed on ads or billboards across the country is a very honourable mention as well.
She loved her life. Would she trade it? No, not exactly. But does she wish she could remove some aspects of it? Absolutely yes.
Being in the industry for more than 8 years had set her up in a pedestal she never thought she would’ve reached at the age of a teenager. She was only twelve when she made her proper drama debut, she was only 5 when she made her advertisement debut.
But so, so many prices had to be paid for her to stand at where she was.
People must think that when you’ve spent so many years standing and waving in front of cameras you’d only get used to it. Which is partly true, Yujin was able to hold them open for a very long amount of time. But no one spoke about how terrifying it could’ve gotten too.
Just because she was able to stay unfazed doesn’t mean she wasn’t internally affected. She was an actor, wasn’t she? Her job was to act. She is a celebrity, Korea’s infamous Ahn Yujin. Ahn Yujin who had played various roles in various different kind of dramas with different types of acting ranges. It wasn’t a surprise on why she had become a big hit.
With every flash shot at her, every click that sounded from those cameras that had their eyes on her, it was only for so long till she can ignore the growing anxiety she had pushed away deep down.
In all honesty, at some points they felt like ticking time bombs. The only thing that made them worse was that there wasn’t a timestamp of when it would explode, it could seemingly go on for infinity — and Yujin can only stand there trying to prepare herself of when it will explode.
It was moments like these where she couldn’t pin point where she was, who she was — she felt like she was spectating her body as another person entirely. The only thing that somehow managed to ground her back down to her place, identity, and reality was the warm hand that went on top of hers.
The silver chained that wrapped around the wrist grazed her, the cold material of the metal somehow comforting. It was such a contrast, but so many differences could cause her breathe again.
She blinked her eyes, attention falling down to their met hands, their matched silver bracelets that hung on the edge of their lifeline. Yujin didn’t need to look up to see who’s hand it was. But she did anyway because other than wanting to see the gorgeous face, she wanted to embrace the smile given to her.
Her responded smile was weak, but Yujin for once felt safe. Her fingers dragged itself along Wonyoung’s, thumb brushing over delicately as she adjusted their interlocked hold under the table.
The award show went by quick, everything with Wonyoung’s presence passed by quick. In all honesty, Yujin wasn’t really focusing on who won. She clapped, of course, hearing a few familiar names and cheering respectfully when they did their speeches — but other than that, her attention was solely on the girl sitting beside her.
When she laughed, Yujin followed. When she smiled, Yujin did too. Every single bit of Yujin’s expressions were due to the younger actress accompanying her tonight.
She was sure, cameras were on her. They have been ever since they entered in the venue together. Their joint hands, their whispers to each other, their small talk, their jokes.
And for once — again and again — in her whole career, Yujin really doesn’t give an ounce of care.
Her privacy was the smallest thing she could hold on to ever since she had made people laid their eyes on her, ever since she was barely even an adult. It was the tiniest rope she could grasp to that made Yujin have her own space of bubble. A bubble she had guarded only for herself to enter.
But then of course the most gorgeous, kind, loving human being to have ever walked and existed in the entire atomic universe they lived in had to also walk into her life. Not that she was complaining, because really, how could Yujin ever complain about that?
She wasn’t an easy person to fall for someone, Yujin never was. Yet all Wonyoung took was to interact with a fan in some random night in Paris — the night where coincidentally her soon to be co-star was also kicking herself over feeling so lonely, saw her. She saw her smile, laugh, and that was all it took for the woman everyone would die to have as their own trip and fall into the deep kaleidoscopes of her guarded heart.
Jang Wonyoung’s bare existence was the cause of Ahn Yujin’s succumbing to the ineffable symphony of love.
She really wouldn’t mind sharing her minimum space of a bubble with Wonyoung. It proved to be even more true than said when she was sent back to her surroundings. The younger’s name was called up on stage, winning the ‘Best New Actress’ award. She felt herself swell with proud as the name called made her turn, watching the girl look in shock.
”Go get your trophy.” Yujin said, grinning at her.
And so she did. Wonyoung took careful steps with her heels, walking up the stage to retrieve her award with a big smile failing to fall from her face once she got close to the microphone.
“Hi, wow, I didn’t exactly expect this.” Wonyoung started off, showing the trophy and adjusting the mic. “But I’m very honoured that the producers think I deserve to receive this. First of all, I want to thank all the cast and crew of ‘Little Women’. I most likely wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for all of you. I really, really had a fun time on set and during the promotions, and as the drama helped me win this award, I’m very grateful! I also want to thank my family, close friends, and most importantly my fans who have supported me all throughout.”
Yujin watched Wonyoung take an intake of breath, cheers from the crowd only growing larger. “And of course, I’m sure most of you know that a new series that I’ll be starring in will be out by Sunday. It’s called ‘Timeless Us’. Me and Yujin unnie have been working hard during filming, and we hope that the both of you will like it! Catch it on SBS every Sunday and Mondays at 10 PM, Thank you!”
The camera panned on her the moment Wonyoung mentioned her name. Yujin watched her own self on the big screen, a laugh briefly escaping from her. Unlike the previous hours of the night, she didn’t feel too tense anymore. Her growing smug turning into a proud smile instead as she shifted her attention back onto the actress on stage, waving and bowing.
Her eyes caught Wonyoung’s as she went off the stage. She could feel it, the eyes on them like prying birds. The faint and close clicks of cameras as the younger actress made her way back. How they got louder when Yujin stood up and pulled the chair for her, how those clicks yet again start to intensify when the older placed her blazer on Wonyoung’s shoulders — revealing the one sleeve sleek dress she was in fully.
But as she adjusted it against the recently award winning actress, she smiled, all of the sensitive noises triggering her building fear suddenly falling deaf towards her.
In a world where all the eyes were on them, their eyes only lied on the other.
And that was enough.
—
“Wine?”
”Do you have white?”
Wonyoung scoffed, opening her cupboard. “You ask as if that isn’t my favourite.”
Yujin smiled, leaning her head against the edge of the sofa. Adjusting her neck which rested by the pillow. “I thought you were a champagne kind of gal now?”
”I changed my mind.” The actress replied, handing one glass to Yujin before sitting down next to her. Legs going over one another, her gaze following Yujin’s that stared through the tall window panes.
“You know, I’ve always loved your view.”
”Your penthouse view is better than mines, Unnie.”
”Only in certain circumstances.” Yujin joked, taking a sip from her glass.
Wonyoung smiled with a raised eyebrow, ”Says the Best Actress.”
”..Says the Best New Actress.” Yujin followed, eyes dragging itself onto the newly acquired trophy placed on Wonyoung’s coffee table.
“Are you teasing me?”
The older clicked her tongue, tilting her head. “Not sure. Take a guess.”
Wonyoung rolled her eyes playfully, clinking her glass with Yujin’s in an immediate attempt to shut her up. “You are so close from losing the privilege to enter my house.”
“Totally.” Yujin laughed, watching Wonyoung point her gaze a bit harshly on her. Her chuckles died down, and in the younger’s expression remained a faint smile.
She watched Wonyoung sip her wine, attention turned onto the city lights glowing through the window. Her hand on impulse reached to toy with her hair. Fingers running through Wonyoung’s locks softly, admiring her side profile.
”What?” The actress then asked, pushing away the tone of nervousness from her voice.
”When I first saw you, I thought I felt like I knew you before.” Yujin admitted out of nowhere, still brushing ever so gently. “And I didn’t mean when we bumped in the hallways during that one event.”
“..You don’t?” Wonyoung asked genuinely, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as to what she meant.
“Paris.” Yujin said simply.
Wonyoung’s eyes widened, a mix of surprised and unsureness. “Paris?”
”I saw you that night. For the first time ever, well maybe other than that one time I searched you up in my laptop.” The older admitted, the last part being quieter.
”You.. searched me up?”
”You didn’t?”
”Everyone in the industry knows you.”
The senior swirled her wine across the glass, eyebrows raising momentarily as she dropped her shoulders. “You missed the point..”
Wonyoung chuckled breathily, the characteristic laugh she’d have that as usual — would send Yujin’s heart beating faster than it should. “When? And where? I don’t remember seeing you?”
”I don’t know the exact location.” Yujin replied honestly, the french language jumbled up in her mind. “But I was out for some air, late night. Past midnight, probably, switching from country to country messed up my sense of acknowledgment to time. I saw you by your car, you were signing an autograph to someone. And I don’t know.. it felt like someone hit a bell inside my head. Like you’re part of a memory I can’t recall.”
Wonyoung pulled the glass away from her face, head tilting slightly as she continued to let Yujin play with her hair.
Her eyebrows were stitched forward, in thought, Yujin can exactly picture her expression as the girl was trying to remember despite the room’s minimum lighting. It was a habit she had grown to learn overtime. It was what Wonyoung did when she was lost in thought, or again, recalling her remembrance. Thank that to Yujin’s multiple visits to her trailer when they were shooting, a lot of times catching Wonyoung revising her lines.
Then her eyebrows relaxed, a smile grew on her lips, and her eyes were kind of in disbelief. “You were there that night?”
”Mhm.” Yujin hummed, dragging the last syllable as her lips momentarily turned into a line. Her dimples forming at the movement.
“Then you—why didn’t you say hi?” The younger then questioned, amused.
Yujin felt her throat stuck, finding it a bit hard to stay truthful to answer the thrown question. She glanced at Wonyoung, drawing her hand back hesitantly. Her touch ghosting over as the edge of her fingers brushed against Wonyoung’s shoulders.
She opened her mouth, only to close it back again when she took a drink from her glass, downing the rest of the alcohol — the heat radiating though her throat and down to her chest.
”I guess..” She started off, feeling the littlest bit fuzzy. She turned her eyes back onto the actress, her face clear to tell that she was waiting on an answer. “My head couldn’t wrap around how better you looked there than those grainy pixels of my electronic device.”
“Not that — I don’t mean you look bad in pictures. But your.. whole.. self? Just, somehow, your entire presence took my breath away.”
It felt like a confession.
And maybe, just maybe, it was intended to be.
Wonyoung’s response however, was something Yujin didn’t expected.
”Is this at least one of the reasons you kept messing up our last kissing scene?”
She couldn’t even process the statement, face immediately growing hot. It was true. They took more or less twenty takes due to Yujin’s purposeful mistakes. And with every near diminishing atom of confidence she has left in her body, Yujin took in a breath.
”You act as if you didn’t enjoy it.”
She saw how Wonyoung’s eyes faltered for a few seconds, turning her attention towards the city lights that shone against their faces.
”..I never said I didn’t.”
Yujin swore she had lost her ability to breathe.
”You knew?”
“That I enjoyed it? Or you doing your mistakes on purpose?” Wonyoung responded back, biting her inner cheek before taking a sip from her glass. “What would you.. do If I say both?”
”They weren’t on purp—“
”Unnie, shut up.”
Why did Yujin even try to deny when she admitted it merely moments ago? She threw the option of denial away this time, her head fumbling and tripping on every step she wanted to take to answer. Nonetheless, she still didn’t move her gaze away. “There’s one selfish option.”
And then Wonyoung scooted closer, hand bringing itself to place the glass of wine by the table in front of them.
“Tell me about it?” She tried to offer, every second spent the space between them became smaller.
“It’s—” Yujin felt her breath shaky, begging her eyes to not drift down towards the plump lips that were so inviting to her. The pair of lips she had kissed so many times, all for acting purposes. “It’s something we shouldn’t be doing.”
Wonyoung, although seemingly as equally tense as she was, had a spark of ambition burning in her.
”There’s no cameras.”
No cameras.
No director.
No crew.
No staffs.
It was just the two of them.
They weren’t their characters, they weren’t wearing old time-y costumes, they weren’t in the made up set in Manhattan. They were Yujin and Wonyoung, they were in cozy casual clothes, and they were in Wonyoung’s condo in Seoul.
”If you want me to be honest,” The younger started, barely above a whisper. “I feel like I’ve known you too, and it’s not just from those ads and commercials—or series I’ve seen you in throughout my childhood and young teenage years.”
Wonyoung wasn’t finished speaking. “I don’t know what it is about you either, you’re still a mystery I desperately want to solve but at the same time want to let be for the thrill of it all. You make me feel so light, so easy-going, it’s like you’ve known me for ages and know just the exact things I like and don’t even from when we’ve first met.”
“Are you saying we’ve met each other before in our previous lives or something?” Yujin tried to joke, hoping to calm her heart down.
”Maybe. Do you believe some of those things?” Wonyoung somehow asked, actually giving a serious respond.
Yujin doesn’t believe those kinds of things.
It was made up. The concept of reincarnation, what not, brought up to be romanticised in countless of movies and films. The general concept of time isn’t hard to understand when you’ve got many people leaving pieces of history each day, maybe that’s how it managed to convince some others.
It isn’t that Yujin doesn’t like imagining, she just can’t understand on why it would work and how it could. It sounded draining. Getting more chances at life when you’ve already passed sounded like receiving a cheat code at some video game. Call her a realist, what not, that was how Yujin thought on most things.
May it be love at first sight, or ideally just fantastical novel-ish things as a whole. The actress wasn’t a big fan of so when half her life is already all about pretending. Hell, Yujin was always on the other end of confessing; the receiver. Her previous co-stars, some had done so. It wasn’t exactly taboo, but to her, it felt a bit unprofessional even though feelings or emotions in general isn’t something a person can control.
The version of her months ago or specifically half a year prior would laugh at her now. Both of irony and of disbelief. Falling for your co-star? Hilarious. That was what Ahn Yujin would’ve said.
But right now, she damn sure knew she had just eaten her own words. Because with Wonyoung, suddenly everything felt possible.
”I don’t.” She replied honestly, licking her lips before speaking again after her short pause. “But I think with you I will.”
With Jang Wonyoung, she could believe.
Wonyoung scrunched her face, head still not drifting away from their close proximity. Silence filled the room, the faint sounds of their breathing, silent heartbeats, and the AC was all to be heard.
”I’m starting to get you and your obsession with vinyl records. Do you mind accompanying me getting one some time soon?” The younger actress asked amidst the tension, as always acting nonchalant.
Yujin sighed, ”The media..”
”Let them see us.” Wonyoung cut off.
”Wonyoung.” Yujin muttered sternly. “I don’t wanna drag you further into that side of our world.”
An eyebrow rose. “What side?”
”The paparazzi’s, the prying eyes, feeling like everybody’s watching you all the time, the stalkers..” There was a lot to list, and Yujin would’ve gone on if she didn’t felt her head heavy.
“I know what I got myself into when I signed the contract.”
”That’s what I thought so as well.”
”Yujin I signed at 19, with a good Lawyer, too.”
”I didn’t only mean the company—“ She tried to stay firm, unable to meet her eyes again when she saw Wonyoung staring deep straight into her eyes.
“I signed at 19 with a good lawyer.” The younger repeated.
”Still!” Yujin tried to fight back. “Every single bone in my body shakes even when I’m just thinking of the experiences that you could go through just by being good at your job, do you know that?”
“I’m worried. And I don’t want you to quit, obviously not, but I’m terrified for you.” She continued. “I really don’t want to lose you.”
Her hand reached to cup one side of Yujin’s face, caressing her cheek gently. Wonyoung’s gaze slowly drifted back and forth from her eyes onto her lips. It was all so hypnotising.
”You won’t lose me.” Her breath tickled against Yujin’s face, she could practically feel every syllable spoken by her.
“How.. How do I know for sure?”
Wonyoung’s hand was warmer than the engulfing heat alcohol had wrapped her with moments before.
”You just have to trust me.” Wonyoung muttered simply, fluttering her eyes close and locking their lips together.
And it was done, the concealment, the final draw for Yujin’s desperate grab to hold back. It was gone. All the thoughts of her selfish desire pushed away, what was left was the full filling emotion of euphoria. Waves of worry all retracted the moment the younger’s soft lips were on her. Satisfaction wasn’t enough to describe it.
She could feel how Wonyoung’s hands moved down to her nape, fingers brushing against her hair, sending goosebumps all over her body. Yujin, still on the weight of processing every single train of thought that had been dumped into her, with shaky hands brought itself to hold the other actress by her waist.
It was familiar one way or another. So many times they have done this during shooting, the connection of their lips, the wandering hands. But this, in a way, felt different. Different because it was them as their own selves. Just them sealing their lips to move against each other with no director to stop them.
Wonyoung’s arms fell against her shoulder, an automatic response coming from Yujin to help her prop herself up onto her lap. The younger’s hand slightly tugged on Yujin’s hair, turning her face upwards as her muffled groan sent vibrations all along their bodies.
They felt their chest tightening, The older forcefully pulling away to get a small gasp of air. Her nose brushed against Wonyoung’s lightly, half lidded eyes opening to look at her — shoulders steadily rising up and down as she caught her breath.
“Wonyoung..”
The younger didn’t respond, merely pulling Yujin in for a lazy and slightly sloppy kiss. She couldn’t exactly complain for the cut off. Wonyoung then parted away, still all the while her gaze drifting down towards Yujin’s lips.
“What?” She’d then say in between her breaths.
Yujin looked as if nearly hypnotised. “We shouldn’t.”
It was an offer given. Although sounding like a statement, whatever the younger’s response will lead them to where they’re gonna stand. It was an option, an option spoken through her tone of voice. It was Wonyoung’s last choice to back out of whatever deal they’re gonna drop themselves into.
Because Yujin knows, if she didn’t spoke any of this, she would’ve already lost control.
”What makes you say that?” Wonyoung experimentally asked, hands softly cradling Yujin’s head.
“What do you want from this? Be honest with me.” The older asked back, eyes never leaving her. She studied Wonyoung’s face, how her expressions worked, where her moles were placed even though she had memorised it completely by now, how strands of her bangs brushed by her eyebrows.
Wonyoung’s face didn’t falter, she merely took a breath. The younger leaned back in, till the tip of their noses were brushing. Till her lips were ghosting over Yujin’s.
”Us. I’ve waited too long to hold myself from you, Yujin.”
—
Manhattan was as still as ever. As busy as it usually would get on a daily basis. A blossoming silence was unusual to be experienced in the city that never sleeps.
1945 was a year of bloodshed. People live in fear as to the ongoing and unstopping war that had been shared for the past years.
Ahn Yujin spared her cup of coffee once last glance. She adjusted the tie of her military formal wear before turning her head to see the boy wearing similar attire to her.
”Finish your coffee.” Sunghoon spoke, eyes never leaving the journal he was writing in with his annoying fancy fountain pen. “Sergeant Park will be back in half an hour.”
She rolled her eyes. “What’s to observe about in Manhattan anyways?”
”Yujin, the mission.” He simply reminded, sighing. “I’m also irritated that we have to sit back, be the red herring and just let our other accomplices do the infiltration, but what other time will we have the time to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee in some random café in New York?”
”Very well.” She said defeated, “I suppose you’re right. Remind me what store was said to have the hidden lab the enemies have under?”
”John’s Pizza.” The boy replied.
She scoffed, “Of course it’s a pizzeria.”
Sunghoon didn’t respond, merely glancing at her with a look that clearly stated he agreed with her opinion. Yujin held back her nod of irritation, changing her attention towards the streets instead.
And that was when she caught it, a newly opened collection thrift shop from across the road. Her eyebrows rose in curiosity.
”I want to check something out, give me a few?”
”Don’t take too long.”
Yujin grinned, finding herself to walk out of the café and onto the slightly crowded street. Walking across the zebra cross and reaching the sidewalks — a smile somehow was immediately placed on her face as she looked at the shop.
So, she pushed the door open, the bell ringing atop of her notifying her entrance. She hummed in the warmth scent of wood and paper, it was oddly comforting.
Her eyes landed upon the wooden bookshelves, filled neatly with the leather bounds of knowledge. Then to the antique collections, some things she recognised from childhood memory.
The room slightly echoed with every step she took from her boots, hands placed into her pockets. Yujin turned her attention onto the cashier, surprised to see a little girl standing there eating a lollipop.
The girl, just like Yujin, seemed surprised at her presence as well. Nervously glancing around despite the friendly smile that was plastered on the soldier.
”Hi.. does your parents own this shop?“ Yujin gently asked, leaning forward to match her height with the kid.
The girl nodded, finding confidence in herself to respond back. “But my father went out just before to get me more candy.”
”Do.. you.. uhm,” The girl said, unsure what to say after her short explanation — seemingly digging inside her mind for memory. “Oh, do you need help with anything?”
Yujin’s smile went wider, chuckling under her breath at how adorable the girl was. Her eyes slightly wandered around the shop momentarily, before landing on a leather box that showcased two pair of silver bracelets that sat by a shelf.
The soldier took it carefully, eyeing the item with a satisfied look before turning back and showing it towards the child. “How much would this be?”
The kid walked forward, glancing at the price tag that was attached. “$35 miss.”
”Well, I’ll take it then.” She responded, digging into one of her pockets to find her wallet, fingers gliding through to take the bills out.
The girl looked at her slightly confused, “But theres two? Why would you want to buy this one? Are you gonna wear both?”
Yujin laughed heartily, gently pinching the child’s cheek at the adorably directed question. “I have someone in mind to give the other to.”
”Ah!” The child then said in notice, a smile of her owns flashing across her face, “Your lover?”
Oh how she can’t wait to tell Wonyoung about this story.
Yujin could only hum in response, handing the money over with a growing big smile on her face.
“Correct. My lover.”
Finished.