TBM Vol 1 Part 6

In the quiet filming set, a large camera zoomed in, capturing close-up shots of Il-seo and Seung-yeon, their bodies entwined. Kyung-hyun swallowed hard for no apparent reason. From the beginning of the rehearsal, he could sense that the atmosphere was entirely different from the last shoot. The kiss scene, previously delayed due to Il-seo, progressed smoothly without a single NG (no good take).

“Cut. Okay.”

Director Chae Geum-soo called an end to the scene with keen focus and an engrossed tone. Slowly, the two actors separated. Kyung-hyun released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, feeling like he had been acting alongside them. He wanted to rush over to Il-seo and commend him for doing so well, but Director Chae, still deeply immersed in his work, pressed on without a pause. Even from a distance, Kyung-hyun could see that Il-seo’s lips were more swollen than usual.

“Let’s shoot one more long take. This will be the last one.”

The crew and cameras bustled about, following the director’s commands. Unlike the previous filming, which had dragged on due to multiple retakes, that day’s session was extended because they were capturing various angles and details. Il-seo, secretly relieved by the repeated “OK” signs, was visibly more at ease.

“Okay, cut. Moving on to the next scene.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“We’ll take a short break.”

The set, previously filled with apprehensive silence, buzzed to life during the break. Il-seo let out a quiet sigh of relief as the tension melted away. His lips quivered into a mild smile. On account of not having eaten, his stomach rumbled, and his hands were cold from the pressure.

Seung-yeon, observing Il-seo, noticed the subtle signs of nervousness, despite Il-seo not having blatantly shown it. Just as Seung-yeon was about to compliment him, Director Chae gestured for Il-seo to come over.

“Il-seo, come here.”

Even after the cut, Il-seo stood there, panting slightly, before he hurried over to the director. Seung-yeon watched Il-seo’s retreating figure while sipping the drink his manager handed him.

“Why were you so shaky last time if you knew how to do this?”

“I’m sorry,” Il-seo replied.

“This is what I was looking for!”

Director Chae’s face lit up with elated satisfaction as he pointed to the screen, offering feedback. Il-seo nodded earnestly, his expression exuding seriousness. Occasionally, he would laugh awkwardly, rubbing his nape in bashfulness at the praise. Seung-yeon, stretched his neck while emitting a small, satisfied sound in approval.

“Seung-yeon!”

Director Chae beckoned him over as well, and Il-seo’s gaze followed suit. As Seung-yeon approached, the director gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder.

“You taught Il-seo right? You did a great job.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

It seemed Il-seo had already informed the director about the practice sessions for the kiss scene. Director Chae crossed his arms and gave Seung-yeon a teasing look.

“You didn’t seem too happy when I asked you to help.”

“…”

“I expected you to leave it to Mr. Park. What changed your mind?”

Seung-yeon laughed off the comment as he noticed Il-seo’s face abruptly stiffening. Despite Il-seo’s countenance belying embarrassment, Seung-yeon’s frivolous laughter seemed to lighten the mood, and Il-seo smiled awkwardly in response.

Director Chae, clearly pleased with the kiss scene, reviewed the footage a few times before suggesting, seemingly out of nowhere, “How about we shoot the bed scene next? Let’s keep this energy flowing.”

At the mention of this, Il-seo looked askance at Seung-yeon, uncertain if he should speak up first.

“I’m fine with that,” Seung-yeon agreed with a nod. The bed scene was scheduled soon anyway, so changing the order wasn’t a big issue. With all the physical exposure involved, Seung-yeon had purposefully been maintaining his body for these scenes. Getting the more demanding scene over with as soon as possible would be better.

The real concern was Il-seo. While he had become more comfortable with the kiss scene through practice, the bed scene would be more intimate and require a good amount of physicality. Teaching him again seemed like a hassle. Just as Seung-yeon’s thoughts wandered, a small voice from beside him suddenly uttered, “I can do it.”

Surprised by this boldness, Seung-yeon glanced at Il-seo. Perhaps the successful kiss scene had given him some confidence. While stifling a chuckle, Seung-yeon languidly smiled.

“That’s good.”

“Thank you for your flexibility,” Director Chae said. “Let’s take a short break and then start preparing.”

Il-seo bowed and hurried over to his manager. Seung-yeon watched him go, and his thoughts drifted to the footage they had reviewed earlier. The scenes they had practiced, including the kiss scene from earlier that day, replayed in his mind. A scent lingered in his memory—was it body lotion or perfume? Seung-yeon’s fingers lightly brushed his lower lip as he turned his thoughts away.

He chatted with a fellow actor for a bit before deciding to retreat to his van to rest. With the bed scene approaching, conserving his energy seemed like the wisest course of action.

“Hwan-ah, give me the keys.”

“Heading to the van? Should I join you?”

“No, just bring me some coffee after the shoot.”

“Sure, hyung. Rest well.”

Seung-yeon took the keys and headed to the parking lot, opening the van and settling into the back seat. He put on his earphones, letting a familiar song play from his phone. The low-quality recording always brought him a sense of calm. Leaning back, he tried to clear his mind, but thoughts of the kiss scene kept creeping in.

The shoot had gone more smoothly than he’d expected, and he found himself reflecting on how far Il-seo had come. He remembered the awkwardness of the last time, how much they had struggled. Now, it felt like they had crossed a bridge.

Knock, knock.

Just as Seung-yeon was about to lose himself in introspection, a knock on the window startled him. He didn’t bother opening his eyes at first, assuming it was just someone who was being polite.

Knock, knock.

He opened one eye slightly and peered through the tinted window. Although it was hard to see inside, he recognized the persistent figure outside: Il-seo. What was he doing here? Seung-yeon curiously observed him for a moment. Just as Il-seo raised his hand to knock again, he seemed to lose confidence and dropped it. He moistened his lips, turned around, and began walking away, his expression resigned.

Seung-yeon rolled down the window.

“Mr. Lee Il-seo.”

Startled, Il-seo stopped and turned back towards the van. He hurried over, his eyebrows raised in surprise as he saw Seung-yeon’s face through the open window. His lips, still slightly swollen from earlier, parted as he spoke.

“You’re not sleeping?”

Seung-yeon hadn’t heard him and was lost in the music that was playing through his earphones. Seeing his lips move, he pulled out an earphone.

“Sorry, what did you say?”

“I asked if you weren’t asleep… When I knocked, there was no response.”

“Oh.” Seung-yeon removed both his earphones and smiled.

“I woke up because of the knocking.”

Il-seo’s eyes widened, and he quickly bowed his head, muttering an apology. His flustered expression amused Seung-yeon, especially the way his Adam’s apple bobbed when he tried to swallow his nerves. He glanced at his pale neck, before returning his gaze to his eyes.

“So, what’s up?” he asked.

Il-seo rubbed at his eyes, where vague signs of fatigue were visible. From his pocket, he pulled out a small black box and hesitated before offering it through the window.

“What’s this?” Seung-yeon asked, not taking it.

“It’s homemade raw chocolate. Tangerine-flavored.”

“Have you been to Jeju Island?”

“No,” Il-seo replied, shaking his head with a sheepish smile. His wide eyes crinkled slightly in the rare late-summer breeze that tousled his hair.

“So, why are you giving this to me?” Seung-yeon asked.

For a moment, Il-seo looked at a loss for words, but he took a step closer and said in a more serious tone, “I know it wasn’t easy for you to make time for me, and I just wanted to say thanks. You helped me a lot today.”

Seung-yeon blinked, surprised by the earnestness in Il-seo’s voice. It seemed he had been feeling guilty about Director Chae’s earlier comments. He listened silently, with his wandering thoughts.

“Because of you, I was able to get through the scenes.”

Seung-yeon’s mind flashed to an elementary school presentation. Il-seo’s slow, deliberate words had a similar essence. Seung-yeon wasn’t even sure what he had done to help, but Il-seo seemed so sincere in his gratitude that he couldn’t interrupt.

“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do,” Seung-yeon finally said, his tone being casual but firm.

Il-seo, with his usual blank expression, waited for him to continue.

“It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t particularly hard, either.”

“… Oh.”

“Of course, it was annoying when Director Chae told me to take care of you.”

“…”

“But in the end, it worked out for both of us.”

“Worked out…”

Seung-yeon tapped the window with his finger, stirring Il-seo from his half-asleep state, who had been echoing his responses. His copper-coloured eyes, a slightly fairer hue than his hair, fluttered open after a brief pause.

“I told you, I’m fine with the results.”

Il-seo offered a faint smile. The slight curve of his lips reassured Seung-yeon that he had lightened the weight on his shoulders, even if just a little. Taking this as a cue, Il-seo gently pushed a small box through the window.

“It’s a small gift, just a token of my gratitude. My favorite chocolate — it’s sugar-free, so you can have it.”

Seung-yeon accepted the box he held out, and memories of Il-seo persistently offering him caramel on set last time came flooding back. With his hands now free, Il-seo gave a slight bow, his expression visibly more relaxed.

“Shooting is about to start soon. Sorry for interrupting. I’ll be off now.”

Seung-yeon watched Il-seo bowing with an almost timorous air. Something felt unfinished as if a thread had been left untied. Was this all? No mention of additional practice or further preparation?

The next shoot involved a bed scene, far more intimate than a simple kiss, which gave more exposure to touch. Il-seo hurried away without a single word about running through the scene beforehand. “I guess I’ll be teaching you again,” Seung-yeon muttered cynically to himself as he rolled up the window. The tangerine-flavoured chocolate — a strange, unfamiliar snack-spilled onto the seat beside him. Sugar-free or not, he would not be eating it.

Seung-yeon arrived at the filming location on time, but there was still no sign of Il-seo. Before filming bed scenes, actors underwent a process called ‘construction’ which involved preliminary taping to ensure nothing inappropriate was exposed. Seung-yeon finished it on his own while Il-seo, having learned the process from the assistant director, attempted to do it himself. Since it was his first time, it took him longer than expected.

Not bothering with a jacket, only clad in a shirt and pants, Seung-yeon made his way to the second floor first. The nightclub set took up the lower floor, while the floor above was a small room where Haru ate and slept.

This scene was pivotal. It was Haru and Jang Tae-hyun’s first encounter. Tae-hyun, still grappling with his emotions, could only express himself by exerting physical control. Haru, on the other hand, was an insignificant human, a mere one-night stand in Tae-hyun’s eyes. The emotional intensity required from both actors made this scene particularly challenging for Il-seo, who was already on edge about intimate moments on screen. Suppressing a laugh at the thought, he flipped through the script, making sure he had the blocking down.

Il-seo finally arrived, cheeks flushed with a pink hue. As soon as Seung-yeon noticed the strange shift in him, he overheard the assistant director sharing a hearty laugh with Director Chae.

“No, I ended up seeing something that Jang Tae-hyun should’ve seen first.”

Director Chae cackled before turning to Il-seo.

“The assistant director helped with the construction?”

“Uh… yes,” Il-seo mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

“That happens at first. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. It’s not your body anymore. It’s ours,” Director Chae joked, laughing heartily. Il-seo awkwardly pressed his palm to his forehead and vowed to do better next time.

Seung-yeon grimaced involuntarily. He sure had a lot of work cut out for him.

Now it was time for rehearsal. Following Director Chae’s instructions, Il-seo and he took their positions.

“When you light a cigarette, Jang Tae-hyun storms in through the door,” Director Chae began.

Il-seo exhaled smoke slowly, capturing Haru’s detached aura, and Director Chae muttered to himself, impressed.

“Now hold Haru’s gaze — and Tae-hyun, you need to grab him hard.”

Seung-yeon’s hand found its way to Haru’s nape. Since this was just rehearsal, he kept his grip light, but when he lifted Il-seo, it was easier than expected, almost as if I were carrying a feather. His brow furrowed in confusion — he was much lighter than Seung-yeon anticipated. Quickly dismissing the thought, he dropped him onto the bed as directed, still perplexed at how effortlessly the motions happened.

“Get on top, lift his nape, and kiss him. Haru, loosen up.”

With Jang Tae-hyun’s fiery stare and Haru’s blank expression entangled, their lips drew closer, mere inches apart. He adjusted the angle, mimicking a kiss as instructed, even though the scene called for a quick, forceful one.

“Haru takes off his shirt, and Tae-hyun follows,” Director Chae directed.

Il-seo mimed removing his shirt and started to undo Seung-yeon’s when Director Chae raised a hand.

“Haru, be a little more hurried. Seeing Tae-hyun’s face should make you feel a bit more frantic. You’re too relaxed.”

“Got it,” Il-seo responded with a small smile, his movements quickening just slightly as he pretended to unbutton Seung-yeon’s shirt.

His gaze lingered on Il-seo’s lips. He was smiling. ‘You have time to smile?’ Seung-yeon thought about it and his lips hardened in irritation. As he leaned closer, his lips brushed Il-seo’s earlobe by accident. Il-seo’s body stiffened, and a smug sense of satisfaction washed over him at Il-seo’s discomfort.

Despite his initial flinch, Il-seo quickly composed himself, his expression conscientious and focused once more. Director Chae continued explaining, meticulously guiding them through each movement, including how their bodies should align. Seung-yeon had to hold onto the back of Il-seo’s knees for a long time. Surprisingly, despite being bent awkwardly, Il-seo’s expression remained calm, betraying Seung-yeon’s expectations and showing no discomfort.

“It’s just like an action scene — the synergy is everything. When Tae-hyun initiates, Haru has to feel it immediately.”

“Understood,” they both replied.

“Haru is especially honest in his pleasure, caught in a manic cycle of chasing addictive sensations. Tae-hyun, move as if you’re really doing it. Haru, judge the timing based on Tae-hyun’s expression and movement.”

He stared down at Il-seo, and he gazed up at him. As Seung-yeon moved his hips, Il-seo’s head arched back gracefully, his slender neck exposed. For a split second, Seung-yeon hesitated, as his lips were tightening. Director Chae’s enthusiastic cheer jolted him back to reality. “Yes, that’s it! Let’s start shooting.”