TBM Vol 2 Part 20

Despite filming the scene two more times at Director Chae Geum-soo’s request, the result was the same. With each repetition, Bae Tak-soo became less focused. He couldn’t cry, and he began fumbling his lines. Finally, with a heavy sigh, Director Chae Geum-soo called a temporary halt.

“We’ll take a short break.”

The director approached Bae Tak-soo and suggested using artificial tears if needed, but Tak-soo, hands on hips and clearly agitated, shook his head in refusal. Meanwhile, as  Lee Il-seo was leaving the set in his short-sleeved shirt and shorts, Choi Kyung-hyun approached and draped a thick blanket over his shoulders.

“Cold?”

“Yes, the wind is chilly.”

Just as Lee Il-seo was walking alongside Choi Kyung-hyun and slightly sniffled, Bae Tak-soo, who was about to sit in his waiting chair, frowned and turned his head.

“Hey, what’s that?”

Lee Il-seo stopped walking when he heard the voice behind him, and froze when he saw Bae Tak-soo standing askew, glaring at him with reddened eyes.

“Are you saying that for me to hear?”

His voice was loud enough that all the staff, and even Sa Seung-yeon, who was preparing for his shot, turned to look at Bae Tak-soo. His face flushed as he began to berate Lee Il-seo.

“You’re cold? Fuck, am I hot then?”

Lee Il-seo was so taken aback that he didn’t even realize Bae Tak-soo was addressing him. He quickly bowed his head and then raised it, hastily apologizing.

“I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant…”

“What do you mean it’s not!”

“That’s not it, my clothes are thin…”

“This fucking… Talking back till the end.”

But Bae Tak-soo cut him off and shouted, striding toward Lee Il-seo before striking the side of his head hard with his palm. With a thud, Lee Il-seo’s head jerked sideways.

“…”

The incident happened so quickly that no one had time to intervene. A momentary silence fell over the set, followed by small murmurs that began with someone’s shocked intake of breath. Choi Kyung-hyun, his face pale, urgently checked on Lee Il-seo, who had his head bowed, while Director Chae Geum-soo also jumped to his feet.

And Sa Seung-yeon, who had been watching the entire situation, approached  Lee Il-seo.

“Are you okay?”

Brought back to reality by Sa Seung-yeon’s cavernous voice, Lee Il-seo blinked with his mouth slightly open, he nodded slowly.

Director Chae Geum-soo rushed to Bae Tak-soo’s side and grabbed his arm to restrain him, but Bae Tak-soo, his pride thoroughly wounded, couldn’t control his emotions and continued yelling loudly.

“This bastard kept messing up, so I can’t cry, I can’t!”

“Bae Tak-soo hyung-nim, that doesn’t give you the right to hit him.”

“What, ‘cold’? Is that, fuck, what you should be saying now? Is there anyone here who isn’t cold?”

Realizing Director Chae Geum-soo was restraining him, Tak-soo struggled as if he would pounce on Lee Il-seo at any moment. Until now, Tak-soo hadn’t caused major disturbances on set. But that was only because most of the cast in ‘Temperature of Overflow’, except for Lee Il-seo, were veteran actors, which, conversely, meant that Lee Il-seo was the only one against whom he didn’t need to hide his true nature.

“Fuck, let me go!”

He kept cursing, projecting blame onto Lee Il-seo for his inability to deliver. He accused the younger actor of being half-hearted, of using the cold as an excuse to look down on a senior. And then his words crossed a line.

“Clearly your mother didn’t raise you right. Is that how she taught you to behave?”

Choi Kyung-hyun, who had been checking whether Lee Il-seo’s face was injured, noticed that Lee Il-seo’s shoulders began trembling uncontrollably after Bae Tak-soo mentioned his family. Choi Kyung-hyun’s restraint shattered. He turned toward Tak-soo and raised his voice sharply.

“Watch your language! There are people watching!”

At that moment, Sa Seung-yeon, who had closed his eyes tightly in frustration before opening them again, spoke to Choi Kyung-hyun in a fierce voice.

“What are you doing? As a manager, you’re letting him hear all this nonsense? Instead of fighting, you should take him away.”

“Ah, r-right. Let’s go, Lee Il-seo.”

Choi Kyung-hyun, belatedly coming to his senses, put his arm around Lee Il-seo’s shoulders and left, while Sa Seung-yeon strode toward Bae Tak-soo. As Bae Tak-soo shifted his body as if to follow Lee Il-seo, Sa Seung-yeon grabbed his shoulder with one hand.

“Sunbaenim, stay put.”

“That bastard… Even his manager’s disrespectful.”

“I say stay put.”

Sa Seung-yeon’s grip tightened. His voice dropped, deep and sharp. Bae Tak-soo’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. He contorted his brow and asked:

“You… Did you just release pheromones on me?”

“I wouldn’t dare do that to a sunbae.”

“…”

“Are you going to film or not?”

As Sa Seung-yeon looked down at Bae Tak-soo and asked quietly, Director Chae Geum-soo’s eyes twitched. He was startled by the heavy pheromones emanating from around them and bit his lip, seeing Sa Seung-yeon’s pitch-black, sunken gaze. Though he had known him for over five years, it was the first time he had seen such a deranged expression on his face on set.

From afar, Hwan, Sa Seung-yeon’s manager, who had been nervously biting his nails, sensed something was wrong and rushed over.

“Hyung…! Everyone is watching.”

But Sa Seung-yeon didn’t relent. His pheromones hung thick in the air, constricting everyone’s breath. Normally cheerful and easygoing, Sa Seung-yeon was seen by some as insincere—a favorite of seniors and admired by juniors. But Director Chae Geum-soo had always thought otherwise. Even if it was a persona, maintaining it consistently was its own kind of talent. That alone proved Sa Seung-yeon had the temperament of a true entertainer.

Director Chae Geum-soo knew that today’s incident was entirely Bae Tak-soo’s fault. Lee Il-seo’s acting was impeccable, and the inability to cry was purely due to Bae Tak-soo’s lack of immersion and acting skills.

But taking Lee Il-seo’s side now and pressuring Bae Tak-soo would only worsen the situation. Director Chae Geum-soo had intended to console Tak-soo and check on Il-seo later, but he was taken aback by Sa Seung-yeon’s unexpected behavior.

‘Why is he making such a fuss when he’s not the one who got hit?’

Director Chae Geum-soo wasn’t sure whether he should placate Bae Tak-soo or Sa Seung-yeon first, but he decided to start by restraining Sa Seung-yeon, who was his junior.

“Sa Seung-yeon. No matter what, pheromones are…”

Only then did Sa Seung-yeon remove his hand from Bae Tak-soo’s shoulder and smile faintly.

“I’m sorry, it’s hard to control because of the cold.”

At Sa Seung-yeon’s response, which seemed to be defending Lee Il-seo, Bae Tak-soo trembled with anger. Sa Seung-yeon rolled his eyes to look at Bae Tak-soo.

“Are you going to keep standing?”

“What?”

“I asked if you’re going to film or not.”

Unlike before, the end of his sentence was polite, but his voice still carried a fierce tone. At the cold voice devoid of any courtesy, Bae Tak-soo bit back a curse and thrust his chest toward Sa Seung-yeon.

“No, I can’t. What are you going to do about it?”

“Then quit.”

Laughing mockingly, Sa Seung-yeon immediately turned to Director Chae Geum-soo.

“Director, let’s just say I killed the traitor bastard and end it.”

At his unrefined word choice, Director Chae Geum-soo rubbed his face and shouted abruptly.

“Sa Seung-yeon, that’s enough! Dammit!”

“He says he can’t do it, what do you want me to do—quit instead?..”

“You! Disrespectful bastard!”

“Bae Tak-soo hyung-nim, you need to stop too! How are we supposed to film if you act like this with the leads!”

Finally, Director Chae Geum-soo raised his voice at Bae Tak-soo as well. When even Director Chae Geum-soo, his only ally, glared at him, Bae Tak-soo couldn’t hold back and raised his hand toward Sa Seung-yeon again.

Just before other actors approached to intervene, Sa Seung-yeon released his pheromones to their limit and moved toward Bae Tak-soo. Now, even his mocking smile was gone, replaced by a face full of murderous intent.

“…”

Bae Tak-soo made a choking sound and groaned, and even other Alphas nearby covered their mouths. The Betas on set, including Hwan, widened their eyes in confusion. The set immediately became restless as the pheromones spread far enough to be felt by other Alpha actors at a distance.

Amid the confusion, Sa Seung-yeon, the only one maintaining composure, spoke without changing his expression.

“Let’s stop wasting time. Shall we film?”

Sa Seung-yeon suppressed his pheromones and smiled with his eyes. Dazed, Bae Tak-soo finally gave in and left the set at his manager’s plea, while Director Chae Geum-soo released a long sigh, holding his forehead.

Staring intently at Bae Tak-soo’s retreating back, Sa Seung-yeon returned to his chair without changing his expression and opened his script.

The silence on set didn’t easily subside. People who had frozen began their tasks again discreetly, but no one approached Sa Seung-yeon, as if an invisible barrier surrounded him.

Hwan, the only one staying by Sa Seung-yeon’s side, was busy glancing at him nervously. Sa Seung-yeon slowly turned a page of the script and asked without looking at Hwan.

“What?”

“Ah, nothing.”

“Don’t tell the company.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hwan bit his lip hard as he watched Sa Seung-yeon reading the script slowly with his legs crossed.

From here downward are repetition.