Chapter 42

Chapter 42

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The refreshing sensation of tap water after exercising felt just like the nostalgia of my school days. My sweat-soaked hair fluttered in the wind. As my face reflected on the waters surface, I tilted my head to align my mouth with the faucet, opening my lips like a drawbridge.

Gulp.

PD Kim Jin, looking at the tally-displayed screen, swallowed his admiration. The young mans appearance, as if depicting the beauty of a schoolyard, was indeed a work of art. The camera director seemed to have read his mind as he zoomed in for a close-up of the young mans face.

Dojin-sunbae!

A girl whose name I didnt know approached and offered me a towel. By now, it had become a fixed routine that everyone around us had grown accustomed to. Whenever my character, Dojin, appeared on the basketball court, freshmen eagerly gathered to watch the game. Silently, to avoid disturbing the game, they would wait until the victory was decided, and then they would all run to me, each carrying a towel. The girls gathered in a semicircle around me. I took a towel from one of them and thanked her.

What a picture-perfect scene.

The stunning view surpassing the lighting teams efforts shone on the young man sitting on the bench. The towel draped over his wet hair did its job well, with water droplets falling from underneath his lengthy strands, revealing his long, slender eyes. The sweat on his thick lashes, rolling down his high nose bridge and streaming along his jawline, created an intriguing golden ratio composition.

It was at that moment.

Kim Dojin!

A quiet girls voice could be heard. The bold girl appeared, kicking a lost basketball with her foot. Until then, I hadnt so much as moved a muscle, but now, unbeknownst to everyone, the corners of my mouth subtly shifted.

Why did you leave without me today? Its so petty. You and your bike. Does it wear out if I ride on the back? Just give me a ride like yesterday!

Im trying to fix your bad habits.

Who are you to fix my habits?

Then who will?

With that, I walked past the girl and carelessly placed the towel, which had been covering my head, on her. It would have been a welcome gesture for anyone else but not for her. She screamed loudly and chased after me, but I swiftly dodged her. The abandoned basketball, as if verifying our emotions, watched over us.

* * *

The volume of footage shot for each episode of a drama ranged from 60 to 90 cuts. The shooting schedule could last anywhere from a week to a fortnight. As a result, the filming crew barely had time to go home or see their families, thus forming a bond akin to a real family.

Why am I like this?

Actress Seo Minhye gazed at her reflection in the waiting room mirror. If a dandelion bloomed in her heart, would it feel like this, the tickling sensation that seemed to wrap itself around her entire body? She had a laid-back personality, but she felt infinitely small standing before the young man. When acting, she could recite her lines after barely shaking off that feeling.

Its all because of that shoot.

It was a program once called the Marine Corps of the variety shows. She blamed herself for being swayed by Song Jeongseoks words and joining it. No one else would know. Seo Minhye recalled the sight of the young man she had encountered on the shooting set, a memory that still haunted her dreams and robbed her of sleep multiple times.

The incident started like this.

Merman Prince.

Although she didnt know who had coined the phrase, it was a perfect fit. If a mermaid had emerged from the sea as a man, would that have been what he looked like? The sight of water droplets falling from his disheveled hair, combined with his innocent smile, was more than enough to captivate a womans heart. Seo Minhye had encountered many handsome male actors in her career, but she had never been as captivated by anyones appearance as the young mans. Like a painter admiring her subject, she found herself gazing at him, completely mesmerized.

Just bear with it a little longer. When you do color correction, sunbae, try to match the tone if you can. If you make it brighter just to remove the noise, you know it wont feel right, right?

The editing room team leader scratched his head. In the case of video editing, there were generally two types of directors. Those who entrusted the editing to the AD and only checked the final product, and those who took charge and moved things along themselves. Kim Jin was the latter type. Hes also a venomous snake that couldnt let even the smallest mistake slide. Thats why the editing team leader had to step up.

Sunbae! This is the scene where the narration comes in. Lets pull it a bit more. Well finish this soon, and the B team will bring in their tape, so lets wrap it up afterward.

Hey, arent you pushing it too much?

Ill treat you to pork belly tonight, so please bear with it just a bit more!

But if we edit this tightly from the first episode, what are we going to do later? Do you think anyone else will do this for you? And you said youd get me beef before!

Did I say that? Oh, the department head!

Just then, a reliever appeared. With a blue necktie, the head of the drama department (CP)[1] entered, prompting the editing team leader to close his mouth, stand up, and bow his head. The department head gestured for him to sit down.

Department head, what brings you here?

I came to check if youre doing well! How is it? Even though its the first episode, you should feel something when you see the edited version, right?

Ive been earnestly feeling it since the filming,

Hey, Kim Jin, do you know how much other directors have complained about this? You better make it worth the big slice you got. Are you confident you wont be left behind? If you mess up this time, I wont be able to cover for you like two years ago.

Would there be any doubt?

Kim Jin let out a playful laugh. Being left behind? Thats ridiculous. Since the first shoot, the scent of a hit was in the air. Kim Jin secretly smiled at the image of the young man on the editing screen.

Department head, I think you might have to wear a blue necktie for a month once this drama airs. No, let me buy you one. A deep blue one.

PD Kim Jin was certain. Although they only had footage from the first episode, he couldnt forget the thrill he felt at the filming site. And didnt outstanding editing skills add to that meticulously captured footage?

Undoubtedly, once the show goes on air, the young man on the editing screen will become the nations first love.

At that moment, Kim Jin PD shouted without missing a beat.

Sunbae! Hold on, the correction there is too strong. I told you, just add a delicate brushstroke to the original feeling. For this guy, the original itself is already like a pictorial, so excessive correction is toxic! Lets try to keep the original feeling once!

Although the editing team leader had already reached his limit with Kim Jins nagging, he could only scratch his unfortunate head because the department head was present.

[1] The head of the drama department is also referred to as the chief producer (CP).

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