Chapter Five: The Love Line

A month and half had passed since Ji Hyo had officially become a regular member of the Running Man cast. She’d dropped formalities with her VJ, Sung Gyu, and some of the younger FDs. She’d become friends with Jae Suk, who looked after everyone else before himself, and she was starting to get closer to Suk Jin, who always had something funny to say. And while she’d been friendly with Joong Ki before Running Man, they’d become even closer during filming. She’d even gotten food with Joong Ki and Kwang Soo after filming had ended last week.

Haha, Gary, and Jong Kook, however, were a different matter. The three of them had been on the same team for the past few episodes, earning themselves the boy-band style name “Jong Kook and the Two Kids”. Even though Jae Suk had hinted at giving her love lines with both Haha and Gary, Ji Hyo couldn’t talk normally to either one of them. While she used “oppa” during filming, once the cameras were off Gary and Haha returned to “sshi”.

And Jong Kook was still “hyung”. While they were able to have some short conversations now, they hadn’t grown any closer. Part of the reason was that, even though it was episode ten, Ji Hyo and Jong Kook still hadn’t been on the same team. Sometimes, Ji Hyo wondered if the staff knew about her past crush on Jong Kook, and to avoid any accidental love lines, the PDs refused to partner the two of them.

Ji Hyo was proud to say that after a month and a half she had gotten over her feelings for Jong Kook. Sort of. She had only been a little upset last week when Shin Bong Sun had created a love line with Jong Kook. For the most part, Ji Hyo had managed to laugh at Bong Sun’s antics. The surprise hug had been funny. The romantic roller coast ride had been funny. The forehead kiss was funny. Ji Hyo hadn’t been jealous at all. Nope. Not at all.

Running Man was shooting at the National Museum of Contemporary Art today, and the cast had been instructed to meet outside the museum so that the staff could get a shot of them walking through the museum’s gardens. Ji Hyo arrived not long after Jong Kook and Jae Suk. After she had been fitted with a microphone, she joined the two men outside on the sidewalk, waiting for the other cast mates.

“Will you be all right to film?” asked Jae Suk.

“I’ll manage.” Jong Kook spoke firmly.

Ji Hyo had heard about Jong Kook’s waist surgery from Joong Ki, and she’d sent Jong Kook a text message, wishing him a good recovery. She hadn’t expected him to participate in the show this week, but now that she thought about it, she shouldn’t have been surprised.

“Most people would take some time off after surgery,” said Jae Suk. “Didn’t your doctor tell you to rest?”

“He did,” admitted Jong Kook.

“The viewers won’t hate you for missing an episode,” said Jae Suk, patting his friend on the shoulder.

Ji Hyo hesitated, and then in a low voice, half-hoping she wouldn’t be heard, said, “I’m glad you finally got surgery. It was worrying to see you take painkillers every week.”

Jong Kook glanced at her in surprise, but then he smiled. “Thanks for the message. I got it not long after I woke up in the hospital.”

“Oh,” said Jae Suk. “You two are exchanging messages now? What have I missed?”

Jong Kook scowled. “You may be the Nation’s MC, but that doesn’t mean I can’t hit you off-camera.”

“Kwon Ryul!” cried Jae Suk, searching for his VJ. “Quick! Turn the camera on!”

Ji Hyo laughed at her two hyungs. Jong Kook and Jae Suk had known each other since X-Man, and the interactions between them were always easy and natural.

Not long after, Joong Ki and Kwang Soo joined them. Kwang Soo excitedly started to describe the film he’d been contracted to, called Battlefield Heroes, and Joong Ki also talked about the drama he had just finished shooting. Ji Hyo happily joined in the conversation. Running Man had opened up new opportunities for her. She had received job offers from a couple dramas, and she was about to start shooting for a film called Late Blossom.

Once the rest of the cast arrived, they followed Cho Hyo Jin PD’s instructions and headed to the museum. As they approached, Jae Suk and Suk Jin made sure to marvel at the building, praising it loudly for the cameras. Ji Hyo had been before, but that didn’t stop her from be impressed by the cylindrical, stone building that had always reminded her of an impenetrable fortress.

It turned out that Yoon Se Ah, a pretty actress, and Cha Tae Hyun, an actor and good friend of Jong Kook’s, were the guests. Despite being in the same line of work, Ji Hyo hadn’t met either of them before, and she smiled quietly throughout the opening.

After, the group headed further into museum. They arrived at some white steps that led down into a gallery. Cameras and staff were already set up there, so Ji Hyo figured this was the next filming location. Myuk PD had the cast and guests sit down on the steps. Haha made a cheeky comment about Ji Hyo’s “broad, armored” shoulders—a fair comment, her shirt was rather silly— and Ji Hyo tried to hit him. Haha pleaded for help, but Kwang Soo and Gary laughed and did nothing to stop Ji Hyo. As they settled down, Ji Hyo sent a thankful smile to Haha; he probably noticed that she hadn’t spoken much during the introduction.

“You’ve been here before, Jong Kook?” asked Jae Suk, overhearing the conversation between Jong Kook and Tae Hyun.

“My home is in Anyang,” said Jong Kook. “So I’ve been here a few times.”

“But it sounds like you go more to the race horse derby,” said Tae Hyun.

“Hyung looks like he would run with the horses,” added Gary.

“Tae Hyun,” said Jong Kook as Jae Suk went to receive the mission paper from the PDs. “You’re going to ruin my image today, aren’t you?”

“You don’t think I have better things to do?” asked Tae Hyun.

Jong Kook grinned, but before he could reply, Jae Suk returned to the group and read aloud, “Running Man Auction. It’s a solo match. Teams will be formed after. I will be the auctioneer and everyone else will be the bidders. Punishments will be used as money.”

Ji Hyo frowned. She didn’t like taking punishments, but maybe the auction items would be worth it. The cast and guests were each given an auction paddle and white gloves before being seated on the steps.

“The auction item,” said Jae Suk, standing in front of the group in his fancy white gloves and polo shirt, “is an item everyone needs when filming Running Man. If you hesitate too long, you might miss you chance and be at a disadvantage.” He stepped back and said, “Let us see the first item, please.”

A round-faced man dressed in black pants, a button-up shirt, and a black vest came into view, pushing an easel on wheels. The easel was covered in a blue blanket, preventing anyone from seeing the item underneath it. It took Ji Hyo a second to recognize Kim Gap Jin, Jong Kook’s manager, as the man pushing the easel. Laughing, Ji Hyo glanced over at Jong Kook. His had a gloved hand over his mouth as he laughed embarrassedly at his awkward manager.

Gap Jin flashed the cameras the peace sign, before leaving the easel next to Jae Suk and leaving.

“He’s very unnatural,” said Jae Suk. “But apparently he volunteered himself. He said he wanted to come on camera.”

“Thank you volunteering,” Tae Hyun called after the disappearing Gap Jin.

Jong Kook’s face was slightly red.

“So, the first item,” said Jae Suk. “We won’t see it now, but do a blind auction.”

“Hit the forehead once!” cried Haha, his raspy voice breaking.

“Hit the wrist three times!” said Kwang Soo.

“Hit the forehead,” said Tae Hyun.

“Hit the forehead once plus a highway,” said Haha.

“A highway?” repeated Jae Suk.

“A highway.” Haha took off his baseball cap and demonstrated how a razor would shave in a straight line through his hair.

“Kang Gary!” Gary raised his paddle in the air. “Open a bottle with the nose. Or a slap on each cheek.”

Ji Hyo laughed and clapped her hands. This bidding order made no sense. When would it end? What bid was considered higher than the other?

“All right,” said Jae Suk. “The given punishment is hits to the forehead with chopsticks.”

The whole cast cringed at the painful memory—except one person.

“Chopsticks fifteen times,” said Gary.

“What?” gasped Jae Suk.

“Chopsticks fifteen times,” said Gary confidently.

“Are you sure?” asked Suk Jin.

“Kang Gary’s specialty is enduring pain,” said Jae Suk. “He doesn’t feel pain at all. Are there any more bids?”

“Sixteen,” said Kwang Soo.

“Twenty!” cried Joong Ki.

After much back and forth, with Jong Kook and Tae Hyun refusing to bid because they both hated pain, the final bid came down to Suk Jin with twenty-eight hits to the forehead. Ji Hyo cringed at the thought. The rest of the cast cheered Suk Jin on, laughing at the pain he would have to suffer.

“Good luck, oppa,” said Ji Hyo.

“Now,” said Jae Suk, moving to the covered easel. “Let’s take a look at the item.” He pulled the blue blanket over the easel and revealed the framed paper beneath.

Ji Hyo froze. She couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe the staff would do that. Ji Hyo snuck a glance in Myuk PD’s direction. She wondered if she brought she item, she could finally be on Jong Kook’s team.

Jong Kook Usage Voucher.

Jong Kook couldn’t help but laugh. He couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe that staff would do that. Especially right after he’d come out of surgery. “Yah!” he cried. “Don’t do that!”

“But he’s nothing today,” said Haha, getting up from his seat. “We can’t use him for anything.”

“Why do I have to get hit twenty-eight times for that?” complained Suk Jin.

“You can always cancel the bid,” said Jong Kook, laughing.

“You don’t like the item?” asked Jae Suk. “You can use him to your heart’s content the whole day.”

Suk Jin, unsurprisingly, did not cancel the bid. He got up from his seat and went to stand beside Jae Suk to receive his punishment.

“After you get hit,” explained Jae Suk. “You can receive the voucher. Kim Jong Kook-sshi, please come forward.”

Jong Kook couldn’t help but smile as he made his way down the steps.

“Why is he the one hitting me?” complained Suk Jin.

“Because it’s the Jong Kook Usage Voucher,” said Jae Suk as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. “Who else would do it?”

Jong Kook accepted the wooden chopsticks from Jae Suk and turned to Suk Jin with a menacing grin. Jong Kook had perfected threatening looks back in his teenage years when he’d been known as “Axe Kim”, though he’d found it helped him more in variety shows than it ever had in high school.

“I’ll tell you this now,” said Jae Suk, patting Suk Jin on the shoulder. “This rule doesn’t apply to the ladies, but if we hear “ack” or any other sound of pain, the bid will be cancelled.”

“Aish.” Suk Jin raised his bidding paddle as if to hit Jae Suk on the head. “Why would you do this to me?”

Jae Suk dodged the paddle and then said, “Please be careful with your bids.”

With a deep sigh, Suk Jin stood still and allowed Jong Kook to position the chopsticks over his forehead.

“Go easy on me,” murmured Suk Jin.

“I don’t like being used, hyung,” said Jong Kook. Then, he flicked the ends of the chopsticks against Suk Jin’s forehead.

The response was instant. Suk Jin bent forward, placed a hand on his head, and cried, “Ah.”

The entire cast burst into laughter. Suk Jin crouched on the floor at Jong Kook’s feet, still clutching his head. Jae Suk, Tae Hyun, and Ji Hyo’s laughs could be heard above all the others. Jong Kook put the chopsticks back on the table and returned to his seat beside Tae Hyun.

“We’ll start the auction again,” said Jae Suk.

“One hit,” said Haha.

“Kang Gary!” Gary raised his paddle. “Two hits!”

“Four hits,” said Kwang Soo.

“Five hits,” added Ji Hyo.

Jong Kook was surprised. He wouldn’t endure any hits from the chopsticks just to use him throughout the day. He may be considerably stronger than the rest of the cast, but he didn’t think he was that good at the mini-games.

“Six hits,” said Suk Jin.

There was a pause, and then once again the cast fell over themselves with laughter.

“Die, die, die, die,” said Haha, refusing to bid over Suk Jin.

Once again, Suk Jin and Jong Kook got up from their seats. Jong Kook picked up the chopsticks and held them over Suk Jin’s forehead. Suk Jin took a deep breath, shaking out his hands and jogging on the spot.

“Do you think that’s going to help?” asked Jong Kook.

“I’m concentrating,” said Suk Jin, folding his arms across his chest.

Jong Kook once again flicked the chopsticks against Suk Jin’s forehead and Suk Jin once again responded with, “Ah!” Laughter filled the room once again. Even the staff was laughing at Suk Jin’s failed attempts.

“The bid is cancelled,” said Jae Suk as Jong Kook returned to his seat.

“Why?” asked Suk Jin. “I was only breathing.”

“Who breathes like that?” asked Jae Suk.

“Sit down, hyung,” said Joong Ki, pointing to the seat beside him. “Just give it up.”

The next round of the auction started with Haha bidding one hit to the forehead. Jong Kook wondered who he’d want to win his usage voucher. Definitely not Haha. The two of them knew each other well enough that Haha would abuse the voucher without regret.

“Kang Gary! Two hits!”

Gary might not be too bad, thought Jong Kook. He was on the quiet side and less vengeful than Haha. Plus, Jong Kook and Gary were working on a song together, and it wouldn’t be in Gary’s best interest not to humiliate his fellow artist too much.

“Three hits,” said Suk Jin.

“Die, die, die,” cried Haha, getting up from his seat.

Jong Kook fell backwards laughing. One thing he knew for sure—Suk Jin certainly wasn’t getting the usage voucher.

Jong Kook stood up, preparing to hit Suk Jin with the chopsticks again, but Kwang Soo called out, “Four hits.”

Kwang Soo wouldn’t be too bad. He would probably try to embarrass Jong Kook with the usage voucher, but all it would take was one glare from Jong Kook and Kwang Soo would chicken out of whatever scheme he had planned. Perhaps the usage voucher would help Kwang Soo develop his character more.

“Seven hits,” cried Gary.

“Question!” Haha raised his hand in the air. “This voucher, does it mean that we can use Jong Kook-hyung all day long, however we want?”

“Of course,” said Jae Suk.

Jong Kook definitely didn’t want Haha getting the voucher. Gary or Kwang Soo would be good. One of the women—Se Ah or Ji Hyo—wouldn’t be bad either. Jong Kook wouldn’t feel bad about helping them out all day. Maybe he could use the voucher as an opportunity to talk to Ji Hyo about love lines. When they’d gotten lunch last week, Jae Suk had mentioned that Jong Kook should give her some advice.

“Sold!” cried Jae Suk.

It took Jong Kook a second to remember who had bid last. When he saw Gary getting up from the steps, Jong Kook figured the seven hits to the forehead bid had stood.

“If you withstand this,” said Haha, patting Gary on the shoulder. “It’ll be a good day for us.”

Jong Kook couldn’t help but be slightly disappointed that Gary had won the bid. Now that he’d thought of it, Jong Kook thought it would be better if Ji Hyo had the usage voucher for the day. However, Gary was good at enduring the pain of the chopsticks, which meant the usage voucher would go to the Two Kids—hopefully, they didn’t make him do anything too humiliating.

Just as predicted, Gary withstood the seven flicks to the forehead. He made Jong Kook hold the framed voucher as they went back to their seats.

“You’re in for a fun day,” said Tae Hyun.

“They won’t get too much use out of it,” said Jong Kook.

“This is what you go to the gym for,” muttered Tae Hyun, “so you can threaten your cast mates?”

As Gap Jin brought in the next auction item on a cart, Jong Kook tried to shoo his manager off the set. He still couldn’t believe that Gap Jin had volunteered for the auction.

The next item Jae Suk revealed to be a Running Ball, which would belong to the team of whoever got the ball. The entire cast sat upright, eyes fixated on the ball. Se Ah ended up winning the bid, but she could barely withstand the pain of the chopsticks. Joong Ki volunteered to take Se Ah’s place for the last hit, earning her the extra Running Ball.

Gap Jin brought out the third and final item of the auction—Punishment Immunity Voucher.

That, Jong Kook thought, was definitely worth being hit by the chopsticks.

“No matter which team you go to,” said Jae Suk. “The holder of this item will be exempted from the punishment.”

“Five times,” said Jong Kook raising his paddle. As much as he hated pain, he was confident he could endure at least that much.

“Eight times,” said Kwang Soo.

“Ten times,” said Ji Hyo, raising her paddle.

“I’ll do it thirteen times,” said Jae Suk, forcing himself into the auction. “I’m bidding as well. Thirteen.”

“Sixteen,” cried Ji Hyo earnestly. Her brown eyes were wide and she held the paddle high over her head. She wasn’t Jong Kook’s type—he preferred cute, well-mannered girls—but even he thought she was adorable right then.

“Seems like you really don’t want to take the punishment,” said Jae Suk.

“Yes!” snapped Ji Hyo.

The bid went up and up until Tae Hyun won with twenty-one hits to the forehead. Jong Kook couldn’t help but laugh. His friend hadn’t felt the wrath of the wooden chopsticks before. Tae Hyun was in for a shock.

Jong Kook had somehow become the official chopsticks-flicker, so he followed Tae Hyun down the steps.

“Please hit fast,” said Tae Hyun as Jong Kook positioned the chopsticks over his forehead. “Hit me five times in a row.”

Jong Kook and Jae Suk exchanged amused glances. Then, Jong Kook let the chopsticks fly—one, two, three, four, five times. Tae Hyun endured in silence, but he stepped back and rubbed his forehead after the first five hits were done.

“Isn’t it better to just play by the rules and win the game?” asked Jong Kook.

Tae Hyun blinked as if this had just dawned on him. “Wait. I can just win the game today, can’t I?”

However, after enduring five hits already, Tae Hyun decided to finish all twenty-one. He smoothed the hair back from his forehead and said, “This time just three in a row.”

Jong Kook and Jae Suk could only laugh. They understood the pain of the chopsticks all too well.

Jong Kook flicked the chopsticks once and Tae Hyun said, “Ah, one moment.”

“Bid cancelled!” cried Jae Suk, hitting the bell. “‘Ah’ counts as making noise.”

The auction started up again, this time there was a fierce competition between Kwang Soo and Ji Hyo. When Kwang Soo bid sixteen, Ji Hyo threatened to beat him with her paddle. Kwang Soo cringed away from her, his eyes wide, which made Jong Kook laugh. It seemed Ji Hyo had also perfected the murderous glare.

“Maybe the Song Ji Hyo we know is not the real Song Ji Hyo,” suggested Jae Suk.

Jae Suk ended up winning the bid, and Jong Kook and Suk Jin agreed to take turns hitting him with the chopsticks.

“I bet all of my family’s property that he will make a noise within five hits,” said Suk Jin.

“Not only do I get to skip the punishment,” said Jae Suk with a laugh. “But I also get all of Suk Jin’s property. This is a great deal.”

It turned out Suk Jin’s prediction was correct. Jae Suk endured one hit soundlessly before he decided it was best to surrender and restart the auction. Jong Kook laughed as he made his way back to his seat.

Ji Hyo won the bidding with seven hits. Jong Kook couldn’t bring himself to deliver the chopstick punishment to a girl, so Suk Jin was chosen as the punisher instead. Besides, Suk Jin and Ji Hyo had become closer over the past month and a half, Jong Kook knew, and it was probably easier to receive the punishment from a  somewhat-friend than an awkward coworker.

Girls were allowed to make sounds in response to the pain without the bid being cancelled. Ji Hyo endured three hits in a row before she scrunched up her face and let out a yelp. Haha and Gary were falling over themselves in the front row. Jong Kook knew for a fact that while neither of them had any plans to date their coworker, they both thought Ji Hyo was cute. She endured another three consecutive hits with only a small cry at the end.

“Last one,” said Jae Suk.

“Wait!” said Gary. “I’ll take her punishment.”

“It’s okay,” said Ji Hyo coolly, turning back to Suk Jin to receive the end of her punishment.

Gary looked crestfallen, while the rest of the cast laughed.

“His love line is broken,” said Jae Suk.

Jong Kook tried to hide his smile. The other week, he, Haha, and Gary had gotten dinner after filming, and Gary had asked endless questions about variety romance. Since Jong Kook had been in numerous love lines, he was considered the expert. Gary hadn’t found a role for himself on the show yet, and he wondered if a love line with Ji Hyo would help him develop a character. During X-Man, Jong Kook had explained, he had treated Yoon Eun Hye as his actual girlfriend. From the time he arrived on set until the time the slate closed, Jong Kook had forgotten about all other relationships and just focused on Eun Hye. Jong Kook wondered if Gary had decided to take the advice and treat Ji Hyo as his girl.

“He passed by just as the elevator doors were opening,” said Suk Jin, recounting how he’d been ousted during the nametag-ripping segment. “So I tried to hide myself. I couldn’t see him and he hadn’t come into the elevator, so I figured I was safe. I stealthily started pushing the ‘close’ button, but for some reason, the doors weren’t closing. And then, I see Jong Kook slowly peak his head around the corner. It turns out he was holding the elevator doors open.”

Ji Hyo resisted the urge to sigh. She had been placed on the losing team yet again. The Mission Team had been one painting away from winning the bells race, but unfortunately, Jong Kook had caught Suk Jin in the elevator. Jong Kook’s red team currently had two Running Balls to the blue team’s zero. It wasn’t that Ji Hyo disliked Jae Suk, Suk Jin, Kwang Soo, and Tae Hyun, but rather that she liked to win. Just once, she’d like it if the writers would put her on the same team as Jong Kook. At least this time, thanks to her hard-earned voucher, Ji Hyo would be exempt from the punishment.

The cast was having break in the coffee shop while the staff set up cameras for the leisurely teatime segment of the show.

Kwang Soo, Haha, and Se Ah were talking about a foreign movie they all liked, while Gary and Joong Ki were chatting about the upcoming soccer season. Suk Jin, who Ji Hyo usually conversed to during breaks, was on the phone with his wife. Jong Kook, Jae Suk, and Tae Hyun were talking amongst themselves. The three of them were old friends—Jong Kook and Tae Hyun even being part of the Dragon Brothers, celebrity friends who were all born in the same year.

Ji Hyo would never admit it and not that she believed in it, but when she first found out Jong Kook had been born in the year of the dragon, she’d looked up their compatibility. The rooster and the dragon were complementary. 

Unable to bear the silence any longer, Ji Hyo decided to make herself a cup of coffee. She rose from her seat and made her way across the room to the snack bar set up by the staff. Just as she poured some coffee into a paper cup, she heard someone approaching.

“Ji Hyo-sshi,” said Jong Kook, coming to stand beside her.

Ji Hyo kept her eyes down as she added milk to her coffee. “Yes, hyung?”

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“Better once the coffee kicks in,” said Ji Hyo. She finished stirring the milk in and threw away the plastic spoon. “You?”

“Good.” Jong Kook hesitated a moment. “Have the writers and PDs talked to you about a love line yet?”

Of all the topics Ji Hyo had expected, this one had to be ranked last. She started up at Jong Kook, wondering why he would want to talk about love lines—especially since he had refused so vehemently at the start of the show. Ji Hyo swallowed. “Yes.”

“And, uh, how do you feel about it?” asked Jong Kook.

Ji Hyo blinked. So many words came to mind. Uneasy. Uncertain. Afraid. But as the only female cast member, a love line was inevitable. She’d become resigned to the fact. All that needed to be done was see which of the men she had the most chemistry with.

“I don’t know,” said Ji Hyo. “No one asked me.”

Jong Kook nodded. “They never do.”

“How…” Ji Hyo stopped herself from asking how he had dealt with his love lines throughout the years. Jong Kook’s love lines had always been so natural—even his awkward relationship with Lee Hyori had seemed to fit in some way.

“Your love line doesn’t have to be the same as others,” said Jong Kook. “Viewers like natural. So do what you’re comfortable with. If you force yourself to be romantic, the viewers will notice. It’s better to have a one-sided love line than a contrived love line.”

Ji Hyo stared at him. It took a moment to realize that Jong Kook was giving her advice. He was trying to help her. She felt a wave of gratitude towards him and a small, fluttering smile found its way onto her face.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

“Love lines can help with your popularity and can help you find your role in the show,” said Jong Kook. “So don’t think of it as a bad thing. Just understand that love lines are only for the show. You don’t need to continue them off camera. And if you ever need to talk about it…” Jong Kook trailed off.

Ji Hyo nodded. After she had been accepted as a regular member, her older cast mates—Jae Suk, Suk Jin, and Jong Kook—had given her their numbers in case of an emergency. Messaging Jong Kook about his surgery was one thing, but the thought of messaging him about a love line made her stomach twist. Still, she felt nothing but warmth towards him at that moment. She wanted to think this was a step in the direction of friendship.

Jong Kook gave her one last smile before heading back to the tables to continue his conversation with Jae Suk and Tae Hyun. Ji Hyo found herself staring at Jong Kook’s back, and she quickly turned away before anyone (mainly Jae Suk) caught her. She didn’t want Jae Suk to have any misunderstandings; she was over her crush on Jong Kook. Besides, now that she thought about it, there would be nothing worse than crushing on one coworker while having a love line with another.

But one thing Ji Hyo hadn’t realized was just how quickly that love line would come.

The next segment was called leisurely teatime. For the first game, four members from both teams would go out into the art gallery and memorize a painting. They would come back to the room and each do a drawing of the painting. Then, using one of these drawings, the fifth members of the teams would have to find and take a photo of the original painting. Whoever was fastest would win for their team.

The pre-game discussion had started out innocently enough, with Jae Suk asking his teammates who was good at drawing. And then all of sudden, it was decided that Ji Hyo and Gary would be left behind so that they could spend some “quality time” together.

Ji Hyo tried to laugh along with the others, but her heart had already begun to race and panic was starting to set in. She wasn’t ready for this. She’d thought she would have more time to prepare. She’d only just talked to Jong Kook about it. She sent a frantic look in his direction and when their eyes met, he gave a subtle nod. It didn’t make her feel any better.

“We’ll let you two get closer,” said Jae Suk.

“We are close!” cried Ji Hyo, desperate not to be left behind.

“Then do you have each other’s phone numbers?” asked Jae Suk.

Ji Hyo frowned. Jae Suk already knew the answer to that. “No.”

“What’s the age difference between you two?” asked Suk Jin.

“Four years,” said Ji Hyo.

“Like four letters for love to death?” asked Gary.

Ji Hyo couldn’t help but laugh at that. It was so greasy and mushy. She buried her face in her hands. How was she supposed to have a romantic love line when he was spouting out jokes like that?

And before Ji Hyo could register what was happening, the red team was leaving the coffee shop to go find a painting in the museum. Haha wished Gary luck before leaving and Joong Ki patted Ji Hyo on the shoulder.

“Gary,” said Jong Kook as he stepped through the door. “Make it look like its love until death.”

So this was her love line, thought Ji Hyo. She’d be partnered with Kang Gary, the rapper of Leessang. He was a complete stranger to her. She didn’t even listen to Leessang’s music. It also didn’t help that she didn’t find him attractive in the slightest. He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t handsome either. And, of course, the bright red jumpsuit did nothing to help his plain appearance. Ji Hyo found herself furiously wishing Joong Ki could be her love line partner instead. She was much more comfortable with him and they were both actors.

Her teammates left the coffee shop not long after. Ji Hyo grabbed hold of Suk Jin and Jae Suk’s hands, one final attempt to avoid the love line. She felt as though she was being thrown to the wolves.

“Ji Hyo, what’s wrong?” asked Suk Jin.

“We’ll go and be right back,” said Jae Suk, trying to pry her off. “Right now the game is important.”

“There’s nothing to worry about,” said Suk Jin.

“It’s okay to lose this game,” said Ji Hyo pitifully.

“There’s a punishment that needs to be prevented from happening,” said Jae Suk. “We can’t go against the rules.”

“Ji Hyo, you need to stay here.” Suk Jin finally managed to free himself from her grasp. “You don’t have to talk if it’s awkward.”

And with that, her teammates and friends were gone, leaving Ji Hyo alone with Gary. He sat towards the middle of the long table, fiddling with the empty glass in front of him. He glanced sidelong at Ji Hyo and then fixed his eyes back on the glass.

“It’s already awkward,” Ji Hyo told the cameras. “Who should I do?”

She caught Myuk PD’s gaze and knew what he was telling her without words. First, she should sit down. Ji Hyo couldn’t bring herself to sit next to Gary, so she chose a seat two chairs down. She couldn’t help but laugh at the awkwardness of it all. She’d been abandoned to this love line, because that’s what the show required. And, for some reason, her cast mates thought Kang Gary was the best option.

“Ah, why is this so awkward?” asked Gary suddenly.

All of Jong Kook’s advice went out of Ji Hyo’s head. She started fanning herself with a placemat just so she’d have something to do. It was hard to be romantic with cameras, VJs, PDs, FDs, audio direction, writers, and coordinators watching. She didn’t know what to say. Should she be funny? Should she be romantic? She glanced over at Gary. He wasn’t talking either. Maybe he was actually as panicked as she was. Maybe Jong Kook had given him advice too, and Gary was trying to remember it as well.

Suddenly, Gary got up from his seat and started walking up and down the length of the coffee shop. The action seemed so absurd that Ji Hyo couldn’t stop herself from laughing.

And then, he placed his hands over her eyes and said, “Guess who?”

Ji Hyo pushed his hands away and jumped out of her seat. And then, the ridiculousness of the whole situation got to her, and she started to laugh.

“No need to overreact, Ji Hyo!” cried Gary.

“Because you startled me,” she said.

“I was trying to be funny.”

“You were, you were,” said Ji Hyo, before returning to her seat.

Gary sat down as well and they were back to where they were. Sitting in awkward silence, waiting for their teammates to return. Ji Hyo knew that the ones with more variety experience—Jae Suk, Suk Jin, Jong Kook, and Haha—wouldn’t be in any rush. They understood love lines and their importance. However, she hoped that Kwang Soo and Joong Ki at least would be worried about her and would force their teams to hurry back.

“Ji Hyo,” said Gary, getting up from his seat and heading to the door. “I’m going out for a while.”

“Okay,” murmured Ji Hyo. “Come back soon.”

Relief filled her when the doors closed behind him, and she was left in the coffee shop with the staff. She shot a quick glance at Myuk PD, hoping that he understood how much she hated this. Yes, he’d warned her that there would be a love line before she signed up for the job, but still…

Ji Hyo took a deep breath. She was an actress. She had acted out romantic scenes numerous times before. She could do this. Even if she didn’t find Gary attractive, she could just pretend he was Jo In Sung or Hwang Jung Min or Song Joong Ki or Kim Jong K—

Not the last one.

But Jong Kook had said that her love line didn’t have to be the same. She didn’t have to be the loyal girlfriend or the romantic girlfriend if she didn’t want to. Natural was better than forced. She could let this be Gary’s one-sided love. Maybe give a little push and pull when she wanted to. If this was going to be her love line, then she should make sure it was a love line she could be comfortable with.

The door of the coffee shop opened again. Ji Hyo looked over, hoping to see her teammates. But she saw the broad face of Kang Gary, and she quickly looked away. She could do this. She was strong. She was an actress. She could do a love line.

“Oh no, he’s back,” she whispered, playing up her nervousness a little for the camera.

To her surprise, he was carrying a cup.

“Did you get only one cup?” she asked. “Iced coffee?”

“I didn’t have enough coins,” he said before handing her the drink. “You can have it.”

“Oh, you’re really thoughtful,” said Ji Hyo.

Trying to hide a smile, Gary shifted in his seat. “Ah, it’s hot in here.”

Ji Hyo laughed.

“Don’t worry about me,” said Gary. “Enjoy your coffee.”

Ji Hyo took a deep breath. She could feel the eyes of Myuk and Hyo Jin PDs on her. She could do this. She was contractually obligated to have this love line, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t have some control. She rose from her seat and crossed the room to the snack table the staff had set up earlier. She picked up a plastic cup and headed back to her seat. As she walked, she poured half of her iced coffee into the cup. Then, she handed the second cup to Gary.

He stared at it for a second and then asked, “What does this mean?”

Ji Hyo giggled, her heart jumping with nervousness. She couldn’t think of a good response, so she decided to take a sip of the coffee instead.

“Should we toast?” asked Gary.

Trying not to giggle, Ji Hyo lightly tapped her cup against Gary’s before taking a drink.

“How is it?” asked Gary.

“It’s a bit bland,” said Ji Hyo honestly.

“Because there’s not enough of my sincerity?” asked Gary.

The pure ridiculousness of that question made Ji Hyo laugh. She made eye contact with Sung Gyu, her VJ, and saw that he was laughing as well. Some of the writing staff were shuddering at the cheesiness of his comments.

“I haven’t been this nice to a girl in a long time,” said Gary. “So it’s a bit awkward.”

Ji Hyo decided it was better not to answer that. She glanced around the room, searching for some topic that a love line would discuss. Her gaze landed on one of the writer’s wedding ring and, without thinking, she asked, “Isn’t time for you to get married? You’re in your mid-thirties.”

“I have no plans yet,” he said, leaning back in his seat. “Why? Are you in a hurry?”

His comments were getting even worse; Ji Hyo could only laugh in response. However, when she glanced at the PDs, they didn’t seem to be displeased with the interaction. Maybe there was something between Gary’s greasy comments and her attempts at romance that could be worked with.

There were some noises outside the coffee shop doors. Ji Hyo looked over to see that the red team had returned.

“Can you act like we’re close so I don’t get embarrassed?” asked Gary in a low voice.

The red team entered the cafeteria with Jong Kook in the lead. Se Ah smiled and said, “It looks like we came back too soon.”

Jong Kook made eye contact with Ji Hyo as he moved to his seat. There was something questioning in his gaze, but Ji Hyo wasn’t sure how to answer. Jong Kook tried to move past Gary, and in one smooth motion, Gary moved over so that he was in the seat next to Ji Hyo. Without thinking, completely forgetting the love line, Ji Hyo scooted away from Gary.

Gary’s mouth opened in shock and Jong Kook started to laugh.

“What does this mean?” asked Gary.

“It means you need to work on your pickup lines,” said Jong Kook.

Ji Hyo was relieved when Gary moved to sit on the other side of Jong Kook. The red team had started talking among themselves, leaving Ji Hyo in silence waiting for the blue team to return. Ji Hyo was fine being alone for the time being. She was still processing her conversation with Gary.

She didn’t know how she could have a love line with him. He wasn’t her type. She was fairly certain that she wasn’t his. From what she could tell, they weren’t compatible in any way. But she had signed onto this show, knowing that there would be a love line. She was a professional actress. She could do this. And at least now she knew that if she needed advice, Jong Kook would be there. 

A/N: And so begins Monday Couple. I honestly liked Monday Couple for the jokes the cast made, but once people started taking it too seriously, Monday Couple lost its appeal for me.  

Please leave comments. Let me know what you think and how I'm doing!