When the stylist left to attend to her duties, Min Hee finally remembered the reason why she had her lead stars go to this photoshoot early. “Oh, did you bring your scripts? We’re going to start our script reading if that’s alright? We just have to wait for Jun Soo for a little bit.”

 

They both nodded in understanding but nonetheless they brought out their own scripts in advance, one looking more ragged and worn out than the other.

 

Joong Ki saw Amber’s script and commented, “It seems like Sun Min-seongsangnim drilled you with the script.”

 

“Actually no, we did not practice with the script. At all. She said just focusing on the script will lead to negligence because you should never be complacent about the emotions that you need to express, and you can’t always just base it on the script.”

 

“That’s so like Sun Min-seonsangnim though, she drills that to her students. She told me that too.”

 

“Really?” she breathed a sigh of relief, “I thought I'm the only one that's been told that, because I was a complete novice.”

 

There was a knock on the door before it opened and in came Amber’s manager laden with bags from the coffee shop, he then put all of it on top of the table.

 

Amber took it to herself to introduce her manager, “This is my manager Park Hyun Jun. Hyun Jun-oppa, this Song Joong Ki-ssi and his manager Lee Tae Jun-ssi.”

 

Her manager bowed and said, “It’s nice to meet you.” They both nodded and returned his greetings.

 

Hyun Jun then opened the bags to distribute the things he bought.

 

Everyone was distributed with their own beverage and in Amber’s case – with a sandwich too. Joong Ki got curious as to what she was drinking, “Amber, what are you drinking?”

 

“Hmm? Oh this? It’s Mocha.”

 

“Hot?”

 

“Ne oppa, I could never understand how Koreans can drink Iced Americano when it’s so cold.”

 

Joong Ki chuckled and shrugged, he looked at the other occupants of the room and found out that they were all nursing the same kind of drinks, “I don’t know either, I just got used to it.”

 

Amber copied his action before she opened the sandwich that her manager bought for her.

 

Joong Ki asked, “How much was the coffee Amber?”

 

“It’s okay oppa, think of it as my ‘thank you’ for dropping me off at my agency last time.”

 

“But you don’t really need to…”

 

“I insist oppa. And it’s just coffee.” She said with a smile.

 

Joong Ki smiled, “If you insist. Thanks for the coffee.”

 

After finishing that particular discussion, Amber ate in a comfortable silence while also occasionally perusing her script for the nth time. Joong Ki, like her was reading his own copy of script while the others were fiddling with their phones.

 

The silence lasted until Amber finished her sandwich. She stood up and went to the waste bin to throw her sandwich wrapping. She had just sat back on her seat when there was another knock on the door before it opened and in came their director.

 

“Sorry I’m late.” He said before he went and occupied the only remaining seat at the table, which was the one beside the writer.

 

“I texted him and said that you were here already. He was just outside having a meeting with some of the staff who’s here.” Min Hee offered helpfully.

 

Jun Soo cleared his throat before he said, “Amber, Min Hee said that your voice is back to normal already. But if you feel any discomfort or anything else just tell us.”

 

Amber nodded before she replied, “Yes, director-nim. Thank you.”

 

“So as you’ve read from the synopsis, the drama is Romantic-Comedy. Joong Ki, the male lead is a top actor named Park Shin Woo who is mysterious and seems to always keep everyone around him at arm’s length. And then Amber…”

 

The script reading went without an issue. So immersed in the script, Amber barely noticed that the hours had already passed. Unexpectedly they covered more of the script than expected and they even had the chance to peruse parts of the script that will happen in the latter half of the drama.

 

They were so into what they were doing that they didn’t notice that it was almost time for their turn in the photoshoot if not for Joong Ki’s manager reminding them of the time.

 

---

Amber was dressed in a pant suit, which was not that out of the norm for her as she usually wear them for award ceremonies. But there was something that set that apart from what she usually wear… it was that the clothes hugs her figure more than usual. And also, as much as she was more comfortable wearing sports bra she was asked to wear a normal one which is something she had to get used to. But as they (Min Hee, Eun Ji and her management) had told her it was a change that was necessary… and frankly it was not that much of a drastic change that she thought she would have to go through. After all, what came to her mind when they told her that she was going to be a lead actress was the frilly dresses that she often see them wear. She shuddered unconsciously at the thought.

 

“Amber Are you alright? Are you cold in that outfit?” her make-up artist – Kim Shin Ae – for this drama asked her.

 

“Yes. Unnie, it’s just a bit cold.” She told a half lie. While it was a bit cold, the heater was constantly running inside the building but as expected it can only do much.

 

“Sorry, just a little bit more and I’m done.”

 

True to what she said, it hadn’t even been five minutes when she declared, “Done!”

 

Shin Ae moved from standing in front if the mirror so that Amber can see what she looked like and frankly Amber could not believe how much different she looked.

 

“You’re so pretty.” Shin Ae gushed out. “Your skin was already good to begin with so I only had to put on a proper base, a bit of blush, lip stick and contour. But what set it apart is the eye make up, I needed to do it a bit more heavier so that it’ll look better in the photos.” She was smiling widely, proud of her work.

 

And it was true, her make up was just so different than what she was used to but it was not that much heavier than the make up she wears when she goes on stage. Because most of the time, their make up artist does what looked like was the bare minimum for her make up due to her image and style which suited her just fine. But as Amber just found out, this kind of change wasn’t that bad, it wasn’t the intrusive kind of change that she was bracing for when they told her about her role in the drama. Even her hair style was not that different, it was still as short as it was that morning but somehow they had styled it more femininely.

 

There was a knock before a staff opened the door, he looked inside and the first thing he saw was Amber who was sitting in front of the dressing room mirrors. He blinked before he snapped out his daze when he heard Amber ask, “What is it?”

 

He coughed and informed them, “The photoshoot is starting.” he then closed the door but Shin Ae saw the slight pinking of the staff’s cheeks which she couldn’t help but smirk at.

 

Amber stood up and her manager hurriedly followed her action, holding on to her phone and her coat that she can wear later after her turn.

 

---

Heart racing, the staff that was asked to inform their lead actors that the photoshoot was starting, couldn’t believe how feminine Amber looked with just a bit more different make up and clothes.

 

“Daebak! I just saw Amber and she was so pretty.” He hurriedly whispered to his friend, but unfortunately his form of whisper was louder than expected and was heard by the people in the studio.

 

The people in the studio murmured to each other in disbelief and some in agreement that they always knew.

 

And that was what Joong Ki arrived to when after he made his way on the part of the studio where they set up the photoshoot.

 

“What's happening?” Joong Ki asked a nearby staff.

 

The staff member floundered for a bit before retelling what he heard.

 

“Really? What’s shocking about that? Amber was already pretty without make up though.” The actor commented matter-of-factly before he left and went to the photographer but not before bowing in thanks to the staff member.

 

Joong Ki, the Director, the Writer and the Photographer was just discussing what image they were looking for and needed to accomplish for the photoshoot when the murmurs of the staff and noises lulled into a stop.

 

Curious, Joong Ki and the others looked up from the storyboard that they were perusing only to see the reason why was Amber’s entrance to the studio.

 

Wearing a light blue pant suit with no tie but with only a open collared white shirt as inner wear and with low heeled sensible white shoes, Amber looked like she just stepped off of a runway. Joong Ki was also wearing the same kind of outfit where the only difference was that the his was a darker shade of blue (which almost looked black) and black oxford shoes.

 

Amber arrived where Joong Ki and the others were huddled at and greeted them.

 

Min Hee couldn’t help but let out a little squeal, “You’re so pretty Amber.”

 

Jolting in surprise from the sudden noise that the Writer made, she stuttered “Thank you.”

 

The others who were used to Min Hee’s behavior just shook their heads and Joong Ki, who had never worked on a project with her before heard the rumors so he was not that surprised to hear her suddenly squeal and so he just smiled wryly.

 

The Director shook his head again at the sight of his wife looking Amber with somewhat sparkling eyes (if that was possible) and cleared his throat, “We were discussing the story board just before you arrived and…” he continued to say what they wanted to do and capture for the photoshoot.

 

When the director finished explaining the theme and the vague image that they wanted to emphasize he passed the baton to the Photographer. The actors listened intently and nodded at what the Photographer instructed them to do. After all, even though this was mainly a project of the Writer and the Director, the studio was still the Photographer’s territory so the final decisions still rested on him. Luckily, the three of them are in the same page, and their disagreements on projects like these are a rarity.

 

After they given the instructions, the two were urged to just sit in the set in the mean time so that the Photographer and his staff could test out the lights and the setting that they were going to use for the rest of the photoshoot.

 

---

Heart pounding, Amber walked into the set as was instructed to her (them). Joong Ki was not that far from her, he was walking behind her and because of that he could see her opening and closing her right hand and the sometimes fiddling at the hem of the blazer that she was wearing. He made it to her side in two long strides, “Are you nervous?”

 

Amber bit her lip before she hesitantly nodded, “Is it that obvious?”

 

Joong Ki smiled wryly and answered, “A bit? You look like a lost puppy who doesn’t know what to do.”

 

Amber’s eyes widened at the sudden teasing, opened and closed, at loss at how to react.

 

Joong Ki chuckled, “Relax. This is no different from the other photoshoots that I’m sure you already did.”

 

“I know,” she replied, they reached the park bench that was going to be used as a prop for the photoshoot. Joong Ki gestured for Amber to take a seat first before following her action and sitting on it himself. She continued, “but this is my first time for this kind of photoshoot. I’m used to doing it with my members after all. I’m not even sure if I could act according to my character at this photoshoot.”

 

“Don’t worry too much, we just have to follow Jin Young-hyung's instructions and it’ll go fine.”

 

“This is also my first time having a photoshoot like this where I have to pose with my character in mind.” She added anxiously.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll help and guide you through it.”

 

Amber nodded, “Thanks oppa.” And just like that he made her a bit more at ease although she was still a bit nervous.

 

---

Jin Young looked at the lenses, testing some shots and was in awe at what he sees. It was quite well known that there are photographers that sees more than the eye through their cameras. And it’s not a secret that Jin Young was one of those photographers.

 

He checked his sample shots and couldn’t believe that it was just that. Sample shots. Because even he himself could be fooled into thinking that these are the final and best shots that the photographer took. To think that his two models are not even doing anything and was just quietly talking.

 

“This is insane.” He muttered quietly still looking at the sample shots.

 

“I know right?” the director agreed, looking at the models on set.

 

He looked at him and saw Min Hee who was beside Jun Soo smiling smugly. “Really, sometimes you scare me.”

 

The corner of Min Hee’s mouth twitched, “I’ll just take that as a compliment.”

 

Shaking his head, Jin Young continued on taking more shots and instructing his staff to adjust the set or the lighting here and there. When he was satisfied he called for the start of the photoshoot.

 

---

The lead actors felt like they breezed through the photoshoot. Even though they knew hours must’ve already passed, but it was not something they were foreign to. They were used to long hours of work being in this kind of industry after all.

 

The photographer just let them do what they wanted. True, sometimes Jin Young would give instructions on how he would like them to pose (i.e where to stand/sit or give them props that they could use) but most of the time he’d just let them talk and just joke around which Amber found weird but she just went with the flow. Because she knew Jin Young had a reputation of being a perfectionist and particularly strict on photoshoots. So if he’s satisfied with what they did then who was she to argue?

 

“And were done.” Jin Young announced.

 

“Thank you for your hard work!” Amber and Joong Ki said in unison before they bowed.

 

The two proceeded to the photographer and went about saying goodbyes and thanking him for his hard work. Jin Young just nodded at them and commented, “It was a pleasure to work with you two. It’s been a long time that I’ve had this much fun on the job. I look forward to the drama.” He said with a grin, but somehow they could sense that there was something weird about the photographer. They bowed at him again and said goodbye.

 

After that, they went to where the Director and the Writer was sitting at to say goodbye.

 

“Min Hee-writer-nim and Jun Soo-director-nim we’ll be going first.” Joong Ki told them, but the husband and wife just looked at them and nodded before looking back at the screen and checking the photos they just took.

 

Joong Ki and Amber looked at each other in bewilderment of actually being ignored by the two but just shrugged it off good naturedly. He had heard the rumors that while Min Hee-writer-nim was a bit of an oddball… Jun Soo-director-nim was not that normal either, he sometimes focus on his work too much that when he’s on the zone there was little they could do to take him out of it unless that particular part of the job was done.

 

Amber just looked at the two and let out a small smile. She could relate to it after all, being so focused in your work that everything else just falls to the background.

 

But unlike Amber, Joong Ki’s thoughts were different. He was unnerved about the behaviors of those three. And like an itch he wanted to scratch, he wanted to know why they were behaving so differently than before, they were acting normally before the photoshoot. Did something go wrong? He didn’t think so. Contrarily, he thinks the photoshoot went rather smoothly. He even thought that he had an easier time than normal. He glanced at his co-star, and the thought that came running to his mind was how it was effortlessly easy it was reacting to her expressions, there was something about her facial expressions and body language that there were even times during the photoshoot that he’d unknowingly react. And that itself made him more curious and eager to act alongside her in a real shoot. He smiled. He couldn’t wait.

 

The two went back to their dressing rooms to change and retrieve their things, bowing at the staff members on the way.