M i n  Y o u n g

C a r p e n t e r ' s  W o r k s h o p

Min Young mindlessly scrolled through the latest news on her phone. It had been a long day. Filming had started first thing in the morning at the SOMA, then a lunch scene at a random restaurant, Da-in's home, and now.. finally.. here. It was barely 4pm and she was already exhausted.

She made a mental note to try and avoid dramas of the live-shooting type in the future. She was probably getting too old for this.

Also, was it her "time of the month"? She wasn't in the best of moods today - she glanced over apologetically at Keunmin who she admonished earlier for forgetting to bring her usual foundation. It was the girl's responsibility, but she didn't have to get so huffy over it. Keunmin met her eyes from the distance and smiled comfortingly. Thankfully Keunmin had been her favourite stylist for a long time. She knew when Min Young was feeling less than her usual happy self it was almost always because something was bothering her.

And something was definitely bothering her. Something in the form of a tall, handsome man. Who had been incessantly trying to get her alone for the whole day since the morning. Jae Uck had kept on signalling to her that he wanted to chat - alone. She had kept on pretending she didn't see it. Of course, he couldn't do it openly, given today's scenes were Ryan / Deok Mi in argumentative mode so there wasn't much need to discuss scenes together like they usually did. Him coming over to "her section", especially on a day like this, would have set tongues wagging (even more than they already were, judging the many looks exchanged in the past whenever they had scenes together).

Anyway.

Everytime she saw him signal, she had mustered a nonchalant, ignorant smile. It wouldn't do for him to realise she was (very unfairly) annoyed at him. She knew she was being a petty child about everything - she knew. But could she help it? No. Therefore, best thing to do would be not to say anything for now. Hopefully she would get over her - infatuation - or whatever this was, soon.

Actually, this feeling she had right now, this would be good for the coming scene. A scene where Deok Mi was frustrated at Ryan, thinking he didn't want to continue the fake relationship (for the wrong reasons). She allowed to dwell on her feelings further, mustering the emotions that would be required for the filming. This was easy, not much acting required. Sighing, she continued scrolling through her phone when..

*ringring*

The bells on the door of the workshop tinkled as Sung Hoon, Jae Uck's junior assistant peered through. The workshop space was so small that team Jae Uck had set up shop outside by their vans, allowing team Min Young a bigger space for the preparation within the workshop itself. Min Young heard Jae Uck give up the space within the workshop earlier in the day, gallantly as ever, saying it would be too cold for Min Young to wait outside and that he was happy to do so. She rolled her eyes inwardly, yet, at the same time, killing herself for being such a child. Gosh, wasn't she a confused little thing right now....

Right behind Sung Hoon came the familiar silhouette of Ryan Gold. Pretending to studiously read something on her phone, she couldn't help but glance out of the corner of her eye, at Jae Uck effortlessly coming down the stairs, headed towards PD-nim.

Only, he suddenly made a detour and stopped by her chair instead. Keunmin was conveniently on the far side of the room, chatting with some of the other set staff. 

Crap.

"Hello." he paused. 

"Hi!" Gosh, was that a little too shrill?

"I...well.. I just wanted to check in. We still need to go through quite a fair bit for the coming scene.." Min Young flinched slightly. She knew they needed to. After all this was a major scene in the drama, and she had been avoiding him the whole day. Ottoke? I don't think I could look at him now without wanting to spill my guts over how I have been feeling...! Min Young frowned, but immediately realising her facial expression, tried to switch it into a smile, ending up in some kind of a grimace back at him.

Ryan Gold raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you alright? You kinda look like, you have a toothache or something?" he tried to joke. 

"No.. I mean, yes. Yes. I'm alright. Just trying to get into character for the scene. Not the best time to be joking when I'm heartbro- I mean, when I am supposed to be heartbroken." Min Young corrected herself. Damn my tendency for Freudian slips. 

"Ah...sorry. Am I disturbing your preparations?" He smiled apologetically, one lock of his long fringe falling in front of his eyes as he looked down towards the floor. Min Young's heart skipped an annoying little beat. 

"Yes, chuesonghaeyo,  this is rude of me, hajiman... I do need a little time to collect my thoughts ahead of this scene..." her voice trailed off as she saw dissappointment in his eyes. To his credit, it was gone in a flash, as he muttered his apologies ever so politely, before striding away towards PD-nim. 

She breathed a sigh of relief. Narrow escape. 

J a e  U c k

C a r p e n t e r ' s  W o r k s h o p

 This lady sure is a tough nut to crack. He'd seen sulky girls before, girls that went into mini fits every time they needed attention. This was different though. Min Young was too emotionally mature for this.

It's almost as if she had this wall that he accidentally broke through for awhile without her knowledge, but now it was like she suddenly realised there was an intruder, and she was politely, but surely, pushing this intruder back out, and building up that wall again. 

No, she wasn't being an ice queen about it. In fact, what pained him the most was that she was trying her best to hide this from him, and trying to do it in the softest, sweetest way possible (if there ever was a nice way to push someone out and figuratively build a wall, she had got it down pat).

Jae Uck was very aware of the little sigh of relief that emanated from her as he walked away from her. He debated within himself -  whether he should push it further, and just talk to her about what he thought was on her mind, but he couldn't bring himself to forcefully push through her like that. It was clear she didn't want to at that moment. Maybe a big part of the reason was her professionalism, but there was definitely a small part that was due to her not wanting to face whatever it was that she was feeling at that moment.

He wasn't one to push it - even though he wanted to clear the air so badly. It really was quite a silly thing to have - what would you call this? - a "lover's misunderstanding"? when really, nothing had happe