CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Past Directors

Entering the chosen restaurant during the lunch hour, Yanan is immediately greeted by the bustling scene with waiters and waitresses running around as they try to control the crowd. It is a close call when he almost bumps onto a figure. However, he thankfully exhales once he realises it is Sungjae who conveniently walked out of the restroom a couple of metres away from their current spot.

The caller goes by the name Lim Hyunsik. Long story short, the particular Director already beams a bright smile whilst waving over their direction. One sign is simple enough to gather the two boys at the table he claimed minutes ago. Both of them good-naturedly adjust their seats before glancing up with Yanan lagging a second behind Sungjae.

“It’s been awhile since the last time I talked you, wasn’t it?” Hyunsik began lightly. His hand is apparently busy stirring the drink on his table and it is only then the Chinese fellow notices his favourite beverage already served in advance. Well, it just a simple carbonated drink. He is sure his friend knows him better after spending plentiful times together despite the one year gap.

“Yeah,” Sungjae felt as if he answered the question a bit too fast so he adds on, “But we crossed path quite a few times at the company so it’s fine, I guess.” He sips on his iced coffee to ease the conversation. What he said was true anyway. Their conversations always cut short since both of them are indeed busy people who run around the agency to get work done.

“So, I’ll get things straight.” The former theatre director spoke. Finally he places his arms on the table since the food they ordered have yet to come. “I’m genuinely surprised to get a very formal invitation from Rose Quartz after such a long time. What are they working on lately?”

Sungjae and Yanan exchange looks, confused. To be expected, they pondered.

“Actually, we didn’t send them. Not initially and in that manner too.” Yanan did the honour of starting an actual discussion. Witnessing Hyunsik’s eyes widen means a lot to them especially when the older male is known for his cute eye smile during his time as a director in RQS. He is not the kind to get puzzled easily too so they are at a dead end.

Or are they really?

“Was it Seun-”

“No, I asked Seungcheol. It’s neither his nor Wonwoo’s doings. Both of them are surprised too when I told them.” Sungjae took over, bobbing his head when he senses his partner doing the same. One thing caught Hyunsik’s attention the most is when the PM mentions the Playwright’s name. “What is Wonwoo’s position in this play? I assume he has something extra since you mentioned him.”

“Oh, he’s the writer and the assistant director.”

“Assistant director you say…” Hyunsik slowly stated, elongating the line with a facial expression – a very thoughtful one because for a reason unbeknownst to anyone, the position somewhat manages to pop up a random name from the past.

Final season of 1^st Generation of Rose Quartz and Serenity Production team…

The third director was only able to have his palm stuck on his face as he remained still on the chair in the comfort of the office room. He would run his hair once in a while before returning to its original position and peeked at his surroundings between his fingers.

Laid in front and around him was a messy scene. It was as if a typhoon had hit the room or even a war. He could not tell which was worse but seeing that he was rooted in the centre of the whole mess, he let an elongated sigh escape his system. It was too much to handle and even someone as patient as Hyunsik would probably burst just to reduce the tension by the other two directors which formerly occupying the room.

His mind wondered what did start Eunkwang’s and Changsub’s fight in the first place aside from their typical clash of ideas. They would not fight over something so petty, he figured and it was their differences that often attracted different kinds of people to their individual plays. As he was deep into thought, he caught the founder of RQS trudging through the semi-closed door.

“What happened?” Hyunsik’s question was very sincere and pure. His gaze could see Eunkwang limped figure as he threw his body on his designated workspace on his right. The older fellow merely shook his head yet the gesture appeared to make him nervous for no apparent reason. “I’m tired.” Eunkwang said shortly.

“If that is it, you should take a rest.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. I’m tired of this.” Hyunsik eyed on Eunkwang’s face as if the other somewhat grew an extra pair of eyes on top of his for head or something. To add on, he even gestured vaguely using hand movements that was difficult to understand at first. “What do you mean by that?”

He knew what it meant. Nonetheless, he had the tendency to repeat things. If repetitive practices helped his cast work better, why did his memory seem to be lacking after repeating the same statement over and over again?

“I think it’s time for me to hand this, Rose Quartz to you.”

Second season of 2^nd Generation of Rose Quartz and Serenity Production team…

“Jinho, you’re up?” The head director voiced as their weekly production meeting commenced with familiar and recognisable Head of Departments filled the seats in the meeting room. The atmosphere resembled a lot even after years of its run. Quiet and still but zero hostile vibe floating in the air which was something worth thanking about.

“I’m cool with that. It’s not like it’s going to interrupt my play or anything.” Jo Jinho being one of the directors in the second batch of RQS team shrugged after he let himself enjoy listening to Hyunsik’s proposal regarding the upcoming play. It was happy to inform everyone that there was yet a major fight happening between the new set of directors though they didn’t share the same colour and ideas at most times.

Once the meeting ended, Hyunsik felt a tap on his shoulders in the midst of preoccupied by the written proposal on his work desk. It was often to experience his fellow mate, Min Yoongi swung by his office after their respective classes in SIA ended. With him having Music Production as a minor, Hyunsik tended to share a couple of classes which was where they often met to discuss music in a casual manner.

“Are you sure you can handle the song composition by yourself? I can’t start the lighting design without the actual stage being designed anyway.” The younger fellow kindly offered. He sat on an empty chair, supposedly for Jinho but as the other was at the practice studio, might as well use them.

“It’s not going to be a lot of original to do actually. I’m not planning to make a musical. How’s the rest going along actually?” Hyunsik questioned out of curiosity, his attention stuck on the paperwork all along. “It’s been two weeks but it is all good from what I’m seeing.”

That was simply how quick the time skipped for the production and it was during the first night of the show the director ruffled his hair in agony when he caught the face of his lead actor twisting in pain. He told them to be careful yet what should he expect when the play required fancy movements and grand gestures? Brushing passed his worried self was the HR team rushing towards the injured cast.

“Is Kyungsoo here?” The man called for his best friend in the midst of the chaotic backstage with stagehands running to finalise some other major things for the play. Hyunsik sighed, waving the fellow over to his side before telling him to stand in for the night’s show. Fortunately for everyone, Do Kyungsoo tagged along with the entire practice session in spite of his eventful life at the time in the real acting world.

Present time…

“I don’t get it. Why are you telling us this?” Sungjae cut off the story-telling session provided by Hyunsik when the older man dramatically paused on his final sentence. Bobbing his head approvingly at the question, Yanan hesitantly continues, “Injured actor is not a surprise. Unfortunate? Yes, of course.”

“I was lucky enough to have Kyungsoo that night. He wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place. To have my main actor injured exactly an hour before the show was very worrying. The curtain cannot be open even with the hall being filled to the brim. The strangest thing about that night is not even that. I saw someone.”

Hyunsik remembers that moment as if it happened only yesterday. A mysterious figure snuck their body through a massive production team. In his heart, there was a disturbing feeling, a pounding sensation. One thing he is sure of, the figure was not a part of the team since they were clad in completely black from top to bottom. Unlike the team who had a streak of pink and blue on the sides of their shirts, they had none of the team colour.

“Spooky.” The youngest boy among the three was able to conjure only the single word. “And that is probably not the last time I saw them. If my eyes were not deceiving me, this person might actually follow the team’s progress in secrecy. One of the past crew members might actually let this person in which is why they are always around.” Hyunsik’s eyes meet the two boys in front of him.

“I want to suggest that someone might have been sending out this letters to the previous directors behind your back. I would try to contact Eunkwang but the guy’s on another level of busy. Changsub on the other hand, is the same but being within the same circle, it is easier to talk to.”

“So are you telling us that we should keep an eye throughout the entire production period?” Sungjae asked another question after a moment of silence to produce a decent statement. Hyunsik nods. “Are you guys heading to the performance hall any time soon?”

“We’ll switch practice venue to be at the hall next week. If things are going according to plan, Shinyoung’s team will start building the set at about the same time.” Yanan shared the bit of information which sparks another interest in the older fellow’s eyes.

“Shinyoung is still with you guys?”

“She’s the Scenographer this time around.”

“Interesting. And I thought the rumour about her and Wonwoo not getting along well under one roof is true.”

“Actually, it is very true. You don’t want to see it yourself.” The Production Manager rolls his eyes as he said those to the former director who decides the best reaction is to laugh. The Event Manager however furrows when he learnt the fact. Oh, he never actually witness most of the cold wars between the two to notice how bad it is.

“Now that you mentioned that, they’ll make a great team. Seungcheol included. The three of them worked by my side before. Not together at the same time but different plays. I can actually visualise how this future might come along. It’s a musical, right?”

Sungjae and Yanan nods their heads in synchronise.

“I can’t wait to go to your full dressed rehearsal.”

“Choi Seungcheol!” Sungjae screamed as soon as his entire self steps into the practice room which immediately causes the practice to completely come to a halt. Plastered on the cast faces are tiredness but that is the least thing he cares about. It is a common expression. “I met with Hyunsik this afternoon. We really need to set that date, quick.”

“I can’t just set a date, Jae. They are going to have their exam in two weeks.” Seungcheol replied in the same loud manner before turning his gaze to glance at his fellow actors and actresses. Most of them are panting for air and they should thank Sungjae to randomly giving them a break time.

“I know. Hey, Junhui, come here. Wonwoo, you too.” He gestures the boys to come closer so they can give an opinion or two regarding the matter. Besides, it is him who will arrange the schedule later and the assistant can provide extra insight. “What do you think?” Sungjae instantly tossed the question.

“I’m still trying to sneak the Music students’ time into the practice schedule. Most of the Dance majors will be free after the first week of the actual exam time. Theatre kids will have a day for their final small showcase which includes me. Myungho…”

“What’s wrong with Myungho?” The current director’s eyes are visibly worried when Junhui paused while he looks through the rough schedule written from the day before. He took a good amount of time trying to get everything to fit that scribbles are the only thing Sungjae able to see from his spot.

“He will have two papers with a gap of three days from one another. The week after he will head to Ilsan for a short film shooting with the rest of third year Cinematography classmates. It also conveniently includes some important people like Shinyoung, Mingyu, and Jungkook.”

“Meaning we’ll not have our lead male, scenographer, wardrobe master, and behind the scene shooter.” Seungcheol looks at Sungjae weirdly when he hears him holding in a batch of what he assumed to be a laugh. “What’s funny?”

“BTS shooter is a funny way to say Jungkook’s work, Cheol.”

“Back to the subject…” Junhui resisted the urge to appear rude to the two males in front of him and adds on, “I guess Seungkwan can fill in Myungho during the rehearsal. I’m not worried about the set since Taehyung will be there. Same applied for Mingyu’s case since I’m pretty sure Jiyeon can help on that department. We have no problem with sound and…”

“You really should stop pausing, Jun. You’re making me nervous for no apparent reason.” Sungjae told him and Junhui simply shakes his shoulders. “The lighting department haven’t produced a final design. Soonyoung told me he’ll do it when he’s fully satisfied to let go of his dance team. Since Shinyoung is in charge, she will not be there to run the lights if they cannot make it on time for the full rehearsal.”

“And I know how pissed Hyunsik can be if the show lacks of light.” Seungcheol winced upon recalling a memory of working by the older director’s side. “He might not be an expert but he worked with Yoongi for that department and we all know how good he was with them lights.”

“Didn’t Soonyoung and Shinyoung have their understudy or something?” Sungjae suddenly said a brand new fact which the two of them never heard before. “The lighting people have their own understudy too?” Junhui is utterly surprised by the notion. It is very new to him and same applied to Seungcheol.

“She is more of Shinyoung’s understudy than Soonyoung from what I’m seeing though. The girl’s a second year Scenography major. She is Cinematography minor but as you said, only the third years will go. So I see no problem. I have a feeling Shinyoung wouldn’t take simply anyone to teach.” Wonwoo who remained quiet during the talk slips into the discussion.

“You seem to know a lot. Mind sharing?” Seungcheol urged him. Eyeing on the Stage Manager and Production Manager, he lets out a sigh. He can tell where this talk might head to and he has a feeling his past will come back to him. Surely enough…

“The girl’s name is Jung Yein. They resemble a lot in terms of passion especially in lighting design. She’s a junior of hers since high school and has always respected her. Shinyoung loves her and I remember how she said Yein is a like a little sister she can never have. It is a distant memory but knowing Shinyoung, she might actually have the final design drawn and passed to her. Shinyoung will not toss her responsibility aside even if it’s not her actual job to do so. And…”

That is what I always like about her.

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