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Pushing out all other thoughts from my head, I get into character for the next scene.
“You want us to dowhat?”
I’m dog-tired from the long day of shooting, so I hope I misheard what Mr. Kim just said.
Bryan and I are in Mr. Kim’s office, along with whoeverfrom our team could make the meeting. For me, that’s Sophia, who was thankfully able to move things around in her schedule to be here with me, while Bryan has his manager and a few others from his team.
“We think it’d be best if you and Bryan-ssi started a romantic relationship,” Mr. Kim says diplomatically, like he’s some political advisor negotiating an armistice between two warring countries. “Not a real one, of course. But a strategically devised, contract-sanctioned one that’ll catch the public’s eye. We will spread the word through top international news platforms and ensure that it will make the entertainment headlines.”
He spreads his hands out in front of him. “‘Top K-Pop Star Bryan Yoon Falls in Love with New, Mysterious Costar Jin Hana.’ Just think about how the public will react. Fans from all over the world will tune in toFated Destinyto see how it sparked the romance between you two. And hopefully, seeing you and him as a real couple will encourage people to keep watching the show beyond that as well. After all, you have great on-screen chemistry, so it probably won’t be that hard to convince everyone.”
Bryan and I lock eyes, and I immediately gag.Oops.The sound just comes out of my mouth before I can stop myself.
The room goes silent, other than the sound of someone—Sophia, I think—trying very hard not to laugh. Bryan rolls his eyes and looks the other way.
“Yes,” replies Mr. Kim. His lips curl into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Believe it or not, you were cast to be Bryan’s love interest because our creative team agreed that you and he share incredible on-screen chemistry. It’s quite unfortunate that you two apparently despise each other in real life, but you are an actress for a reason, are you not?”
I look toward Bryan again, only to see that he’s staring back at me, too. Granted, since Bryan was definitively ranked in this year’s “Top Five Hottest Young K-Pop Stars,” there are worse guys to be in a fake relationship with. But I’msixteen. I’ve never even been in a real relationship. And pretending to date Bryan, someone who I don’t actually have feelings for, is the last thing I want to do right now.
I expect Bryan to look just as repulsed by the idea as I am, but he keeps his gaze on me calm and even friendly as he says, “Sure, I’ll do it. It sounds like an excellent idea. My team and I will have to set up the formal terms before I officially agree on anything. But if this can help our ratings, I’m in.”
Both Bryan and Mr. Kim stare at me with expectant looks. It’s then that I realize just how much of a formality this meeting is. I don’t have much of a choice. In this industry, guys like Bryan and Mr. Kim get to call all the shots, while girls like me are just expected to follow along.
Even though I hate how underhanded and sneaky this whole thing is, I’d also do anything for the show as long as it means we can get better ratings. Mr. Kim is a top studio executivewho’s been overseeing internationally popular shows long before I was even born. If anyone knows how to boost our ratings, it would be him.
I think back to how my parents were disappointed with our show’s premiere last night. I can’t do anything about how the show is written, but what Icando is catch the public’s attention so people will at least tune in to see us together. And hopefully, that’ll be enough to make it so that everyone’s hard work and sacrifices don’t just go to waste.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll give it a try. But I also have to discuss things with my manager first.”
I shoot Sophia a look, and she nods.
“Splendid!” says Mr. Kim. “Please forward me a copy of the agreement established by both of your teams once everything is settled.”
And that’s that. It’s obvious from his tone that we’re dismissed.
Just one business meeting and suddenly I’m no longer single. Not publicly, anyway. If only it were that easy to date someone in real life!
Once we’re out of the office building, I turn to Bryan, expecting him to say something about what just happened. But despite how eager he was when he said he’d date me for the good of the show, he avoids meeting my eyes and walks away.
What a fake jerk-wad, I think.
To avoid fuming over Bryan, I stare up at the shiny blue glass exterior of the studio’s headquarters. It’s dark outside,but the building shines brilliantly thanks to its countless lights. A few people are still entering and exiting the building. When I first stepped inside this building for my auditions, I thought this was where my dreams would come true. In a way, they did, but definitely not how I thought they would.
As I’m walking to my bus stop, I get this sudden, strong urge to message Minjee. Rivals or not, she was still one of my best friends, and she was the one I could always talk to about how unfairly the industry treats girls like us.
We’re still friends on KakaoTalk, the main instant messaging app that everyone uses in Korea. I click on her profile and stare at her picture, a snapshot of the cheap but still cute photo booth picture I took with her. We’re both in our sky-blue school uniforms and holding matching victory signs while laughing at some joke that I don’t remember anymore. We’re so close together that Minjee’s long curls are practically enmeshed in my then shoulder-length hair.
I might have forgotten what we were laughing about, but I still remember how warm and happy she made me feel. Whether it was wandering through the streets of Seoul, looking for the best shaved ice places, or helping each other memorize lines for school plays, we always had fun together.
I don’t remember who stopped talking first, me or her, but I really miss her. But I don’t know how I’d even start up a new conversation. It’s just been too long since we last talked for it to not be awkward, no matter what I said. Besides, wouldn’t it just sound like bragging if I told her about my problems aboutthe very show that passed her over?
When the bus arrives at my stop, I give up on trying to compose a message and slip the phone back in my pocket. Things may be rough, but that probably doesn’t give me an excuse to randomly dig up dead friendships.
I make a mental note to give Sophia a call when I get back home. If she can’t help me navigate through this whole situation with Bryan, then no one can.
