Love and Shenanigans
SeokBeen :)
‘Yeonseok-ah, you have your shoot session today, arent you?’
All resounding to the ears was the clacking sound of glasses and utensils being stored away neatly in their containers.
‘Oh really? Yeonseokie has not yet done his photoshoot?’ the one and only princess in the group Mido asked, following Kyungho’s left unanswered question.
The four friends paused their motions for a short while and centered their attention on the youngest brother, Yeonseok. He had been bustling day and day for the past few days. Having the five of them going camping together for the first time, the expert campinger Yoo Yeon Seok has been appointed as the person in charge.
Be that as it may as if he wasn’t himself, he went all jumpy since the morning.
Eyes fixed on his bright phone screen, he lowered his guard and loosened his awareness that Kyungho approaching him was not considered a thread. The fake maknae squinted one eye in an attempt to have a peek.
‘Yaaa… what the heck… who are you texting? Is it the blue house? The president? Are you being awarded the star of best maknae?’
Lips moving some inaudible words, Yeonseok finally noticed his friend’s sneaky movement and turned around.
‘Hyung, you’re heading home with your manager’s car today, right?’ The youngest baby made a direct question. All of the four laughed and giggled, slightly confused with his strange behavior, yet none seemed to have them surprised by all means.
They knew, for sure.
It would’ve been peculiar if they didn’t.
‘Arasseo. That’s it. Brotherhood no more. Friendship no more.’ said the grumpy Jung Kyungho. He walked away, leaving maknae Yeonseok, taking all his belonging, and getting ready to go.
The princess of the group followed Kyungho and the rest made their move seconds after. All headed to their respective cars to load their appurtenances. Two days of camping out in the wild were enough getaway from their frantic shooting scheme.
‘Yeonseok-ah, pack your bags and get in your car now. It’s time to leave. Come on, let’s head back to Seoul.’ The eldest brother Jojeol urged. He had a bit of worry sprinkle on his face, utterly concerned with the youngest unresponsive behavior.
‘Yes, hyung, right away. I’m sorry I was just replying to texts.’ Yeon Seok calmly replied, smiling as the eldest brother approached him, being the only patient friend to help him with the packing.
‘You’re going to see her again today, aren’t you?’ Jojeol whispered to him as they both faced back the other friends, waiting in their cars.
Yeon Seok’s smile was apparent to the eldest’s eyes. It has been several months ever since Hospital Playlist season one wrapped its successful drama. In regards to that, time has elapsed ever since the last time Yeon Seok had a formal encounter with his co-star Shin Hyunbeen. However, it is not an unknown fact that the two occasionally meet up on several occasions, be it on purpose or purely accidental.
Two strangers met and started out as a friend.
Best friends.
‘She texted me, hyung.’ Yeon Seok opened up; his hands were still busy folding some of his used clothing. ‘Her shoot was supposed to be next week, but it got accelerated to become today because she had a sudden important schedule set for that date. So we’re both doing the shoot today.’
‘I see. That basically summarizes everything then.’ Jojeol laughed at his own wits. Thinking how the maknae has now fallen deeply in love amused him. The two would make a great pair, so as Jojeol would say. ‘No further questions asked. You won’t be able to answer properly anyways.’
‘Hyung!’ Yeon Seok whined, a bit embarrassed at the fact that the eldest brother knows him too well.
‘Okay, that’s enough. Let’s wrap up and head home, shall we? Ouh, I can’t wait to see my little angel at home.’ Jojeol made a funny face, smiling from ear to ear as a memory of his beautiful baby girl appeared in his mind.
Yeon Seok loaded most of his stuff inside the car; he is now getting ready to leave. He drew himself to each of his friends’ car to bid them goodbye.
‘Ask her if she’s free and keen to have a coffee or beef stew. She would love that.’ Jojeol placed a gentle pat on Yeon Seok’s back, the act of senior nurturing his junior.
‘But don’t forget to take things slow. Respect her and treat her well.’
Yeon Seok turned around and flashed a smile of reassurance. He understood the assignment well.
‘I will hyung.’
[Hyunbeen, 14.04]
Oppa, where are you?
[Yeonseok, 14.08]
Arriving in ten :) Have you arrived?
[Hyunbeen, 14.09]
Yes. But I’ll just wait for you then.
[Yeonseok, 14.12]
Why? 🥺 You can go in first, it’s okay.
[Hyunbeen, 14.13]
It’s alright. I will wait for you. 😖
[Yeonseok, 14.15]
Haha… Okay. I’ll be quick! 🏎
[Hyunbeen, 14.18]
Oppa…
[Hyunbeen, 14.19]
Drive safely. 🥺
[Yeonseok, 14.20]
I will. 🥺
‘Stop doing that, will you?’ Yeon Seok chuckled as he handed over a cup of warm matcha tea to Been. He noticed her bad habit of biting nails as a method to overcome her anxiety made a return. Diverting her attention to her favorite drink was Yeon Seok’s way to go.
He was stealing glances, quite too often for it to be called a glance. Been remained unbothered. Whether or not she noticed the man’s act, no one could tell for sure.
‘You uhm, oppa, you did a great job back there.’ Been tried to ease off her tension.
Yeon Seok sipped his own hot green tea before giving her a response. ‘The shoot?’
She nodded her head, now shifting her seat closer to him. ‘Yes.’ Been’s eyes widened to their maximum diameter. ‘I know you probably would say it’s nothing because it’s only a photoshoot, but still... You were so… natural.’
‘Trust me. It took me years of practice to not look so awkward.’ Yeon Seok scratched the skin right above his eyebrow, feeling a bit shy.
‘And plus, I think you deserve to be a part of it.’ Been pursed her lips, staring blankly at her feet, noticing the neat folds down her jeans encircling her pristine ankles.
‘To be a part of what to be exactly?’ Yeon Seok lurched forward, digging deeper for what Been has to say.
‘My experience in acting is very limited. Having only spent several years in this entertainment world…’ Been hesitated. She’s fully aware of Yeon Seok’s round attention to her, and she had a hard time framing her words.
‘Meanwhile you… you’ve marked your name in the industry. People know you; they recognize you for your outstanding performances. You deserve to be a part of this project. KOFIC made the right choice for having you in this. But I’m sure many people would agree that I, not yet, deserve the title.’ Been continued as her head kept on getting lower.
Yeon Seok fully understood her point, and if he were to disregard his morale and risk everything, he would do anything right there right then to make her feel a lot better.
The urge to pull her by the hand and have her arms circling her tiny body has almost succumbed that Yeon Seok urgently had to throw his face to the other corner of the room.
‘Don’t say that.’
Been still had her eyes on the ground.
‘There are great people behind this project. They did not just casually pick actors and actresses as to their likings.’ Yeon Seok continued. ‘They picked you. They must’ve seen something in you. Something great about your portraying your role. You’ve succeeded, and they saw that.’
Been felt her eyes twitch at Yeon Seok’s words of encouragement. She could tell from the way he said it. He did not say that only out of pity or groundless empathy. It was honest and sincere.
‘And I saw that too.’ Yeon Seok chugged down his matcha tea. ‘If anyone were to say otherwise, they would have to take a closer look, to see just how remarkable you are as an actress.’
Been traced the cup lid with her fingers. She wasn’t quite sure herself on why precisely this sudden attack of butterflies in her stomach appears whenever Yeon Seok is around. Not to be mistaken, she has plenty of guy friends; growing up as a tomboy girl made her circle far from limited to only girls.
‘Gomawo.’ Been sincerely said, didn’t dare to say the word eye-to-eye to Yeon Seok.
‘What for?’
‘For making me feel a lot better about myself.’ She was frank at that moment. To receive such a compliment from fellow actors is something she seldom receives. Better yet, Yeon Seok, her co-star, her loveline in the drama, her best friend in real life, and so much more.
‘Oppa, you have a way of radiating comfort to people around you. That’s something you should be proud of.’
Yeon Seok brushed aside his embarrassment by laughing it off. Killing two birds with one stone not only it hindered his face from burning red, but it resulted in Been bursting into melodious laughter as well. She did realize now what she said was rather doltish, but now that Yeon Seok is around, his presence washed her concerns away.
The stylist staff called her to change. It was supposedly a one-session shoot, but the crew wanted more of her pictures and have received a green light of approval to have more of her portrait.
‘Do you think I look okay?’ Been asked. The question initially was meant to be a rhetoric one. A kind of one not expecting an answer in response, yet her sight in a beige colored turtleneck and blue jeans appeared to be a magnet to the eyes.
‘Okay?’ Yeon Seok scoffed. ‘Beauty in simplicity. Nothing can ever second that.’
Been captured Yeon Seok’s eyes, and the feeling struck her again. The indescribable feeling was overwhelming her. A feeling so pure yet undeniably dangerous to her sense. The fondness Yeon Seok gave to her was unlike any others, thoroughly menacing that she knew it is a different kind of affection a friend would give to a friend.
Even so, doubt and hesitation engulfed her heart. The emotion she tried to deny, seek to hide. Been was afraid she would fall in too deep for a heart that has been broken so many times, as fragile as hers.
Whether it was the love from Ahn Jeongwon to Jang Gyeoul, or with all one’s heart, sincerely from Yoo Yeon Seok to Shin Hyunbeen, none of the two could exactly tell.
‘No oppa. You can be honest with me. You know God is fair when he gave you the talent for acting, but it turns out you can be impeccably bad at lying.’ Been furrowed her brows, a curve twist right on her chin resembles her so much of Jang Gyeoul. It made Yeon Seok chortle. He had seen that face many times on screen, on and off filming, but it never fails to amuse him every single time.
‘Aniyaa! Jinjja! I am not lying! You look good in almost everything!’ Yeon Seok’s cheeks were flaming in tomato as he unconsciously said it in public. Though not many people were in the room, he still restrained himself back to his boundary line.
‘Been-ah.’
Been turned swiftly at Yeon Seok’s remark, completely neglecting the hairbrush she was holding. ‘Yes, oppa?’
‘You have a beautiful smile.’ Yeon Seok took a deep, long breath. ‘Let your beauty enchant them all.’
There was a minute moment of silence where their eyes had locked. He saw her hazel brown eyes, plump lips, rosy cheeks, and he no longer sense fear or worry coming from her. Yeon Seok smiled at her before nodding and politely guided her to the studio.
Been loosened her hair, it fell graciously just right below her shoulders. A strand of hair stuck to the side of her face in which she wasn’t aware of.
‘Wait, hold on.’ Yeon Seok pushed Been’s hair behind her ear and tugged it. His subtle smile made her catch her breath as she smiled back at him. She felt an embrace of happiness and peace as the two leaps in close proximity to one another.
Been felt her gullet went dry, and she cleared her throat, causing the two to break from the contact.
‘Oh, right. Sorry.’ Yeon Seok took a step back.
‘Gwaenchana.’
Been distracted herself by neatly comb her hair. She kindly asked the stylist only to fix her makeup but wanted to tidy the hair independently.
‘Been-ah, do you have any plans after this?’
She raised an eyebrow, her brain simultaneously listing down her plan for the day. ‘Not that I know off. My manager moved the shooting schedule to today because I am pretty much free for the whole day. What about you, oppa?’
‘Oh, is that so?’ Yeon Seok rubbed the nape of his neck, swaying left to right showing his malaise. ‘If you want to, maybe we can have coffee or beef stew? I m-mean if you’re not that hungry, we can have tea or snacks, that would be fine too?’
Yeon Seok scratched his head again, this time a bit longer. He regretted his hastiness and lack of forethought. ‘B-but, of course, it is totally fine too if you don-’
‘Sure! Beef stew, coffee, and snacks it is then!’ she answered in a whim, without having to think twice.
Been hid her excitement well as she marched to stand in front of the camera. Yeon Seok stood there, hidden behind the crowd of staff. He’s never leaving her, all attention centered only on the one and only Shin Hyunbeen.
Her hair was a rich shade like blooming flowers, and it flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like milky skin. Been's eyes, framed by short lashes, were a bright, hazel-brown and seemed to brighten the entire universe. A shining pointy nose, plump lips – she appeared the picture of perfection.
Had she smiled, the world would sigh beneath her feet. Had she laughed, the world would laugh with her. And had she wept, the whole world would want to comfort her.
Yeon Seok admired her; he cherished every line and curve of her body as he watched her from afar.
It's the moment when he finally realized, and as if he has never been sure of anything else, Yeon Seok finally understood that perhaps the greatest love of all is who the eyes can see.
Shin Hyunbeen.
She stole his heart, and better yet, unbeknownst to her, it was always hers for the taken.
She loves him more than he will ever know.
And he loves her more than he’ll ever show.