‘Cut! That’s a wrap, everyone!’
Shin Hye smiled brightly and bowed to the staff who scurried around the set. The director approached her and shook her hand before turning to her manager. Shin Hye walked back to the dressing room, smiling and greeting the people who were telling her what a great job she’s done. When she opened the door, it was empty. Her staff must have gone to the snack bar outside the set that the director talked about earlier.
She finally got rid of the smile and sunk into her seat. She sat there idly, looking at herself in the mirror. Behind the makeup, she could see the dark circles under her eyes. She hasn’t been sleeping well lately. Even when she was exhausted from her shoots, she would struggle to fall asleep. She waged a war with her thoughts every night.
The first week was the most difficult – her days ended just crying herself to sleep. She dealt with it alone, not wanting other people to know about what had happened between them. Save for Manager Joon and Geun Suk, nobody else knew they broke up. She could have easily called her girl friends over to talk about what a douchebag Lee Min Ho was, and to assure her that it wasn’t her loss. But she didn’t want that. Partly because she was embarrassed, and partly because she didn’t want her friends to think he was a bad person. Because he wasn’t. He was a great guy who had the misfortune of having the weight of the world on his shoulders. But she still agonized over the truth that the heaviest burden to him was her, and that he chose to let her go.
It wasn’t helping that he was everywhere. When she found out that he was flying to New Zealand, she breathed a sigh of relief. For a few days, she wasn’t afraid that she’d accidentally bump into him. She had already changed her number to avoid him. She knew that the best way she could move on fast was if she got rid of every trace of him from her life. She buried herself in more work – it was the perfect distraction.
Initially she had thought of postponing going back to school. Now that opportunities doubled, she pondered on working more. Her agency also thought it would be a shame not to take advantage of her growing popularity. She had agreed at first, but she eventually changed her mind, much to her agency’s dismay. School was one of the only places where she felt normal. And right about now, she wanted normalcy more than anything. After finishing her work commitments, she’ll go back to school next month while simultaneously filming her movie.
‘Shin Hye,’ her stylist greeted her brightly as she walked through the door carrying a cup full of deokbokki. ‘Have you been here long? Mian. We just got something to eat from the bar. Do you want some?’
Shin Hye shook her head. ‘It’s okay, eonnie. I was just about to get dressed.’ She stood up and walked to the rack where her clothes hung.
‘We’re thinking of getting drinks after this. Do you want to come? Single people get drunk on Valentine’s Day, but I prefer doing it the night before,’ she winked. ‘That way, it doesn’t look as pathetic.’
Shin Hye chuckled lightly. ‘I’m going to pass this time. But you guys have fun.’
Her stylist narrowed her eyes and nudged her playfully. ‘Oooh. You probably have a date with Mr. perfect, huh?’
‘Eh?’
‘Ahh, I’m jealous. Gorgeous people always find each other. When will I get my own Lee Min Ho?’ Shin Hye’s stylist gushed. ‘Of course, he’s one in a billion. So that’s a fail for me,’ she laughed.
Shin Hye didn’t respond and changed her clothes quietly, hoping her stylist would stop talking. Any mention of Min Ho still made her uncomfortable. And she didn’t want the people around her to notice. At least not yet.
It was a noisy ride with her staff talking and laughing inside the van as Jae Won drove to the bar where they were going to get drinks. Shin Hye stayed quiet and giggled occasionally at some jokes. She was still feeling weird after her exchange with her stylist at the dressing room.
‘Are you sure you’re going to be alright? You’re all girls,’ Joon asked.
‘We can take care of ourselves, thank you,’ Shin Hye’s stylist replied dryly. ‘And we don’t want you there. It’s a ladies’ night out so stop trying to tag along.’
Her manager scoffed. ‘I’m not going to come with you even if you beg me to,’ he snapped back.
They all laughed again as Jae Won pulled over in front of a building in Hongdae. In its second and third floors hid Bar Da, which was a laid-back Western-type bar that’s mostly a well-kept secret. Shin Hye had been there a few times before, when her stylist would invite her to one of her ladies’ night outs.
‘Enjoy your date,’ her stylist winked at Shin Hye as she stepped out of the van. Joon looked at Shin Hye curiously, and she smiled weakly in response. After her makeup artist and personal assistant got off, they were on the road again.
‘What was that about?’ her manager asked.
‘Nothing. She’s crazy, remember?’ Shin Hye replied blandly, closing her eyes.
‘Are you sure?’ he eyed Shin Hye suspiciously from the front passenger seat.
‘Yes, I’m sure. You, of all people should know, oppa.’
They were silent as Jae Won drove to Shin Hye’s apartment. She was trying to fall asleep when her manager cleared his throat. ‘Keunde… you haven’t told your parents yet?’
Shin Hye’s eyes fluttered open at the sudden question. When she didn’t reply, her manager spoke again. ‘I talked to your Mom this afternoon, reminding them about the fanmeeting on Saturday and she asked if,’ he paused, ‘if he was going to be there.’
‘What did you say?’ Shin Hye bit her lip, thinking about how to break the news to her parents. She knew she had to tell them sooner or later, but she had been hoping to postpone it until she was sure she wouldn’t break down into tears in front of them when she does.
‘Of course I said he wasn’t going to be there.’
‘Okay then.’ Shin Hye shut her eyes again. She had been hoping to just rest tonight, but now, her mind was racing. She knew that once she gets home, she’ll just end up tossing and turning in bed.
‘Oppa,’ she spoke.
Her manager turned around to look at her. ‘Wae?’
‘I don’t have a schedule tomorrow, right?’
He nodded his head. ‘Eo. You asked me to make sure you were free on…’ he stopped midsentence, obviously realizing he shouldn’t have brought that up. Last month, Shin Hye had asked him to keep Valentine’s Day open. She talked to Min Ho’s manager, too, and got him to give Min Ho a day off. She was preparing a surprise trip to Chungnam for the two of them.
Shin Hye sighed deeply, remembering when she had to call her friend who owned the house where they were supposed to stay and cancelled. ‘Can we turn back? I changed my mind. I’ll get drinks with the eonnies.’