Chapter 14: Unexpected Attention

Dohoon, the unwitting subject of the attention, was unaware that the selfie he took with Sejin had become quite the internet sensation. It circulated widely under titles such as ‘Actor Gains a Soul in Selfie Thanks to Idol Buff.jpg,’ seemingly proving that even those notoriously bad at selfies could find hope.

Of course, this minor miracle was entirely due to Sejin, who expertly combined the optimal angle with just the right amount of digital enhancement.

Dohoon, having immediately saved the photo with FACE A, would occasionally retrieve it and gaze at it as if it were a precious treasure. Yet, to be honest, he was far more thrilled about having witnessed their stage performance up close that day than merely meeting them and taking a picture.

Having only ever seen them in videos, FACE A’s live performance was far more dynamic and spectacular than he had imagined. Despite the modest size of the stage, their performance was so outstanding that it felt utterly complete, lacking nothing.

He had repeatedly raised and lowered his hand, desperate to film a video, only to stop himself, feeling self-conscious. Later, he discovered that other celebrities had filmed the stage without a second thought. The regret of having been so timid, fearing judgment when no one would have cared, was profound.

****

Meanwhile, ‘Moonlight Shimmer,’ the drama starring Dohoon, was actively casting supporting roles. Dohoon, however, knew nothing about the progress of the audition for the role of Haesu or whether Jaejeong had been contacted.

Even as the lead actor, showing excessive interest in casting decisions, which were the production team’s prerogative, could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. He had considered attending the auditions, but ultimately decided against it.

It was a rational judgment that held Dohoon back: he should limit his involvement to merely mentioning Jaejeong’s name and not interfere further.

Still, he felt no anxiety. He was confident that others would recognize Jaejeong’s potential, just as he had. Jaejeong possessed immense talent and was an individual ready to shine at any moment. Dohoon held unwavering faith in his artist.

“Hyung, we’ve arrived.”

“Oh, right.”

It was Myeongun’s voice that pulled Dohoon from his reverie. Today marked the filming of a new TV commercial for the air conditioner he modeled for. Dohoon often realized the changing seasons through such schedules.

As the set bustled with preparations, a company staff member approached Dohoon, who was having his makeup done, holding a camera. Dohoon, who had been sitting blankly, entrusting his face to the staff, turned his gaze, puzzled.

“What’s that camera for?”

“It’s for the official account.”

“Ah… Are you filming now?”

“Yes.”

“Hello.”

Dohoon also had an official channel managed by his company. Though not frequent, original content was regularly uploaded, and thanks to the excellent editing, it consistently received positive feedback from fans.

Accustomed to the camera, Dohoon smiled and waved without awkwardness. Not stopping there, after his makeup was finished, he readily extended his hand towards the camera.

“Let me try. I’ll film.”

Receiving the camera, Dohoon lowered his arm to a comfortable position for filming. The flustered staff member paused, reaching out a hand.

“Hyung, you should raise it slightly when you shoot. If you shoot from that low…”

“Oh, right. I always forget. Like this?”

Dohoon raised the camera slightly, and the staff member gave an ‘okay’ sign.

“Today… what is it? Ah, I’m here to film an air conditioner commercial.”

After briefly explaining his schedule for the day, Dohoon’s lips twitched into an embarrassed smile. He was used to being in front of the camera, but holding it himself and trying to film left him at a loss for words.

After wandering around the set, muttering useless monologues to himself for a long time, Dohoon reluctantly handed the camera back to the staff member.

The shoot extended longer than anticipated, and Dohoon’s fatigue steadily mounted. Perhaps due to a sudden increase in his recent workout regimen, muscle aches plagued him, making the exhaustion feel even more intense.

During a welcome break in filming, Dohoon retrieved his phone, which he had entrusted to his manager. This was a moment when ‘FACE A therapy’ was sorely needed.

Turning his back to the wall to prevent anyone from seeing his phone screen, Dohoon calmly entered his album and found the group photo he had saved earlier with FACE A. Whenever life felt hard and stressful, looking at it instantly revitalized him.

He tried to maintain a neutral expression, but an involuntary smile still escaped his lips. At the time, he hadn’t realized that a staff member was capturing his image on camera.

Dohoon’s smiling face as he looked at his phone was included in the behind-the-scenes footage of the commercial shoot. After it was uploaded to the official channel, it caused a slight misunderstanding among some fans.

[Domen @**

Hundo… are you dating..?]

└[Oeyo: @** OMG, I just opened Twitter and saw this, I almost screamed. Why? Did something happen?]

└[Domen: @** Watch the new self-produced content. He keeps grinning while looking at his phone. It’s just pure dating vibes.]

└[Oeyo: @** Isn’t he just watching Taeshik’s video?]

└[Domen: @** The screen wasn’t horizontal^^]

└[Oeyo: @** Ah… sh*t]

****

Despite his busy schedule, Jaejeong continuously took acting lessons. It was an extreme cram session, but with no suitable free acting piece to showcase beyond what he occasionally practiced alone, he was truly under pressure. He was so on edge that he even dreamed of auditioning.

News of Jaejeong’s audition quickly reached the other members. Some offered support, while others harbored a secret envy. Knowing better than anyone how precious a single opportunity could be, Jaejeong couldn’t help but understand his members’ feelings.

While Jaejeong desperately wanted to succeed, using this opportunity as a stepping stone, he was sometimes afraid that excessive ambition might lead him to ruin things. When had he become such a coward? Looking back, he was far more indifferent as a child.

He had faced and let go of all the experiences in his life with a sense of calm detachment. It was the same when he debuted. Of course, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t happy, but it wasn’t enough to bring him to tears like some of the other members.

As the team gradually garnered attention and people who could be called fans emerged, Jaejeong’s mindset slowly began to shift. Watching them come one day and leave abruptly another, he felt both affection and powerlessness simultaneously.

At the same time, seeing countless fans gathered to see them, a thought would sometimes creep in: perhaps they were only there for the other members, and his presence was merely incidental. His sense of responsibility grew, but he himself seemed to shrink.

He kept shrinking, shrinking, to the point where a bizarre thought occurred to him: he might vanish without a trace one day. To grasp onto his fading existence, Jaejeong tried even harder. Yet, sometimes, effort alone was not enough to solve everything.

On the day of the audition, Jaejeong sat in the car heading to the meeting place, staring blankly out the window. In his mind, he was silently rehearsing the lines he had memorized long ago.

“Choi Jaejeong. Are you nervous?”

His manager asked playfully, noticing Jaejeong’s face, which, though not typically bright, appeared twice as stiff as usual. Jaejeong simply nodded quietly, lacking the composure to respond with a laugh. He preferred not to waste emotional energy on pointless pride, denying his nervousness when he clearly was.

“It’s alright, man. If they directly invited you to audition, it’s different from just sending out profiles.”

“But why did they ask me to audition?”

“Huh?”

“Where did they see me?”

While he was undoubtedly happy about the opportunity, Jaejeong still wondered why it had come to him. His only acting experiences were short skits on music programs or reading stories on the radio. He doubted that drama executives would have sought all of that out.

“They must have seen your stage. Just between us, your face is exceptionally good, you know?”

“……”

“If the company were a bit bigger, they would have made you act a long time ago.”

Baesung Entertainment wasn’t capable enough to give opportunities based solely on potential. It was already remarkable that this small company had elevated FACE A to such heights. Sejin, too, would not have been as active as he was now had he not gained attention by chance on a variety show.

They arrived at the production company office earlier than the scheduled time. Jaejeong, taking a moment to calm his nerves and conceal his anxiety, entered the building a little later. Since it was a pre-arranged meeting, there was no long line of people waiting to audition.

The manager, who had entered with him, patted Jaejeong’s shoulder.

“Do well.”

“…Yeah.”

“After you’re done, let’s go for budae jjigae.”

“Okay.”

At his manager’s words, Jaejeong let out a small chuckle. Budae jjigae was one of his favorite dishes. Knowing it was meant to ease his tension, Jaejeong managed a brief smile. A subtle mix of anticipation and apprehension flickered in the gazes exchanged between the two.

“Hello. I am Choi Jaejeong.”

Opening the door and stepping inside, Jaejeong bowed in greeting. Being tall, even his gestures were broad and expansive. The producer, who had been gazing up at the strikingly tall man, exchanged a brief whisper with the staff member seated beside them.

“Have a seat.”

“Yes.”

“You look much better in person than in your photos. Very handsome.”

“Ah, thank you.”

At the producer’s compliment, Jaejeong nodded his head respectfully. The assistant director, who had been quietly observing, nodded in agreement.