Page 5 of Public Image, Private Heart (K-Drama Love Story #1)

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Ji-yong

A s we near the end of filming, two contrasting moods fill the set. Everyone is visibly exhausted from sleep deprivation and weary of the long hours and repeated takes. Yet, there’s also a palpable sense of satisfaction and bittersweetness as we approach the final days.

Despite the challenges of outdoor shoots, everyone has collaborated seamlessly over the past few weeks, and I feel privileged to be part of such a talented and committed team. Our ratings are on the rise, and preparations for an international release are underway.

Even after we wrap up filming the main episodes, there will still be promotional shoots for the drama, which means another opportunity to see Yumi. The thought brings a smile to my face.

Meanwhile, my manager has already booked my next project with a brand-new cast and filming crew in the next few weeks.

It will be a new adjustment to get into character, work with different co-stars, and follow a new script, but I have no reason to complain.

That’s what I’ve signed up for as an actor.

As we sit down for lunch, I turn to my fellow actors and ask about their plans for the upcoming day off next week.

“I’m thinking of visiting my grandparents in Busan,” Seo-yeon answers, still dressed in her handmaid costume with hair adornments. “I hope it’s warmer there; I can’t stand this cold weather anymore.”

“My uncle also lives in Busan,” adds Baekhyun as he takes off his traditional hat, but still wearing his costume. “Maybe I’ll visit him too.”

“What about you, Yumi?” I turned to her, noticing her silence. I wondered what was on her mind.

She hesitated before answering, “Me? Honestly, I don’t have many plans... I might just sleep and hibernate for a week, and maybe work on a small play at a theater.” There was a hint of melancholy in her voice.

“I would love to see your play,” I said enthusiastically, hoping to lift her spirits.

She glanced at me, surprise coloring her features. “Really? You’d want to come?”

With a grin and an enthusiastic nod, I replied, “Of course! I’m sure you’re amazing on stage.”

A tiny smile played on her lips as she answered, “Well, if you insist...”

Our conversation drifted into comfortable small talk as lunch continued. Ideas for fun days off were thrown around, laughter filled the air, and for a moment, I allowed myself to bask in the joy of belonging.

As lunch ended, however, reality came crashing back. The sound of our director’s voice cut through the chatter like a knife.

“We have one more scene to shoot today,” she announced with a stoic face that masked the weariness underlining her words.

I sighed inwardly as we all rose from our seats, preparing for another grueling round of filming. As we made our way back to set, I stole glances at Yumi. She seemed lost in thought, her brows slightly furrowed as she stared blankly ahead.

“Hey,” I called out lightly, catching up to walk beside her. “You okay?”

She jumped slightly before turning to me with a forced smile that masked whatever was plaguing her mind. “Yeah... just thinking about the scene.”

I offered a small nod of understanding before leaving it at that. After all, there was no point in pressing when she obviously didn’t want to share.

We continued to wrap up our scene, but somehow I kept forgetting my lines and messing up between takes.

Yumi suggested we “cheat” by jotting down some tricky words in the most unusual spots, like on the back of my hand or on a post-it hidden behind some props.

We tried those methods until the PD caught us and scolded us, leaving us cackling.

Later that night, I found myself still awake, staring at the ceiling of my trailer.

Scenes from the day’s filming replayed in my head, each word, each expression, and each touch.

The last scene was especially memorable: our characters, deeply in love and finally admitting their feelings after so many episodes.

Yet once the director yelled cut, we just awkwardly laughed it off.

Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t stifle the laughter bursting out of me.

A flush of pink tinted Yumi’s cheeks as she burst into laughter beside me.

“I’m sorry, I can’t stop laughing,” she managed between giggles.

She laughed so hard that she had to dab his eyes as tears came along.

It was remarkable how much we had both evolved since our initial days on set.

Where she had once been a bundle of nerves, she now found amusement in even the more romantic scenes.

I shook my head vigorously, attempting to compose myself. “Believe me, it’s not just you,” I managed to admit amidst our fits of laughter. We ignored the PD and other film crew members who shot us puzzled glances, as if we were insane. It felt like we were in our own little bubble.

After our laughter died down and we caught our breath, I couldn’t help but notice the delicate lines at the corners of her eyes, crinkling as she laughed heartily.

Her eyes formed the shape of two ‘n’ letters, as if she were truly happy in that moment, completely letting herself go.

It was like seeing her in a new light; the reserved co-star, Han Yumi, disappeared, and all I could see was this fun-loving, charming woman with a beauty that was entirely her own.

“Last scene tomorrow,” she said quietly, breaking the silence that had settled between us.

“Yeah,” was all I managed to say, feeling an unexplainable sense of melancholy washing over me.

I wondered what it would be like not having her around every day, not getting to rehearse scenes with her or share casual banter between takes.

Suddenly, the prospect of moving on to my next project felt less exciting and more daunting.

Over the next day, we shot the final scenes of our drama with a mix of exhaustion and bittersweet anticipation. With each completed scene, there was a palpable sense of finality that hung in the air, thick and heavy like a fog.

It was another tricky day of shooting, this time in a tideland.

We spent several hours running back and forth on the muddy, sticky surface.

At one point, Yumi’s foot got stuck, and I had a blast trying to pull her out.

She made the funniest expression: a mix of sheer panic and amusement—while trying to wriggle herself out of the hole.

“Okay, this is it, the last scene for you two,” the PD announced, looking excited. Behind her, the filming crew made some commotions and clapped their hands.

“Ready?” The PD checked the camera and the monitor. We gave her the nod.

“And... action!”

I slipped into character as Hyun-woo. “Are you alright? I told you this path was risky.” I took Yumi’s hand to help her up.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just a little stuck, that’s all. You worry too much.” Yumi, who was playing Hwa-young, laughed softly and brushed the mud off her skirt.

“Well, someone must keep an eye on you. You have a knack for getting into trouble.” I stared into her eyes softly, with what I hoped was the look of a man deeply in love with the woman in front of him.

“And you have a knack for pulling me out...” Yumi began, her face breaking into a warm smile. As she held my gaze, her smile widened until she couldn’t contain herself. She stifled a laugh for a moment, but soon burst into full-blown laughter.

The PD didn’t need to announce a cut; we all knew it wouldn’t make it into the final scene.

She covered her mouth with her hand. “Sorry,” she said. “I just... I remembered my foot getting stuck in the mud and how you pulled me out.”

I laughed along with Yumi, not minding her blunder, not even a bit.

“Okay, let’s start again,” the PD interrupted.

“And... action!”

We repeated our lines, but midway through, I made the blunder this time.

As I stared into her expressive eyes, I couldn’t help but laugh.

It might have been my imagination, but it seemed like there was a hint of laughter in her eyes too, and I had to join in.

The way she quickly caught on to our shared amusement made me feel like she was experiencing the same thing.

For a moment, we forgot that the camera was still rolling.

“Cut,” the PD announced, frustration creeping into her voice.

It was cold, and the sun was starting to set, casting a beautiful reflection over the tideland. With the water and sticky mud in our costumes, everyone seemed a bit impatient to wrap up the scene.

We composed ourselves as we saw the PD let out a sigh. After checking to make sure we were ready, she called out, “Take three... action!” and clapped the film slate.

This time, we nearly made it to the end, but just before we declared our love to each other, as we stared into each other’s eyes, we burst into laughter again—together this time.

“Guys, please...” The PD’s impatience was evident. “We don’t have much time left; we can’t shoot when the sun’s position shifts.”

“Sorry, sorry. We can do it,” I said, wiping tears of laughter from my eyes and taking a deep breath to compose myself. “Right, Yumi?”

Still deep in laughter, Yumi could only nod. She also took a deep breath to calm herself before confirming, “Yeah, yeah. For real this time.”

“Okay, here we go,” the PD sighed once more. “Take four... action!”

When we finally heard the director’s satisfied “Cut,” everyone on set broke into applause. We had completed filming our drama, despite a few mishaps in the final scene, as if we were reluctant to let the moment end and wished to linger just a bit longer.

Returning to base camp, we were met with smiles, bouquets of flowers, and tears of joy as we congratulated each other on our hard work and perseverance over the six months. A celebratory atmosphere filled the air that night as we gathered for one last toast to our success.

Despite the lively atmosphere filled with laughter and shared joy, I found myself drawn to the small figure standing slightly apart from the crowd. Her intense gaze was fixed on the now-empty set.

I politely excused myself from a conversation with Seo-yeon and Baekhyun and made my way to her side. “Hey, Yumi,” I greeted her, giving her a gentle nudge. “Are you doing alright?”

She turned towards me, attempting a smile. “Yeah, just... it feels strange, you know? Like this became our little world in the last six months and now we’re expected to leave it.”

I watched her as she spoke, the dim light casting a soft glow on her face. In that moment, I felt a strange gnaw in my chest. “I get that,” I said softly. “It’s never easy letting go.”

She hummed in agreement, her gaze once again wandering to the set that had been our temporary home for the past few weeks.

“Yeah,” she replied, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But we did it, huh?”

“We did,” I echoed her sentiment. “You were doing great,” I told her earnestly, unable to suppress my admiration. “A natural talent.” Her performance and resiliance had blown me away every single day.

She ducked her head slightly, trying to hide the pleased smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Thank you,” she mumbled into her scarf. “You were amazing too.”

“Tell me something I don’t know,” I teased lightly, trying to lighten the mood. Her laughter echoed around us, adding to the noisy cheerfulness of our surroundings.

Our conversation flowed easily after that, reminiscing over hilarious and heartwarming incidents that occurred during filming.

We laughed until our sides hurt, sharing stories of our initial fears and apprehensions before starting the project.

It felt like catching up with an old friend, comfortable and easy.

I raised my beer to clink it against hers. “To our great partnership,” I said with a smile.

She smiled back, warmth in her eyes. We enjoyed the silence for a moment, finding comfort in each other’s presence without the need for words.

At the end of the celebration, we hopped into the mini-van that would take us back to Seoul and our homes.

There wasn’t much conversation in the mini-van; we all sat quietly, exhausted and lost in our thoughts.