Chapter 29: A Kiss Scene? (3)

Kang Ra-Eun and Ji Han-Seok went through their lines one final time before the shoot. The camera positioned itself so that their faces were clearly visible on the set made to look like a bar.

Ra-Eun looked down at the filled soju glass.

‘If only this was actually soju.’

It had been far too long since she had enjoyed... no, she wasn’t able to enjoy a drink. She had never been one to drink a lot, but she had craved it every now and then. She had just been frustrated that she couldn’t drink when she wanted to.

Director Son raised his voice as Ra-Eun held in her sigh.

“We’re about to start filming! Quiet on the set!”

A production staff member readied the film slate.

Clap!

The other extras started acting as bar guests at the signal. Ra-Eun immersed herself into her drunk act with drowsy eyes. Seeing her, Han-Seok placed his hand on Ra-Eun’s shoulder and lightly shook her.

“Are you okay, Seong-Hee? I think you’ve drunk too much. You should head home soon...”

Ra-Eun gave Han-Seok a surprise kiss before he could finish his sentence. Of course, it was not a real kiss. She had simply turned her back to the camera and pretended to kiss him. But even so, Han-Seok momentarily went into a state of panic because of Ra-Eun’s sudden approach.

Even with the smell of cooking meat filling the set, Han-Seok's sense of smell was overwhelmed by Ra-Eun’s nice fragrance. Not only her fragrance, but Han-Seok could not focus at all because of the blindingly beautiful woman within centimeters of him.

“Cut!” Director Son exclaimed. “Han-Seok, your gaze is too awkward. You should look flustered since you were suddenly kissed, shouldn’t you?”

“I’m sorry,” Han-Seok apologized.

He had caused an NG cut, unbecoming of him. On the other hand, Ra-Eun did not mind too much because it was not a real kiss. Since all she had to do was to bring her face close to Han-Seok’s, she did not show a hint of reluctance.

The senior was more flustered than the junior.

‘So much for being a sunbae.’

Han-Seok blamed his own inadequacy. Ra-Eun asked Han-Seok before going into the re-shoot, “Should I approach a little slower, sunbae?”

“Hm? No, it’s alright. Rather, Director Son would call another cut if you go too slow,” Han-Seok answered.

“Okay.”

Ra-Eun nodded. The re-shoot started right away. Ra-Eun once again stuck her face right up to Han-Seok as he read the line in the exact same way as before. The problem was that...

‘She’s even closer than before!’

He could feel Ra-Eun’s subtle breaths. They were close enough that their lips were about to touch. If Han-Seok were to stick out his lips even just a little, they would touch Ra-Eun’s small cherry lips for sure.

Han-Seok’s pupils shook greatly. Director Son, who had been watching Han-Seok’s expression through the monitor, gave the OK.

“Alright! Good job, Han-Seok. Why did you make an NG if you were this capable?”

“I-I wonder...”

Director Son’s compliment should have been directed toward Ra-Eun instead of Han-Seok. During their first shoot together, Ra-Eun had realized that Han-Seok became more embarrassed the closer that she got to him. Hence, she helped Han-Seok channel that part of himself into his acting by getting even closer to him than before without notice. Thanks to this, the scene was OK'd after only two tries.

On the other hand, Han-Seok silently placed his hand on top of his rapidly-beating heart after the shoot was finished. Since his heart was beating this fast from just pretending...

‘If I get to kiss her for real...’

His heart could burst if that time ever came.

***

Once season 2 of The Devil’s Touch started airing, Ra-Eun got more attention compared to from season 1, mostly because her screen time had increased.

She had instantly become a star within her school, but she cared little for it. Especially in times like this...

‘I have to keep my composure.’

On a Sunday morning, Ra-Eun hurried to get ready to go out early in the morning even when it was the weekend.

Her father, who had just woken up, asked Ra-Eun, “Are you heading out to exercise?”

Anyone could tell from her black leggings and zip-up hoodie attire that she was heading out to exercise.

“Yes, I’m going out for a jog,” Ra-Eun replied.

“Stay safe.”

After some light stretching outside, she jogged toward Starlight Road right away.

There were two major things that had changed ever since she became a high school girl. First...

‘My body’s as light as always.’

A female body couldn’t help but feel lighter than a male one. Although she fell behind in terms of muscle mass, she had decided to think optimistically that it was exchanged for a lighter and more flexible body.

And one other thing was that she could freely wear leggings. She was embarrassed to wear just leggings back when she was a man, because that?certain body part would bulge out. But now that she was a woman, she could walk around in leggings without reservation.

‘I never knew leggings were so comfortable.’

Leggings would become a massive trend amongst women in the future. When Park Seol-Hun would start his clothing business down the road...

‘It may be good to jump on the leggings business early on.’

It was obvious that they would be sold like hotcakes.

Ra-Eun arrived at Starlight Road with her ponytail wagging in no time. Yi-Jun, who had been warming up in front of the cafe, waved at her.

“Noona! Over here!”

He had also finished getting ready to go jogging with Ra-Eun in a tracksuit. Two weeks ago, they had agreed to meet at Starlight Road to jog together every weekend. Yi-Jun had texted Ra-Eun to suggest the idea after he belatedly found out that she woke up early to exercise every weekend.

Ra-Eun had replied that she didn’t mind, but in exchange...

“I’m gonna leave you if you fall behind again today,” she expressed.

“Come on, you don’t have to worry, noona. I’m pretty confident today.”

“You said that last time and collapsed before even getting halfway.”

“I’m a changed man compared to back then. Please trust me,” Yi-Jun proclaimed.

Ra-Eun did not hate Yi-Jun’s strong confidence, because she had always liked people with backbone and tenacity.

“Alright, I’ll be keeping an eye on you,” Ra-Eun said.

Their jogging course had begun.

***

If Ra-Eun had no particular plans, she spent her weekend mornings jogging as aerobic exercise from 6 AM to 8 AM. This was true even in her past life. She had no choice but to exercise even harder to improve this high-schooler body’s weak stamina. Once Ra-Eun had almost reached the final checkpoint of her jogging course...

Pant... Pant...!

Yi-Jun was on the brink of death from keeping up with Ra-Eun’s jogging pace. Ra-Eun slowed her pace to get behind Yi-Jun, who was far taller than her, and pushed him on the back to give him a boost.

“Hang in there, we’re almost there.”

“Th-Thank you, noona...!”

The two safely reached the final checkpoint thanks to Ra-Eun’s help. After asking Yi-Jun to wait, Ra-Eun bought a bottle of water from the convenience store right next to them and handed it to him.

“Want a drink?” she asked.

“You can... drink first, noona.”

“You drink first. I’m fine.”

“Th-Then, just a sip...”

Gulp, gulp, gulp!

Yi-Jun frantically gulped down the water to cool down his heated body. The bottle of water had not even cost a thousand won, but to Yi-Jun right now, it was nothing less than the water of life. However, he had made a critical mistake in the process.

“Ah...!”

He had been in such a hurry that he had drunk the water with his mouth touching the opening.

“I’m sorry, noona. I’ll go buy another one.”

“It’s fine, don’t fret over something like this.”

Ra-Eun took back the bottle and brought it up to her mouth. And then, she also drank it with her mouth touching the opening just like Yi-Jun had.

Yi-Jun’s face heated up again after he had just cooled it down. It was the indirect kiss that he had only heard about, but Ra-Eun did not seem to mind it at all.

Back when she was in the army, Ra-Eun had shared canteens with her fellow squad mates while they were marching, so she did not feel much resistance to such acts. However, Ra-Eun had forgotten that she was currently not a man, but a woman.

“You really are unreserved,” Yi-Jun commented.

“Is that a compliment?” Ra-Eun asked.

“Of course! Oh, and noona... Can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“Umm... About season 2 of The Devil’s Touch... You had a kiss scene. Did you really...”

Yi-Jun was curious whether she had done a real kiss or not.

Ra-Eun answered in a flash, “No, it was a pretend kiss.”

“R-Really?” Yi-Jun sighed in relief, which then Ra-Eun giggled in bafflement.

“Why are you relieved?” she said.

Yi-Jun could only laugh awkwardly in response.

“Are you heading home now, noona?” he asked.

“No,” Ra-Eun replied.

“Then where?”

She answered while brushing off the dirt from her butt, “Now that I’ve done aerobic exercise, it’s time for anaerobic exercise now.”

“...”

No matter how much Yi-Jun liked Ra-Eun, he did not have the courage to exercise even more with her.

***

There was a fitness center that Ra-Eun had frequented. It was small, but it had everything that she needed. However, today was the last day that she would come here.

“I’m thinking of ending my membership after today,” Ra-Eun said.

“Pardon?”

The female fitness trainer, Choi Mi-Gyeong, asked Ra-Eun in confusion, “Wh-Why, Miss Kang?! Is there something you don’t like about our fitness center?”

“No, there is a fitness center that is partnered with my agency, so I’m planning on going there from now on.”

Mi-Gyeong’s head turned into jumbles at Ra-Eun’s response. Ra-Eun was a member that they couldn’t afford to lose. Not only had their fitness center been rumored to have a celebrity as a member, but the number of memberships had increased exponentially thanks to Ra-Eun.

“I-In that case, Miss Kang, we’ll give you a massive discount on your membership. We’ll even allow you to use our lockers for free.”

Mi-Gyeong did her best to hold onto Ra-Eun using all sorts of benefits, but...

“I don’t think I can, even with all that,” Ra-Eun replied.

Not only would she get a private personal trainer who would manage her figure, but everything from her fitness center membership to access to various sports facilities would all be free in the other fitness center. Also, the facility there was better, so Ra-Eun had no choice but to refuse without hesitation.

Mi-Gyeong could not easily erase her sorrow, but did not give up hope.

“I understand. If you’ve made up your mind, then it can’t be helped. In exchange, please let us know if you ever wish to register with us again. We will give you the most benefits that we can possibly offer.”

“Okay.”

There was something that Ra-Eun always thought at times like this.

‘I’m glad I became a celebrity.’