Another round of alcohol landed on the table with a faint thud, followed by a murmur of thanks from the cast seated around it. The energy had loosened since filming wrapped for the day, and now the actors lounged on the couch while waiting for Zeno’s scene.
Sora picked up her glass and swirled the liquid inside. She glanced toward the hallway that led backstage, where Zeno had disappeared some time ago.
“How’s Zeno?” she asked out of nowhere, directing the question at Shin. “He doesn’t speak a lot. Is it really like that when you’re with him?”
Billy raised an eyebrow and leaned in slightly, interested. It had only been seven days since they were together, and they barely spoke. Billy was too busy trying to win the show to decipher Zeno’s real attitude.
Shin hummed from across the table. “He’s a good kid.”
Sora’s brows shot up. “Really?” she asked, amused and a little disbelieving. “Sorry, I just thought—well, with the looks, the following, all the awards—he seemed like he’d be a bit… cocky.”
Billy slightly nodded in agreement.
“No, he’s not like that,” Shin said, shaking his head. “I thought he was a snob, too, at first. He didn’t talk to anyone. But then I realized—he’s not rude, he’s just quiet. He listens more than he speaks.”
Sora tilted her head thoughtfully. “Hmm.”
On the other end of the booth, Misha was conspicuously absent again, having gone to the bathroom before Sora started the conversation.
Sangwon, who had been quiet for the most part while nursing his drink, spoke up. “Is he that good of an actor?”
Sora turned toward him. “Who? Zeno?”
“Yeah.”
“You haven’t seen his shows?”
Sangwon shrugged. “I don’t keep up with the new ones. Haven’t, for years.”
Sora raised a teasing brow. “Since your divorce?”
It was silent for a moment before Sora laughed, trying to thaw the atmosphere. Shin chuckled into his glass, and even Sangwon smirked.
“I’m kidding,” Sora added, tapping her fingers against her glass. “You must be busy.”
“I am,” Sangwon said with a crooked smile. “Very.”
“Anyway,” he continued, setting his glass down. “What makes this kid so good? Everyone seems to be singing him praises.”
“He was the most awarded at the Triple A,” Sora replied smoothly.
Sangwon scoffed lightly and leaned back. “Triple A isn’t exactly a real award, though.”
Billy nodded despite himself. He’d won at Triple A, too, but he didn’t disagree.
“True,” Shin admitted. “But the kid deserves it. He’s got something in him. You can see it when he’s on camera. He might win a Celadon next year, too.”
Sangwon seemed intrigued, lips curled in a lazy smile. “Is that so?”
“When’s he coming out?” Billy asked, turning his head toward the stage again.
“They’re probably already filming,” Shin said, checking his phone for the time. “He has some scenes before he goes up the stage.”
“Let’s wait a bit, then,” Sora said. “We don’t have an early shoot tomorrow anyway. The extras are going up first.”
Sangwon gave a small nod and leaned back. “Alright. I’m expecting a lot.”
Billy didn’t say anything at first. He only stared at his drink as it caught the dim lights above the booth. Then he quietly raised his glass and took a sip, his expression unreadable.
Because he knew.
He knew exactly what kind of actor Zeno was. Zeno was truly good. He had watched all his shows. However, he wasn’t a good dancer, and this scene needed just that skill.
He was going to disappoint Sangwon, and Billy couldn’t wait for that.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Jace could hardly contain his excitement.
He bounced on the balls of his feet, glancing between the extras seated around him and the dark entrance where Zeno would emerge any moment now. His hands fidgeted nervously with the hem of his shirt, but his grin was childlike.
“This is going to be insane,” he whispered to himself.
“Is he a good dancer?” one of the extras asked. The question was lighthearted, but there was a bit of curiosity to it.
Jace glanced at the girl, shrugging with a crooked smile. “He says he’s not.”
There was a murmur of surprise from the extras.
“He asked me to help him, though,” Jace added, puffing up a little at the memory.
“Oh? He asked you?” a soft, angelic voice cut through the chatter.
Everyone turned at once.
Misha stood behind them, a hand daintily resting on her hip, her dark hair cascading down her shoulders. She was dazzling under the ambient lights—flushed cheeks and lightly glossed lips. A few of the extras stammered as they straightened up.
Jace was the worst out of them all, stuttering to answer in front of such a beautiful woman.
“You—he—he asked me—y-yeah,” he stammered.
“In what way?” Misha’s eyes narrowed a fraction. She stepped forward just enough to make Jace even more nervous. “What did he ask help with exactly?”
Jace’s brain sputtered. He didn’t expect a top star to talk to him. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Sweat formed at his temples. “He, uh… he told me to stop playing games and to, uh, watch him.”
“He told you to stop playing games?” Misha muttered.
Jace nodded. Well, Zeno did ask him, but Jace wanted to watch. He was very curious!
“He always calls me out even late at night,” Jace added.
They were practically work besties!
“He’s blunt sometimes but it’s fine,” Jace continued, scratching the back of his neck, still sweaty.
Jace liked that about Zeno, though! He was a very genuine and honest person.
Misha frowned.
“He talks like that to you?” she asked softly.
Jace nodded enthusiastically, and Misha felt her heart squeeze. Was this innocent man being bullied?
Before she could think about it, she stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Tell me if these things happen again,” Misha muttered. “And if you need help.”
Jace blinked at her.
“…Huh?”
“I mean it,” she said.
She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back.
What… just happened?
Before he could process what was happening, the stage cameras were brought forward—wheels screeching gently as they moved into formation.
The lighting also turned red, compared to the bright white it had before, setting a sexy vibe.
“Oh—it’s starting,” someone whispered.
“Zeno’s dancing scene.”