As Marvin limped away back to the open set, Jace stared after him with furrowed brows.
“What is his problem?” he muttered, scratching the back of his head. “You were just helping. Shouldn’t he be thankful?”
Then, he sighed and stretched his neck. “Now I hate Victor PD.”
“Why did I even admire him? Is that how he truly is?”
Jace waited for an answer, but when none came, he huffed and crossed his arms.
“Come out now,” Zeno said suddenly.
Jace turned to him in surprise. “Huh? I’m not gay, though—”
Zeno shot him a sidelong look and sighed, turning toward the tent nearby. “I know you’ve been listening.”
A second passed before the fabric of the tent rustled gently. Jace yelped and jumped back when a petite girl emerged. She had a flushed face and wide eyes, her gaze immediately dropping to the dirt as she stepped hesitantly forward.
She looked familiar, and Zeno quickly realized it was one of the extras who’d rushed toward Marvin earlier.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, bowing her head so low her cap almost slipped off. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, I swear. I just… I wanted to make sure the teacher was alright.”
Zeno cocked his head. “Teacher?”
The girl nodded timidly. “Oh—Marvin teaches us fighting techniques. We’re from the same fighting company, and he’s our coordinator.”
A hum slipped past Zeno’s lips. “What’s your name?”
“Apple,” she replied, still not looking up.
Jace choked. “The fruit?”
She nodded. “Yeah, my mom loved apples when she was pregnant with me.”
“That’s cute,” Jace blurted out before he could stop himself.
Zeno turned to him with a single brow arched. Jace immediately looked away, cheeks reddening.
Apple still didn’t react much, except for a small, flustered tug on the hem of her shirt. “I’m also… I’m a big fan of yours, Zeno. I just wanted to say that.”
Zeno glanced at her.
“You danced very handsomely while naked yesterday. I want to watch it again.”
Zeno didn’t know how to respond to that.
She cleared her throat. “I was also really happy when you stopped the scene earlier,” she added quietly. “I was scared something bad would really happen. I know how Victor PD can be.”
Jace scoffed, stepping forward. “Your teacher doesn’t think so, though. He doesn’t appreciate what Zeno did.”
Apple scratched the back of her neck. “Teacher Marvin is a good person. I promise.”
Jace made a doubtful noise in his throat, but she continued before he could say more.
“It’s just that…” She looked down again, lips pressed tight. “He’s always taking care of us, even when he’s the one who ends up hurt. He already knows what kind of person Victor PD is—because we worked together during the past season. He doesn’t want to ruin things for us.”
Jace quieted, and Zeno’s gaze sharpened.
“Oh,” he muttered. “The last season, you say?”
Apple nodded but appeared uncertain if she should continue. However, something about the look in Zeno’s eyes seemed to coax the words from her.
Or maybe it was just his fragrant scent.
Or sparkling eyes.
Or handsome face.
Alright, it was because of him.
“… Teacher Marvin has been a stunt double for a long time,” she began slowly. “He’s been in the industry since he was twenty, I think. Back in 2021, he established his own company. We’re not a big agency or anything. Just a small team focused on fight choreography, stunt work, and background acting.”
She paused, her expression darkening a little. “But it wasn’t going well.”
Jace tilted his head. “What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to make it as an independent team in this industry,” she replied. “He used up his savings. Rented out a cramped warehouse. He trained people—me, too—and gave his all. But no one wanted to take a risk on a small stunt company.”
“That sounds familiar,” Jace muttered. “I think I know someone like that.”
Zeno sighed. “Bobby, you idiot,” he muttered.
“Ah, right!” Jace exclaimed.
“Do you want me to continue?” Apple asked.
Zeno nodded. “Don’t mind him,” he said, pertaining to Jace.
Apple sighed before continuing.
“That was until Victor PD approached him with a deal. I think they were trying to budget everything in the first season, too.”
“Anyway, Victor gave the teacher a shot for the first season. The terms were pretty shady. Almost no pay, no guarantees, and he’d get sole credit.”
“But Marvin accepted. We were desperate, and Victor PD was offering exposure, so…” She shrugged. “We were the first to die in the fight sequences. Disposable bodies. He choreographed all the scenes and made sure they looked gritty and real. At first, it was fine. But when the teasers dropped and started getting recognition, Victor changed.”
Jace scowled. “Let me guess. He pretended like none of you mattered.”
Apple nodded solemnly. “Exactly. Suddenly, he started treating us like props. Like we weren’t artists, just ‘extras with bruises.’ But it was done, and at least we thought the company would finally get a boost. We were wrong.”
Zeno raised a brow. “You weren’t credited properly?”
“Yes,” Apple murmured. “Only Marvin’s name was listed under stunts. But that meant no one knew we existed. The few projects we got afterward were because people remembered the scenes, not the faces.”
She drew in a shaky breath.
“We tried to grow. The current members worked really hard to get us some decent gigs. But it still wasn’t enough to keep us afloat. So when this season called again… we couldn’t say no.”
Her voice lowered as she added, “Victor PD’s gotten worse, though. He’s powerful now. And Marvin knows better than to challenge him.”
“So, don’t get him wrong,” she quickly chimed. “He just doesn’t want what happened back then to repeat itself. In the first season, Ryeo Wang tried defending a few of us—some of the extras who got mistreated. However, the next day, they were gone.”
Zeno frowned.
Right—that old man was in the first season. He played the pitiful character that somehow made it into the seventh circle but ultimately died in the saddest way.
Jace stayed silent for once.
“A lot of us are breadwinners,” Apple whispered. “We’ve got parents, siblings, kids… Marvin’s just trying to protect everyone. So please, do understand him.
Zeno exhaled through his nose and muttered under his breath,”So he’s still a piece of trash.”
“What was that?” Apple and Jace asked at the same time.
Zeno shook his head and offered a small smile, turning to the lady. “Thanks, Apple.”
“You’re welcome,” she grinned back. “If you ever need anything—advice, a listening ear, or even a sparring partner—just come to me. I’m a good listener.”
She winked. “Or a girlfriend.”
Zeno didn’t give a reaction as she strode away from them. However, Jace suddenly called her name.
“Wait—before you go.”
Apple turned around with a curious expression.
“Can I have your number?” Jace asked, rubbing the back of his neck.
Her expression fell, and she quickly turned around.
“Sorry! I already have a boyfriend.”
Jace turned to Zeno with a glare. “How can she have a boyfriend but ask you out?”