Chapter 9: The Star and the Shadow
When night fell, the crew gathered for a communal meal. Laughter echoed through the open seating area as the staff unwound. To his surprise, Sunghoon found himself enjoying it; people naturally gravitated toward him, drawn to a warmth and ease he didn't realize he was projecting.
After a while, he stepped away to recharge. He hiked up a small hill to a secluded bench that overlooked the recreation area. He cracked open an energy drink and looked up at the stars. In 1999, he'd been too busy chasing the next script to look up. Now, in a stranger's body, the quiet felt like a luxury.
Eventually, he retreated to his room. He was one of the lucky few who had pulled a "single room" slot in the staff lottery. He collapsed onto the bed, pulling the thin blankets tight against the mountain chill, and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, Sunghoon's internal clock woke him before the alarm. He dressed in running gear and put in several miles, his lungs burning with the crisp morning air. By the time he returned and showered, the set was already coming to life.
Downstairs, a professional food truck was serving a high-end breakfast,a significant step up from the standard crew fare.
"Haru!" Woo-jin, Se-hee's friend, waved him over. They grabbed their plates and sat down. "This is incredible. I heard the trucks are staying for the whole production."
"That's generous of the production company," Sunghoon remarked, impressed.
"It's not the company," Woo-jin whispered.
"It's the presenter. He's paying for the trucks out of his own pocket.
Sunghoon nodded, a bit taken aback. In his day, stars were pampered, but they rarely looked out for the "little people" like this. As they ate, Woo-jin filled him in: the celebrity was a top-tier A-list idol. Brands fought over him, but he was notoriously selective.
After breakfast, Sunghoon headed to the set. He navigated the digital tablet with growing ease, checking off equipment and adjusting light stands. Despite his past life as an actor, he had once dreamed of directing, so the technical side of the set felt like a long-lost language coming back to him. If Se-hee could see him now, she'd stop calling him "old man."
A sleek black van pulled up to the perimeter.
Inside, Manager Kim glanced back at Raiven, who was wearing a silk sleep mask. Raiven let out a heavy sigh, pulled the mask off, and took a steaming coffee from a junior manager. He stepped out, sliding on dark sunglasses to shield his eyes from the morning glare.
"Did the trucks arrive?" Raiven asked, his voice low.
"Yes, they're set up," Manager Kim replied.
Raiven nodded and walked toward the set. He wore simple, unbranded streetwear,clothes that looked ordinary on the hanger but seemed to drape over his frame like they were custom-tailored.
The director hurried over to welcome him. Raiven bowed deeply in respect, shaking hands and greeting the crew members nearby. A ripple of excitement followed him; the staff were already swooning over his professional, yet distant, charisma.
Sunghoon watched from a distance, but before he could get a clear look at the idol's face, Woo-jin called him away to fix a malfunctioning monitor.
The shoot was for a milk subsidiary, filmed in the wide-open pastures to give it a natural feel. Most people assumed a star of Raiven's caliber would be difficult or demand a luxury trailer, but he was strangely enthusiastic about the rustic setting.
Filming went as smoothly as a high-budget set could. Sunghoon stayed in the background, his eyes fixed on the man in front of the lens.
He couldn't deny it: the kid had it. That magnetic, effortless spark that defined a true star. Sunghoon realized if Se-hee had known Raiven was the lead, she probably would have fought Sunghoon for this job. Maybe I should get an autograph just to mess with her, he thought with a smirk.
After the final "wrap" for the day, Sunghoon helped stow the equipment, double-checking the inventory in the large storage container.
"Hello?" a voice called out.
Sunghoon poked his head out of the container. He froze. A pair of sharp, hazel eyes stared back at him. Up close, the he was even more striking,and handsome
"Can I help you?" Sunghoon asked, stepping out and starting to slide the heavy door shut.
Raiven studied him for a long beat, his brow furrowing in a puzzled expression before he quickly smoothed it over.
"It seems my manager has disappeared," Raiven stated, glancing around the now-emptying field.
"You must have bossed him around too much," Sunghoon blurted out. "He probably got tired and went on strike."
Raiven blinked, clearly caught off guard. Most people treated him like he was made of glass or gold; they certainly didn't tease him. "I'm not that bossy," Raiven retorted, a hint of a challenge in his voice.
"Sure," Sunghoon chuckled, punching the passcode into the container lock.
"I... I don't actually know where the hotel is," Raiven admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.
"You're staying at the crew hotel?" Sunghoon asked, genuinely surprised. "I figured you'd be at a five-star resort in the next town over."
"Is that a problem?"
"No," Sunghoon said, wiping his hands on a rag. "I just thought you'd be a bit more stuck up."
There it was again,that blunt, "old-school" honesty. Raiven actually smiled, a small, genuine tilt of the lips, and shoved his hands into his pockets to ward off the cooling air.
Sunghoon noticed the gesture.
"If you want, we can walk back together. I'm heading there now."
"Sure," Raiven responded.
Sunghoon took the lead, navigating the dirt path toward the hotel. He walked with a steady, confident stride, unaware of the intense gaze fixed on the back of his head.
Raiven watched the way "Haru" moved,the way his shoulders sat, the way he didn't seem intimidated or even particularly impressed by his presence.
"Does he really not remember?" Raiven whispered to himself, his voice lost in the wind.