Ch.88My rose, my beloved, my one and only rose

One week since the founding of Flame Theater Company.

So many things have happened during that time.

If there’s one thing that’s changed the most.

“…Donghu, junior. Why are we at the Seoul Arts Center?”

“Well, Director Edward Park pulled some strings, but… I don’t know the details either.”

The venue had changed from Daehangno to the Seoul Arts Center.

They had already confirmed that there would be no rental fee.

On top of that, they had secured shuttle buses for the children.

Not only that.

“It’s been a while since we competed for ratings with a documentary. If it’s a hit, we get bonuses, if it flops, we get cherry pie…!”

“Don’t be rash, focus on the situation. Our documentary team just needs to… stand above the three networks with our skills.”

“Documentary Special Forces! Appearing right here! We will perfectly execute Director Park’s mission! Chaaaarge!!!”

Nearby, staff from the three major broadcasting companies were preparing to film documentaries.

Sponsorship boxes were continuously arriving from everywhere and piling up in the warehouse in real time.

‘The scale is way too big.’

This was beyond excessive.

Even though Sims had given some hints through future messages.

-[Flame Theater Company, Illuminating the World]

-[Positive Influence, Flame Theater Company Did It.]

Since there were only these two abstract messages,

it had been very difficult to estimate the scale.

‘But I didn’t know it would be this big.’

With things developing this way, what worried me most was Senior Bong Jinwoo.

While the current theater actors, including myself, were quite adapted to this situation.

Senior Bong Jinwoo, who had been directing plays at school, was now,

“Director! This is the art team! Would you like to add or modify anything in this section?”

“What? Ah, um, I’d like the tree to be bigger and more majestic.”

“This is the costume team! Do you have any costumes to confirm? Please check the designs!”

“Wow, please make the prince’s clothes as splendid as possible. Since the person wearing it is handsome, people will only look at his face anyway…”

He was busy coordinating everything.

Still, they say those destined for success show signs from the beginning.

It was amazing how he handled each task one by one despite being in this situation for the first time.

It would take about three months until Flame Theater Company made its first appearance to the public.

By then, they needed to start the stage and complete the acting and script.

‘The script is almost complete, they said.’

All that remained was the stage and acting.

Actually, there should have been a promotion period included.

But since “Flame Theater Company” was still on the real-time search rankings.

There was no need for additional self-promotion.

After all, the first performance was exclusively for children.

While I was thinking about this.

“This is really intense. I feel like I’m going to faint.”

Senior Bong Jinwoo, who had managed to get through some of his schedule, approached me.

“Whew, I’ve been so busy since morning that I forgot to give this to you.”

“Give me what?”

“The script… I just finished it early this morning.”

*Swoosh*

The completed script of “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

The previous version was just a partial script that only included the Little Prince story.

‘This must be the real deal.’

Well then, let me get a grasp of the whole story.

“Thank you, senior. I’ll do my best.”

After saying that, I immediately went to my private waiting room.

‘Immersion.’

I entered into the script.

++++++

At the same time.

Kim Sujin, who had received the script through her mother.

“…Is this for real?”

After quickly reading through the script, she couldn’t stop her eyes from trembling.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“T-the latter part… the rose and the little prince….”

“Huh? What about them?”

“They k-kiss.”

As soon as she heard her daughter’s words, Kim Yuryeon hurriedly flipped to the back of the script.

‘Is there really such a scene?’

Kim Yuryeon had been checking her own parts first.

So she hadn’t read the latter part where the rose appears.

The moment she hurriedly checked the script.

“Honey, this isn’t a kiss, it’s just implying something like that?”

She felt like she’d been tense for nothing.

<The Little Prince embraces the Rose deeply, feeling her warmth.>

To think she saw this and thought it was a kiss.

Kim Yuryeon smiled mischievously and carefully asked her daughter.

“If you thought this was a kiss, does that mean our daughter wants to k-kiss Donghu…?”

“N-no! W-what kind of person are you making your daughter out to be! A pervert!”

“Why is wanting to kiss someone perverted? I want to kiss your dad all the time~ Does that make me a pervert?”

“T-that’s because you’re in love!”

Kim Yuryeon smiled contentedly at her daughter’s answer.

“Doesn’t that include one-sided love?”

“Oh, Mom!”

“Okay. Wow, look how loud your voice gets at times like this. You’re so gentle when you’re in front of Donghu.”

“A-anyway…! So we do hug, right? Should I go on a diet?”

“What diet? My daughter is prettiest just the way she is.”

Kim Yuryeon squeezed Kim Sujin’s cheeks.

How did our cute and lovely daughter come to start loving someone?

‘No, “how” isn’t the right expression when it comes to Kim Donghu.’

First of all, his appearance alone scores full marks.

And the character that solidly backs it up is unbelievable.

Should I say he’s a good person?

It would be hard to live that way even if someone forced you to.

Kim Donghu was living so uprightly.

Many people are attracted by looks at first but turn away after seeing the personality.

‘Kim Donghu sets a trap with his irresistible looks, then completely captures you with his character?’

While Kim Yuryeon was happily imagining her future son-in-law(?).

Kim Sujin hurriedly walked toward the waiting room where Kim Donghu was.

Knock knock.

Just for courtesy.

*Fling*

As she immediately opened the door, there was Kim Donghu leisurely reading the script while eating snacks.

‘Not knowing how I feel!’

But if he’s looking at the script, he should know that we’ll be hugging.

Is it right to be so relaxed?

‘You should have rushed to find me like I did!’

Kim Donghu, you’re too much.

“Kim Donghu, you’re crazy!”

Despite saying that, Kim Sujin sat right next to Kim Donghu.

“You’re here? Have some snacks. They’re delicious.”

“S-snacks? How can you eat right now? After seeing the script?”

“Isn’t it really moving? It also clearly shows why it’s called ‘Story of the Moon and the Stars.'”

“W-well, that’s true.”

Kim Sujin blinked at Kim Donghu’s words.

It was a moving story.

If she had read it alone at night, she might have shed a few tears.

But regardless of that, the hug was a completely different matter.

‘Kiss, it’s not a kiss so…’

Really! Truly! Sincerely! Promising to tell only the truth!

‘…that’s a relief.’

Anyway, doing something like that!

How can he be so calm?

“Did you properly see the last scene?”

“Ah, the ‘feeling the warmth’ part? I asked about that abstract expression, and they said we just need to hug briefly, or we can just pretend if it’s uncomfortable.”

“No, pretending won’t do, does that make sense? Even if they’re young children, love is a very important value, so just pretending is.”

Kim Sujin hastily closed her mouth.

With a face that showed she belatedly realized what she was blurting out.

After pausing for a moment, Kim Sujin popped the snacks on the table into her mouth.

Munch munch.

“Right, but hugging is not easy, you know.”

That’s something they didn’t do even during “Eclipse.”

Of course, there wasn’t really an appropriate moment for it then.

“Is that why you came? You can’t hug after all?”

“Uh, what?”

“You don’t want to pretend, but you’re not keen on hugging either, so that’s why you came?”

“W-wait, why are you saying it like that.”

*Thump*

Kim Sujin covered Kim Donghu’s mouth with her hand.

Of course, it was a situation where such a misunderstanding could happen,

and she had provided the source of it herself, but,

‘There’s no need to think I’m doing this because I don’t like it.’

This heartless guy!

Is it only NO or YES? There’s a middle ground too.

“That’s not it, I came early because it would be weird if the hug was awkward during rehearsals or when we’re matching our acting.”

*Pat pat*

Kim Donghu smiled with his eyes and tapped Kim Sujin’s hand.

A gentle expression asking her to remove her hand so he could answer.

*Slide*

As soon as her hand moved away, Kim Donghu’s answer followed.

“Ah, so you came to practice hugging? Us hugging?”

*Thwack!*

And he got hit.

He’s so good at being indirect when he wants to be, why is he always so direct in these situations?

Kim Sujin touched her flushed face.

Even without looking in a mirror, she could feel how hot her face was.

*Thump thump*

She could feel her heartbeat getting louder at the word “hug.”

Still, she had to answer.

“Y-yes, I came for that. I-I don’t want it to be awkward later!”

Strictly speaking, this wouldn’t be their first hug.

Since Kim Donghu had hugged her once during “Eclipse” when she was acting too emotionally.

So this could be considered their second time.

But.

‘That was just a momentary thing.’

The hugs in “Story of the Moon and the Stars” would have to be repeated several times.

Therefore, practice was obviously needed to get used to it.

“Shall we read through it together then?”

“Huh?”

“Just the latter part, I think it would be good for us to get used to it by reading through it together.”

“W-what? R-reading? Now?”

“Yes, wait a moment, I have something prepared.”

With those words, Kim Donghu put on the prince’s cape that was hanging on the coat rack.

And he placed an artificial rose, which she had no idea when he had prepared,

behind Kim Sujin’s left ear.

“Well, that should be enough preparation.”

*Rustle*

Thick fingers brushed through her hair, past her ear, touching her cheek before moving away.

Kim Sujin couldn’t adapt to this suddenly unfolding moment.

Kim Donghu began his lines with the utmost sincerity.

“Rose, my beloved, my only rose.”

At those words that sounded like a confession.

“Uh, hic!”

Kim Sujin started hiccupping instead of saying her lines.