Chapter 15 : It’s okay, if it’s you (2)

“So Kanghoo will handle the filming, I’ll direct, and Hamin will take care of editing and sound?”

The group project progressed more smoothly than expected.

First off, since Kanghoo is a gearhead and owns a good secondhand mirrorless camera, he was assigned to film.

Garam, who exudes leader vibes, would direct.

And Hamin would handle editing and sound.

“I was going to do the editing though…”

“I don’t think saying that now will change anything…? It looks like, in their minds, we’re already confirmed as the actors…”

As I muttered a complaint under my breath, Chaeryeong whispered beside me.

I had planned to coast through the group project using the editing skills I honed from YouTube…

But I ended up stuck in the most annoying role — the actor.

How bothersome.

“Hey, you two lovebirds, quit whispering sweet nothings and come over here to brainstorm ideas for the scenario and shoot.”

When Garam saw us whispering, he chuckled and teased us.

At his cheeky comment, Chaeryeong blushed slightly and responded.

“It’s not like that… What sweet nothings…”

“If a couple sticks close together and whispers, isn’t that exactly sweet nothings? Don’t you think?”

“Well… that’s true. Hehe.”

Garam and Hamin teamed up again to tease Chaeryeong.

Anyway, since all the other roles were assigned, we regrouped and started contributing ideas for the film in earnest.

What kind of story would be good?

As we chatted about it, Chaeryeong suddenly clapped her hands as if she had an idea.

“Oh, how could I forget? Guys, there’s a short romance film I watched that was really good. Want to check it out together?”

She quickly typed the title into YouTube and found the video in an instant.

It was a film titled [Last Goodbye], a bittersweet name.

She turned the volume down, and a short screening began.

To summarize the story:

A couple who dated for a long time and are about to break up go on a final date at a place full of memories to come to terms with their feelings.

It had a sweet but bittersweet tone.

Even though it was under 10 minutes, the film was more polished than expected, and all of us were quite immersed in it.

When the ending credits rolled, Chaeryeong cautiously asked the team:

“So, what did you think? I really liked it, personally.”

“…Oh. The quality was really good. And the story… how should I say it? It felt really poignant.”

Hamin’s reaction was followed by Yoon Kanghoo, whose eyes had turned slightly red.

“Honestly, if we weren’t in a classroom, I might have cried.”

Garam and I didn’t say much either, but we nodded in agreement — it was good.

Since creative inspiration often comes from good works we’ve seen,

Chaeryeong’s decision to bring in a film she liked was meaningful.

Seeing that everyone seemed to like it, Chaeryeong gained some confidence and carefully shared her opinion.

“……If you’re all okay with it, how about writing our scenario in this kind of tone? Using this as a reference.”

So far, we’d only decided on the genre, and our ideas had been floating around aimlessly.

Now that we had a clear reference, everyone seemed to be getting on board.

It helped that the film matched all five of our tastes.

Led by Garam, everyone agreed without much hesitation.

“Let’s do it.”

“Yeah, I like it too. Chaeryeong, where’d you find such a good film? Do you usually watch short films?”

“I’m good with it too. Let’s go with this.”

And finally, Chaeryeong looked to me — the last one.

Of course, I nodded without hesitation.

…She knows way more about romance than I do.

Even just from her vlogs, she clearly understands how to touch people’s hearts.

And honestly, I had no intention of going against her idea in the first place.

I was always on her side.

“Then let’s start by creating the male and female characters and their past relationship. After that, we can plan the actual filming scenes.”

“Okay, sounds good. Chaeryeong looks fired up. Feels refreshing.”

Main scenario writer: Yoo Chaeryeong.

Under her lead, the scriptwriting progressed steadily.

True to her romance-addict reputation, she quickly created convincing setups and a solid first draft.

Before we knew it, the meeting was nearing its end.

“And here. This is going to be the highlight of our scenario, I think.”

“Yeah, definitely. It’s the final scene, after all.”

“Just like in the film earlier, I think it’d be nice if the male and female leads kissed and shed tears as they part. What do you guys think?”

As she brought up the final scene from the earlier film, she asked the group.

“Yeah, I loved that part. The actress’s expression was so good too. Ugh, it hurt so good.”

Hamin clutched his chest dramatically, saying how much he loved it.

Everyone seemed to just be going along with what Chaeryeong said, and it looked like we’d move on smoothly…

Until Garam, who had been quietly listening, suddenly asked Chaeryeong.

“I liked that scene too, but… are you sure about this? Those kinds of scenes really hinge on the actors. Are you two okay with doing a kiss scene?”

At his question, Chaeryeong froze a little.

Her mouth hung slightly open — she must have gotten so absorbed in writing that she forgot she was also one of the actors.

…A kiss scene, huh.

No matter what, that feels like a bit much.

“It’s not like we’re actually dating.”

Even in the vlog, we only act like a couple, and even then, it’s just light skinship and conversation.

But if it goes as far as a kiss scene, that’s a whole different story.

When Garam asked considerately, I glanced at Chaeryeong with a worried look, and then Hamin, clueless as ever, chimed in from the side.

“Garam, why are you worried about that? They’re a couple. A couple! Of course they’ve kissed before. It’s just a light kiss, lips barely touching, right?”

“Uh… well…”

“See? Even Chaeryeong says not to worry. Look at that confident face. A kiss scene is nothing for her.”

Hamin’s face, full of anticipation and confidence, turned toward Chaeryeong.

Why are you so excited? We’re the ones filming the kiss scene.

Chaeryeong glanced at me as if unsure what to do, then smiled and nodded.

“Ahaha… Right. Yeah. It’s just a kiss scene! We’re a couple, after all. It’ll be easy! Super easy!”

…What? Wait. Are we really doing the kiss scene?

I stared at Chaeryeong, who had just said it so confidently, feeling overwhelmed and unable to say anything.

***

“…Sorry. I just decided it on my own.”

After class, we stopped by the café on the first floor of the lecture building.

We picked a corner seat so no one could overhear our conversation.

Even though we wrapped up the general outline for three weeks of filming in just one day, Chaeryeong’s face still looked troubled.

It was probably guilt over deciding on the kiss scene by herself.

“It’s fine. I’m sure you had your reasons.”

“…I mean, I did think it was a necessary scene for the film… Without it, it might feel really bland… And honestly, with Hamin talking like that, I thought it would be awkward to say no…”

Her thoughtfulness, the atmosphere, and her ambition as the planner probably all came together.

But more than the kiss scene itself, what really worried me was how she felt about it.

After all, we only pretend to be a couple at school—we’re not actually dating.

Kissing someone you don’t even like could be uncomfortable for a girl.

That’s what I was worried about earlier too.

“…More importantly, are you okay with it?”

“What do you mean?”

She tilted her head and looked at me.

“Well… I mean… that. Are you okay kissing me…? Even if it’s just acting…”

I murmured, bowing my head toward the table, feeling my face flush.

Just saying the word kiss out loud was embarrassing enough.

If it felt like this just talking about it, how would it feel actually filming the kiss scene?

Actors really are amazing.

“…I think I’ll be fine? If I weren’t, I wouldn’t have been able to film a couple vlog with you in the first place.”

“But this feels different, doesn’t it?”

“Does it?”

“With the vlog, we barely even touch. Holding hands, linking arms, hugging—that’s the most we do, and we mostly just talk anyway. That’s fine. But this… this feels different.”

It’s a kiss.

Not anything else—a kiss.

Maybe I’m putting too much weight on it because I’ve never been in a relationship before, but it’s kind of a milestone for couples.

Contact between mucous membranes with a stranger is bound to feel uncomfortable.

Chaeryeong fell silent, as if thinking deeply.

Like she was imagining something.

Then she opened her rosy lips and said:

“…You’re right. If it were another guy, I probably couldn’t do it. But with you… I don’t think I’d feel uncomfortable.”

That kind of loaded comment made my heart race.

Does she even know?

That every time she says things like that, I start to hope.

That I get excited for no reason and replay her words in my head all day long.

…That maybe, just maybe, she feels the same way I do.

And so I keep torturing myself with hope, only to convince myself she didn’t mean anything by it.

She probably has no idea.

Which is why—

I ended up asking something I normally wouldn’t dare to.

“Why don’t you feel uncomfortable with me?”

I asked, wondering if her words meant something more.

At my question, Chaeryeong stiffened slightly.

Her blinking eyes looked a little flustered.

But soon, she answered as if she wasn’t sure herself.

“…Why? Hmm. Maybe it’s just because of the way we are with each other?”

Like she hadn’t really thought deeply about it.

Her vague answer lingered in the air, and the mood turned awkward.

As if trying to change the atmosphere, she took a long sip of her drink through the straw, then asked me:

“Then what about you? Are you okay doing a kiss scene with me?”

I hadn’t expected the question to come back to me, so I was a bit caught off guard.

Worried I might make things awkward by hesitating, I quickly pulled myself together and answered.

“I’m fine. If it’s with you.”

“Why?”

“Why?”

…Because I like you.

But with her bouncing my question right back at me, I couldn’t say that.

“Well… probably the same reason as you? Because we’ve been friends for so long.”

And so, once again, I hid my true feelings behind the usual mask.