After Story 252

Cut. Okay.

Haneul, who was crouching down under the dining table, stretched her legs out when she heard the directors voice. She ma.s.saged her legs a little before approaching the director.

How is it?

What do you think? Its really good.

I feel like I couldnt maintain my expression well when it started. Did it look okay?

If youre so worried, then have a look yourself.

The director showed her the just-taken footage. She looked at her own expression right after the action sign.

Im not sure about anything else, but theres nothing to pick on with your acting. If the movie does terribly, then its my fault, so you just keep going like this, said the director.

Dont jinx it. I believe that the film will go well.

Right, right. My mouth is the problem.

Haneul said goodbye to the director and the staff before getting the script she placed on the chair.

Going home? asked actor Cheon.

Yes, home sweet home. What about you, oppa?

Im also done here.

Didnt you have some scenes left? I thought you did because you were waiting.

Im waiting for the others because we said wed go out drinking together.

She could see two actors and actor Cheons manager walk over.

Since Im here, how about you?

Me?

If you dont have anything, you should join us. Apparently, theres a really good grilled lamb place, so were going to go over there.

Another actress grabbed her arm and spoke,

Haneul, this unni is buying, so you should join us.

Id love to, but I have something to do. Ill join you next time.

You said that last time too. Arent you too busy?

Tell me about it. I dont know why Im so busy either. Ill definitely join you the next time we gather up.

Right. Ill be inconveniencing you if I hold you back any further, so Ill let you go this time. Instead, you have to drink with us next time.

Yes, senior.

Haneul said goodbye to the actors and walked to the parking lot. Her manager, who followed her out with her luggage, spoke as she got in the car,

Unni, you should get some sleep. You look tired.

It shows?

It was okay at the shoot, but its obvious now that youre in the car. Are you not feeling well?

Im not really feeling unwell. I just have a lot of things to take care of.

I guess that you do. Ill drive the car gently so get some sleep. Ill wake you up once we get there.

Okay, please.

Haneul grabbed the sleep shades she hung on the door. Since the start of November, she had a bunch of work to do. She had the film she was getting ready to produce, her company work, and even a film shoot.

On days with a terrible schedule, she had to work until late into the morning of the next day.

She questioned herself several times whether she was being greedy. It was a waste of time to cling to something she couldnt do after all. Fortunately, it was still within her limits. She was grateful for her body for being in her mid-twenties. If she was fifty, she wouldve run out of physical strength before her mind couldnt handle it anymore.

Unni, were here.

She felt like she had just gotten some shuteye, but she had to take her shades off while waking up from a dreamy state. She could see the front gates of her apartment complex, and she couldnt feel happier.

Good work today.

You too, unni. Go home quickly and get washed and sleep.

Okay. You drive back carefully too.

Haneul yawned as she stood in front of the elevator. As she was waiting after pressing the b.u.t.ton, she had a rush of sleepiness. Her vision felt blurry for a moment. She stretched her arms out, saying that she should pull herself together when two hands suddenly grabbed her flank.

Startled, she turned around. Her husband was blinking at her.

You surprised?

Anyone would be, you know?

She sighed before leaning against Maru.

Wait a sec, youre heavy.

Im too tired today. Hold on for a second. Also, Im not that heavy.

Seeing your mouth so lively, I dont think youre tired to the point of pa.s.sing out.

Should I pa.s.s out for you?

Haneul smiled and loosened her entire body. From her legs to her arms, she let go of the minimum energy to maintain standing. She felt like she was floating for a moment before she was grabbed firmly.

Youre heavy, I mean it.

Work hard.

Haneul smiled before leaning against her husband fully.

The elevator opened. He put strength into the arm wrapped around her stomach and lifted her up.

What were you going to do if someone was on the elevator?

Its fine, we can cover your face up, sweetie.

She flailed her arm towards her back and touched her husbands face.

His chin, lips, cheeks, eyelids she fondled him for a while before spreading her hands and covering his whole face.

Now, no one will recognize you, right?

This womans completely bonkers. Did you have a hard time today?

Not just today. Its been several days. Ive been barely holding out, and thanks to a certain someone startling me from behind, Ive completely lost strength. Hows that? Not my fault, is it?

I guess its that guys bad for startling you. But are you going to keep standing like this?

Haneul turned around. She stared at her husbands unshaven beard for a long time before hanging her arms around his neck. Slowly, she turned around to her husbands back like a sloth.

Yes, I guess having you on my back will be better.

She got a piggyback from him, and that couldnt feel better. Maru opened the door to the apartment. She flung her feet left and right. Her sneakers, which she didnt wear properly and just crumpled the heels, fell off from her feet.

You totally out today?

With her still on his back, her husband crouched down and neatened the sneakers.

Maybe this is why men work out.

Im not working out to do this, but sure, Ill give you this from time to time.

She slapped her husbands back, telling him to go to the bed.

I think you have energy now.

Shh. Go to the bed.

Climbing down from her husbands back, she lay down on the bed.

You should get washed first.

Yeah.

Although she responded, she didnt have the energy to get back up. Now that she was lying down, she found everything bothersome. Maru sat down next to her.

I can do everything else besides was.h.i.+ng in your stead.

When will that technology get developed? Was.h.i.+ng for other people?

I can tell you for sure that it wont appear until Im forty-five.

You never know in this life. Some genius might come along and develop it.

Seeing as how you keep talking nonsense, it looks like you really had a hard time.

She reached her hand out to her husband with her palm facing up.

He ma.s.saged her palms without saying a word. Whenever she didnt have any energy or had a bad stomach, she always had him ma.s.sage her hands.

I suddenly got a lot of work because of exports. I cant stay out of it because there are many things that require my decision. There are many makers over there that have a similar product lineup to ours, so I couldnt let my brain get any rest because I had to a.n.a.lyze our strategy.

And you had the shoot and checking Daemyungs writing on top of that.

Still, once this is done, I wont have any work at the company for a while, so I can get a breather.

Dont push yourself too hard. Youre doing plenty well.

Youre right, sweetie. Its plenty as it is now. I know that I cant be greedy and that I should be satisfied with the happiness in front of my eyes than in the distant future. I really do, but when work comes my way, I cant let go of any of them. Maybe its because I know a lot of things?

Its true that knowing a lot of things increases your worry. But still, the first thing you have to think about is your body. You know that firsthand, dont you?

Nothing can replace health. For our sake, and for Gaeuls sake.

She sat up.

Did you know? When you ma.s.sage me like this, it relieves my fatigue a lot?

Should I switch jobs then?

Thats a no. I want a monopoly on it.

They grabbed hands, and she stood up thanks to Marus help.

Go and get washed. Lets eat something.

Is there anything to eat?

Theres pizza in the freezer. Three pieces left over from last time.

Ill eat two of them then. I need some carbs today.

She went to the bathroom and washed her body with some hot water.

She wiped the steamy mirror with her palm. A fatigued face could be seen in the foggy mirror. It was a miracle that it didnt show up during the shoot.

After her shower, she left the bathroom. She grabbed a bite of the pizza that her husband had warmed up and drank some beer. Her brain, which had come to a halt as soon as she left the shoot, seemed to be reactivating again.

She talked to her husband about the things that happened today; what happened at the company in the morning, her lunch, and then the shoot.

I wouldve attended that gathering today if I had a little more energy, she said as she opened her laptop.

There were a few emails sent to her from her company. They were reports she had to look through without a deadline. It wasnt an urgent problem, so she just checked them for now.

How was it for you today, sweetie?

Haneul looked at her husband with her chin resting on her arms. Having finished his shoot in the summer, her husband had been busy outside of creating content.

Advert shoots, photo shoots, and above all, he had a fan meetup to prepare for. As he was multi-talented, there were many things to prepare, such as singing and dancing.

He said he might as well do it properly and ended up spending even more time than when he was working on Yoonseoks film, which eventually turned the fan meetup into a full-on concert. For a while, his fan meetup videos took over the popular video charts.

Well, Ive been playing around to my hearts content, he said as he rubbed his belly.

She frowned and pinched his belly. The sleek abs had disappeared without a trace. Though, the sensation was better this way.

Youve become more weighty in the past few months.

I should get some good rest when I can.

Haneul fondled his belly for a while before letting go.

Theyre becoming more and more like you.

She looked at the two cats on the sofa. They had become as chubby as her husband.

I heard you start working again in January, right? You should start losing weight then.

I can never get used to losing weight no matter how many times I do it.

He tried to take the remaining piece of pizza and put it in his mouth, but she s.n.a.t.c.hed his hand before he could do so. Then she brought her face over and ate it.

You had to steal that?

Im not stealing anything. I was just helping you with your diet.

When she smiled, Maru pouted before smiling.

Should I make you something? You still look hungry.

No, I like it just the way I am now. I do want to eat more, but I have a shoot tomorrow as well. You know I get bloated easily.

She took a sip of some beer and put down the can. Just then, her husbands phone rang for a moment.

It seemed he got a message. It then rang several times as though he received several messages in a row.

What could that be? I turned off the notifications for the group chat.

He checked his phone. As he did so, his expression became brighter and brighter.

What is it?

Instead of replying, Maru showed her his phone. Yoonseok kept sending messages.

-We got a judges award at the Monte Br Film Festival!

Following that was a series of cheerful emojis from Yoonseok.

Looks like Yoonseok wont get any sleep tonight.

Congratulations she added as she returned the phone.

Monte Br, so Switzerland?

Yeah. A judges award, huh? Thats a much better reception than I was expecting.

If its good enough to get a judges award at Monte Br, you might get invited to other Film Festivals too, huh?

Thats likely. For now, the start is good.

She quietly watched as her husband let out a sigh of relief.

I told you this before, but dont go too far ahead.

Ill think about it, he said with a smile.

Even during that time, the notifications did not cease.