On a sunny weekend morning, Jin Young and Hyun Ah travel with their agents to Busan, where the tests will be held in a few days.
At the airport, Jin Young notices something different. He now understands the hard work of those who operate on the ground and in the air, something that most people who travel rarely realize.
These professionals work tirelessly to ensure everyone's safety, and now Jin Young was aware of it.
What's more, perhaps he's nervous because of the events of the previous day or is simply missing Ah Reum, as he sees her face all around him.
Without realizing it, he's there, smiling like a fool at people.
Two young women were also walking past him at that moment, debating who he was really smiling at, without realizing that he couldn't even see them.
"Did he smile at me?" asked one of them, almost jumping up and down with excitement.
"No! It was for me!" replied the other, with an exaggerated gesture of conviction.
"Jin, Jin. Do you know them?" Hyun Ah asked.
"Ah Reum..." Jin Young said a little airily.
"What did you call me?" Hyun Ah asked, his expression clouded with irritation.
"Oh, sorry. They just reminded me of Ah Reum..."
"That girl again!" Hyun Ah thought with a sigh of annoyance, while his face clearly showed his frustration.
In Ho, who had been observing the situation, gave a discreet chuckle. "All right, all right! Come on, guys. It's time for our flight."
Ah Reum, for her part, was at home, lying on her bed, on the edge between consciousness and sleep.
"Why didn't the alarm go off?" She jolts upright, caught off guard.
"Oh, wait, it's my day off... I completely forgot, darn it! Back to sleep I go."
As she drifts back into slumber, Ah Reum slips into a lovely dream.
Jin Young approaches her, gently pressing his lips to hers, now in a passionate kiss.
She feels as if she's in paradise. Hand in hand, they stroll together through a magnificent garden.
"You... kissed me... and... and held my hand like this. Why did you hold my hand like that?" She asked shyly.
Her innocent and attentive expression, as if anesthetized by the moment, revealed that she was completely immersed in her sweet dreamlike illusion.
It truly felt as if she had transcended to another dimension, one that promised sheer ecstasy.
With a smile that enlightened her, he replied softly: "Because I'm your boyfriend!"
Ah Reum smiled sweetly with emotion and said: "Then kiss me again," she pouted.
Slowly, Ah Reum opened her eyes and realized she was kissing the pillow. Then she let out a soft laugh, still feeling the sweetness of the dream on her lips.
"Oh, it was just a dream... lol". All disheveled and with the pillow in her arms, she laughed and laughed as she remembered.
"It seemed so real; I could feel your lips..." A certain flame ran through her body, leaving her madly embarrassed.
"What am I talking about? lol, I should get up and do some cleaning today. It's great for not to think about things like that."
Ah Reum embarked on a thorough cleaning of her house, leaving every corner sparkling.
However, there was a twist: she put on some music to clean the house, which didn't help her plan to clear her mind.
She listened absolutely to all the versions of "Arirang".
She sang, she cleaned, she sang, she danced, she sang, and she cleaned, it was a continuous loop of music and cleaning, with lots of singing.
"Whew, I'm done! The dream has taken my beloved, come back to me my beloved lmao" She burst into laughter, unable to contain her amusement.
Jin Young and Hyun Ah's stay in Busan took them to the renowned Nebulous Ocean, one of the city's finest and most elegant seaside hotels.
In the hotel restaurant, the actors and their agents met for a relaxed lunch and a chat.
"Let's enjoy our meal and relax. You guys did a great job yesterday!" commented Kim Soo Kyung, Hyun Ah's agent.
"Yes, you were amazing! So let's enjoy these moments before the next tests. You practiced a lot! These two days are for resting," added In Ho.
"That was the President's idea, wasn't it?" asked Jin Young.
"Indeed it was," said In Ho with a laugh. "He thought it would be best for you to be well rested and familiar with the filming location. Besides, Busan is the perfect setting for it."
Hyun Ah joined in the fun, telling In Ho: "You and Soo Kyung seem to be enjoying this more than we are, lol."
She continued in a more serious tone: "I also agree with the president. It's beneficial for us to interact here before the test." Her discreet smile conveyed her agreement.
At dusk, on Haeundae beach, Jin Young felt the gentle breeze touch his face as he dipped his toes in the sea water. Hyun Ah, seated on the sand, gazed at him in admiration.
The sweet breeze that accompanied the early evening deepened Jin Young's thoughts, which were filled with an intense desire for Ah Reum.
Inwardly, he said: "I'd like to be with her!" His eyes closed and he could imagine her smiling.
Hyun Ah, who was watching him with a smile, asked with a twinge of nostalgia: "When was the last time we saw the sea together? I think it was when we were still at college...". She answered herself.
"Yes, it was!" Jin replied happily. "It was in Coney Island! From what I remember, we sat down with our classmates and shared our aspirations for the future before the end of the last semester."
A certain air of nostalgia hung over them.
Hopeful, Jin Young continued: "Who would have thought that, just over a year later, we'd be here, on another beach, with the same aspirations, but about to realize them... you've grown up a lot, Choi Hyun Ah!" He smiled, complimenting her.
"Yes!!! I remember, we were all there! Me, you, Samantha, Michael, Rachel and Kaleb too... Wow, it was our last beach with them..." Hyun Ah said, remembering that day with such clarity and fondness.
She continued, looking at Jin Young with passion: "Anyway, it's good to be here... just me and you!"
Jin Young sat beside her, watching the horizon gradually darken over the vast sea. Meanwhile, the lights of the magnificent seaside hotels illuminated the beautiful beach.
Naturally, he shared the sincerity of his heart with her. "I'm deeply in love with someone!" A warm smile lit up his face.
Hyun Ah, who had been smiling at him before, now shivered and, with a blank look on her face, she asked, "Are you... in love with someone?"
What he had just said was certainly not something she had expected to hear, and his next answer would be even worse for her ears.
He continued fervently, his face full of love: "We haven't even been apart for 24 hours, but my desire to be with her makes me see her everywhere.
Even now, I'm waiting for her and wishing she was waiting for me... Am I being too emotional?" He laughed thoughtfully before continuing: "Could it be that the person I love is also waiting for me?"
Jin Young asked himself these questions full of hope, without realizing the impact his words had on Hyun Ah.
Hyun Ah found it hard to believe what she was hearing and, finally, tears welled up in her eyes as she stood up.
"Are you really talking about a girl with me?" She exclaimed coldly. "Love? You really don't understand, do you?" She finished with a dismissive laugh before walking away.
"Because we're friends!" Jin Young shouted after her.
"Because you're my friend! I wanted to share my happiness with you and... yes, I thought you should hear it from me!
It's the right thing to do! I'm not going to deny that I didn't know about your feelings, but I thought you'd also understand that these aren't my feelings for you!!!
I made that clear a long time ago, and, as a friend, I sincerely wanted to share the most beautiful feelings in my heart with you, so it's not something I can apologize for!" Jin Young spoke with firm sincerity.
He didn't hold back in openly sharing what his heart was expressing, because it was his friend who was present.
Although he couldn't predict the depth of her pain, he believed that hearing it from someone else would have been even more painful.
In any case, it was something he was determined to do; the moment of friendship simply flowed the words sooner.