Jungsu blinked as his eyes skimmed over the script. The director, or rather the man who had been inside the elevator when Jungsu had blood on him, was now his least favourite person at the moment.
He kept looking at Jungsu with bright, shining eyes that made Jungsu shift in his seat uncomfortably.
It was no surprise that Dong-ha was also present at the script briefing, as he was the male lead for the movie, The Testament. While it may have been expected of them to greet each other amiably, all they did was nod at each other before sitting down on opposite ends of the room.
Jungsu could still see the irritation and malice in Dong-ha's eyes. He didn't blame him, however. Jungsu himself didn't understand how a newcomer like him could land a role in a movie, and not just a minor role, but the role of the villain. On top of that, with the way the director was treating him, it made it seem as if Jungsu was the lead instead of Dong-ha.
He pursed his lips in distaste as he continued reading the things he would have to do. While choking, stabbing, and killing people, even if simply acting, came naturally to Jungsu, the other things did not. But he was a spy. He could not lose his cool on a mission. Regardless of whether or not he thought the mission was completely, and utterly useless.
But still, Jungsu understood why he had to take this route to meet Kang Haeun. He had to seem passionate about acting. He needed to have a reason behind his escape and why he was here, something that didn't connect him to his past occupation. That was the only way he could garner his trust.
The main actress, Hwang Sujin, was not at the reading at the moment. However, Jungsu figured she wasn't here on purpose. From what he had heard, the actress was quite cold and had an ego.
"You'll be alright with doing that Jungsu?" The director's question snapped him back to the present.
Jungsu nodded his head wordlessly, not quite knowing what he had agreed to, but already regretting it once he saw the look of joy on the director's face.
"We've already done the screen tests for everyone, now we are just waiting to hear back from the actors, but almost everyone's part is confirmed. Well, every major role." The screenwriter for the movie said.
Jungsu tilted his head at that.
Screen test?
Jungsu had not gotten a screen test. Suddenly, he felt as if it was unfair to him. He also wanted a screen test. What if they really didn't want him here after seeing how he really was like in front of a camera?
"For now, you are free to leave. We will call you back for the script reading in a couple of days. Please practice the lines that we have starred for the reading. We don't expect you to memorize them yet, just focus more on your delivery."
As the other actors got up from the table, Jungsu made his way to the director.
"Mr. Beom Seok." Jungsu called, and he turned around immediately.
"Oh! Jungsu! Yes, how can I help you?"
Jungsu nearly took a step back after the director moved in a step closer, but he held himself at the last moment.
"I was wondering if you wanted a screen test before you finalize the position of me as the villain. That's a rather large role, and I have no prior-"
"Jungsu!" The director chuckled, slapping him on the back, "you don't need to worry about that! I know you can do this!"
Jungsu narrowed his eyes. "But I don't know if I can do this." Jungsu knew he should not be doing this, however, he thought that perhaps a smaller role might be better for him. He could still complete the mission through that, right?
"That!" The director pointed at his face while jumping on the spot. Jungsu felt like grabbing his finger and breaking it in so many ways that he would never be able to identify any bone.
"That look on your face right now is perfect! That's all you have to do Jungsu! Be yourself!"
The director ushered him outside the room, and Jungsu moved out in irritation.
As Jungsu walked away from the building, drawing on his baseball hat over his head, he bowed his head, smirking under the shadow his hat cast over his face.
They were not wrong in casting him as a villain. But if it was a villain they wanted, it was a villain they would get.
____________
Jungsu was sitting on the couch in Grandma's house with Ha-joon, as he had eagerly wanted to show Jungsu Double Shift, hearing as Jungsu had yet to watch an episode. Jiwoo marched towards them, deciding to join in as she grabbed hold of the doll and plopped down on top of Jungsu. She was so small that Jungsu hardly felt she was there, so he didn't bother moving her. Jungsu was currently watching himself reading To Kill a Mockingbird while resting on top of a chair by the side of the pool.
Narrowing his eyes, his lips parted in disbelief as he saw his skin seemed to be glistening under the faint sunlight. Jungsu wondered how much editing had been done for him to appear like that.
Then he was being grabbed by Dong-ha, Seung-gyu, and Yeong-cheol. Jungsu watched as they failed to toss him into the pool, but succeeded once Na-yeon joined in.
Jungsu wore a grave expression on his face as he saw himself tossed into the pool. His expression eased a bit as he heard Ha-joon and Jiwoo giggling.
Then he was climbing out of the pool and Jungsu's eyes widened as he glanced at the large tv screen mounted in front of the sofa.
The camera was currently focused on Jungsu's back which was not at all hidden by the white shirt he was wearing. In fact, Jungsu could practically see everything. Then the camera panned to his glaring face as he was blocked by Yeong-cheol and Seung-gyu, before moving down his shoulders and down onto his stomach.
Jungsu froze for a moment before jumping into action, as he held his hands over both Ha-joon and Jiwoo's eyes.
Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, he heard Grandma walking into the room. Her eyes moved from Jungsu's panicked face, to the hands he was holding over both Jiwoo and Ha-joon's eyes, and onto the large image of Jungsu's white shirt plastered to his chest.
Thankfully, the moment was gone and he went inside the villa.
Then, he heard Grandma's quiet laughter as Jungsu removed his hands from the children's eyes.
He felt Jiwoo turn around to look at him, smiling up at him innocently as she said, "Oppa, will you marry me?"
If Jungsu was drinking anything, he knew he would've spit it out at that moment. His horrified eyes locked onto Jiwoo's innocent ones as she stared up at him excitedly.
Then he heard more cackling from Grandma, this one a lot louder than the previous round of laughter.
"J-Jiwoo," Jungsu stuttered for the first time in years. "I'm too old for you." He choked out.
"I will be old too! Wait for me, Oppa!" She said angrily, hitting his chest with her doll.
"W-we'll talk about this when you're older." Jungsu said to appease her.
"Okay, but you have to tell everyone that I'm your fiancé!" Jiwoo grinned.
Jungsu was baffled as to how the girl who was only five years old, could know of such a word. Unless the Korean government had somehow advanced their education system.
Jungsu glanced at Grandma, hoping that shw would step in at any moment to stop the madness. She remained in her spot however, smiling at Jiwoo. Glancing at him, she simply shrugged her shoulders and looked at him with big eyes that seemed to say, 'What can you do? Give the kid what she wants.'
Jungsu nodded his head stiffly at her and wrapped his pinkie around her tiny one as she made him promise.
Jungsu was growing nervous already thinking about how he would explain this to anyone who asked him. He didn't want to be dragged to jail and labeled as a child predator. Even the NIS wouldn't be able to help him after that.
Jungsu found himself praying to the very God he had long ago stopped believing in to ensure that nobody would ask him if he had a fiancé. Still, he had little hope that they would answer his prayers. They didn't like him, Jungsu could tell that much.
Then Grandma also joined in, sitting beside them as the next episode was of Double Shift was played on the tv. Jungsu felt the need to shift in his place as he grew further irritated by the way the camera had captured him, and how the crew had edited him. But he held still as he didn't want to disturb Jiwoo from her intent focus on the screen the moment the camera showed him interacting with a squirrel.
Sighing lightly, he continued watching, enduring the jokes and laughter of Grandma and Ha-joon as they poked fun of him.