Scene: Film Shooting Set – Dressing Room
Kaito stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the ornate crown that rested atop his head. His fingers gripped the heavy gold piece, frustration evident on his face as he tried to dislodge it from his hair. It was a simple crown, in theory—gold with intricate designs—but to Kaito, it felt like a symbol of every minor annoyance on set. The weight of it seemed to pull at his scalp, making him more aware of its existence with each passing second. He ran a hand through his red hair, exhaling a dramatic sigh. His princely costume—a royal blue velvet coat, embroidered with gold thread, and polished black boots—was impeccable. Everything was perfect... except for this damn crown.
"Get this thing off me!" Kaito growled, his voice laced with frustration. His usually composed demeanor was slipping, replaced by a mix of irritation and theatrical flair.
Behind him, Jim, his ever-calm personal assistant and best friend, stood with his arms crossed, observing the scene with an amused glint in his hazel eyes. Jim was always the practical one, able to see things from a different angle—and yet, Kaito's penchant for melodrama never failed to entertain him.
"Well, it's not coming off, is it?" Jim said with a raised eyebrow. He leaned in, making a show of inspecting the crown. "What did you even do to get it stuck in the first place?"
Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, shifting uncomfortably. "This is not the time for questions, Jim. Only answers," he muttered, though the frustration was creeping into his voice. He winced as Jim gave another tug at the crown. "And did you really have to pull so hard?"
Jim gave a light chuckle, but his expression remained as deadpan as ever. "Guess you'll just have to shoot the scene with it on, then. Seems like you're stuck with it."
Kaito grimaced, his hand rising again to feel the weight of the crown pressing against his scalp. "Not a chance," he muttered, lips curling in distaste. "This thing is heavier than it looks. I'll be sweating through the whole scene."
Jim folded his arms, studying the problem as though contemplating all possible solutions. A gleam of mischief appeared in his eyes, and he glanced toward the dressing table, where a pair of scissors lay innocently on the counter.
Kaito's gaze followed Jim's, narrowing. "What are you planning?"
Jim flashed a sly grin as he picked up the scissors, spinning them playfully between his fingers. "Well, pulling doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere," he said. "But there's always the option of—" He held the scissors up, feigning innocence as he glanced at Kaito. "A tiny trim off the top."
Kaito's eyes widened in horror. "Get those things away from me," he snapped, taking a step back. "Are you out of your mind? One wrong snip and my hair will look like a disaster. It'll ruin the whole look."
Jim dropped his hand, sighing dramatically. "You're impossible, you know that?" He glanced at the clock on the wall. "Shooting starts in five minutes. What's your plan now, genius?"
Kaito's mind raced. He ran a hand through his damp hair again, his green eyes lighting up as a spark of inspiration struck. He shot Jim a mischievous grin. "Well, your terrible plan might've just inspired a better one."
---
Meanwhile, On Set
Outside, the sound of footsteps echoed through the set. The director, pacing nervously near the monitors, glanced at his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. "What's taking that kid so long?" he muttered to himself, glancing anxiously at the clock. 10:06 a.m. and still no sign of Kaito. This was unlike him. Kaito was known for being punctual, always ready to perform, but today... today was different.
Beside him stood Alex. Tall, with sharp features and dark hair, his piercing blue eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding before him. His expression was unreadable, giving nothing away as he observed the actors on set. He wasn't one for drama, and he certainly wasn't one to get wrapped up in the little theatrics of the film industry. But the director's unease was palpable, and it drew his attention.
The director offered him an apologetic smile, attempting to mask his anxiety. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Kim. We're usually right on schedule. This is... well, the first time something like this has happened."
Alex didn't respond at first, simply nodding in acknowledgment. "I see," he said, his voice calm, cool, and indifferent, as though this was just another minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.
The director, clearly desperate, started toward the dressing room, muttering about checking on Kaito. But before he could take more than a few steps, the dressing room door swung open. Kaito emerged, his hair damp and crown-free, but still as confident as ever. He casually pushed a stray lock of hair from his face, the remnants of water dripping from his damp locks, leaving tiny droplets in his wake as he walked toward the set.
The director froze, his eyes widening in surprise. "Y-Your hair…" he stammered, unable to mask his shock at the unexpected appearance.
Kaito gave a carefree shrug, brushing it off as though it were no big deal. "Relax, Mr. Director," he said, his voice light and casual. "It's just wet hair. It'll dry out eventually." A quick, easy grin spread across his face as he moved past the director, heading toward his mark on set.
Jim trailed behind, still shaking his head in disbelief. "I'll get the dryers," he muttered, half-amused, half-exasperated.
Moments later, Kaito sat, his hair finally dried. Jim worked diligently, brushing through the strands with precision. After a few minutes, he declared the task complete, a hint of pride in his voice. Kaito inspected his reflection, tilting his head to admire the results. He couldn't help but grin, suggesting that Jim should take on the role of his stylist more often. Jim shot him an exasperated look, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.
With a playful smile, Kaito set the script aside and stood up, ready to begin filming.
The director, seated at his post, clapped his hands sharply to gather everyone's attention. He announced that they would soon be starting the next scene, a pivotal moment where the prince's bodyguard would confess his love after years of silence. It was a simple but crucial scene, and the director needed it to be flawless.
As he scanned the room for the male lead, the atmosphere shifted when a staff member approached, whispering urgently in his ear. The director's expression turned serious as he addressed the crew.
There had been a change. Their male lead had come down with the flu and would be absent from filming for an indeterminate time. A murmur of concern rippled through the crew, leaving everyone uncertain about how to proceed without him.
"Especially for the confession scenes!" a staff member exclaimed, his brow furrowed in thought. "But it's going to take a while to figure out how we're going to shoot that. Don't we have plenty of stunt doubles for the male leads?"
The director nodded, his expression tense. "Yes, but I'm sure one of them can make the cut. Alright, bring out the stunt double! And someone get me a cappuccino—this stress is bad for my health."
Time passed, and the set transformed into a flurry of activity.
"Does my prince wish to relieve me of my duties?" Actor 1 inquired, bowing dramatically as he faced Kaito.
"Cut!" Kaito interrupted, frowning. "Isn't the bodyguard supposed to be at least slightly taller than His Highness?"
Jim shrugged, trying to find a diplomatic answer. "I guess, but—"
"No excuses," the director interjected firmly. "This scene has to be perfect. The prince has standards."
With that, Alex turned to face the camera, ready to continue.
The scene shifted, and Kaito watched as another stunt double stepped into place.
"Too skinny," he declared, shaking his head.
"Too sleepy," he added, his critical eye surveying the next candidate.
"Too average. And is that lettuce in your teeth?" he remarked, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
Eventually, an assistant approached, looking defeated. "And that was our last stunt double."
The director buried his face in his hands. "This is hopeless."
Kaito took a sip of his latte, savoring the moment.
Jim shot him an incredulous look. "Too average? Seriously?"
"What?" Kaito replied, unfazed. "It's for the ratings."
"Insufferable," Jim muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Tell me something I don't know," Kaito quipped with a smirk, clearly enjoying the chaos around him.
Alex leaned back in his chair, eyeing the bustling film set around them. "You sure do have one picky actor."
The director sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "He truly is, but I can't deny that he's got talent."
Alex chuckled. "What are his standards?"
The director shrugged. "Oh, the usual: tall, fit, bold, and, you know... hot."
On set, Kaito was absorbed in his script, pacing as he rehearsed his lines. He was so lost in thought that he didn't notice Alex quietly approaching.
"How hard is it to find an actor for a simple confession scene?" Kaito muttered to himself, speaking to the air. "Can't a prince learn to love? Is it so wrong to hold such thoughts at heart? Thoughts that go against one's morals... A love opposed by all..."
From behind, Alex's voice broke through Kaito's reverie. "Does His Highness doubt my words?"
Kaito spun around, startled, as Alex stepped into the role with ease. The crew looked on, captivated, whispering among themselves.
"Are they...?" Jim murmured.
The director gestured to the camera crew. "Just keep rolling. We may have just captured the scene we needed."
Kaito could only stare, rendered speechless by Alex's unexpected entrance. Alex held his gaze, smiling mischievously. "Is my prince too stunned to speak?" he asked, lifting Kaito's hand and pressing a kiss to the back of it with a flourish.
Kaito's breath caught. "Gabriel? What are you doing here?"
"Why do you ask, my prince?" Alex replied, slipping further into character. "Does His Highness wish to relieve me of my duties?"
"I... you can't be here," Kaito stammered.
Alex took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low, fervent tone. "I simply can't stay away. My love is like a flame, ignited by the mere spark of words. A love that rivals that of a swordsman for his blade, a king for his crown, an artist for his art. A love like the one between you and me, a love I can no longer deny."
Kaito looked away, his composure faltering. "You don't know what you're saying."
Alex's expression softened. "I only speak the truth."
Kaito took a shaky breath, his gaze darting away from Alex's intense stare. "But... this is not love."
Alex's eyes softened, a trace of sadness mixed with determination. "Then tell me, what is?"
Kaito opened his mouth, but Alex continued, his voice filled with quiet conviction. "Is love not a feeling of affection and care? A romantic attraction, the very feeling of pleasure in another's presence?" He stepped closer, his tone pleading. "For my heart aches with this question, my dear Kaito."
Kaito's heart pounded as Alex spoke, each word landing with unexpected weight. The set fell silent, everyone holding their breath, as if captivated by a spell.
The director walked up to the duo, clapping his hands. "Bravo! Bravo! That was just simply perfect!"
Kaito regained his senses and apologized for the sudden inconvenience, assuring that he would willingly work with any actor without complaint.
The director responded, acknowledging that what they had just captured on camera was exactly what they needed to boost their ratings. Kaito only looked at Alex questioningly.
Noticing this, the director introduced Alex. "This is Alex, the CEO of the production company and a big name in the entertainment industry. He was just passing by to see how filming was going."
The two exchanged brief greetings. Alex then turned to the director, stating that Kaito had truly exceeded the expectations he had mentioned earlier.
Startled, the director acknowledged Alex's own acting talent and wondered if he had ever considered acting himself.
A sudden text interrupted the moment, prompting Alex to cut the conversation short. He applauded the show they had put on, excusing himself to attend to some urgent business matters.
The director offered to accompany him as they walked toward the exit. He led the way, closely followed by the raven-haired man. As they passed Kaito, Alex stopped for a moment and whispered in his ear, "Till we meet again, my dear prince," before walking off with the director.Jim walked up to the frozen actor, questioning what had just happened.
Later, in the dressing room, the redhead paced anxiously while Jim sat calmly on the counter.
"What was that? What the hell was that?" The actor asked, frustration in his voice.
Jim stared at him, unbothered and only questions the redhead's previous actions.The actor quickly defended himself, claiming it was in the script, but Jim reminded him he hadn't mentioned Alex's name.
The actor paused, confused. "I swear, I don't know the guy. Sure, I flirt around, but I'd know if I flirted with a billionaire."
Jim raised an eyebrow. "Okay, but a billionaire? You let that walk away?"
The redhead rolled his eyes. "I'm no gold digger."
Jim smirked. "But you sure are single."
The actor sighed, his frustration mounting. Just then, his phone pinged. He checked the message.
Text:
Unknown: Is my dear prince still doing alright?