One step to you
distance
The next day, at the B-Nillaco filming site.
The set was bustling from early morning.
The costume team, makeup team, camera crew, and even the director were busy preparing for the day.
Seoyeon arrived early and was ready.
We reviewed the concept all night to show an improved look than last time.
Even the movement lines have been perfectly organized.
She was looking around the studio, trying to compose herself.
At that moment, a vehicle quietly entered the set.
The door of the matte black SUV opened, and Jeonghan stepped out, wearing a concept outfit.
The face was not yet ready, but its unique long silhouette immediately caught the eye even from a distance.
Seoyeon approached first with a happy heart.
이서연
“Senior..! Are you here?”
It was a greeting that was quite different from before, a little brighter and closer.
But what came back was a monotonous response.
정한
"Oh, yes.."
A short answer. He didn't avoid eye contact, but no emotion was discernible.
Jeonghan bowed briefly after receiving the greeting, then disappeared into the waiting room without saying a word.
이서연
'…huh?'
Seoyeon stood there blinking.
Something felt off. His tone of voice, his gaze, which had been so warm just a few days ago.
It felt so different. Filming began shortly thereafter.
Seoyeon moved precisely as planned, and Jeonghan led the scene with precise timing, precise angles, and precise poses.
Everything was professional. But I felt no emotion.
Even in the cut where they face each other, Seoyeon couldn't read any sympathy in his eyes.
It was definitely different from last time.
At that time, Jeonghan approached her first and led her, and even when the camera was turned off, he spoke to her first.
But today… I just did work.
With a blank expression on his face, he kept an appropriate distance and never approached me first.
이서연
"What's wrong with me? I thought we were close..."
No matter how much Seoyeon thought about it, she couldn't figure it out.
Just like before, I smiled, said hello, and contacted her… But why?
Filming is over and the final monitoring is complete.
When the director applauded and thanked everyone for their hard work, Jeonghan simply gave a brief greeting and headed toward the vehicle.
Seeing that sight, Seoyeon felt that she had to say something right now.
이서연
“Ah, I… senior!”
The moment Jeonghan opened the car door and was about to get in, Seoyeon ran over and called out to him.
But Jeonghan, seemingly oblivious, got into the car and the automatic doors slowly began to close.
이서연
“Just a moment…!”
Seoyeon quickly reached out her hand, and at that moment, her hand was caught slightly in the crack of the door.
이서연
"ouch...!!"
The automatic door opened again and Jeonghan quickly got out of the car.
정한
"are you okay?!!"
Jeonghan grabbed her hand with surprised eyes.
With a puzzled expression, he carefully examined the back of Seoyeon's hand and fingers.
이서연
"Yes... it's okay.."
Seoyeon felt more overwhelmed by the feeling of being held in his hand than by the warmth that was being transmitted to her hand.
정한
"What if I reach out when the door's closing? My hand's swollen... If you have something to say, you can call me..."
Jeonghan got back into the car, trailing off impatiently.
Then, he carefully soaked a towel in the warm water from the tumbler and placed it on Seoyeon's hand.
정한
“…I’m giving you this. If you’re really sick, you should definitely go to the hospital.”
Seoyeon couldn't open her mouth at those words.
For a long time, she looked at him, her hand still in his warm embrace.
이서연
‘It’s so warm… why…’
이서연
"Senior..."
His name was called in a trembling voice. Jeonghan raised his head.
Their eyes met again.
This time, no avoidance.
Their eyes, filled with things in each other's hearts that they had not yet been able to express in words, spread across the quiet stillness.
Seoyeon was silent for a moment.
Jeonghan's gaze was so serious, and when I looked into his eyes, my mouth wouldn't open.
I had a burning desire to say something, but I hesitated, wondering if I could so easily touch the depth of his heart.
이서연
"no..."
In the end, Seoyeon slowly shook her head and swallowed her words.
Those cautious words seemed like a defense against giving excuses to either herself or him.
Jeonghan nodded slightly after hearing that.
He lowered his gaze down to Seoyeon's pupils, then carefully placed his hand again on the towel that was wrapping her hand.
정한
"Here... there's a lot of swelling. If it doesn't subside after a while, you should definitely go to the hospital. Seriously."
His voice was still calm, but there was a strange warmth and worry in it.
Seoyeon took a small breath. She felt something welling up inside her, but she forced herself to swallow it.
이서연
"...Okay. Thank you, senior."
Instead of answering, Jeonghan nodded slightly and got back into the car.
Seoyeon blankly watched his car drive away.
Beyond the softly tinted glass window, Jeonghan was quietly watching her.
His gaze remained fixed. Then, Jeonghan took a deep breath and ruffled his hair.
정한
"Stop...stop thinking about it."
He closed his eyes, muttering to himself. The air froze in silence.
Seoyeon slowly climbed into the car. As the scenery flowed by outside the window, Jeonghan kept coming to mind.
The warm hands that took out a towel and wrapped it around her hand, the seemingly indifferent but affectionate tone of voice.
이서연
'Maybe... I acted too friendly...'
Think about it carefully.
Because he thought they had become close, he kept contacting them and joking around... Did Jeonghan feel burdened by that?
이서연
'My senior was just being nice to me out of kindness, but maybe I was being too forward...'
As I thought about it, my face grew hot and my gaze outside the window became blurred.
Seoyeon let out a small breath and leaned her forehead against the window. Her heart ached as she realized that all the kindness and affection he had shown her was simply "consideration as a senior."
이서연
'Senior Jeonghan is a good person...'
Seoyeon sighed and turned her head.