✏️How to Write a K-Drama: Chapter Four
"Roleplaying," she says...
Not yet caught up? Pick up where you left off in the Chapter List.
She sighed and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Mr. Do Jae Woon. I’m afraid you’re going to think I’m a sasaeng fan again, but I’m only going to be able to write this part for you…”
He waited silently, knowing better this time than to even try to interrupt her, but the anticipation was driving him crazy—and he had a bad feeling about this.
“...if the two of us date.”
Everyone was startled except the person making the proposition. Da Young looked steadily at Jae Woon. He stared back, their eyes latched onto each other, as a chill went down his spine. He grew rigid, and a concerned Jo Suk approached him, ready to take over if needed.
“Um, Ms. Writer, we don’t—” Ms. So tried to speak. She was interrupted by Jae Woon.
“Date?” His voice came out cool and detached, so different from before that Da Young was caught off guard for a second.
“Yes, unless, of course, you are already in a relationship with somebody.”
Jo Suk mumbled, “It’s been a while.” He quickly looked away when Jae Woon tossed him one bombastic side eye.
“Great, then today can be our first day as a couple,” Da Young said calmly, smoothing out her pants.
This wasn’t the first time someone tried to “sponsor” Jae Woon or force him into a relationship—it was sadly common in the entertainment industry—but he had never gotten such a proposition from the writer before. Like always, the answer, however, would have to be no. Just as she had predicted, he couldn’t help but wonder again if she was a sasaeng fan.
As if reading his mind, Da Young added, “Oh, and by the way, did I mention it’s the fake dating trope?”
“Excuse me?” he managed to grit out. Every second with this woman was a danger to his already frayed nerves.
“We won’t really be dating. We’re not entering an official romantic relationship. I’m not confessing any feelings for you, except perhaps some minor distaste. This is roleplay, and everyone who needs to know can know about it. I need ideas for my story and I’m afraid I’m in a bit of a bind.”
He closed his eyes to gather his next thoughts. He murmured, “You mean you’re experiencing writer’s block?”
“If you still want to work with a writer who gets writer’s block, you could be my partner and we could make a truly spectacular drama together. You’ve never been part of the writing experience before, have you?”
That gave him pause. That sounded nice, actually. Sometimes there were certain scenes he hated or plot devices he found ridiculous, but as the actor, he never had a say. He simply had to be the pretty face (and, more times than he liked, the ab-tastic body in the shower for random on-screen ogling).
“No, I haven’t…” he admitted.
“And you still won’t,” she cut in, instantly shattering all his dreams, “but you could inspire me and it would still be something of a collaboration. Either way, this is the only way you’d be able to work with me on this new drama.”
He paused. “Do I really have no say in this?”
“You do have a say, and it’s ‘no.’ I’m sure I can find someone else willing to comply,” she answered calmly, although her heart thudded slightly. She wasn’t sure there was anyone else, at least not anyone she felt comfortable enough to make such a brazen proposition, too. She honestly wanted to throw up a little even right then and there.
Okay, two can play this game, he thought and leaned forward.
“Then I have one condition,” he said, holding up one finger. He paused and added a second finger. “Make that two. First of all, we’re not calling this ‘roleplay’ to anybody, got it? Secondly…I have the female lead in mind, and she’s not going to be you.”
“Naturally. I’m a writer, not an actress.”
“I want Han Yul Hee.”
Da Young blinked.
“That’s a fantastic idea!” exclaimed Ms. So, clapping her hands in delight. She turned to Da Young. “Do you think she’d say yes?”
“How-how would I know?” Da Young asked with a tight smile. Jae Woon could feel his own natural smile returning. This was the first time she looked like she was not in control. Da Young, in the meantime, was already running the conversation with her friend in her head and not particularly liking how it was going. She then gave Jae Woon an assessing gaze and asked, “Are you familiar with her?”
“Not particularly,” he said with a shrug, “but you want this drama to be a success, right? I do, too, and what better insurance than to add another top star opposite me?”
She tried not to roll her eyes at “another” in “another top star.” She had more stats if his ego needed “another” beating. As if he read her mind, he leaned away from her slightly.
“That is out of my hands,” Da Young replied. “I can’t possibly force Han Yul Hee to act opposite you in my drama. As I’ve said, the script is nonexistent at the moment.”
“Reach out to her and let me know what she says.” Jae Woon stood as if to indicate that the discussion was over, tugging his shirt down. “Let’s go, Jo Suk.” He walked off, his manager trailing behind him.
“It would be amazing if we could get Han Yul Hee to star in the drama!” Ms. So exclaimed. “I’ll reach out to her agency today.”
Da Young gave her a smile that looked more like a grimace, but Ms. So didn’t notice as she was putting a reminder on her phone. She stood up and said goodbye to Da Young who returned the farewell before chugging the rest of her drink. She pulled out her own phone.
Jae Woon in the meantime got into his van. Jo Suk, driving off, asked, “Are you okay? Do you want me to look into Eun Joo Ni?”
The actor shook his head. “I’m fine.”
After a brief silence, Jo Suk decided to change the subject. “Why Han Yul Hee? Have you developed a bit of a crush?”
A blush swept across Jae Woon’s face. “What are you talking about? I was being a professional! Everything I said was true.”
Jo Suk nodded. “Yes, but it wouldn’t be the first time an actor requested another actor because they had personal interest in that person.”
“Well, I do primarily really want this drama to do well,” replied Jae Woon with some passion. Then, he meekly added, “But I have to admit…she seems sweet and charming.”
Jo Suk coughed into his hand. “The key word here is ‘seems.’ You seem like the ideal boyfriend who understands what women want.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Basically, you of all people should know that what you see isn’t always what you get, especially with celebrities.”
“I’m sure she’s very kind and lovely.”
Da Young, still at the cafe, had to hold the phone about a foot away from her ear as Yul Hee let out a string of expletives.
Yul Hee finally ended her tirade with, “What did that [omitted] creep say?”
Da Young calmly replied, “He won’t help me with this drama unless you’re signed on to star opposite him.”
Yul Hee, having confirmed this was what she had heard after all, cursed a bit more. Then, huffing, she said, “Don’t get me wrong, Da Young. I’d love to star in your drama. It’s just that you’ve always told me we shouldn’t mix our friendship with business or have some nosy people digging into our past, and I always respected that, but I also don’t mind working with you. It’s exciting! I’m all for it! But not because I’m some bartering chip by some egotistical man who doesn’t even remember us and wants to one-up you and likely wants to get with me or something. He wouldn’t be the first one! What are his intentions?”
Da Young paused and thought about it. “He seems like he doesn’t think that far ahead about anything. I do think he wanted to one-up me, but that’s sort of understandable in this situation. As for malicious intentions…I mean, I am the one who first proposed we fake-date, so maybe I’m the creep.”
“I can’t believe you even proposed that to him!” After a few beats of quiet huffing and puffing, Yul Hee calmed down a bit. “So you don’t have any idea or plot yet for this script, you say?”
“Nope. I’m going to make it up as I go, hopefully with the help of Jae Woon.”
“I could’ve introduced you to some okayish guys if you needed somebody for this.”
“No. This makes it purely a business relationship, so it’d be easy for me to get in and out.”
“But doesn’t that make it awkward? And how would you get a real enough experience from such a business relationship to inspire your writing?”
“I still have my imagination. It doesn’t have to feel real in any way. I just need someone to bounce off situations and ideas with, like roleplaying.”
“Please don’t call it that.”
“That’s what he said.”
Yul Hee sighed. “Well, I’m all in! I know no matter what, you’re going to write a great drama and it’d be an honor to be a part of that. I can’t promise I’ll be nice to Jae Woon, but you know that won’t show in my acting. Oh, I gotta go, Da Young. I’ll let my agency know!” She hung up.
Da Young finally let herself relax and slumped back into her chair. Things were in motion. That’s all that she needed to make this work. And this drama had to work.
Next time on 🌟How to Write a K-Drama🌟
He blanched. He never hit on somebody before. He cleared his throat and glanced at the cafe workers, who thankfully appeared busy behind the counter. He took off his sunglasses and approached Da Young, who looked up at him quizzically with her owlish eyes.