✏️How to Write a K-Drama: Chapter Three
If the two of us what???
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The older boy before her turned around and frowned at her. “This isn’t for you anymore,” he said. She froze, gripping her skirt with both fists, waiting for his next words.
“You should quit.”
Da Young’s phone lit up, jolting her awake. She didn’t know when she had even fallen asleep, but she wished she could stay in bed longer. Groggily, she glanced at the new email sent from her agent. It read:
“Ms. Eun Joo Ni,
I understand you were against the possibility of casting actor Do Jae Woon for your upcoming series, but perhaps you would reconsider. He personally reached out through his agency and requested a meeting with you to discuss the role in person. He appears to be genuinely interested in your next project, and it won’t be bad press to have a well-established name attached, especially as this would be his long-awaited rom-com comeback. If you aren’t too set on your initial rejection and are willing to meet with him for a discussion, please let me know and I’ll work with his side to set up a time for you both.”
Da Young looked up, her brain working a mile a minute. If Yul Hee were to see her, she’d immediately recognize the resolve in her eyes—and know she was up to no good.
–
Jae Woon, dressed in a loose black shirt and pants, breezily walked through the hotel.
Jo Suk followed behind, saying, “She hasn’t decided on anything yet and we’ve been informed her script is at too early of a stage for any disclosure.”
“That’s all fine by me. She has a good track record and she’s willing to meet with me, which is a positive sign.”
And you’re obviously a fan, Jo Suk thought. He’d seen Jae Woon watching her dramas on TV for “research purposes,” but how many times did he have to rewatch scenes and for what research, exactly?
The two men approached the cafe of the hotel and were taken to a private area. Jae Woon saw two women sitting there and smiled brightly. He approached them, but just as he was about to bow and sit, he started. One of the women before him…
His mind flashed back to the other day.
“Look. I’m not in the mood to be kidnapped by some sasaeng fan. Were you waiting around because you somehow got some intel that my favorite cafe is here? Great. You saw me. Now I’ve got to go.”
Staring back at him was the woman he’d accused yesterday of being his sasaeng fan. She smiled at him brightly, but he knew without a doubt there was the smallest glint of malice behind those pearly whites.
Their second meeting was as doomed as their first.
The other woman, the agent he presumed, stood and introduced the two of them. “Actor Do Jae Woon, a pleasure to meet you. This is our writer, Eun Joo Ni. I’m So Young Mi.”
Jae Woon greeted them both.
“Please, sit down,” said the writer cordially.
He half-slid, half-fell into the seat opposite her while Jo Suk stood within hearing distance. Jae Woon gathered his composure and said as calmly as possible, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Eun Joo Ni.”
“We’ve met before, haven't we?” With that one damning question, she quashed all his hopes that she might not remember or would at least pretend not to.
“Um, yes. About yesterday, I’m sorry about that. High tension and all that. I hope you weren’t offended…”
She waved it off, all grace and good humor. “Please. That kind of overwhelm and mistake can happen to any top star. I’m sure you’re bothered by fans all the time.”
He responded with an awkward chuckle.
“About the drama you so desire to be in,” she continued, “I hate to tell you this again, but you’re not right for the part.”
“I assure you I am a veteran actor who is professional and can bring a lot of attention to the production with my immense popularity.”
Jo Suk and the agent both stared at him. Eun Joo Ni voiced what all three of them were thinking, “I can’t believe that came out of your own mouth.”
He barely paused before saying, “Well, it’s true…”
He then quickly learned something about the writer Eun Joo Ni, and that was that she did not mince words. Like she was shooting him down with a machine gun, Da Young crisply stated, “Your popularity has been diminishing for a while now. Your brand reputation ranking hasn’t managed to break into the top five in almost two years, your fan cafe membership has decreased by 25% in the last quarter, and your last five productions have barely broken even. At this point, you need us more than we need you. Even with your dedicated fan base, why would we go for a soon-to-be has-been when we could hire an up-and-coming actor who’s topping everything across the board?”
Jo Suk nearly choked. Jae Woon needed a good minute to gather himself, but he, too, was shaken to his core. Each bullet wound was bleeding him out. He had not expected her to come with all the receipts—nor had he expected all of those facts in the first place, but Jo Suk’s reaction confirmed that they were true. Finally, a bit of anger replaced the hurt, and he said, “And you really think you could get such star power?”
Da Young nodded. “We’ve been in talks with certain interested parties. I’m afraid, once again, you can’t be right for this part.”
Jae Woon took a deep breath and said, “I’d love to discuss in greater detail what exactly about the part—”
“You can’t be right for the part because it doesn’t exist yet.”
Jae Woon stared at her. “Excuse me? Isn’t the pre-production for this drama well under way?”
“I haven’t written a single page.”
He glanced at the agent who looked like she was struggling to maintain her composure. Just as he was about to speak again, Da Young cut him off and continued, “But you could be right for the part…if I write it specifically for you.”
He felt the glow of pride returning to his heart, thawing and reviving his thoroughly annihilated corpse. Now that’s what I’m talking about…Jae Woon thought, feeling rather flattered that he could be her muse. Again, he tried to speak, but she cut him off.
“And that would only be possible if…”
“If…?” He couldn’t help but lean in towards her.
Her grin grew wider but had a somewhat demure, apologetic air to it that scared him even more than the near-wolfish ones she occasionally had thrown at him.
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.”
Next week on 🌟How to Write a K-Drama🌟
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?”