Chapter Text
Acting is a difficult profession. It asked for everything without promising much in return. It was very easy to mess up, not portray emotions correctly, or become a meme for the internet to use for the rest of eternity. Sometimes becoming a meme was a good thing, but… you know, not always.
Despite all of that, Jungkook still had a passion for it. He couldn’t imagine himself pursuing any other profession with an equal level of dedication.
He was fairly new and inexperienced in the acting field. He’d partaken in small indie projects, a handful of commercials and campaigns, but no big roles that could boost his career to another level. He was very passionate about it, which was clear to everyone who knew him. He had the desire to be big, and he had the talent; he just didn’t have the connections.
He managed to hire an agent to help get him roles, and together they’d been filming self-tapes, submitting headshots and monologues to every role he had a chance with. Well… he didn’t always have a chance with them, especially the bigger roles with actual veteran actors, but that didn’t stop him.
His agent was quite determined to get him into a larger project as well. It was nice of him, but he was very persistent. Jungkook learned multiple times that he’d sent over auditions to different films and shows he didn’t even know about, let alone the script or plot. Jungkook liked to be in the loop, liked knowing what he was signing himself up for before getting callbacks. His agent was the only one he could afford, that’s why he was a little iffy and… out there.
“So, we’ve sent in countless tapes and still no callbacks?” His agent, Quinn, asked.
Jungkook pressed his lips together, shaking his head. He had watched his own auditions repeatedly, and he knew he was some new and unknown actor… but he wasn’t bad by any means. Unless he was just deluding himself. Throughout his entire life, he’d always been fairly good at new things, and with something like acting, which he actually put effort into, he couldn’t be that bad. Right?
He felt disappointed in himself, wondering if it were even possible for him to get a popular role with his circumstances.
Quinn laughed with a light smile, “Don’t look so down, I’m sure something will come up.” He ruffled Jungkook’s hair gently in an attempt to comfort him. Jungkook only nodded, not in the mood to pretend to be hopeful. “We’ll meet up tomorrow and send out some more, okay?”
“Sure,” Jungkook muttered.
Once his agent left, Jungkook let out a sigh. It had been a couple months of auditioning for every role he saw even the slightest possibility of getting. As long as he felt he could act that role, he’d audition.
He wasn’t completely hopeless. He was determined as ever still, but the initial excitement of delving into the career of acting was fading. In that time, he’d only gotten one callback that he ended up losing out on because the other guy looked more like the character they were trying to portray. It was disheartening, but Jungkook moved on.
Now he sat on his couch in his small apartment, he had a glass of water in his hand as he took sips every now and then. If acting didn’t work out for him, he wasn’t sure what he’d do. He’d previously had a steady career in producing music, it was still a passion of his, but he was pouring everything into acting for now. He hoped that the effort he put in now would pay out somehow.
He stayed in a brown study for a few moments, his eyes locked onto the wall. Acting was all he had right now— wait, did he hear something? No, it was nothing. If acting was all he had, then he’d do everything he could to be successful.
Seriously, what was that buzzing sound? He shook his head and the noise became clear. His phone was ringing.
Jungkook’s hand snapped towards his phone, hopeful it was a callback for a role. He barely took a breath before he answered, putting it to his ear and putting on a smile as if the person could see him.
“Hello, Jeon Jungkook speaking,” his voice sounded steady and surprisingly clear. First impressions were always important when it came to these kinds of things, and he was determined to make one, though he didn’t even know who was calling.
“Hi there, my name is Kim Nora. I’m a film director and I recently received a self-tape from you and your agent.”
Jungkook fought the urge to let his jaw drop. Kim Nora was probably the most famous director in the film scene for the past few years. Her productions always garnered attention and the stories were always phenomenal. It was every actor's dream to be able to work with her one day.
There was something off though. Jungkook had never sent any audition tapes to her or her agency. He knew he was too small and unknown to be considered for one of her works. He purposely avoided sending things to her, so how had she— Quinn. That bastard had sent his stuff to her!
“It’s an honour to be speaking with you, I’m a very big fan of your projects,” Jungkook spoke carefully, trying not to sound too surprised that he was receiving her call.
Ms. Kim laughed on the other line, “Thank you,” she paused for a moment, “I actually wanted to see if you’re interested in working on a project with me.” Jungkook froze. The possibilities of this happening were next to zero, he felt as though he was hallucinating it all. He didn’t even get a word in before she continued. “You originally sent in your tape for a more medieval type film as a prince character during a long war, but after I saw you I realized that you perfectly fit the look of a character in a private project of mine. It’s something that I’m keeping secret from the public for now, but I’d love it if you could come in for an in person audition this upcoming week if you're interested.”
Jungkook swallowed. Being called by her was one thing, but being told he fit the look of a character she made to a tea was something else. Not to mention she wanted to pursue him in the role. “That’s an incredible offer, I would be an idiot to refuse,” he said with a smile evident in his voice. “May I ask what kind of role it is and the genre of the film?”
“Of course, it’s actually a romance series. I only have plans for one season for now, but there is a possibility of it running for longer.” Jungkook nodded to himself. He’d never played a role in a romance project before, but being a side character in such a show would give him great exposure. “I can’t give too many details on the series itself, but we’ll send you a script to study before the in person audition.”
“That’s great, thank you so much for this opportunity,” there was no way he’d refuse this. It didn’t matter if he got the smallest role in the show, even a background actor just walking down the street, he wanted in. “What date are you thinking of?”
Ms. Kim gave some technical details on the place and time, what it would entail and she confirmed Jungkook’s email before they ended the call.
At some point during the call, Jungkook’s hand had found itself at his heart, feeling the intense beating as the conversation went on. Working with Kim Nora was something he’d only ever dreamed of. Even just interacting with her in this way was enough of a win for him. The fact she had called him personally was shocking enough. However, he was incredibly determined to get the role now.
He had a week to prepare, and she would email him the script and details in the next hour. Without thinking, he called Quinn, ready to break the news.
“Hello, didn’t I just leave your house?” Quinn asked with a fake annoyed voice.
“I got a callback!” Jungkook said excitedly, nearly jumping in his seat. “You won’t guess who it was.”
Quinn didn’t say anything for a second, like he was thinking of a director that would be insane to receive a call from. “Anyone popular would be a shock,” he teased. “I may have sent your tapes to a couple famous directors like Kim Nora and Han Sooyoung… it couldn’t be one of them though.”
“It’s Kim Nora!” Jungkook nearly shouted. He hadn’t felt so enthused in a while, his words were filled with a joy he hadn’t felt in ages. “I can’t believe this, I’m meeting her in a week.”
“A week?” Quinn sounded both confused and intrigued. “You’re going to be in her upcoming medieval project? You need to review the script immediately and make sure you’re completely prepared so you don’t fuck this up. This is a huge opportunity for your career.”
“It’s not the medieval project, she reached out to me personally for a private project of hers. It’s a romance show that’s currently hidden from the public so don’t go spilling,” Jungkook laid back onto the couch, pulling a pillow to his chest. “I have a chance to be a side character in her work, I’ve never felt so lucky in my life.”
The two of them exchanged words a little more, Quinn mainly trying to get it into Jungkook’s head that he couldn’t procrastinate reading over the script and that flunking this would haunt him for the rest of his life. Jungkook knew this of course, and failing was nowhere near crossing his mind. He was giving this his all.
When Quinn hung up, Jungkook was surrounded by the silence of his lone apartment. He stared at his phone screen for a moment before tossing it onto the cushions next to him.
“Kim Nora…” he mumbled to himself, disbelief clear in his voice. Saying it didn’t make it sound any more real, it was just so unexpected. He took a deep breath. One week. That’s all the time he had to prepare. Seven days to prove he belonged in a room with a top director, working by her side to create a project like never before.
He barely had a second to rest before his phone buzzed once more. It was an email with all the information he needed, and he opened it instantly.
It was legit. Her company name and email was clear as day, not to mention the email was directly addressed to him saying she hoped they could work together in the future.
The body of the email wasn’t too long, just a small note thanking him again and a reminder about confidentiality as well as the technical details of the audition. But beneath that, there was an attachment.
Scrip_Jungkook.pdf
The file literally had his name in it and that surprised him. It made it feel as though the script was made specifically with him in mind, though he knew that wasn’t the case. It was doubtful.
He hesitated for a breath before clicking on the file, nervous as to the length and difficulty of the script and all he’d have to memorize.
The first page of the script was simple, it gave basic details of the character he’d be portraying in the audition. The character had a slot for a name, an age, qualities and traits… elements to his personality…
Jungkook blinked. “…That’s not a side character,” and Jungkook knew side characters. The amount of auditions he’d done and the countless scripts he’d read were never this flushed out. He scanned the page faster. To his shock, right beneath the character description were three simple words.
Role Type: Lead
He sat up so fast that the pillow flew to the floor, but he didn’t care. “Lead?” He whispered it under his breath. There had to be some kind of mistake, but then again, his name was written as the title of the attachment. It couldn’t be an accident. When he’d first gotten her call he couldn’t imagine she’d meant a lead role. There was no way Kim Nora had called him, a nobody, for a major role in a private project.
Unless… he actually didn’t know. He didn’t waste time dwelling on it though, knowing that if he wanted to actually secure that role, he’d have to learn it inside out.
He scrolled down to the actual scene. There were two characters in this scene, he wondered if he’d be acting with another candidate during the in person meeting or if someone else would just read the lines for him.
The two main characters of the script both had yet to be given names. But what Jungkook found interesting was how they were displayed. He read them out loud. “Taehyung: character name pending, Jungkook: character name pending.”
If the character name was pending did that mean that Taehyung was the name of the other actor they were considering for the love interest position? Had he already been cast? Secondly, his own name was written down on the script as if it were already decided he’d be playing the role.
He reread it again, not wanting to fool himself. Scripts typically didn’t name actors on them unless the roles were already finalized… which he was pretty sure they weren’t. But what did he know? Maybe this was something more experienced directors did to make their candidates feel more welcomed, putting their name on the script… yeah that could be it.
He continued reading, reaching the actual scene. Before it even started there was a disclaimer that it wasn’t the real script of the show, but just a test script that could narrow the actors for the position.
He kept going, and was nervous to find a confession scene. He swallowed. Romance was never his strong suit, not having much experience in real life added to that too.
It was more than just romance though, it was emotional, almost like the character he’d be reading for was begging for a chance. He wasn’t sure if this script alluded to the true script of the secret project, but he knew this would be difficult. His character would be required to cry, be emotional and convey it properly. It was a desperate and painfully real confession, something that felt like it had come from the heart when writing.
He kept reading, and by the time he’d gotten to the end of the scene, it felt like he’d been holding his breath. The role was deep and Jungkook knew it would be hard. He scrolled back to the character description. They were meant to be desperate, emotional, hopelessly in love with the other male lead.
This audition was incredibly important, he could not let it go to waste. This was the kind of role that could make or break him. Even though this wasn’t the actual script of the project, it would make great practice even if he didn’t get the role.
Either way, he would be putting his all into the audition.
—
Half a week passed and Jungkook had been practicing day and night for his upcoming audition. It was really important to him that he tried, even if he didn’t land the role.
He knew not to get his hopes up too high. There were plenty of reasons as to why, like because he was just an unknown, newer actor. Or because there were many other actors who had more experience in similar roles, maybe another person would have more chemistry with the other male lead. There were so many possibilities for why he might not get the role, and he wouldn’t let it affect his focus.
He had already memorized the entire blurb of the script he’d been given, both his lines and the other character’s. It was actually quite interesting, captivating.
The fact that it was a gay romance show had initially surprised Jungkook. Compared to Kim Nora’s other projects, which were mainly fantasy, historical, medieval, and sci-fi… this was different. But Jungkook wasn’t complaining, any work of hers, he was willing to participate in, even if he had no experience in such a genre. It sparked some questions within him, like how graphic the show would be, Kim Nora never shied away from graphic violence and romance… so that’d be interesting.
Even days after her call, he was still reeling from the opportunity. The shock factor of it all. His agent had gotten him this chance even if he hadn’t spoken with him about applying to larger projects… but that wasn’t bothering Jungkook at that moment. What was eating away at him was the nerves of meeting Kim Nora in person, of doing an audition right before her eyes and basically getting marked for his performance on the spot.
Last night, Jungkook had received a second email from Kim Nora herself, telling him that he would know on the spot if he’d gotten the role or not. As if that made him feel any better. If anything, it just added more stress to his plate.
She would either offer him the role, or send him home to cry himself to sleep. He would never forget messing something like this up for the rest of his life.
He had more than just that to worry about, as that same email gave a couple more details. He learned that his audition was also a chemistry test with the other male lead who had already been chosen. So if they didn’t have chemistry, he could be screwed. He just kept practicing though, not letting it all get to his head. He’d never had to portray romance with another man before, but if the other guy was attractive, maybe he’d be able to do it.
And before he knew it, a week had gone by and he was sitting in the passenger seat of Quinn’s car with the most anxious expression he’d even worn.
“We’ll go in together, you’ve been practicing all week, I know you’ll do well.” Quinn said confidently, like he didn’t have a single doubt about Jungkook’s performance. And despite everything, it did ease some of Jungkook’s worries.
“Thanks,” He replied quietly, taking a deep breath before he stepped out of the car. Quinn followed right after him, trailing behind him as they entered the large building for one of the biggest acting companies in their country.
Upon stepping inside, Jungkook was met with bright lights and a massive open modern interior. He’d never imagined he’d ever step foot into Kim Nora’s company. He hadn’t even realized he froze right in the middle of his steps until Quinn nudged his shoulder, ushering him towards the front desk where a young lady sat looking ready to help.
“How may I assist you?” She asked kindly, glancing from her computer screen to Jungkook and Quinn with a welcoming smile.
“Hello, my name is Jungkook, I’m here for an audition with Ms. Kim Nora.” Jungkook was shocked at how steady his voice sounded, but then again, he’d practiced even for this moment.
“Ah yes, please follow me,” The woman stood up and gestured for Jungkook and Quinn to walk with her. Jungkook felt his heartbeat picking up as they walked towards an elevator.
The elevator ride felt incredibly long, though Jungkook knew it wasn’t. They had gone up plenty of floors, Quinn and the woman who had introduced herself as Marlene were chatting the entire ride while Jungkook spaced out, his eyes locked onto a random button as he tried to remember all his lines perfectly. He couldn’t afford to fuck up.
He stood beside Quinn, fidgeting with his fingers behind his back. He looked over at his agent, he kind of hoped he would try and calm his nerves down, comfort him some more… but instead he was flirting with the receptionist. Jungkook fought the urge to shake his head. He thought Quinn was serious about getting him roles.
Suddenly, Quinn nudged his shoulder, “Nervous?” He asked the question as if the answer weren’t obvious.
Jungkook didn’t even answer him, taking deep breaths as he tried to calm down his racing heart. Marlene just laughed lightly as she observed the interaction.
Soon, the elevator dinged and the doors slowly slid open. The room they stepped into looked completely different from the building's lobby. Here it was much quieter, no one rushing around to submit portfolios or audition tapes.
Marlene led them down a hallway with framed posters of previous projects Kim Nora had worked on. Seeing them all together like that made Jungkook realize even more of how big of a deal this was. He recognized every single project. Each movie had been nearly flawless, each show unforgettable in the best possible way. Working in one of her productions was truly a dream every actor shared.
Countless movies of hers had won awards, the actors also gained recognition and their own awards for their performances. Jungkook felt his nerves come right back at that. He couldn’t mess this up.
Eventually they stopped at a door, and the assistant smiled warmly. “Ms. Kim is expecting you.” Without warning, she pushed the door open, and Jungkook stepped inside.
Jungkook instantly froze. Compared to other audition rooms he’d entered, this one was more of a meeting room. A long table sat in the centre of the room, and there were plenty of producers sitting around it. Then there was Kim Nora herself who sat near the front with some papers in her hands.
And sitting next to her was another shocking sight. Kim Taehyung, a pretty famous actor, one revered for his looks and performance in many different kinds of films was there. It immediately clicked… the other lead role belonged to him, to Kim Taehyung. He was one of the most recognizable actors in the country and Jungkook felt stupid for not connecting the dots.
Jungkook suddenly felt like he had forgotten how to breathe. He hadn’t expected this at all, and his heartbeat was pounding through the roof by that point. Taehyung was meant to be an impossible man to meet, someone with such a busy schedule that was always working on something new. The fact he was there was jarring enough.
The sight of Kim Nora and Kim Taehyung together was borderline insane. They had yet to work on a project together, but that just made this project that much bigger.
As an actor, Jungkook had seen a ton of films. Watching other actors was part of the learning process, and Taehyung was one of those actors that you couldn’t skip when trying to improve. Many people looked up to him and thought him to be one for the history books with the way he portrayed emotions and truly made the watcher feel everything the character did.
Taehyung looked up from the script in his hands, and their eyes met right away. Immediately, a smile appeared on his face. It was warm and friendly. Taehyung seemed to straighten himself in his seat, “You’re Jungkook,” he wasn’t asking.
Jungkook stared for a moment, no words leaving his lips. Taehyung blinked at him, waiting for a response. Thankfully, Jungkook managed to pull himself together and let his professional side take over. He smiled politely as he bowed his head. “It’s an honour to meet you.”
Taehyung’s smile widened. “You too.” The words were so simple, and they honestly felt genuine. But it was also a strange thing to hear. A role model claiming it was an honour to meet you wasn’t an everyday occurrence, and Jungkook convinced himself Taehyung was only being polite.
Before an awkward silence could take over the room, Kim Nora stepped forward. “Well, since everyone is here,” her voice instantly grabbed everyone’s attention, all eyes on her. Jungkook looked towards her instantly, seeing a warm smile on her lips. “Jeon Jungkook, it’s nice to finally meet you in person.”
Jungkook bowed politely, “Thank you for inviting me. I’m truly honoured.”
“Oh don’t be so formal.” She waved her hand as if to dismiss his professional attitude playfully. “Please, call me Nora.”
Jungkook blinked. She wanted him to speak that casually? “Are you sure?” The words left his mouth before he could properly consider them.
She laughed at that, “Very sure.”
Jungkook nodded, “Then, thank you… Nora.” It felt odd to say it aloud, but he didn’t dwell on it.
“Please have a seat.”
Quinn wasted no time in finding a chair, and Jungkook sat next to him without a thought. Across the table, Taehyung sat calmly, Nora sitting down at the head of the table. The other producers seated at the table organized their papers as they waited for Nora to continue speaking.
Then she began. “I know you’ve been given very limited information about the project.” Jungkook nodded, it was a secret project after all, he’d never expected to get all the details. “That was intentional,” she smiled. “The series is a romance.”
“Yes,” Jungkook nodded.
“But not a lighthearted, simple romance.” She seemed to look more thoughtful as she spoke about it. “The story is focused on intensity, longing, desire.” She looked between Taehyung and Jungkook. “The audience needs to believe the characters would do anything for each other, that they are in love.”
Jungkook swallowed as he listened. It was definitely a difficult role just from that brief description. The romance itself would be hard to convey, but it was also because the audience could immediately tell if emotions weren’t real or weren’t acted well enough. Nora seemed to catch his train of thought.
“That’s why we’re here today.” She shuffled some papers in her hands. “Your acting ability is already clear.” Jungkook’s eyebrows furrowed together for a moment, doubting she had seen his other stuff. She continued to speak before he could properly react. “I’ve seen some of your work, and the tape you sent in was impressive.” Those words alone had made Jungkook go completely still, not knowing where exactly this was going. Receiving such a compliment rendered him speechless already. Nora pointed towards Taehyung, “He’s already been cast, so today isn’t about whether you can act or not… it’s about chemistry.”
The producers in the room nodded.
“That’s what this all comes down to, my goal is to find someone compatible with him.” Her words were quite direct, simple enough to understand. “If the two of you connect naturally, then we’re done.” She smiled warmly. “If you don’t, then unfortunately we'll have to continue searching.”
That made Jungkook swallow. So it all really was about chemistry. Everything suddenly felt much more stressful than he’d anticipated. Chemistry wasn’t something one could force, many actors had learned that the hard way. It either existed, or it didn’t. And you only know once you try.
Nora looked over to a producer at her side who handed her a folder. “The scene you’ve been preparing is the one we’ll be using.” She said simply, and Jungkook just nodded, he didn’t know what else to do. However, he did realize something very important. An assistant wasn’t going to be reading over the other leads lines, it would be Taehyung himself.
“I’ve memorized it.” Is all that left his lips, mind too overwhelmed by both nerves and excitement.
“Good.” Nora seemed pleased at that. “There’s just one tiny change.” Jungkook’s posture immediately straightened. “Taehyung will be performing the scene with you.”
At those words, Jungkook's stomach dropped. Damn. He’d recognized that fact on his own but hearing it put into words like that made his nerves increase drastically. While prepping, he had expected an assistant to read out the lines devoid of emotion, but having an actual actor do it, Taehyung specifically, would make it feel way more real. With the way the conversation had been going, Jungkook had expected this… it was clear with this being about chemistry and all. But his professional facade still faltered a little, because he didn’t think someone else would be acting with him. Especially Taehyung.
He glanced over at Taehyung, who looked back with the most relaxed expression Jungkook had ever witnessed. If Taehyung was nervous at all, it didn’t show in the slightest. Then again, Jungkook assumed Taehyung had done a bunch of chemistry tests by now, probably particularly for this role, even. It made Jungkook wonder how many actors had been called to do this chemistry test before him.
“Oh.” Was all Jungkook managed to say for a moment. Quinn stepped hard onto his foot, wanting him to say more than such a simple reaction, but Nora spoke first.
“Remember,” She began. “Your character is desperate, he’s reached a point where his emotions harm him more than any possible rejection could.”
That description perfectly fit what Jungkook had felt when first reading over the script. He wouldn’t let the audition, now more of an unexpected chemistry reading, throw him off.
Nora continued, “He knows he could lose everything, yet he confesses anyway. I want you to look at him,” she pointed towards Taehyung. “And convince me your character is in love.” No one in the room spoke for a minute. No one even moved. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Jungkook slowly stood from his chair, and across from him, Taehyung rose too. He felt his heart thumping against his chest as he walked to an open space cleared out presumably for that moment. He looked back at Quinn one last time, getting an encouraging smile back. It was the look of someone who had complete trust and faith in him.
Jungkook ran the script through his head quickly, hoping for his own sake that he’d pull through. Taehyung followed behind him to the front of the room and Jungkook took a deep breath, preparing himself.
Jungkook could feel everyone’s eyes on him. He had to let all of that go and focus on the task at hand, focus on the person standing in front of him. Taehyung’s eyes were also on him, burning into him.
It was strange. Just a few minutes ago, Jungkook had been overly aware of everything going on around him, of all the attention on him. But now he was before a famous actor, someone who had already been chosen for this role. Taehyung didn’t have anything on the line with this chemistry test, he was secure in this position. This entire interview depended on whether or not they could convince a room that they were in love, more importantly, Jungkook had to convince them he was in love.
Even though he’d practiced, he knew it would be difficult. Making expressions and emotions seem realistic was incredibly hard but crucial to giving a convincing performance. Jungkook had never done anything romantic with another man, he’d never been in love with one, never confessed to one… it was all new, and for some reason he felt more nervous to be doing this with Taehyung than if it were another random man.
Yet, Jungkook wasn’t thinking about much of that now, because the look in Taehyung’s eyes had changed. If Jungkook hadn’t been paying such close attention to him, he probably wouldn’t have even noticed. Taehyung wasn’t looking at him like another actor anymore, he was looking at him through the lens of his character. Through the script. Suddenly, Jungkook was reminded of how good Taehyung really was. It was astonishing seeing him get into character right before his eyes.
Jungkook had seen the man’s performances before, of course he had. Taehyung was popular, being in many projects where his acting was phenomenal. Jungkook looked up to him, he always had. Taehyung had built up a reputation around being able to disappear into his characters, to fully embody them in a way that made everyone believe in emotions that weren’t even real.
Watching it happen before his eyes was different. One second Taehyung was just an actor sitting across from him with a calm presence, and the next he was the person Jungkook had read in the script.
He became someone that loved Jungkook's character so deeply, and everyone in the room could feel it. Jungkook swallowed, forcing himself to fall into character. The first line belonged to him.
His character had spent the entire story leading up to this snippet of the script trying to convince himself that staying silent about his love was easier. His character believed that hiding his feelings was safer, that it’d prevent him from losing someone forever. However, it had reached a point where he couldn’t do that anymore. Jungkook understood that.
Maybe it was because Taehyung was so handsome, or maybe it was because he’d seen him on screen so many times… but it came rather naturally for Jungkook to pour out a love confession, even though Taehyung was a man.
And that’s when Jungkook allowed his character to fully take over. “Do you know how many times I’ve tried to stop myself?” His voice came out quieter than he’d expected, but it worked for the character.
Everyone in the room stayed completely silent, none of them daring to take even a breath too loud. Taehyung didn’t move either, and Jungkook took a step closer.
“How many times have I told myself that it would pass?” Jungkook's eyes stayed locked onto Taehyung’s, the desperation clear to anyone watching. “That if I waited long enough, if I ignored it for long enough, maybe I would wake up one day and forget how I felt… how I feel.”
The sadness in his eyes came easily. The restraint he portrayed was so believable, the people watching his performance were both surprised and delighted, though all their faces were entirely out of Jungkook’s sight and mind.
Jungkook almost forgot he was auditioning, that this wasn’t the real scene.
“But it didn’t get any easier.” His voice shook as he spoke, and he let it, not trying to regain composure. “It just got worse.”
Taehyung's expression changed with those words. There was a flicker of pain crossing his face and Jungkook could feel his chest physically tighten at that look. It felt so real.
“I know what will happen if I say this,” he kept going, his voice cracking slightly. “I know that everything could change, that I could lose everything.” He sounded so hesitant, scared that what he was saying would completely change everything. “But I’m already losing myself by pretending I don't feel any of this.”
There was a brief moment where Jungkook saw Taehyung’s eyes move over his whole face, and it made Jungkook feel like Taehyung wasn’t just waiting for his line. He was actually listening to everything he was saying.
That made everything feel so much easier. He wasn’t thinking about the producers watching him or whether he was making the correct choices. He was only trying to convince Taehyung’s character, trying to make him understand. He only saw Taehyung.
Taehyung wasn’t just giving him a blank expression to work with like Quinn had when helping Jungkook practice, and Jungkook couldn’t blame Quinn for that, he was no actor after all. But Taehyung, he was giving him everything he needed. Jungkook took the tiniest step closer, looking up into Taehyung’s eyes.
“I’ve tried,” he whispered. “I really tried to convince myself that none of this was real.” His eyes lowered for a moment before returning to Taehyung’s. “I can’t.” The vulnerability in his voice surprised even himself. “I stand next to you every day and act as though you mean nothing to me.”
Taehyung's jaw seemed to tighten, and Jungkook knew exactly what was going to happen, he had read the script after all. It was the rejection, the part of the scene he’d been dreading.
A confession was one thing, it could be filled with emotion, longing, hope, and desperation. Yet, a rejection came with something different.
“Please,” Jungkook said quietly, his voice trembling. “I love you.”
Taehyung looked away, and when he finally spoke it was barely loud enough to hear. “I can’t.” Jungkook froze, and Taehyung swallowed hard, his expression full of conflict. “I can’t give you what you want.” The words were impossibly gentle but equally heartbreaking. He continued, “You deserve someone that can choose you without hesitation… which I can’t do.”
Jungkook stared at him, his eyebrows furrowed together, his character trying to hold onto any hope that still remained. “But you felt it too.” It was like a plea.
Taehyung’s expression broke slightly, and somehow it made everything feel much worse. Jungkook could see the answer clear as day on his face. And he could feel it, Taehyung’s character wouldn’t choose him.
“I’m sorry.” The apology was quiet, and Jungkook’s breath caught as he listened.
Jungkook looked down, trying to hold himself together, but the emotions were too much. His shoulders tensed as he fought against the tears that were threatening to fall.
For some reason, Taehyung made him feel like it was a real rejection. Hearing him say he couldn’t love him back in the way he wanted, it hurt more than expected. A tear fell down his cheek, and then another… and another.
Jungkook chose not to wipe them away, letting himself become fully immersed in the heartbreak.
Taehyung watched him silently for a second, his expression holding pain, the same pain Jungkook’s character was feeling. Then, almost as though he was attempting to convince himself as much as Jungkook’s character, he finally spoke again. “You’re another man.” Jungkook’s entire expression faltered, and Taehyung just looked away, struggling to keep going. “What we’re feeling… it isn’t meant to happen.” Jungkook’s eyes filled with even more tears. “It’s wrong.”
Jungkook’s eyes were so expressive, the devastation within them conveying everything he felt… well, what he was performing. Taehyung looked so conflicted, and Jungkook’s lips only parted for a split second. He wanted to say something, his character had so much he wanted to say, but none of it came out. He knew there was nothing he could say to change what Taehyung had already decided for himself.
“I’m sorry.” Taehyung said once more.
Jungkook let his silence speak for him. The tears continued falling from his eyes, accepting that his love wasn’t enough for Taehyung’s character, not enough for him to push past societal pressures and how he wanted to be perceived.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke as they stood there, the tears still wetting Jungkook’s lashes and trailing down his cheeks. Taehyung watched him, such intensity in his gaze, it made Jungkook swallow, not part of his character.
Then Nora’s voice cut through the silence, pulling both of them out of their performance and the state they’d entered together. “Cut.”
Jungkook blinked, as if returning to reality. It hadn't felt like he’d been acting, and he wasn’t even in love with Taehyung.
The moment Nora’s voice filled the room, Taehyung’s expression instantly snapped out from the deep emotion. He was suddenly calmer and his posture grew more relaxed. Jungkook too had snapped out of it but he still had to properly calm himself down after crying and the emotional performance.
Without any warning, Taehyung’s hand lifted from his side and reached out towards Jungkook’s face. Using the pad of his thumb, he wiped away some of the tears and wetness from Jungkook’s cheeks, eyes trailing over his features. “You did good,” he said simply, and he genuinely did sound pleased by Jungkook’s performance.
Jungkook was frozen as he felt Taehyung’s touch against his skin. His touch was so gentle and the way he looked at him sent a shiver down his spine. Jungkook had never really gotten affected by another man like this, he’d never felt the urge to hide his expression before… but having his role model tell him his performance wasn’t bad was a dream come true.
“Thank you,” Jungkook managed to say quietly, unconsciously bringing his own hand up to his face to wipe away the remainder of the tears pooled at his eyes. Taehyung pulled away, smiled softly, and returned to his seat at the large table. Only after Taehyung had turned away did Jungkook realize he hadn’t told Taehyung how good his own performance had been. Either way, Jungkook followed his example, stepping towards the empty chair beside Quinn, who had the biggest smile adorning his face.
When Jungkook sat down, he could feel everyone’s eyes burning into him again, he wasn’t sure they had ever stopped from the moment he’d begun the performance, he’d just been too immersed to notice it earlier. Now though, he became painfully aware of it all, and his nerves snapped right back into his system.
Quinn kicked his foot playfully, flashing a thumbs up under the table to him, and Jungkook fought the urge to smile. This wasn’t the time for jokes, it was time for the final verdict. Kim Nora still had to decide whether or not he was fit for the role, if he and Taehyung had enough chemistry to convey a love story.
“Wow.” Was all she said at first. It had Jungkook’s blood pumping, his heart beating fast in his chest. Was that ‘wow’ a good thing? Was it a disappointed ‘wow?’ From the tone of her voice it didn’t sound bad, but Jungkook didn’t want to get his hopes up.
There was a brief pause as Nora collected her thoughts, looking down at a notebook spread open before her where she was meant to jot down notes on the performance and any improvements or criticism she had… but the page was blank.
“That performance was quite impressive,” she spoke with a smile, not exactly showering them with praises but still showing her approval. “The way you convey emotions is very real and it was as though I felt everything you did.”
Hearing that from a famous director was definitely not something Jungkook ever expected to hear.
“I’ve seen your performances before, but you’ve never had roles quite like this script. It’s a shame you haven’t had any bigger roles.” Jungkook listened carefully, eyes widening at how serious yet astonished Nora sounded. “The whole point of today was to gauge if you two had chemistry,” she paused as she looked over the other producers and staff in the room. “I think it’s time to vote.”
Jungkook was surprised to say the least. He hadn’t expected them to vote on whether they had chemistry or not, especially not right before his eyes. He’d never heard of it being done this way, but then again, this was his first time with a large agency. He didn’t even get a second to process before Kim Nora continued.
“Hands up if you think the two had chemistry.”
There was a moment that no one moved and Jungkook felt his heart nearly drop to his ass, but then people shifted. One hand rose, followed by another, and more. Jungkook watched as every single producer in the room raised their hands, he watched as Kim Nora herself did the same, and he watched as Kim Taehyung raised his own hand too.
Jungkook didn’t want to get ahead of himself, but he was pretty sure that meant he got the role, right? And the fact that both Kim Nora and Kim Taehyung had voted for him… it was something he’d never forget.
“Congratulations! We’d love to have you for this role.” Kim Nora clapped, causing everyone else in the room to do the same.
Jungkook’s eyes instantly flashed to his side, spotting Quinn’s mouth half dropped open and his eyes nearly popping out of his skull. “Thank you so much,” Jungkook spoke quickly, wanting to express his gratitude as best as he could. “It’s such an honour to be offered the role.”
“I should be the one thanking you,” Nora spoke brightly. “We’ve been searching for the other love interest for ages, I’m so happy we found you.” Jungkook wore a warm smile as he nodded to Nora’s words. “We’ll work up an official offer and negotiate the contract this upcoming week, how does that sound?”
“That sounds perfect, thank you.” He couldn’t stop thanking her, he could barely even believe he’d be working with her and Taehyung. He would be in one of her projects, not just as a side character, but as a lead!
After exchanging some more words, Jungkook and Quinn exited the room, both their faces plastered with bright smiles.
“I knew you could do it!” Quinn said proudly. “Why didn’t you act like that when we were practicing?” He joked, nudging Jungkook’s shoulder while entering the elevator.
“It was hard to get into character when you were looking at me with fish eyes.” Jungkook laughed, referring to the blank stare Quinn had had while reading the lines.
Quinn just laughed, pressing the button for the ground floor.