Seven Lives, One Love

The night felt heavier than usual as Yoonah placed the book down on her lap, staring blankly at the now-closed cover. Her room, which had always been her safe haven, now seemed foreign and unsettling. Every shadow seemed to stretch unnaturally, every creak of the walls amplified in the stillness.

She clutched the book tightly, her knuckles white from the pressure. A chill ran down her spine as she tried to shake off the uneasiness creeping in. "But... this isn't real," she muttered, her voice trembling slightly. "It's just a story... right?"

Yet, the name "Wonwoo" echoed in her mind. It wasn't familiar to her in any way—at least, not consciously. But something about it felt... significant. Like it was meant for her to know.

"Pfft—what am I even thinking?" she said aloud, forcing a laugh to break the tension. "This must be a cliffhanger for the next book. I mean, I'm not the only Yoonah in the world, right? It's probably just a coincidence."

Her demeanour shifted as she crossed her arms. "How dare the author leave me hanging like this! I'm going to the bookstore tomorrow first thing in the morning to get the sequel. Yeah, that's what I'll do!" She huffed, glancing at her phone.

"Let's see what time it is so I can plan for tomorrow...," she trailed off, her eyes widening as she saw the glowing numbers on the screen. "1 AM? Shit!!"

Groaning, she tossed the book onto the nightstand, careful not to damage its pages, and placed her phone beside it. She pulled the covers over her head, muttering, "I need to sleep. Shooting starts early tomorrow... I cannot be a zombie on set again."

But even as she closed her eyes, the name persisted, echoing like a distant call. Wonwoo.

"Why is this name stuck in my head?" she whispered to herself, her voice muffled by the blankets. She tried to focus on the plot, thinking about how the story might continue. "I wonder if the FL and Wonwoo will meet again. What's her name, anyway? And what was the deal with that cryptic ending? Was someone reading a book within the book? I mean, that makes sense... right?"

She shifted restlessly under the covers, her thoughts racing. No matter how hard she tried to push them away, the questions kept coming. The unanswered mysteries of the book and the haunting significance of the name clung to her like a second skin.

Hours passed in restless contemplation until exhaustion finally took over. Yoonah drifted into an uneasy sleep, her mind still tangled in the threads of the story. Tomorrow, she thought faintly before slipping into darkness, she'd get her answers. Or at least, she hoped she would.

"Woah! Director, what happened to you?" Yoonah's assistant asked, eyeing her disheveled appearance as she walked into the studio.

"Don't. Ask," Yoonah groaned, slumping into her chair with a sour expression.

The assistant chuckled, clearly amused. "Someone's in a bad mood today."

"I know, right? I stayed up late reading a novel," Yoonah muttered, rubbing her temples.

"Let me guess—the author left you on a cliffhanger?"

Yoonah snapped her head up, disbelief written all over her face. "How did you know?! Are you spying on me?"

Her assistant laughed. "I've been your assistant for six years. By now, I can tell when you've read a book just by looking at you."

Yoonah couldn't help but smile. "Fair point."

"Anyway, we're heading to the new location today," her assistant reminded her, glancing at the schedule on her clipboard.

"To shoot the park scene, right?" Yoonah's mood instantly shifted, her eyes lighting up. "We're finally getting to that scene! Yes!" She jumped up and did a little victory dance, twirling around dramatically.

"Neoul Park, here we come!"

Her assistant giggled at the sudden burst of energy. "Looks like someone's in a good mood now."

"Of course I'm in a good mood! This is the whole reason I wanted to shoot this movie," Yoonah said, shooting her assistant a sly side-eye.

"The car's ready," the assistant informed her.

"Then what are we still doing here? Let's go!" Yoonah exclaimed, already heading toward the door.

"Alright, but save some of that energy. We need an active director on set, not one who burns out before lunch."

"Got it, got it!" Yoonah grinned, practically bouncing out the door.

They arrived at the park, and Yoonah was immediately captivated by its breathtaking beauty. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft golden glow across the landscape. The gentle sway of the trees in the morning breeze and the vibrant colors of blooming flowers created a serene and magical atmosphere.

"Oh. My. Gosh," Yoonah gasped, spinning around to take it all in. "They've made this park so beautiful! The last time I was here was when I graduated, and it didn't look anything like this. Who knew they could transform it like this?"

This was the moment she had been waiting for—the culmination of months of planning and preparation. The park scene was pivotal, and she wanted everything to be perfect.

As the crew set up, Yoonah took a moment to wander around, her mind still lingering on the book she had read the night before. "Wasn't there a Neoul park? "

"Director, we're ready to start the rehearsal," her assistant called out.

"Great!" Yoonah responded, snapping out of her thoughts. She quickly made her way to the set, where the actors were already in position.

The scene was meant to be an emotional turning point—a quiet, intimate moment where the two main characters laid their feelings bare, confronting the unspoken feelings between them.

Yoonah had envisioned every detail meticulously, from the way the soft sunlight filtered through the trees to the gentle rustle of leaves that would underscore the scene's delicate tension. She wanted every expression, every pause, and every glance to convey the weight of the emotions between the characters.

"Alright, everyone," Yoonah called out, her voice clear and commanding as she addressed the crew and cast. "This is an important moment. I want the emotions to flow naturally. Remember, it's not just about the dialogue—it's about the silence, the hesitations, and the vulnerability. Those unspoken moments are just as powerful."

The actors nodded, their faces serious and focused as they moved into their positions. The crew made final adjustments to the lighting and camera angles, ensuring that every shot would be perfect.

As the cameras rolled, Yoonah watched intently, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement. The park seemed to hold its breath, the serene beauty of the surroundings adding an almost magical quality to the scene. The actors delivered their lines with raw emotion, their chemistry palpable.

The silence in the scene was as impactful as the dialogue, with the camera capturing every subtle movement—the slight quiver of a lip, the way their hands hesitated before reaching for each other. Yoonah felt a surge of pride as the scene unfolded exactly as she had envisioned.

"Cut!" Yoonah finally called out after the last line was delivered. She rose from her chair, a satisfied smile on her face. "Great job, everyone! That was amazing. Let's take a break."

"Finally! Break time! We've been doing this for hours!" a crew member exclaimed, earning chuckles from others as the tension eased.