Chapter 14 – Closer to You

The next day, I immediately bought a ticket of the earliest flight to Manila. I called my superiors in CJ E&M regarding the emergency. Thankfully, they allowed me to take a one-week off.

I went alone to the airport, but I was on the phone with Young Hyun during the whole ride.

"I'm sorry that I cannot accompany you to the airport." He said which was actually unnecessary. "We have a band practice today."

"I told you, it's fine," I said. "By the way, did Jae already arrive?"

"Why?"

I shrugged. "You said you have a practice, so I assume he's already in Seoul."

"Ah. He'll arrive in the afternoon."

I heard someone speaking in the background, so I asked who it was. Young Hyun said it was Dowoon.

"Jjang-noona!" The kid greeted. He seemed like a kid to me.

"Hey, Dowoon-ie!" I greeted back.

"Uh, GOT7 sunbaenim...Uh, fan meeting. We...uh, attend and you."

I chuckled. He was referring to GOT7's upcoming 5th-anniversary fan meeting. They promised to bring me on that in exchange for me wearing that pink sweater.

"He's learning English, by the way," the proud 'dad' cut in. "When are you returning to Seoul?"

I did not tell him how long my vacation would be. I wanted to surprise them on the day of the fan meeting. "I don't know. I probably cannot attend the fan meeting, but I will try to return early so I can go with you. I'm really sorry."

The other line was silent for a while until he said, "It's okay. Your mother's health is more important." He sounded desolate.

We ended the call with a promise that we would eat out at least before they continue their Youth World Tour in Europe.

Arriving in Manila, I was fetched by my older brother from the airport. We drove directly to the hospital from there.

I was really relieved when I saw my mother finally awake, waiting for my arrival. I hugged her tight while crying on her arms. She was hushing me saying she was okay.

I told her about Seoul, Japan, London and Thailand. We talked until she felt tired and I told her to take a rest. My brother brought me home to rest as well while our youngest was left to look for our mother. We no longer had a father. He died as a brave soldier during an ambush ten years ago.

By the way, they were not my biological family. The woman who bore me, my mother's younger sister, died giving birth while I had no idea who or where my biological father was. But I had been using his name, Steins. All I knew was he was half-American and half-Filipino.

While on Manila, I visited our office and gave update on my work with CJ E&M. I also met Sir Richard to discuss the script I wrote for 'Pearl of the Orient'. However, he insisted he could not do anything with my plea and that I better meet with our bosses. Although impossible because of the time constraint, I still asked for an appointment.

My mother was released from the hospital two days before my scheduled flight back to Seoul. It was also the day I was called to the office of our Head for Production. After taking my mom home, I went directly to the company.

Despite how much I pleaded for them to delay the shoot until my contract with CJ E&M ends, our head didn't give in. They would actually be starting to film in the last week of January. My only consolation was that they would credit me as the writer.

Of course, they should!

I went back to Seoul half-happy and half-frustrated. I told only Jae that I already arrived and asked him to keep it a secret from the rest. He agreed and made me swear to wear the goddamn pink sweater.

The day after I came back, I went to CJ E&M and checked the post-production team. I was actually supposed to help with the editing since I also had the skill, but So Eun called me for a meeting. No one told me about it before, so it was unexpected. I wondered what it was about.

The meeting was attended by me, So Eun and two other persons I was not familiar with. So Eun introduced them as Kim Seung Ho, a production manager of Studio Dragon and Trina Lee from Netflix. Trina was smiling wide like a teenager when she saw me.

"I'm really a fan of yours," she exclaimed a bit too energetic.

I smiled awkwardly, wondering what the meeting was about. Eventually, So Eun explained.

"JYP Pictures plans to release a web drama in April in partnership with Studio Dragon and Netflix," she said. My ears perked up at the mention of JYP. "Park Jinyoung personally requested you to direct it. He really wanted to meet you too."

I stared at them in disbelief. "Me?"

Really? Me?

"Will the web drama be action? Or a war something?" I added.

"It's why we actually wanted to check with you first," Trina Lee said. She was all professional now. "Because the drama is a musical-romance, we are unsure if you'd take it."

Musical-romance? Interesting. Who would be the main casts, I wondered.

"Actually, it's okay with me. I'll take it," I said without hesitation. "Although most people know me as a director of war and action films, I actually worked with other genres before. And I already directed two musical theater plays."

Of course, I needed to sell myself. I wanted that project whoever the casts would be!

"Perfect!" Trina exclaimed with a matching clap. "It's a go then. I thought it would be hard for us to convince you."

I laughed a bit. "By the way, who are the main leads?"

"JYPE's band, DAY6."

...

Imagine my excitement when I learned I would be meeting JYP in person! Yep, I was looking forward to meeting JYP more than to work with DAY6. (Joke!) Honestly, though, I really wanted to see them in a drama, so the opportunity was actually a wish granted.

I went to JYPE with So Eun the next day. I was actually worried that the guys would see me when I was not supposed to be back yet. I was also praying that they would not be in the meeting because I wanted to surprise them.

When we came, Park Jinyoung (the CEO, not the GOT7 member) was already waiting for us. Trina Lee was also there. I shook hands with JYP and exchanged smiles with Trina.

(DAY6 wasn't there. Yes!)

"I've heard and read so much about you, Director," JYP said when we sat down. "I saw your movie, The Girl and The War and it's beautiful and sad at the same time. I really wanted to compliment you on that."

Hearing those words from one of the persons I admired was enough to make my heart flutter.

"Oh, thank you, Sir," I said with a bow. "I really appreciate that you enjoyed the film."

"That's why when I heard you are in Seoul, I immediately ask CJ E&M to lend you to us. Although this will probably be a lot different from The Girl and The War and Bullet, I still took the chance to ask you to work with us in this project."

I just stared at him, star-struck. No matter how many famous people I had met, I still felt like a fan.

"I am very thankful actually that you've thought of offering this project to me," I told him. "I am a fan not only of your artists, but of your company as a whole. I'm sure I will enjoy filming this. It'll be like my vacation."

We talked about the plot of the web drama, the characters and the whole treatment. The shoot would be scheduled on February until its release on the 2nd week of April on Netflix.

Then I asked for a favor. "Would you not please tell the band members that I will be the director? Just until the script reading."

JYP frowned at my request. "May I ask why?"

"I am actually a friend of theirs." I saw the shocked on their faces. "I met them during their concert in Manila and I've been hanging out with them since I got here in Seoul. That's also one of the reasons why I accepted the offer." I explained. "I just wanted to surprise them. You may tell them about the drama, you probably told them already. But please don't tell them yet that I'll gonna be the director."

JYP nodded. "Okay. No problem."

It would be exciting.