Story Name: Scripted
Under heavy costumes, burning lights, and makeup inches thick, stood Jeon Jungkook, one of New York’s best Broadway artists. Known for his incredible acting as a part of the company, Jeon has won countless awards and recognitions for his work. Acting in plays since he was a young child, Jeon was practically born for his career, and Broadway was more than delighted to hire him at a young age of 20 years. 15 years later, the directors of Broadway were more than pleased at their previous decision, as Jeon became a very important part of their shows.
Next to Jeon, stood Kim Namjoon, playwright and fellow artist, who was playing the secondary main role. Kim, who originally joined Broadway as a script writer, became known for his first full play “Marigold”, which was an absolute success, a surprise for someone who hadn’t ever written a full play before. After the success of the play, Kim’s acting talents were revealed, and he was soon placed in the spotlight as a fellow actor.
The two now stood on the stage together, in the middle of the final act of the final performance Brodway’s biggest, and most expensive production to date, ‘Nightingale’.
Little did anyone know, Jeon, through rehearsals and costume fittings and read throughs of the play that they were leading together, developed a growing crush on the man that was continuously on his side as the secondary main role. No one knew about this crush, of course, all of the cast members assumed that Jeon was a straight man, when in fact he had come out to himself during the production of this play.
Knowing that it would never happen in real life, Jungkook wished that every time the two of them confessed to each other in the form of their characters during rehearsals, as well as through the shows, that it was really and truly a confession between the two.
But that was in the past. Now, he focused back on the play that was occurring around him, and like many rehearsals before, he started his character’s confession to Kim’s character.
“Noah,” Jungkook said, catching Joon’s arm, “please listen to me, for if I let this day go I will spend the rest of my life in vain, in regret for missing this moment”
“Go on then Oliver, if this means so much to you, but know that there is not much you can say to me to take away the hurt that you gave me.” Namjoon said, letting Kook’s arm go.
Jungkook said nothing as the lights that once gave him a headache dimmed around them.
In the distance, the narrator was talking and while Jungkook knew it was happening, he only had half his attention to listen. The other was focused and ready for the most awaited moment in the play.
Just like they rehearsed before, Jungkook leaned in, and instead of stopping like they always do, mere inches away from each others’ faces, so close that they can hear each other’s breath, Jungkook surged forward, and connected their lips, coming together for a sweet and loving kiss.
At that moment the two looked ridiculous, wearing so much pale makeup, and worn down clothes to represent their characters and their financial struggles, but as Jungkook pulled away, he swore that he heard no thundering applause from the crowd at the sweet and unpredicted moment and saw none of the actors move from around him. In that moment it was just him and Kim, two young boys and no one else…..
-------
The rest of the performance was a blur for Jungkook, his body moving on autopilot, moving through the words and actions that he practiced many times before. Taking the final bow as rose petals fell to his feet was incredible, but a certain Kim Namjoon, who was still holding his hand from the bow, looking around in awe at the thunderous applause and rose petals that fell around him was even more amazing than that.
The lights were dim now, the stage dark, as everyone moved at the same time, moving away from the stage and cleaning up lethargically so that they could go party in celebration of the end of the play. Jeon, who was still holding Joon’s hand, broke away quickly as tears welled up in his eyes.
‘It’s over’ he thought, as Joon, unknowing to Jeon, looked on worried for his colleague who had obvious tears in his eyes. Wiping at his eyes furiously, Jungkook ran from the stage to his assigned dressing room.
“Jungkook! Jungkook, where are you going!” he heard Namjoon scream from behind him. Shaking his heavy head, Jungkook ran past the backstage crew and cast members who turned at one of the two main lead’s passing. Jungkook didn’t stop until he burst through the door of his dressing room and collapsed onto the floor leaning onto the front of the couch, hot tears still running down his cheek.
Behind him, he could hear the door open, and a couple of quick steps later, he could also feel the weight of a comforting hand on his shoulder. Jungkook recognised that hand as the one and only Kim Namjoon’s, and at that moment Jungkook cursed his fate for Joon’s love and compassion that had to appear in front of him at the same time.
“Jungkook?” Namjoon worriedly asked, noticing that the fellow actor hadn’t yet calmed down from when they were still on the stage. “Jungkook, are you okay? Do you want me to call the medic? Does something hurt?” he asked, now only a few inches away from Jungkook.
Jungkook hoped then and there that the world would swallow him whole, but that wasn’t the case. Slowly getting up, he looked at the man who caused the breakdown in the first place. Namjoon helped him sit on the couch, and Kookie swore his heart jumped at the way Joon looked at him. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Kook cleared his throat thinking to himself ‘Please don't let this fail’ before he spoke up.
“M-may I have w-water?” he asked shakily, watching as Joon’s eyes widened.
“Oh.. of- of course..” Joon stuttered, turning around to look for one nearby. Jungkook wondered if he said something wrong but before he could muster the courage to speak up again, Joon had brought a water bottle to his lips and helped him drink.
“Jungkook?” Joon asked again warily, looking for signs of pain after the water bottle was set down. “Do you need me to call a medic? Or another staff? Perhaps the backstage crew? I’m sure they can help you..” he trailed off. Jungkook wasn’t listening though, his mind not cooperating setting him on a downward spiral.
‘He’s gonna hate me, won’t he?’ Kook thought, his eyes welling with soon to be shed tears. Jungkook could feel his body run cold at the thought, and as he tried to swallow, he noticed that his throat was closing off, it was getting harder and harder to breathe. His head felt strange, and everything in his view was spinning a little too quickly for comfort. He couldn’t hear too, all of a sudden, his head feeling hazy, as if he was dunked suddenly underwater. Somewhere, he heard Namjoon’s wavering voice, scared and worried.
“Jungkookie, you gotta breathe or you’re gonna faint” Namjoon ordered, and while Kook still couldn’t fully understand, he felt himself being shifted and found himself wrapped in Namjoon’s arms, his face buried in the man’s chest. “Come on now, breathe in and out slowly, in for four out for two” he said, and Jungkook followed along, and felt the world come back to him now, his head a little bit clearer and his ability to breathe returned. Namjoon noticed this, feeling very relieved that his co-actor was looking less pale and shaky than before.
“Are you alright, Jungkook? Do you want me to go grab a medic? You looked really pale before so they can get you some help?”
“N-no.. it’s okay.. I just got very emotional at the end of the play.. that’s all.. Too many emotions came up at once” Kook explained, and it wasn’t a complete lie. He felt a little scared, and overwhelmed, but he also felt relieved and so surprised that the show ended after so much time had gone into the production and performance of the play. He was enamored with the way Joon watched carefully as they spoke.
“It’s been nothing less than a roller coaster ride for me too, actually” Joon explained, shifting in his spot. “As you might know, i’m gay, and while my parents in Korea leant to understand, and people here in the United States accept that as something valid, a lot of my friends in Korea still don’t. Even after 5 years past coming out, a lot of my other family members hesitate to invite me home when I visit every once in a while. It sucks, but it’s been an interesting journey to represent two young boys, who are still immature unlike adults.”
“You’re gay?” Jungkook asked, immediately cursing himself for blurting out his thoughts without thinking.
“Uh yes.. yes I am” Joon confirmed, and once again they fell into a tense silence. After a few minutes, Joon shifted again, this time creating distance between themselves and all of a sudden Kookie was torn.
Should he say something? Laugh this whole thing off? Should he just book it out of the room and never look into Joon’s eyes again? Kook opened his mouth, hoping his brain would supply something along the lines of those questions but when:
“I’m gay too,and guess what, I Iove you,do you wanna go on a date?”
came out, he knew that the only thing he could do was quit this job, pack his shit, and move to a desolate island. All was silent, and all of a sudden he was struck with the realization that that salty tears were staining his face.
“Jungkookie….” Namjoon sighed, and while Kook still couldn’t fully understand, he felt himself being shifted and found himself wrapped in Namjoon’s arms, his face buried in the man’s chest. He felt Namjoon’s voice vibrate in his chest as he spoke, but made no effort to pull himself out of the comfort of Joon’s arms.
Well, it did until Kook yelped loudly when he realised exactly what the other had said.
“Well, yeah,” Joon said sheepishly, looking down and scratching his neck. “The two of us spent so long confessing our “love” for each other in the form of their characters, and it was fine until one day, when it hurt somewhere deep in my heart everytime time we confessed. I thought it was a one time thing, until it started happening every single time we ran through that part of the script. I chalked it up to disliking the script we were reading, and kept it at that. It wasn’t until you were practicing those same lines with another actor that I realised the problem wasn’t with the lines, it was with me. All of a sudden the line became more than just a line, it became what I actually felt for you. I love you, Jungkook-ah.” Joon said with finality, smiling softly. “Will you be my boyfriend, Jungkook-ah? For real this time”
“Absolutely”Jungkook said, pulling Joon in for a kiss. The rest of the world didn’t matter all of a sudden, to the both of them, since they had each other.
-------
Their play was nominated for a Tony Award and the directors of the award show asked them to perform a small part of the play for the audiences that were watching that night.
Like that, Namjoon and Jungkook became Olvier and Noah for the last time and found themselves in the same position, standing on the center stage in their run-down clothes and mud stained shoes along with all the other cast and crew. They were moments away from taking their final bow, and Joon was smiling at the audience, waiting as practiced when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Jungkook, turned towards him, looking at him fondly with his doe- eyes, smiling ear to ear.
“I love you, Namjoonie,” Jungkook said, as the last of the cast members filled the stage for the bow. Joon’s eyes widened, clearly filled with unshed tears.
“Love you too, baby” he said, voice cracking ever so slightly and just as the rest of the cast members took their bow, Jungkook jumped forward, pulling Joon into a deep kiss, tears of happiness staining both of their faces as rose petals of fell around them and the audience, as well as their fellow clapped, cheered and whistled all around them.
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