Filming had just ended for the day.

Ely stepped out of the studio building, holding her script. She quietly practiced a few English lines while walking toward the café nearby. Usually, Jacob Shin—her translator—helped her with pronunciation, but he had stepped out earlier.

Ely (murmuring to herself): “Thank you for the opportunity… I will do my best…” She stopped and sighed. Ely: Why is this line so hard to say naturally…As she reached the café entrance, Ely gently pushed the door open. But before she could step inside, she froze. At one of the tables sat Jacob. But he wasn’t alone. Across from him was a woman Ely had never seen before. The woman looked surprised at first, but then her expression turned into a warm smile.

Ara: “Jacob? Wow… it’s really you.” Jacob blinked in surprise.

Jacob: “Ara…? I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Ely instinctively stepped back behind the wall beside the entrance so they wouldn’t notice her.

Ely (thinking): Who is she…?

Ara laughed softly, still clearly surprised. Ara: “It’s been years. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

Jacob rubbed the back of his neck slightly. Jacob: “Yeah… it has been a while.”

Ely watched quietly from outside. They seemed comfortable talking. Like people who shared a past.

Ara leaned forward slightly. Ara: “So you’re working here now?”

Jacob: “Yeah. I’m translating for one of the actresses in the film project.”

Ely blinked. Ely (thinking): That’s… me.

Ara nodded thoughtfully. Ara: “That’s interesting.”

She smiled again. Ara: “Looks like we’ll be seeing each other more often then.”

Jacob looked confused. Jacob: “What do you mean?”

Ara rested her chin lightly on her hand. Ara: “I just arrived today. I’m joining this project.”

Jacob frowned slightly, surprised. Jacob: “Joining… how?”

Ara smiled calmly. Ara: “As one of the producers.”

Ely’s eyes widened. Ely (thinking): Producer…?

Ara continued speaking casually. Ara: “I’m overseeing part of the international production.”

Jacob leaned back slightly in his chair, clearly not expecting that answer. Jacob: So… you’re going to be working here too?

Ara nodded. Ara: Looks like it.

There was a brief silence between them before Ara laughed lightly. Ara: Funny how things work out, right?

Jacob gave a small, thoughtful smile.

Meanwhile outside the café, Ely slowly lowered her gaze to the script in her hands. Ely (thinking): So she’s not just someone visiting…

She’s going to work here. With them. With Jacob.

Jacob still hadn’t noticed Ely standing outside earlier. He was too focused on the unexpected reunion.

Ely quietly stepped away from the entrance. Her footsteps were slow and careful. Ely (thinking): He probably doesn’t even know I was here. She looked back once toward the café window. Jacob and Ara were still talking. Ely turned away and started walking back toward the studio building.

Ely (softly): Let’s just focus on work. But even as she said that, something in her chest felt uneasy. Inside the café, Jacob continued talking with Ara, completely unaware that Ely had been there watching the entire time. And tomorrow, all three of them would officially be working together on the same project.