Kiss Me If You Can [NOVEL] - Chapter 36

“Stop, stop!”

At the director’s nervous cry, the actors stumbled and turned to him. The staff also looked at the director, but there was only one person the director was watching. 

“Chase, what the hell is that? Why are you so unfocused today!”

According to that, everyone’s eyes turned to Chase this time. Chase stopped trying to brush up his well-groomed hair. The hand, standing in the air, was awkwardly stiff and fell down. The director, who saw the appearance, swears again. 

“Damn! A 30 minute break!”

The director turned away angrily and said, “I will turn away!” And yelled. He spoke to himself, but the other person was clear who he was asking to listen to. But Chase was all about turning his head with an expressionless face. 

After returning to filming, Chase’s condition was a mess. From time to time, he made mistakes. He heard all kinds of yells and condolences from the director, but nothing changed. Eventually, he was given two days off, but things only got worse. 

“I can’t wait any more.”

The director squeezed his head and lamented. The filming was forced to stop, but Chase’s attitude was still the same. He couldn’t concentrate as if he was floating somewhere, and he kept forgetting the lines or stopped blankly. 

After a short break, the director resumed filming, but this time it was more messy. After several times, he lost out of his hand the magazine he had to hand over to Naomi, and sighs poured out everywhere. 

“I can’t do it, let’s do this for today. …Are you keeping your mind?”

What the hell is this? In the end, the director announced the end of the filming and decided to shoot the episode again the next day. It has been repeated for several days already. Both were to blame for Chase, but he didn’t apologize or feel embarrassed. Obviously, seeing him heading for the trailer, the coach only shook his head. 

“Now I can’t come and change actors.”

He sighed and fell into trouble, but there could be no countermeasures. Eventually, the director left with abusive language.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

“…that’s because…. it doesn’t work….but….”

Laura was constantly saying something next to him. But Chase’s ears still didn’t hear anything. There was only about Josh all over his head. As if Chase was looking around, Laura opened her mouth as if it were natural. 

“I heard that Josh works from night. Maybe he’s resting at the hostel, should I ask him to come?”

Frightened by the end, Chase turned right away and headed for the convenience building where the bodyguards were staying. Laura sighed and followed him. Now, this was a habit, too. After Chase, Laura, Isaac, Seth, and the manager walked in line. 

When he finally arrived at Josh’s accommodation, Chase took a brief breath. The pause and step back was faster than before, but to his disappointment, Josh’s lodging was empty. Soon afterward, Chase, who had a frown on his nose, turned and came out, and the crowd followed behind again, and this was also a scene that had been seen from time to time.

“No matter how much Josh tricked you into being beta, isn’t it, don’t you overlook it too badly?”

Seth muttered like a self-talk when he saw Isaac grunted with his breath. 

“How do you live in the world because you’re so dull?”

” What did you say? “

Seth shook his head to Isaac asking the sun.

“No, nothing.”

Suddenly Laura looked back and asked Seth.

“Would you like to call Josh? Where he is now. “

“Okay.”

Seth took out his cell phone without saying anything. After a couple of beeps, Josh answered the phone.

“Where are you? “

<I’m eating with the staff…>

“Where are you?”

Pointed to Laura hurriedly in a quiet voice one direction, but there, 

“Mr. Miller,  is … “

Chaisd went to look for Josh.

Mealtimes. The last restaurant was quite busy, with some late-dining staff standing in front of the buffet-style foods, and Chase immediately found Josh as he entered the entrance. Chase’s face brightened when he saw him.

“Joshua….”

He stopped calling his name inadvertently. Josh was not alone. The moment he saw a small woman standing next to him and having a conversation, Chase’s head cooled down. It didn’t end there. When Josh said something, the woman burst into laughter. 

Chase, who had clenched his fists without knowing it, took a stop and walked towards Josh at a terrifying pace. 

✤✤✤✤✤✤

Josh, who left the lodge late in the afternoon, wandered around and headed to the staff-only restaurant. He was going to eat and get plenty of rest in preparation for the evening shift.

Due to the lush trees and grass, they were often attacked by insects, so the eateries made of snacks were closed tightly and the air conditioner was turned on from time to time. Josh glanced at the air conditioner’s outdoor unit that was running indefinitely even during the off-peak hours, and opened the door and went inside.

The inside of the restaurant was busy during an ambiguous time with neither lunch nor dinner. He picked up a pretentious plate and put a salad in one corner. Having found an empty steak countertop, Josh stepped over there without hesitation. 

“Oh.”

The woman who arrived almost at the same time spit a short exclamation. Josh stepped back, smiling and reaching out one hand. 

“Let’s do it first.” 

“Thank you.”

He smiled and spoke to the waiting staff. 

“Please take this.”

The staff put a large cut steak over the fire and looked towards Josh. Like how to do it. 

” Thank you.”

As he added his greetings, he rummed through the chunks of meat and pulled out a chunk that was too large to look at. 

“Oh, is this discrimination? That looks better.”

At the woman’s joke, he didn’t laugh. She turned away, becoming embarrassed, and then made eye contact with Josh. She laughed awkwardly and coughed, and then brought out another topic. 

“Are you Miller’s bodyguard? Is it worth it? He’s rumored to be tricky.”

Introducing herself as another actor’s secretary, she made a sad expression. Josh replied with a smile as usual.

“It’s decent, it’s tricky, but…”

He wanted to add compliments, but nothing really came to mind. In the end, Josh concluded.

“Oh, that’s right. I also admire it. The actors thought they looked bored, but Mr. Miller…” 

With a vague expression as if reviving memories, she turned her head and looked up at Josh.

“Have you seen him filming in a woman’s dress? “

“Yes, of course. “

“I still didn’t know it would fit so well. Because I saw him without knowing it.”

Soon she added,

“Is that commercial, do you know?”

Josh narrowed his eyes and lucked out meaningfully.

“Sweet-sweet… “

“My friend’s chocolate bar. “

The woman burst into laughter when she received the song. It was when Josh also laughed face to face. Suddenly someone grabbed his shoulder and turned it wildly. 

“…”

Uh , Josh was amazed at the moment and exclaimed, but he didn’t make a fist. It’s because it’s time to guess who the other person is even if you don’t see it.

“Chase…. Mr. Miller.” 

As expected, Josh, who inadvertently called his name when he saw a face in sight, quickly corrected. Then there was silence. Chase’s gaze shifted from Josh to the woman next to him. 

She shrugged her shoulders as if surprised by the harsh atmosphere, so she turned her head hurriedly and looked around. The staff just put the grilled meat on the plate, and she left without saying thank you, as if running away in a hurry. 

Josh, who glanced at his back, looked up at Chase again. Likewise, Chase, looking at the woman leaving, turned to Josh.

“Is that girl your little sister too?”

Josh replied, honestly no, to the sarcastic question.

“I just said a few words while we were waiting together… something that wasn’t big.”

But Chase had a different idea: Immediately he grabbed Josh’s arm and I walked violently. Attracting Josh to get in faded close the door with a bang, the last still vacant sound that has sat down to silence. People break in sweat and have a hard time breathing. Laura said, sweeping her forehead with a pale face. 

“Today’s filming is over, so you can all go back. If you have something Mr. Miller asks for, please contact me…” 

“Okay.”

Seth added. 

“After two hours, Josh is in charge of the security, so I think he will do it on his own.”

“I guess.”

Laura looked around the trailer with an unusual look, and turned to Seth. Seth noticed what Laura was guessing, but turned away pretending not to know. Laura contemplated with a serious expression, then muttered to herself. 

“No way.”

Seth thought it would be true. Soon after, Laura and other staff greeted him and left. Isaac, who remained next to him until then, opened his mouth. 

“Aren’t we supposed to go inside? What if Josh is hit alone?” 

“Is Josh just getting right? Don’t go out for nothing.”

Seth inadvertently dismissed his opinion. The child who became embarrassed. The little head was thick and looked back anxiously.

Nothing should have happened. 

✤✤✤✤✤✤

The interior was quiet. After dragging Josh into the trailer, Chase didn’t say a word. Josh became hungry and nervous, but for now, he decided to focus on the current situation.

It was the moment that Josh was trying to speak up looking up at Chase, who seemed to never open his mouth if it was this way. Chase squinted and looked down at him. 

“What were you doing with her?”

Josh answered the truth. 

“I was about to have a meal, we just met and exchanged a few words.”

As if proving that word, a rumbling sound rang from inside Josh’s stomach. Josh became embarrassed and laughed awkwardly. 

“Because I was very hungry.” 

“You were so hungry, but did you have enough time to flirt with a woman?”

“…”

Josh stared at him for a moment. The jealous lover was cute, but it was also a different story depending on the timing and the partner. Now he was so hungry, and Chase’s jealousy went beyond the limits of cuteness. With the momentum that he would run out and do something to find her, Josh had to choose his words carefully.

“I won’t do it in the future.” 

“…”

“I won’t talk to anyone, except you.”

Josh smiled as if,’Okay?’ If he doesn’t put something in his mouth within 5 minutes, he might try to eat Chase. He couldn’t stand being really hungry.

But unlike Josh, Chase wasn’t too concerned about eating. He wasn’t aware of Josh’s hunger right now, who often skipped meals just by what Josh saw. The important thing was that Josh talked to another woman and laughed before her eyes. Chase had to hold the white-clad hand over and over again, holding back from wanting to hit the wall and yell at once. 

Chase, who barely suppressed his anger, took a deep breath. Josh suddenly tilted his head. It reveals emotions like this, but curiously, the pheromone scent did not appear. All he could feel was the faint scent in the trailer.

Come to think of it. 

Josh realized it belatedly. After returning to the set, the pheromone scent from Chase was significantly reduced. Even Isaac, who always lived with candy in his mouth, remembered Mark, who was pleased that the cost of buying candy was reduced as the number of times he ate decreased. 

“You….” 

“Why don’t you give me your number?”

He tried to ask what happened, but before that, Chase asked roughly. Josh, stunned, blinked.

“Oh, you want it?”

“Yes”

Chase honed it. Because he was always by his side, he didn’t even think about it, and he didn’t have to. Now come and swap the numbers, and you’re ruined, Josh replied, smirking instead of apologizing. 

“I don’t know your number either?” 

Chase quickly replied the numbers, terrifying that the words were over. At the moment, he narrowed his eyes to Josh. 

“Call my number.”

There was absolutely no atmosphere to joke about. Josh said the number with an embarrassing smile, but it didn’t end there. Chase, who took out his cell phone, entered the number, immediately pressed the call button, and Josh opened his eyes to the sound of his bell. 

“What are you doing? Not receiving?”

Chase asked annoyingly. No, why answer the phone with someone in front of you. Josh thought, but there was no need to provoke him. After pressing the call button, Josh said, looking up at Chase.

“Hello?”

Only then Chase hung up the phone and immediately ordered. 

“Save it!”

Josh silently pressed the save button. Lately, Josh realized that Chase had deliberately tried to make a phone call in front of him to see if it was real. 

Even if he is suspicious, he thinks he acted cheaply.

Josh had no choice but to frown on his brow in a feeling of reluctance. 

“I don’t lie.”

There is something to hide.

Pete’s face immediately came to mind, Josh added, but Chase refused to listen. 

He dragged him to the bathroom, took off his clothes, and checked each and every piece. Josh was frightened when he saw Chase, who had skimmed the kiss mark and other signs, buried his nose in his groin and smelled the scent. 

“You smell too weak.”

Chase mumbled under him. Thanks so far, I was able to hide it, Josh said yes, thinking inwardly. 

“Don’t you hate Omega because of the fragrance?” 

“Yes.”

Chase gave the same answer as Josh. Soon he had a serious look. 

“So I’m….”

Chase was trying to say something. Josh was curious, but there was no time to talk. Soon after, Chase overlapped his lips, and as he was struck by a pouring stream, Josh embraced him with a groan.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

 Ha ah.

Josh sighs with cigarette smoke. Four times in a row, it wasn’t easy, no matter how good he was. He only ate something in the middle, but as soon as the short break was over, it started from the beginning. Besides, he was barely trying to prevent him from struggling to add. 

“Look at it….”

Josh squatted and hugged his head. At dawn, he woke up, and he was about to step outside, carefully removing Chase’s arm from his waist. If he didn’t smoke, there was no way to soothe his sad heart. 

“Oh hey.”

His back, hips, and joints and his whole body hurt. Reluctantly to get back up, Josh engulfed the cigarette smoke with a serious face.

How can I solve this situation? 

He was only aiming for the timing to bring out the story of Pete, but it seemed like the worst situation would come. Still, he was worried about Chase’s condition to wait.

The wrinkles on the brow became deeper. He had never had such a troublesome relationship. Until now, he would have taken his feet off at this point. He hated the burdensome relationship. 

But why is it different this time? 

Having a headache over a problem that couldn’t be answered was a behavior that didn’t fit him at all. With worries that couldn’t be resolved forever, Josh spent a long time smoking just like that. The sun was rising in the distance. 

Ah.

With a bright face, Josh blinks. He saw an unripe figure approaching. It was Mark who came to take turns. He waited silently, but a few steps ahead, he saw Josh and asked in amazement.

“What’s wrong with your face? What happened at night?”

Although he didn’t look in the mirror, Josh could know just by looking at his reaction what he was going to be like. 

“No, I’m just tired… Then I’ll go and rest.”

 “Yes, you worked hard all night.”

Mark encouraged Josh, he struggled all night inside, and convinced him. He left a short greeting and tried to turn around, but suddenly Mark said behind the scenes. 

“Well, did you talk about the security team coming back today?” 

“Yeah?”

As he looked back without knowing it, Mark spoke with a brighter face. 

“It was said to be coming in the afternoon. Fortunately, it looks like the staff was filled. Good? We can go home now!”

Mark couldn’t hide his excitement as he thought of his wife and daughters waiting for him. Seeing him like that, Josh mumbled, “Oh, yes…” with a stupid face.

✤✤✤✤✤✤

It was around noon that Chase heard reports from Laura that the bodyguards would be replaced. The afternoon filming was held and he was asleep until late, and he only awakened after Laura visited him.

“…. what?”

He wondered if it’s because he was still tired, Chase asked again, frowning at his forehead. Laura patiently repeated the same words.

“They said that they will come around this afternoon with all the shortages filled. The bodyguards who have been in charge of temporary work in the meantime will return as soon as they finish taking over. Now there will be no gaps in the path…”

Laura was constantly saying something, but Chase couldn’t hear it. As Laura waited after she had finished speaking, she realized that his reaction was offended, and carefully looked at it.

“What, Mr. Miller? Anything wrong…..?”

Chase’s reaction continued one beat late. Laura smiled awkwardly as she looked up at him as if surprised.

“The bodyguard team is going to be replaced. Would you like it?”

Chase’s reaction was completely unexpected. Does it really have something to do with Josh? After making a careful guess, Laura withheld her hasty judgment and waited for him in an extremely clerical manner.

For a while he said nothing. She just sat blankly and watched Chase, who had only blinked her eyes, and Laura just waited. 

“…”

“Yes?”

When he opened his mouth after a while, Laura couldn’t understand what he was saying, so he stopped asking. Fortunately, before Chase spoke again, she figured out the meaning. 

“Are you talking about Josh? Can I call him here now?”

Again Chase was silent. Laura for some reason seemed to be unable to make a judgment. Maybe I’m still less asleep. Carefully she opened her mouth. 

“I’ll call him then.”

Chase nodded with a brief gap in between. Laura greeted briefly and then left the trailer. Outside, Henry was in charge of guarding the surrounding area. 

“I’m asking you to call Josh.”

Henry didn’t respond much to Laura’s words. It was simply because he wasn’t interested in anyone other than himself, but Laura misunderstood that he might be making the same guesses as herself. 

“Yes, Josh? It’s Laura.”

Repressed by curiosity, she made a phone call and left. The only thing left was Henry. At first glance, he checked the watch on his wrist and the shift time was approaching.

Who was it today? 

Henry wandered around the trailer for free, recalling the schedule. The moment he changed direction without thinking, suddenly someone appeared in front of him. For a moment, Henry stopped astonished and almost sweared, and found a ripe face. It was an actress who played a supporting role. She smiled and said hello. 

“Hello, I came here because there is something I want to discuss with Mr. Miller for the next shoot. Can I get in for a minute?”

✤✤✤✤✤✤

Chase, who was drinking water out of the bedroom at the sound of the door opening, turned his head reflexively. 

“Joshua.”

He walked out in a hurry calling his name, but he was disappointed. The person who came in was another bodyguard. Conspicuously frowned, but Henry said, as if he had already anticipated such a reaction. 

“It’s because the actor who is appearing in the same work has something to discuss about the role. Would you like to meet?” 

“Who?”

Even though there was no way to know the name, Chase inadvertently asked. Henry told him her name, but he couldn’t remember it. 

“Send her back.”

“Mr. Miller!”

He turned relentlessly and suddenly heard a woman’s voice behind him. 

“Wait a minute, you shouldn’t just come in like this.”

“Mr. Miller!”

Henry intercepted her, but Becky desperately called Chase. Reflexively stopped, she said to Chase. 

“We met at Peteman’s party before, do you remember? It’s Becky.”

The scent of omega from her reminded Chase of her, but it was by no means good. Subsequently, all the memories came back to life.

He could all remember Josh’s lips when he was about to kiss him, the touch he wiped his face with a handkerchief, and the gaze he looked at tenderly. And he realized. From then on, it all started. If he didn’t go out to the garden at that time, if he didn’t smell the pheromone scent. 

If he hadn’t met Joshua in the first place. 

If that was the case, he wouldn’t have known these feelings. 

“I do not know you.”

“Yeah?”

Becky asked, embarrassed, but it only offended Chase. 

“If you don’t know, don’t bother and get out right away. What are you doing? Drag her out.”

“Mr. Miller! Wait, please listen to me…!”

“Tell her off!”

Unbearable Chase yelled. 

“Can’t you hear me? Fuck! I can’t remember anyone like you!”

At that moment, the blood disappeared from Becky’s face. Leaving behind her, stunned as if shocked, Chase turned around with abusive language. Henry took care not to get her hurt and somehow tried to get her out of the trailer. Chase immediately opened the door of the closed parlor, ignoring them. 

“Chase, stand there!”

Her tearful cry turned into hatred. 

“What?”

He wondered if he could hear Henry’s embarrassed voice, and then an unexpected sound echoed in the trailer. 

Taang!

A thumping and knocking sound was heard behind him with loud gunfire. Chase stopped reflexively and looked back.

It was Henry who fell. As I shifted his gaze away from the bodyguard who was groaning with blood pouring, he saw the face of a woman trembling with a gun in both hands.