18 - The Second is Proficient
“I’m sorry.”
Hyun-joo bowed her head toward the staff. Frankly, NGs were common during filming, so everyone didn't pay much attention.
It would be a problem if it dragged on, though.
Filming resumed immediately, but Hyun-joo, still unable to grasp her emotions, ended up making another NG.
“Serves you right for ad-libbing…”
Yu-ri, standing next to Hyun-joo, rebuked Im Se-ah. But Se-ah didn't seem to hear it.
‘I lost.’
Hyun-joo didn't make an NG because of the ad-lib. She loosened her lips and regained her emotions. Looking up at Se-ah, she saw her slightly lowering her eyes, maintaining her emotions.
She wasn't the Im Se-ah she knew. It was Se-ah's face, but it didn't contain any of Se-ah's colors or characteristics. It was a completely different person.
“Seo Ji-an.”
At Hyun-joo's words, Se-ah met her gaze. That wasn't Im Se-ah, but Seo Ji-an.
As soon as she heard the first line, she was overwhelmed by a sense of defeat, to the point of forgetting her lines. The emotions of inferiority and the desire to win surged, making it impossible for her to utter Min Hyo-ryeong's lines. Hyun-joo took a deep breath and signaled Director Kim that she was ready.
“Cue!”
The camera turned, and Hyo-ryeong spoke from inside the monitor.
“I’m sorry, Ji-an…”
“You. You don’t look sorry at all.”
For a moment, a crack appeared on Hyo-ryeong's face, but she quickly put on a mask and replied.
“Why are you like this? It’s not like that.”
She said she was flustered by the shocking truth and spoke without realizing it. But she didn't know things would escalate this far. Hyo-ryeong said so with a very apologetic face, but her eyes didn't reflect it.
The pupils hidden beneath her lowered eyelids were clearly mocking Ji-an.
“Isn’t it?”
Ji-an sharply retorted, and Hyo-ryeong, frowning slightly, met her gaze. As if trying to dig into each other's hearts for a while.
“Cut, okay!”
Finally, an okay was given, and Hyun-joo was shocked once again as she watched Ji-an's eyes return to Se-ah's. She stared blankly as Se-ah emerged from the lingering emotions of Seo Ji-an.
“Let’s go monitor,”
Se-ah said, smiling brightly. The slight wrinkles under her lips were a part that wasn't visible when she was Seo Ji-an earlier. Hyun-joo, overwhelmed by a surge of jealousy, jumped up and stood in front of the monitor first.
“Se-ah, Hyun-joo, you two were really amazing. Look, it turned out great, right?”
Director Kim, excited, praised the two's acting with fervor. The intense emotional lines were expressed in detail even within the camera.
Se-ah seemed satisfied, but Hyun-joo had an inscrutable face. Director Kim lightly patted Hyun-joo's back. It was a sign that she did well. Even from the director's perspective, Se-ah was a step above. Right now. It was a consolation that Director Kim, who understood the actors' tendencies, could offer.
“Okay, let’s take a short break!”
Hyun-joo, with a stiff face, left the set abruptly after standing in front of the monitor. She thought it would be good to get some fresh air for a while.
There were many people in the world who were good at acting. But most of them were older than Hyun-joo. The realistic aspects that came from experience were an unavoidable difference. But to feel such a difference in acting ability from someone her age.
Having been in the theater scene for a long time, she skillfully managed her emotions and finished filming, but she couldn't face Se-ah's face.
“A crisis is just another word for opportunity.”
That was always the case in Hyun-joo's life. She used crises as stepping stones to seize opportunities and rise. Hyun-joo looked at the clear sky, truly acknowledging Se-ah's talent, and resolved to leap forward herself.
\*
Radio broadcasting station. Because it was a dawn broadcast, it was quieter than the broadcasting station during the day.
“Thank you for your hard work today.”
Se-ah yawned and greeted the production staff. She had been feeling fatigued due to her recently busy schedule. Still, she was happy. Wasn't she doing what she wanted? The in-laws and husband who had been oppressing her were gone. Her father kept talking about arranged marriages, but it was something she could refuse until the end.
“You worked hard too, Se-ah.”
At the PD's words, she smiled, crinkling her eyes.
“I saw your CF, and the music video too. The immersion was amazing, you know?”
“Ah, thank you.”
The listeners' reactions were also quite good. Listeners who saw her activities expressed their delight, and many posts were uploaded to the radio bulletin board.
“What are you doing again this time?”
“A web drama.”
“It’ll be successful. You work hard, after all.”
PD Min hadn't seen anyone as diligent as her, coming out and generating ideas and proceeding with them at dawn. She seemed like someone who did everything passionately, but she had been wondering why she wasn't more active.
“I’m going to work hard.”
A smile bloomed on PD Min's face at the gratitude in her eyes.
Se-ah repeatedly greeted the other staff and left the radio booth. She was proud that she seemed to have found a way to maintain her emotional lines to some extent during the day's filming.
She closed her eyes and continued to think about the role. Until the director gave the cue sign. And whether an NG happened in the middle or a cut was called, she kept her eyes lowered and maintained her emotions until one filming was over. So she felt like she was gradually falling into that role.
“It’s still a bit lacking, though.”
Unfortunately, it wasn't the perfect immersion she felt when filming Dan's music video.
“What is?”
Ye-won, who was waiting outside, heard Se-ah's muttering and replied.
“No, unnie. I was just thinking about acting.”
“I think you’ll be practicing even in your dreams.”
Ye-won shook her head, saying she couldn't help it. Se-ah just laughed at the undeniable words. Because she had really dreamed of practicing in her dreams.
“Let’s go in and rest quickly. Everything is good, but your body has to keep up.”
“Yes.”
Filming was scheduled for early morning tomorrow as well. The drama filming was more hectic than she had expected.
Waiting for the equipment to be set up, waiting for the other actors to film. It was a series of waiting, and it was an environment where she couldn't do anything else.
Se-ah was actually happier because she could immerse herself in the role, but it was physically and mentally exhausting. She should go in quickly and rest comfortably, even if only for a little while. It was when she stood in front of the elevator to go to the underground parking lot.
“Im Se-ah.”
Turning around at a somewhat familiar voice, she saw an unexpected figure standing there. It was Do Geon-ha.
“Oh…”
She was momentarily stunned by the surprise, but she regained her senses and greeted him.
“Hello.”
No, why is this man here now? She wondered if he had a schedule, but this was a radio station. There was no way they would use that Do Geon-ha as a panelist at this hour.
“Um. I guess you had a schedule.”
There was no way that was the case, but she just threw it out there because she didn't have much to say. Just then, the elevator arrived, and she gave a slight eye greeting. She wished they could part ways like this, but he also got on the elevator, perhaps going to the parking lot. This is so awkward.
The scandal that happened before her regression hadn't happened yet, and it was something she had to prevent from happening now.
But Se-ah felt sorry for Geon-ha. He had received all sorts of malicious comments because of her, comments he didn't have to receive. She couldn't help but see them because Yu-ri showed them to her, even though she didn't want to read them.
“I saw the music video.”
Geon-ha spoke as soon as they got off at the underground parking lot. She couldn't avoid the gaze that met hers by chance.
“Se-ah, I’ll wait in the car.”
Sensing the strange atmosphere, Ye-won gave them space. The parking was right near the elevator, so it was a distance where she could immediately stop anything if something seemed wrong. She also checked the location of the CCTV.
There was no way a top star would do anything strange, but you never knew what could happen in the world. Se-ah nodded at Ye-won's gaze, which seemed to ask if she was okay.
“I didn’t come because of a schedule, but to see Se-ah.”
His direct words were disconcerting. But why? They hadn't talked to each other to that extent, and they weren't close friends.
“Why?”
She also asked directly. Then, the corners of Geon-ha's lips softened.
“You look much better now.”
Her brow furrowed, unable to understand the meaning of his muttered words.
“You seemed somewhat anxious back then.”
“…”
“It was like your front and back were different too.”
Se-ah, recalling the day she did the documentary narration, nodded slightly, thinking that he might have thought that way.
“Actually, I was going to stop paying attention to you…”
He paused, then gave another charming smile.
“The acting I saw in the music video was too intense. I still want to work with you.”
Se-ah's pupils shook at Geon-ha's words. In the past, they had worked together on a project after the documentary narration.
Due to the roles they played, there were no scenes where they filmed together. It was because she had her idea stolen by Yu-ri at the audition and didn't receive a proper role. She sighed, recalling her foolish self.
She had regretted it a lot while watching Geon-ha's acting back then. She tried to ask for advice at a company dinner, and that was also captured in a photo and used for gossip. She was a little uneasy even now, as they were talking like this.
Se-ah, who had tightly closed her eyes and opened them, slowly shook her head.
“I don’t want to cause any more harm.”
Unintelligible words. Question marks floated in his eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
She didn't want to run into him if possible. To make that scandal disappear, she had to avoid being photographed as much as possible. It would be good to shake Ji-man's weaknesses first. She greeted Geon-ha and left resolutely. While pondering how to utilize those weaknesses.
“…”
Again, a very anxious look. Geon-ha stared blankly at the vehicle leaving the parking lot. What on earth did she mean by saying she didn't want to cause any more harm?
“Do Geon-ha?”
Geon-ha, who was racking his brains to remember if she had ever harmed him, turned around at someone's voice.
“Park Ji-man.”
Receiving the business card he suddenly handed over, the title of Executive Director of An.B Group caught his eye. He looked down at the man in front of him, wondering what he wanted.
“Im Se-ah’s fiancé, right?”
“So?”
“I happened to overhear.”
Ji-man adjusted his tie, showing his displeasure.
“Im Se-ah will quit acting. Don’t put ideas in her head about working together or anything.”
What kind of nonsense was this? Geon-ha's face contorted. Who quits their job these days just because they're getting married? The expression on Se-ah's face, which had looked anxious for a moment, came to mind.
“An.B Group…”
It was a fairly well-known and large group. He thought the chairman was a Park. Was he a successor or something? Was this the reason for the fear in Se-ah's eyes?
“It’s much better to get married and support her husband than to be an actress. It’s not like she’s that good at acting anyway.”
He was dumbfounded by the fiancé's harsh assessment. Park Ji-man was someone who knew nothing about the profession of acting, about Im Se-ah's value.
“Don’t shake her up unnecessarily.”
Geon-ha called out to Ji-man, who was about to leave after saying what he wanted to say.
“Park Ji-man.”
