I ran until I felt like I would die. I thought if I drained every bit of stamina, it would get better.
But the duller my body beca, the clearer the noise in my head grew.
‘Do Gyeoul, sitting right across from during the script reading... I still can’t get her out of my head.’
Every ti she spoke a line, the status window above her head flickered.
B
B
I didn’t want to admit it, but Do Gyeoul definitely had the power to pull attention in an instant.
‘Even when she’s photographed with actors of similar standing, people end up looking at her first without even realizing it.’
Was it because her face was so familiar from childhood? Or because she had looks that ranked among the very best in the industry? Or simply because she had always stood at the center, in the protagonist’s position?
‘I don’t know the exact reason, but....’
I thought I’d made a na for myself by now. I thought “Han Yeoreum” carried so weight.
But sitting across from Do Gyeoul at the script reading—
Anxiety crept in.
My first project with Do Gyeoul. A script reading where I couldn’t even deliver a single line. An interview where I couldn’t properly answer because of spoilers. Reporters already on edge because of that. And unlike , Do Gyeoul drawing attention right from the official video...
“Argh!”
This was suffocating. Would this anxiety go away once filming started?
I shouted and sprang to my feet.
Even after my regression, I had never felt this unsettled while working on a project.
“Yeah... tis like this call for attendance.”
I’d checked it just two hours ago, but rereading posts never got old. I turned my phone back on and took a short break.
Buzz.
[Dok Gomin: Where are you?]
See? All these people looking for . Who am I? Han Yeoreum—the rising actress who’s about to make another mark with a new character and beco fully iconic.
Reply: Unni, I’m at the action academy.
“Okay, break’s over! Get up!”
The mont I replied to Dok Gomin, Kang Hanseong called out. I set my phone down and stood up.
‘Don’t overthink.’
As always, the only way to lt away anxiety was through practice.
A prepared actor gained confidence on set.
And exactly twenty minutes later—
“...Huh?”
The usually noisy action academy fell completely silent all at once. The thuds of punching bags, the pounding of footsteps, the shouts—all gone.
‘This feels familiar.’
I knew instinctively.
“Hi, Yeoreum.”
Right. This was that peculiar silence that always surrounded Myeong Jeha.
Holding Dok Gomin’s phone and waving it lightly, Myeong Jeha smiled gently.
* * *
“Why are you ignoring my calls?”
After pulling aside, saying he had sothing to talk about, Myeong Jeha asked the question. There was a hint of a smile—but I wasn’t falling for it anymore.
‘He’s annoyed....’
I had ignored every single ssage since the script reading. No wonder he was irritated. I curled my lips into a practiced smile.
“I’ve been doing intense training at the action academy, so I couldn’t really check my phone. Earlier was just a coincidence—I happened to see it at the right mont....”
“For soone who says that, your fan café attendance has been steadily increasing. Want to check screen ti right now?”
“....”
I swiftly changed the subject.
“And you think it’s okay to just steal Dok Gomin's phone?”
“Yeah. I’ll just say I found it.”
“Who would believe that? That makes no sense!”
“Exactly. Who would believe that, Yeoreum? Why did you ignore all my ssages?”
Of course it didn’t work.
But I couldn’t say it. Absolutely not.
‘How am I supposed to say that!’
Before regression, I was on the sa set as you and Do Gyeoul. Back then, both of you were top actors, and I was just an unnad extra watching from far away.
We weren’t even that far apart—but it felt like I’d never be able to reach that place.
I keep rembering that mont.
The feeling of standing on a set with no lines, no place for .
‘No way.’
There was no way I could say that. Not with my pride. I was a rising actress who had swept all three major network rookie awards.
‘And even if I said it... he wouldn’t understand.’
The truth was—
I was scared.
There had to be a reason behind Seomun Ihwa’s decisions. Reducing my screen ti couldn’t be entirely a bad thing.
‘But I’m too used to this....’
The fact that my role hadn’t disappeared entirely reassured . The fact that my na was still in the script made grateful. The fact that I hadn’t been replaced by soone else—
Even when I tried to gather those thoughts, rembering that set from before regression made fear creep back in.
What if I couldn’t act anymore?
“You should answer.”
As if he had noticed my thoughts spiraling, Myeong Jeha spoke quietly.
But I barely heard him.
Wait... what if he notices? I don’t want him to realize I’m intimidated by Do Gyeoul. Absolutely not.
Without realizing it, I took a step back.
“Did I do sothing wrong?”
That was when Myeong Jeha asked sothing unexpected.
“Is that why?”
This ti, the smile was gone.
I looked up. I had never seen that expression on his face before.
“Well... it’s not that....”
I forced my stiff brain to co up with an answer.
“I’m... nervous.”
Not a lie. Not really. The dream, the awkwardness, overlapping schedules with Do Gyeoul, being sensitive—it all added up.
“Really? I didn’t do anything wrong?”
“Of course not. When have I ever lied—”
“I’ve seen it. Plenty of tis... haha. I’m honestly speechless.”
“...Fair enough.”
“So you weren’t avoiding because you don’t want to see my face?”
“Of course not. I just needed so ntal preparation before starting the project.”
“Haha. I worried for nothing, then. So I’ll tell them yes?”
“...To what?”
Of course. It was Myeong Jeha. He never let anything slide.
This ti, he didn’t close the distance again. He just stood there, looking at .
“Shim Juhwan’s new song music video.”
The unexpected words slipped from his lips.
“He wants to cast you and together.”
“What?”
In an instant, all my anxiety disappeared. It was replaced entirely with excitent.
Shim Juhwan? That Shim Juhwan? The one whose songs always shot straight to number one on the charts—and , in his music video?
“Really?”
“Oh, he just texted again... hold on. Let reply.”
“Okay!”
I nodded quickly, then took a mont to bask in it.
‘After Huijae, will I get another number-one song appearance?’
Right. That dream must’ve been a premonition. There was no reason to be awkward or nervous.
One of the things on Han Yeoreum’s wish list had co true. Everything lted away.
‘Just how far does my talent go...?’
It was almost scary now. Even having prophetic dreams based on acting instincts.
‘Shim Juhwan ans a ballad. If I’m appearing with Myeong Jeha, there’ll naturally be couple scenes. Emotional lyrics—so of course there’ll be a kiss scene. Obviously that’s my part.’
Now I felt calm.
I smiled ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ at Myeong Jeha. No awkwardness. No embarrassnt.
“You said yes, right? You won’t change your mind?”
“Of course not. It’s Shim Juhwan! Everyone wants to work with him! There’s no way I’d give this to soone else. I’m doing it!”
“Sounds like you’re confident.”
“Of course!”
I’d already done it once in my dream—so I’d be even better now.
If I could leave an impression with a two-shot alongside Myeong Jeha before even aired, it would be entirely in my favor.
‘Good. Myeong Jeha....’
Just like in 〈The Great Garland〉—
I’d make full use of that face.
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
Myeong Jeha smiled calmly, and I nodded without hesitation.
And a few days later—
For the first ti in my life, I experienced consecutive NGs.
For the first ti ever, there was a stretch where Han Yeoreum couldn’t get a single “okay.”
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