“No, it’s fine~ I’ll ntion your na during my interview hehe Reporters have been asking about it anyway.... I didn’t say anything because I thought you might not like it. But since you brought it up first, I feel relieved :D”
Yeoreum picked up her pen and said what she needed to say.
“It’d be nice if we got written up together as classmates.... You don’t hate that, right?”
A smile settled on Yeoreum’s face as she looked at Gyeoul.
‘Look at this....’
If she said she disliked it, Do Gyeoul would be the weird one.
If she ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) agreed, she’d be lending out the value of her na.
If she said it was fine and promised to ntion Yeoreum herself next ti, she’d have to keep that promise.
No matter which answer she chose, Do Gyeoul would lose sothing.
‘Interesting?’
As if she had already calculated all of that, Yeoreum wore a relaxed expression. It was a different face from just monts ago.
After a brief consideration, Gyeoul nodded at Yeoreum.
“Let’s take a ten-minute break, then continue.”
The mont the professor’s voice rang out, Gyeoul rose from her seat. Quickly. Before she forgot the expression—quickly.
Bang—!
Gyeoul flung open the restroom door and stared at her reflection in the mirror. Then she tried mimicking Yeoreum’s expression from just before. A subtle sense of rejection, an inexplicable tension, the confidence of knowing that no matter which answer she chose, she would not lose anything.
‘...It works.’
Those layers overlaid themselves one by one on Gyeoul’s face. Her heart raced as she tried desperately not to forget the movent of her facial muscles.
As long as Han Yeoreum was there, as long as Han Yeoreum was there....
‘I can act.’
It felt like she would never have to show an opening again.
* * *
“Yeoreum, what were you two talking about? Was it about work—am I allowed to ask?”
The mont the break started, Dami—who had been ushered out—scurried over to the seat beside . I took her hand and took a deep breath.
‘For how nervous I was, I handled it pretty well....’
I didn’t know why being next to Do Gyeoul made so tense. Whether it was the gaze that felt like it was trying to peer into my organs, or the rejection stemming from what happened in my past life. My body kept stiffening.
“Gyeoul said she’ll talk about during her interviews. So I said I’ll talk about her during mine too.”
“Wow—. Classmates pulling and pushing each other forward like that is so nice.”
It’s not like that, Dami....
“I’ll debut soon too and talk about you, Yeoreum! I promise!”
But after standing next to Do Gyeoul—who felt like the axis of all evil just monts ago—and then receiving so So Dami therapy, my heart felt like it was lting.
Yeah. You’ll regret what you just said, Do Gyeoul. I’ll make sure to drop your na once in every single interview.
‘Using your na value only benefits .’
Just as Myeong Jeha said, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the entire nation knew Do Gyeoul’s growth process. Whether people liked her or not, if the unfamiliar na Han Yeoreum got stamped next to the familiar na Do Gyeoul, curiosity would naturally follow. And on top of that—
‘Perfect to use as a comparison group.’
Sa age, sa school, classmates. One with a solid narrative as a forr child actress, the other a rookie who appeared out of nowhere. A competitive framing was inevitable.
‘Getting the title of “Do Gyeoul’s rival” without lifting a finger.’
Thank you, Ms. Do Gyeoul. I’ll make good use of the na you lent and return it later. I should ask Myeong Jeha to circulate more articles afterward.
‘Do Gyeoul, Myeong Jeha, and Han Yeoreum. Let’s go.’
Anyway, it was a structure where only I benefited. As Dami—who had been chattering about wanting to debut quickly—poked my cheek, she asked,
“Ms. Han Yeoreum, the fastest debut among the class. When do you start as an MC on a music program?”
“Ah, that’s today!”
“Today?”
Yes. Starting today, my fixed schedule would begin in earnest.
* * *
This was Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. In front of JC ENM’s Ilsan Production Center.
“We’ll begin entry—.”
Aetami, who had taken a half-day off, clutched her ID tightly and took a deep breath.
‘I can’t believe I’m here when I’m not even an idol fan...!’
It was a public broadcast of a music program under JC ENM. Since actor fans normally had no reason to co to a place like this, her heart pounded even harder. What Aetami was used to were stage greetings at preview screenings or photo walls at film festivals—not walking into a broadcasting station like this.
‘Finally, Yeoreum in real life....’
Just imagining getting to see Yeoreum in person—whom she had only seen through Wi Jaehwi until now—made her want to take a half-day off every Thursday.
Thanks to the simple square-toe back-zip platform sock boots (7.9 cm) she wore to see Yeoreum a little closer, her field of vision felt different.
‘I’m jealous. Everyone’s holding sothing.’
Idol fans had light sticks, photo cards, keyrings, badges—every kind of rch imaginable. Aetami tensed her body for a mont, trying not to be pushed aside, then thought about actor rch.
‘Scripts, photobooks, Blu-rays.... Ah, it’d be so nice if a Blu-ray really ca out.’
It was monts like this that made her regret Yeoreum not having many works yet. Neither web dramas nor one-episode specials were likely to get Blu-ray releases.
From what she’d heard secondhand from Deduck.B, Wi Jaehwi, production on was being prepared quickly. If that happened, she might be able to own Yeoreum’s rch soti next year.
‘Just thinking about it feels amazing, seriously!’
Aetami’s lips curved upward as she imagined setting up a Han Yeoreum rch zone in one corner of her room. Using a private account, Aetami waited for Yeoreum on social dia.
‘Ah, but I’m exhausted to death. My legs hurt too.’
Debating whether to take a full day off or a half-day, Aetami chose the half-day. This was the season when FW new products were pouring out—no place was busier than an advertising agency. Still, she had to attend the Seoul Drama Awards next month.
‘It’s different from the Ruel Awards last ti! I have to go.’
To properly wrap up the project she was in charge of, choosing a half-day instead of a full day off was the smarter move in many ways. And if she beca more recognized at work in the future, maybe she could even use Yeoreum as the model for the advertising projects she planned.
‘I need to get promoted fast. Work like a dog and climb up.’
Taking advantage of a gap, Aetami checked her company work. While monitoring real-ti ad click numbers on her phone, the long wait made her legs go numb. She just wanted to see Yeoreum already.
‘It’s tiring, but being a fan makes you forget all pain anyway....’
And exactly forty-five minutes later,
“Yeoreum—!!!”
Aetami realized her choice had been the right one. Thanks to Yeoreum’s special stage. Standing for the first ti in a standing section, Aetami unleashed her hardcore fan potential. By the ti she ca to her senses, she was in the very front row.
* * *
“Oh, it’s better than I expected.”
“Right? Watching them together feels easy on the eyes.”
Because articles had to be uploaded simultaneously with the broadcast, the JC ENM PR team hadn’t left work yet. A brand-new hire and Manager Hong watched Yeoreum’s special stage live on the monitor.
“She chose the song well too.”
“Yeah. Since Yeoreum isn’t an idol, after all.”
A gentle piano accompanint played, and two people dressed in matching light beige outfits appeared on stage. Yeoreum was inside a red public phone booth, while the male idol co-host stood beside a classic bicycle.
You still won’t pick up, no matter how many tis I call
How long am I supposed to just keep waiting
It was an OST from a film that had received a good response years ago as a fresh romantic cody. Yeoreum’s acting—holding the phone and making a frustrated expression toward the cara—felt natural. Even the motion of lowering the receiver when there was no response on the other end looked like carefully choreographed movent.
So if it’s okay, could you call ?
I won’t hold you for long
I just want to say one thing
Holding a hand microphone, Yeoreum sang in a pleasant voice. During the chorus, she stepped out of the phone booth and naturally perford a bit of cute choreography. It was closer to simple gestures than anything high-quality, but—
“How’s the reaction?”
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