Chapter: 40
“Joo Su-yeon and Pyo Ji-woo.”
Jo Do-yul called out to Seoyeon and Ji-woo.
“I’d like to see both of your performances once more. Would you be able to do Act 4, Scene 3?”
Act 4, Scene 3.
This scene threatens the female lead, Song Min-seo, not the male lead, Bae Seong-hak.
It’s where the embedded violence of Hong Jeong-hee, dripping with ominousness, makes its grand appearance.
‘Of course, I’ve memorized the script.’
Seoyeon pondered how to respond.
However, unlike the third act she’d practiced for the audition, although she had memorized every line in Act 4, Scene 3, she had never performed it herself.
“…Could I have a moment to practice before we perform?”
“You may.”
He checked the watch on his wrist and continued.
There was still some time left, largely because the other actors’ questions had finished quickly.
“Then.”
Just as Seoyeon was about to request ten minutes of practice time…
“I’m all good.”
Crisp came the rigid voice of Pyo Ji-woo.
Seoyeon’s gaze snapped over, locking eyes with Ji-woo.
“I can do it right away.”
Ji-woo smiled at Seoyeon, who was staring back at her blankly.
As if challenging her.
‘So, what will you do?’
From her vibe, it was clear she had a mighty pride.
Just taking that little jab at Seoyeon showed that off perfectly.
A genius child actor?
Sure, why not?
But big deal.
Ji-woo was being serious.
Just like she’d told Jo Do-yul, she didn’t care about any scene as Hong Jeong-hee.
She knew every scene involving Hong Jeong-hee by heart and had performed them over and over.
‘Hong Jeong-hee is me.’
No one could relate to her character’s emotions better.
Method acting. You could say that.
Her obsession.
It had taken her a year from being a mere spectator in the audience to stand on this stage.
Just for one person.
‘Go ahead, practice if you want.’
Ji-woo reflected that in her look at Seoyeon.
She’d just said she was a high school student, didn’t she?
Surely a teenage girl would easily fall for this kind of provocation.
‘Then, your chances of victory would vanish into thin air.’
Ji-woo wasn’t underestimating Seoyeon.
That earlier performance was truly decent.
It was a respectable portrayal of Hong Jeong-hee.
If she got practice time, a repeat of that performance could happen again.
And losing would be utterly unacceptable for Ji-woo.
“…I’ll just go ahead.”
Seoyeon replied flatly.
Her face and voice were hard to read.
But the undeniable competitive spirit shining in her eyes twisted Ji-woo’s mouth into a smirk.
‘Alright then.’
No matter how much talent one has, you can’t excel at something you’ve never tried.
Sure, she believed she could win even if they practiced, but at this moment, Seoyeon’s decision was akin to waving a white flag.
“Is that so?”
Jo Do-yul wore an expression of disbelief.
‘Still just a high school student, huh?’
It couldn’t be that easily Ji-woo’s provocation worked on her.
‘If she gets too emotional, that can’t be good.’
Just as he was lowering his evaluation of Seoyeon…
“Instead.”
Seoyeon cut in.
“Would it be alright if I performed after Pyo Ji-woo?”
“After Pyo Ji-woo?”
“Yes. I went first previously.”
With that bold sentiment from Seoyeon, Jo Do-yul turned to the other judges for their opinions.
Most nodded, indicating it was fine.
“Hmm, very well then. Pyo Ji-woo, you will go first this time. Is that alright with you?”
“…Yes.”
What was she thinking?
With a smirk, Ji-woo looked at Seoyeon.
It was hard to read Seoyeon‘s expression from her face.
Like a doll.
Emotionless expression paired with that stunning beauty.
“Act 4, Scene 3. Hong Jeong-hee threatens Song Min-seo.”
With those words from Jo Do-yul, Ji-woo stepped forward.
Thus, her performance began.
“You, do, you think you’re special?”
In a trembling voice, Hong Jeong-hee fiercely lashed out, cornering Song Min-seo against the wall.
Thud, hitting the wall in an intense display.
With a hunched back, Hong Jeong-hee kept her eyes fixed on the front.
She’d perfectly adjusted her gaze to Song Min-seo’s height.
Glaring at the frightened Song Min-seo, her words came out stammering.
“You, you’re just pitiful. My brother is kind, and he can’t stand watching a deaf, pathetic loser like you!”
The trembling eyes revealed her escalating emotions.
The audience might not see that emotion, but Ji-woo’s gaze was firmly locked on the judges.
At the same time, Ji-woo’s hands moved.
Into thin air.
As if she were striking an invisible wall, she slammed that air.
Her arm shook as if it had truly hit the wall.
A display of Hong Jeong-hee’s fierce emotions and violence.
At the same time, her body trembled.
That aggression was an excessive backlash from the timid and introverted Hong Jeong-hee’s defense mechanism.
Ji-woo vomited those words while showcasing that intense physical expression.
‘Oh my.’
Jo Do-yul was lost for words, witnessing that scene.
The other judges were similarly affected.
They swallowed their voices involuntarily.
‘That was practically Hong Jeong-hee incarnate.’
Ji-woo recited Hong Jeong-hee’s lines verbatim.
The inferiority lurking in her voice.
Fear, leading to violence.
‘No matter how skilled Joo Seoyeon is…’
The performances in the earlier Act 3, Scene 6 were alike.
Each displayed different colors of Hong Jeong-hee.
He thought either option would be worth considering for the role.
‘Is there really a suitable actor for each character?’
Ji-woo fit so harmoniously into the role.
The emotional expression, the movements.
It felt as if this role existed solely for her.
‘This can’t go on.’
It was disappointing for Seoyeon, but this role belonged to Ji-woo.
As those thoughts crossed Jo Do-yul’s mind, he noticed something chilling.
Seoyeon was staring intensely at Ji-woo.
Her eyes hadn’t blinked once.
With a blank expression, she seemed to forget to breathe while gazing at Ji-woo.
Those red eyes.
In the darkness, they gleamed with an uncanny vibrance.
‘Clearly.’
In Jo Do-yul’s eyes, Seoyeon thought.
‘Pyo Ji-woo perfectly embodies Hong Jeong-hee.’
From the moment Ji-woo began her second performance, Seoyeon had acknowledged the truth.
Yes, this role is undeniably yours.
Honestly, if it came to that, she would’ve willingly conceded and stepped back.
There were plenty of other movies or dramas.
Or even stage plays to find something else.
Time would pass, and there would be many opportunities.
However, being in this situation numbed that mindset.
‘Absolutely not.’
She couldn’t yield.
The competitive spirit surged within Seoyeon.
She felt a new emotion arise intensely.
‘I dislike losing.’
“Think about it, Song Min-seo. Is there anyone who would genuinely like a deaf, pathetic girl like you?”
She personified Ji-woo and the Hong Jeong-hee she portrayed.
Every emotion, action, and movement imprinted vividly in her mind.
In a trance, she locked away all that information—eyes almost forgetting to blink.
One by one, and then another.
“Don’t be foolish, don’t mess with me!!”
This was, indeed.
A habitual recital.
Also, a singular art she could have wielded in her past life.
To convey emotions meant mirroring that canvas of feelings.
“I liked you way before you even noticed!.”
How many media sources had she devoured to express human emotions?
How many countless books had she read to articulate that vague something?
“But suddenly, it was you who intruded.”
For the first time in a long while, Seoyeon resurrected those forgotten memories.
Holding the paintbrush again.
She mirrored the emotions of Hong Jeong-hee portrayed by Ji-woo.
Carefully, she played with her brush over every delicate stroke of emotion.
Of course, it wasn’t flawless.
The emotional portrayal Seoyeon could muster was countless times closer to reality, yet it couldn’t match Ji-woo’s method approach.
Then there’s only one answer left.
“Song Min-seo!!”
Bang, as Hong Jeong-hee grabbed Song Min-seo’s hair, preparing to slam her head against the wall, her arm suddenly froze in mid-motion.
Bae Seong-hak had appeared, grasping Hong Jeong-hee’s arm.
“…It’s over.”
With that calm statement, the judges sat there dumbfounded, clapping slowly.
That was truly a flawless display of Hong Jeong-hee’s acting.
One might wonder if such a performance could ever be topped.
‘Who played the role of Hong Jeong-hee before?’
This play, “Close Your Eyes,” had premiered three years ago in Daehangno.
This was merely a revival.
But seeing Ji-woo, he couldn’t instantly recall who had played Hong Jeong-hee before.
“Then next, Joo Seoyeon.”
Jo Do-yul called out Seoyeon, examining her face.
For someone still in high school, she was bound to feel heavy pressure with this role.
Yet concurrently, the image of Seoyeon from earlier popped into his mind.
‘Surprisingly…’
‘She’s quite calm, isn’t she?’
‘Strong mentality~.’
The judges began to whisper softly.
The previous performance had been enough to weigh down anyone.
It might have been better to go first—thoughts like that even crossed his mind.
“Then, I’m looking forward to your performance for Act 4, Scene 3.”
“Yes.”
A calm reply.
Seoyeon stepped forward.
In that very spot where Ji-woo had just stood.
While concerning Seoyeon, Ji-woo narrowed her eyes slightly.
‘What a strange girl.’
To remain expressionless like that was rather boring.
‘Hehe.’
Regardless, Ji-woo found it hard to suppress a smile spilling from her lips.
That performance just now was the best one she had ever practiced alone.
She understood why.
‘It’s because Seo-ho oppa is here.’
Secretly, Ji-woo directed her gaze to Min Seo-ho.
His body trembled just a tad and she could see him scanning the surroundings.
Truly, Hong Jeong-hee was meant to be her.
How many hours had she invested in practice to secure an opportunity to work alongside Min Seo-ho?
From the moment she learned he would be cast in this play, a year ago.
“Then let’s begin.”
With Seoyeon’s composed words,
Act 4, Scene 3 commenced with her portrayal of Hong Jeong-hee.
‘…Huh?’
The first person to feel several disconcerting vibes was naturally Ji-woo.
Seoyeon’s footsteps echoed, and her moving gestures emerged.
The emotions on her face.
Those shifting eyes and breathless desperation.
‘This girl!!’
She moved.
That performing body, moving in a way that echoed Ji-woo’s very own blocking.
No doubt about it.
It was undoubtedly Ji-woo, herself.
“You, do you think you’re special?”
She mirrored the feelings of Hong Jeong-hee, as if she had captured every essence.
‘Were you imitating me? It’s like you’re copying my very own self…’
Riding the emotional line, she belted out the lines.
No doubt they mirrored Ji-woo’s feelings precisely.
‘What is this?’
But something was different.
‘Simply grasping the information and mimicking it won’t cut it.’
It might have sufficed before as a child actor, but now the standards had changed.
Ultimately, replicating that performance was never going to outshine Ji-woo.
So.
This time, Seoyeon utilized her emotional portrayal merely to grasp the character’s essence.
The reason Ji-woo anticipated her victory was that she understood Hong Jeong-hee’s emotions better than anyone else.
Seoyeon’s emotional portrayal fell short simply because she hadn’t fully grasped all there was to Hong Jeong-hee.
If she had captured and indeed mirrored Hong Jeong-hee’s sentiments completely,
Then she would have been fully prepared.
To adequately submerge herself in the role.
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