Chapter 39

Woo-ah Unni grabbed my shoulder with an angry face, different from usual, and shouted.

“Do-hee Lee! Isn’t this too much?”

“What did I do? We talked about this when we were all making the choreography last time.”

“You were the center last time too. So, shouldn’t you step down this time?”

I sighed in disbelief and replied to Woo-ah Unni.

“Are we taking turns being the center? The person who’s good at it should do it. I danced with you, and the others said I was better, so I was chosen as the center.”

“Then let me be the center for the second song.”

“Are you crazy? Seo-yoon Unni is the center for the second song. And you’re the center for the third and fourth songs.”

“Even still, two songs combined don’t even total three minutes!”

“Hah… Hey. Before you obsess over being the center, match the choreography properly. Don’t you realize you always stand out because you don’t fit the choreography?”

“What? Did you just say hey? And what about you? You stood awkwardly because you messed up the choreography too.”

“That’s because you’re holding out too long as the center, so I got flustered!”

“Why do you always blame me? Even if you say it’s because of me that you can’t stand in your spot, your moves were wrong, the moves!”

“How can we make a performance if you keep doing this over the center during every show? Some days we’ll have a lot of parts, and other days we won’t. So are you saying you should always be the center while the others just support you? Why are you so selfish?”

“Hey! You talk as if you’re such a good person. Who doesn’t know that you purposely want to take the center for the most popular song? When we vote for the center, it’s basically a popularity contest!”

“What? Hey.”

Just as I was about to continue, the Teacher shouted.

“Enough. That’s it~”

We put down the script and looked at the Teacher.

“Guess it’s just the trainees getting wild when the center talk comes up. You’re not being serious, are you?”

Unni clung to Teacher Hye-young, crying out in a wobbly voice.

“Hye-young, Do-hee was terrifying. Hiiing.”

“Phew, I feel a bit relieved now.”

“Haha, you both did well. Let’s try with a different script this time.”

“Okay.” “Sure~”

The Teacher handed us a new script.

Looking at the script, it read:

—

S# 13

Aera: If I pretend to be pretty, isn’t that annoying? But I’m really in a tough spot? I’m not pretending to be pretty; I was just born pretty. Puh…

Dong-man: I can score a girl.

Aera: (shoulders shaking) You know, for those boys, they’re all like, acting cute or whatever, so I’m like, Aera’s got skill too. Hmm! (nodding)

Dong-man: (walking quickly) Ah, this is so stressful.

—

Hmm…

I lifted my head and looked at the Teacher with a face that clearly said I didn’t want to do this.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Hah…

“Uh, no… nothing’s wrong. I’ll play Dong-man.”

“We’re going to switch parts anyway at least once. Let’s start with Do-hee playing Aera.”

Ah.

Hoo…

I closed my eyes and tried to meditate for a moment.
“Yeah, it’s all just acting.”

“I can totally do this.”

I started acting, looking at Woo-ah Unni.

“Isn’t it annoying when I pretend to be cute? But I’m really in trouble here?”

Then, after sweeping my hair back, I said in the most brazen tone I could muster.

“I’m not pretending to be cute; I was just born pretty.”

Now it was Woo-ah Unni’s turn to deliver her lines.

Woo-ah Unni opened her mouth.

“I’m a girl… pfft, hahah!”

Oh.

The Teacher, who was watching from the side, piped up.

“Woo-ah! Don’t laugh, try… one more time… pfft haha!”

Oh.

The Teacher didn’t calm down until a minute of laughter had passed.

With twitching lips, the Teacher said to me, who was staring in disbelief.

“Pfft… Sorry, Do-hee, you’re just too cute, I couldn’t help it.”

“Haha!”

“Yes.”

“Hahaha.”

“Woo-ah, stop laughing now and go on with your lines.”

“Hah, yes.”

Woo-ah Unni took a deep breath, composed herself, and read the script.

“Can I be a girl?”

Phew…

This is acting.

Acting.

I shrugged my shoulders and read the script.

“And then the boys will, will pretend to be pretty, so Aera has to do it too. Hmm!”

Despite laughing a lot earlier, everyone was serious this time.

I lifted my head to look at Woo-ah Unni, who had the next line.

When our eyes met, Unni closed her eyes.

“Ugh. Hoo…”

Unni took a deep breath, opened her eyes again, and looked at me.

“Ugh, I’m so stressed out! Hahaha, ahh!”

“Woo-ah, stop laughing! The Teacher is laughing too!”

Oh.

“Ugh, my stomach hurts. Haha!”

Never doing this again.

…

After the acting lesson, our external instructor, Hye-young, said.

“You both did a great job today, see you next week?”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work~”

“Yep~”

As the Teacher opened the practice room door to leave, she turned back to me.

“And Do-hee, when you debut, you should use aegyo as a special skill. Hehe.”

And with that, the Teacher made a swift exit.

Inside the practice room, it was just me with a serious face, while Woo-ah Unni burst into laughter again, rolling on the floor holding her stomach.

“My stomach hurts! Hahaha, help me, I just want to stop laughing!”

“Just die already.”

…

A few days later, on Saturday.

I was called in by the Team Leader to come in early at 9 a.m.

When I got to the Team Leader’s office, Manager So-young was standing next to the Team Leader.

I greeted Manager So-young with a slight nod and then addressed the Team Leader.

“Hello, Team Leader. You called for me to come in early today!”
“Here I am!”

“Good job. So, feeling not tired right now?”

“Yup!”

“Great. Do-hee, are you still taking acting lessons these days?”

“Yes, I’m working hard.”

“By the way, actress Hye-young praised you.”

Did she just laugh all day and leave…?

“Haha… I think she said that because I’m putting in effort.”

“Well, you must have done well to receive that praise. Anyway, the reason I called you in today is because X1 is releasing a new song with a unit, you know?”

Since I’ve seen the X1 seniors using the practice room every time, it was obvious everyone in the company knew.

“Oh, yes. I know.”

“So, we need a female lead for this new song’s music video, and your name came up.”

“Huh?”

“Not suddenly. It’s been mentioned since last year. But back then, you were too young, so we used other actresses.”

Even now, I just grew taller, but my face still looks young…

“You’ve grown up enough now. Besides, the concept for this female lead is a teenage student, so you’ll fit perfectly.”

“Ah… yep.”

“So, we have a simple meeting with the music video director today, is that okay?”

“Yes, sounds good.”

“Alright, we’ll meet the MV director in two hours, so Manager So-young will drive you to the meeting place early.”

“Okay.”

I got into the passenger seat of Manager So-young’s car parked outside the company building.

“Do-hee, do you want to sit in the back?”

“The back seat? I can sit in the passenger seat.”

“No, go ahead and sit comfortably in the back.”

“Okay.”

I moved to the back seat.

“Do-hee, buckle your seatbelt.”

Even in the back seat…?

Well, better safe than sorry.

On the way to the meeting place, I tried to keep Manager So-young engaged so she wouldn’t be bored while driving.

“Is this your car, Unni?”

“Yep.”

“Where are we going now?”

“Nonhyeon Station.”

“I’m excited for the MV shoot. What does the director do?”

“The one who films the music video.”

It feels like Manager So-young’s words are bypassing her brain.

Curious, I looked at the driver’s seat, and I saw So-young gripping the wheel tightly, staring straight ahead as she drove.

Ah.

If I keep talking, we might crash.

After Manager So-young’s beginner driving, we arrived at a café in Nonhyeon-dong.

As we entered the café, So-young said,

“Do-hee, let’s drink something while we wait. What do you want?”

“I’ll have iced chocolate~”

“Let’s have some cake too. What do you want?”

“Uh… chocolate cake?”

“Okay, I’ll go get it, so you sit down first.”

“No, I’ll wait with you since it’ll be out soon.”

Manager So-young smiled contentedly and said,

“Alright, alright.”
After a while, Manager So-young Unni and I received our drinks and cake and checked the time.

“Um, there’s still an hour left until they arrive?”

“It’s nice to relax in a café after a long time.”

“Haha, I like that you’re so positive.”

“Manager, you should try the cake too. It’s delicious.”

“Got it~”

Since there was still a lot of time before the director arrived, we started our daily chatter.

“How’s Do-hee these days?”

“What do you mean?”

“Both school and practice.”

“Practice is tough, but it’s fun.”

“Not so much school?”

“Yep.”

“Haha, those were the fun times. Taking selfies at school and sending them. When else will you get to take selfies at school?”

Ah. Right.

“Speaking of selfies, don’t you think I’ve gotten good at it? I feel like I could stop my selfie lessons now.”

“Hmm, that’s up to me, the selfie trainer.”

“No matter how I see it, I think I’m better at it than you, Manager…”

“Oh ho.”

“I need to see one of your selfie photos.”

“No way. Not showing you.”

“Hmm…”

As we chatted, it was soon time for the director to arrive.

We took the empty drink glasses and leftover cake to the counter and tidied up the table.

Then we ordered an Americano, the director’s favorite, and set it on the table.

At 11:30, the promised time, Manager So-young’s phone rang.

“Ah, yes, Director. Yes, I’m coming out.”

We got up from our seats and went to the café entrance where the director was standing.

Surprisingly, the director looked like she was in her 30s.

“Hello, Director.”

“Hi~ I’m Do-hee Lee.”

“Nice to meet you. Let’s sit down first.”

After everyone sat down, the director took a sip of her Americano and spoke to me.

“I’m just here for a simple face check, so don’t feel pressured.”

“Yes.”

“You’re currently a Topist trainee, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Your image is exactly what the entertainment company recommended. Do you know what the concept of this music video is?”

“Yes. I heard it’s about being a high school student.”

“More specifically, it’s about first love during school days. Can you give me a bright smile?”

“Yes.”

I looked at the director and gave her a bright smile.

“Beautiful. No need to see more. Go to the company, listen to the song, and get ready for the shoot.”

“Yes! Thank you!”

“See you in two weeks then.”

The director left after simply checking my face at the café.

I turned to Manager So-young and asked.

“But is it usually this simple?”

“Since it’s not an audition and the company has already decided on you, yes.”

“Oh, I see. So we’re going back to the company now?”

“Yeah, but there’s a great pasta place nearby. Do you want to grab lunch while we’re out?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Alright then, let’s go for it!”

---

Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.