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“I’ll take a break first!”

“Sure!”

“Everyone, take a breather!”

Well, they mentioned keeping an eye on Nam Han-kyung…

That was just my way of saying I was full.

Keeping an eye or not…

This was already the fifth NG, and I sighed inwardly.

We’ve already been here at this filming location for two hours.

This isn’t my problem.

It’s a matter concerning the idol actress playing the role of the heroine’s friend.

“I’m really sorry!”

The woman bowing her head apologetically here and there was a member of an idol group I had heard of before.

She was recently cast as an actor, trying her hand at a new career.

Well, I can’t blame her too much since I don’t have much acting experience either.

The issue is…

“You’re having a tough time, huh?”

“Yeah…”

“How many times have you shot it?”

“This would be the sixth if we go in now.”

I was, of course, the scene partner who kept getting NGs.

The scene we were repeating involved Sera, who was delivering biting remarks to the heroine, with the idol playing her closest friend responding back forcefully.

But since we keep getting NG after NG…

My feet in heels hurt, and I’m feeling a bit worn out.

“Um…”

At that moment, the idol, who was bowing her head and apologizing everywhere, approached me with teary eyes.

“I’m really sorry…”

“You just apologized earlier, right? I’m fine.”

She had already apologized to me right after getting the NG and was off to apologize to the other staff, so I felt she didn’t need to fuss over it again.

“No… but I’m taking up so much of your time…”

Was her name Han Se-ryeong? She seemed like a decent person… but it’s a shame.

Because the longer the NGs go on, the more pressure she’ll feel, leading to a vicious cycle.

“Hang in there. I’m really fine, so keep your spirits up.”

“Ah, yes…”

“For now, just relax until we shoot again.”

After giving her some reassuring words, I sent her off to rest.

After all, I wanted to rest more too.

I took off my heels and gently massaged my feet in stockings.

“You’re cute.”

At that moment, Nam Han-kyung, who had been next to me all along, spoke up again.

He needed to get ready to film since he had to appear right after this scene.

“Oh really?”

Cute? Well, idols usually do have cute looks.

“Yeah, well, I think I was cute at that time too.”

“Really, you?”

That was unexpected.

He certainly didn’t seem like the type to get many NGs.

Perhaps sensing my thoughts, Nam Han-kyung chuckled and said,

“Now that I think about it, I probably wasn’t.”

“I knew it, right?”

Truly capable actors have a different vibe.

I’d bet Moon Chang-sik was also perfect from his baby actor days.

“What about you, Soo-hyun? How were you when you first started?”

“Me?”

It was my first time…

I paused to think.

“…I think I was better than I am now.”

Back then, I remember feeling almost possessed.

Well, I’ve probably become more stable now after all the intense practice.

“That’s what I thought.”

“Are you just mimicking what I said earlier?”

“Not exactly.”

With a teasing reply, Nam Han-kyung pulled a chair over and sat beside me.

But where did that manager go?

“By the way, why are you alone? What happened to your manager?”

I asked since the person who had been there until a moment ago had vanished, and Nam Han-kyung answered nonchalantly.

“I sent him off in the car because he looked unwell.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he was really out of it today.”

Was that so?

I hadn’t really seen it since he had his cap pulled down and I didn’t get a good look at him.

“Anyway, we’re about to film again, right?”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes, make sure to do well this time.”

“I got it.”

I shouldn’t let my guard down either during every shot.

If Han Se-ryeong manages to get her act together and not get NG, yet I mess up, that would be all for nothing.

So I slipped back into those uncomfortable designer heels and headed back inside the filming location.

“Alright, I’ll do my best.”

“Fighting!”

Across from me, even though she just came back from a break, I could see Han Se-ryeong was still tense.

It’s probably her first filming day; surely she’ll do better next time?

Even if it’s fine on the first day, if she keeps getting NGs throughout the shoot, it would create a bad atmosphere on set, and it wouldn’t be good for her overall.

But that doesn’t mean I have the standing to give anyone advice… After all, both she and I are in similar situations.

I promised myself I’d ask the expert, Moon Chang-sik, about it later while waiting for the director’s signal.

Once that signal comes down…

I will become Sera.

That Sera, who pretends not to care while hearing Han Se-ryeong’s character getting harsh words from her.

Such a petty character named Sera.

**

Fortunately, we shot two more scenes, and that section was finally over.

Han Se-ryeong looked completely dejected once filming ended… but I believe she’ll overcome it.

Being an idol isn’t easy.

Among the trainees in Korea, only those with tremendous effort get to debut.

Now that Han Se-ryeong has debuted and become recognizable enough for me to know, she may appear fragile, but inside, she’s likely tougher than anyone.

…Probably.

Anyway, I quickly changed into sneakers and headed to the waiting room.

The reason being, I had some time to relax before the next scene.

After a long day of acting in heels, I was utterly exhausted.

I was assigned a dedicated waiting room since I’m one of the main actors, so I was on my way there.

As I walked down the hallway, I spotted someone familiar up ahead.

A woman wearing a cap pulled low.

Upon closer inspection, it was the manager of Nam Han-kyung, the one he had sent off in the car earlier.

She was wearing a mask that she hadn’t worn before, so if it weren’t for the low cap, I might not have recognized her.

…Where is she going?

Since I already caught sight of her, I couldn’t really ignore it.

Rustle rustle.

I noticed she was carrying something in a plastic bag, and just a tad bit suspicious, I quietly followed her.

Well, honestly, it was on my way to the waiting room anyway.

I just reduced my footsteps a little.

The suspicious manager arrived near my waiting room.

More precisely, next to Nam Han-kyung’s waiting room, which was assigned close to mine.

Click, click.

“Ha…”

She turned the doorknob of Nam Han-kyung’s waiting room but found it locked and sighed.

Was she trying to get in?

Why? With a mask and a bag?

Even though I tried not to think about it, what Manager Kim had said earlier suddenly came to mind.

Could there really be something going on?

So as I watched closely, it seemed she eventually gave up on opening the door and reached into the plastic bag to pull something out.

What the manager pulled out was surprisingly…

“Cough! Hack!”

A pharmacy bag.

“….”

I watched the scene for a moment before I went to the water cooler and filled a cup.

“Ah, Actor? Uh, if you come closer, you might catch a cold.”

Startled by my sudden appearance, the manager raised her hands as if to say, “Don’t come closer.”

“Cough! Cough!”

Then she turned her head and coughed, sounding just like someone who had a cold.

“No… here, drink some water.”

“I, um… cough! Your face looks a bit red. Are you feeling unwell too, Actor?”

“Ah, no…”

…Looks like she really is sick.

Now, I’m feeling embarrassed and sorry for doubting her.

Crazy… I’m not Sherlock Holmes or anything, what was I thinking?

“…I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Uh, no, I… if you need a place to rest, would you like to use my waiting room?”

“Ah, no, I was just planning to take my medicine and go back to the parking lot.”

“The parking lot is pretty far, isn’t it? I’m alone anyway, so you’re welcome to use my waiting room.”

“If that’s the case…”

Given my guilt for doubting her, I let the manager use a corner of my waiting room.

After all, there was enough space for me to relax comfortably as well.

The only issue was…

“…”

“…Cough.”

Just a slight awkwardness.

Well, it was my first time meeting her today, after all.

Still, one side was sick while the other was tired, so we managed to rest well together.

After some time, I shot the next scene and returned home.

**

“I’m back!”

I arrived home late in the evening.

Since there was traffic, I got back later than I told them I would, so delicious smells were already wafting from the house.

Did they already eat without me?

I hurriedly took off my shoes and headed to the kitchen, where I found Ms. Jang setting the table with Kim Manager sitting nearby.

“When you come home, change your clothes and wash your hands!”

“Ah, okay.”

I ran into the kitchen still dressed from outside, and after hearing Ms. Jang’s words, I changed my clothes, washed my hands and feet, then returned to the dining table.

Maybe because I had been working hard outside? The table was set even better than before, and my mouth watered.

“Did you shoot today?”

“Yeah, I just came back from filming.”

I’d held my head high, feeling confident after saying I had done well.

“Did you film with that actor? The partner you mentioned?”

At that moment, Ms. Jang casually mentioned Nam Han-kyung.

“I did film together.”

“Were there any issues?”

“Um…”

Today with Nam Han-kyung, nothing particularly memorable happened.

Oh, but should I mention my awkwardness for doubting the manager? I hesitated.

“I recognized that guy.”

Kim Manager, who was holding his spoon, casually broke the silence.

Both Ms. Jang and I shared looks of tension, obviously curious about what he meant.

“How was he?”

He looked fine today, didn’t he? I began wondering if I had overthought things.

But the fact that he recognized him made me nervous too.

Just when I was ready to hear more, Kim Manager spoke again.

“He’s a nice guy; there weren’t any awkward moments.”

With a deflated response, Kim Manager continued to eat nonchalantly.

“…?”

Neither Ms. Jang nor I could believe that was the end of it, so we stared at him.

“Ahem.”

He coughed lightly as if feeling awkward about what he said.

Crash!

Ms. Jang raised her voice, slamming the table.

“Ack! You old man!”

Feigning nonchalance, it seemed Ms. Jang had been concerned more than she let on.

“Well, the guy is fine, maybe next time invite him over for a meal or something.”

“Not happening!”

Seeing Kim Manager mumbling his food, I let out an exasperated sigh.

Right, well…

Sometimes it’s just better to let things be.

That brief moment of hilarity came to an end.

Tomorrow at the filming location, I should apologize for unnecessarily doubting him…

 

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