Chapter 11 – Like A Surprise Gift  

It was just past 4 PM.

Oh Min-jung was surrounded by idol trainees.

“Is it true that you were chosen as the lead in Director Yoon Ji-wan’s drama, Senior?”

“I also saw the article in the entertainment news. Congratulations, Senior!”

These kids must think she put her life on the line for that drama lead role. Though it’s true she buttered up the drama writer with all sorts of gifts.

It’s hard to control the corners of her mouth from rising after being cast over prominent actors. Min-jung spoke with a nonchalant face, devoid of laughter.

“Why are you making such a fuss? It’s not such a big deal. It might seem great to you, but it’s a project I refused several times. But the production company insisted it had to be me, so I had no choice…”

The lips chattering excitedly suddenly trailed off. It was because she made eye contact with So-yeon, who had just entered the break room after shooting a new profile video in the second-floor studio.

“……!”

Ah, wrong timing!

So-yeon had come down absentmindedly, drawn by the unusually good aroma of the coffee in the break room, but being noticed by Oh Min-jung, whom she wanted to avoid, was a regret that would last a thousand years. Instinctively startled, So-yeon was flustered.

Oh Min-jung wasn’t well-liked within the company. She didn’t always act that way, but once she set her sights on someone, it wasn’t just a matter of humiliation; she was notorious for bringing people to tears with her harsh words and reckless actions.

So when So-yeon hesitated, unable to move forward or backward, Min-jung, as expected, threw a sharp tone toward the entrance of the break room.

“Eom So-yeon! Aren’t you going to greet me properly?”

To Oh Min-jung, who was already a top star, Eom So-yeon was nothing more than a speck of dust. She was two years younger and still without a notable work, so it was fair to call her an unknown actress.

So-yeon was only thankful for the considerable distance between her and Min-jung, as she lowered her gaze, bowed her head, and slowly moved to the cafeteria self-bar to smooth over the uncomfortable situation.

But Oh Min-jung wasn’t going to let it end there.

“Where do you think you’re going? Come over here.”

Should I have just turned around and left the break room?

As regret set in, So-yeon looked at Min-jung, who was calling her, with eyes wide like a surprised rabbit. It was obvious she’d find fault even if there was none.

“What? Why me…”

“What do you mean, why? If a senior calls you over, you should come right away!”

How did she know that I was about to run away? 

Min-jung tapped her crossed ankle arrogantly, urging So-yeon.

As So-yeon reluctantly walked over, she noticed something with her keen eye.

Min-jung was wearing high heels with cubic stones embedded, sparkling excessively. It seemed like something she had seen while browsing an online shopping mall, so So-yeon quickly searched her fuzzy memory.

“Oh my! Aren’t those new shoes from Versace, Oh Min-jung?”

So-yeon’s eyes sparkled as she recalled what she had been trying to remember.

“The item that graced the finale of the spring collection that you can’t even buy with money, right? It’s such a flashy and daring design that not everyone can pull it off, but it seems like it found its rightful owner.”

As So-yeon showered her with flattering compliments, Min-jung, who was about to hurl a string of curses, forgot all about it and bit her dancing lips to suppress a smile.

Before long, everyone’s attention was drawn to the excessively sparkling shoes.

“They’re really pretty, Senior.”

“Yes, yes, they suit you so well.”

Compliments have an amazing ability to calm even the harshest mouths, like that of Oh Min-jung. Can a person really be this simple? As everyone joined in the relay of good words, a big, uncontrollable smile spread across Min-jung’s tightly closed lips.

“Well, you do have an eye for things!”

Thinking she had excellent quick thinking and improvisation, So-yeon was relieved as she looked at Min-jung’s smiling face, having narrowly avoided a crisis.

“Did you come to have coffee?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Hot?”

“Yes, yes.”

When So-yeon answered in an awkward voice, Min-jung pointed to one of the trainees gathered at the table.

“You, the one with eyes close together!”

“M-me?”

“Yes, you go and bring a cup of coffee for Eom So-yeon.”

“Yes, Senior!”

The last thing she wanted to hear was a comment about her appearance. However, the young trainee, following the command of her senior, like the sky, moved her bottom without a frown.

Min-jung gestured for So-yeon to sit at the table and continued the story she had paused.

“Well, it’s not a role just anyone can do, and they said it fits my image perfectly, so how could I refuse that proposal?”

“Does that mean the male lead Director Yoon Ji-wan picked is going to be Director Tae, opposite you, Senior?”

“That’s what I heard.”

Oh Min-jung had just learned this information from the CN Planning Team leader. When a young junior asked about it, Min-jung nodded immediately.

“I was a bit surprised too, but there’s a rumor that Director Tae made the decision after seeing me as the female lead.”

“Wow! If that’s the case, you must be really close with Director Tae.”

“Well, rather than close, it’s because I have superior looks and acting skills…”

The trainees looked up at her with adoring eyes. Oh Min-jung, who hastily fabricated an absurd story and continued to brag as if it were true.

Feeling ecstatic about it, Min-jung became even more boastful.

However, sitting in the break room, showing off to much younger juniors was, to anyone, a rather ridiculous sight.

While they listened to the story, So-yeon’s thoughts deepened.

It seemed somewhat boastful, but she envied Oh Min-jung’s confidence to speak like that and the fact that she could stand shoulder to shoulder with Tae Seo-jun in a project. That feeling seemed to serve as a motivation to work harder than ever.

In fact, So-yeon had expressed her desire to participate in the drama produced by Director Yoon. But there had been no word from that side for over a week. This led her to conclude that ‘perhaps’ was indeed ‘as expected.’

Though it was long ago, So-yeon still vividly remembered being scolded by Director Yoon at an audition, and she couldn’t help but conclude that there was no way she would be cast because of it.

But how long would she blame her misfortune and just suck her fingers?

How long would she only clap for others’ good fortune?

For the sake of the precious child she had to protect, she needed to work harder than anyone else.

So-yeon quietly stood up because it seemed more meaningful to return to the practice room quickly and recite even one more line than to waste golden time meaninglessly here.

“Eom So-yeon! Why are you getting up already? I haven’t finished my story yet.”

“Where else but the practice room. I want to become a great actress like you, Oh Min-jung.”

Though she had a personality that could spit even on a smiling face, Min-jung, feeling strange at So-yeon’s words ‘great actress,’ lowered her voice, albeit with a reluctant expression.

“Well, I suppose it’s understandable for someone like you, Eom So-yeon, who gets rejected even when she submits her profile. Alright then, go on.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Afraid that Min-jung might call her back, So-yeon kept her eyes on the break room floor and walked briskly, only to suddenly bump her forehead into something solid.

That’s when cheers and exclamations erupted from all around.

“Oh my!”

“Eek!”

“It’s Director Tae!”

The voices erupted as people’s gazes quickly focused on Seo-jun.

Indeed.

Without knowing when he had appeared there, Seo-jun was standing leisurely, leaning against a pillar in the center of the break room. What So-yeon’s head had bumped into was the man’s notably broad and firm chest.

No wonder it didn’t feel hard; it wasn’t a wall.

Amidst all the commotion, So-yeon bowed her head deeply. Whether it was a polite greeting or avoidance, both interpretations were correct.

Whatever it was, Seo-jun wasn’t pleased with So-yeon’s attitude of avoiding his gaze, and he slowly lowered his gaze filled with mockery.

When So-yeon briefly glanced up at that gaze, she flinched and immediately hurried past Seo-jun to leave the break room.

Seo-jun pulled up one corner of his mouth as if he found it amusing, watching her retreating figure.

***

After getting off the elevator, So-yeon’s mind, which had gone blank, finally started to clear.

Ah, I don’t know. Why does my mind go blank when I stand in front of him? Why do I end up acting like a clumsy fool? Why do I keep wanting to avoid him?

So-yeon shrugged off the incident of bumping into him and walked briskly into the pantry on the 9th floor.

The water in the electric kettle was bubbling.

A little later, So-yeon nodded her head to the music flowing from the radio. Her hands, setting the teacup from the display and adding lemon slices to the warm tea, were quite skillful.

Perhaps a habit.

For years, she missed him to the point of death. But now, he was a man she feared like meeting a goblin.

Yet, when he wasn’t in front of her, she wanted to see him again. How could a person’s heart be so deceitful? Even now, as she hummed a tune, her mind was filled with him.

Soyeon blew on the hot tea, holding a teacup in one hand and a phone in the other. As her eyes filled with tears, gazing at the tiny child’s photo on the screen, her phone rang.

• So-yeon! You got it!

Receiving a call from Yeo Do-soon, So-yeon immediately frowned. It was because the booming voice struck her eardrums.

“Got what?”

• The role in <Master of the Sun>! The past character of So Yeo-hwa! You got it!

It was a role with fierce competition among actors. Moreover, because of the bad entanglement with Director Yoon, So-yeon hadn’t dared to expect it. So if this wasn’t luck, what was?

So-yeon’s eyes widened.

“R-really?”

• Yes! Really, really, truly!

When the bewildered So-yeon asked again, Do-soon answered repeatedly, more joyful than anyone.

• I just talked to the planning team leader. They said you need to meet the drama production team tomorrow and sign the contract! Wow, geez! Why did they drag it out so long if they were going to do this? Making the waiting person anxious!

“…….”

Good. So good.

Being able to do the project she longed for. Being given a definite opportunity to show everyone the efforts she had piled up until now.

So-yeon’s heart pounded.

Making the time she had worried more because she couldn’t expect anything seem meaningless. Making the worries about the future, which she had been anxious about not knowing what lay ahead in life, disappear far away

But at the end of the sudden good news that came like a surprise gift, worries about the future and inevitable excitement clung together.

Can I really see him only as an actor?

Can I hide my emotions?

Can I handle him, who has no feelings for me beyond work, until the end?

The Tae Seo-jun she knew and the real Tae Seo-jun might be completely different people, like black and white. Working on the drama with him would inevitably involve direct physical contact.

If she can’t endure all of it, she’ll be swept away by the rough waves and drift endlessly. It was something she had to be firmly prepared for.

The image of Tae Seo-jun she saw in the break room a while ago was aloofness itself.

His cold expression with sharp features was also extremely aggressive. What about those scary eyes that pierced me as if saying, “What are you going to do, huh?” But who wouldn’t be intimidated by such a man?

Alright, let’s just face it head-on!

Do it as if your life depends on it, Eom So-yeon!

Resolving firmly, So-yeon vigorously shook off the uneasy foreboding. But it was at the same time. The teacup in her hand slipped and fell to the ground.

Crash!

The marble floor was instantly a mess.

With spilled tea water splashed everywhere and shattered glass shards.

As if to show in advance the storm soon to come, which couldn’t be stopped even with firm determination.