episode_0019

“…What did you just say?”

Those were Yang Harin’s first words. Even with a chilling tone like the wind rustling through a grassy field, Sua only tilted her head, puzzled.

“Huh?”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t heard, so she was asking again.

It was just that she had a face that seemed unable to understand why Yang Harin was asking. It was reason enough for Harin’s anger to rise even more.

“I mean, do you know exactly what you just spewed out?”

“Um?”

Only then did Sua carefully retrace her own words.

─You must be surprised looking in the mirror sometimes.

Yeah, she hadn’t answered wrong. It actually happens sometimes.

“Yes. I know exactly what I said.”

“…”

Harin narrowed her eyes, as if she found it laughable.

‘What’s she trying to do? A battle of wills?’

Yang Harin wasn’t foolish enough to be baited by such things.

“Wait a second.”

At that moment, someone lightly nudged Yang Harin’s arm. Touching Yang Harin’s always sensitive body was a bad move, but the situation was what it was, so he unknowingly reached out.

It was none other than Director Park Joon.

He whispered quietly.

“Harin-ah. She’s the last interviewee, so let’s just watch her act and send her on her way. There’s no point in raising your voice and gaining nothing.”

“Uuuuum.”

In the end, Yang Harin also nodded her head.

No matter how rude someone was, she was someone who was going to win the Best New Actress award. To have a battle of wills with a mere interviewee was a different level to begin with. Just having an argument would be an embarrassment.

‘Her mask is okay, but is that the only thing she’s relying on to act like this?’

Yang Harin, who had calmed her expression in the meantime, opened her mouth again.

“Please introduce yourself. Briefly and to the point.”

“Huh? A self-introduction? I didn’t prepare anything like that….”

“…?”

Yang Harin looked at Sua as if she couldn’t believe it.

Nearly a hundred interviewees had visited today, but this was a first. Everyone else was trying to say even one more thing to look good to Yang Harin.

‘Is she really doing this because she doesn’t know? Or is she being defiant?’

The interviewee’s face was expressionless, reminiscent of a mannequin. Thanks to that, she couldn’t understand what she was thinking at all. Harin thought. If even this was intentional, she was very skilled.

Harin patiently explained again.

“Just explain it lightly. Anything.”

“I’m Lee Sua.”

Harin nodded and listened, but surprisingly, there were no following words. The introduction was already over.

“…You just said your name, and that’s it?”

“Yes.”

Harin’s face, which had been maintaining her composure, became somewhat stiff.

‘Just spitting out her name? That’s something only a legendary director would do….’

Did she have a career that Harin didn’t know about? She opened her eyes wide and examined Sua’s application.

‘It’s empty. There’s nothing. She has no experience at all.’

The more she thought about it, the more absurd it was.

This wasn’t a place to make video projects in a mere university club. It was a place to choose a co-star who would stand shoulder to shoulder with Yang Harin, a strong candidate for the Best New Actress award.

Thanks to that, hadn’t all the interviewees today shown a desperate appearance? But a rookie with no experience at all was just spitting out her name and starting a battle of wills.

“I see. Looking at your experience, there probably wasn’t anything to say other than your name. Plus, it seems like you don’t know much about anything.”

It was a blatant criticism of her attitude, but Sua nodded her head as if she had just remembered something.

“Yes. That’s right. That’s why there was something I wanted to ask.”

“Hm?”

“The role of Wi Ji-hye. Can’t I audition with that?”

It was a relatively pure question from Sua’s point of view. Wi Ji-hye had an A suitability rating, but Ha-ryeong had a B suitability rating. Naturally, she wanted the role with the higher suitability rating.

“…What did you say?”

However, it was inevitable that Yang Harin would frown from her perspective.

‘She wants my role? What is she relying on to act like this?’

Was she discussing the role of Wi Ji-hye simply to pick a fight, or did she truly have confidence in that role? Either way, it didn’t feel normal.

Unless she had lost her mind.

She was thinking of pouring the water in the cup on her right now and chasing her out. However, she shouldn’t do that. She was Yang Harin, an actress who would win the Best New Actress award this year.

Therefore, she asked, maintaining her composure as much as possible.

“Aren’t you a rookie with no experience?”

“That’s right.”

“I’m sure you knew that Wi Ji-hye is my role, so shouldn’t you say such a question after proving something? If you have any sense at all, that is.”

“No, please don’t misunderstand.”

Sua answered nonchalantly.

“I was really just asking innocently. I’m most confident in that role.”

“…A crazy wretch.”

Yang Harin, who unknowingly blurted it out, quickly covered her mouth.

It was because she was facing a situation she had never experienced before that the words came out without passing through reason.

‘That I would say such undignified words….’

No, perhaps even this was induced.

The other person provoked her in order to break down Yang Harin’s dignity, and she fell for it perfectly? If so, wasn’t that a sign that she had lost in the battle of wits?

“Um….”

Yang Harin calmly took a breath.

“You’re not like a rookie at all. You’re not ordinary.”

“I’ve been hearing that a lot suddenly.”

“…”

Even words that seemed to be admitting it frankly felt different when the other person said them. It felt like she wasn’t backing down at all.

Soon, Yang Harin eventually smiled.

It was as if she had gone beyond the uncanny valley and felt refreshed instead. Now she even felt intrigued.

Just what kind of person was this interviewee?

“Well, fine. I won’t scold you for that attitude right now.”

“Um… Thank you…?”

“But there’s one thing you should keep in mind. There will be a moment when that attitude becomes a very big problem. When will that be?”

“…When is it?”

“That’s when your acting skills are just so-so.”

Yang Harin’s voice became serious.

“If your skills are terrible, I have no reason to be displeased. I can just send you back. Since we’ll never see each other again.”

“Um….”

“Even if your skills are excellent, I won’t be displeased. I can just think you have confidence that matches your skills. But.”

Harin stared at Sua with fiercely opened eyes.

“…People with mediocre skills tend to have a lot of unfounded pride. If you’re one of those types, be prepared. I’ll use all means to ask for today’s impoliteness.”

It was okay if her skills were terrible.

It was okay if her skills were excellent.

However, it was a declaration that if she acted up with mediocre skills, she would pay the price in some way. Park Joon, who knew Yang Harin’s cruelty, had cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Had Harin’s words come across as quite terrifying?

“….”

Sua was silent for a while.

Just as the corners of Harin’s lips were about to rise slightly.

“I’m sorry, but could you please say that again one more time? I don’t really understand what you’re saying… I don’t understand at all….”

“…I guess she’s just not in her right mind.”

Yang Harin shifted her gaze toward Park Joon.

“I should apologize to Director Park for this.”

“H-Huh? Why all of a sudden….”

“I should apologize for wasting valuable time on someone who isn’t in their right mind. As Director Park said, I should have just watched the audition and sent her back.”

Park Joon was restless and just felt uneasy.

He had seen Yang Harin being sensitive countless times, but it was the first time she had shown this much displeasure.

“I’ll bring you a cup of coffee. Let’s continue the audition later.”

Harin ended the short statement and left the audition room.

◈◈◈◈◈

After Harin left, Park Joon approached with a shocked face.

“Interviewee, why in the world did you do that?”

“Yes?”

“That person is Yang Harin. Yang Harin! You know that!”

“Ah, yes. Yang Harin.”

Sua only nodded her head silently.

Sua roughly knew about Yang Harin’s existence as well. If she just retraced her memories of the group chat, that’s how it was. So, she was a former idol and a strong candidate for the Best New Actress award?

Park Joon said with a stiff face.

“Yang Harin’s actual personality is very sensitive.”

“I think so. What should I do?”

“If you thought so, you should have been even more careful! Why did you provoke her the whole time after entering the audition room? It’s the first time I’ve seen Harin this angry! The situation has become serious!”

“…After living, I realized that it doesn’t always go my way. I’m kind of used to this kind of treatment now.”

“No, what is this person saying…?”

Park Joon tried to explain something, but couldn’t finish his words. It was because Sua’s eyes were truly innocent. An expression that she had never lied.

A person who couldn’t be understood at all. Park Joon thought so and sighed deeply. He was giving up on the explanation.

“Okay, let’s say that’s the case. Anyway, it’s true that Harin-yang’s feelings have become extremely uncomfortable. It means that the difficulty of the audition that Sua-ssi will face has become much higher.”

“It’s still okay.”

“…Hm?”

“It’ll probably be okay. Just let me act.”

Park Joon looked at Sua with a feeling like he was dealing with a monster, but in reality, Sua was very used to this kind of treatment.

No, in fact, if you looked back on Sua’s life, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that almost every moment was like this.

PD Choi Hee-won, writer Lee Geum-sook, Kim Seon-il, Seo Yeon-joo…. It was just that these people especially liked Sua.

The difference between them and this situation now was probably.

That Sua hadn’t shown her acting yet.

‘The best I can do is that.’

It was when Sua was repeating that in her head.

“Well, Sua-ssi. You have a great ambition….”

Park Joon sighed deeply.

“Actually, today’s audition is already over.”

“Yes?”

“First of all, Harin has very high standards, and even if Sua-ssi passes, there’s a problem. The atmosphere is already like this after just a few words, so how much will you argue when filming starts?”

“Um….”

“If the two main actors fight, the people involved will naturally have a hard time, and the people around them will also be ground down. Sua-ssi is even a rookie. Can you handle it if people around you start complaining? You can’t.”

Sua scratched her head. She really didn’t intend to argue. She didn’t really think they had argued either.

“I’ll still try acting.”

“Yes. You came all the way here, so you have to act… I’m just saying that so you don’t get too upset even if you fail. There are many opportunities in the world, and it might be better to miss this one.”

“No. I’m not going to miss this one.”

Was it because she had a great interest in this work? There was no director who would hate such a reaction. Park Joon’s expression softened a little.

He handed over a piece of paper with a softer attitude than before.

“These are the rules for this audition. Read them in advance.”

“Ah.”

Sua read it, and the content itself was simple.

“Recreate the assigned role with any part of the script, but be sure to adjust it to 10 minutes. Do you understand correctly?”

“Exactly. I’ll cheer you on.”

This movie is going to be canceled anyway, though. Park Joon struggled to swallow the words that were lingering on his lips.

.

.

.

.

.

After waiting for Yang Harin’s return.

Sua suddenly realized that there was a big change.

“Ehk.”

[Short Historical Film ‘Sword’]

▶ Sufficient Implementation Elements

▶ Experience Completed / Grade 2

Yeah, so far it was the same as she knew.

Ha-ryeong (Main Role) – Suitability F

Hwa-cheon (Supporting Role) – Suitability F

Cheon-gi (Supporting Role) – Suitability F….

‘What? All the suitability ratings have changed to F?’

‘Sword’ was still Grade 2. In other words, it was still a work that Sua absolutely had to put in her filmography. But the problem was the suitability of the roles. Why had they suddenly all become low….

‘Ah?’

Before long, she was able to come up with a guess.

‘Could it be because of the conversation with Yang Harin just now?’

It was likely.

Regardless of her intentions, Sua also knew that Yang Harin’s feelings had become extremely uncomfortable. As a result, the audition standards had become very high, and it seemed like this was the result.

In the meantime, there was one element that caught Sua’s eye.

Wi Ji-hye (Main Role) – Suitability A

Wi Ji-hye. The clearly obvious main role of ‘Sword’.

This role was still Suitability A. No, now this was the only one that was maintaining Suitability A.

That’s why what Sua had to do also became clear. If she wanted to participate in ‘Sword’, she had to win the role of Wi Ji-hye.

‘The role of Wi Ji-hye is Yang Harin’s….’

Her head was already hurting. Wasn’t the role she had to get already Yang Harin’s? What on earth was she going to do to steal it?

“Uuuu…. What should I do….”

Sua first experienced the script with various roles.

The content of ‘Sword’ itself was quite simple.

Wi Ji-hye, the best in the world.

Ha-ryeong, a disciple with a terminal illness.

Ha-ryeong wants to be taught Wi Ji-hye’s techniques.

Wi Ji-hye doesn’t teach her in the end.

Ha-ryeong’s respect eventually turns into hatred.

Content that could be summarized in just five lines.

“The content is simple… Um, what should I do….”

Even if she passed with the role of ‘Ha-ryeong’, the suitability rating was F. It was certain that it would come back to her in a bad way anyway. Plus, her relationship with Yang Harin wasn’t good, so she couldn’t discuss giving up the role.

It was when Sua was blankly looking at the audition conditions.

“Woong?”

[Conditions]

▶ Express the role you are in charge of with any part of the script, but be sure to express it in 10 minutes. No exceptions.

Suddenly, something flashed like a light bulb in her head.

Sua experienced the script once again.

And she looked at the audition conditions once again.

To Park Joon, who was sitting far away on the opposite side, it was a time that was only a blink of an eye. Sua experienced the script again, and she dug into the audition conditions again.

When she repeated it three times like that.

‘I found it. The answer.’

◈◈◈◈◈

“The world is wide, and inspiration is precious.”

Outside. Yang Harin murmured as she took a sip of her coffee. In the other hand, she was holding her cell phone and talking to her CEO.

“CEO-nim, this movie will probably be canceled.”

“Really? It’s the first time a movie has been canceled even though I gave them production costs.”

“What can you do? There’s no actor who can be inspiration.”

“There wasn’t even one? Not even one?”

“There’s one interviewee… I left, but I’m basically reporting that I couldn’t find one. A strange person who isn’t mentally sound came.”

“Director Park, that guy, is about to break down soon, too. Harin-ah, let’s just look into something else. You should take a break for a while, too.”

“It’s so annoying that there’s a gap in my career. I was working so hard to solidify the Best New Actress award.”

“I know, right. I’ll give Director Park a piece of my mind.”

That’s how she finished the call and returned.

“….”

Yang Harin paused.

She slightly turned her head and carefully looked around.

A familiar audition room scene, Director Park sitting in front of a straight desk, and a strange interviewee standing in the center. As expected, the scenery was no different from before she went out to get some air.

But even so.

‘What is it?’

A feeling that was quite different from before.

Before long, she realized that the cause was Lee Sua.

That strange interviewee was preparing to act while holding a wooden sword for props. No, to be exact, she had started the moment Yang Harin entered the audition room.

However.

‘Ha-ryeong? Wi Ji-hye? No, Hwa-cheon?’

Which role was it? She couldn’t tell yet.