episode_0033

Since episode 04, Oh Kyung-bae seemed to have grasped something for sure.

“I was worried a lot on the first day. But the more I film, the more I get used to it.”

“That’s true. The number of NGs has definitely decreased.”

“Well… my acting is still a bit rough. But Min-jun’s character itself is like that. It’s actually better in a way.”

He doesn’t showcase high-level acting.

Technically speaking, Oh Kyung-bae’s acting was only slightly better than Seo Yi-soo’s.

But his acting was definitely Min-jun-like.

Among the three main leads of “The Diary of the Sea,” if you were to find who has the lowest acting difficulty, it would definitely be Min-jun.

A role that obsessively clings to his older sister.

If you can’t immerse yourself in that madness, there won’t be a more difficult role than that.

As long as you can immerse yourself, everything else was quite simple emotionally and technically.

Casting the role of “Min-jun” was difficult from the planning stage, so it was thanks to Han Kyung-jin that the script was written that way from the beginning.

Anyway, that’s how it was.

Time passed.

And the filming continued.

Contrary to what a low-budget film should be filled with twists and turns, the filming went smoothly.

Several things must have contributed to this smoothness.

The fairy-tale-like scenery of Gabi Island.

The production team that chose such an island as the filming location.

Passionate staff and directors.

Supporting actors and extras who managed to shine despite the limited screen time and low pay.

Lead actors Oh Kyung-bae and Han Sun-yul.

But.

No matter what element it was.

“Hiya.”

“His acting… It seems like he’s even less skilled than actor Oh Kyung-bae. How does he give off that vibe?”

“It must be talent, I guess.”

He won’t surpass Seo Yi-soo.

The staff and supporting actors couldn’t help but admire Seo Yi-soo’s seamless acting in front of the camera.

Before their eyes, an amazing picture was unfolding.

The unexpected encounter of Sang-jin, Min-seo, and Min-jun, who had revealed their faces.

The three quickly became close.

Sang-jin had a crush on Min-seo.

And no matter what happened, Min-jun never left Sang-jin and Min-seo alone.

The three were always together.

Since there weren’t many places to hang out on the island, the three mainly spent their time talking.

Today was no different.

The sunlight filtering through the trees on the forest path.

The three walked, basking in that sunlight.

“A dream? To be a hairdresser?”

They talked about their future today.

Min-seo said she wanted to become a hairdresser.

“Yeah. Being a hairdresser is my dream.”

As she spoke, Min-seo raised her hand and spread her index and middle fingers.

Then, she moved her fingers back and forth as if cutting the sunlit branches like she was using scissors.

As if those branches and leaves were hair.

“I want to make beautiful people even more beautiful. With my own hands, in my own shop.”

“So, I’m going to set up a salon for my sister. Land prices are cheap here because it’s an island. If we follow Dad and take a boat, we’ll make money quickly.”

Min-jun added arrogantly.

Min-seo clicked her tongue.

“Ridiculous. Are you going to set it up with my money?”

“Your money? Ha. Where’s your money?”

“Do you have it?”

The siblings bantered.

Sang-jin watched them with a smile.

His impression was slightly different from the lively and energetic siblings, a bit blurry.

“Sang-jin.”

“Yeah?”

“When I open my shop later, come visit. I’ll make you look pretty.”

“…Yeah. If possible, I’ll do that.”

If possible.

That’s how Sang-jin replied.

Min-seo pouted, thinking he was avoiding it because of her lack of skill.

“I’m good with my hands. I always cut Min-jun’s hair. Since we’re on the topic, should I cut your hair too?”

Min-seo…

With that, Minseo extends her finger in a scissor shape.

“Oops!”

Startled, Sangjin jumps.

Minseo’s finger digs into his hair.

“….”

In the strands of hair.

Snip, snip.

The slender fingers of the girl he likes give him a haircut.

Feeling her skin brushing against his scalp, Sangjin’s face widens in surprise.

“….Hmm? How is it?”

Teasingly, Minseo asks him.

Sangjin can’t say anything.

He just stares at her blankly.

It was like a forest.

The trees rustled.

Above his head, the sunlight shone down.

The sunlight filtering through the leaves cast shadows on Minseo’s face.

In that moment, Minseo.

Through Sangjin’s eyes.

And to all the spectators watching her through his eyes.

She was so beautiful that anyone would fall for her at first sight.

***

“While watching , I felt that the supporting actor will have a hard time stealing the spotlight.”

Sangjin’s mother, playing the role of Jo Myeong-suk, commented as she watched the filming.

Beside her, Kang Jin nodded with a chuckle.

“The lead will overshadow him. Look at that face.”

“That’s right. Maybe it’s because of the makeup. No, maybe not. Even if he puts on makeup, he can’t make that expression right now.”

Jo Myeong-suk stared at the smile of Seo I-su, who was playing Minseo, on the monitor as if mesmerized.

Seo I-su already had a pretty face.

But with slightly indistinct features, he didn’t have any distinctive characteristics.

However, as an actor, this was a big advantage.

Depending on the makeup, his appearance could change drastically.

Right now.

On the monitor screen.

Seo I-su, transformed into Minseo, exuded a purity and mysterious charm like no other.

Jo Myeong-suk said, “Why is that shot there? Nowadays, kids post similar photos on the internet.”

“Yes, they do.”

“If our work attracts around a million viewers, that shot will circulate everywhere.”

Having been in the film and theater industry for a long time, Jo Myeong-suk could sense it.

had a high chance of becoming a huge hit.

But regardless of that, Seo I-su would leave a deep impression of his charm on the public.

Of course, the work itself had to come out with enough quality for others to watch.

“Oh, a million viewers? Our work hasn’t even broken even with 300,000 viewers. A million would be a dream.”

“I see.”

Jo Myeong-suk chuckled wryly.

It was already a low-budget film.

To casually mention a million viewers was a bit premature.

But the fact that she said such things without thinking showed that the atmosphere on set was good.

And at the center of it all was Seo I-su, delivering an amazing performance.

The situation was far from perfect.

There were flaws in every aspect, big or small.

But in front of the passion that pushed through every minor flaw, they became insignificant.

Right now, was like that.

The staff.

The actors.

Everyone was radiating positive energy as they continued filming.

But.

Sometimes, the seeds of discord sprouted unnoticed in the shadows where no one paid attention.

“Our work seems to be going smoothly. But aren’t we relying too much on Seo I-su?”

“That’s true. What about Han Sun-yul? How is he?”

“Not great.”

“Wasn’t he good when he was a child actor?”

“So what? He’s a washed-up actor who lost his place due to lack of improvement in acting skills. In the first place, his talent is only that much. It’s better not to expect anything more than just doing his part in this project.”

An indiscreet staff member blabbered without looking around.

“….”

Han Sun-yul hid in a corner so they wouldn’t notice him.

Why should he hide as the victim of gossip?

It truly made him bitter, but if he let them know that he heard everything, it would disrupt the atmosphere on set.

“Huh. I have to do my part.”

As a child actor.

And as someone who was once considered promising.

I should do my part.

I can’t ruin the atmosphere that has finally improved on set.

That’s what I thought.

Perhaps it was a wise choice.

Some things, by simply turning a blind eye and pretending not to see, can make it seem like nothing happened.

So, even the pain.

If you turn a blind eye and pretend not to see, maybe it won’t hurt as much.

“……”

Han Seon-yul.

Suppressed his emotions.

He asked the growing emotions inside him to stop growing.

I can’t handle you.

If you grow too much, I’ll end up ruining everything.

I don’t want that.

So please. I beg you.

Don’t grow.

Just stay there.

Han Seon-yul said to the self-loathing, embarrassment, and helplessness filling his heart.

But the heart is not something that can be controlled by reason.

The more you try to suppress it from growing, some emotions grow on their own.

In the second week of filming.

As the urgent and tight schedule approached the middle.

“Hey, Oh Kyung-bae.”

“Hyung… What is it?”

“Are you trying to be funny with your acting?”

The seed of discord was sown.

***

The incident erupted without anyone being able to stop it.

Oh Kyung-bae and Han Seon-yul.

If asked who was at fault among the instigators of the discord, in fact, neither side was entirely at fault.

It was just an unfavorable situation.

Oh Kyung-bae was still a rookie actor.

Although he had a grasp on the emotional aspects thanks to Seo Yi-soo, he was still inexperienced in the technical aspects.

He did not possess the transcendent talent to overturn the lack of technical skills like Seo Yi-soo.

Oh Kyung-bae often made mistakes opposite Han Seon-yul.

And some people used Oh Kyung-bae’s mistakes as an excuse to gossip about Han Seon-yul.

“Oh Kyung-bae. When you’re filming with Seo Yi-soo, you hardly make any mistakes. Why is it only when you’re filming with Han Seon-yul?”

“Well, Seo Yi-soo leads Oh Kyung-bae confidently in the emotional parts. Han Seon-yul doesn’t allow that.”

“Ugh. They’re both lead actors. The difference in skill level is quite significant. Seeing it this way.”

“Hehe. Quiet down. Someone might hear.”

Not all staff members were like this.

But some were, and.

The inexperienced director Han Kyung-jin failed to grasp the situation on set.

The gossip sometimes reached Han Seon-yul’s ears.

And, like that.

Now.

The frustrated Han Seon-yul exploded.

“It’s understandable if you can’t act. No. This is not acceptable either, but still, can’t you at least make an effort to memorize your lines?”

“No. Hyung. Please listen to me.”

“Listen? Are you feeling very comfortable? Does an actor who keeps making mistakes on set have something to say?”

Sharp words pierced Oh Kyung-bae.

But up to this point, Han Seon-yul could have let it go with just a word to Oh Kyung-bae, who made too many mistakes.

However, Han Seon-yul crossed the line.

“……Hyung. I have something to say.”

“Say? You can’t say it now. It’s not the place for that. This is not a playground or school. It’s a place where numerous actors put their lives on the line just to have their faces shown on screen. And what are you?”

Words can express emotions but also act as an amplifier, amplifying even nonexistent feelings.

That’s what Han Seon-yul did now.

Unconsciously, Han Seon-yul, biting his lip, spat out words.

“If you got the role easily because of your face, shouldn’t you at least make an effort?”

“What did you say?”

Oh Kyung-bae’s voice lowered.

The expression disappeared from his face, which clearly did not look Korean to anyone.

The murmurs of the staff, which had been buzzing, also abruptly stopped.

Han Seon-yul also momentarily had a face that seemed to say, “Oops.”

“….Ah.”

The words that were pouring out suddenly stopped as if they were cut off.

He raised his hand and grabbed his head.

I didn’t mean to say such things.

I didn’t even have those feelings in the first place.

Why did those words come out like that?

A sense of self-loathing rose in Han Sunyul’s eyes.

“….”

“….”

There was no longer a harmonious filming set.

Only a heavy silence lingered on the scene.

Neither Oh Kyungbae nor Han Sunyul said a word.

Oh Kyungbae, hurt by Han Sunyul’s words.

Han Sunyul, disgusted by his own words.

*Sigh.*

And then, both of them turned their backs on each other and left the scene at the same time.

It was a deadlock.

And then.

“Hey!”

“Hey, what’s up with you?”

“Shin Jihu. I’ll be back in a moment. Make sure this hot chocolate doesn’t get cold before I return.”

“What are you up to?”

In the midst of the deadlock.

A determined girl boldly stood up.

It was her own way of making an entrance.