episode_0034

“Ugh!”

Seo Yisoo rose confidently.

It was to resolve the issue between the two lead actors who had gotten into an argument.

But soon, he faced a dilemma.

“Where should I go?”

Han Sunyul and Oh Kyungbae had left the scene in different directions.

Seo Yisoo’s body was one.

He couldn’t follow both male actors.

But then, it happened.

“You go to Sunyul.”

Jo Myeongsuk rose to her feet like Seo Yisoo.

She said, “I’ll go to Kyungbae. You talk to Sunyul. Sunyul said something that needed to be addressed. Right now, empathy seems more necessary.”

“…Empathy?”

“Discipline is better when it comes from a superior, but empathy is most effective when it comes from a friend.”

“Hmm?”

It was a bit difficult to understand.

Seo Yisoo didn’t fully grasp what Jo Myeongsuk was saying.

But at least he understood that Jo Myeongsuk was going to Kyungbae, and Seo Yisoo himself was going to Sunyul.

“Alright, let’s do that.”

Seo Yisoo walked in the direction where Han Sunyul had disappeared.

Han Sunyul was sitting on a bench in front of a supermarket tucked away in a narrow alley on the island.

Sitting on the bench.

With both knees gathered like a small animal, he buried his face.

It was a pitiful appearance that didn’t seem very manly.

Seo Yisoo didn’t bother to hide his footsteps.

He walked confidently and sat down next to Han Sunyul.

“Why are you here?”

Did he sense his presence?

Han Sunyul spoke without lifting his face from his knees.

“Um… I’m supposed to come and empathize with you.”

“Why would you do that for someone like me?”

Referring to himself as someone like me.

He said, “I didn’t mean to say such… trashy things.”

“Right. It seems that way.”

“I was just… feeling impatient.”

“I have nothing, only I have nothing. You have nothing to say, and neither does Kyungbae. He can secure his position by building his career like this. It may seem like I’m saying this now, but he’s visually unique.”

Han Sunyul felt impatient.

Because he thought he had nothing.

So even though he heard gossip, he couldn’t come up with any rebuttals.

“You both shine. I’m just dull.”

Seo Yisoo and Oh Kyungbae.

Both of them shine brightly.

Han Sunyul felt like he was the only one flickering with ash.

It made Han Sunyul impatient.

And he exploded today, ruining everything.

“Hmm.”

Seo Yisoo didn’t fully understand everything Han Sunyul was saying.

His words were full of passion, with fluctuations in tone and speed.

But he could understand one thing.

That he doesn’t shine alone.

And that was something Seo Yisoo couldn’t accept.

“Han Sunyul.”

With a firm tone, Seo Yisoo said, “Everyone I’ve met in this world shines.”

“Not me.”

“You do too.”

“That’s impossible.”

Seo Yisoo said, but Han Sunyul couldn’t accept it.

It was inevitable.

Because today, Han Sunyul did something so ugly.

Han Sunyul was digging deep into his heart.

With a shovel of guilt and self-loathing.

He was digging a hole in his heart to bury himself.

Seo Yisoo was sensitive to others’ emotions.

That’s why he knew that if he left Han Sunyul like this, his heart might reach an irreversible point.

That’s why.

“Han Sunyul.”

“Yeah?”

Swiftly-

“Gasp?!”

Seo Yisoo reached out and grabbed Han Sunyul’s face.

And pressed his own face close to his.

For that reason.

“What, what are you doing?”

Startled by Seo Yisoo suddenly getting closer, Han Sunyul was at a loss for words.

Seo Yisoo said, “Look closely.”

“I said everything I see on Earth sparkles. That’s not a lie. Now, look closely. At my eyes. What do you see reflected in them?”

“….”

Unable to say anything in response, Han Sunyul could only stare into Seo Yisoo’s eyes as if under a spell.

“….”

In Seo Yisoo’s eyes,

Her own face was reflected.

In that dark and clear world, her reflection looked… unimpressive and quite ugly.

“….”

However, perhaps because it was reflected in Seo Yisoo’s sparkling eyes,

Even though she looked unimpressive,

Her own reflection in Seo Yisoo’s shining eyes was also sparkling.

“How does it look? Aren’t you also shining?”

It was still her unimpressive self.

But listening to Seo Yisoo’s words,

Seeing her own light reflected in her eyes,

Han Sunyul somehow felt that everything in the world shines, and that she herself is no exception.

She wanted to believe in Seo Yisoo’s words.

She hoped it was true.

“….”

Han Sunyul turned her head.

It was an island, with high cliffs.

Looking into the distance, she could see the outer edge of the island and the adjacent sea.

Swoosh-

The wind was blowing from the sea.

It was a sharp-tasting wind.

During the shoot, the bitterness that Han Sunyul had been feeling all along was no longer present.

“….”

Han Sunyul tasted the wind for a while.

“Thank you. For coming. And for comforting me.”

She said abruptly.

Han Sunyul turned back to look at Seo Yisoo.

She said to her,

Everything in the world shines.

But…

Han Sunyul suddenly thought.

The reason this girl sees the world shining is probably because Seo Yisoo herself shines brighter than anyone else.

The world is not just a romantic place where everything shines.

Especially in the entertainment industry.

But Han Sunyul hoped that Seo Yisoo would continue to shine in this world.

She thought that while looking into her genuinely shining eyes.

Pat, pat-

Brushing off her butt.

Han Sunyul stood up from her usual spot.

“Let’s go back. We need to apologize.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. I was wrong. We shouldn’t be stubborn about it.”

True to her words,

Han Sunyul went back to the set and politely apologized to the staff, fellow actors, and Oh Kyungbae.

But Han Sunyul wasn’t the only one apologizing.

“I’m sorry, actor. I found out later that some staff members were saying things they shouldn’t have. That’s why they acted that way, right?”

I found out the background of this incident too late.

“It’s my responsibility. I’m also a rookie director. I realize my inexperience in this area.”

“….Whatever it is, the fact that I was wrong remains true.”

Han Sunyul apologized to everyone.

Han Kyungjin apologized to Han Sunyul and Oh Kyungbae.

And Oh Kyungbae accepted all the apologies.

However, simply apologizing did not mend the already strained emotions.

Follow-up actions were needed.

“Let’s end today’s shoot here!”

The set was cleared earlier than usual.

There was a reason for it.

“Alright, the lead actors must have a lot to talk about. Let’s give them some time to catch up.”

The three lead actors were given time to resolve any lingering issues.

That day, at the dorm.

The three of them gathered to talk.

Mainly, Han Sunyul and Oh Kyungbae did most of the talking.

They shared their life stories.

Their thoughts and worries.

Things like that.

“…So, I was a child actor who was kicked out because my acting skills didn’t improve. I have a complex about it. That’s why I think I acted overly sensitive today. I’m sorry once again.”

“No, hyung. You don’t have to keep apologizing.”

Han Seon-yul revealed even the embarrassing parts of his story.

It was a world of difference from his somewhat aloof attitude during their first meeting.

Perhaps, this is proof that he has opened up his heart a lot today.

“Hmm. Worried about your acting skills. It’s better than being good at it.”

Seo Yi-soo suddenly interjected as she listened to the conversation.

Standing tall and confidently, she extended her chest and spoke.

“I’ll teach you acting too. Just like I did for Oh Kyung-bae.”

Han Seon-yul was at a loss for words.

Then, he finally spoke with difficulty.

“That… acting. Your acting.”

“Yeah, what about it?”

Han Seon-yul felt a deep conflict within himself.

But soon, he thought that he needed to tell the truth for Seo Yi-soo’s sake.

Isn’t progress about facing one’s own state?

“You have a talent for it. That’s why your acting is amazing. But your acting skills themselves are lacking. It’s not at a level where you can teach others.”

“W-what?!”

Seo Yi-soo’s face was shocked.

Then she shook her head and said.

“That’s not true. Oh Kyung-bae… I just let him… learn from me.”

“Is that so? Not true? Tell me now.”

Oh Kyung-bae couldn’t easily speak up.

He was embarrassed.

He remembered the time when he had to tell his nephew the truth about how he was not good at singing.

How shocked the child was back then.

“I-I…”

“Yeah. Tell me now. I’m ready to hear the truth…”

Oh Kyung-bae looked at Seo Yi-soo.

And he had a gut feeling.

If he told Seo Yi-soo the truth… she would be shocked just like his nephew back then.

Oh Kyung-bae was a good person.

So he couldn’t bring himself to tell the truth.

“Haha.”

Oh Kyung-bae forced a kind smile.

“No, noona. I always learn a lot from you.”

Seo Yi-soo’s eyes sparkled.

Her expression changed from looking like she was about to break to being lively and smiling.

“Then why is Han Seon-yul saying such things?”

“Maybe he’s embarrassed?”

“Yeah, that must be it. Embarrassed.”

The innocent actress and the kind actor talked in a friendly manner.

Of course, Han Seon-yul, who was watching, was just amazed.

“Tsk tsk.”

Seo Yi-soo clicked her tongue arrogantly.

“There’s no need to be proud when learning. It’s really pathetic.”

Han Seon-yul felt deep anger.

He growled at Oh Kyung-bae.

And then, suddenly.

Han Seon-yul felt a smile coming on.

He felt his lips curling up.

‘How long has it been? Sharing small talk with someone of the same age like this.’

Since being kicked out of the acting scene.

He had always been torn between regret and passion, pouring himself into acting studies, feeling lonely all the time.

Right now, as the two of them chatted, Han Seon-yul felt her heart warming up.

“Seo Ei-soo, Oh Kyung-bae.”

“Yes? What’s wrong? Hyung, relax.”

“Tsk tsk, this guy is so petty.”

“…No. I’m not angry. Huh. Just,”

Han Seon-yul smiled.

She looked at the two who reached out to her.

“Thank you. For everything today.”

And so.

The three lead actors chatted with each other.

The night passed as they opened up their closed hearts.

The three of them talked for a long time that night.

And……

That day.

Han Seon-yul had a dream.

In her dream.

Han Seon-yul faced a small, unimpressive starlight.

It was her own light that she had been ignoring for a long time.

It was small and unimpressive.

But it was still light.

It was clearly sparkling.

Han Seon-yul embraced that starlight in her heart.

Even though it was just a meager light for now.

Still, if she kept polishing and nurturing it. If she kept growing it, maybe someday it would truly shine brightly.

She held onto that hope.

It might not turn out that way.

It might be in vain.

But still. She could at least try.

Dreaming and hoping for that much was something Han Seon-yul could do.

She held onto that feeling.

The next day.

“Filming begins!”

“Camera, roll!”

“Sound, speed!”

“Ready……”

“Action!”

Han Seon-yul began acting.