episode_0066

Since her meeting with Jeong Soyeon, Nayuna had been consistently conducting camera tests.

She researched concepts even at home in front of a full-length mirror and sent me photos. I carefully examined the gallery where I had saved her photos.

Nayuna’s photos, completed using trendy cropped tops or denim materials, caught my eye these days.

Although she looked like a beautiful high school girl to anyone, something seemed lacking in my eyes.

“It seems like nothing has changed. How do I pinpoint this?,” I thought to myself.

Not being an expert, I wasn’t confident in explaining it in a way that Nayuna would understand. I could only encourage her to try harder.

[Nayuna: How is it today?]

She asked for my feedback via text. After hesitating, I decided to respond honestly.

[Me: Thanks to Soyeon’s advice, the gaze handling and poses are much more natural.]

[Me: But if you were to ask if Yunna’s senior’s two faces are well portrayed…]

[Nayuna: Still lacking.]

There’s no use in falsely encouraging Nayuna.

Just as I surpassed Eun Yuri and Kim Noeul surpassed Alice, ultimately Nayuna also had a duty to surpass Jegal Yeonhwa.

[Me: But as I mentioned before, asking Soyeon won’t help with this aspect; Yunna’s concept is what she knows best.]

[Nayuna: The shoot is in two days;;]

[Nayuna: (Emoji of a cow shedding tears)]

[Me: Let’s keep shooting.]

[Me: If we stop here, it’s really over.]

Encouraged by my support, Nayuna took hundreds of photos over the next two days and discussed them with me.

Even though there seemed to be progress, I didn’t feel she could overshadow Jegal Yeonhwa.

The final shooting day approached.

Early that morning, I skimmed through Nayuna’s photos, pondering deeply.

“Was the time too short?”

No matter how talented Jeong Soyeon proclaimed Nayuna to be, less than a week was insufficient for Nayuna to grow.

Should I give up like this?

After careful consideration, I shook my head.

“There’s already a precedent.”

In reality, I changed Hanaoa’s mindset and improved her swordsmanship in just one day. I had grown enough to wound Han Do-yeong, a practitioner of the Han Ga-gum method.

Women by my side exhibit tremendous potential with the right stimulus. If their growth falters, it’s… my fault.

“Can I provide suitable advice to Yunna senior, like I did with Doa senior?”

The success of today’s shoot depended on me.

Whether I could transform Nayuna or not.

If transformed, Nayuna would dominate as the top model of the second semester, but if not, she would revert to the timid and immature Nayuna of the past.

I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of responsibility on my shoulders.

“But I’ve already decided to make an effort.”

It was never an easy path to begin with.

My opponent is Alice. Even the subordinates following her are not to be underestimated.

Nevertheless, I vowed to tread the rugged path with Kim Noeul.

If I falter here, I will have no face to show Kim Noeul in the second semester.

I slapped my cheeks firmly. My mind cleared. Determined, I headed straight to Nayuna’s shooting location.

Upon arrival at the set, most people were already gathered.

The lighting team was setting up screens, and the camera team was huddled around a computer, discussing.

“Nayuna senior hasn’t arrived yet…”

Despite looking around, Nayuna was nowhere to be seen. It was strange since she usually arrived around this time.

A staff member approached me.

“Maru student, has Nayuna not arrived yet?”

“Yes. I tried contacting her, but she’s not picking up…”

“She still has some time, so it’s okay for now. Let’s do our best today.”

“Thank you.”

Staff leaving, I glanced down the street corner. There comes Nayuna.

After waiting for quite a while, Nayuna’s figure appeared around the corner. She was running towards us, dressed in clothes sponsored by a magazine.

“Senior!”

“Ah! Sorry! I was lost in thought… I’m late…”

“Lost in thought…?”

“Yeah, I was thinking about the image I wanted to show people today.”

Nayuna panted as she adjusted her bracelet.

“Does it seem profitable?”

“…Somewhat.”

Nayuna’s expression didn’t seem too serious.

‘Did she really find it? The perfect way to shoot?’

As we were skeptical, a familiar face approached us. Upon seeing that face, both Nayuna and I immediately darkened our expressions.

“Marun~ Long time no see~.”

“…We’re about to start shooting, why are you here?”

As I complained, Jegalyeonhwa placed one hand on her hip and tapped her foot.

“Well, since we’re colleagues shooting together, can’t I at least say hello? Lately, I’ve been out of touch with friends and felt lonely.”

“We have no intention of greeting you.”

Nayuna boldly retorted. Jegalyeonhwa smirked at Nayuna’s intimidated expression.

“You haven’t backed down easily. It’s a fight with a predetermined outcome, do you enjoy losing?”

“I won’t lose!”

“…Nayuna.”

Suddenly, when Jegalyeonhwa muttered her name in a low voice, Nayuna took a step back.

“Do you know what I hate the most? Crawling.”

Jegalyeonhwa stared at Nayuna seriously.

Unlike her usual playful demeanor, Jegalyeonhwa was different now. When it came to modeling, she was serious, which is why she found Nayuna’s presence irritating.

“Your place is right there. A rookie model. Not more, not less. Just be satisfied with that. Don’t overstep your boundaries.”

Nayuna’s face turned pale. She was naturally skittish. If someone threatens Nayuna in front of her, it negatively affects her mental state.

Just as I was about to intervene, the director’s voice was heard.

“Start shooting!”

“Bring the light umbrella this way~.”

“Yeonya, Yuna!”

As the shooting began, Jegalyeonhwa took a step back in the atmosphere. She was smiling brightly again, just like usual.

“Let’s do well today, Yuna.”

Nayuna, trembling, stood there chewing her lip, looking like a frightened hamster.

No, it was slightly different.

There was a hint of defiance in her eyes. Recognizing this shift in emotions, I was surprised.

“You’re different from before. It doesn’t end with you just shrinking away now.”

“…Maru.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be back.”

With a determined voice, she muttered as she headed towards the shooting location.

The shooting proceeded simultaneously.

The side capturing Jegalyeonhwa worked swiftly because she accurately understood the staff’s needs.

Nayuna’s side was not easy either.

“Yuna, are you feeling good today?”

“Eye contact is okay, keep it that way.”

There were no corrections requested for Nayuna. She had adapted to the staff’s needs at this location from the previous shoot.

‘Today’s shoot was delayed due to practice, but she has improved a lot.’

I felt a sense of relief at Nayuna’s growth, but unfortunately, the wall of reality is high.

“Your eye contact and poses have improved, but you still can’t digest the concept.”

“Well, what can you do. For a beginner, just doing that much is impressive. Let’s not expect more.”

Now the staff had nothing more to ask of Nayuna. Their reactions were different from what Nayuna had hoped for.

The shooting paused briefly, entering a break time. Nayuna, sweating profusely, came over to me.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Thanks for the water.”

Nayuna gulped down the water I handed her. After finishing the water, she half-closed her eyes.

“…I did my best.”

“…”

“Utilizing all the tips I received from Soyeon… I displayed them without any regret. In terms of skills, the staff complimented me, saying there were no flaws.”

“Well… that’s good.”

“Yeah, it turned out well.”

Although we were conversing positively, inwardly, it wasn’t so. Nayuna still couldn’t bring out her two faces.

After gazing at the blue summer sky for a while, Nayuna spoke quietly.

“What exactly does having two faces mean?”

Nayuna’s voice trembled.

“I became a model to break free from my past self. I wanted to change and start anew, but now I’m being asked to embrace the past as well. It’s too difficult and harsh.”

At that moment, I discovered a contradiction.

‘To break free from the past…’

Was that Nayuna’s desired goal?

No, Nayuna and I hadn’t conversed in that manner before.

What I wished for Nayuna, and what Nayuna truly desired for herself…

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“…I like you, Yuna.”

After I finished speaking, Nayuna seemed dazed for a long time. It was only when I waved my hand in front of her face that she snapped out of it.

Regaining her composure, she blushed and exclaimed loudly.

“What are you saying! What exactly are you saying!”

“I also liked the senior from the past.”

“Yeah…?”

“Yuna, Yuna is fine too, it means that.”

Upon hearing my words, Nayuna’s expression resembled someone who had been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.

“What… does that mean…?”

“You see, I hoped to change by looking at you, Kim Noeul, and Doa seniors. But do you remember the conversation we had in the SC lounge back then?”

“At that time…”

As Nayuna reminisced about the past, she clenched her lips tightly.

“Do you remember? Why did you try to separate the two Yunas when both are seniors?”

“But… it can’t be Yuna. She’s timid, and she doesn’t deserve to be around you all.”

“No.”

“Yuna, as me, can be helpful to you as a model. But Yuna? She has nothing. She can’t study, can’t exercise, just an annoying little cow wriggling around.”

Self-blaming, Nayuna bowed her head deeply. Tears fell from her palm.

“That’s my true self. I wanted to hide it because it’s too pathetic.”

To the sobbing Nayuna, I asked a question.

“When did Kim Noeul and Doa seniors become close to Yuna senior?”

“…At the beginning of the semester.”

“Was the senior a model back then?”

“!”

“Nobody befriended the senior based on her modeling career. We became friends based on Nayuna as a person.”

It was time to eliminate Nayuna’s self-reproach.

“Let me say it again. I like Yuna. And I also like the Yuna in front of me right now.”

“……”

Nayuna’s eyes, staring blankly at me, trembled.

“If I hadn’t studied, would you not have become friends with me?”

“No…”

“That’s all that matters.”

After concluding our conversation, Nayuna remained silent for quite some time, seemingly trying to organize her thoughts and emotions calmly. Having composed herself, she stood up from her seat.

“It feels like shedding a ten-year-old weight.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Nayuna turned to look at me. Under the brightly shining sun, a radiant Nayuna with a bright smile came into view.

“Break time’s over~! Let’s get started!”

The shooting resumed.

Nayuna was no longer in a rush to hide anything. Instead, she incorporated her former self freely into her expressions and poses.

Dressed in glamorous attire, smiling seductively, Nayuna showed glimpses of her shy and timid self.

Everyone on set was captivated by Nayuna’s dreamy atmosphere.

“Wow…. she’s truly something.”

“The atmosphere here is not as open as with other models, which I like. It feels closer to a clean lily than a flashy rose, doesn’t it?”

The staff each made a comment while looking at Yuna.

“Um… Miss Yuna.”

“Yes.”

As they continued shooting, the camera director scratched his neck and asked, “Did another spirit possess you? The vibe feels distinctly different.”

“Is that a problem?”

“…No, quite the opposite. I like it. Debuting as a model from an ordinary high school student concept. I wanted to capture the appearance of two human aspects blending together, and you, Yuna, are exactly the subject I was looking for.”

The director chuckled and finished the shoot.

“Yuna, great job.”

“Thank you!”

“So there was a reason why Director Lim brought you in.”

“It seems that goddesses do exist, and she is modeling.”

Surrounded by several staff members praising her, Yuna was so engrossed that I couldn’t find a way to intervene. I was content just watching her from afar.

When I looked away after observing Yuna, I saw Jegal Yeonhwa.

She was staring at Yuna with a look devoid of her usual smile. I approached her.

“You came to our side after the shoot yesterday, but today you didn’t come first?”

“….”

Jegal Yeonhwa, who had been silent, turned her gaze towards me, eyebrows twitching.

“…Interesting. What kind of magic did you use? To control someone who couldn’t even handle their persona properly?”

“I didn’t do anything special.”

“Hmm…”

Jegal Yeonhwa, who laughed as if surprised, suddenly stopped laughing and sighed.

“Hoo… I laughed too hard. Are you filming a drama? It’s too cringy for me to watch.”

However, Jegal Yeonhwa’s expression was not as relaxed as before. As Yuna stared intently at her, Jegal Yeonhwa bit her lip.

“…I got too excited in a way that’s unlike me. I focused too much on a rookie.”

With a composed demeanor, Jegal Yeonhwa distanced herself from us. We watched her back for quite some time.

“…I’ve never seen Jegal Yeonhwa like that before. I always thought of her as cheerful and somewhat eccentric.”

“She’s serious about being a model. Seems like she feels competitive towards seniors.”

“Really? That’s good to hear.”

Yuna, who was lightly smiling, suddenly fidgeted with her fingers and glanced at me.

“B-but you know. Earlier, what you said…”

“Yes?”

“That you like Yuna… If we were to rephrase that in a different way…”

Yuna looked at me with a flushed face.

“What Senior thinks is correct.”

“T-th-that means from today…”

“I meant that I like Yuna not just as the glamorous model Yuna, but also as the innocent colleague Yuna. I, Kim Noeul, and Senior Doa all see Yuna as a colleague.”

“…A colleague.”

“Yes.”

“A colleague, right, okay.”

In a despondent tone, she mumbled to herself and left to tidy up with a vacant look in her eyes. Seeing her slumped shoulders, I felt concerned.

“Is she tired from the long shoot today?”

While gazing at her, a message popped up. I took out my phone to check the text.

[“Thank you for participating in the ‘Angel’s House’ volunteer stay. As the event approaches, we are sending out notifications to applicants regarding necessary items and maps…”]

“So, it’s time for volunteer work now…”

Once this is over, summer vacation will come to an end. It feels like the vacation ceremony was just yesterday, yet Han Doa’s and Yuna’s event has already passed.

“With this, I’ve handled all the major events during the vacation…”

Now, I plan to volunteer with a light heart and heal.