episode_0287

Someone asked, surprised, at Yang Harin’s straightforward words.

“…Is that it?”

Yang Harin simply nodded quietly.

“Yes. I don’t really have anything else to say besides that.”

In fact, Yang Harin was just as surprised.

She found it amazing even to herself.

She thought that if a situation like this came up, she would complain a lot and swear a blue streak out of resentment. But her current state was nothing like that at all.

“I’ll work hard to portray Kim Yoonkyung.”

Perhaps they felt even more apologetic because of Yang Harin’s statement, but no one came forward easily.

The atmosphere became somber.

The first to step forward was Director Go Taemin.

“Harin-ssi, I’ll be honest with you. Regarding the recent controversy, it’s true that we also suspected you. We even resented you. I apologize for all of that.”

It must have been difficult words to say, but Go Taemin didn’t hesitate and said everything.

It was because of his sense of responsibility. As the director, he had to step forward like this so that others could apologize comfortably.

He decided to be the starting point willingly.

“No. I’m the one who should apologize.”

Yang Harin didn’t know. That she was the kind of person who could say these words. But why was that?

Once it started, the words flowed on their own.

“Anyway, I think the controversy happened because of my past deeds. I don’t think I’ve lived a very virtuous life, even by my own standards. To the people involved in ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow,’ I’m sure you had a lot of anxious moments. I’m sorry.”

“…”

No one opened their mouth, but it was felt clearly enough through the slightly warm atmosphere. Everyone’s hearts had been eased. And this was enough.

Isn’t there a saying that the ground hardens after the rain? ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ didn’t have any indelible wounds. Rather, it just created an opportunity for a tighter bond.

Director Go Taemin finally smiled and said.

“Everyone here now knows that Harin-ssi is flawless. From now on, don’t worry about external matters at all and act comfortably.”

“Thank you.”

Sooa watched everything and thought.

Yes, reconciliation must be sincere and substantial.

It’s not about finding reasons to get angry, bite, apologize, and make excuses. To put reasons in forgiveness and embrace each other, that is the first step for the future.

Sooa quietly raised her head.

“Hehe, the weather’s nice today.”

Even though what was even nicer was the studio atmosphere.

◈◈◈◈◈

The next day at dawn.

Soon, after this dawn passes, the highlight filming of ‘Crescendo From Tomorrow’ will resume at Hyunhwa Arts High School. But there were still people who couldn’t fall asleep.

Namely, Sooa and Harin.

Yang Harin is still practicing her acting.

“Haaah…”

Sooa asked, yawning.

“Harin-ah, aren’t you sleepy?”

“Of course my body is tired, but I’m too nervous to fall asleep. You’re the strange one. How can you be so carefree?”

“I have to be carefree. Getting anxious and restless for no reason just prevents me from performing at my usual level and makes things worse.”

“…That’s easier said than done.”

Then, Yang Harin suddenly approached Sooa.

“Huh?”

Harin brought her face very close to Sooa’s face. It was the first time that Sooa and Harin had seen each other’s faces this close.

Sooa thought.

Yang Harin is pretty, really pretty.

…But isn’t the distance a little too close?

“What’s wrong? For a moment I thought you were going to kiss me.”

“How is it?”

“What?”

“What do you think of me seeing me up close?”

“Huh?”

This time, even Sooa was flustered. What is it? Is it that kind of question? Is Yang Harin into that kind of thing?

Many thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant.

“Do I really look like an actress who is perfect for Kim Yoonkyung?”

“I thought it was that kind of question?”

“…Don’t answer lightly. I’m serious.”

“I’m not the one who can answer that.”

Sooa said that and reached out to rummage through Yang Harin’s pocket. It wasn’t long before Sooa was able to find the hand mirror she had given her in the past.

Sooa took it out and shone it on Yang Harin’s face.

“Look in this mirror and tell me yourself. Are you Kim Yoonkyung or not? What kind of Yang Harin are you? Are you still a shut-in Yang Harin eating cup ramen in her room?”

“!”

Yang Harin’s body trembled slightly for a moment.

She was only at the stage of starting to find answers through others, and she hadn’t come to a conclusion on her own.

Therefore, she blurted out a question.

“That’s why I’m asking you, Sooa.”

“Really? I understand how you feel, but it’s not like I know but I’m deliberately not telling you.”

“Then?”

“The answer is only known to you, and at the same time, you decide for yourself. Who’s in the mirror right now? I want to ask you instead. Please tell me.”

It was genuine.

Perhaps it was because Sooa currently had a desperate desire for Yang Harin to find her own answer.

Sooa pushed her.

“I told you before, didn’t I? Whether something is a difficult thing or nothing at all depends on you. Your identity is the same. Who are you right now?”

“…”

“Weren’t you Kim Yoonkyung? Who are you anyway?”

Yang Harin’s eyes widened for a moment.

It was a look of realizing something, and at the same time, it was a sign of making a strong decision. Sooa didn’t bother to explain such things in a fuss.

Because she would know best anyway.

A little later, Yang Harin quietly put the mirror back into her pocket and asked.

“Sooa-yah, why am I only realizing this now? Because I’m stupid? Because I’m an idiot?”

“Hey, it’s the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“Yeah. It’s because you’re so smart that you’ve been running straight ahead. You wouldn’t have had time to look around, would you?”

“You always say such nice things…. It’s not like you’re trying to seduce me. I get confused sometimes.”

Yang Harin continued.

“Okay, anyway, I’m now thinking of myself as Kim Yoonkyung. I’ve decided that. But does this really solve all the problems?”

“It doesn’t, but your condition is much better than before you made up your mind.”

“If you say that, I can’t help but feel anxious. What if it doesn’t work out even though I’ve made up my mind like this?”

“In other words, you need confirmation, right?”

“Yeah.”

Then, Sooa snatched Yang Harin’s script away. It was the first violent action she had shown today.

And the next moment.

*Chwaak!*

Sooa cut the palm of her hand with the paper edge of the script. It wasn’t a big wound, but it was enough to bleed, so blood was soon flowing.

Yang Harin’s eyes widened.

“Lee Sooa? What kind of stupid thing are you suddenly doing?”

It was a split second until she snatched Sooa’s hand.

“Give me your hand. Give me that injured hand.”

Sooa quietly entrusted her hand. Yang Harin took a handkerchief out of her pocket and tied it tightly around Sooa’s palm.

“Did you play a psycho role or something? Or is this your original personality? What is this all of a sudden after talking normally? I think you’re out of your mind!”

“Hahaha.”

“You look even more suspicious when you laugh! Who are you?”

But Sooa continued to grin.

What would the old Yang Harin have been like? Wouldn’t she have just looked at Sooa with a disgusted look? Well, there would be various cases, but among them, there would have been no cases of Yang Harin worrying and taking care of Sooa like this.

Yes, because you have changed so much now.

*Tuk.*

Sooa quietly stroked Yang Harin’s head with her hand tied with a handkerchief.

“See, I was right. Kim Yoonkyung.”

It would be good to realize that Yang Harin has changed.

◈◈◈◈◈

The sun rose.

In other words, the highlight filming has started again.

“Hoo…”

“Hoo…”

Yang Harin and Lee Sooa took deep breaths at the same time, and immediately after, Yang Harin looked at Sooa as if she was dumbfounded.

“Why are you taking a deep breath? You’ve already finished filming all the difficult scenes, haven’t you? You can just relax now.”

“You’re right. I’ve filmed all my scenes.”

“Then?”

“My friend’s scene is still left, right?”

“What?”

“My friend is about to film the most important scene in this work. It’s only natural that I’m nervous too!”

“Friend…”

Yang Harin’s face turned slightly red.

Harin lowered her gaze for no reason. She quickly skimmed through the script she was unfolding with her hand.

S # Highlight

Kim Sohee (Lee Sooa)’s piano performance was excellent, but she is unfairly eliminated due to the inside story of the competition. Her stepsister (Yang Harin) becomes furious after learning about this through Kim Sungcheol (David Park). She grabs a hold of the judges.

To be honest, she can now recite it fluently even without reading it. Because it is the highlight scene that she has seen so many times, practiced so many times, and dreamed of so many times.

But it is still a scary, nerve-wracking, and difficult scene.

And finally.

“Okay! It’s been a long time! Let’s go into the highlight!”

Director Go Taemin’s shout.

The time has come.

.

.

.

.

.

Full-scale filming began.

『The competition ends like this. Everyone, please give encouragement and support to the participants!』

The host announced the end of the event.

It also meant that the announcement of the finalists of the competition was over, but Kim Sohee (Sooa)’s name was not called out among them. Even though her performance was good enough.

『….』

『….』

Kim Sungcheol (David Park) chewed his lip as if it was an expected result, and Kim Yoonkyung (Yang Harin) wore a blank expression. Because the result was so disappointing.

In the midst of this, Kim Sohee (Sooa) is.

『Ooh…!』

She clapped her hands because she couldn’t read the situation.

『Congratulations to everyone! Waaaaaa!』

『You idiot. This is not the time to be like that….』

Kim Yoonkyung (Harin) tried to stop Sohee with a stern word, but she doesn’t. In fact, Sohee hasn’t done anything wrong in this situation.

Sohee just worked hard on her piano performance.

Isn’t it the judges who are bad?

Kim Yoonkyung (Harin)’s tightly clenched fist trembled.

She pondered, and the time to ponder is not long. Yang Harin chased after the judges, thinking that she had to ask something. She was chasing after them until she got to the parking lot.

*Clunk*

『Huh?』

The judge was startled while opening the car door. Because someone immediately closed the car door again.

Who else would it be? It’s Yang Harin.

『…?』

The judge looked at Yang Harin as if he was dumbfounded. When Yang Harin stared at him, he asked.

『What’s wrong?』

『Why did participant Kim Sohee get eliminated?』

Yang Harin’s breath caught in her throat here.

She suddenly felt like she had fallen into a sea of ​​worries. Will I be able to do well, is my expression strange, are my emotions accurate, will I forget my lines?

…Will I be able to properly convey Kim Yoonkyung?

She found the answer several times through Sooa, she repeated it to herself several times, but in the end, she still ends up thinking like this. Like an idiot.

But.

At that time.

『…Ah?』

*Ssssssss!*

Yang Harin’s vision began to turn pure white.