episode_0049

“What should I do? What should I do??”

Shin Ji-hoo was truly deeply perplexed.

He couldn’t grasp how to resolve this situation at all.

“Well, well. Let’s just accept reality. The disaster has happened, and there’s nothing we can do about it. Let’s think of ways to minimize the controversy…”

Thanks to his calm demeanor, Shin Ji-hoo, who was usually composed, could somehow acknowledge reality and contemplate the follow-up measures.

Han Seon-yul, Oh Gyeong-bae, Han Gyeong-jin, and other people just anticipated the impending crisis, chaos, and the dreadful state of anomie with trembling fear.

Regardless of the subtle differences in their reactions, they all expected the same outcome.

Something was going to happen.

There was no turning back.

Such a precarious outcome was imminent.

A cold and harsh winter would surely begin.

The four men looked at Seo Ee-soo with despair in their hearts.

They could only helplessly watch as she blinked, gestured, and opened her lips.

Eventually, Seo Ee-soo spoke.

“Well, it’s an honor, of course.”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

The four men’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Normal words came out of Seo Ee-soo’s mouth.

Normal.

Was there a word that didn’t suit Seo Ee-soo more than that?

He couldn’t understand what was happening right now.

Of course, the host who didn’t know the details burst into a wide smile at Seo Ee-soo’s words.

“Of course! ‘The Diary of the Sea’ can be considered as the first leading role for actress Seo Ee-soo. It’s amazing! Choosing this as your first leading role for the Busan International Film Festival! It’s not an ordinary avant-garde choice! Is there any anecdote related to this?”

The host continued to ask lengthy questions.

Seo Ee-soo seemed embarrassed.

She smiled shyly, covering her lips.

“It wasn’t my choice. It was chosen by my manager. So if there’s any avant-garde, it would be him, not me.”

She said shyly.

Blushing slightly.

But she replied with sparkling eyes.

“…What’s going on?”

In the midst of extreme confusion, Shin Ji-hoo felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

It was clear that Seo Ee-soo was different from her usual self.

Although her appearance was undoubtedly Seo Ee-soo, everything from her overall gestures and tone of speech to the subtle movements of her facial muscles was so alien.

She didn’t resemble the confident and bright Seo Ee-soo.

Instead, she exuded a more pitiful and subtle innocence.

But at the same time…

“Where have I seen this before?”

Somehow, Shin Ji-hoo felt that the sight was quite familiar.

It was only natural.

Just a few months ago.

Seo Ee-soo portrayed that appearance every day in her acting.

Finally, Shin Ji-hoo recalled.

“Minseo?”

The female lead in ‘The Diary of the Sea.’

The role Seo Ee-soo played.

Why did Seo Ee-soo look like Minseo at this moment?

Seo Ee-soo is sensitive to the emotions of others.

Even though she becomes indifferent to those emotions when Shin Ji-hoo is around, her sensitive senses do not disappear.

That’s why she was already aware that her colleagues were worried about her.

Probably.

Because of her strangeness.

“Ji-hoo, you told me. People are strange in their own ways.”

So, Seo Ee-soo being strange is not that special.

Shin Ji-hoo comforted her by saying that.

In reality, in the early days of coming to Earth, Seo Ee-soo received a lot of comfort from those words.

A strange planet, strange people. A strange life.

She was able to maintain herself in such an environment without being discouraged.

However, despite that.

The strangeness of others and.

The strangeness of Seo Ee-soo herself were on different paths, she knew that well.

They were human, but.

Seo Ee-soo was not human.

“…”

For a moment, a sharp pain pierced her chest.

She couldn’t understand why.

She just felt that way about Seo Ee-soo.

She felt that pain.

And at the same time, Seo Ee-soo thought.

Because of my peculiarity, if the people I care about are in trouble.

Because I am me.

Because I am a dragon, and they feel threatened.

Then, I will just stop being ‘me’ for a while.

“Let’s leave the game.”

Seo Yisu prepares to leave the game.

She logs into the Arcas Record to construct a virtual personality.

Thinking about which personality to choose, since this place was a celebration of the screening of .

So, she decides to leave with the persona of .

“….I feel strange.”

Seo Yisu somehow felt dissatisfied with the current situation.

She didn’t know why.

She couldn’t say anything other than ‘just because.’

Just because. That’s what Seo Yisu thought.

She had been like this occasionally for some time now.

Her feelings towards Yoohee had changed a lot from before.

Back in her hometown, she simply liked Yoohee.

Because it was a means of survival.

When she arrived on Earth and started acting, Yoohee was so fun.

Because it allowed her to live many bright moments of life.

“….”

But it was no longer the same.

Perhaps she didn’t know when exactly things started to change, maybe when Han Seonyul showcased her own interpretation of acting beyond the script.

Maybe during the audition.

She didn’t like the moment when she could easily leave Yoohee behind, despite feeling extremely anxious and fearful without Shin Jihu by her side.

When did it start?

She couldn’t pinpoint the exact time.

But one thing was certain.

‘Why is this happening? Why.’

Seo Yisu felt the many gazes on her.

She sensed their feelings keenly.

Among the many hearts, she separated the presence of the people she cared about.

Their worries.

Their kindness.

Their affection.

She felt their joy for the glorious occasion.

‘Why do I have to present a fake persona instead of myself in this kind of place?’

Honestly, she didn’t like it.

Seo Yisu had a hunch.

That she couldn’t resolve this dissatisfaction with her old self.

Something different was needed.

She didn’t know what it was.

Why it was necessary.

Seo Yisu just.

She just thought that way.

She wanted something to change somehow.

“….”

In that mindset.

Seo Yisu opened her eyes that she had closed.

Click-!

The loud shutter sound echoed in the theater.

Minseo slightly wrinkled her eyes and shyly smiled.

In that smile, Seo Yisu was no longer present.

#New ????

-Theater

I opened my eyes wide.

I used to watch movies on TV on the island.

The first time at a theater was noisy, and everyone staring at me made me feel awkward.

It was a bit confusing.

At the same time, perhaps it felt natural.

I had left my world.

Didn’t I leave, breaking the sea route back across the sea, not returning?

If this new world I had reached wasn’t confusing, that would be strange.

“Wow! Actress Seo Yisu. I’ve been feeling this since earlier. Your demeanor is very innocent and pitiful, just like Minseo in ! Could you tell us about your usual personality?”

“Well….”

I awkwardly smiled.

It was a difficult question.

But the host seemed to interpret my shy appearance that way.

“You seem to have a shy personality. As I watch you, I feel like I want to protect you, that kind of feeling!”

“Ah, haha.”

I answered a few questions.

Each time, the loud shutter sound echoed.

The new world beyond the waves truly felt confusing.

Shoo–

So, I just.

While answering the host and the audience’s questions.

On the other hand, I continued to imagine.

I recalled memories.

In those memories.

I heard the sound.

The sound of waves crashing, approaching me and breaking.

I recalled the things I left behind and captured the new world in my eyes.

Somehow, a nostalgic feeling washed over me.

With that feeling in my heart, I smiled.

Every time I smiled like that,

the camera shutter sound echoed louder.

***

The premiere of the sub-festival.

The subsequent stage greetings, interviews, and conversations with the audience could unexpectedly end successfully.

The scene was captured on video and uploaded to portals and various streaming sites, causing a big sensation.

– The reviews are good. The acting is even better.

– Watching the interviews was really nice. Speaking softly makes her seem kind.

– She really embodies Minseo from . Innocent and delicate. Affectionate and warm.

– Yeah, she probably enjoys reading and listening to music as hobbies. Seems like she mainly eats salads for dieting.

– Um… What should I do? I’ve been watching the video dozens of times now. Is this the so-called fan obsession or something?

Many things were different from reality.

In the interview, Seo Yisoo created an amazing interaction with the character Minseo from .

Just as the public had a negative bias towards Seo Yisoo when controversy arose,

it was the same now.

The public had automatically formed a new bias towards Seo Yisoo.

With her beautiful appearance.

Innocent and nostalgic personality.

And she acts well.

The public was captivated by all these elements.

– But then why did the controversy start with Seo Yisoo in the first place?

– I don’t know. Maybe the reporter wanted to stir up controversy.

And so,

the controversy surrounding Seo Yisoo came to an end.

But the crisis was not completely over.

Seo Yisoo had to weather the aftermath of the interview…

***

“What, you, could you actually speak normally?”

“That, Shin Jihu. It’s not like that.”

“Where did you get the nerve to call me by my name like that? I’m 8 years older than you?!”

It was Shin Jihu.

Shin Jihu had truly endured Seo Yisoo’s strange quirks with a parental heart all this time.

The incidents caused by Seo Yisoo.

The seemingly rude way of speaking…

He had brushed it off, thinking that Seo Yisoo was just so strange.

But to think she could speak so normally.

Shin Jihu felt betrayed.

He said with a growl.

“Call me ‘Oppa’ right now.”

Seo Yisoo twiddled her fingers.

“D-Don’t say such terrible things…”

Oppa.

It’s creepy to call me a man like that.

But Seo Yisoo couldn’t raise her voice.

For some reason,

it had become difficult for Shin Jihu to speak harshly to her.

Why that was, she still didn’t know.

Seo Yisoo just said,

“Um.”

Then, she felt something strange.

Click-

Seo Yisoo raised her head.

Her eyes were sharp.

“More importantly, why do you keep talking about other girls in front of me?”

“…Other girls?”

“I’m, I’m right in front of you now. Why are you bringing up what that girl said to me all the time?”

Seo Yisoo couldn’t understand why she suddenly felt so irritated.

But she just felt that way.

She couldn’t really understand the reason.

She just felt that way.

“When you’re with me, look at me. Stop thinking about that girl!”

“….”

And then, Shin Jihu.

“Yeah. You really are a strange girl. I was mistaken for a moment.”

Seo Yisoo, this woman.

He really thought she was strange.

He couldn’t understand what she was saying.

She seemed to be jealous and annoyed.

Jealousy? Towards whom? And why?

She really is a strange girl.

What does an ‘Oppa’ mean to her?

I was momentarily confused.

Ugh,

Seo Yisoo, this girl is really…

“….Hmph.”

“Why are you laughing like that?”

“Just because.”

“Just because, huh.”

Shin Ji-hoo just laughed, while Seo Yi-soo somehow felt embarrassed and covered her face with her hair.

Seeing that, Shin Ji-hoo burst into laughter again.

Just because.

“Stop laughing like that!”

“Oh, it’s just that laughter comes naturally to me.”

Shin Ji-hoo really just laughed.

There was no other reason.

Just because.

Seeing the way Seo Yi-soo was acting, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Just like that.