Life, Once Again!

After Story 119

“What’s up with you?” Nayeon followed her.

Haneul did not stop walking.

“I said, what’s up with you?”

Nayeon eventually blocked her path.

“Is there a problem? I need to hand this in and go home. You should get the rest of your shoot done too,” Haneul said, waving the costume in the air.

“I still have time, you know?”

“Really? I’m sorry, but I don’t have the time.” Haneul took out her phone. “It ended earlier than I expected, so I’m going to go home and have dinner.”

She was about to walk past Nayeon, but Nayeon blocked her way. She lifted her lips upward to show her dissatisfaction.

“Why are you putting on a good girl pretense?”

“Because I’m not one, so I should at least put up a pretense. But what’s the problem with that? Things should be okay for you since you didn’t look bad in front of the madam, shouldn't it?”

“Like I said, why are you putting on a good girl pretense, unni?”

“Then should I go up to her and say that Miss Nayeon is actually narrow-minded and can only flatter others?”

“No!”

Nayeon peeked her head up high and looked around. She looked like a pretty meerkat watching its surroundings.

Haneul quickly walked past her while Nayeon was caught up in looking around. She had no time to quarrel with a kid full of strange pride. She was going to go home, have a hot shower, and have a late-night meal with her husband.

She already decided on the menu as well: some tongue-numbing spicy pig feet.

She handed her costume to the staff member loitering around in front of the costume vehicle. She saw Nayeon, who followed her out, see the staff and stop just as she was about to speak.

“Miss Nayeon, good work today.” She waved her hand in front of the staff.

Nayeon smiled blankly and said goodbye. She wouldn’t be able to throw a tantrum in front of other people.

“Sweetie, where are you right now? I just finished work so I was planning to go to your house.”

-Where did you say the shoot was?

“The traditional village.”

-Then go wait in a nearby café. I’ll go pick you up.

“Aren’t you using your car too much just because your company provided it for you?”

-They’re paying for the expenses, so I might as well get the base use out of it. Let’s go shopping for some groceries while we’re out.

“I was planning on getting some pig feet, some spicy ones.”

-Then let’s buy a mini pig foot set at the restaurant across from the grocery store. Along with some buckwheat noodles.

“That sounds salivating. I ate lunch, but it got digested real quick so I’m really hungry right now.”

-I’ll be right there.

When she stretched her arms out after getting off the phone call, she saw a shadow poke out in front of her. She looked back, thinking there was just no way. She saw Nayeon gasping.

“You’re persistent.”

“What was that?”

“Are you going to keep following me? Don’t you have a shoot?”

“You don’t need to worry about me, you know? My scene got delayed, so I have plenty of time.”

“Then go get some rest in your van or something. When else would you get rest? It must be hard as it is since it’s a historical drama.”

Nayeon lifted up her skirt slightly and strode forward.

“I can’t let things slide after getting looked down on. But you, unni, looked down on me, twice.”

“Why fuss over a nobody like me? I’m nothing to you, am I?”

“Exactly! You’re nothing. So why is someone like you trying to educate me and look down on me? Do you find me ridiculous? Do I look like a pushover?”

She was a child who would charge forward like a bull if steam got to her head. It seemed that helping her look good in front of Jung Hyejung before provoked Nayeon’s pride instead.

“I didn’t look down on you, and I don’t think you’re a pushover. Is that enough for you?”

“What?”

“I don’t look down on you at all, Miss Nayeon. This is our first meeting today, but I was actually thinking that you were a good person since I could see that you liked acting and were trying your best to improve. Though, I don’t like how you call me unni just a little tiny bit. We’re the same age after all.”

“Even if we’re the same age, you look much older than me, you know?”

“You see, I apparently last until 40 with this face. It’s not really an old-looking face but a mature one, so I’m good. Also….” Haneul approached Nayeon.

Nayeon stepped backward, startled because Haneul took a step towards her for the first time.

“I’m a little prettier.”

“What was that? Gosh, you’re a funny woman. I’m cuter and prettier, you know?”

“I don’t want to fight over who’s prettier like a child, but objectively speaking, I think I’m about three times better.”

“Th-three times? You really can blab on, huh? What’s so bad about me? How am I lacking in any way compared to you?”

Nayeon twitched her mouth before taking out her phone. Wondering what she was up to, Haneul just kept watching.

“Let’s take a photo together. I’ll show you what being objective really means.”

“Do you really need to go that far?”

“You don’t want to? Honestly, you’re feeling bad about what you said, aren’t you? I look better than you.”

Haneul tiptoed a few times while wondering what to do before standing in front of Nayeon. She had to wait until Maru arrived anyway. Playing around with this tomboy should be better than reading a book at a café. This girl was also rather interesting since she responded to everything she said.

“W-wait a second.”

She was waiting with her face up close to Nayeon’s, just like how she would take a picture with a friend while traveling.

Nayeon pouted before getting away.

“What is it? You said we should take a picture together.”

“I think my camera isn't working right because it’s dark here. Let’s go under the streetlamp over there.”

They moved places. They were next to a bench where the light from the streetlamp was falling straight down.

As they were outside the boundary of the shooting area, some of the passersby recognized Nayeon and approached. Nayeon put on a gentle smile and greeted them.

“Being an idol must be tough. You can’t snap out easily.”

“Be quiet. And smile. We need to look like we’re close.”

“What are you planning to do if I make rumors about you in other places?”

“Do you think there are just one or two such rumors? I’ve been insulted at least a hundred times because of something I didn’t even do. 101 times won’t make a difference. Also, I’d be less frustrated if it was actually because I got annoyed at someone.”

“So you do know that you’re being annoying to me.” Haneul smiled.

Nayeon narrowed her eyes and looked at her.

Haneul smiled. “Smile. People are looking.”

Nayeon quickly fixed her expression. She was an obedient girl for sure.

“Let’s shoot quickly before people flock over.”

“I can’t shoot because you keep pulling your head backward.”

“Me? I’ve been staying still the whole time. Give it to me. I’ll take the photo.”

“No. I’m going to take it.”

Nayeon pulled her head backward. She seemed to have realized that their head sizes differed by quite a bit now that they were up close. Nayeon rolled her eyes from side to side before eventually taking the photo. She heard a few shutter noises.

“Let’s have a look.”

“Wait a sec. I’m going to look at them first.”

Nayeon turned around and checked her phone. Meanwhile, even more people came over. The people who were holding back when there weren’t that many people started getting closer as well. It felt like there was going to be an accident at this rate.

“Was the angle off?” Nayeon muttered as she looked at her phone, not realizing that she was about to get run over by a crowd.

Haneul grabbed Nayeon’s arm and pulled her. Nayeon, who got pulled, saw what was happening and sped up.

“I’m sorry! I have a shoot right now! See you later! Love you all!”

Even then, she did not forget to offer her fans some service. After taking her to a place devoid of people, she reached her hand out. Since they were here, she wanted to check the photo at least.

“Let’s have a look at the photo. I have to see how good it is.”

“It wasn’t taken properly because my hands were shaky.”

“It looked good at a glance though.”

“Why are you so doubtful? If I say it wasn’t good, then it wasn’t good.”

“I won’t doubt you so show it to me. I also want to see a photo I shot with a celebrity.”

She held her hand out. Nayeon, who was resisting, eventually gave in and handed over the phone.

Haneul had a look at the photo on the screen. It was taken clearly, though, it looked rather faint because it was a low-light photo.

“How is it? You saw it for yourself.”

“It’s just as you see.”

“My impression isn’t important. How is it in your eyes, Miss Nayeon? Do you think you look better?”

“Are you trying to tease me?”

“You just found out? I thought you were quick-witted, but I must have been mistaken.”

Haneul had a look at the rest of the photos as well. Whether she looked at it with the eyes of an advertiser, director, or creator, she looked much better than Nayeon. It was an objective assessment.

“I’ll delete it then.”

“What?”

“I said I’ll delete it. You don’t like this photo, so I’ll erase it. Or should I leave one behind for you? For the kind-hearted actress who took good care of a minor actor.”

She erased the photos before handing the phone back to Nayeon.

“Also, you’ll get in big trouble if you give your phone to other people like this. What are you going to do if I saw a private photo or something?”

“I’m not foolish enough to leave behind stuff like that.”

“Really? Then that’s fine.”

Haneul looked at Nayeon putting on a dissatisfied expression. “Were you upset?”

“Who would be upset because of something like this? I’m not a kid.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Haneul saw lights for the shoot being turned on in the distance. She looked at them for a moment before turning around to Nayeon.

“Good luck on the shoot. I’ll watch the drama, so do your best. If you were upset because I acted like a child today, then just forget about it. I just had too much fun quarreling with an actor of my age after a long time. Don’t think too badly of me.”

She waved her hand at Nayeon and turned around. She took about ten steps when she heard running behind her.

Nayeon stood next to her, her face full of dissatisfaction and her arms crossed.

“What is it?”

“Just look at the camera. I’m gonna shoot.”

She suddenly started using informal speech. Nayeon glanced at her before continuing,

“You said we were the same age. Is it strange that I dropped the formal speech?”

She really was a reckless bull. A bull who acted like a deceitful fox, huh?

Haneul smiled and looked at the camera. She heard the shutter noise just once.

“Name.”

“What?”

“What’s your name?”

“Han Haneul.”

“That’s a stage name, right?”

“No.”

“Well, your name’s pretty. I’m better in appearance though.”

Nayeon moved her hand around busily just like her grumbling mouth. Haneul got slightly closer and looked at Nayeon’s phone. It was Instagram which celebrities started using about two months ago. The post was simple.

“I met Haneul at a shoot today. She’s so pretty, isn’t she? We’re going to do our best to become good actresses. Let’s do our best today…. You really can make up quite a bit on the spot.”

“Tell me honestly, don’t you feel good? I’m uploading a photo of you like this, and I’m acting like we’re close.”

Haneul tilted her head. “Well, I’m not really sure.”

She put her hands in her pocket and started walking. They had chatted for quite a bit now. Maru should be arriving soon.

“Hey!”

She thought it was over, but no. Nayeon chased her again.

“Aren’t you going?”

“I’m going to go. Before that, tell me your messenger ID.”

“Mine? Why?”

“I’ll send you the photo.”

“I don’t need it.”

“Why don’t you need it?! Anyway, give it to me. An opportunity like this doesn’t come often.”

“I said I’m okay though.”

“Just give it to me!”

Nayeon grabbed her sleeve and shook it. Haneul didn’t expect this to happen, so she was rather taken aback. She thought that Nayeon would bother her to no end if she didn’t give it to her, so she told her the ID.

“When are you coming again?” Nayeon asked.

Haneul straightened her crumpled sleeves. “I’m a minor actor so I won’t be coming.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m a minor actor.”

Just then, she got a call. It was from her husband. Haneul picked up the call as she turned around.

“Yeah. I’m just leaving now. See you in front of the parking lot.”

She checked up on Nayeon on her way. Nayeon, who was looking at her in a daze, pointed at her own face.

“Honestly, I’m a little prettier, you know? Keep that in mind!”

She was a funny girl until the end.

-Something up? You sound strangely pleased.

“I’ll tell you later. Kids these days are so funny.”

She stifled her giggle as she headed to the parking lot.