Life, Once Again!

After Story 53

It felt like she was watching a model answer. It was hard to find any deficiencies. If the acting was awkward, her good-looking appearance would have held her down instead, but because of the excellent character depiction, she was enraptured by the atmosphere before the face. Honestly, she thought that her face would be Haneul's biggest advantage.

However, Haneul showed that her face was only secondary and that her charms lay in her acting skills. She even fell for her for not losing her breath until the last moment.

They should be similar in age, so how was she so good?

"Please exit this way," a male employee said while opening the door.

She saw that the judge's eyes were fixed on Haneul. No, it wasn't just the judge. The participants all had their eyes glued on Haneul. Jealousy, surprise, shock... they contained various emotions. If there was one emotion that was shared among them, it was disappointment. They all seemed to have felt that this audition was no good for them. If their acting skills were on a similar level, then they would have had hopes. However, Haneul's acting was too domineering for them to have any hopes. To the people who saw Haneul's acting, they wouldn't be frustrated even if they failed to make it.

They followed the employee to the corridor. She listened to the explanation while returning the name tag; they would be contacted within half a month and the details will be told then.

Bada looked at the drama poster on the wall. In the corner was an actor she only knew the face of, but not the name. Now she knew; even playing a role like that required going through a path of thorns. She found that actor rather incredible.

"Uhm, can I take a selfie here?"

"Yes, go ahead."

After getting permission from the employee, she took a photo with the audition venue in the background. She posted the photo on Twitter and wrote down the feelings she had while acting. Thinking that she should be able to pass one someday if she kept recording her endeavors, she put her phone in her bag.

"It feels somewhat empty when the audition ends, doesn't it?"

Haneul suddenly talked to her. This person must like to appear out of nowhere. Everyone else had left the building, so why was this person here?

Bada blinked for a while before powerlessly replying 'yes'. She had just seen an act that was qualitatively different. While she resolved to not feel down, the truth was that she felt uncomfortable right now.

"Would you like to eat this? Something sweet is the best when you don't have energy."

It was almond chocolate. First, it was chewing gum, and now it was chocolate. Since she was given it, she accepted it and ate it. Tasting the slight bitterness, she looked at Haneul. She thought that this person looked out for anyone and that was just how her personality was. However, that wasn't the case. Whether in the audition venue or in the waiting room, Haneul gave only her something to eat and only talked to her.

"Uhm."

Number 46, who she thought had left, had returned. He seemed to have something to say to Haneul. Before the man could say anything else, Haneul spoke,

"Sorry. I have something to do with her." She grabbed Bada's hands. Bada rolled her eyes from side to side.

This put her in a difficult situation. Just as she was about to reflexively respond 'do what?' Haneul dragged her hand, saying 'let's go.' She couldn't even attempt to resist. Unlike her appearance, her strength was something else.

While being dragged, she looked at number 46. He was smiling bitterly. She felt sorry for some reason, for having become an obstacle between them.

Only after the elevator doors closed did Haneul let go. Bada looked at her palms, which had become red. Just where did the strength come from in such a slim figure?

"Did that hurt?"

"Forget hurt, why did you do that? That person seemed to have something to tell you," she said as she shook her hands. She was no romance expert, but she had her intuition as a woman. Number 46 must have held feelings for Haneul. From how he waited without calling out to her in a place with a lot of people, Bada could be sure of this.

"Really?"

I don't know — Haneul said with a smile. Maybe she had a boyfriend? Or did she not like such situations at all?

From how she grabbed a stranger's hands to escape the situation, it was clear that she really didn't like it.

"I don't know what it is, but tell him clearly next time. That man seemed to have summoned up a lot of courage to do that. Well, it's funny for me to say something like that though."

"That's the same for me. I'm bringing up a lot of courage too."

"What?"

That was out of nowhere. What did she need to bring up some courage for?

Along with a ding sound, the elevator opened. In any case, she would say goodbye to this woman now.

"Thanks for the chewing gum and chocolate. Also, I learned a lot from your act. It made me think about a lot of things. Anyway, good work today."

It was a rather peculiar meeting. She felt taken aback right now, but well, all sorts of people exist in the world.

This was just a hunch on her part, but she felt that it would be on TV that she would meet her next time. Perhaps she just talked with a future star.

After leaving the elevator, she left the building through the glass door. She was satisfied with this audition just from the fact that she was able to display the act she prepared without making a mistake. She heard some advice as well. She was planning to practice her voicing when she went back home so that she could have a voice as clear as the other participants.

Just as she was walking towards the bus stop, her eyes caught sight of a bunsik restaurant. She was about to pass by, but her eyes were glued to the red tteokbokki.

Maybe a small reward was okay? After a short contemplation, she made a deal with herself: to eat well and do well.

She entered the restaurant and had a look at the menu. Her resolve to order just one portion of tteokbokki disappeared as soon as she looked at the menu.

Just today — she recited the magic spell and looked at what she should buy. Just then...

"Dipping the boiled liver into the tteokbokki sauce is gonna taste awesome."

She took a step to the side and looked at the entrance of the store. Haneul was waving at her with a smile.

"Wh-what is this?"

"I just felt sorry. You were startled I dragged you all of a sudden, weren't you?"

"It's okay."

"Oh, it's okay."

Haneul looked upwards and hesitated. Bada was reminded of the cat that her brother raised. She was a proud one, but when she needed something, she would open her eyes wide and twist her body, and Haneul was just like that.

If anyone strange approached her like this, she would be suspicious, feel pressured, and even feel angry, but thanks to her cute and energetic side, this person didn't feel that spiteful. She just found it curious.

"Do you have anything to say to me?" she asked, finding her pitiful for looking at her intensely.

Haneul brightened up and spoke, "Would you like to eat together?"

"Huh?"

"As fellow audition participants, we should eat together, talk a little, share information, and let out any worries we might have..."

Haneul trailed off and looked right at her. Bada couldn't say no. Regardless of gender, anyone would have a hard time rejecting Haneul's request after she looked at them with eyes like that. Bada's heart fluttered even though she was a woman.

"There were other people than me. There's number 46 too."

"But I like you, Miss Bada."

"Me? Why?"

It wouldn't be strange if they knew each other from before, but they met for the first time today.

Not only that, they just sat next to each other in the audition and didn't even talk that deeply. Was there anything that could make her think like that?

"That's a pretty difficult question. You can come up with multiple reasons to hate a person, but it's hard to say why you like them. I'm not about to introduce you to some multi-level marketing scheme or occult religion, so don't worry about that. I just want to talk to you. We're both preparing to become actresses, so I think we can get along. Can't we?"

She was a strange person, but not a bad person. There was no reason to refuse either. Bada was someone who enjoyed new experiences, not someone who avoided them.

Talking with a stranger over a meal was something that she admired when she looked at such experiences written in travel essays.

Above all, someone who showed her a great act was talking to her. If it wasn't some impure motive but just to talk, then well....

"Okay."

"I knew it. You always get along with me, sister."

"Huh? Sister?"

"Oh, it's nothing."

Haneul pointed at the menu.

"Since we're hungry, should we eat something?"

"Okay. I'll go with a tempura set and tteokbokki."

"Some soondae and fishcake soup will be perfect then. Okay, go inside. I'll order."

"You have to pay here when you order."

Bada was about to take her wallet out of her bag, but Haneul stopped her. Bada was unable to budge when she felt the hard grip around her hands.

She even thought that maybe this person was suited to be a gymnast more than an actress.

"I'll treat you. If you don't like this, then you should treat me later. I'm the one who said we should eat together today, so it's only right for me to be the one buying."

"Okay. Then I'll buy the coffee."

"That's great."

Somehow, the conversation felt like they were on their first date. She chuckled and went deeper inside the restaurant. She didn't realize this when she looked at it from the outside, but the inside was pretty wide. There were customers sitting down at four of the seven tables, ranging from a group of high school girls screeching at every food they ate to a couple eating quietly.

She sat down at a table and took out her phone. She went to the internet community of actors she frequented and posted a review of the audition. She had gained tips, so it was only right for her to share the information as well.

She was focusing for a while but then raised her head when she heard people exclaim in admiration. A bunch of boys sitting at the table next to her were looking toward the kitchen. To be precise, they were looking at Haneul, who was walking over with a tray.

That in itself looked like a TV commercial. All she was doing was walking, but the atmosphere around her was surreal. She had also tied up her hair, and that changed the impression she gave off.

Bada looked at Haneul who sat opposite her before getting herself together.

"Looks delicious, doesn't it?"

"Huh? Oh, yes."

"Here's your fork and spoon."

She put some tempura in her mouth and looked around. Every single person in the restaurant gave Haneul a glance at least once. The couple was not an exception. She thought that the woman would give the man a slap, but it turned out that the woman was staring at Haneul as well.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"I am."

Was Haneul used to this kind of gaze? It was bound to be noticeable if many people looked at her, even if they did it secretly.

Didn't she feel uncomfortable? Just as she ate while having such worries, she felt her face feel hot. Haneul's gaze pierced her. She was grinning as though she was enjoying herself.

Bada fidgeted before coughing. It felt hot behind her ears. This was the first time a woman stared at her so intently and so blatantly in her life. She was even slightly worried that this woman may have slightly minor sexual preferences.

"You're very cute, Miss Bada."

"Huh? What?"

She felt like she had made a risky deal. The tteokbokki got stuck in her throat. Just then, Haneul covered her mouth and laughed out loud.

"I have a boyfriend, so don't worry."

"Wh-what are you saying I worried about?"

"It's written on your face though."

"N-no it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"I-it shouldn't be."

Bada kept fanning herself.

"If you don't want to believe it, should I show you a photo of him?"

Before she could say that it was okay, Haneul took out her phone. It was really difficult to escape her grasp after getting caught in her rhythm.

Bada waited while eating the tempura. A moment later, Haneul showed her her phone screen.

"He's good-looking isn't he?"

The moment she saw the screen, Bada frowned. That was a face she had seen a lot before.

No way, there's just no way. She put her face up close. At the same time, she was convinced. She felt like she was given the creeps all over her body.

"I'll ask just in case, but what is his name?"

"His name? He has a rather special name. He's called Han Maru. Now that I think about it, he has the same surname as you, doesn't he, Miss Bada?"

Oh my lord — Bada dropped her fork.