Chapter 70
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Tryout Decisions
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The day after the end-of-term ceremony, it was the day they'd decided to hold their social gathering after a long while.
The café was still quiet.
No one from the other schools had shown up yet—just Kim Sun-woo, Moon Woo-hyuk, and Song Ha-na gathered together.
The indoor garden, surrounded by summer-blooming flowers, gave off a completely different charm from the last time they'd visited.
Once fragrant herbal tea was set out as well, the three of them leisurely savored the aroma while waiting for the rest of the members.
“Kim Sun-woo, have you checked all the tryout info? They’re even holding the auditions at the Korean Art Hall.”
Song Ha-na brought up the tryout talk she'd heard just yesterday.
Moon Woo-hyuk had zero interest since it was a spot he couldn't enter anyway.
He didn't want to hear about it or think about it—he was just silently playing a mobile game.
Kim Sun-woo glanced at Song Ha-na for a moment before smiling faintly and asking.
“But Song Ha-na, were you always planning to do the tryouts?”
“Huh?”
“I thought you had some other schedule over break. I was a bit surprised when you said yesterday you'd do it right away.”
“I did have something else, but when I thought about it, the tryouts...”
“It's because Do-hyun said he'd do it, right?”
As always, Kim Sun-woo tossed out a straight-ball question without a second thought.
At those words, Moon Woo-hyuk froze mid-game.
Even Song Ha-na, who had been calmly responding, faltered a little.
“W-what! You think I'd change my schedule for him? I was planning to get some tutoring from my teacher in Jeju and spend a month at the villa in Seogwipo, but I just figured standing on the Art Hall stage was a better opportunity.”
“Your mind changed that suddenly?”
“Of course! What do you take me for?”
Kim Sun-woo kept smiling as he watched her, and Song Ha-na got unnecessarily irritated, busily denying it.
Moon Woo-hyuk, who'd been quietly listening, tossed out a question as if uninterested.
“So, you're doing the tryouts?”
“Yeah. I'll give the audition a shot. Not like I won't get picked anyway.”
Only the four freshmen were auditioning for the 'Pyeongchang-dong 777' tryout performance this time.
With upperclassmen not participating and roles divided by gender, there was no way she'd fail.
Song Ha-na stated it like it was obvious as she sipped her tea.
“Mmm. Nice aroma. Feels like a tea they didn't have here before.”
“Dad brought it back from England recently. I figured you'd like it, so I asked the tea sommelier when we arrived first.”
As usual for their gatherings, Song Ha-na had rented out the entire café.
Sharing not just the prepared menu but ones they'd brought themselves like this was commonplace.
“Oh? It's good. I'll enjoy it.”
Song Ha-na took another sip, savored it, then set her cup down.
“But what about you, Kim Sun-woo? Did you talk to the homeroom teacher?”
“I'm not doing the tryouts. Or rather, I can't.”
At Kim Sun-woo's words, Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk both looked at him in surprise.
Kim Sun-woo glanced back and forth between them before smiling and explaining.
Even if he denied it, having grown up together, the two synced up surprisingly well.
They'd probably blow up if he told them this.
“Dad wants me to head to England for a bit. Figured I'd go get some fresh air.”
“Well, if your family says go, no choice.”
The tryouts were definitely a great opportunity.
An experience standing on the same stage—even briefly—with top active actors before graduation wasn't something you could buy.
But these three were also heirs to families that could offer even better opportunities and education.
No need to fixate solely on the tryouts.
“It's not exactly that. I wanted to go to England anyway.”
Kim Sun-woo said that as he looked at Moon Woo-hyuk.
“So today, I told the homeroom teacher I probably couldn't join the tryouts. But Teacher asked about your schedule, Woo-hyuk?”
“My schedule?”
Moon Woo-hyuk's face lit up for a split second before he quickly schooled it into nonchalance out of embarrassment.
“Hey. It's okay to like it. Why hide it?”
Song Ha-na said it to Moon Woo-hyuk with an even brighter face of her own.
She knew full well he was interested but pretending otherwise.
“Like what... I still need to check my schedule.”
As his expression already betrayed, Moon Woo-hyuk was dying to join the tryouts.
But his thoughts were a bit tangled now.
It was a great chance, sure—but one he was getting only because Kim Sun-woo was out.
Would Dad like getting a hand-me-down opportunity like that?
He wanted to do it, but worried Dad might see him as pathetic.
“Why overthink it?”
Song Ha-na said it to Moon Woo-hyuk, who'd gone from thrilled to gloomy, sounding exasperated.
Kim Sun-woo figured it was pride holding him back.
What to do.
Might as well make it clear the spot wasn't going to Woo-hyuk just because he didn't want it.
“I really wanted to do it too, but Dad insisted I come this time. Planning to catch a bunch of musicals while I'm in England anyway.”
At Kim Sun-woo's regretful words, Moon Woo-hyuk's expression brightened a touch.
Still just a big kid—simple as that.
Song Ha-na, watching from the side, glanced at Kim Sun-woo then cleared her throat.
“Anyway, I'll get in no problem, so the guy's spot is the issue. With you out, Kim Sun-woo, does that mean Lee Do-hyun auto-passes?”
“Who knows? If Woo-hyuk says no, guess we'd have to ask if it goes to the next in line.”
He'd baited the hook hard.
They bragged about reading eyes, and sure enough—the two shared perfect chemistry without a word.
Inside, both Song Ha-na and Kim Sun-woo were struggling to hold back laughter.
“I kinda want to go up against Lee Do-hyun again anyway.”
Song Ha-na and Kim Sun-woo's eyes gleamed.
Jackpot.
“Yeah? Then call the teacher.”
“Ugh, annoying.”
Finally, Kim Sun-woo gave Moon Woo-hyuk's back a subtle shove.
Despite his grumbling, Moon Woo-hyuk immediately texted Huh Ji-woong.
So cute at times like this.
Kim Sun-woo smiled warmly and, while Moon Woo-hyuk was absorbed in texting, flashed Song Ha-na a thumbs-up where he couldn't see.
***
After the gathering ended, Kim Sun-woo's car was waiting up front, and the two saw him off.
“Safe travels. I'll Kakao you that restaurant I went to last time.”
Song Ha-na said it casually, waving her phone.
She frequented England too, the home of theater and musicals.
“Haha. Thanks, Song Ha-na.”
Kim Sun-woo laughed as he got in the car.
“Have fun. No need for souvenirs.”
Kim Sun-woo waved to Moon Woo-hyuk.
They didn't need most gifts anyway—that was kinda sincere.
“Got it. I'll text when I land in England, you guys. Drive safe!”
With Kim Sun-woo's car gone, the two remained.
“He won't, right?”
“Nope.”
For all his words, Kim Sun-woo always went radio silent over break.
Promised to keep in touch every time, then ghosted.
No one knew what he did on vacation.
Next, Song Ha-na and Moon Woo-hyuk's cars pulled up.
The drivers got out and opened the doors.
“Go on.”
“Yeah, see you at auditions.”
Once in the car, Moon Woo-hyuk's face filled with worry—unlike when he was with the others.
He'd decided on the spot talking with them, but now doubt crept in.
What would Dad say?
***
A knock echoed in Moon Kang-hyun's foundation office.
“Come in.”
Creak.
The one entering was his son, Moon Woo-hyuk.
“Sit.”
Moon Kang-hyun removed his glasses, set them on the desk, and took a seat at the table.
Moon Woo-hyuk settled on the opposite sofa.
He knew why he'd been summoned to the office.
Probably because of yesterday's report card.
Normally he'd apologize, but today the words wouldn't come.
*Say you're sorry, Moon Woo-hyuk...*
Moon Woo-hyuk clenched his fist.
His heart pounded fiercely.
The secretary entered and placed a teacup before each.
Moon Kang-hyun picked up his and asked.
“Where you coming from?”
“Social gathering with Kim Sun-woo and Song Ha-na.”
“I saw the grades. So in the end, first place this semester was just the one comprehensive eval.”
Moon Kang-hyun set his cup on the table.
“Satisfying result?”
Straight to the point, as was Moon Kang-hyun's way.
Moon Woo-hyuk flinched but couldn't answer.
Of course he wasn't fully satisfied with his final grades.
He hadn't even held onto his usual third place because of Do-hyun.
Still, he was quietly pleased with the comprehensive eval.
First time beating Kim Sun-woo, and not losing to Do-hyun.
And... the first time he'd truly felt musicals were fun.
*If I say I'm satisfied, what'll he say? Pathetic for settling for that?*
Unable to predict his father's reaction, Moon Woo-hyuk couldn't speak easily.
“No answer means yes?”
No matter how strict, Moon Kang-hyun could read his son by his eyes alone.
If dissatisfied, he'd have said no.
But he was sitting silent, thinking.
If not negative, then positive?
“I'm sorry.”
Not sorry for messing up.
Sorry for falling short of his father's expectations as a son.
“No need to be.”
Moon Woo-hyuk looked up in surprise at the words, staring at his father.
“Still, first time beating Kim Sun-woo.”
Moon Kang-hyun had heard about the comprehensive eval from Han Hyo-jin.
Said he seemed different from the Woo-hyuk she knew—grown.
Combined with what he'd seen of Woo-hyuk in the practice room, it wasn't a bad outcome.
“It wasn't one-on-one. I regret that too.”
Moon Woo-hyuk didn't show instant glee at the praise.
He knew voicing regrets first wouldn't irk his father.
“Musicals are teams. Team harmony matters too.”
“......”
“Beat Kim Sun-woo—can't beat Lee Do-hyun?”
Moon Woo-hyuk felt confused.
His father's tone seemed softer than before, but he couldn't quite believe it.
“The tryouts. You can take Kim Sun-woo's spot.”
How did he know so fast?
Moon Woo-hyuk figured since it was out, he'd spill everything.
“I don't see it as pride-hurting or a sub-in because of Kim Sun-woo. What matters is the chance came to me, and I want to stand on that stage.”
He squeezed out his rehearsed thoughts, eyes squeezed shut.
“Fine. Do it then.”
“Huh?”
Moon Kang-hyun's cool approval left him flustered instead.
“Do what you want this time too. You did last time anyway.”
Unclear if expectation or resignation in the tone.
Moon Woo-hyuk nodded for now.
Not a reprimand, at least.
“This time, I'll definitely win it. No matter what.”
Moon Kang-hyun gazed at his son with an odd expression.
In that short time, Woo-hyuk's eyes had changed.
No longer the impulsive gleam of a child.
That was the look of true yearning.
Moon Kang-hyun, silent, glanced at the clock.
“Go on.”
Moon Woo-hyuk stood, bowed ninety degrees, and left.
Moon Kang-hyun kept staring at the door his son had exited, face inscrutable.