Summer Time Loop (2): Baek Yul's Cinema (Not the Caramel Popcorn Joint)
Baek Yul's cinema—which, to be clear, wasn't the kind with caramel popcorn—was crystal clear on this point.
"Movies are ultimately lies that fool the audience. The kind of lie I chase is one that makes you believe the world still has something real despite it all. So what do you think the audience will see if you show up on screen?"
A truth woven sharply from layers of deception. No room for compromise.
"Couldn't you just act according to the role?"
"That doesn't even work."
Baek Yul raked back his messy gray hair in frustration.
"No matter how you use it, the plausibility or authenticity just crumbles."
"I don't quite get what you mean."
"You're saying your face itself is such a blatant lie. The kind where any hardship or flaw a person stakes their life on feels like a joke. That kills the narrative dead. The audience won't buy it anymore. If you wanna play the perfect chaebol heir, go hit up a drama agency."
In short, his major was realism, not fantasy.
"And honestly, after seeing my films, I doubt you'd even think of asking for a casting."
"I've seen them. Brick Series and I Hate Grass."
Mundine's teachings. Prep in advance on what the other person loves. Even if it's sloppy, it's better than bragging about specifics—show you've taken an interest and studied up.
"And?"
"Your films show humanity's ugly side raw the whole way through, but weirdly, that world feels beautiful. Bricks are rough and dusty, but stack them up and you get a stunning building. That's what I think your artistic world is."
Texture. A key element in film criticism, and one of those magic words that fits anywhere.
Baek Yul's sharp gaze softened a bit, like he hadn't expected me to come this prepared.
"Fine. But you've got no ugly edges. In terms of texture, you're just smooth as glass."
Smooth as glass. Sleek.
I didn't think it'd be this hard to convince him.
I silently cursed Han Soye sunbae in my head. No, even the great Baek Yul would cave to his girlfriend's request, right?
As the conversation dragged on, the footage and sunbaes lurking in the shadows behind him started stirring.
"Please... Yul-ah... let's just shoot it..."
"Let's work with some hot, pretty kids for once, please."
"Just one fantasy. For real, just once."
But the sunbaes didn't dare voice their opinions. Baek Yul had two trophies from film festivals, after all.
Instead, they shot him desperate hand signals, eyes pleading. One clasped hands in prayer, another pounded his chest like please drop the stubbornness.
But Baek Yul didn't budge.
"I'm sleeping."
He tried pulling the blanket over his head again.
"Aaaagh!"
"Kwaaagh."
"Please!"
"Seryeon-ah, should we just shoot it ourselves? Yeah? Let's do that. Sounds good."
Despite the sunbaes' laments, the decision showed no signs of flipping. Baek Yul had already turned his back.
This was it—the chance would vanish forever.
No choice, then.
I swallowed dryly. Time for the nuclear option.
Actually, Han Soye sunbae had added one more tip when she introduced me to him.
"Yul oppa never says yes to straight requests. He's actually super nice, but he hates looking soft in front of others. Like that middle-school syndrome vibe obsessed with art?"
"Then what do I do?"
"Give him an excuse. Poke at him."
"He's nice, so why poke?"
"Poke his pride as an artist, and he'll use that as justification to say yes!"
It sounded unbelievable. And risky as hell. Provoking a sunbae outright was near-suicidal in the arts pecking order. Different department softened it a tad, but still insane. Could wreck my school life.
But Han Soye had anticipated that.
"Low odds, but if he actually gets mad, just tell me. I'll smooth it over quick."
If that tip was legit, now was the moment to play the card.
I leaned toward Baek Yul's back as he reached for the blanket and murmured low.
"Don't people in the film world say it all the time? Badly made movies sell anyway thanks to famous actors or visuals. That's why they hate commercial flicks."
"......What?"
Baek Yul—the living embodiment of DC's Nouvelle Vague gallery—froze instantly. The other film sunbaes in the room did too.
"Meanwhile, directors chasing art films rarely use star actors. They say it interferes with the message."
As someone in the creative trenches myself, I knew exactly where to poke. Hit the pride with something broadly true but fuzz the facts just enough. And keep the tone calm, like pure academic curiosity.
Kang Saero next to me caught on, though. Her hand clenched my uniform sleeve, trembling.
"Hey! Are you nuts?"
She hissed in my ear, voice squeezed in horror.
"What the hell are you saying to sunbae?!"
Her face had gone ghost-white. Fair enough. A first-year freshman provoking a third-year department topper—and a notoriously prickly one like Baek Yul.
But the water was spilled, dice rolled. I patted her hand reassuringly and pressed on.
"Every time I hear that, though, I always wonder."
I shrugged.
"A crap director's crap story hits big thanks to a star's face. But an amazing director's message gets buried by that fame? Can't even deploy the art because it's overshadowed?"
The mood was getting scary, but what was done was done. Might as well go all in.
I dropped the killing blow.
"Or maybe they're just dodging because they lack confidence to outdirect the visuals."
"Hah???"
Baek Yul's brow furrowed wildly.
"You poking me right now?"
"Nah. Just curious."
A chill silence blanketed the editing room. No one stepped up, but their stares held a weird excitement. Please bite. Please take the bait! Something like that.
The only one truly terrified in here was Kang Saero. She whispered from beside me.
"I wanna disappear."
And actually ducked behind my back.
"......"
Baek Yul glared at me for a long stretch. How much time passed?
Then he suddenly twisted his lips into a smirk and let out a hollow chuckle.
"You learned this from Han Soye, huh."
"Just a little tip from Soye sunbae."
He must really like her. Mentioning her name alone softened his eyes and vibe completely. The tension eased right then.
"Hey, underclassman!"
Baek Yul shot up from his seat. Shorter than me by a head, but his gaze screamed bloodlust and competitive fire.
Why? He reminded me of a Chihuahua. They say if that breed were bigger, no one could live with them. Too fierce, barky, even bite humans.
But Chihuahuas are tiny, so the ferocity just looks cute. Baek Yul was exactly that right now.
"Think I can't pull it off? Huh?"
Baek Yul sighed heavily.
"Haa... That damn Han Soye. Might as well print a guide and hand it out. Fine."
"Soye sunbae just said poke gently—the specifics I came up with."
"You did good. Real good. Nailed the nerve."
He irritably shoved his glasses up.
"Alright. I'll do one. That commercial thing."
The declaration unleashed a roar from the film crew and sunbaes.
Children of darkness, as expected—they'd already huddled in the shadows.
"Wooooaaah!"
"Festival time! Lights on everything!"
"Grab the reflectors!"
"Yul noona, you know we love you for real, right?"
Noona? He's a guy.
It was like a World Cup final goal had dropped.
"Ah.... They're at it again."
Baek Yul looked exasperated as he flipped open the laptop on his desk amid the cheers.
* * *
Baek Yul's drive was terrifying.
He started directing the staff on the spot.
"Song vibe: summer, youth, carbonation. Got it. I can do that. Easy. But just pretty ain't fun."
He muttered like to himself.
"Surface-level glossy rom-com youth flick, but packed with Easter eggs and MacGuffins for interpretation layers."
The sunbaes were already hyped, hammering the laptop.
"Idol MVs try this a lot lately—looks good, we can reference."
"Yul sunbae, costumes?"
"Uniforms. Our school's are the prettiest here."
Baek Yul glanced up and tossed an order my way.
"Seryeon underclassman, go stand against that wall."
"Huh? Like this?"
"Yeah. Just stand there."
He framed me with finger-guns, scanning from angles. Was he snapping mental shots?
"Hm. Hit the light right here?"
Photo 1.
"So damn annoying."
Photo 2.
"You close with Soye?"
"Nah, just club sunbae. She begged me to join."
"Right."
Baek Yul headed to the door and flicked on another fluorescent.
"Now Kang Saero underclassman, stand next to him."
Light setup tweak? He lined us up side-by-side and nodded, satisfied.
The prickliness was gone; now it was the blazing eyes of a creation-hungry artist.
"Whoa, but you two really..."
"Yes?"
"Should do ad modeling."
Compliment or insult? He handed the camera to another sunbae.
"Test shoot time. Lemme see your acting tone."
Now the simple test began.
"Okay, Seryeon underclassman—look at camera. Girl you've got a crush on is heading abroad. Wanna grab her but can't say it, so you just burn inside with that wistful gaze. Got it? Action!"
I nodded, mustered the emotion. Unrequited love. Farewell. Pain. I dredged up my past life's melancholy and sorrow, pouring it into my eyes.
A beat later.
"Cut."
Baek Yul lowered the camera with a deep sigh.
"Hey. Kim Seryeon."
"Yes."
"Your acting..."
"......"
"Sucks absolute ass. Robot much?"