Chapter 76: Filming
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: Filming
Even if Seo Ye-rin had figured out the source of the hat Choi I-seo was wearing, the lecture proceeded regardless.
Though, the way Seo Ye-rin occasionally let out a subtle, flirtatious smile felt less like a simple seduction and more like a warning, which was honestly a bit terrifying.
After the lecture ended, it was lunchtime.
Normally, I would have been eating lunch with Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo, but today was different.
My group project teammates were all sitting at the same table.
The numbers had dwindled significantly compared to when we first met, but we had managed to gather nonetheless.
"We're all here, right? I'm just going to order Jeyuk for everyone, okay?"
The menu was Spicy Stir-fried Pork, but I wasn't the one who decided it—Captain Ju was.
As expected of Senior Ju-hee. Her judgment in picking a lunch menu was impeccable.
"Like I said in the group chat, we’re starting filming today. Let's hustle and finish shooting by next week so we can move on to editing."
We had a two-week filming period.
While producing a short film was a pretty tedious assignment, there was something subtly interesting about it. After all, we were the ones writing the script and acting out the roles.
"I uploaded the scenario, roles, and script to the chat. Everyone’s read them, right?"
Senior Ju-hee glanced around the table. Everyone gave a silent but positive response, and she let out a sigh of relief.
I had no idea what kind of scene would have unfolded if someone had said they hadn't read it.
"Some of you will head straight to filming after lunch, and some will have to skip out because of lectures. But we’re definitely meeting up in the evening. Most of our scenes are set at night."
Since the movie was a hodgepodge of romance and horror, many scenes required a nighttime setting.
"Han-gang was supposed to be the lead, but since that bastard is gone, Hyun-ho is taking over."
Ahn Hyun-ho scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh. Usually, people would feel pressured by a lead role, but he didn't seem to have much of an objection.
"Ye-rin will be the female lead. And these two are the subs filling in for the second-year girls who dropped out of the project."
Senior Ju-hee pointed toward Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin, who were sitting in the corner.
"They’ve agreed to help. I already talked to the professor about the second-years dropping out."
Seeing the satisfied look on her face, it seemed those three second-year girls were now firmly on the professor's bad side.
"Honestly, we haven't even started yet, and this group project is already looking like a disaster."
Just then, the Jeyuk arrived.
"I hope you guys don't make my life any more exhausting than it already is. But I can tell you one thing for sure."
Senior Ju-hee made a declaration as if she were giving a toast.
"Just do as you're told. If you do, I'll hard-carry this entire project for you."
Seriously.
"She's so cool."
I felt like I might actually fall for her.
* * *
"I'm so glad you have a five-hour free period."
Senior Ju-hee’s words pierced through me quite painfully. I was about to ask what she meant by that, but she seemed to realize she’d made a slip of the tongue and corrected herself with a smile.
"I mean, you can use your free time productively."
"I guess so."
Right now, we were waiting to film on a bench in a corner of the campus.
Since we weren't professionals and were just filming on our phones, we didn't need any heavy equipment, so we could have started immediately.
However, a problem arose from an unexpected place.
"So, so what?!"
"God dammit."
The moment Senior Ju-hee heard Ahn Hyun-ho’s pronunciation, she slapped her forehead and let out a deep sigh.
"I didn't expect to hit a wall like this."
Ahn Hyun-ho’s English pronunciation was so atrocious it made me wonder how he’d even gotten into university.
Not only that, but he couldn't even memorize the script properly and kept stuttering, causing the filming to stall.
"I don't know who you...!"
"You little shit! Get over here! Argh! You're dead! We're doing corrective training right now!"
Senior Ju-hee dragged Ahn Hyun-ho away. With nothing left to do, Seo Ye-rin slunk over and sat down next to me.
"Why aren't you replying?"
She immediately fired off the question.
Just a moment ago, she had been talking brightly, saying things like, "Woo-jina! Do you want a Coke?" or "What time did you say your lecture ends?"
But the moment everyone else was gone, she turned cold and glared at me.
"..."
I felt like I’d really get in trouble if I asked what she meant by "replying," so I kept my mouth shut. Seo Ye-rin gave my thigh a sharp pinch.
"Ow, that hurts!"
"That hat I-seo was wearing. It's yours."
"We could just have the same one!"
"You expect me to believe that?"
"..."
"Tell me the truth."
Seo Ye-rin placed her hand on my thigh with a thin smile. It felt like her physical contact had become more frequent lately, and it was happening too often to be dismissed as a coincidence.
"Did you sleep with I-seo?"
"..."
"No, I'm not mad. We aren't in the kind of relationship where I have any right to be mad anyway. You're free to get a girlfriend and all that."
"..."
"Tell me. Hmm?"
It felt like I was looking at a witch tempting someone with candy. She’d already figured it out anyway, and like she said, we weren't exactly in that kind of relationship.
"She just slept over. Nothing else happened."
"...Really?"
"Really."
"Hmm."
Honestly, I expected her to get angry even after I said that. The atmosphere certainly felt that way.
But.
"Then it's fine."
I couldn't help but be taken aback as Seo Ye-rin’s expression shifted to one of relief.
She acted as if it truly didn't matter. No, she actually seemed composed, which was strangely irritating.
"If you ever can't hold it in, just call me."
As she said that, she subtly slid her hand further up my inner thigh.
"Whoa!"
I reflexively jumped up to avoid her hand. My reaction seemed to amuse her, as she wiggled her fingers and laughed.
"Your reactions are so fun, Woo-jin."
"A-Are you crazy?"
"Why? We're partners, aren't we?"
"..."
She slowly stood up from her seat. She walked over and patted my shoulder, delivering a sort of warning.
"Don't just go using it wherever you want."
I could clearly tell that Seo Ye-rin had been changing ever since we had sex.
Leaving behind a chilling smile, she walked toward Senior Ju-hee and Ahn Hyun-ho.
I wondered if a person could change this much just because they finally had the sex they’d been screaming for.
At the same time, it was goosebump-inducing to realize that I was the only one who knew about this change.
Just like how she lived her life hiding the fact that she and Anonymous 69 were the same person.
Even now, the way she talked and laughed while hiding her true self... she was certainly qualified to be the lead in a movie.
"I'm going to head to the convenience store for a bit."
Watching Ahn Hyun-ho receive a crash course from Senior Ju-hee, I quietly backed away.
I still had some time before my 5 o'clock lecture, so I had to stick around, but Seo Ye-rin had made staying there quite uncomfortable.
'Why did she turn out like that?'
Seo Ye-rin was changing.
It felt like she was heading in a bad direction, and I wondered if I should try to set her straight.
But then again, I wondered what I could even do.
In the end, wasn't I the one who always gave in whenever a girl wagged her tail at me? It was the same with Seo Ye-rin, and the same with what happened yesterday.
'I need to get my head on straight.'
I was walking along, thinking that getting further entangled here could lead to serious trouble, when...
"Hey, ugly! What are you doing!"
I didn't look back because I'm not ugly, but I immediately felt an impact on my back.
Yoo Ah-rin, who had smacked my back with her palm, approached with a grin.
"Aren't you supposed to be filming? Why are you skipping out?"
"Hah."
I never thought I’d feel this way, but seeing Yoo Ah-rin actually made my troubled mind feel at ease.
Was it because she openly picked fights and acted annoyed with me?
Strangely, that felt much more comfortable.
She used to be a girl with hidden motives, but from the moment I realized that the stuff involving Chan-woo and high school had nothing to do with me...
It became much easier to deal with her.
She had motives, but it felt like they were all out in the open now, which made things simpler.
"I'm here to buy drinks. You buy one too."
"You're buying? Then I'll have a Haagen-Daz...!"
"No, buy it with your own money."
"You son of a bitch, you always phrase things so misleadingly."
She grumbled but picked out a Chocomong from the convenience store.
"Are you heading to the shoot now too?"
As I picked out some random drinks for the people filming, Yoo Ah-rin replied in an excited voice.
"Yeah! Honestly, I'm really looking forward to it."
"Well, you always did like movies and stuff."
Since she enjoyed movies and writing scripts, she probably wanted to be involved even if it wasn't her own assignment.
I figured she’d be happy as long as we got a good grade.
"But it'll be a while before it's your turn to shoot. We haven't even finished a few scenes yet."
"Eh? Why? It's been like two hours since lunch."
"You'll see when you get there."
Progress was stalled thanks to the English Department Vice-Rep's "super carry." I figured Yoo Ah-rin would probably crack up when she saw it.
"Ah, I want to do it already. I even practiced in front of the mirror."
"...Whatever."
I finished paying with a shrug and was about to head back to the filming location when Yoo Ah-rin grabbed me.
"Hey, watch me act and tell me if it's okay."
"No."
"Oh, come on! I'm helping you with your assignment!"
Good grief.
I set the bag of drinks on an outdoor table in front of the convenience store and looked at her.
She took out the Chocomong she’d just bought, took a few sips, then took a deep breath and glared at me.
'Oh, not bad?'
Her emotions were surprisingly well-conveyed.
But was there a scene like this for the character Yoo Ah-rin was playing?
"Fucking cool today!"
"..."
"Fuck you! Asshole!"
"..."
"Kiss my ass! Shit!"
Finally, she thrust her middle finger into the air and bobbed her shoulders like some kind of rapper.
"Fuck off!"
"...Are those lines actually in the script?"
I hadn't looked at the script properly, so I wasn't sure, but was that really in there?
"No? They're not."
"..."
"That was for all the times you cursed at me. Phew, that felt good."
With a refreshed expression, she pulled a Hershey Choco Milk from her bag and practically slammed it into my chest.
Then, she ran off.
Dumbfounded, I stared at her retreating back and let out a hollow laugh.
"She really is a crazy bitch."