Chapter 29
Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Trauma on Set
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The principal's office featured a sofa and table for receiving guests, along with a neatly organized work desk.
"Alright! Here we go. 5! 4! 3!"
The director raised his hand, folding his fingers one by one as he counted down, then fell silent.
Silence descended in an instant.
Even amid the quiet, his fingers continued to fold.
As usual, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to steady my mind.
'I'm Ha Jeong-min, who passed the teacher certification exam at the top of her class and is full of professional spirit.' It didn't take long to fully grasp my emotions. By the time I opened my eyes, Director Han Mun-jin had clenched his fist, signaling the start.
"Principal, why did you call me here personally?"
After I delivered my opening line, Kim Seong-hyun's expression shifted noticeably. Calm eyes and a natural demeanor. Seated on the sofa, Kim Seong-hyun embodied the principal perfectly, exuding an aura that was utterly distinct. He took a sip of coffee without even glancing away, reciting his lines steadily.
"I hope you'll keep just this one thing in mind, Teacher."
I stood there frozen, listening intently to the principal's words before responding.
"Yes."
"The guardian of student Yoo Seong-min is the grandson of a major corporation investing in our Ace High School."
"......"
"You're in charge of Class 3, which includes that student. Please take good care of him. Understood?"
"......"
"I'm asking if you understand."
Yoo Seong-min was... the role played by Cha Eun-hyuk. The principal was blocking any scolding of him under the pretext of him being a chaebol heir. I nodded with a reluctant expression to show my displeasure.
"Yes, I understand."
"Your expression isn't great. Is there a problem, Teacher Ha Jeong-min?"
Feeling the pressure from his words, I composed my face and shook my head. The line he'd just delivered wasn't in the original script. Normally, he was supposed to say I could leave. 'Is he going off-script?' Director Han Mun-jin hadn't intervened yet. That meant he was letting it play out. 'In that case...' I was a bit flustered, but if we were going this way, I'd have to improvise my lines too. Instead of just saying "Yes" and exiting the office, I got a little greedy and extended my response.
"I understand, Principal. I'll take my leave now."
"Very well. You're dismissed."
After stepping out of the office, I grumbled to myself, replaying his performance. '...Did he think I wasn't reliable enough?' Pressuring the other actor to draw out a better performance. It was a technique typically used on juniors who were off their game. My condition today was excellent. 'Even so.' Why had he done it? I circled back to the rear door and watched Kim Seong-hyun, who was still shooting.
"Oh dear! Chairman, hello sir."
In the middle of a phone call, he bowed subserviently and lowered his voice. It was a stark contrast to the serious demeanor he'd shown me. He bowed to the empty air, flashing a bright smile.
"Ah, it's been handled cleanly. No need to worry. Haha!"
Ending the call, he stood and gazed out the window.
"We've got ourselves a fine investor."
The shoot wrapped with the chilling smile reflected in the window. Director Han Mun-jin jumped to his feet.
"Great! Now two-shot, so get ready again!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Move it, everyone!"
The staff rushed over, fixing my clothes and makeup, along with Seong-hyun sunbae's. The second take began. Then the third. The fourth. Again and again, Kim Seong-hyun sunbae pressured me during the scenes. And because of that? Before I knew it, my palms were slick with cold sweat. The constant pressure had me tense.
"Cut! Moving to the next scene. If you all want to wrap up early, hustle! Let's do this!"
The first scene of the day was finally done. I should have been thrilled it ended early. But an uneasy feeling lingered. 'For the next scene, I need to hold my own against sunbae. Gotta give it everything.' I steeled my resolve, clenching my fist. But. No sooner had shooting resumed than problems arose.
Han Mun-jin halted filming the moment he noticed Lee Jun-seo's pallor.
Sweat beading on his forehead, face drained white.
It was nothing like his usual self.
He kept flubbing the confrontation with the two delinquent students.
"Feeling off today? What do you think, Seong-hyun? He seems strange, right?"
Having watched Lee Jun-seo's acting closely, Kim Seong-hyun nodded.
"Yes, Director. Jun-seo seems off. It's probably... never mind."
"Finish what you were saying."
"Well..."
Kim Seong-hyun recounted his entire classroom chat with the junior. Han Mun-jin's face grew grave.
"So, he's a victim of school bullying..."
"Seems like it. Looked like he had trauma left over. I raised my hand out of concern, and he flinched."
Han Mun-jin knew Kim Seong-hyun had sharp instincts.
So he took it as fact.
"Sigh, a kid who looks perfectly fine—did he get bullied at school or something?"
The short break ended.
Filming resumed, but...
Lee Jun-seo couldn't focus at all and messed up again.
"NG! Hey, Jun-seo! It's a simple scene scolding delinquents—why are you acting scared every time? Get it together!"
Failing to concentrate due to past trauma was embarrassing for an actor.
In such cases, a director had to toughen up.
"With focus that bad, you think you'll make it as an actor?"
"......"
"Not embarrassed? You're wasting everyone else's time!"
Hitting his pride after respecting his seniority made Lee Jun-seo's eyebrow twitch.
"...Sorry, Director."
"Sigh, one last chance. Clear your head during break."
"Yes, sir."
After Lee Jun-seo left, Han Mun-jin let out a deep sigh.
"Aren't you pushing too hard?"
"That's what a director does. Go after him and talk him down."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Hate that?"
"Haha, no. I'll go chat with him."
"Good, thanks."
Kim Seong-hyun followed Lee Jun-seo quietly into an empty classroom.
Lee Jun-seo's expression was poor as he sat lost in thought in the silent room.
He closed the back door while pondering how to comfort him.
Lee Jun-seo turned at the sound.
"Ah, Seong-hyun sunbae."
As a life senior.
Listening to his troubles should help.
"Junior, wanna talk?"
"Pardon?"
I was startled to see Kim Seong-hyun enter the classroom behind me.
His expression was serious.
'Here to chew me out for the mistakes?' I'd definitely been unfocused this time. My fault entirely. I'd kept messing up the same part. The blurry memories of Lee Jun-seo from the two sunbaes' delinquent acting had sharpened into fragments. Enough to shatter my concentration. Forcing rotten, jelly-like milk down my throat, of course. And dunking my face in the toilet... Just recalling made my stomach churn. Even though it wasn't me who'd endured it. My body wouldn't obey. It trembled against my will—enough to drive me mad.
"Junior, you..."
Kim Seong-hyun turned, fixing me with a serious gaze. I flinched involuntarily. Yet he pressed on.
"Were you bullied at school?"
"Pardon? Ah..."
It felt like someone had smashed a hammer into my head—my mind went blank. My lips went dry.
"...I see."
With sympathetic eyes, he approached and patted my shoulder.
"Must've been tough, huh? Tell your sunbae everything. I'll listen. It'll feel better to get it off your chest."
He flashed a gentle smile, pulled out the chair beside me, and sat.
"Um, that's..."
I was at a loss amid the huge misunderstanding. No, not a misunderstanding? Lee Jun-seo had been bullied. So... I should just say it, but my lips wouldn't move. How much time passed? Finally, they parted.
"...Actually, I don't remember well."
"What?"
"I've lost most of the memories."
Blending truth and lies, Kim Seong-hyun's face hardened instantly. Heavy silence fell. He rose quietly. Then approached with an odd look in his eyes and pulled me into a warm hug, as if saying it'd be okay now. 'Why today of all days?' My mind knew I was fine. But my body didn't agree. As he patted my back with warm hands, my vision blurred with tears.
"Whenever bad memories surface, think of your cute daughter. It'll help."
This felt like Lee Jun-seo's emotion. I pulled away quickly, wiped my tears with my sleeve, and smiled brightly.
"Thanks. I'm okay now."
"Good. I'll give you space. Come back to set when you're calm."
"Yes, sir."
Confirming he'd left, I sorted through what had happened. About a year since possession. Why were Lee Jun-seo's memories surfacing now? And. What had led to Lee Jun-seo being bullied? Rage boiled up suddenly. If I were him back then, enduring that severe bullying... I'd have fought back, even if beaten badly. No outlet for the anger, I slammed my fist on the desk. Thud! Suffocating silence. I sighed deeply, stood, and headed out. The door slid open. Cha Eun-hyuk stood there, scratching his cheek awkwardly as he handed something over.
"You look down, so... this is to cheer you up. Take it."
Red ginseng drink—my least favorite.
"...Why this?"
"You were sweating, looked sick. It's good for health."
He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out something else.
"And take this."
"What's that?"
"My daily supplement. Worried about you, junior. Haha."
"Ah... Thanks."
"Don't beat yourself up over today's flubs. Even great actors mess up as rookies."
His awkward encouragement nearly made me laugh. Grateful, I held it in and bowed.
"Thanks for worrying."
"Wanna be a pillar for you, but failing. Sorry. Haha."
Help? From whom? With his experience. A senior relying on a lowly junior. Still, his warm concern eased my heart. Now, I could shoot perfectly without shaking.
"Rest a bit more, then come."
"Yes. I'll enjoy this."
"Alright, I'm off."
I clenched my stinging fist from slamming the desk. "I won't lose to past memories."
Break over, we resumed. I opened the attendance book in front of the students.
"Roll call time. Kwon Min-ji."
"Yesss!"
"Kim Seung-ah."
"Yesss! Here, Teacher."
The girls raised hands with nasal twangs and bright smiles.
"Just answer. Yoon Sang-min."
"Yessss! Teacherrr."
"Boys, no nasal voices. Creepy."
"Aw, Teacher! That's mean!"
"Puhahaha!"
The extra students livened things up, filling the classroom with laughter.
I called all the names on the list and eyed the empty seats.
"Only Kim In-hyuk and Yoo Seong-min absent? No word from them?"
Then.
The back door burst open. Gang Min-woo and Cha Eun-hyuk sauntered in casually and took empty seats.
The mood plummeted instantly.
This was the part I'd flubbed repeatedly.
Cha Eun-hyuk's piercing glare made my body tremble on instinct.
My heart raced.
Thump! Thump! I couldn't mess up here again.