Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Pushing to the Limit
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I shook off all my fear and quietly opened my mouth.
"In-hyuk and Seong-min, why are they late?"
"What's there to be curious about?"
"Teacher, just ignore us and do your lesson."
I scowled deeply at his response as he propped his feet up on the desk.
As expected.
Even though I'd clearly shaken off my emotions and fully become 'Ha Jeong-min' the teacher.
My body was shaking so badly that immersing myself in the role was incredibly difficult.
'This won't do...'
Then, I suddenly remembered my senior's advice. Think of Yu-na when things get tough, right?
Recently, she'd been dancing all wobbly...
Huh?
I placed my hand on my chest.
Just thinking of Yu-na as my senior suggested magically stopped the trembling.
The tension melted away completely.
Right now.
'I can act properly.'
I clenched my fist tightly and scanned the room. My two seniors were watching me with narrowed eyes.
'What the hell. They're doing it again?'
Once more, my body started trembling against my will, and I kept picturing Yu-na to dispel the fear.
...It'll be okay.
I calmly strode up to Cha Eun-hyuk and spoke.
"Seong-min. Feet off the desk."
"Why do you care, teacher?"
"Because I'm your teacher, that's why."
"Ugh, seriously annoying..."
Cha Eun-hyuk narrowed his eyes, lowered his feet, and shot up from his seat.
"I took attendance, so I'm out."
This was the exact moment.
My body trembled at his aggressive attitude.
I immediately thought of Yu-na.
Then I spoke again.
"Class is about to start."
"Yeah. You teach diligently, teacher. In-hyuk. Let's go."
Cha Eun-hyuk turned away indifferently, shoved his hands in his pockets, and headed for the back door.
Drag.
"Hey! Come on out. You going alone?"
Silence fell after Kang Min-woo left. The role he was playing, Kim In-hyuk, was a model student who studied hard.
But after entering high school, he fell in with the wrong crowd and changed.
Kang Min-woo's face briefly flickered with hesitation, as if questioning if this was really okay, hinting at that backstory.
Bam!
Only after my seniors left my sight did a sense of relief wash over me.
We've made it this far.
'Let's wrap this up cleanly this time.'
To end the dragged-out shoot, I cleared my throat and scanned the students.
"Don't be like that, got it?"
"Cut! Good! Move the camera over there and we're rolling right away!"
The moment the director called cut, I wiped the sweat beading on my forehead.
My back was already soaked.
I'd never drained my mental energy like this before—my eyelids and body felt heavy, like I could collapse any second.
And there was still more filming left.
'Just hang in a bit longer.'
Han Mun-jin smirked as he watched Lee Jun-seo. The guy who'd flubbed lines repeatedly was now delivering smooth, solid acting.
It wasn't quite on the level of his formal audition, but nothing worth nitpicking.
"Making me worry for nothing."
He leaned back in his chair and poked Kim Seong-hyun's side, who sat beside him.
"What'd you two talk about?"
"...Nothing at all."
"Yeah? Doesn't seem like it. His eyes are alive now. Alive. If he just keeps it up like last time..."
A great idea suddenly hit Han Mun-jin, and he trailed off, stroking his chin.
"...Should we nitpick him this time?"
"Nitpick what?"
"You don't even know that? It's slang kids use these days. Means picking faults on purpose. He hasn't shown that great acting from before yet."
"Huh?"
"The kid's got talent. If we push him a little, we'll get even better scenes."
Kim Seong-hyun was dumbfounded by Han Mun-jin's sinister grin as he rubbed his chin.
Wanting great scenes was one thing.
"You're serious? In your eyes, he looks okay?"
At that, Han Mun-jin furrowed his brow and turned.
"What's the problem now?"
Does he really not get it?
Kim Seong-hyun sighed deeply.
"Sigh... Don't push him today. He looks at his limit."
Han Mun-jin turned his gaze forward with a bored expression.
Lee Jun-seo's complexion was poor, making him look precarious, but it depended on perspective.
From a viewer's standpoint, he looked shocked and flustered by the student's attitude.
From the director's...
He looked lacking in confidence.
'It'll be fine. His expressions are alive.'
Han Mun-jin shrugged it off lightly.
No matter what anyone said, the chief director's word was law here. He'd use any means to get great shots.
"Alright! If we jump straight into class, you'd complain, right? Ten-minute break. Anyone who needs the bathroom, go now."
With Lee Jun-seo's final line, scene 12 wrapped up.
Han Mun-jin stood, slamming his rolled-up script on the desk.
Thud! Thud!
"Cut! Jun-seo, that take was good, but this time, a bit more..."
That was when it happened.
Lee Jun-seo suddenly lost balance and collapsed to the floor.
"What the—why'd he drop like that?"
"Is this still filming?"
"No way, it's over already..."
The set grew chaotic.
Kim Seong-hyun, who'd been sitting quietly, jumped up and rushed over.
"Jun-seo! You okay?"
"...Ah. Yeah. I'm fine."
"Why're you sweating like this? If you're beat, just say so and rest."
"Ahaha..."
This wasn't normal. His face was pale like a sick person's, and his hands were ice-cold.
"Jun-seo!"
"What's up with this guy all of a sudden!"
Kang Min-woo and Cha Eun-hyuk came rushing in a panic.
Kim Seong-hyun raised his voice at the juniors. No time to waste with someone down.
"Min-woo! Get the medic from the nurse's office right now!"
This is why I said go easy...
"Eun-hyuk. You grab a towel for the sweat..."
Then Lee Jun-seo gripped Kim Seong-hyun's wrist tightly.
"Senior. I'm okay. Just need a little rest."
Propping himself up on the podium, his legs shook like a newborn fawn.
"Wh-what? Why's this... Ahaha."
Kim Seong-hyun couldn't contain his anger at Lee Jun-seo's foolish laughter.
He opened his mouth to speak.
But Han Mun-jin the director came panting up, frowning and yelling.
"You little shit! If you're not feeling well, say something! Trying to tank this whole production?"
His words were harsh, but this was the chief director's fault. Obsessed with getting great shots, he'd pushed despite knowing the actor's state.
"Ahaha..."
"What're you laughing for like an idiot?"
Lee Jun-seo wiped sweat from his forehead with a foolish grin and let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh. Tougher than I thought."
"What's tough?"
"Hanging in there. Feels like my mind and body aren't syncing."
"Go lie down in the nurse's office first. We've done most of the morning shoots."
"But? You said we were reshooting..."
Then came a weird sound.
Grrrrumble!
"......"
Lee Jun-seo blushed and pretended nothing happened.
'Is he really okay?'
Han Mun-jin thought.
If this was acting to reassure everyone.
This kid would become a monster actor.
Han Mun-jin chuckled and smacked Lee Jun-seo's back hard.
Smack!
"I'll send a staffer to the nurse's office. Rest there quietly. Got it?"
"Ahaha... Yeah."
Left alone in the nurse's office, I played some calm music on my phone to soothe my turbulent mind.
But the frustration wouldn't fade.
"Sigh, what about the next shoot..."
Just as I'd told the director, my mind and body were out of sync.
Forcing myself to hold on had brought on a growing headache, and pushing through had led to this collapse.
If it's like this every shoot, no good... Any better way?
Whoosh!
A breeze fluttered the pure white curtains, bringing spring scent into the nurse's office.
No good ideas came despite racking my brain.
Frustrated, I stared blankly at the clouds outside.
Whirr! Something zipped by fast.
I bolted upright.
'What was that?'
Peering out the window toward the direction, I spotted a drone flying in the blue sky.
"Pfft!"
Seeing the drone reminded me of that scary moment when Yu-na dashed outside mid-shoot yelling about fairies.
Back then, all the staff and cast genuinely adored her.
Wonder what my girl's up to now?
I pushed my worries aside for a moment and stared at my phone.
"Oh, right. That exists."
I'd thought of a way to check if Yu-na was doing well at kindergarten.
I'd never used it before...
But I'd installed and registered the app the teacher recommended at orientation.
Should work fine.
'There. Opened.'
The screen showed kids dashing around with small trays.
Where's my Yu-na?
Finally, Yu-na appeared.
'Oh, it has sound?'
I maxed the speaker volume to hear the kids' voices.
-Teacher! More sausage please.
-I don't like carrots...
-Ugh! It's bean rice.
Their innocence made me smile involuntarily. Watching their pure joy in the cool breeze eased my complicated feelings.
'Full of energy.'
Right on cue, Yu-na showed up.
Just her back view,
but seeing her lifted my spirits.
'Huh? What's she doing?'
Yu-na was acting strangely.
Everyone else was getting sides and moving, but Yu-na was at the big rice cooker, her little hands busy.
-Yu-na, no. Eat balanced to grow big and strong. See that? What if Dad sees you picking out beans?
-R-Really?
-Of course.
At the teacher's words, Yu-na whipped her head around. Her wide, startled eyes were adorably rabbit-like.
Drag.
Suddenly, the door slid open.
A young man with a sturdy build entered the nurse's office. A bright blue staff lanyard hung around his neck, and he carried a tray of food in both hands.
"You must be hungry. Brought food."
"Ah, yeah. Thanks."
The staffer set the tray down in front of me as he approached.
"Watching a broadcast or something?"
"Yeah, checking on my daughter."
I showed him the video. He leaned in, checked it out, and burst out laughing.
"Times have changed for the better."
"Tell me about it."
Then he stared at me intently before speaking quietly.
"Your color's better now. Looks like you're recovering. Don't get too sucked in—eat up."
"Ah, yeah."