Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: School Gate Revenge
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This shoot had a lot of intense scenes, which would be too much for little Yu-na to watch.
Fights weren't good for her education, after all.
So I handed Yu-na over to a female staff member before getting my makeup done and heading to the filming location for the day.
With my bangs swept back, just like yesterday.
"It's so damn hot today...."
I fanned my collar against the scorching sunlight and suffocating heat.
I was careful to dab away the sweat gently with a handkerchief, though. No way did I want to sit through makeup all over again.
"Haa, I hope everything goes okay today."
Sticking to the tree shade as I walked, I soon arrived at the school gate.
No shade here....
I hesitated to step out from the shade, staring at the heat rising from the ground.
"Hey! Actor Jun-seo. Over here."
Director Han Mun-jin called out to me from afar, waving me over. Did he need to talk? Steel myself, I stepped out into the sun.
"You called me? What's up?"
"Hahaha, nothing big. Just come check your blocking quick. You're late, so how much time do you need to memorize your marks?"
There was a parasol set up where the director was, and a big fan blowing straight toward us.
"Ah, that's cool."
I savored the fan breeze for a moment before squinting at the others practicing their moves.
The director added,
"That guy in the white shirt is your stunt double right now. What do you think?"
I watched my double closely, then shrugged.
"I can do it right away. I just take one hit and fall down anyway. But we'll have to be careful not to mess up anyone else's marks, right?"
"Hahaha! Love the confidence. Let's wrap early today."
I couldn't muster the courage to tell him about my revenge plans amid his booming enthusiasm.
"Ah, sorry in advance... I'm gonna cause an accident at the end of this shoot.
I bowed my head inwardly to the director.
Outwardly, I smiled and replied,
"Yeah, let's wrap early."
"Hahaha! We'll start as soon as the other actors' blocking is clean. Oh! Just in case, go match it with them over there."
I wanted to linger here a bit longer.
But everyone else was sweating it out, practicing hard. I couldn't just slack off.
"Got it."
I bowed.
After greeting the director, I joined the group practicing their marks.
'What the hell? How long have they been at it?'
They looked wrecked.
Their clothes were soaked with sweat, like they'd need costume changes before shooting, and some had that glazed-over look like they might collapse any second.
I headed straight to the exhausted Cha Eun-hyuk and Kang Min-woo.
"Sunbaenims, you're sweating buckets.... How long have you been practicing?"
"Whoa.... The weather's insane today."
"Jun-seo, sorry, but could you block the sun here for a sec?"
I nodded at Kang Min-woo's request and turned my back to the sun for him.
Then, staring down Im Ju-ho—who was glaring at us while wiping his sweat—I asked,
"Sunbaenims. How's that guy been?"
Kang Min-woo caught on immediately and shook his head.
"Same crap. He even put real emotion into punching Sunbae Cha. No respect for hierarchy."
"That guy's just a fucking asshole."
"Watch out so he doesn't actually land those punches, and make sure your marks don't tangle with the extras...."
"Sounds rough."
Just seeing Im Ju-ho smirk twisted my gut.
Hadn't he realized yet that injecting personal grudges into acting was wrong?
Guess he needed a proper lesson.
I clenched my fist tight.
Right on cue, Director Han Mun-jin's voice boomed through the red megaphone.
"Practice a bit more, then we roll. Everyone good?"
We all nodded in unison.
Practice resumed immediately.
After endless practice, filming finally began. I stood at the school gate, waving to the students.
"Good morning, teacher."
"Yeah, study hard today."
"Teacher Ha Jung-min, morning."
"Su-bin, you leaving your bag open on purpose? Hahaha."
"Huh? When'd it open?"
I was closing the girl's bag myself when... finally, students Kim In-hyuk and Yoo Sung-min appeared.
Looking surprisingly neat.
"You two are early today? And you remembered your bags."
"...Yeah."
"Morning."
I watched the fidgety pair with a pleased gaze.
Then the swaggering Im Ju-ho gang showed up—the key players in this scene.
"You pull one more stunt, and you'll get expelled, right? Heh heh."
From here, Yoo Sung-min—the chaebol heir whose family donated big to the school—was just like any other kid.
He'd run away from home, ignoring his strict grandpa.
Now he lived with Kim In-hyuk, defying his meddling family in secret no matter what.
'Oh, right. Line.'
I refocused, stepping in front of Im Ju-ho's gang.
"What's with the thug act first thing in the morning? Get back to class."
"Oh, teacher's here."
Im Ju-ho flashed a sleazy grin and strode up, bulging his eyes at me.
"You're leaving soon anyway. Hey, just butt out and pretend you didn't see. Why make trouble?"
He stepped closer, shoving his face in mine to provoke.
As scripted, I trembled and clenched my fist.
"Hahaha. Gonna hit me? Do it already."
"...Let's end this here."
"Hiding behind the teacher is fucking hilarious. Hey, In-hyuk. You pay the hospital bills with the cash from stealing our hyung's bike? Parents might never wake up—you just gonna let 'em die...?"
At Im Ju-ho's line-crossing words, Kang Min-woo burst forward from hiding.
"You fucker!"
"Hold it, In-hyuk. If you fight now, teacher can't protect you."
"Let go! That guy's—"
I held back Kang Min-woo, then slowly loosened my grip. His elbow had to "hit" me as he struggled, knocking me down.
But....
Sunbaenim moved faster—his elbow just grazed my cheek.
Our practiced hit didn't land this time.
Ow, that stings....
Did I get scratched?
"Cut! Good take! Great vibe—we're skipping the other angle and moving to the next scene! Prep now!"
I let out a quiet sigh at the director's upbeat call.
It was just a graze.
A split second slower, and I'd have a bruise like Kang Min-woo's.
'Whew, glad it ended safe.'
Sitting on the bare ground, I caught my breath. Only the big fight scene left today.
'Be careful.... I could get hurt.'
Remembering what Im Ju-ho did during blocking made me shiver.
He'd tried to stomp my foot while I was down.
My quick instincts dodged his malicious move, but....
Recalling that near-miss sent cold sweat down my spine.
"Jun-seo. Face okay?"
I blinked at Kang Min-woo's worried approach.
"Yeah?"
"It's a bit red and swollen.... I pushed too soon. Sorry."
I borrowed a mirror from the makeup staff fixing me up and checked.
No issue for filming.
"Hahaha. This is nothing."
"What if it scars? After wrap, get some meds from medical. Got it?"
"Yeah. Just focus on your revenge today. I'll set it up perfect."
"...Okay."
Your turn to eat shit today.
I smirked at Im Ju-ho getting his makeup touched up.
"Alright! Rolling now! Cameras! All set?"
I lay on the ground, waiting for action.
'When do we start....'
The baked asphalt worried me—would my skin cook?
Soon, the sound and camera directors lit up.
"Just wrapped."
"Same here."
"Sound's good."
"Hey, actors—positions!"
On cue, extras and sunbaenims faced off.
'Hope it wraps quick.'
Filming started.
We traded blows with Im Ju-ho's gang as practiced—felt even fiercer than blocking.
I just had to look shocked, glancing between students.
Basically....
Just spectating the fight.
Twice. Thrice.
Midway through angles, nearing the end.
'Ah, going for my ankle again?'
I shifted my leg subtly, eyeing the moment to trip him. Director said this was last.
'Full shot.'
Here, my leg sweep would pass as accident.
"Hey, apologize to In-hyuk."
"Am I crazy?"
"Then eat more fists. Even if I get expelled, you're coming with."
As Im Ju-ho reeled from Cha Eun-hyuk's fake punch,
This was it.
'Shift my foot here....'
Timing his rush at Cha sunbaenim, I slid my foot right.
Thud!
Im Ju-ho pitched forward, unable to brace—face-planted straight.
"Cut! What the hell was that at the key moment! Check the ground! Jun-seo too—watch your feet so they don't block marks!"
I couldn't focus on the director's rapid-fire.
Too entertaining.
Im Ju-ho pushed up, nose gushing blood onto the dirt.
'Your turn now, sunbaenim?'
I glanced at Kang Min-woo. Eyes locked—he snapped to, rushed over, and "accidentally" stomped Im Ju-ho's hand.
"Hey! You okay? Hurt bad?"
"Argh! Hand! Hand!!"
"Oh, sorry."
Hitting the injured face felt too cruel, apparently.
'Great acting concern.'
His brows drooped convincingly, masking satisfaction.
'Feels good now.'
Guys who vent grudges in acting deserve the same.
Im Ju-ho had few scenes left anyway—no more chances after today.
Perfect for one last "accidental" hit.
As expected, director's wrap signal came.
"That's it! We'll use prior footage here. Now let's shoot tomorrow's scene."
Not the cleanest revenge.
But satisfying enough.
Rubbing my throbbing cheek, I schooled my face and smiled brightly at the approaching staff.
"Great work, everyone."
"You too, actor."
"Hey, you good?"
Kang Min-woo patted my shoulder, his face beaming with schadenfreude.
I replied boldly.
"Yeah. Just throbs a bit."
"Come with me to medical standby. Knowing you, you'd skip it."
"Hahaha...."
Cha Eun-hyuk wedged in, grabbing my wrist. He applied ointment, stuck a bandage on my cheek, and sighed.
"Over this? No need."
"An actor's face is his life...."
Kang Min-woo trailed off.
Under Cha Eun-hyuk's narrowed glare.
"Sigh, Jun-seo. I'll let it slide today. Don't pull that again."
I gaped at the sudden callout, then played dumb.
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
"You did that on purpose, right?"