The Beginning of Cleanup
Things between us had already been awkward enough. Now they were even worse.
And it was all Minju's fault.
She'd said she'd zone out after everything was ready!
So why the hell was she standing there in nothing but her underwear?!!
"Haa... I seriously don't get it. No matter how hard I think about it, I just don't get it."
"Wh-what don't you get...?"
"Ajumma is Oppa's aunt, and Serin is his cousin, right? So why do you call them Han Jihyun-ssi and Yoo Serin-ssi??"
"M-Minju, that's..."
"And you're just as bad! Oppa only calls her that because you call him Yoo Eunho-ssi!"
"......"
At Minju's words, Yoo Serin hung her head low.
I watched her through the rearview mirror, then answered myself.
"Minju, human relationships are complicated by nature. Not everything is simple and neat. And having outsiders dictate how people should handle those things can be pretty rude, too."
"I-I know that, but..."
"And I'm the one who told them to call me that. Because that's how I'm going to call them, too."
"......"
"......"
"We're here. Get out. Study hard, and stay at the hotel until the school transfer paperwork is done. And Minju — you call your parents and apologize."
"......"
"I need an answer."
"Yes... I'm off to school.."
"I'm off to school..."
I dropped off a thoroughly pouty Minju and an awkwardly bowing Yoo Serin in front of the school, then headed straight for the hospital.
I had an appointment with Minju's parents.
"I'm sorry. Rounds ran a little long."
"You've been waiting quite a while, haven't you?"
"Not at all. It's fine. Please, have a seat."
Minju's parents had naturally shown up at the police station yesterday as well. The police had contacted them as her legal guardians.
But Minju had insisted she could handle her own affairs and that she didn't need their help.
Late at night, before her startled parents — who'd rushed over in a panic — could even ask if she was okay, she'd spat the words out like a slap to the face.
It must have hurt them.
And it must have terrified them, too.
The moment their daughter left their care, something like that had happened to her.
"How's your hand doing?"
"It's fine, thank you."
"We never properly thanked you yesterday. We're truly grateful you saved our daughter."
"Please, don't mention it. I only did what anyone should. There's no need to feel indebted. I'm one of Minju's guardians now myself — assuming the two of you give your blessing, of course."
I'd figured yesterday's incident had earned me some points. Apparently not?
At my words, both of their expressions grew even darker.
"If our Minju moves up to Seoul, where would she be living?"
"We've heard the trainee dorms aren't exactly nice places..."
They were asking about housing?
That had to be a good sign, right?
"To give you a quick overview of the lodging — it's in Seongsu-dong, with a jeonse deposit of around eight hundred million won. She'd be sharing it with Yoo Serin and one other trainee."
"Eight hundred million for a jeonse..."
"Yes. Security is excellent as well. If you'd like, you're welcome to come take a look anytime."
"Would it be all right if we came up this weekend?"
"I'm afraid that's the only time we can manage. We're sorry."
"Not at all. Just give me a call whenever."
"Thank you. Then we'll see you this weekend."
"Once again, thank you for saving our daughter."
"It was nothing."
Was that enough?
I figured I could take it as as good as permission granted.
"Whew...."
I let out a sigh of relief and pointed the car toward Hongseong-gun in South Chungcheong Province.
There was something I absolutely had to take care of there today.
God, I'm exhausted.
No wonder managers always complain about how hard the job is.
It took nearly four hours just to reach the destination.
I parked somewhere reasonable and walked over to a neighborhood convenience store that looked pleasantly old-fashioned.
"Hey there, young fella~"
"Yes?"
"We ain't open for business~"
"You're not open??"
"This here's a set they built for some drama shoot. They said all we gotta do is sit here and fan ourselves a bit and they'll pay us, so here we are."
"Ah... so that's where all the money goes.."
"What'd you say??"
"Haha.. nothing. Well, take care, then~"
"Take care of what, now."
I greeted the elderly folks sitting on plastic chairs and walked on toward the school.
But before I even got near the main gate, a loud voice came flying at me.
"You can't come this way! Turn around!!"
"......"
I ignored him and kept walking.
"I said you can't come this way!! Turn around!!"
"......"
Irritation dripped from every word, every line of his face.
Had word about me not spread much?
This kind of power trip on a drama set I was investing in.
Annoying.
"You really shouldn't speak to people so rudely."
"Excuse me??"
"We're filming — please cooperate. You should say it with a nice smile. And you should ask politely."
"Ah... for real.... Hey, you!"
"Good afternoon, Representative!!"
A booming greeting from somewhere off to the side wiped the irritation right off his face and replaced it with pure panic.
I offered a polite greeting to the man who'd come sprinting over.
"Yes, hello. Do I know you, though?"
"Of course! I was a staff member on that other set!"
"Ah~ I see."
"S-senior..?"
"You apologize right now..! And didn't I tell you not to act like a goddamn punk?!"
"But people keep coming to gawk...."
"I still told you to be nice, you idiot! You wanna end up like Park Seongjun?!"
"Park Seongjun... Assistant Director Park Seongjun.... Hup!! I-I'm so sorry! I'll be more careful from now on!!!"
The moment he realized I was the one who'd made that power-tripping assistant director vanish from the film industry, his waist folded at a perfect ninety degrees.
People changing how they act depending on who they're dealing with was inevitable, sure — but there were still lines you were supposed to hold.
"I'd rather not see any unpleasant stories about the production staff popping up online. Things like what just happened, or leaving piles of trash behind, or inconveniencing the local residents because of the shoot."
"Yes, sir! We'll be careful!"
"I'll make absolutely sure nothing like that happens, sir!"
"Hearing that puts my mind at ease. Would it be all right if I took a quick look around the set, then?"
"Of course! I'll show you around myself!"
The guy who'd been snapping at me flung the closed school gates wide open, and the one who'd come running started rattling off explanations as he led me onto the grounds.
(From here on, please keep your voice down.)
(Got it. I'll be careful.)
I lowered my voice and softened my footsteps as much as I could, approaching the outdoor washbasin area where filming was underway.
Iseul's voice and a male actor's drifted over.
"My bag? What am I, your personal shuttle?"
"You carried mine this morning! So now it's my turn! I'm on a diet, okay... please...."
"...Fine, you carry it. Works out great for me."
"Thanks! Hand it over!"
"You're something else... weird personality."
"Hehe~ You think so?"
"Yeah.. pretty weird. All right, let's go."
"Okay!"
"Cut!!"
She was acting better than I'd expected.
It genuinely looked like two high school kids just talking.
"Director. Representative Yoo Eunho is here."
"Representative Yoo??"
"Please don't mind me — keep going."
"Ah... we're about to take a break. I'll come greet you properly then."
"Of course."
After a brief exchange with the director, I locked eyes with Iseul, who was staring at me with eyes gone wide as saucers.
Fighting.
I mouthed the word of encouragement, and Iseul — who seemed to catch it — chewed on her lip and gave a tiny nod, looking embarrassed.
Then, all of a sudden, her eyes started flickering with unease.
Ah. Was it because of this?
I casually lowered my right hand — which had somehow risen on its own — but it was already too late.
Iseul, now out of camera frame, lunged through the cluster of staff, seized my hand, and started examining it.
The hand wrapped thick with bandages.
"You're hurt?!!"
"Haha.. Han Iseul-ssi..?"
"I asked if you're hurt!!"
"Tsk... Director, I'm really sorry, but could we take ten minutes?"
"Ah, yes. Of course."
"What do I do..! How bad is it?! Where?! Why?!!"
"Iseul-ssi, let's move somewhere else first. People are... haha..."
"Ah...."
Iseul hastily let go of my hand, ducking her head under the flood of staff stares, and I led her off to a quieter spot.
"Whew.... Hope this doesn't start some weird rumor."
"I-I'm sorry... I was just so shocked..."
As an actress, it had been a thoroughly immature thing to do — and that only made me happier.
It meant she'd been so worried about me that nothing else even crossed her mind.
Still, as an actress, she needed to be aware of these things.
Especially as a rookie who'd only just gotten started.
"First of all, my hand is fine. It's just a light scrape."
"R-really..? You're not badly hurt, right??"
"I'm not. Look~ My fingers still work just fine."
It hurt every time I moved them, but still.
"Haa... thank god.. But when did you get here..? No — how long have you been watching??"
"Just a little while ago. And you were acting pretty well, you know."
"Hiiing... that's embarrassing.. I told you not to come...."
"More importantly, I really should start calling you this now."
"Huh??"
"Actress Han Iseul."
"Ah.... A-ah, I'm not an actress yet...."
"Once filming starts, you're an actress. Right, Actress Han Iseul?"
"....Thank you.. Heh..."
Looking a little shy and a little pleased, Iseul smiled bashfully.
Even so, she didn't let go of my hand, still holding it carefully as if she couldn't quite stop worrying.
"But what are you really doing here??"
"It's your first day of filming. Of course I had to come. I'm the one who wants you to become a great actress more than anyone."
"I want that even more than you do, you know..?"
Iseul, trying to earn the qualifications to stay by my side.
Me, who'd never needed any such qualifications from the start.
Between the two of us, who wanted her success as an actress more?
No matter how I looked at it, I was pretty sure it was me.
"Where are you staying? They're not putting you up in some motel, are they??"
"No! We arranged a hotel downtown."
"So there's a hotel even out here.. That's a relief. And your luggage?"
"I moved it with my manager."
"Hmm..."
"What is it?"
Just in case, I glanced around once, then leaned in close and whispered.
(I'm going to be home alone now. I think I'll get lonely.)
(Then... would you... stay over tonight..?)
(You say that and then tell me to sleep over?)
(Huh..?)
(Then by tomorrow morning the rumors will be everywhere. That the company rep and the rookie actress are 'that kind' of close.)
"That's...!!"
"Pfft! So no, we can't do that~"
"R-Representative..!"
"I'll come again, though. I have to leave for today. The second I showed up, the NGs started piling up."
"I-I keep... getting distracted by you, Representative.. Not in a bad way...!"
"I know. That's why I'm heading out. Work hard on the shoot."
"Yes.... A-and..!! Please come again for sure..."
"Yes, Actress Han Iseul."
The NGs had started stacking up the moment I began watching, so I decided to clear out quickly.
And thanks to Iseul's little outburst, the stares around us had gotten pretty sharp, too.
At any rate, filming here would go on for at least two months.
After that, they'd keep moving locations all over the country.
But Iseul didn't appear in every episode, so there'd be plenty of days off while the other actors shot their scenes.
Especially toward the latter half, when the popular actors playing the parents would take up more screen time than the student-role actors.
I just had to hold out until then.
And back in Seoul, there was always Shin Yena.
"Ah... should I tell Iseul about this..?"
No.
Telling Iseul now, right as she'd started filming, would only throw her off.
So I'd wait until shooting wrapped, then talk to her.
No — before that, I should clean things up first.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Y-Yena-ssi..! Just listen to me for a sec.... Aaah..!"
"Slurrrp...!!"
Was this cleanup actually going to work?