Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Steady Preparations
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The preparations for the play proceeded steadily.
Strictly speaking, it might have been more accurate to call them preparations for Kim Seonwoo.
Excluding him, who'd joined midway, everyone else was already ready.
It would be a lie to say he felt no pressure.
Time was short, and so was his experience.
'Truly a poisoned chalice.'
A week wasn't ample time to prepare a single role.
Especially not for someone like Seonwoo with zero stage experience.
There was no helping it.
If time was scarce, all he could do was carve it up and use every sliver.
Seonwoo poured everything except sleep into practice.
He'd ask anyone with spare time to run lines as his scene partner, and if no one was free, he'd rehearse alone.
Fortunately, his dedication seemed to sit well with the others.
A lot of people had eyed him skeptically at first, but lately even they were returning his greetings.
An encouraging shift.
And if he had to name the biggest change of all...
"Want some?"
This guy.
Seonwoo turned his head. Doyoung was holding out a sports drink.
"Yes. Thank you."
"You're doing well."
Doyoung gave his shoulder a light pat.
"Tired?"
"No, I'm good. Totally fine."
Truth be told, it was exhausting.
But how many things in life weren't?
So he'd put on a strong front, bluffing a bit.
"I don't say stuff like this often, but I personally like your acting."
An unexpected compliment flew from Doyoung's mouth.
Seonwoo's eyes went wide at the surprise.
"...Pardon?"
"Just felt like saying it once."
"Uh... Th-thank you."
Doyoung said his piece and walked off.
Seonwoo stared blankly at his retreating back before chuckling softly.
'Goal achieved.'
Not losing his own color in front of Doyoung.
That was Seonwoo's one and only aim.
In simpler terms, not getting swallowed up by Doyoung's performance.
So, was he confident about the show?
Of course...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Hot.
Global warming must really be kicking in—even sticking to the shade, his shirt was already soaked and sticky with sweat.
The iced Americano he'd splurged on was lukewarm now, the ice long melted.
Dasol fanned herself with her hand, her face saying she might melt any second.
"In this streaming era, why on earth watch a play..."
"Ah, just trust your sister and come. It's a whole new world, I swear."
"I'm good with the old world..."
Even in this killer heat, she'd been dragged here by her sister, Dayeon.
Dayeon had barged in on her lazy holiday lounge session, insisting they hit up a play.
"There's this ridiculous actor!"
"Then why's a ridiculous actor wasting away in theater..."
"That's exactly why we're going! He could be a top star someday—no way you'd get this close then."
Top star, my foot.
Dasol sighed, utterly indifferent.
Honestly, zero expectations.
TV actors were hit-or-miss enough; Daehangno theater had to be worse, right?
Well, she'd watch, then gripe about it.
...Best if she could skip both, but no backing out now.
Arms crossed, bored expression on—Dayeon let out a sigh.
"Ah, but it's a shame. The Seungdo actor changed this time."
"...Seungdo role? Not that super popular guy?"
"Yeah. He was great too... but he left over some scheduling conflict."
"Hmm~ You really know your stuff."
"I follow the troupe's official socials and everything! Hehe."
Hmm... socials too?
Dasol settled into her seat and glanced around.
Way more people than expected. Hundreds of seats easy, and it looked nearly packed.
Standard for weekends? She'd never done theater, so who knew.
Dayeon seethed inwardly watching her.
Shed bled for these front-row seats... but she'd get it soon. Why the hype.
'Cheongsong's the best.'
If you had to name one flaw in Daehangno's theater scene, it'd be the wild variance in acting chops. Troupes don't cut that deep usually.
But Cheongsong was different.
Rock-solid performances from leads down to the lowliest extras.
Timing, emotion, even looks—all top-notch.
And in that Cheongsong stood a man who'd become the talk of the town.
'She won't stay dazed once she sees Doyoung oppa.'
Her first glimpse of him was still vivid.
The world snapping into 4K—no, 8K clarity.
Just handsome? Sure, partly, but not all.
Doyoung's acting had this magnetic pull, sharpening every nerve to a laser focus.
All stray thoughts vanished; nothing but him remained.
The day she first saw it, Dayeon fell hard for actor Cha Doyoung.
A year of regular pilgrimages to Cheongsong since.
And her very first show? This one: Confession.
A play letting you soak in Doyoung's full charm, start to finish.
Today was her sales pitch to Dasol.
Sisters shared the good stuff, after all.
'If actor Eunseok had stuck with Seungdo, it'd be perfect.'
That was the one drag.
But no worries.
This was Cheongsong.
Anyone they put up would deliver.
Today, Dasol would fall for Cheongsong... and Doyoung.
Of course, Dasol had no clue about these scheming thoughts.
Her mind was on two things: hot. What's for dinner later.
But that apathy didn't stick.
"Confess your sins."
The actor in priest robes who appeared... was too ridiculously good-looking.
Handsome didn't cover it. What even was this? Divine visuals?
Dayeon hadn't signaled or anything, but Dasol just knew.
Ah, this is the guy.
Impossible not to spot him at a glance.
His looks, his vibe... same species as her? Debatable.
One look, and she got why Dayeon dragged her here.
'...Impressive.'
Dasol conceded neatly.
Worth braving the heat, no doubt.
First time laying eyes on looks like that, acting like that... up close.
Front row, even?
How many chances like this in life?
The play hooked her too.
Priest doling out fitting penance to sinners, guiding them to remorse.
One letdown, though...
'The Priest guy's too dominant.'
Everyone else faded into the background.
Made sense.
His presence was overwhelming.
Acting skill, script direction—it was built for a one-man show.
That's what she figured.
"You're not here to confess your sins. You're here to announce them."
"...I intend to kill someone."
But the moment that man stepped out... Dasol's mind flipped.
'...Huh?'
He carried this dangerous aura.
Like cold rage bottled up, ready to shred the world.
The vibe was off—different.
"I'll kill the man who murdered my family. What penance for that sin?"
"..."
"How will you punish me?"
Thump.
Dasol's heart pounded hard.
First time ever.
The Priest was like the sun risen on stage.
An absolute force no one could defy.
"I do not punish for sins uncommitted."
"...Understood."
This man? Pure shadow.
"Commit the sin, then return."
"That's...!"
The brighter the sun blazed, the deeper and darker the shadow swelled.
But why? Maybe from sun-staring so long, Dasol felt her gaze snagged by that shadow.
Unlike the blinding sun, it was easy on the eyes... and somehow pitiable.
Seungdo departs.
The Priest mourns his empty space.
Only then did Dasol clock something off.
Shed thought the Priest owned her eyes completely—but even now, with him solo onstage... her mind swirled with a different man.
Seungdo.
The one with that dark aura.
Why? How?
...No pretending. She knew the answer.
That teetering edge, the danger in him... it gripped her teeth-clenchingly hard.
Enough to lose herself in the moment.
Enough to blank on the Priest's light, if only briefly.
Maybe that's why.
A beat later, stage lights winked out... and spotlight hit the blood-smeared Seungdo.
"I've come, Priest."
That broken, twisted smile on his lips...
"Will you punish me now?"
Goosebumps prickled her skin... and suddenly, Dasol thought:
Just like her sister... she'd probably end up coming back.
Falling for that man.