Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Shooting a Drama
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51
We're shooting a drama.
Everyone's faces went blank at those words.
A survival drama, no less.
Filming a drama in the middle of a competition was bizarre enough, but a survival drama? No one had seen that coming.
'So that's why they said the Top 10 would get to star in a drama...'
Seonwoo placed a hand over his chest.
His pounding heart refused to calm down.
He never imagined his debut role would be decided like this.
The other contestants were just as thrown off.
It was too sudden to simply celebrate—they were thrilled but tense, caught off guard without time to prepare.
Even those who'd just been eliminated felt the same.
"A drama..."
Yechun muttered blankly.
He'd known the Top 10 would land drama roles.
But he hadn't dreamed they'd set up a debut stage right away like this.
'If I'd just done a little better... could I have debuted too?'
That thought started to bum him out—
"Man, Yechun must be thrilled. No more work, just straight to chilling."
Hyeseong grinned mischievously, teasing him.
Yechun bristled and raised his voice.
"Hyung! Already poking fun?"
"Don't cry too much heading home! And go easy on the drinks."
"I'm not gonna cry! And no booze either. I'm fine, really? I saw this coming!"
"Sure, sure. Of course you did. I believe in you, Yechun."
"No, seriously..."
Yechun looked so wronged, trembling with frustration.
Was he even more pissed now than when the eliminations dropped? Probably just his imagination.
Jaewon flashed a grin and ruffled Yechun's hair roughly.
"You did great, dude. Killed it at the end there."
"Ahem, yeah? It was pretty good, right?"
"Yeah. You had me itching to jump in myself."
"...Heh heh heh heh."
Yechun finally cracked, smirking darkly.
Minhee sighed at the sight.
"If you're gonna go out, at least pick something score-friendly. Why get all stubborn and tank it?"
It was half pity, half comfort—like saying he'd have passed without the stubborn streak.
But Hyeseong shook his head sharply.
"Even score-friendly acting wouldn't have saved him with those cumulative points. He was doomed anyway, so he went for a glorious exit. Right, Yechun?"
"...Hyung, quit seeing right through me!"
Yechun flushed red and yelled.
Seonwoo gave a wry smile and stepped in.
"Don't take it to heart. Hyeseong hyung's just trying to cheer you up."
"...I wasn't bummed until a second ago, but now I kinda am."
Yechun grumbled weakly.
And that's when Seo Jinwook—who'd been standing back, quietly watching—spoke up casually.
"You did well."
"......"
"......"
A beat of silence. Disbelief. Then shock.
Everyone—even Jaewon—stared at him with eyes twice their size.
Seo Jinwook scowled.
"What."
"...Wait, are you really Seo Jinwook?"
"Shut up. It's just one sentence—why the fuss?"
Seo Jinwook grumbled and bolted.
But even after he left, they all stared blankly at the spot where he'd been.
Seonwoo was no exception.
Is the world ending?
Why's he acting up all of a sudden?
Still, thanks to that, Yechun's send-off turned out livelier than expected.
But Seonwoo had more than one person to see off that day.
"Oppa, I'm heading out!"
"Yeah. Good work."
Seonwoo bowed calmly to Kwon Sori, suitcase in tow.
She didn't seem all that down. She'd probably seen this coming too.
He still didn't think highly of Kwon Sori.
She was immature, incredibly self-centered.
A bratty kid, in short.
But... had some reluctant fondness crept in?
"Sori."
"Yes! Should I give you my number?"
"Brace yourself. The hate comments are gonna flood in."
Seonwoo offered advice that might've been unnecessary.
Kwon Sori blinked.
"Hate comments? Why? Because of that Sion thing?"
"...You know your actions were the problem, right?"
"Well, yeah. Gave 'em plenty of ammo. But it's fine. Nobody's perfect, right? Bound to catch some flak living life."
Classic Kwon Sori.
Her head was a garden of delusions, in every sense.
It wouldn't be that easy... he almost said, but stopped himself.
If she's fine with it, whatever.
Then—
Kwon Sori went, "Ah," and turned back with her signature weak smile.
"But who knows. Might suck when the hate hits. Can I call you then? I can give you my number."
Seonwoo smiled back.
"No."
That's pushing it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Four weeks.
That's how long until all the filmed episodes aired.
Four unaired missions left: room assignments, emotional swings, collaborations, and death.
With Episode 2—room assignments—airing tomorrow night...
About a month.
Time left before drama filming.
The death mission had to wrap, then the drama would premiere right after.
The production team hustled accordingly.
Handing this out right after the dropouts left proved it.
"'Four Questions for Character Building'..."
Seonwoo eyed the paper in front of him curiously.
It reminded him of job-hunting resumes. Except resumes didn't ask stuff like this.
He scanned the questions.
1. I am ________________.
2. What scares you?
3. If you could have one wish?
4. You're about to die. What's your last words?
First time trying something like this.
Building a character tailored to the actor.
How many actors got experiences like that?
He was honestly excited.
Wondering what character they'd craft for him... what color it'd shine in.
He couldn't wait to meet it—even a day sooner.
'...But can you really analyze a character with just four questions?'
He had to tilt his head.
MBTI tests had like 100 questions. What good were four?
'Well, these are open-ended, so maybe different?'
Seonwoo looked at the first.
1. I am ________________.
Simple.
But these were always the hardest. He stared at it for ages.
What to say?
First thought: actor.
But it felt premature. He still saw himself as lacking.
No proper role under his belt—how could he claim actor yet?
Explaining who he was wouldn't fit in that tiny blank anyway.
Telling, asking for a novel in a Post-it note.
Seonwoo sighed.
Dunno. It'll come with thinking.
...That's what he thought.
Five hours later.
"......"
Seonwoo stared at the sheet with hollow eyes.
Zero answers in five hours.
'What am I doing?'
Even he found it ridiculous.
Not a math Olympiad—how's he written nothing?
Wondering if others struggled too, he asked Jaewon.
"Huh? I finished mine the second I got it."
"...Can I see?"
"Sure."
Jaewon pulled a crumpled sheet from his pocket.
Seonwoo nearly burst out laughing.
1. I am __act__or.
2. What scares you?
Mom getting sick
3. If you could have one wish?
Become a 10-million actor
4. You're about to die. What's your last words?
Heading out first!
Clean, straightforward answers.
'Actor' boldly filled without hesitation. Pure Jaewon—refreshing all around.
Jaewon eyed him oddly.
"Why's this one stumping you?"
"Yeah."
"Which part?"
"All of it."
"...You got nothing down?"
Jaewon looked stunned, like it was unthinkable.
Seonwoo got it—he couldn't understand himself either.
Bottom line, the questions were simple.
Who are you? What's scary? What do you want? Last words?
Why was answering so hard?
Inevitably.
Nothing felt authentic.
Jaewon's response?
"Don't you know yourself at all?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah. Not even you get it. What you want, who you are..."
It hit like a gut punch.
He'd bent over backwards understanding roles, but himself? Not even close?
Problem was, he couldn't deny it.
He felt Jaewon was right.
"Maybe it's for the best. Use this to reflect a bit?"
Solid advice.
Embarrassing to be this clueless about himself at his age, but maybe a chance to learn.
Seonwoo pondered.
Even he couldn't call himself ordinary.
Suddenly chasing a colorful life as an actor at this age... that color obsession wasn't normal.
Why crave vibrancy so bad?
He'd thought 'just because.'
Just like color better than black-and-white. Obvious.
But others knew that too.
Yet most lived in monochrome anyway.
What set him apart?
How'd he end up here?
Thoughts chained endlessly.
On the hundredth link—
"......"
Seonwoo picked up his pen.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ That night.
The man holding Seonwoo's sheet... slowly tilted his head.
"PD-nim, is this guy okay?"