Audition (1)

In an age where science had advanced far enough that anyone with a phone could access the internet anytime, anywhere, the old gathering places of debate had long since changed. Where once people had flocked to the agora of Greece or the forums of Rome to argue and contend, now the entire world gathered in the virtual reality of the internet to trade arguments back and forth.

A single post went up. Fresh bait. Or maybe just pure nonsense.

But if something was interesting enough, it pulled people's eyes in just fine.

While people were deep in this bizarre debate, a new post supporting Choi Su-yeong went up — and the likes and views shot up almost instantly.

Now they'd added one more name to the mix.

And just like that, the debate ended with Gil Ara as the winner.

"What the hell is this nonsense?"

Thud—

Aaaahhh—!

Baek Yi-seo pushed her chair back and stretched, still mid-scroll.

Until just a moment ago, she had been inside Giljabi — Gil Ara's fan cafe.

She had decided to become a fan the very day she first met Gil Ara, gone straight home, and founded the fan cafe herself. There had already been a few others, but Giljabi was now the official representative fan cafe — largely because Baek Yi-seo had been the first to snag those hard-to-find photos of Gil Ara. And because she had kept uploading steadily ever since, people kept pouring in.

Baek Yi-seo had one complaint, though.

People's perception of Gil Ara. Especially that nickname — Gwang-nyeon.

Whenever she posted a photo of herself with Gil Ara online, what was the question people around her asked most?

"Is Gil Ara actually scary in real life? Or just weird?"

Questions exactly like that.

She understood, in a way. The acting had been that impactful. Even she hadn't been able to sleep easily for a while afterward.

But she still defended her tirelessly. The first celebrity she had ever truly cared about was being hit with the most ridiculous misunderstandings.

"No, no. Gil Ara is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠actually super chill!"

"Ah……. Really? That's unexpected……?"

"Yeah."

Even so, people's misconceptions didn't peel away that easily.

And then, not long after, the photo she had posted on Insta sparked a wave of completely absurd articles.

"Uh, what is this……."

Suspicion spread like wildfire, and people demanded an explanation. Before long, Forest of Crime put on a surprise talk show. Of course Gil Ara — who had played Lee Eun-ju — appeared as well.

A perfect chance to promote the show and clear the air at the same time. Baek Yi-seo had privately hoped the Gwang-nyeon image would get stripped away along with everything else.

But what happened instead?

Bang!! Crack—!

"?"

……Was she out of her mind?

Hah!

She had slipped. How could she think something so blasphemous?

"We're doomed…."

But the ending that was coming was already painfully clear. She didn't care anymore. As a fan, she probably shouldn't say this, but — screw it. Ara would handle it herself. Baek Yi-seo just needed to like her, right? Just stay faithful to her role as a fan.

Baek Yi-seo, president of the Giljabi fan club, put her hands back on the keyboard.

"A fan meeting? How do you even do that?"

It seemed GilMaster — no, the president — had just acquired more work.

Director Bong Jun-seo was flustered by a situation that had come out of nowhere.

He had thrown himself into finding investors, but they simply would not materialize — until one day, the problem suddenly solved itself. AC Entertainment, one of the three major entertainment companies in the country, had put up the investment money.

At first, Bong Jun-seo had refused the amount. He knew what entertainment companies that invested in him usually wanted: to slot in the actors they were grooming. Almost every time. AC had a relatively clean reputation and a decent image in the industry, but they were still a company that chased profit. Companies could change their face depending on the situation.

But AC attached no conditions at all. The only official request was that their affiliated actors be allowed to participate in the auditions. And only after receiving a firm guarantee that even if those actors failed, it would be on their own ability — with no talk of reclaiming the investment — did Bong Jun-seo accept their money.

He was stubborn and a little inflexible, but the convictions of a man starting over would not bend.

And so today arrived: the day of the auditions to cast the roles before full production began.

Murmur, murmur—

Quite a crowd had gathered to audition for Stalker.

"It's a Bong Jun-seo project, so I feel a little uneasy."

"Right? But we still have to do it. Where else are rookies like us supposed to build a resume?"

"True. But did you hear the rumor? Apparently Gil Ara got cast for this."

"Wait, who said that?"

"Dunno. I just overheard it. Supposedly Bong Jun-seo mentioned Gil Ara while he was running around trying to secure funding."

"Whoa…. If Gil Ara's in this, it might actually ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠turn out okay."

"I don't know……. Director Bong's reputation is pretty rough……."

"Yeah……."

Everyone gathered there was either a complete newcomer or an actor whose face was entirely unknown. While the auditioning actors chattered among themselves—

Creeeak—

The waiting room door opened, and a man and a woman walked in.

Huh? Holy shit?

W-what?

Why are those two here……?

They were Kim Jae-jun and Ryu Mi-so, both from AC Entertainment.

"What a pain. Why did the CEO even tell us to do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this?"

"Mi-so. Watch what you say in public. And the company invested in this, remember? We should take it seriously."

"Hmph. What does it matter how I talk? And at our level, they should just cast us outright. Auditioning for a short film? Does that even make sense?"

Ryu Mi-so poured out her unfiltered remarks whether the other actors could hear her or not.

"Oppa, seriously. How are you so calm? I'm pissed. Director Bong is really something else. What is he even thinking?"

With her cute face and neatly cropped bob, Ryu Mi-so's personality was unexpectedly sharp-tongued and vicious.

"……"

Kim Jae-jun seemed to share the sentiment, because he didn't particularly argue.

Whoa, what's with that attitude? Is she allowed to be like that?

Ryu Mi-so's always been famous for her personality. But her acting is insane, so.

Wait, those two are here to audition too? Damn. We're screwed.

The two of them sat down side by side in empty seats.

Hmph!

"Director, are you sure this is okay? Me sitting here?"

Ara was seated in this spot at Director Bong Jun-seo's request.

"Yes, it's fine. You're the first actor cast for Stalker — and the lead, no less."

The problem was where she was sitting.

In the judges' seats.

"Just watch the participants' performances and give me your honest thoughts."

Bong Jun-seo was a thorough meritocrat. He held Ara in extremely high regard — and after Train to Ulsan, that evaluation had only climbed higher.

"Just relax and do it."

I'm the one who's uncomfortable here?

Contrary to Director Bong's words, Ara found this seat excruciatingly awkward. Gil Ara. She hadn't even been debuted for a full year — barely half a year, if that. Her profile had risen recently from landing a popular project by chance, but she was still completely blind when it came to the entertainment industry. A rookie among rookies.

This is so damn rude.

Ara believed manners mattered. Even cold water had a top and a bottom.

Even if he just wants me to evaluate the acting, I'm still riding a special privilege boost here…….

Hoo—

An invisible little sigh lingered for a moment and vanished.

No choice.

The water was already spilled. Better to wipe it up and pour a fresh glass than try to scoop it back.

Extreme praise strategy, go. I will compliment every single one of you, sunbae-nim. Please understand and forgive this junior's heart.

Ara fully intended to suck up.

"Time's up. Let's begin."

.

.

.

And so the first applicant with a profile entered the audition room, and—

"Huh?"

The man who walked in couldn't help but widen his eyes in shock.

Gil Ara……? What is this? A hidden camera prank?

For a second he suspected a prank and scanned for cameras. There was one, of course — but it was just the performance-recording camera.

Shit, what the hell is going on? She's insanely pretty, wow……. But wait, is Gil Ara actually a judge? No way, that's crazy.

If you had to name the most sensational person in the acting world right now, it was obviously Gil Ara. But this was a bit much.

No matter how good her acting is, someone who hasn't even been at it a year is sitting as a judge?

Yep. Looking at that reaction, he's definitely flustered.

And the irritation came through loud and clear too.

Aww, I'm sorry. I totally get it.

Infinite silent apologies. That said, the actor auditioning wasn't about to let his expression change easily.

"All right, you may begin. Perform any section you like freely."

Whether Director Bong knew what either of them was feeling or not, he barreled straight ahead.

"Ah — yes, yes!"

Either way, the audition began.

.

.

.

"That's enough."

And it was over just as quickly.

"Well done."

"Thank you for your hard work, sunbae-nim."

After Bong Jun-seo offered a brief evaluation, he passed the floor to Gil Ara.

"Ara-ssi. Anything you'd like to say?"

Hmm……. Anything I'd like to say…….

Perfect. She could deliver her strategy and her actual impressions at the same time. Bong Jun-seo had probably known that and was being considerate.

"Well……."

Gulp—

The first male participant swallowed. Being evaluated was nerve-wracking no matter what.

"First of all, I understand it may be unpleasant for a junior in the industry to dare evaluate a sunbae-nim's performance. I hope you'll look kindly on me."

Operation name: I Am Not the Enemy. I Am a Concept-Having Person Who Thoroughly Understands Hierarchy. I Am Doing This Because I Have No Choice. Please Understand.

"Huh? Ah, yes."

W-what? Why is she so polite?

The effect was tremendous.

"Then I'll begin. You performed a sweet romantic scene between Kim Ju-an and Park Seung-a, having forgotten Cheon Eun-bin."

She had felt the Kim Ju-an that the first applicant had performed. And she compared him to the Kim Ju-an she had once experienced through Sensory Sharing.

"I also think this is a difficult scene to act."

Ara acknowledged the difficulty first.

"Sunbae-nim, I felt a small sadness inside the romantic scene. Was that intentional?"

Then the real evaluation began.

"Yes."

The man readily admitted it.

"I see. I think that part was a slight misinterpretation."

"Pardon?"

The Kim Ju-an that Ara had felt.

"I'll share my thoughts."

She began to explain.

"I believe sadness originates from a wound. Physical or emotional. Right?"

"Yes. So even though he'd forgotten, I expressed the sadness that remained in his subconscious. Where exactly is the misinterpretation?"

The man believed his interpretation was correct.

"It's not a wound. And so it's not sadness either."

"Pardon?"

What is she talking about? Then what is it?

Words he couldn't understand. But the next thing Ara said made understanding unavoidable.

"It's a hole."

"Ah……!"

An answer that made his head ring.

"A hole that can never be filled. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠That's why it isn't sad. It was always like that, so you just go around it. Because that's natural."

"Th……at's true."

"Yes. Separately from that, your acting is excellent. I learned a lot. Thank you."

Ara lifted him up right to the end.

"Ara-ssi, are you finished with your evaluation?"

"Yes."

"Understood. Applicant? You may leave. We'll contact you later with the results."

"Yes. Thank you. I learned a great deal!"

The man bowed his head to Ara in gratitude.

Whew—

Hmm…. Could Ara-ssi maybe play Kim Ju-an too?

Ara let out a sigh of relief, while Bong Jun-seo fell into serious contemplation.

And so, starting with the first participant — next. And the next. Ara continued judging with the same strategy, and nothing particularly major went wrong.

.

.

.

.

Until Ryu Mi-so appeared.

"What is this? Gil Ara? Why are you here? Don't tell me…. You're judging? Ha! Seriously! Unbelievable?"

She walked in and let out a thoroughly displeased voice, as if the whole thing were absurd.

Oh! She's pretty.

Ara knew absolutely nothing about the person standing in front of her.