Chapter 70: The Things That Stand In For Us
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: The Things That Stand In For Us
"Oh, you're here, Eun-seong?"
"Hello, Chief."
"Yes. I usually arrive early myself, but I really can't keep up with you."
The Head of Makeup, who had just arrived, entered the waiting room. Eun-seong, who always came in early, was already sitting on the sofa.
When she greeted him with a smile, Eun-seong bowed his head in return. Setting her bag down, she asked how he was doing.
"How are you feeling today?"
"I'm alright."
"The weather's gotten so cold lately. It feels like it's time to break out the padded coats."
"Yes. It really is cold."
Disliking the chilly atmosphere, the Chief looked around. Was the waiting room always this cold?
After a moment of wondering if something was wrong, she looked up. Ah, Yeon-ju hasn't arrived yet.
"The youngest on the costume team usually gets here early and turns on the heat, but she must be running late today."
Whenever they arrived, the waiting room was always tidy. Even if they had left it in a complete mess in their rush to leave, the room would be clean and ready by the next morning's shoot.
It was all thanks to Yeon-ju's diligence.
"Is something wrong?" Eun-seong asked, noticing the Chief standing there fidgeting.
She laughed sheepishly, as if making a confession.
"Oh, with the costume team's youngest being late, I don't even know what to do first. She's already spoiled us rotten. Our Go Yeon-ju is in big trouble."
She's already spoiled us rotten.
Even though he knew she was joking, he couldn't bring himself to laugh. He tried to force the corners of his mouth up, but his expression immediately stiffened. He couldn't just brush off the word "spoiled"—
It forced him to confront how thoroughly he had already been tamed by her.
"I'm going to air the room out for a bit, Eun-seong."
"Sure, Chief."
Eun-seong sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the script.
This morning, despite feeling like he couldn't do anything right, he had finished preparing for the shoot. He worked out as usual and meditated as usual. He went over the script as usual, practicing lines he had already memorized over and over.
Even though he knew she must have quit, he arrived early at the film set. The moment he stepped into the empty waiting room, her faint, intangible presence became painfully real, as if the reality of their breakup had crashed down right at his feet.
Had the waiting room always been this spacious? Had it always been this cold? Even knowing she was gone, he couldn't shake that foolish sliver of hope. Sitting there stubbornly, his chest felt so cold he thought he might freeze to death.
"Hello!"
Just then, as people began to trickle in, the Costume Team's second-in-command entered the waiting room with a newcomer. The Chief, who was tidying up, turned her head, and Eun-seong glanced over.
The second-in-command introduced the new hire.
"This is Sang-eun, the new youngest member of the costume team who will be with us for the rest of the shoot. Please take good care of her."
"The youngest? Where did Yeon-ju go? Did she quit?" the Chief asked, her eyes widening.
The second-in-command gave a vague excuse. "Yeon-ju had some personal circumstances, so she transferred to another team. She started on a different project."
"Ah, really? That's a shame. I didn't even get to say goodbye."
Expressing her regret, the Chief welcomed the newcomer. Eun-seong took a long, deep breath, quietly smoothing his crumbling expression and steadying his ragged breaths so no one would notice.
"Actor Im Eun-seong, this is our new youngest. She'll be helping you with your fittings starting today. Please look after her."
"Hello, Actor. I'm Kim Sang-eun, the new youngest on the costume team from Chang-rok. I look forward to working with you."
"Yes. Nice to meet you."
She's gone. She's really gone.
Eun-seong forced a smile as he greeted the staff member who had filled her empty space.
She had vanished without a trace, as if to prove she could fly away whenever and wherever she pleased.
Because I wanted to break you.
Yes. I am broken, and you have left.
Everything has gone exactly as you wished.
* * *
"I'll accept your resignation, but are you sure you're okay? I can just transfer you to another team. You don't want that either?"
Yeon-ju had quit her job. Although Hae-young had tried to hold onto her one last time, Yeon-ju chose to leave Chang-rok entirely. If she continued working in the industry, she might run into Eun-seong again someday.
She felt a heavy sense of guilt for not finishing her work and was deeply sorry to Hae-young, but she had no choice. Having heard a brief summary of the situation, Hae-young couldn't bring herself to hold Yeon-ju back any longer.
"I think this is the place..."
Yeon-ju immediately went to a job interview. Her life had been turned upside down in a single day, and while a few days to breathe would have been nice, reality wasn't so forgiving.
She had to return a portion of the advance she had received from Hae-young to cover her deposit. Since she hadn't finished the job, it was only right. After calculating everything, she realized she couldn't afford to rest for even a single day.
After doing her best to soothe her swollen eyelids, she slipped her resume into her bag and got into the building's elevator. The position was for a freelance fitting assistant for a men's clothing online retailer. While they preferred experienced candidates, she was cutting it close with the age limit.
The phrase "young yet experienced" felt like a contradiction, but that was just how the industry worked, driven by the stereotype that people lost their sense of trends as they aged.
Since her resume wasn't bad, she figured she would manage somehow. Besides, the interview was today, so there was no point in sitting around worrying.
Yeon-ju leaned against the elevator wall, staring blankly at the buttons. A hollow sigh escaped her lips. She was back to a life of drifting from place to place, taking whatever work came her way. Yet, wandering around with a resume in hand also felt incredibly familiar.
Right. This is my life. My real life, she thought.
The elevator doors opened, and Yeon-ju stepped out. She followed the signs down the hallway, only to freeze in her tracks.
"Ah..."
Even at a glance, there were at least ten other people waiting for the interview. As a new competitor arrived, the others cast dry, indifferent glances her way. Yeon-ju pressed her lips together and joined the line.
[Positions Available: 1]
The job posting had clearly stated they were hiring only one person. Seeing so many experienced freelancers gathered to fight for that single spot, she was hit with a sudden wave of anxiety.
"You're here for the interview? Your name?"
"Go Yeon-ju."
"Hmm, you're sixteenth in line, so please wait."
"Yes, I understand."
While speaking with the coordinator, she stole a glance at the other candidates. True to the fashion industry, some wore flashy, stylish outfits, while others with youthful faces in their mid-twenties caught her eye.
Her confidence plummeted. She hadn't thought much of it before, but seeing the reality of the situation made her anxious, and a sudden fear gripped her.
With nowhere to sit, Yeon-ju leaned against the wall and cast her gaze downward.
...Everyone is desperate, and there is only one spot.
I came here thinking I might have a chance, but there's no way it'll be me.
"Number four, Kim Yu-ha. Please come in."
Making a living was this fierce. Was this really the time to be crying? The thought snapped her back to reality.
This was no time to weep over love. Life was a battlefield, and the shoulders of a breadwinner were never allowed to be light.
* * *
After somehow finishing the interview, Yeon-ju arrived near her house. Her steps felt heavy, anticipating a bad outcome. Even though she knew the company wouldn't contact her right away, she clutched her phone tightly as she turned into the alley.
When the sign for Iroun Animal Hospital came into view, Yeon-ju subtly turned her head and steered as far away from it as possible. The clinic's interior was fully visible through its floor-to-ceiling glass windows, but she pretended not to see a thing and quickened her pace.
After the scene she'd made in front of the doctor yesterday, she didn't have the confidence to look him in the eye.
I should give it some time, calm down, and then go see him, she thought, bypassing the animal hospital. Just then—
"Yeon-ju!"
Ah. Hearing Dr. Ju's voice, Yeon-ju flinched.
"Yeon-ju! Go Yeon-ju!"
"Ugh, this is driving me crazy."
Yeon-ju stole a glance behind her. Seeing Dr. Ju standing outside the clinic door, waving at her, she suddenly bolted. Dr. Ju, who had been waving, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Huh? Wait, Yeon-ju! Yeon-ju!"
He ran after her as she sprinted away. Yeon-ju ran with all her might to avoid being caught.
"Don't follow me! I said don't come!"
"Yeon-ju! Just stop for a second!"
"Aaaaargh! Aaaaaaaargh!"
Yeon-ju didn't get very far before stopping. Cursing her terrible stamina, she couldn't even run a few meters. She was dying of embarrassment, but Dr. Ju, completely oblivious to her inner turmoil, caught up to her.
"Yeon-ju."
Hanging her head and grimacing, Yeon-ju slowly raised her eyes and beamed.
"Oh my, hello, Doctor!"
"Huh? Ah, yes."
"Fancy meeting you here! Hoho. Hohoho."
Ho. Ho. Hoho. Ho. Ho...
Seeing Dr. Ju's deadpan expression, Yeon-ju stopped her forced laughter. He looked her up and down before asking, "Why were you running away?"
"Pardon? Me? Running away? No, I wasn't running away."
"You took off the moment I called your name. You were even screaming at me not to follow you."
"Did I? I... did? Well, I don't really recall..."
As Yeon-ju trailed off, feigning ignorance, Dr. Ju narrowed his eyes.
"My, my, I'm disappointed. And here I was yesterday, taking off my coat to cover you so you wouldn't catch a cold."
"Ah... well, Doctor, the truth is... I was just so embarrassed... I'm sorry..."
When she immediately backed down with a remorseful expression, Dr. Ju wagged his finger.
"Since you've been so rude, I can't just let you off the hook."
"Pardon? Ah, yes..."
"Buy me coffee."
Coffee? Yeon-ju's eyes widened.