Before Filming (5)
Except for days when there were club activities, I'd been taking painting lessons from Lee Seol for several days after school.
I had no idea how we hadn't gotten caught—it was a mystery to me—but for now, at least, no one knew. Maybe it was because I'd always been the one turning down Seo Jae-hyun and Ji Hyun-su's invitations to hang out after school, and Lee Seol didn't have much going on at this time anyway.
Of course, if anyone found out, I planned to come clean. Though with Seo Jae-hyun... I doubted even I could handle that fallout.
Still, I figured today would probably be the last one. I'd fully stocked my place with supplies at home now, and I didn't want to keep taking up her time.
This had to be more than enough payback for helping me out during the school trip and with the performance evaluation. As the sessions piled up, my understanding of Kim Yul had deepened significantly. Not just from studying art, but because I'd been poring over the script nonstop.
My style had always been to obsessively dissect every line anyway, so it was only natural that the more I read, the better I grasped it.
Of course, that wasn't always a good thing. The advice from my past life had warned that digging too deep could lead me astray from the story's intent—rushing ahead on my own.
But right now, I didn't have to worry about that.
This was just the talent of someone named Lee Min-woo. The way emotions flowed naturally and immersion hit the moment I read the script—that gift.
We only had scripts up to episode three... plus some background details I'd gotten straight from the writer over the phone. There were limits, sure.
Kim Yul, the lonely kid.
At school, popularity came to him as naturally as breathing. But deep down, he had nowhere to truly rest.
That unquenchable loneliness builds up until he meets Jung Yu-na—the heroine.
Their first encounter happens just like this: while he's painting, she passes by the art room by chance, spots him, and stops. Their eyes meet, and it begins.
Bright, always smiling, refreshingly pure. A personality that seems utterly free of shadows.
...I want to taint her. No clue why that word popped into my head. But yeah, there must've been some twisted urge like that lurking inside him.
"No, try it like this."
Lee Seol's voice pulled me back to reality. She adjusted the angle of the pencil in my hand, then—clearly unsatisfied—grabbed my arm and yanked it instead.
She seemed seriously displeased. Probably because I'd told her today was the last session, so she was trying extra hard.
"Yeah, like that. Hold on... let me check from the front."
The moment she darted around to face me, her slipper caught on the floor, and her body lurched.
I caught her like I'd seen it coming—which I had, ever since she started rushing around.
Pulling her wrist toward me made her lose balance completely, her body tumbling right into my arms.
It all happened so fast, but I couldn't help chuckling. Without thinking, I leaned in close to her ear, my voice coming out soft and smooth.
"How are you supposed to check my pose like this?"
"You were the one who—... Wait, what."
Lee Seol shoved me away. My hand slipped from her waist in an instant.
She stumbled back a couple steps, standing there with a dazed look. Her eyes flickered for a second before she turned away, pretending nothing happened.
Her bright red bob hair half-covered her face, hiding her expression.
"Let's call it here for today."
"Why?"
"That cringy tone... I can't take it."
...Cringy tone?
I stared at her blankly for a moment.
...Had it been?
Yeah, maybe a bit much. I'd gotten too deep in thought.
The studio felt familiar now, the awkwardness with her had faded, and...
This environment was letting thoughts of Kim Yul bloom like flowers.
...Had I been mimicking him without realizing?
Once I clocked it, embarrassment took a backseat to fascination. This was the real deal—something I'd only heard about in my past life.
I knew immersion came easily to me, but I hadn't expected to feel it creeping in like this.
As I stayed quiet, Lee Seol finally spoke up, a beat late.
"...Thanks for catching me."
"No problem. You almost ate it big time otherwise."
"...".
She looked flustered when I played it cool. Or maybe baffled was more like it.
Meeting her eyes, she mumbled something, clearly embarrassed.
"Oh, I had something to say."
"What?"
"...You made me forget. Hang on."
I almost said something but stopped. Yeah, better keep quiet.
I just shrugged and waited.
"Oh, got it. Exams are in two weeks. Gotta study."
"...Yeah. Let's head out."
We tidied up side by side and stepped outside.
The vibe felt oddly quiet.
Sensing the awkwardness, she forced a casual tone.
"You... don't study? I thought grades mattered a ton to you."
Well... I'd study hard enough to get by.
But most of my focus was elsewhere. Filming in three weeks.
The closer it got, the more it consumed me.
First shoot, after all. If I thought I wasn't ready yet, I had to grind to avoid dragging everyone down—and it was my career on the line.
Screwing up here meant starting off on the wrong foot.
I shook my head. I'd overdone it. Definitely. I'd acted out of character around her.
"Doing my best."
"Yeah? Well... you'll figure it out. You always do."
"What're you getting at?"
"Was gonna offer to help. I've been busting my ass helping you, right? Feels like I'm just taking without giving back this time. Isn't it?"
Couldn't deny that. Without her, I wouldn't have even seen the studio.
"What about with Jae-hyun?"
"Knew you'd say that. Forget it."
"Fine, I'll help. Jae-hyun's been nagging me daily anyway. You two think alike."
She couldn't argue that one.
Instead, she switched gears.
"It's not just help—I can actually teach. Korean's my strong suit."
...Korean was mine too. Only subject I'd aced every time.
No need to brag, though.
"Sure."
Pretending ignorance, I asked,
"But aren't you keeping up with art? You're good at it."
I'd seen her drawings a few times. Sure, in the original story, she doesn't go into art-related stuff.
Still, after all these lessons, it felt right to ask. Plus, things were awkward.
"Just a hobby. If I wanted to go pro, I'd have done it ages ago."
"Why? You could start now—not too late."
"Career advice, please?"
...She always got snippy when it came to her. Or maybe since calling my tone cringy earlier.
"Too busy surviving myself for consulting."
"You handle everything fine. Acting already, prepping this hard... you know."
She whipped her head to glare, like she was pissed.
"What the hell. Isn't it kinda cheating? I get what Jae-hyun's always whining about."
Her words—praise or gripe?—made my ears itch. Should be used to it by now, but nah, still embarrassing.
Playing it off, I said casually,
"Saw this on a parenting show once."
"Out of nowhere?"
"Parents freak out if their kid walks a bit early or late. But it's not a big deal. Fast or slow, they all follow similar paths, and differences even out later. Doesn't dictate IQ or life outcomes."
"Whoa, sounds super smart. For real?"
She smirked, eyes still half-teasing.
I turned to look at her.
"You call me a cheat, but doubt this?"
"Different things."
What I meant was, we're still in that 17-year-old development phase.
Sure, the show was about little kids—not full teens like us. And my rambling wouldn't suddenly derail her future.
I knew that. That's why I said it.
What I wanted to convey was...
"I know it's meant to cheer me up."
"Huh?"
"...Thanks."
Lee Seol murmured softly, and for a while, we walked in silence.
With Lee Seol's art tutoring(?) wrapped up, exam period hit right after.
Like always, the five of us studied together. It was inevitable—even without her saying it.
I didn't study as hard as last time... but no regrets.
That was just killing time with nothing else to do.
Exams went smoothly. Grades held steady—no drops from the top ranks, no jumps either.
Probably 'cause it was first-year stuff. I'd been solid up to midterms anyway.
And finally, the day before the closing ceremony.
I ditched school a bit early that day.
Filming was today.
The first shoot.