Winter Break (2): Yeoul's Warm Welcome and Sudden Rain
In my previous life, I'd had plenty of experience living in a theater troupe. I'd spent a good long while as the maknae there too.
It even felt a bit like enlisting in the army all over again.
Come to think of it, I'd have to go again someday... Still a few years off, but just thinking about it made everything feel overwhelming. Of course, comparing club life to troupe life was a bit unfair.
Anyway, the moment I got Dong-rak's call, I showered and headed out. It didn't seem like a formal interview vibe, so I threw on something comfy.
I pulled on a hoodie in front of the mirror and ran a hand over the top of my head for a second.
My height... it wasn't shooting up like before anymore. A bit taller than last time? Still, I doubted I'd break 190cm. Guys keep growing into their twenties, though, so who knows.
On the way to school, I stopped by the local street food joint. Packed up enough for a bunch of people, then grabbed some drinks from the convenience store nearby. Showing an outsider the ropes of prepping a play wasn't as simple as it sounded.
Bags in hand, I passed through the school gates and headed for the auditorium. As I got close, I spotted someone hanging around nearby.
A girl pacing back and forth for no reason. Oversized hoodie, wide training pants.
Black cap pulled low, so her face was hard to make out, but definitely a stranger. She looked cold... like she'd just stepped out for a quick second.
I paid her extra attention because she seemed to be waiting for someone—and my gut said it was me.
As I approached, she looked up, maybe sensing me. Our eyes met, and she covered her mouth with her sleeve, walking over slowly. Guess I was right.
"Oh... wait... Lee Min-woo, right?"
"Yeah. Yeoul...?"
Yeoul was the club's name.
Before I could finish, she nodded vigorously.
"Figured you might not find it, so I came out to get you."
"..."
I glanced at the auditorium right behind her, then nodded without a word.
She watched me, flashing a somewhat cheeky grin.
"I'm Lee Ga-yeon, second-year."
"Lee Min-woo here. First-year... but turning second-year soon."
"Oh, by that logic, I'm third-year now. Wanna drop the formalities...?"
"Sure. Make yourself comfy."
"Cool? You too—drop the honorifics!"
Her friendly vibe was obvious after just a few words.
Even in that short walk to the auditorium, she kept the chatter going.
"Dong-dol—no, Dong-rak's inside talking with the president."
I nearly burst out laughing. Hearing "Dong-dol" from someone else cracked me up.
"What about?"
"Dunno. I'm stage crew. He's the adapter-slash-writer this time. Hey, what's in the bags?"
"Just some street food."
"Ooh, perfect—I'm starving."
We were inside the auditorium in no time.
More people than I'd expected. Were all the members here?
The second we pushed through the doors, eyes locked on us. Everyone except the folks onstage seemed to be on break.
They were sprawled across the floor and whipped their heads my way—enough to make me flinch a little.
Then someone lying down bolted upright.
"Ga-yeon, what the hell? You said bathroom."
"Wondered why you weren't back—turns out you were out playing lookout. Legendary creeper move."
"Shut it."
Ga-yeon cut him off sharp and threw her hand up high, announcing loudly.
"Min-woo's got treats for us!"
"You spilled already?"
People started getting up, drifting over.
"What'd he bring?"
"Street food."
"Whoa, guy's got savvy."
"See? Hot guys aren't just popular—they've got social IQ for days."
"That's 'cause they're hot."
Too many voices overlapping to track who said what, total chaos, but I greeted everyone coming my way.
If I was thinking of joining, getting faces down was smart.
My old personality leaned passive and introverted, amplified early after possessing this body, but I'd improved a ton.
This body didn't tense up much anyway, and I'd been getting used to crowds.
Of course, I'd had stage and filming experience before too... but it felt different now. Hard to pin down exactly how.
After hellos, I scanned for a familiar face.
Up front, onstage: Choi Dong-rak chatting with Lee Na-hee.
They noticed the commotion, glancing over. Perfect timing—I waved.
"Dong-dol."
He gave a quick hand-wave back.
"Whoa, he calls him Dong-dol too."
"I coined it—honored."
"Fits right in already."
"Just swap him in as lead?"
Listening to them, it felt like I'd wandered into a comedy sketch.
Every move sparked whispers.
Overall welcoming vibe, though. Treating me nice like an invited guest.
I wasn't officially in yet, after all.
"Heard you're adapting this one? Why no heads-up?"
"It's just winter break thing..."
Not really bummed. No biggie if he didn't tell me. I hadn't exactly reported every shoot to him.
Just a casual "hey, cool" kinda greeting.
We swapped hellos as Dong-rak came over, and as club president Lee Na-hee was about to say something, a voice from the windows cut in.
"Guys. It's raining outside."
"Rain hits right when Min-woo shows."
"Fate?"
"Just swap him in as lead?"
"Ugh, drop it already."
U Hana stood in front of the full-length mirror propped in the corner of her room, staring at her reflection for a good while.
Plain long white tee, no patterns. Black dolphin pants.
She tugged the tee back from behind. Her curves popped right out.
Like recreating one of those old "hide-the-fat" challenges.
"...Hmm."
She eyed it a moment, then let go.
Sighed suddenly.
"What to even wear out..."
She glanced at the bed. Clothes scattered across it—ones she'd pulled out and tossed aside earlier.
Reason for the fuss? Seo Jae-hyun's soccer game. She'd agreed to watch with Lee Seol.
Not that she'd said yes just for that. Jae-hyun mentioned trying to get Lee Min-woo.
No reply in the group chat yet. She'd even snuck in a private text.
Back to the mirror. She poked under her eyes, rubbed her cheeks. No puffiness today.
Skin good, feeling decent.
I'm looking good today...!
Right as the thought hit—
Her phone buzzed. She snatched it up.
Min-woo's reply.
But: too tired today, can't make it.
All her energy drained.
"...Ah."
She flopped onto the nearby mattress.
"Screw it."
She'd go anyway. Go if Min-woo showed, skip if not... way too obvious.
Seol was going—couldn't bail.
Still, deflated.
She lounged as long as possible, then at the last minute slapped on makeup and threw on clothes. All that agonizing wasted—ended up with her usual safe outfit.
Opened her door.
The living room was a wreck, unlike last night. Empty cans and bottles rolling on the floor. Half-eaten snacks strewn on the table.
She'd heard the noise last night, knew, but stayed put. No desire to see it.
In the middle of the mess, a woman slumped anyhow. Messy hair, half-empty bottle in hand.
U Hana's mom. Her biological mother.
She looked up at the door creak, face already sloshed and wobbly. How long? All night. All day maybe.
"Where you slinkin' off to now?"
"Meeting friends."
"Come back late like your deadbeat dad, see what happens."
"I'll be early."
Mom didn't continue, just tipped the bottle for another swig.
Lucky—no mood trigger.
Hana didn't push it. Slipped on shoes at the entryway, opened the door.
Clang.
Door shut, and the house air cut off sharp.
"Whew."
She exhaled lightly, strolling down the alley slow.
Meetup at another school's field. Short bus ride.
At the stop, phone out to text Seol—group chat had new messages.
No rain forecast earlier—weather must've changed.
Air felt muggy leaving home.
Odd feeling. Skipping fine, but now out, hated turning back.
Mostly 'cause of mom.
Late or early, no real difference. Just unease.
She turned back anyway, headed home.
Then U Hana stopped dead without thinking.
Glancing at the living room, she spotted her mom—and something felt off in the air. Totally different vibe.