Winter Break (5): The Curse of Good Looks
"Talking like it's some kind of contamination or something."
"It's a fact."
I had a rough idea of what she meant. Still, part of me felt like she was exaggerating a bit. I was just starting out in a YouTube web drama—did it really warrant all this fuss?
Not like I was an idol or anything.
As if reading my thoughts, Lee Da-kyung nodded firmly.
"I'm telling you, it's that serious."
She pointed right at me—or more precisely, at my face.
"Whenever you show up, you get attention. Girl fans pop up out of nowhere."
"Yeah."
"Actors can date or not, and no one really cares like with idols. But that's not the point? It's subtly important, you know?"
"Is it?"
"Newbie actors need a clean image. Rumors about having a bunch of girls around from the start? Nothing good comes from that. You gotta be careful until you're signed with an agency. Once you are, you can sneak around. They might even help cover for you."
After getting all sorts of advice from Lee Da-kyung like that, I slipped out of the room.
U Hana, who'd been sitting awkwardly on the sofa, stood up and approached.
"...What'd Da-kyung say? Did I mess up or something?"
I shook my head at her cautious question.
"Nothing much. Let's just head out for now."
The cafe where I worked part-time wasn't far from home.
But then I realized it was near the university district—not the best fit. So I headed to a small, quiet spot nearby instead. Just in case it rained suddenly, I grabbed an umbrella in one hand.
"Da-kyung seems super nice, though. She even lent me cosmetics. I should've asked to follow each other on socials..."
"You didn't bring your phone."
"Oh, right."
U Hana waddled along in a long padding coat that swallowed her whole, a big canvas bag slung over one shoulder.
No wallet, no phone in this getup... Anyone would peg her as a runaway teen.
First things first, I got her out... but now what?
I paused to think.
Should I hand her off to Lee Seol? From what I'd seen at my place earlier, U Hana clearly didn't want to go straight home.
I hadn't even properly showered myself, thanks to Da-kyung barging in mid-way. But it was just a quick rinse in the rain—nothing major.
I'll contact Seol from the cafe.
I decided to pass her along to Lee Seol.
"Where are we headed, anyway?"
"Thought about taking you to my part-time spot, but let's find somewhere quiet."
"You work part-time too?"
"Just short shifts on weekends."
"Learning so much new stuff about you today..."
She muttered in fake admiration, then casually slipped in a question as we walked.
"Is this something only I know about? Or... do Jae-hyun or Hyun-su know?"
Her tone was ambiguous—like she was asking me but also talking to herself.
Hmm. Come to think of it, outside family... only Lee Seol knew.
"Probably just Seol. Unless I told someone else... but you didn't know, so I didn't mention it."
She'd mentioned it offhand while teaching me to paint after school in the art club. Even said she'd hook me up with freebies if I visited.
"...I see."
U Hana went quiet for a moment, then seamlessly switched topics like nothing happened.
"Cafe work must come with a ton of annoyances."
"Yeah... You ever tried it?"
"Nah, but... you can just tell it does."
We chatted like that until we reached the cafe. As expected, it was small-scale, so not many customers.
A college-aged woman stood behind the counter.
As I picked drinks and desserts and went to pay, she leaned in and whispered.
"Dessert's on the house."
"Pardon? Oh... sure. Thanks."
I wondered if she recognized me from the neighborhood, but she blushed without meeting my eyes properly—nope, not that.
We got our vibrating pager and found a seat. U Hana had overheard, being right next to me.
"Does this happen every time?"
"What?"
"Wherever you go, they treat you nice, stare, throw in freebies."
"Doesn't that apply to you too?"
"Me...? Hmm?"
"What about me?"
"Wait, hold up. You just shut me down with that."
She fidgeted with her fingers like she had nothing left to say, then added.
"Even with a girl next to you, huh."
"The freebies?"
"Yeah. Girl right there in plain sight... Feels like I'm invisible. Unfair. Don't guys usually back off if another guy's around?"
"Depends on the person. Last time at the canteen, someone asked for your number while we were talking."
"...Mind if I ask your MBTI?"
"You think I'm a T?"
"Nah. Rethink: you're an F. A T would've asked about my situation ages ago."
U Hana glanced at me slyly as she said it.
"Truth is, stuff went down at home."
"Yeah."
"So, can I borrow your phone? Wanna message Seol. KakaoTalk."
I pulled out my phone, opened the chat with Lee Seol, and passed it over.
U Hana took it and tapped the screen briefly. Then she burst out laughing.
"Look at this."
She tilted the phone toward me.
"Seol doesn't buy it."
I glanced down.
That was as far as I'd read when the screen switched—Lee Seol was calling.
U Hana picked up.
"Yeah. Hey, Seol-ah. Yeah...... Ran into her by chance. Yup. Said she had stuff to do. I don't have my phone right now. Seol-ah... you free to meet up now? I'll head to your place. Got something to talk about....... Yeah."
After hanging up, U Hana flopped face-down on the table, utterly drained.
"Phew..."
"Success?"
"Yeah. She's cool with it."
She suddenly giggled.
"Our chat felt so shady. Like we were plotting something."
Then U Hana lifted her head and looked at me.
"Thanks for today. Can't put it all into words, but seriously, thank you so much."
She rolled her eyes thoughtfully, then asked.
"What can I do for you?"
"You know everything you're wearing and carrying is mine, right?"
"But you didn't get the most important thing. Danyang U clan, umpteenth generation descendant, U Hana."
"U Hana approved."
"...Wanna know how?"
"Nah."
It was a joke about not deserving a "Danyang U clan descendant umpteenth gen U Hana," but she ducked her head before I finished, ignoring the punchline. Her hat slipped off the table hook.
She stayed like that, black hair veiling the side of her face.
"Rejected."
"You rejected me."
"If that makes you feel better, go ahead. I'm fine."
After the brief banter, U Hana asked in a deflated voice, face still hidden.
"...You're only this nice today, right?"
"Dress you up like this, make you food, buy dessert...... I'd need a butler for daily service."
"Butler? More like boyfriend?"
"But you rejected me."
"Whoa... you're way too slick at slipping away."
She took a deep breath, finally sitting up straight and stretching.
"Ah~ I wanna make bank. Hire you as a butler and drag you around."
Her words sparked an idea.
"Wanna work cafe part-time? I'm quitting after break anyway."
"...Without parents knowing?"
"Dunno... probably not."
"Then no."
"Want me to ask anyway?"
"Hmm... sure."
*
U Hana ended up crashing at Lee Seol's for just one night before heading home. She didn't spill details, but she must've had her reasons.
Things went back to normal after that—we texted casually.
I half-expected her to open up at the cafe, but she didn't, so I haven't pried. In the original story, she'd confide properly in Seol during second year......
Anyway, the key was whether she'd open up. I've been playing it cool since.
And now, I was on set. The school building.
Most scenes, especially early episodes, happened inside school.
We were prepping a scene from episode 3.
Break time now.
Ji Eun-seol approached from the corner of the classroom, holding a small paper bag.
"Cookie?"
She shook the bag lightly.
"These are trending lately."
"Oh... those. Never tried 'em."
"Ooh, playing the 'never tried' card."
"Pardon?"
"Sorry. Can I ask... if it's okay to inquire why you read my message yesterday but didn't reply?"
Ji Eun-seol messaged me occasionally. Mostly about script interpretations. Best emotion for this scene? Does this line land right?
...No clue why she asks me. But I answered as best I could from my take.
"Was mulling it over, forgot to reply."
"Knew it. Not that I'm annoying you, right?"
She acted like I was some senior actor. Shouldn't I be the one getting advice?
Her humility helped us bond, sure... but it was a bit much.
Anyway, episode 1 uploads in two days.
I show my face a lot, hefty screen time.
After their first art club meeting, Kim Yul boldly approaches and acts buddy-buddy.
Waves cheerfully in the hall, spots Jung Yu-na chatting with friends from afar and greets first.
Episode 2? Barely there. Eighteen's Temperature mostly follows Jung Yu-na's POV.
Her school life with friends, subtly aware of Kim Yul.
But I pop up near the end of 2, busy again in 3...
I decided not to sweat reactions. The set vibe would tell the story.