Eighteen's Temperature (7)
The afterparty passed without any real incidents.
Well, at least on the surface.
There was one thing that left me feeling uneasy: that awkward moment with Lee Seol in the kitchen.
I scratched my cheek.
It reminded me of last time in the art room, when I'd caught her waist as she slipped. She'd reacted pretty sensitively then too.
...Come to think of it, that's only natural. She might just dislike physical contact with guys.
Anyway, I hoped it wouldn't make things awkward between us again.
I'd deliberately avoided looking at her after leaving the kitchen, but I vaguely remembered her face being quite flushed when our eyes met once.
...Whatever. Nothing else happened after that.
While the others were clamoring to hit the karaoke bar and filing out of the house, I'd slipped away home.
They didn't press me to stay once I mentioned I had a shoot the next day.
Lee Seol and U Hana had naturally left together around then too.
Speaking of which, U Hana...
I paused to recall.
Hmm, was she quiet?
That's the impression I'd gotten at the time. A bit more subdued than usual, maybe.
But looking back, maybe not.
She'd chatted quite a bit with Choi Dong-rak that day, saying she wanted to get closer to him.
Choi Dong-rak wasn't an easy guy to open up despite appearances, but she'd kept the conversation going somehow.
Probably thanks to her signature barrage of questions.
Anyway, things had gone back to normal after that—she'd texted like usual and even stopped by our house to return the clothes she'd borrowed from me.
Everything was just as it had been.
And now here I was on set. The last shoot before school started back up.
The morning air was still chilly, and outside the classroom being used as my waiting room, I could hear the staff bustling about.
"Master."
"...Who calls someone that?"
"Whoa."
It was Ji Eun-seol.
Now that we were seven episodes in, Ji Eun-seol and I had gotten pretty close. Strictly as colleagues, of course.
She shrugged her shoulders.
"Now I need permission just to decide what to call you?"
"'Master' feels off. It's like how I can't call you 'sis' casually."
"Hehe, you've gotten so manly, Min-woo."
She usually backed off around then, but today she seemed oddly excited.
"Something good happen today?"
"Why wouldn't I be thrilled? I've finally become a full-fledged rising star at our agency."
"..."
She must be going through the same changes I was.
The atmosphere on set, people's attitudes, those subtly shifted gazes everywhere.
Come to think of it, she'd had a manager tagging along every time she came to set lately. Probably assigned a dedicated one.
"You're the first person I've heard phrase it like that."
"Who've you met in the industry so far?"
"Just the people here."
"Heh."
...What was that laugh?
"Soo—"
"You're about to ask if I've done my homework here, right?"
"Mind reader?"
"Heh."
Man, that laugh was getting under my skin.
Since we were borrowing an actual school for filming, a few classrooms had been cleared out as waiting rooms for the actors. That's why I was killing time in one corner, with a few desks pushed together.
Lately, though, Ji Eun-seol had been invading my space more often. We were friends now, so it wasn't a big deal, but maybe it was time to claim some personal space.
Just then, perched on my desk, Ji Eun-seol swung her long legs dangling from under her uniform skirt and said,
"Oh, right. My manager told me to casually ask about your agency's situation."
"That's not casual at all."
"Hey, I'm just the messenger..."
"I'm still thinking it over."
...Yeah. Personal space dreams shelved for now.
It had been weighing on my mind lately anyway. Talking it out with someone might not be so bad.
"But haven't you gotten a ton of offers already?"
"Fewer than you'd think..."
"They're probably digging into your background. It's only been a month."
"Maybe. School starts soon, so things are getting urgent for me too."
"Whoa, you eat school lunch?"
"..."
She had this knack for needling people. Especially those innocent-seeming jabs she tossed out casually.
"To think this kid's my husband."
"Pardon?"
"I mean, boyfriend."
Ah. She meant our characters.
I nodded.
We were around episode seven in the story now.
The plot had us on the verge of dating—everything but the actual confession.
That's why she said stuff like that.
"We haven't said we're dating yet."
"True. Guess we're about to fight soon."
"Yeah. So you should head out now."
"Right. Smart move."
She didn't mess around when it came to acting, so she turned and left without protest.
Come to think of it, I'd meant to ask about agencies, but that random "husband" comment derailed us again.
Anyway, Eighteen's Temperature ramps up the conflict between Jung Yu-na and Kim Yul starting episode eight. They like each other, but misunderstandings pile up.
They reconcile in episode ten for the wrap-up... or that's the basic plot.
I'd heard the writer originally planned a perfect happy ending.
But the script I got was a bit different. Depending on interpretation, it could feel a tad unresolved.
She said it was to leave room for season two.
Two days after episodes one through four went up.
School started back.
Busy days ahead again. New semester adjustments, plus three more episodes' worth of shooting left.
The school building rental for filming wouldn't last much longer, so the schedule was tight. I'd have to submit early leave slips and skip a few days.
Heading out early in the morning for school.
It felt like forever since I'd last gone. Maybe because spring break was over.
As I was slipping on my shoes to leave, Lee Da-kyung shuffled out of her room, rubbing her eyes.
Her hair was a mess, eyes half-closed. Still in pajamas.
Spotting me, she waved lazily.
"Bye."
"Go wash up quick."
"Don't gotta rush like you, oppa."
Third-year middle schooler now, and she was giving off that end-of-service sergeant vibe.
Lee Da-kyung waved dismissively again, like hurry up and go.
"Promise... If it works out, you gotta get me autographs from Kim Shin and Ria."
"..."
She always spouted nonsense when she wasn't fully awake.
And Kim Shin and Ria? Idols. Not actors.
I didn't bother responding and headed out the front door.
The morning air was still cold. White breath puffed out with every exhale.
As I slowly walked toward school, a familiar face came into view.
U Hana.
Sitting there with coffee in hand.
Waiting for someone?
Thinking that, I approached her casually.
"Boo."
U Hana looked up.
"Oh? Min-woo."
She jumped up from her seat, hesitated a beat, then grinned sheepishly.
"...Gonna scare me? Wanna try again?"
She must've thought her reaction was lame even to herself.
I shook my head.
"Nah. What're you doing here?"
"Just sipping coffee, soaking in the chill vibes?"
U Hana fell into step beside me. Clearly planning to walk together.
"Not waiting for anyone specific, then."
"Hmm... Should I wait for one person and go together?"
"Why?"
"Just the two of us feels kinda off, right?"
Was she bothered about walking alone with a guy?
"Don't sweat that stuff even at school."
"Should I go on ahead alone?"
Her expression softened a bit, like she'd been waiting for me to say that.
"Then I'll wait every day and go with you."
"Just text."
"That cool?"
"If you leave early too, we can meet here and head in together."
"You said it's okay?"
Then U Hana perked up like something just hit her.
"Oh, right. Keep this between us."
Her voice dropped lower.
"I got a job at your old cafe."
"For real?"
"But, um... Never mind."
"Why? What's racing through that head of yours now?"
"Whoa... Min-woo. You know me too well."
I looked at her in mock admiration.
"That was straight out of Seo Jae-hyun."
"Spot on. I was imitating him."
She deflated a little and continued in a quieter tone.
"No, just... The manager who wouldn't let me before suddenly okayed it, so it's got me curious."
"Tell me whenever you're ready."
"...Yeah."
If she wanted to open up, I'd help however I could.
"It's not a big deal anyway? I could just say it... Guess I'm not mentally prepped yet."
"It's fine."
"Don't get disappointed when you hear it later?"
"Won't."
I reached out naturally and patted her head. She looked up in surprise.
Those eyes startled me too. My hand had moved on autopilot.
"Ah, sorry."
I awkwardly pulled back, then smoothed out the bit I'd messed up with my fingers.
Watching me, U Hana's eyes curved into a smile.
"Can't you keep going? Feels comforting, like real solace."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. You've got a talent for it."
"Keep going then? Even if it messes up your hair?"
"Yeah. Don't stop."
I wasn't serious, but she stepped closer like she meant it, so I dropped my hand.
"You win."
"Yesss."
We walked side by side toward school.
Students in uniforms started popping up around us one by one.
And naturally, the sidelong glances increased too.
I'd dealt with it somewhat even before the web drama shoots started, and lately I'd gotten good at filtering them out—pretending not to notice.
Thankfully, no one approached directly. Maybe because I had company.
Once inside the school grounds, U Hana said she'd hit the bathroom first and vanished.
I headed to the classroom.
Pushing open the door, I saw a few early birds already seated.
Among them, familiar short bob hair.
I went to the back row where that vivid red bob was visible.
"Boo."
"Ugh, what."
Like with U Hana, I greeted Lee Seol casually. She flinched, then turned with a blank look.
"...Lame."
Her face stiffened slightly at the sight of me, but quickly relaxed back to normal.
She turned forward indifferently again, like she'd decided to bury the kitchen incident too.
I'll tread carefully.
"Sitting in the back?"
"Do what you want. I just plopped down."
"You're here super early though? Don't you usually cut it close?"
"That was due to circumstances..."
As she turned toward me to explain, the classroom door opened again and U Hana walked in.
"Uh..."
Lee Seol trailed off mid-sentence, mumbling awkwardly.
"Anyway, circumstances."
U Hana quickly came over to Lee Seol's side.
"Hey, Seol. You're early."
"You too?"
They exchanged greetings like always.
"Why? What were you two talking about?"
Just as U Hana asked, the door opened once more and a few more students filed in.
"Awesome! Same class as Min-woo!"
I didn't know the face, but he waved enthusiastically, so I waved back.
That must've been the trigger.
Were they holding back until then? Suddenly, kids from around the class swarmed over.
"Min-woo, saw you on YouTube this time!"
"I saw your article too. Wild."
"How're you so good at acting?"
"You sticking with acting now?"
"What about school during shoots?"
Questions poured in. I tried not to panic, answering one by one.
Just worked hard, planning to keep acting, shoots after school or early leaves sometimes... That sort of thing.
Blue Nine Entertainment.
Not one of the big three agencies that make heads nod just from the name in the industry, but a solid mid-tier player in the actor management world that no one took lightly.
A place focused purely on actors, not idols.
Park Jae-hyeok, head of their management team.
He was standing right now in front of Seojeong High's main gate. Naturally, to recruit Lee Min-woo.
Internal approvals were already in place.
"There's an actor I want to bring in."
"That student you mentioned before?"
"Yes. Doesn't seem like any issues."
"Set up a meeting then."
That was the chat with the division head.
He'd come in person to show sincerity, by Park Jae-hyeok's judgment.
Other agencies would've reached out for sure.
Especially Lien.
They were a massive comprehensive entertainment company handling both idols and actors—bigger than Blue Nine.
After weighing that, this thirty-five-year-old man had come straight to the school.
It wasn't just because Lee Min-woo was hot right now or trending.
Of course, he'd investigated thoroughly afterward... and the more he dug, the more appealing he seemed.
Top grades in school. Handsome. Promising future. Military service covered with plenty of contract time. Buzzworthy.
And above all... talented actor.
Plus, his personal follower count was skyrocketing after a month, yet no news of deals. Not even an ad shoot—clearly managing his actor image carefully.
Cautious personality.
Even if it was all calculated, he liked it.
Being able to scheme like that at his age was a talent in itself.
That was why he'd decided: this was the moment to snag him. No question.