Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Core of Change
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Probably the woman standing at the front was the vice president of the Ripple Theater Club.
White name tag. Second-year. Lee Nahee.
She crossed the classroom threshold with steps as steady and unhesitating as an actress stepping onto the stage.
She slowly scanned the entire class, and suddenly our eyes met.
Her eyes widened.
There was no way she knew me.
It was a reaction I got often from people seeing me for the first time, so I was used to it by now.
She seemed about to greet us energetically, full of vigor, but she froze mid-breath.
Only when the guy behind her holding the placard tapped her arm did she finally speak.
"A... ah, ahem. Hello, new students. I'm Lee Nahee, the vice president of our school's proud traditional club, the Ripple Theater Club."
"You seem nervous."
Someone in the classroom tossed out a playful remark, and she shook her head firmly.
"I'm not nervous. That was just... directorial flair. Yes, directorial flair. To make me seem more approachable."
Her attitude was bold as could be, but she couldn't hide how much that sounded like an excuse.
What was she like? She seemed incredibly confident, yet there was this subtle air of clumsiness about her.
That contradiction somehow made her oddly endearing.
Approachable, just like she'd said. Whether that was her intention or not, who could say.
Of course, her looks helped too. Neatly arranged features and a clear, bright impression.
If that friendly personality was genuine, she must be pretty popular.
She felt like the kind of girl I'd once imagined as a "7"—that perfect type.
No, maybe even more than that. She seemed like someone fairly well-known at school.
The problem was, this school already had people like Lee Seol and Woo Hana.
Recalling the original story... she didn't really have much of a role, if I remembered right.
Hmm, her name felt familiar... I wasn't sure. She must've appeared a few times, but nothing important.
I used to memorize even the extras' names back in the day, but after ten years here, my memory had faded.
I had the main plot points etched in deep, of course, but extras' names? No chance.
"Anyway! Our Ripple Theater Club is looking for people who shine brightest on stage. No acting experience? No problem. No prior knowledge? Doesn't matter. I'll te... er, I mean, I'll show you everything."
"Can we just join?"
"Ah, there are interviews. Well, not for the stage crew, but if you're interested in directing or acting, yes. Ahh...! Don't make that face already! It's not hard! Just a relaxed vibe where you show off your natural talents."
She was addressing the whole class, but oddly, her gaze kept drifting back to me.
She must have something to say to me specifically.
She seemed to realize her eyes kept meeting mine, pausing for a second before finally speaking directly to me.
"You there, underclassman!"
All eyes from the class turned to me.
Her finger was pointing right at me.
Seo Jaehyun next to me was already grinning suspiciously.
"Yeah, yeah, it's Minwoo-ham."
"Hyung gets public confessions during club promo time."
Ji Hyunsu snickered along with him, and soon the whole class was chuckling.
Thankfully, the senior didn't seem to pick up on the vibe.
"Sorry for calling you out suddenly, but... have you ever had even a little interest in theater as an art form?"
There was a subtle spark of expectation in her eyes.
...Of course I did. Considering my past life's job, how could I not.
But I shook my head.
"No."
"Ah......"
Maybe I said it too bluntly.
Someone once said a huge denial often hides a huge affirmation.
I probably wasn't entirely free of that myself. I had no intention of denying it.
But at least right now, I had no desire to take back my words.
Her disappointed face came into view. The bold energy that had gripped the classroom moments ago was gone; her shoulders visibly slumped.
"Even dramas or movies? Or maybe a play you saw with friends? Never found one fun even once?"
...Who could say no to that?
"I've seen those, but not enough to join a club."
"Gasp."
Murmurs rippled through the class right after I answered.
"So decisive."
"That's real madness."
But the senior herself showed no signs of giving up.
"This is embarrassing, but I already know your name. Lee Minwoo, right?"
"Ooh."
"She's no pushover."
"Madness showdown."
I ignored the class's sleazy reactions and looked at her.
She really seemed keen on recruiting me into the theater club. I could understand her pure intentions... but the rest of the class? Not so much.
That senior didn't seem to care about the stares either.
"You're so famous, I had a hunch. I'd love if you came for acting. Not trying to pressure you or anything......"
She kept rambling on.
The guy holding the placard behind her lightly tapped her arm again.
Only then did she snap out of it.
"Ah, of course, not just you!"
"No worries. We get it."
Someone chimed in smoothly, and the class erupted in laughter again.
"This happens in our class a lot."
The class burst into laughter at that.
After that, the theater club recovered the mood and left, and a few other clubs swept through the classroom one by one.
"Soccer? Basketball? What're you doing."
"Soccer?"
Seo Jaehyun and Ji Hyunsu were mulling over the sports clubs.
They probably ended up in the Soccer Club.
Not that clubs played a big role anyway.
Seo Jaehyun peeled the wrapper off a chocolate on his desk and asked me.
"Where you headed?"
"Me...? Still thinking. But not sports."
Truth be told, if there was a way to skip clubs altogether, I'd take it.
I'd heard you could opt for self-study instead of joining one......
Seo Jaehyun shook his head.
"Ah, kinda disappointing. Deducting points."
"For what."
"You gotta show off sports skills at times like this to be perfect. Doesn't fit my definition of the perfect guy."
"Your perfect guy standards are law, huh."
What was this about?
"I'm bad at sports."
"With that physique? Bet you're secretly a beast."
Honestly, I had no idea. My body looked like it should be good at them, but I'd never tried, so probably not.
Back in my past life, I hadn't been great anyway.
"Handsome guys ace everything except stamina. Sounds like a webnovel title."
"So if Jinwoo-ham spars with you, he wins?"
"You ever see Jinwoo-ham lose?"
Seo Jaehyun casually popped the unwrapped chocolate into his mouth.
......That was his third one already.
Those chocolates were from Woo Hana this morning.
We'd run into each other on the way to school, and she'd shoved a whole box at me like it was the perfect chance before vanishing like the wind.
She hadn't said why, but I figured it was payback for the umbrella last time and accepted it.
Sure enough, his hand was heading for another one naturally.
When he noticed me staring, he flinched and stopped.
"Ah, too tasty, keeps calling my hand. From Woo Hana, right?"
"Don't go spreading weird rumors that you ate them all."
"Okay."
Seo Jaehyun nodded like he got it, then grinned out of nowhere.
"So, theater club senior or Woo Hana. Which one?"
...Didn't this guy swear not to force-ship me with random girls before?
I'd love to fire back, but mentioning Lee Seol would just thrill him, so I dropped it.
"I'm joining the theater club."
"What?"
During break time.
I was leaning against the hallway window chatting with Choi Dongrak when he dropped that casually.
Most shocking thing I'd heard all year.
"Can't believe it?"
"Yeah."
I nodded without hesitation, and he laughed.
"Honest guy."
"Had no clue."
"Obviously not as an actor... interested in scriptwriting."
"Oh, really?"
That was surprising too.
"What do you think?"
"About what? Looks good to me."
"You said you couldn't believe it."
"I meant I'm surprised. Not judging. Sounds fun. Go for it."
"Isn't jumping into writing sudden?"
"Nah, who says."
Not for me, at least.
I'd held scripts in hand before failing as an actor.
"So you got some stuff written already."
"Yeah, but... more like practice pieces."
"Dude, those scraps you collect? That's your real essence. You'll need 'em someday."
I meant it.
I wanted to tell him how those stray lines and discarded scenes become massive pieces later.
"Or any favorite scripts? Curious about your style."
"......"
Mid-sentence, I noticed Choi Dongrak staring at me intently through his glasses.
He pushed them up with a flick.
"Found it."
"...Found what."
I asked curtly, and his expression turned meaningful.
"No plans to join theater club?"
"......No interest."
Only after saying it did I realize.
...I got kinda excited there.
"Hmm... alright. If you say so."
"Sounds sarcastic."
"Nah."
So decisive.
Time flowed like running water.
Midterms felt like yesterday when I got my report card, but before I knew it, finals were done, and summer break began.
And in the blink of an eye, summer break ended, and second semester started.