At the Edge of the Cliff
It was out of nowhere.
Me, shattering Jae-yeon and Jae-hyeok hyung's mental game?
"Huh? Me?"
"Aw, you're just kidding, right."
"......I don't even remember what I did?"
I almost chuckled at Yoon CEO's teasing, but something felt off.
Call it a gut feeling that I shouldn't pass that on to Seo Jae-yeon.
"No, I seriously only remember practicing together."
"Should I?"
I knew.
He was second only to Manager Jang in despising me.
"For real? Why?"
I couldn't agree with "nagging," but...
It was true—I had a lot to say when I saw potential in an actor.
The opposite was obvious.
As Eum Sung-hyun (Unpack) opened the door to the dorm, the noisy Agent Secret members shut their mouths.
It had been like this ever since his casting in Gongbeomche.
Do Hyun-woo the CE had offered a new dorm, but Eum Sung-hyun turned it down.
He didn't even know why himself.
Escaping this hellhole had been his dream for years, yet when it became real, he shook his head.
One thing had changed, though—the members no longer messed with him carelessly.
Do Hyun-woo's threat loomed.
Any physical or mental harm to an actor signed with Tvic Korea meant full liability for damages.
M2M, sensing a golden chance to recoup investments, was cooperating fully.
But lately, Tune and a few others had started poking at him again.
Not direct attacks like before.
"You really trust that Do Hyun-woo guy? Think he's turning you into an actor with zero ulterior motives?"
The tone was soft.
"Bet it's a 100% sponsor offer. Heard male sponsorships are big in the industry now. Look into it."
The intent was obvious.
"Not overwhelming? Being the lead? Your acting alone is worth tens of billions."
They wanted him to fail.
His success would mean massive relative deprivation for them.
So Eum Sung-hyun ignored them.
But one thing stuck.
"Doesn't it piss you off? A grown-ass adult leaning on pity?"
Pity.
Even he couldn't ignore that.
Was I really the best choice? Or was it pity?)
For the past three months, he'd buried those thoughts prepping the role.
But after the first location shoot, he couldn't anymore.
He'd been the weakest link on set.
'Can I really pull this off? If only we hadn't shot much yet...'>
Eum Sung-hyun startled at the trailing thought.
Backing out now would leave him with nothing—yet here he was thinking it?
But ingrained surrender wouldn't let go easily.
Lying on the cheap bed, lost in inescapable thoughts—
Sung-hyun, come out front of the dorm now.
A call from Do Hyun-woo.
"Now?"
He grabbed an outer layer and rushed out—to see the CE's stern face.
Thanks to Yoon CEO, it hit me.
I'd been pitying Eum Sung-hyun.
The casting logic had no pity.
My superpower showed the perfect vision, and I believed he could reach it.
But my actions after? No standards.
Time to fix that.
"Sung-hyun. Just talked with the director."
"About what...?"
"Your acting was the most lacking these past three days."
I felt Eum Sung-hyun flinch.
"......Sorry."
"I'm the total director. I have a final goal for a great project—and the duty to find solutions if we can't reach it."
"Understood."
"To fulfill that, I need to apologize first. Sorry. I've been seeing you as pitiful."
"......!"
"Looking back, I knew problems could arise. Practice allows repetition till immersion, but on set? No."
But my pity made me ignore it.
"So let's redefine our situation. No more emotions. Just results."
"......"
"Your acting fell short of my expectations."
We're pros, and pros have duties to bear.
Denying him even the chance to shoulder that weight would ruin him.
"Agree? If you think there was no issue, convince me."
"No. I know my acting had problems."
"So how will you fix it?"
Eum Sung-hyun hesitated, unsure.
But...
I knew the answer.
"Sung-hyun. You turned down my dorm offer, right?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Didn't want to burden you more."
"Burden? It's not even my money. Think Tvic can't snag a one-room for its lead?"
"Still, it'd feel like extra hassle..."
"Maybe. But is that all?"
No.
That wasn't why he refused.
"That's Hyun-tae's way."
"Huh?"
"Hyun-tae wouldn't run. Fleeing the dorm would admit weakness."
Reflecting late, Eum Sung-hyun was already deep in Hyun-tae.
Innate talent.
Perfect role for immersion.
No external distractions.
Those three meshed.
But subconsciously, he feared that depth.
Self-actualization is humanity's peak need.
But Eum Sung-hyun had never "actualized" his "self."
No achievements as idol, man, or person.
Let go of "me," and what defined Eum Sung-hyun?
Nothing.
Unable to distinguish "self" from "outside"? That's mental illness.
That was his fear.
I could've seen it, but pity blinded me.
"Might not make sense now. But this is certain: Gongbeomche is the first self Eum Sung-hyun the actor achieves and realizes."
"......"
"Mark my words—if Gongbeomche flops, you'll never set foot in this industry again."
"Wh-why?"
"Everyone will blame you for the failure."
Especially if supporting actors shine.
No director casts him as lead then side role; managers prioritize set vibes regardless of his will.
"So you're at the cliff's edge now."
I met his eyes.
"What would Hyun-tae do?"
Tune, the only Agent Secret member with a schedule—well, now the only one—woke to his alarm.
"Fuck..."
Other celebs had managers waking them, prepping everything—but not this shitty M2M.
Set your own alarm, wash up, then the lazy manager strolls in late.
'Damn, just end the contract already.'
Grumpy, he entered the living room—and froze.
Eum Sung-hyun sat there since dawn.
Yet no glance his way.
'Fucking nothing actor acting cocky...'
It grated, honestly.
Him succeeding? Grating. Then slandering him later? Grating.
Dazed from early morning?
Forgetting recent caution, Tune spoke.
"Hey, fuck. Someone's here—no greeting?"
Then—
As Eum Sung-hyun turned, chills erupted.
No words, no gesture.
Just stared...
"Wh-what?"
Someone else was there.
Not the Eum Sung-hyun of ten years, but something wearing his shell.
Absurd, but possessed by a ghost?
Then, his voice pierced his ear.
"Watch out."
"Wh-what?"
"Ten years. Time to change."
Eum Sung-hyun's voice—but not his words.
Definitely another being.
Tune froze solid, watching him head to the bathroom.