Flashback: Ramen Confessions and a Mother's Cold Shadow

After making our wishes, we headed down the mountain together. I kept a close eye on her sprained ankle, worried there might be something wrong, but Euna descended the downhill path without issue. She even hopped along now and then.

"Student, take it slow."

"Eek!"

Euna suddenly jolted as if she'd seen something enormous. I instinctively flinched and scanned our surroundings warily. A mountain beast? A wild boar? Where was it? Should we run...?

"Uncle, that sounded so like something an old guy would say!"

"Yeesh..."

The tension drained away, and I couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Uncle, your reaction is hilarious."

Euna giggled. She was already getting a kick out of teasing adults.

We made it down the mountain like that. A convenience store with its lights on came into view. Euna pulled out her wallet from her pocket and headed that way.

"Going to the convenience store?"

"Yeah. Gonna grab some ramen and head home to sleep."

"They say eating ramen at night makes your face puffy."

"Never happened to me once."

She had her reasons for confidence, huh. Well, pretty girls were on another level.

Maybe because Euna brought up ramen, I suddenly craved some too. So I followed her.

"Uncle wants ramen too?"

"Yeah. Talking about it made me hungry."

I picked a big cup of Shin Ramyun, and Euna chose a small cup of Yukgaejang. On impulse, I grabbed some 2-for-1 hot bars and cola too.

"Let's pay separately."

"Nah, I'll get it. Ring it all up together."

"Huh? Uncle..."

No matter how broke I'd been, I wasn't so strapped that I couldn't treat a kid to this much.

"That'll be 8,700 won."

"Here."

I ignored the male part-timer's envious stare, finished paying, microwaved the hot bars, poured hot water into the cup ramen, and stepped out.

"Thank you..."

Euna bowed her head. I smiled warmly, snapped a pair of wooden chopsticks in half, and handed one to her.

"No big deal."

"Ahaha..."

I pushed one of the 2-for-1 hot bars and a drink her way too. She refused at first, but I insisted harder.

"Thank... you."

"Yeah. When an adult gives you something, you say thanks and take it."

"Wow, you really sound like an uncle."

"Exactly. Uncle's treat, so eat up and head home."

"I'll pay you back later. Thanks for the meal."

"Pay back what? Just eat quick and go home before your parents worry."

I checked the time on my phone—it was already past 9 p.m. Kids in this new era needed to head home early and sleep.

"Parents..."

A shadow crossed her face. I forced a smile, realizing my mistake, but it showed.

From her earlier wish to get along better with her mom, things must be pretty bad between them.

"I don't know your family situation, so it's hard for me to say much, but just treat your parents well."

"......"

Euna clamped her mouth shut. She just stirred her ramen with her chopsticks.

We were still basically strangers. I couldn't pry until she opened up.

Hypnosis? I was curious about her situation, but if she didn't want to talk, how could I use that on her?

"I... want to treat her well too."

"Then do it. Listen to them, study hard. Practice your acting diligently. Maybe buy her a little gift now and then."

She shook her head weakly. It was clear those things wouldn't cut it.

"Mom... hates me."

"No way."

"She does. She hates being around me so much she even lives separately."

It was hard to grasp at first. But thinking it over, I started to get it.

I didn't mouth off with the usual "There must be circumstances" or "It's a misunderstanding." I didn't know her family.

If her mom showed that much dislike, of course the daughter would feel this way.

Not your typical cliché story, huh.

Euna's wish to get along with her mom. I'd assumed it was the classic conflict—mom pushing studies, daughter chasing dreams.

But it ran deeper.

"So, don't tell me becoming an actress..."

"It was a dream from way back, but more than that, I thought if I made it as an actress, Mom might look at me again..."

"Mom's an amazing person. To earn her recognition, I have to succeed on her level."

"I see. Slurp."

Heena suddenly came to mind. Heena, struggling for her father's approval... Euna was the same, striving for her mom's.

And Euna's mom was "amazing," huh? A celebrity? Or just bias because she was Mom?

I was curious but didn't ask. She didn't seem to want a long talk.

Come to think of it, if things were bad with Mom, what about Dad?

"What about your dad, then...?"

"Oh, Dad... he's not around."

"Ah. Sorry."

"It's okay."

Euna took a quiet bite of ramen. Unlike me, she ate delicately, without slurping loudly.

Ahem.

I'd been eating casually, but I should watch it.

"Sorry. Was that too dark?"

It was dark. But sorry? Not sure about that. She was hurting, so she vented.

"Nah. My family wasn't great either. Parents divorced... money was tight, so I juggled part-time jobs like you. Kinda feel a sense of kinship."

So I shared a bit too. To show it was no big deal.

"Ah."

"No need to apologize. And bottling up those worries just makes you sick."

"......"

Euna stared silently at her nearly empty ramen cup, just broth left. She chewed her lip a few times, then lifted her head with resolve.

"Still, an opportunity came!"

"Opportunity?"

"Yeah! Look at this!"

Euna shoved her phone at me. An audition for the female lead in the action flick Manipulation Corporation, day after tomorrow at 3 p.m.

"Feels perfect for me!"

"For real."

No need to mention she was a girl—with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moves she'd shown on the hill, action scenes were a lock. It was a simple acting test to pick the winner, and if she'd outacted seasoned pros back then... easy win.

"You've got a real shot."

"Right? Right?"

Her eyes sparkled like jewels. Foul play, Euna.

"This is Seo Euna, and I'm gonna deliver the audition performance of a lifetime!"

"Yeah? Mind if Uncle watches?"

"Of course! But won't you snag the role just by showing up?"

"Pfft, no. I can't act."

"Doesn't matter. You look the part just standing there. I've seen tons of hot guy actors on set."

"Uh-huh."

"But none as handsome as you. For real."

"Even empty flattery's appreciated..."

"And with that body, a few days' training and you'd nail action scenes."

That, I could concede. Last year or the year before, I saw this movie where the male lead parkoured away from gangsters. Looked easy, so I tried it myself—no practice needed, nailed it. Even backflipped over a car, which shocked me.

"Huh? All done?"

"Yeah. Hehe."

Only broth left in Euna's cup. She'd scarfed the hot bar too, somehow.

"Want another?"

"No way. Ramen and hot bar were plenty."

"Alright."

"I'll hike again tomorrow too. So... around 6?"

This meant meet up same time tomorrow, right?

Euna checked her phone time. The old model, wrapped in a clear jelly case, was scratched up on the back, screen cracked in spots.

If she succeeds, first thing: new phone for Euna.

"Already 10. Thanks to Uncle's hot bar and ramen power-up. Let's go!"

"Haha, let's go!"

"Get home safe. I live close by, so... adios."

She cleared the trash, waved, and dashed toward the goshiwon district.

I got home after parting with Geon-woo Uncle. Kinda disappointing. He's so kind-hearted, and above all, really handsome—I wanted to hang out more.

Thump. Thump.

My heart feels weird. Ever since meeting Uncle.

Normally, I dodge family stuff or lie, but with him... couldn't hide it.

I turned on the beat-up old TV.

"Mom."

My mom—so proud and beautiful. Seeing her smile on TV made me smile too.

I miss her. She should be home by now, right? I heard her say she'd call during workout last time, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but I hope it's over.

"Hello."

"Ah, Mom. It's... me, Euna."

"I sent your allowance last week. Not enough with a million won?"

Her curt tone, like I was a bother. My chest stung like a needle prick, but I held it in.

I saved every penny of her allowance. To buy her a fancy necklace someday.

I earned my own spending money.

"No, Mom... that's not it..."

"Then what? And don't call me Mom. It's annoying."

"......"

Exactly like always. Telling me not to call her Mom.

"I heard about your research going well, and it's been a month since I called, so I was curious how you're doing..."

"Haa..."

A long sigh.

"Hey."

"Yes...?"

"Why are you curious about that? I send allowance, pay your rent. What else do you need?"

What I need is one kind word, a bit of attention. But saying that? Who knows what she'd say.

"Ah, no... that's not... um..."

"Then what!"

She yelled. I shut my mouth, not even mentioning the audition.

"I told you not to call. We talked last time too. I'll say it again: you should vanish from my life. You're not a blessing—you're a curse! So stop calling!"

It'd been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a month, Mom...

"Mom..."

"Don't call me Mom! One more time and I block you. You think I haven't because you're my daughter? I need the line open in case I forget allowance. I've got enough stress—don't call. Text."

Click. Call ended.

My hand went limp; the phone slipped and hit the floor.

I stood there blankly, not even picking it up.

"Hic..."

Tears welled, but I fought them down.

"No crying. It's okay! If I... if I succeed and become a great actress, Mom will see me properly!"

Let's go, let's go!

In front of the mirror, I vowed once more. I'd achieve my dream and become a loving mother-daughter pair!

To do that, no skipping acting practice.

I practiced in front of the mirror and phone camera until I crashed at 4 a.m.