The Manager Hides His Regression - Episode 7
The sound of a car engine still lingering in the air, Kim Si-a turned to me with a smile that made her entire face glow.
"Thank you, Manager-nim! The shoot is finished."
Manager-nim, huh? I laughed quietly. Yeah, nothing happened?
"Ehehe! Who do you think I am! I'm Kim Young-cheol! Kim Young-cheol! I was standing right there on the set, and what could possibly go wrong? Hahaha!"
He was boasting in front of everyone. I let out a soft sigh and replied, "Good work, Si-a. And tell the new guy that too. Are you heading back to the company right away?"
"Ah~ It seems our PD wants to do a group drink after the shoot. Oh well, sure."
Then we should go, right? There's no helping it. Wrap it up properly and come back. Make sure Si-a doesn't drink too much...
"Hehe, don't worry about it, Manager-nim!"
I trusted her completely. Then, take care.
The call ended with a click.
But who needs shame in this industry? That bastard has zero shame...
He wasn't even on the phone. He was standing right there beside Si-a, and yet he talked to the manager as if nothing had happened. How could he do that so casually? Isn't he embarrassed at all?
Did he seriously think nothing had happened? Or maybe he doesn't even know what he did wrong?
Irresponsible, incompetent, shameless. Those words fit Kim Young-cheol perfectly.
I was itching to charge over and slap him right then, but the sight of Si-a smiling happily stopped me. I unclenched my fist.
Whatever. Everything will come out later. No need to fight here now. I'll crush that bastard properly when the time comes.
"Then... Minhyuk, should we go too?"
She didn't seem to want to ruin this good mood.
Of course not.
It was the first time I had seen the crew clapping for her. That joyful expression on her face couldn't have been only because it was the last day of shooting. She wasn't stupid; she must have realized these were sincere, heartfelt claps for her acting.
"Seems like she's in a really good mood. I wonder if I should tease her a bit..."
She was still catching her breath, cheeks flushed. She was clearly still riding the high from the earlier emotion.
Seeing her look like a kid with her rosy cheeks made me want to tease her even more.
"Are you that happy, Noona? Well, I would be too if I got claps like that."
"It's not like that."
"Ehe~ Come on, it's not like that! Why? Are you embarrassed? Hah! Acting actress Kim Si-a! Should I call you that from now on?"
That was my problem.
Just because we had become a little closer, I had crossed into brainwashing territory with no restraint. Si-a finally hardened her face after trying to resist my teasing too long.
"Is that teasing just because we're a little closer? I've told you many times it's not like that!"
"S-sorry, Noona."
"Huu, it's not like that. It's just that I..."
She couldn't finish her sentence. She couldn't say it because it felt too warm in my arms.
"Anyway, it's not like that, so let's hurry. We're going to be late."
"E... Noona doesn't really like group drinks that much... If you don't want to, I can go and refuse nicely?"
"Really? You know so much even though you just saw me today? Were you my boyfriend in a past life?"
Her boyfriend. In a past life, I was her boyfriend.
Shit, how great that would have been...
I couldn't help letting my true feelings slip out unconsciously.
"If I was your boyfriend in a past life, how great it would have been..."
Her soft murmur made both of us jump and look at each other.
"Huh...?"
"Eh...?"
This damn regression... It pops out at the worst times!
Actually, I had liked her back then. She was the best woman—whether as a colleague or as a woman herself. But it wasn't intense love. Just a warm, kind older sister kind of affection.
"I must have said something weird. Let's go!"
"..."
Still, we walked to the restaurant in an awkward silence, our faces still flushed.
*
*
Wow~ Our PD Park Ji-ho really knows his stuff. Even if the drama bombed, the after-party should be at a nice place...
PD Park, who chose a high-end hanwoo place for the after-party, burst out with a bright smile and rushed to greet us.
"Hey~ Our lead actress is here! What brings you to the after-party?"
"Sorry, PD-nim. We were a bit late."
"This Noona... she really looks happy today."
She was usually shy at parties, but today her voice was louder and her smile brighter.
"Late? Never! Si-a's presence makes the party shine. Shine!"
"PD-nim, that's embarrassing..."
She never cared about parties, yet Park Ji-ho's lips wouldn't stop smiling. 'Was he too excited? Well, today is the last day with the crazy director Kim, so I guess it makes sense.'
After-parties for failed dramas were usually gloomy, but this hanwoo place wasn't that bad.
Yeah, I get it...
They were finally free from the director's bullying and insults.
Of course, not everyone was like that...
"Wow! Director Kim~ Thank you for all your hard work. Please take care of our Si-a in the next project too!"
People who aren't compatible stick together, right? Or was it that Kim Young-cheol instinctively smelled the weak one?
Who was the most powerful person here? Kim Young-cheol glued himself right next to the director and started fawning over him.
"Ha... really."
Of course, our actress must have found their antics annoying, but I was secretly relieved. 'Ha... Kim Young-cheol, because of you today I feel like I'm floating. Floating...'
I tried to cheer up the gloomy Si-a with some nonsense, but the one who loosened the mood faster was the experienced PD.
"Haha, Si-a's acting was great today~ I saw Si-a again."
"R-really? I did well today?"
"Of course! Whoa... how could someone who acts like that not do well before? I thought you were a completely different person~"
With Park PD's endless praise, Si-a seemed pleased and downed her drink with a bright smile.
'Si-a Noona is really pretty...'
Why would anyone say that? She enchants people...
Right now, her cheeks were rosy, her sharp eyes were softened by the alcohol, and her lips were curled in a mischievous smile.
I just enjoyed watching her face quietly while enjoying the drink.
I had waited for this for so long. Good people and delicious food. Even though I had to drive, so I couldn't drink, the atmosphere was too pleasant.
'Happy... Is this happiness? This is happiness...'
That was great until here.
Until here, but...
"Cough. I don't see you today... busy?"
"Hahaha! Director-nim, I was a bit busy today. If there's anything I didn't do well...?"
"What? JS doesn't manage actors?"
"Yes...?"
"The actor can't even memorize the script and freezes when the camera's on? How do you manage actors? Tsk!"
Really, do they have no shame?
The party fell silent after their shouting.
"Oh no! Our Si-a must have gotten white hair from the director. Director-nim, please control yourself! Hahaha."
"You need to fix your basics! These new ones..."
"I'll correct you, Director-nim. Here, have a drink!"
Young-cheol... you bastard. The one who needs care right now isn't the director.
It's our actress, Si-a... What are you doing over there?
As their voices grew louder, Si-a's expression grew darker.
'Please, just stop here... It's been a good day, please just stop.'
But unlike my wish, they crossed the line again.
"What! Why are you telling me what to do? You'll ruin the taste..."
"Right? Then for a moment... Hey, Si-a! Come here and pour the director a drink! Hurry!"
That idiot didn't even know what she had said and was telling her to pour a drink next to the director...
Finally, the personal insult made Si-a's eyes fill with tears she had been holding back.
"Stop it! Sigh... my luck is bad. Pouring a drink to the director and still crying?"
After their crossing of the line, the eyes of everyone at the table turned cold.
"Why! What! Did I say something wrong? What? Why is he so expensive..."
"Director-nim, calm down, calm down. Hey Si-a, what are you doing? Come here and pour! Don't listen to oppa!"
That bastard... what was he thinking after hearing what I said earlier today?
Probably...
Because he heard that he couldn't control even one actor, he wanted to be a manager.
That petty, worthless pride...
Because of that petty pride, he turned the actress he was supposed to manage into a bar hostess.
'I can't hold it anymore... If I let this slide, I won't be able to look Si-a in the face.'
As a man... and as her manager...
I thought I wouldn't be able to endure it if I didn't beat these pigs to pieces right here.
'These parasites who eat off the industry... Yeah, let's do it.'
I stood up from my seat to flip them over, but...
"Agh..."
Park PD's hand gripped my hand tightly, and I turned to look at him.
"Calm down..."
"Sorry, but I don't think you can do that."
He patted my shoulder like he was trying to calm me and whispered in my ear.
"Calm down. A promising guy like you, what are you going to do by acting up now?"
"But..."
"I'll handle it. You just take care of Si-a. Does she look worried?"
Shit... What's different from those pigs?
Can't even control his own mood, making the actress anxious. That's failure as a manager.
Following Park PD's words, Si-a was looking at me anxiously.
"Minhyuk... why are you like that? Are you angry?"
"... Sorry, Noona."
"No. Follow what PD-nim said. Just sit here."
Once Park PD stepped in, the situation was quickly settled.
"Hey, Director Kim! Let's have a drink, not with my Kim actress but with me."
"Huh... ? Park PD... why? You said you hate me."
"E~ What do you mean hate you, Director-nim? It's just because I'm sensitive from editing. Come on, let's drink."
He poured the director's drinks with his signature flirty smile and even winked at me secretly.
'Yeah, that's being an adult... Not like me, the stupid one who acts on emotion first. I've learned something. PD.'
I nodded at him, vowing to repay this debt someday.
He nodded back with a smile, understanding.
'What a great man, PD.'
His age was similar to mine from before, but he was much more mature and handsome than my past self.
"Okay, let's have a separate drink, Director Kim and Young-cheol Chief... Anyone else who is drunk, just go home!"
"Okay, PD-nim! Hey, Minhyuk, can you safely escort Si-a home?"
That idiot probably just thought the drinks with PD and the director were fun...
"Yes, I'll safely take you home."
"Great~ Then I'll keep drinking with the elders here!"
With Park PD's signal to disband, the crew members who had been sitting on pins and needles stood up and left without looking back.
Of course, Si-a and I were among them... and Choi Ko-di too...
*
*
Even though it was our first day, today was really dynamic...
I was tired, but I drove to Si-a's house near the company for my last task.
"We're here! Okay, get out."
"Thank you, Manager-nim!"
"Choi Ko-di's house is nearby too, right?"
"Yes! It's not far from here!"
While talking with Choi Ko-di for a moment, Si-a got out of the car.
"Haah... I'm dizzy... Someone help me up..."
"Noona, I'll help you! Hiiik!"
Choi Ko-di jumped back in shock at Si-a's fierce glare and let go of her arm.
"Eh, Noona..."
"Haah, I'm dizzy... I might not make it home alone..."
Choi Ko-di felt it from her eyes...
Let go... Get out of here quickly, Choi Ko-di... Don't act so shamelessly, hurry up and disappear...
Her eyes were clearly saying that.
"Ha... haha! What do I do? I need to use the bathroom too... oh well!"
"Eh? Suddenly?"
Of course, I didn't know and looked at her with a blank face.
"I have no choice but to have Manager Kang Min-hyuk bring you home!"
"Me?"
"Yes! You! You worked hard today! I'm out!"
Seeing Choi Ko-di run toward home like a dog with its tail on fire, I was stunned.
"Really... you want to go to the bathroom that much. Okay, Noona."
"..."
Unfortunately, at that moment I didn't see... the soft smile Si-a was making while resting her head on my shoulder...