The Approaching Cultural Festival
"Hand it in quicker next time."
Fortunately, the career counselor took the USB. She didn't forget to remind me—again—to submit it faster down the line.
With that, I stepped out of the staff room.
"So refreshing..!"
"Tons of snacks here, right..?"
Park Ha-yoon was fanning her clothes, while Lee Seol-ah's pockets bulged with pilfered treats.
Ha-yoon coming for the AC makes sense, but did Seol-ah really stuff her skirt pockets like that without getting busted? They were puffed out like balloons. If I had to compare, it was like a hamster with its cheeks stuffed full of sunflower seeds.
"Nom nom."
Even the way she munched on her snacks was spot-on.
Ha-yoon casually reached out, snagged a snack, and popped it in her mouth. The two of them chewed away.
As I watched quietly, Seol-ah caught my gaze, pulled out a fresh snack from her pocket, and offered it up.
"Wanna eat? This one's good?"
Her expression was all innocence, but it was basically an invitation to be her accomplice.
I took her up on it—
"Sure. Thanks."
—grabbing the cookie she handed over. I tore open the wrapper and tossed it in my mouth, rolling it around. Sweet coffee flavor lingered on my tongue.
Seeing that, Ha-yoon looked at me, surprised.
"Thought you'd refuse or just say no way."
"Why would I? Food that rolls your way is meant to be eaten."
"Unexpected... really unexpected."
Ha-yoon muttered as she eyed me. Apparently, the me in her head didn't match the current version.
Meanwhile, Seol-ah handed me another one.
"Want one more?"
"Don't mind if I do. Something different this time, though."
I even tacked on a request. The one she'd just given me was the same coffee biscuit as before.
Seol-ah rummaged in her skirt pocket again.
"Hold on.."
Out came a round candy, its vibrant green hue visible through the wrapper.
She showed it to me.
"This do it for you? Sir?"
"Perfect. How much to buy it for?"
"On the house. No customer takes it this well."
She kicked off a little role-play. Seol-ah played the mart clerk handing over the candy, and I popped it straight in.
"Green grape flavor."
"Oh? Should I try one?"
Seol-ah said, then stuck the same kind in her mouth.
Now that the two of us were sucking on matching candies, Ha-yoon got curious too.
"Gimme one of those same."
"One sec... ah, here."
Seol-ah passed one to Ha-yoon. The three of us—them included—savored the same candy as we strolled back leisurely.
Classes ended, and it was time to head home. But I had work to do, so I stuck around school.
"How's that? Get it?"
I said to the students gathered in front of me. The new theater club recruits—or more casually, my Group 7 crew.
" "
"......"
" "
They fell into a brief silence. Kinda like they got it... but not really. Ambiguous reactions all around.
Then one girl raised her hand.
"I... think it's okay."
She cast her vote in favor. It was Yeon-ri, the girl who'd acted with me before. A glint of trust in her eyes.
Couldn't be helped—I'd flawlessly covered her throat-gone-out role back then.
I turned to the others. As if on cue, Jae-won, our director, spoke up.
"Not sure how to handle the directing from just reading it."
"Got it. I'll sketch it out simply."
Words alone weren't cutting it, apparently. I pulled out my prepped notebook and started drawing my vision: lighting, sound, minor directions—all sketched out.
Only then did Jae-won nod lightly, like it clicked.
"Okay. I'm in with this."
Another vote for.
Group 7 had five total, me included: script, directing, props, male lead, female lead. Minus me, two yeses.
Confirming that, the props girl drawled slowly.
"Me~ too. In favor. Not much props to make... nice."
Three out of five. Majority passed—my script was approved. First big hurdle cleared.
I let out a relieved sigh, rummaged in my bag, and pulled out the scripts.
"For now, everyone read this first."
"Scrip...ts? All this is script?"
"Nah, more like a novel laying out the scenes.."
The hefty stack made Yeon-ri's eyes go wide. Visibly over ten pages—even I could guess her reaction.
But it wasn't a script proper. More like a plan I'd hammered out last night, sacrificing sleep.
I divvied up portions for everyone. Some flipped open right away, gasps leaking out.
"Whoa.."
"You prepped all this?"
"Draws better than me?"
They marveled at different parts.
First, I clued in our laid-back props girl.
"Drew that with generative AI."
"Rea~lly? Thought I was out of a job for a sec~."
Whether true or not, she sounded relieved.
Clap.
I clapped lightly to grab attention. Once all eyes were on me,
"Alright, read through once, then rehearsal."
And so, cultural festival rehearsals kicked off.
After a quick run-through, Group 7 disbanded for time reasons. We'd burned through a lot—mostly reading my script.
Only one rehearsal done. Still, I was sure we'd practiced clearer and deeper than other groups.
"Meet like this once in a while, and we'll be good."
Time was on our side. Original script from me meant solid role grasp.
I glanced out the window. Sun dipping below the horizon, evening closing in.
"Wonder if the theater club's all gone..?"
Thinking that, I headed out. Soon, voices drifted over.
"Elise! You alone are my world!"
Like a stage scene. Drawn in, I followed the sound.
And—
"Oh? Still here?"
Ran smack into Ha-yoon. She set down her script and looked at me.
"What? You still hanging around too?"
"We just wrapped."
I gave the team update. Lowering my voice, I eyed the guy acting his heart out.
"Am I interrupting?"
"...Seems fine? Like he can't see anything around him?"
Ha-yoon glanced over and said so. If his own groupmate said it was cool, no harm done.
More than that—
"Why must the world steal her away..!"
I stared blankly at the guy. Voicing it like he was the protagonist of the world. Eyes shut, total focus.
We'd only met today, but how many runs had Ha-yoon's group done?
"Already met up a bunch, huh."
"Huh? Nah, first time today."
Ha-yoon contradicted me flat-out. I gawked at the guy. That was first-rehearsal energy?
Deep passion for acting? As I pondered,
Ha-yoon shook her head.
"Dunno what, but not what you're thinking."
"Why?"
"You had the dumbest look on your face."
Dumb look? Setting aside her phrasing, why think that?
"Then what's got him so fired up?"
"That? Simple."
Ha-yoon raised her index finger. Pointed grandly at herself.
"Obviously 'cause of me!!"
"...Violence at school is a big deal, though.."
"Not that..! Trying to impress me."
Ha-yoon made a buzzer noise with her mouth, spilling the answer.
But why did super intense acting equal impressing her?
Ha-yoon caught my skepticism and pouted a bit.
"I'm more popular than you think."
Stating the obvious. Did she think I didn't know?
"I know. You're pretty."
"......Coming in hot out of nowhere.."
Ha-yoon muttered something, fanning herself with her hand. Sun was down, air cooling, but she kept at it.
"Guessing he wants points in this play."
"So, how's it feel to be a judge?"
"...Don't drink the kimchi soup. That's what you wanna say, huh."
Frost edged her words. Poor guy—picky judge ahead.
Still, the boy powered through his lines. Voice cracking, but no end in sight.
I watched.
"Hope he doesn't collapse.."
"Eh, he knows his limits. Should be fine?"
Ha-yoon shrugged. I nodded casually.
"Exams coming up too, right?"
"......"
Ha-yoon went quiet at my words.
"...Right?"
I repeated. No reply. She turned away slightly, humming at the distant mountains.
Just a sound barrier in that direction, though.
I patted her shoulder.
"Hang in there. I'll cheer you on for real."
With that, I slipped away. She's got her head on straight—she'll handle it.
...
Probably?