You've All Grown Up
I woke up at 6 a.m., earlier than usual, took a refreshing shower, grabbed my script, and stepped out of my room. Today was the first shooting day for the drama The Three Sisters of Jang Pharmacy.
But then.
"Huh? You're already up, oppa?"
Rustling sounds came from the kitchen. My little sister Ha-rin was standing there in an apron, locked in battle at the gas stove. The kid who should be dead to the world at this hour was in the kitchen? It was like the sun rising in the west.
"What're you doing? Hungry? Want me to make you something?"
"No! Just sit still, oppa."
Ha-rin frantically waved her hands and pushed me down into a chair at the dining table.
A moment later, she set down a plate with a sandwich and a glass of orange juice in front of me.
"What... is this?"
I blinked at the mysterious object on the table. The edges of the bread were charred black, and the fried egg inside had burst at the side, with ketchup and mayo oozing out everywhere. It was an amateurish, pitiful failure by any standard.
"What's gotten into you? You cooking breakfast?"
"Tch... It's your first drama shoot, oppa. You've always been the one feeding me, so I just wanted to do something for you today."
Ha-rin scratched the back of her head, pretending it was no big deal. Her gruff tone couldn't hide the sincerity underneath.
"It might look a mess, but it'll taste good. Eat up."
She propped her chin on her hand and stared at me intently.
"Alright, time to try my little sister's breakfast."
I chuckled and took a big bite of the sandwich.
"How is it? Edible?"
"Mm."
Honestly, there was a slight crunch of eggshell. Way too much ketchup. But to me, it tasted better than anything at a Michelin restaurant.
"Hey, it's good. My little foodie’s all grown up."
"But oppa, where's the first shoot today? Pretty far?"
Ha-rin leaned in close, chin still propped.
"Hwagok-dong? Gangseo-gu, so not too bad."
"Oh? Hwagok-dong? What time does it start and end? Outdoors? Indoors?"
Her questions kept coming one after another. She wasn't usually the prying type, so it felt a bit odd.
"Mm, outdoor scene today, I think? Riding a motorcycle, so probably starting in the afternoon. Might wrap past midnight."
"Aha? Hwagok-dong alleyways... outdoors... late into the night..."
Ha-rin nodded, mumbling my schedule like she was memorizing top-secret intel, looking just like a female spy.
But.
"All done."
Clueless to her intentions, I chugged the rest of the orange juice.
"Heading out first, oppa. Good luck with your schedule."
"Yeah! Fighting for your first shoot, oppa! Take care!"
I left the house in high spirits, waving goodbye to my unusually sweet send-off.
Oppa’s first shoot, so she even made breakfast. All grown up. Really grown up.
I thought to myself as I headed to the underground parking garage. Of course, I had no idea about Ha-rin's shady(?) ulterior motives.
Underground parking garage of the apartment.
"Manager? You're already here?"
Seo Eun-seong hurried toward Oh Ji-yeon, who was sitting in the driver's seat of the van.
"It's fine. Plenty of time. Hop in, Eun-seong."
Oh Ji-yeon was her usual self today, greeting him in a sleek suit and her signature cute three-line slippers.
"Yes. Let's head out?"
As Seo Eun-seong settled into the passenger seat, the van smoothly pulled out of the garage.
On the way to Hwagok-dong, Seo Eun-seong glanced out the window and suddenly remembered something.
"Manager, could you make a right at that intersection up ahead?"
"Right? But Hwagok-dong is straight ahead? Why?"
"There's a big mart there. Mind stopping by?"
"Mart? Alright."
Oh Ji-yeon tilted her head at the sudden request but turned the car without complaint.
"Need something? I can have staff pick it up if it's necessary."
"No, I need to pick it out myself."
Seo Eun-seong grabbed a cart and headed into the mart. He swept through the beverage and snack aisles, loading up on canned coffee, vitamin drinks, chips, chocolate, jelly—every kind of snack imaginable. Two carts filled up in no time.
"Eun-seong, what's all this for?"
Oh Ji-yeon, following behind, was stunned by the mountain of snacks.
"First shoot today. Sharing with the seniors and staff."
"Why are you buying snacks for staff? Production handles that."
"Still, as a rookie, feels wrong showing up empty-handed. Saw a lot of all-nighters on the last movie shoot—everyone works so hard. It's on me, so don't worry, Manager."
Seo Eun-seong grinned brightly and paid with his personal card. It was so much that a store employee helped box it up.
Most rookies get one hit movie or variety show and suddenly act all high and mighty. How is Eun-seong so consistently humble and sweet?
Oh Ji-yeon watched him silently, inwardly full of admiration.
"Good kid, Seo Eun-seong. Nothing for your manager?"
"Of course. Here."
"Oh? Slippers?"
A pleased smile spread across Oh Ji-yeon's face. Seo Eun-seong handed her a pair of cute pink three-line slippers.
"Eun-seong... you're really growing on me...?"
Yes. The fact that her handpicked "No. 1 actor" had such stellar character filled Oh Ji-yeon with pride.
They finally arrived at the Hwagok-dong alley set. First drama shoot—and a weekend drama requiring serious straight acting at that.
"Whew. Made it here."
Seo Eun-seong stepped out of the van, inwardly tense.
But.
"Hello! I'm Seo Eun-seong. Please take good care of me!"
Instead of showing nerves, he hopped out and greeted everyone energetically. Then he started circulating the set with boxes of drinks and snacks from the mart.
"PD-nim, it's pretty chilly—here's some warm canned coffee."
He started with Lee Han-bit the PD and the directing team.
"Aww, lighting team, you're all working hard! Have some of these."
Next, the lighting director and team.
"Senior, you're here. Must be low blood sugar—try some chocolate."
Finally, he personally visited the mid-level veteran actors waiting around, handing out snacks with friendly greetings.
"Hoho! Eun-seong, what's this? Bringing all this?"
The 30-year veteran playing the big uncle role in the drama beamed as he took the canned coffee.
"Thought he was just handsome... but his heart's even better? These days, young actors hole up in their waiting rooms and don't show their faces."
"Right? So polite and sweet. Come sit here, Eun-seong."
Praise poured in from the seniors. His fresh, courteous demeanor won over the acting veterans with 30+ years of experience, and they started doting on him.
And so, they sat him in the middle and pulled out their scripts for one-on-one acting coaching.
"Eun-seong, pause your breath one beat before this line. That's how you draw the eyes right to you."
"Your eye acting's great, but tilt your chin slightly this way for better camera flow—makes you pop in 3D on screen."
"Thank you, seniors! I'll keep that in mind!"
Seo Eun-seong even whipped out a notebook to jot down their advice meticulously.
"That's my boy. Great at networking too."
Oh Ji-yeon beamed with pride at how capable he was. Private acting lessons from the living legends of Korean drama? Priceless, worth millions—no amount of money could buy that masterclass.
While Seo Eun-seong was deep in his senior acting seminar.
"Eun-seong-ssi! You're early."
A familiar, fragrant voice called out. He turned to see Kim Na-yeon arriving with her female manager.
"Oh? Na-yeon noona? You're here."
Seo Eun-seong stood and greeted her warmly.
"Eun-seong-ssi, first shoot together today—no jitters?"
"Seniors gave me great advice; tension's all gone. Looking forward to working with you."
He flashed a bright smile.
"Me too. Been a while since we shot together, right?"
"Yeah. Honestly excited. First time properly acting opposite you, Na-yeon noona."
"True?"
Kim Na-yeon blushed and nodded.
Right then, as they chatted.
"Hmm?"
A heavy engine roar echoed through the quiet Hwagok-dong alley. Staff at the set entrance buzzed and cleared the way.
"What's that?"
"No way? Not just one?"
Trucks kept rolling in from the alley corner. Not one or two.
"What the heck?"
Everyone's eyes locked on the overwhelming scale.
And then.
"Snack trucks?"
"Whoa, everything's here!"
As the trucks opened and setup began, jaws dropped.
The first was a premium dessert coffee truck piled with top-grade beans, handmade macarons, egg tarts, fruit teas.
The second, an ultra-luxury catering buffet with steak, grilled lobster, braised eel—straight out of a 5-star hotel.
The third, a convenience store truck loaded with chips, ice cream, frozen treats, every snack imaginable.
"Jackpot! Company dinner today?"
Staff and senior actors cheered at the unprecedented tribute.
"Who sent this?"
Seo Eun-seong was utterly baffled.
Then.
"Haha!"
Seo Eun-seong spotted the massive banner on the trucks and burst out laughing. His face was plastered huge on it, with cute photos of the five Siren members decorating the side.
If you mess with our Bear Doll oppa, Siren will mobilize. Beep beep!
— From all of Siren —
"So that's why Ha-rin was grilling me this morning?"
Seo Eun-seong belatedly realized his sister's bustling scheme from breakfast.
"That's what it was for, huh? You rascals."
His nose tingled at his sisters' expensive gesture.
"Siren sending this to a rookie actor? Wow, jealous of Actor Seo Eun-seong."
"Seo Ha-rin’s his real sister, right? Enviable."
Positive chatter spread among the staff.
"Eun-seong-ssi! Your sisters are generous! Tell 'em we'll eat well!"
"Kekeke! Thanks to you, Eun-seong, this shoot's gonna be fun!"
Lee Han-bit the PD and seniors were hyped.
But.
In this festive atmosphere, one person wasn't smiling.
"....."
Kim Na-yeon.
Her gaze fixed on the banner flapping atop the coffee truck.
‘Mobilize if you mess with our oppa...?’
Her brow twitched faintly at the words. This wasn't your standard "take care of our guy" plea. To anyone, it was a blatant, vicious "approach prohibited" warning aimed at the set's one "dangerous target"—herself.
But.
That night she'd spent at Seo Eun-seong's place. Before his pure innocence, Kim Na-yeon had fallen 100% for real. Not just curiosity or flirting—genuine feelings.
And now, these idol juniors had thrown a perfect curveball.
Pretty bold, huh?
The competitive fire of a top actress ignited deep within Kim Na-yeon.
Daring to declare war on me...?
She donned her perfect fox(?) smile once more.
"Eun-seong-ssi! Wanna run lines?"
Her eyes turned to Seo Eun-seong, innocently admiring the food trucks.
"Sure? Run lines together, Na-yeon noona?"
Blissfully oblivious as ever, he beamed.
"Yeah, yeah. Let's sync our chemistry."
Today, on this set, she'd show who the real winner was—Kim Na-yeon vowed firmly.