The Director's Coffee
Had her acting not been good enough?
Nerves could have kept her from showing her usual skill. And this was a script reading—more about the lines than the gestures. Acting with nothing but her voice. Maybe the dialogue alone hadn't been enough to catch the director's eye.
I thought she had done more than well enough, that she was impressive, but Park Seoh-ah hadn't fully transformed into the role either.
Ghost Story Company was a webtoon about a firm that secured, contained, and stored urban legends. Everything from the famous Neapolitan ghost stories to ones the author simply invented. The common thread: every single one was dangerous enough to threaten lives.
The company's "Future Corporation" was packed with facilities for isolating those legends. To manage them properly, handlers had to follow strict manuals.
Take one particular legend, for example. You had to enter its room every day at exactly 3:33:33 a.m., keep it company while cleaning, and leave the moment the clock hit 4:44:44 a.m. Miss the timing by even a second and random people somewhere on Earth would suddenly age or grow younger. No one knew who, or how many. It could be a billion people. It could be your own parents. An unstoppable time bomb going off at random.
Legends this powerful usually wanted something. More precisely, they had rules that kept them from attacking people. The story was about a company that followed those rules to the letter so the legends never got free.
The ultimate goal was total annihilation, but in practice ways to destroy them were scarce. So they had no choice but to keep the legends inert by sticking to the manuals.
In the world of Ghost Story Company, people died easily and often. The character Park Seoh-ah had been cast as, Park Ha-eun, was one who would die later on. She was also ranked among the top five most popular characters overall—including the legends themselves.
At first, Park Ha-eun was a bright, cheerful presence completely at odds with the grim webtoon. Almost exactly like Park Seoh-ah's own personality. Pure-hearted and kind, her fresh smile made everyone feel warm. She always put others first and ended up taking losses because of it. She was endlessly good, like a fairy that fed on goodwill and morality.
It felt a little wrong to say because she was so similar to Seoh-ah, but… characters this nice usually turned into cancer characters. And she really was one.
She never looked away when people were left to die. She never betrayed anyone just to save herself. Even if sacrificing one person would clean everything up, she refused to allow any sacrifice at all.
Perhaps the most human, most beautiful-hearted character of all—Park Ha-eun. And she dies. In the most trashy, clingy way imaginable.
Every bit of kindness had been an act. The insistence on saving people, the refusal to sacrifice others to live, helping lagging coworkers, that angelic smile shining even in the darkest moments—all of it a mask, pure pretense.
One crisis strips the mask away and her true nature is exposed. The unimaginable gap and the real personality underneath made her explode in popularity. Given the world of Ghost Story Company, a piece of trash like that actually got even bigger cheers.
Especially when she took off her glasses, her beauty got a massive buff, and the once-pretending Park Ha-eun started acting without a single care—it was pure catharsis. Popularity was inevitable from that moment on.
From then, Park Ha-eun stopped at nothing to get what she wanted inside Future Corporation. If it benefited her, she didn't care who got sacrificed. Once her true nature was out, she wasn't a cancer character anymore—she was a highly capable, sharp-eyed nuisance. Looks, skill, nothing missing.
Originally she had been positioned as the protagonist's ally. Even after her nature was revealed she stayed on that side, but only half-heartedly. An ally who could turn enemy at any second. Shared interests kept her and the protagonist moving together for now. You stayed tense waiting for the betrayal, yet you also hoped the cynical, cunning Park Ha-eun might be moved or fall for the hero.
Just when it was getting fun, she dies. That development had its share of haters.
Anyway, because of who the character was, the real highlight came after her true nature was exposed. The early part wasn't unimportant, of course. But the gentle acting in the beginning didn't require much effort from Park Seoh-ah. Her real personality already matched Park Ha-eun's mask perfectly. Just speaking normally would earn her praise for great acting.
The trouble started once the trashy true self came out. First, her swearing was clumsy. It felt awkward, like she was cursing for the first time in her life. Park Ha-eun put herself first in everything and saw everyone else as insects that could die whenever. The always-optimistic face flipped into deep pessimism and pure hatred of people. It was definitely hard for pure-hearted Seoh-ah to pull off.
I still thought she did well enough, but the professionals clearly found it lacking.
In that case…
I needed to teach Park Seoh-ah how to swear. Teach her anger. Make her get irritated. Maybe make her play games? A few matches and she'd be furious. She'd learn the curses too.
I was heading toward her when someone stepped into my path.
"Ahem."
Director Geon himself. I had been fretting over why he hadn't come looking for me, but one look at his face told me everything. This was the director who kicked every manager out so they wouldn't interrupt the script reading. He hadn't wanted to break the flow, so he had waited until the end.
True to a master of his craft—work came first. Still, the moment he sought me out over the coffee, I had already won. I just didn't show it. That would waste the chance to score more points.
I pictured Seoh-ah's smile and put on a soft, gentle grin of my own. Then I layered on a slightly anxious look, like I had been worrying hard. As if I were thoroughly the subordinate.
"Ah, hello, Director. Um, about that—"
"Kids these days have no drive and no skill. Nothing works."
I flinched. Had he not come because the coffee was good?
"But life throws strange things at you. Back when I first debuted as a director…"
Director Geon suddenly launched into his autobiography. How he had steadily overcome bad situations and become the successful master he was today—pure self-praise. It was so sudden I couldn't even read his intent and just kept nodding.
"…We craftsmen never blame our tools."
Craftsmen never blame their tools. That line finally let me catch his meaning. So even the instant mix had tasted good.
"Thank you. I'm nowhere near your level, Director, but I'll brew it even better during the actual shoot."
"Ahem. Good, good."
Maybe the whole industry was like this. Talking in circles seemed to be everyday life. If we had been sitting down with tea on the table, I probably would have listened to him all day.
Director Geon looked satisfied with both my coffee and my attitude.
"You're Park Seoh-ah's manager, right?"
"Yes, that's correct."
I listened with a mix of tension and anticipation.
"Pretty face, and that's all. She's rotting. Seems like she's friends with Ahyoung—maybe learn some acting from her."
So the acting hadn't satisfied him.
"Or go see Malhee noona. Her acting is absolutely first-rate."
Malhee noona—he meant the actress Go Malhee? She was nearly sixty now, a veteran I knew well. She appeared in almost every drama, almost always as the mother. That was why she had the nickname "National Mother." No matter which drama you watched, the protagonist's mother was Go Malhee.
I hadn't seen her earlier, but she was in this one too. The production was big enough that any top star showing up wouldn't be strange.
I bowed to Director Geon.
"Thank you for the precious advice."
"Aigoo. Brews good coffee and has good manners too. Talented kids really are well-behaved."
The coffee had even upgraded me to "talented kids." He must really love coffee. How else could he turn this friendly so fast? Or rather, he seemed to like people with skill. The endless goodwill he showed Han Ahyoung proved that.
How much Red Salt did I have left? The container was pretty big—enough for a full year at least. I could stay in the director's good graces for the entire shoot.
Director Geon suddenly hummed under his breath.
"We've got a few night shoots coming up."
For a second I thought he was already increasing Seoh-ah's role, then realized that wasn't it and quickly spoke.
"I'll come every day and make coffee for you."
"You will?"
"Honestly, I've practiced a lot, but no one ever noticed. Only a professional like you, Director, could tell."
"Heh heh. True. Only a craftsman recognizes another craftsman."
Director Geon smiled.
"What's your name, young man?"
"Kim Jiwoo, sir."
"Right, I'll remember that. Around four tomorrow should be good."
"Yes, I'll be there then."
Thankfully I had managed to get my name known today.
Just as the talk with the director wrapped up, Park Seoh-ah approached.
"Thank you for today, Director. I'll definitely fix the problems before the shoot."
"Yes, Seoh-ah. I like seeing you work hard. Your manners are excellent. Make sure you fix it next time."
"Ah… thank you."
Seoh-ah looked dazed at the warm words. Director Geon walked off into the distance.
Feeling my gaze, Seoh-ah gave a bitter little smile.
"The director scolded me for having no skill and only good manners."
What? Scolding someone for good manners? But just now he had praised her manners, hadn't he?
"He asked if I came here to greet people or to act. Oppa, what on earth did you do?"
"Mm, he just said the coffee tasted good."
"Our Jiwoo oppa really is capable. So reliable. Thank you, oppa."
"It's nothing. I'm your manager—it's what I'm supposed to do."
From where I stood, the real capable one was still Park Seoh-ah. She had taken the director's harsh words and still come over smiling to greet him. Her mental strength was incredible. Most people would lose their smile and their ability to greet anyone after a scolding like that. They would lose confidence, throw away their strengths, and spiral. Seoh-ah really was… a wonderful person perfectly suited to being an actress.
I spoke with complete sincerity.
"From where I stand, Seoh-ah is way more capable. The most amazing person I've ever seen."
"What's so amazing?"
"You can always smile. That's far more wonderful and valuable than any talent."
"…"
"Who in the world only ever succeeds? Everyone has times when things don't go well. But the ones who can smile when it's hard can always get back up."
I looked at Seoh-ah staring blankly at me.
"If the first spoonful fills you up, you get sick of it fast. Let's chew it bit by bit."
Seoh-ah let out a soft laugh. For some reason it sounded far clearer and freer than usual.
"You're right. If the first spoonful fills you up, there's no fun left."
A smile so pure it made her everyday laughter feel like a mask. By the time I noticed, I was already entranced. I barely managed to suppress the sudden urge to get trampled right then and there and bury my face in her feet.
Looking at Seoh-ah, who seemed much lighter now, I said,
"Let's go eat hanwoo. Yeonho hyung recommended a good place."
"Ah, yes! Eating well is always the best."
We arranged to meet Chun Yeonho at the meat restaurant and headed over by car. In the passenger seat, Park Seoh-ah spread her arms wide.
"Cookie, come to Master."
The address flipped instantly from oppa to Cookie. My lips parted on their own. It felt like the structure of my mouth had changed; my breathing reversed.
"Huff…"
I immediately buried my face deep in Park Seoh-ah's full breasts. I sniffed madly, drinking in her sweet body scent.
"Mm♥ So cute♥ Master called and you turned into a puppy right away?"
"Huff, huff."
Peck. Peck. Peck. Peck♥
Seoh-ah planted kiss after kiss on the top of my head and whispered,
"Get hard. Get hard. Get hard♥ Aww look at that, it sprang right up♥ Were you dying to smell me?"
Instead of answering I nuzzled even harder. An indescribable scent flooded my nasal cavity and melted my brain in real time. She was wearing a bra, but the soft give of her flesh felt so good I thought I might float away.
"Were you desperate to be treated like a dog by Master?"
"Yeshh…"
"What exactly was our Cookie expecting when he got so hard?"
What had I been expecting? Every fantasy rose, linked, and shattered. Heat filled my head and my body twitched.
"Ma~so♥ Worthless idiot cock♥ Just imagining it broke your little dick♥ So cute♥"
Twitch-twitch♥
Suddenly Seoh-ah raised her arm. The short sleeve slid down, bare white forearm fully exposed, smooth armpit revealed. I almost thought I saw a faint haze of steam.
"Master's armpit is sweaty. Want to bury your nose?"
Twitch-twitch-twitch-twitch♥
My body shot up on its own and I jammed my nose into her armpit. A thick, heavy sweat scent bloomed from the damp hollow. Moist and intense.
Seoh-ah lowered her arm and clamped my face tight. The harder the pressure, the more violently my body shuddered. It felt like heaven. The smell slammed into my brain, pickling and corrupting every cell. Semen swelled in my balls until they felt ready to burst; my cock twitched dangerously.
Seoh-ah brushed her hand once over the front of my pants.
Spurt. Spurt-spurt.
I came with pure pleasure. My eyes rolled back and my tongue lolled out. The smooth skin of her armpit touched the tip of my tongue and my whole body tingled and rang.
"Ah. Real premature-ejaculation cock. Completely degenerated♥ Thoroughly broken♥"
Twitch-twitch♥
Sniff-sniff-sniff-sniff♥
Seoh-ah stroked the back of my head while I was still out of it and asked,
"Cookie, don't tell me you jerked off imagining Master?"
Squeeze.
Her armpit clamped even tighter, completely overpowering me. Thoroughly defeated by that armpit, I answered,
"Yesss…♡ I-I jerked off imagining Master…"
"Did you? Tell me in more detail. Report every single thing to Master. What was Cookie's fantasy jerk-off material?"