Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Acting Class
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I wake up, roughly wash with lukewarm water, throw on my school uniform, and head to school.
I never manage to eat breakfast, same as always.
I walk to school, exchanging greetings with my friends who welcome me.
During the boring classes, I either nod off or let time slip by with random thoughts swirling in my head.
I didn't tell anyone I'd become an entertainment trainee. No point in announcing it when I'm not even debuting anyway. It'd just attract pointless attention.
I fill up on cafeteria lunch, half-heartedly get through the afternoon classes, and suddenly it's time to go home.
Just a few weeks ago, my walk after school led straight home, but now it's veered off in a completely different direction.
A sleek company building greets me now instead of my rundown semi-basement apartment.
"Hah... hah..."
I was panting so hard I couldn't even tell if I was breathing through my nose or my mouth.
"Oh, your feet are moving more naturally than yesterday."
Too bad the saying about praise making even whales dance didn't apply to me. Teacher Hyeon-jeong was saying all sorts of nice things, but not a word got through my ears.
I was too busy sucking in air just to stay alive.
"But you really need to work on your stamina, Sarang. Run consistently, okay?"
"Ugh... hah... N-no... hate it..."
I hate it, though.
"Okay?"
"......Yes."
"Hehe, good. See you tomorrow then."
......Can't we skip tomorrow?
Despite my inner thoughts, I forced a smile and nodded.
I knew Teacher Hyeon-jeong was genuinely looking out for me, so I couldn't bring myself to even joke about it.
"...See you tomorrow, Teacher."
"Sure~"
Personal lessons wrap up, and it's suddenly six o'clock. I drag my sweat-drenched body toward the B-Class practice room, where my dinner buddy Lee Seo-yoon is waiting.
"Unnie!"
Lee Seo-yoon, covered in sweat just like me.
Is my nose broken or something? Why does she always smell so good?
I linked arms with Lee Seo-yoon and headed out of the room. As we walked down the hall, I felt eyes stabbing at me from Lee Hyun-ah's direction.
Her expression wasn't great—practice must not have gone well.
"Hold on a sec, Seo-yoon Unnie."
I unlinked arms and hurried over to Lee Hyun-ah, grabbing her hand tight.
I pulled a chocolate from my pocket—one I'd stashed away to eat later—and quietly slipped it into her palm.
"Eat this and hang in there, Unnie."
Then I leaned close to her ear and whispered softly.
"You're so pretty today too, Unnie. The prettiest one here."
From watching her, I'd learned that compliments on her looks were always what Lee Hyun-ah wanted to hear most.
Just one line, and look how fast her face brightens up.
Of course, it was a lie. Subjectively or objectively, Lee Seo-yoon was even prettier.
"Hmph, thanks. Enjoy your dinner."
If it makes her happy, that's what counts, right?
I should give Lee Hyun-ah some extra attention later. It's a hassle, but this is how you keep connections with everyone.
"Let's go, Unnie."
I linked arms with Lee Seo-yoon again.
"......"
"Unnie?"
"Nothing. Let's go."
We eat dinner together and return, and evening classes begin right away.
Dance lessons are fixed for afternoons, but evening classes change every day.
Yesterday was vocal practice.
"Huh, Sarang, you've got acting class."
Today's schedule listed acting class.
"Yeah. What about you, Unnie?"
"Foreign languages for me. Guess we're splitting up."
"Hmm... Too bad."
"It's the first class you're attending. You can take acting lightly."
I'd wondered why idols needed acting lessons, but surprisingly, it was a pretty important subject.
"We have to sing and dance well, sure, but at our core, we're professionals who convey emotions on stage."
These were the words of none other than pre-A-Class Lee Seo-yoon.
Expressions matching the lyrics, natural emotional acting in front of cameras, vibes that fit the concept. Turns out acting comes in handy in all sorts of ways. It even builds your ability to handle variety shows and reality TV.
Whatever. If you're going to be an idol, you learn it. No room for picking and choosing.
Training outside of dance and vocals is done integrated across all classes.
In other words, this practice room I'm in right now also has C-Class and A-Class trainees. Including me, that's seven people.
'Feels intimidating.'
A few glances flicked my way, scanning me up and down before looking away. One of them smirked at me and whispered something to her friend.
What the hell? Clearly talking shit about me.
Maybe because I'd memorized the B-Class trainees' faces. I could roughly tell who was A-Class and who was C-Class.
The ones giving off a vibe similar to Lee Seo-yoon were A-Class. And the one openly side-eyeing me was obviously C-Class.
'I can guess.'
Just like with Lee Hyun-ah, she probably resented me being placed in B-Class from the start.
Plus, she looked older than me. Of course she'd be pissed that a younger kid started in a higher class.
Pfft—
She deliberately met my eyes and let out a laugh among her fellow trainees. The mockery was crystal clear.
Not that it's my place to say, but personally, I think personality is one of the most crucial things for an idol.
Plenty of idols have crashed and burned over a single slip in character. That girl openly sneering from the jump was obviously the type.
I sat down following the other trainees. Soon, a new teacher opened the door and came in.
"Did everyone eat dinner well?"
He looked to be in his late twenties. Rumor had it he'd done supporting roles in a few dramas.
"Alright, today we'll try script reading. Just pick any one from these."
He set down stacks of prepared script papers.
I followed the others and picked up one of the scripts scattered on the floor.
In the process, my eyes met the teacher's.
"Ah, a new face."
"...Hello."
With fewer than thirty female trainees at BlueNMI, unfamiliar faces stood out quick.
"Must be startling to suddenly read a script. Let me explain."
I didn't want the attention. Couldn't he just let it slide?
"As I said before, what I'm teaching you isn't acting."
Ignoring my inner monologue, the teacher scanned the room and continued enthusiastically.
"What did I say I want to teach you?"
"Shamelessness~"
A woman with her hat pulled low raised her hand high and answered.
Just from her sharp jawline and those red lips peeking out, you could tell she was a real beauty.
"Right, shamelessness. So you don't panic in front of a camera. So you don't waver against hate comments. Even if you have to show a side totally opposite your real personality, the shamelessness to do it calmly."
I nodded, pretending to be absorbed in his words.
"Normal people get flustered when a camera shoves right up in their face. But you all can't afford that, right?"
True enough, surviving in front of cameras demands thick skin. Surprisingly practical stuff he's teaching.
"So today, we'll go one by one and read the scripts you picked."
"Ah... Right here?"
"Yep. If you can't be shameless in front of fewer than ten people, your face will freeze up in front of thousands of spectators."
Makes sense.
I nodded in understanding, and he started having the trainees read their scripts in order.
"This servant... merely obeys Your Highness's command. Even if this life ends today, I have no regrets."
The bob-cut trainee read her historical drama lines without a hitch. Surprisingly good breath control and clear pronunciation. A-Class, got it.
"You, you think you're somebody?! How dare you... th-this... uh... Sorry..."
Of course, not everyone nailed it. She started off bold, but her voice trailed off smaller and smaller until she gave up midway.
Next up was the trainee who'd mocked me earlier.
"Don't contact me ever again. I don't even want to look at someone like you."
Surprisingly, she infused real emotion into the lines. Pronunciation slipped here and there, but she read straight through to the end, word for word.
"Hi. Take care."
The teacher gave light applause when she finished.
"Good. Just polish it a little more, and you'll be fine on camera."
She flashed a small smile at the praise, glanced my way one last time, and sat down. Two more trainees read their scripts, and finally, it was my turn.
"First time, so no pressure. Just aim to get through it all."
I looked down at the script in my hand.
It was lines for a woman facing an unwanted breakup.
A persistent woman desperately clinging to her partner, refusing to let go, scribbled there on the page.
Picked randomly, and I get this of all things. A male role would've been way easier.
No helping it. I dusted off my butt and slowly stood from my spot.
"Um, Teacher."
"Yes?"
The acting trainer tilted his head curiously at my question.
"Could I maybe face a partner? I think I'd do better that way..."
"Oh?"
At my sudden request, the teacher's eyes lit up with interest.
"Haha, you're serious, Sarang! I like the passion. Want me to be your partner?"
"No."
I gave a faint smile and trotted right up to the trainee who'd been glaring daggers at me.
Up close, the hostility in her eyes gleamed even sharper.
"Would you be my partner by any chance?"
"......Pardon?"
"You just have to stand there!"
She looked utterly baffled by my request but had no choice but to stand with all eyes on her.
"......Sure, whatever. If you're going this far, you must be amazing, right?"
She grinned and faced me—probably trying to psych me out.
"Then I'll give it a go."
I brushed it off lightly and glanced once more at the script in my hand.
I closed my eyes and drew in a short breath.
When I opened them again.
A single tear trailed limply down my cheek.