Chapter 62

62. The war has begun.

During her early study abroad days, when asked why a young girl like Min Seo-yeon was particularly interested in martial arts.

It wasn't to avoid being ignored among white people... That wasn't the reason. Given Seo-yeon's family background, she was in a position where she wouldn't be ignored in any country in the world.

Seo-yeon was strangely drawn to martial arts. It wasn't just a simple curiosity.

Even though they were new movements, they felt strangely comfortable and familiar. After a bout of movement, her mind was so at ease, and her body felt so refreshed.

"Hey, Seo-yeon, you'll be done with just a few practice runs of the movements. Wow, really amazing."

In fact, Jin-hyuk was even more surprised.

When he said on the rooftop that Seo-yeon was just a big kid, did he mean that she would actually win in a real fight?

Seeing Seo-yeon, it was impossible not to think of Sung Mireung.

Despite her small, seemingly delicate build, she had an incredibly fast speed and strong strength for her size.

Especially her knife-fighting skills, which were specialized, were a capability that even male colleagues couldn't easily ignore.

The image of Sung Mireung quietly and quickly approaching and swiftly beheading the enemy still lingered in his mind.

With a similar face and build, did she also have similar athletic abilities?

While not comparable to the seasoned movements of Sung Mireung, a warrior on the battlefield, Seo-yeon's movements far exceeded the level of an average high school girl.

Moreover, seeing her enthusiastic attitude in the action scenes,

If she hadn't just gone to the bathroom during the school trip, she might have taken on Fujiwara.

"Alright, now it's Jin-hyuk's turn. Just try extending your fists and kicking like Seo-yeon did."

Jin-hyuk stepped forward, loosening up his body.

"Seo-yeon did so well. Jin-hyuk, don't be too nervous, just relax. This isn't an action movie audition. Haha."

Swoosh.

As Jin-hyuk took his stance,

"Wow, that stance looks impressive!"

The martial arts director laughed casually.

Swoosh— Swoosh—

Jin-hyuk's rapid punches unfolded like lightning,

Swoosh—!

And his light, rapid kicks,

"..."

The martial arts director's eyes, which had lost their smile, widened.

The director, who had said he would just watch the movements, continued to observe Jin-hyuk's movements without stopping,

Whirl—

And remained in a daze even as Jin-hyuk's body spun in the air and landed.

"Should I do more, Director?"

"U, uh? Ah! No, no, that's enough."

Only then did the director come to his senses and shake his head.

"Wow, what is this! Jin-hyuk, do you want to be a stuntman or something? This is... "

The director whistled and said.

"You should have said you did sports if you did. What kind of sports did you do? It doesn't seem like just a bit of taekwondo."

Jin-hyuk had a prepared answer for such questions.

"Just a bit of this and that."

"A bit of this and that? Hey, kid. How can someone who did just a bit of this and that move like this? You must have trained properly since you were young, right? Kid, you're modest."

The director, who had already made up his mind, looked at Jin-hyuk again.

That tall, lean, and well-proportioned build. Even at first glance, he didn't seem like a scrawny kid.

But after seeing his movements, it was as if he could see the well-toned muscles in every corner of his body.

With that face and that body, if he were to perform a proper action scene with the movements he just showed...

The martial arts director was thrilled just thinking about it.

"Too bad. Too bad. If it were a proper action scene, I could have made it really cool..."

The director's regret was shared by Min Seo-yeon. Her image alone evoked a Hollywood action heroine.

"Jin-hyuk, Seo-yeon. Don't waste your talent. When you do your next project, try action scenes. I'll recommend you if I have a good opportunity."

Action acting. Jin-hyuk had already been considering it for his next project. He liked both fantastical and realistic action, and moving his body was always good for him.

"Sure, I'll think about it."

"Sure."

Seo-yeon also seemed quite interested in action acting.

With both Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon giving positive responses, a satisfied smile appeared on the martial arts director's face.

***

"But what can I do? If the director wants to go, I have to follow. But are you really okay with it?"

– Haha. Seeing is believing. Let's listen to the song once the kids arrive and talk again.

The producer, who had been working on the OST, still looked puzzled after hanging up the phone with PD Jung Doo-il.

The drama had mostly idol singers as cast members. Who wouldn't welcome a request to sing the OST, especially given the current popularity of the drama?

Of course, for the same reason, it wasn't difficult to recruit good singers from outside. He had already been considering a few when he received PD Jung's call.

The two actors who were making headlines. He thought they might be promoting a concept of amateur, awkward but fresh vocals...

'But it doesn't seem to be that.'

PD Jung Doo-il's words didn't contain any such content or nuance.

Knock. Knock.

"Come in."

Jin-hyuk and Se-ryin entered the studio.

"Wow."

The producer's mouth dropped open. As soon as he saw them, an uncontrollable exclamation of admiration escaped his lips.

'Wow, what is this?'

He had seen a few idol singers with good looks, but the aura of these two went beyond just good looks.

Even though he had already seen all the episodes of High School 2, he couldn't help but be amazed by their real-life aura.

"Wow— come in. I really enjoy the drama."

Jin-hyuk and Se-ryin sat down.

"PD said you two are good singers. This is your first time recording, right?"

"Yes."

The producer nodded.

"Let's just treat it as practice today. If it doesn't work out, you can practice for a few more days and try again."

"Yes, sir."

Se-ryin nodded with determination, and the producer laughed at the "sir" address.

For a moment, he had forgotten that these two were only second-year high school students because of their dazzling looks.

"Alright, let's try singing together. We'll listen and then talk."

"Yes!"

Se-ryin answered confidently and took a deep breath. Then she slowly sang the first line.

"Close your eyes and imagine— a bright future you can dream of—."

The producer's eyes and mouth opened wide simultaneously. Before the shock could fully register, Jin-hyuk's rap came in.

"From the moment we first met, I felt it in the trembling hand I held."

The producer covered his mouth. But the words that his eyes couldn't help but express were:

Oh. My. God!

Crazy. These kids are crazy.

His mind had flown to Andromeda, and he didn't even realize when the song ended. But he knew exactly what he needed to do now.

"Let's record. Let's record quickly. Let's do it now."

The producer's eagerness to capture this amazing moment on record grew.

***

The main storylines of High School 2 are two-fold.

The protagonist Kang Hyuk (Yoon Eui-joon)'s struggle as he prepares for an important baseball tournament.

And the protagonist Kim Ah-reum (Ahn Ye-na)'s lively and comical story as she tries to successfully organize the school festival as the head of the broadcasting club.

Along with the inevitable teenage romance, the complex romantic feelings centered around the two protagonists and the small narratives of the main characters intertwine, leading to the conclusion.

As the story progressed beyond the early stages, the emotional lines of the characters became more complex.

Jin Seo-jin (Woo Jin-hyuk) was staring blankly at an empty desk, lost in thought.

Jin-hyuk's beauty shone brightly in the spring sunlight.

Kim Ah-reum (Ahn Ye-na), who had been watching him, thought to herself,

'That's right. I heard he's the head of the broadcasting club.'

'Oh, right. I'm the head of the broadcasting club.'

Seo-jin (Woo Jin-hyuk) approaching her was unexpected for Ah-reum. What surprised her even more was:

'I want to join the broadcasting club. How can I do that?'

'What? You want to join the broadcasting club?'

With Seo-jin (Jin-hyuk) joining the broadcasting club, Seo-jin and Ah-reum (Ye-na) began to prepare for the festival together.

During this time, Seo-jin's cold heart gradually opened up to the bright, cheerful, and quirky Kim Ah-reum.

On the other hand, Ah-reum (Ye-na), who had felt an inexplicable attraction to Seo-jin (Jin-hyuk) from the moment they met, was becoming increasingly confused by her feelings.

Now, the confusion was clearly visible in Kim Ah-reum's eyes as she looked at Jin Seo-jin.

"Ah, why am I like this?"

Muttering to herself, Ah-reum (Ye-na) turned her head away from Seo-jin (Jin-hyuk). In front of her stood someone.

"Huh?"

Ah-reum looked up. It was the male protagonist Kang Hyuk (Yoon Eui-joon). The look in Kang Hyuk's eyes as he looked at Ah-reum was:

Feigned calmness.

And Kang Hyuk forced a smile.

"Ah-reum, what did you do to make me sigh again?"

"Hey! Do you think I always cause trouble?"

"No, not always, but often."

"Damn it!"

Kang Hyuk, seeing Ah-reum's frowning face, secretly wiped away a bitter smile and said to her,

"Are you coming to watch the game this weekend?"

"Huh? This weekend? Oh, you have a game?"

Kang Hyuk's (Yoon Eui-joon) expression stiffened. Despite Ah-reum's (Ahn Ye-na) clumsy behavior, she had never forgotten one of Kang Hyuk's important games.

"Sorry. I've been so busy preparing for the festival. I'll go. My friend Hyuk is playing."

The last expression on Kang Hyuk's face as he looked at Ah-reum was clearly a sad smile. He looked up at the place Ah-reum had been staring at.

Where Jin Seo-jin (Woo Jin-hyuk) was sitting.

"Ugh! What is this! Jin-hyuk!"

As the ending OST played, Do Min-woo screamed.

"Hey, Jin-hyuk, you can't do this. If you think about the long-standing feelings Kang Hyuk has had for Ah-reum since he was young, you can't just come in awkwardly like this!"

The actor Jin-hyuk might know Ah-reum's feelings, but the character Jin Seo-jin in the drama couldn't. Plus, the rest of the sentence was omitted.

Anyway, for Do Min-woo, who was so immersed in the drama that the boundary between reality and fiction had collapsed, rationality was not important.

"Don't worry. Will Ah-reum betray Kang Hyuk's long-standing feelings? In the end, the husband will be Kang Hyuk. You can't do this, Woo Jin-hyuk."

Kim Min-young seemed even more excited. Her statement was clearly tinged with personal emotion.

Seeing this, Lee Young-joon said,

"Why does the drama have to connect the two main characters? Ah-reum and Seo-jin also fit well. Why do the supporting male leads always have to be pushed aside? This formula needs to be broken."

And what about Se-da-eun (Yeon Se-ryin)'s feelings for Kang Hyuk? If Kang Hyuk and Da-eun get together, it's a win for the supporting cast!"

"Hey! Lee Young-joon!"

Do Min-woo and Kim Min-young shouted at Lee Young-joon in unison.

This wasn't just a commotion in Lee Young-joon's living room.

– Jin Seo-jin♡Kim Ah-reum. Support the Jin-reum couple!

└ Haha, are you crazy? No matter what, the husband will be Kang Hyuk.

└ Nod. Support Kang Hyuk. Go!

The fans of the idol group and individual fandoms that Yoon Eui-joon, who plays Kang Hyuk, belongs to,