Chapter 69

69. Next Work

"Wow―!"

The outdoor billboards of Times Square, each emitting their own dazzling light, and the diverse crowds of people from all over the world, as if gathered from every corner of the globe.

The students' eyes widened. They looked around with excitement, their eyes reflecting the thrill of standing in the very place that had appeared countless times in Hollywood movies.

On the third day of the trip, the group from Myungseong High School finally visited Times Square (Times Square).

As a representative landmark of New York, the Midtown area centered around Times Square is the most bustling part of Broadway, known as the holy land of theater and musicals.

The guide began explaining to the students, who were looking around with wide eyes.

"Everyone is familiar with the scenery, right? Broadway, centered around Times Square, became the holy land of theater and musicals starting in 1899 when Oscar Hammerstein first built the 'Victoria Theatre'..."

Although the guide explained the history of Broadway in a friendly tone, it seemed that the excited students were not listening at all.

However, one person, Mr. Kim Jong-ho, was listening intently to the guide's explanation.

He was enjoying the scenery with his eyes while listening to the history of the place with his ears, fully experiencing the fact that he was standing in the heart of the dreamy Broadway with all his senses.

'New York Times Square! Is this a dream or reality?'

Broadway was a holy place for those in the theater, but for a poor actor struggling to make ends meet, it was a place as unreachable as a dream.

Mr. Kim Jong-ho still couldn't fully believe that he was standing in Broadway.

"Hey? They're filming something over there!"

Just as the guide finished explaining, a student pointed to a spot.

It seemed that something was being filmed, and a camera was chasing a man who stood out even from a distance, whether he was an actor or a model, among the spectators.

"What! Are we seeing a Hollywood star?!"

"Really? A Hollywood star?"

"If it's being filmed here, it must be, right?"

The guide responded to the students' curious gazes.

"Ha ha. It looks like an advertisement shoot."

The excited students asked Mr. Kim Jong-ho and another teacher.

"Teacher, can we go and take a look for a bit?"

After a brief discussion with the guide and the two teachers, Mr. Kim Jong-ho said to the students.

"Alright, then let's spend the next 30 minutes exploring the area around the square and meet back here, okay?"

"Yes!"

The students, who answered enthusiastically, headed towards the filming site.

As they pushed through the crowd watching the filming, the students caught sight of a striking model.

The model exuded an aura so powerful that it made even the dazzling lights of Times Square seem dim.

A tall, stylish model with a perfect body and proportions was walking down the street in a cool pose, wearing sunglasses.

The camera moved from the front to the back, following the model's steps.

"Wow, it's Broadway, after all. The ad model is really impressive."

Just as Do Min-woo was marveling, Kim Min-young tilted her head.

"But, isn't that model really familiar?"

"Really? A famous model?"

At that moment, Lee Young-joon, known for his keen eyes, shouted.

"Hey! Isn't that Woo Jin-hyuk?"

"What are you talking about? Why would Jin-hyuk be here?"

Just as Do Min-woo waved his hand, dismissing the idea, the model took off his sunglasses in a cool pose.

Do Min-woo's eyes widened.

"Ah! Why is Jin-hyuk here!?"

The model was wearing sunglasses, and it was a place they never imagined they would meet. That's why no one recognized Jin-hyuk at first.

When the students finally recognized Jin-hyuk, chaos ensued.

"Ah!"

"What?!"

"Hey, what's going on?"

Just as they were surprised, another familiar face appeared behind Jin-hyuk. It was Min Seo-yeon.

"Seo-yeon!"

"Wow, what's happening?!"

At that moment, Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon, who had noticed the students, waved at them.

"Hey, hey, are they waving at us?"

"Jin-hyuk! Seo-yeon!"

A few students, including Do Min-woo, jumped up and down, responding to their greeting.

"My friend, my friend."

Do Min-woo proudly told everyone around him that they were his friends.

"Oh, really? Fantastic!"

Fortunately, the people around them reacted with the typical enthusiastic American response.

"Ah. Meeting them here feels like seeing Hollywood stars."

"They really shine. They shine."

"They seem to live in a completely different world."

The students looked at them with awe.

After a while, it seemed the filming was over, and the two, who seemed to be in a different world, walked towards the group. The tourists' gazes followed them.

"Jin-hyuk!"

"Seo-yeon!"

Do Min-woo and Kim Min-young were the first to greet them warmly, and soon all the students gathered around them.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"You didn't say you were coming."

"Just trying to surprise you."

Jin-hyuk smiled, and Seo-yeon was trying to hide her smile with her hand.

"Ah, this guy. It's even more exciting to see you here."

Do Min-woo hugged Jin-hyuk,

"Seo-yeon, why didn't you tell us you were coming?"

Min-young, with a happy face, linked arms with Seo-yeon. The students, with curious eyes, asked them.

"What are you filming?"

"Ah, a Sensivist ad shoot."

Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon, who had significantly increased sales through their bizarre ads for the fashion eyewear and sunglasses brand Sensivist, were preparing for a second ad with a completely different concept.

"Then can you spend time with us now?"

"Sorry, that might be a bit difficult. We have to move to another location for more filming. I'll visit the hotel after the schedule is over."

"Really?!"

The students' faces brightened at Jin-hyuk's words.

"Hey, kids. Time's up. We need to gather."

Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon also moved to greet Mr. Kim Jong-ho and the teacher.

"Hey?!"

Mr. Kim Jong-ho's eyes widened when he saw Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon.

"Jin-hyuk! Seo-yeon! What's going on?"

"Hello, teacher."

"Ha ha. Teacher, the models in the ad were these two."

"What?"

Surprised by Do Min-woo's words, Mr. Kim Jong-ho said with a playful expression.

"What? Were you doing a hidden camera thing?"

"Just a surprise for friends."

"Ha ha. Whatever. Anyway, it's great to see you! Really great."

Just as Mr. Kim Jong-ho patted Jin-hyuk's shoulder, the guide, who had been standing nearby, stared at Jin-hyuk in disbelief.

"Are you Jin Seo-jin from High School 2?"

Jin-hyuk looked at the guide, who screamed.

"Ah! Yes! I really enjoyed the drama! What do I do? What do I do? It was a big deal among the Korean community here. Ah, what do I do."

The guide, who seemed to be a die-hard fan, even had tears in her eyes as she turned to Seo-yeon.

"Hello, Do Ah. I really supported you two. It's great that Jin Seo-jin and Do Ah are doing so well together."

"..."

Another person who couldn't distinguish between drama and reality.

Jin-hyuk didn't know what to say to the teary-eyed guide, and Seo-yeon just smiled awkwardly and blinked.

Fortunately, Mr. Kim Jong-ho intervened before the atmosphere became awkward.

"Alright, since we've met, let's take a photo in the middle of Times Square!"

"Sure!"

The students gathered around Jin-hyuk and Seo-yeon. Mr. Kim Jong-ho extended the selfie stick.

"One, two, three!"

Click.

A photo was taken of the second-year high school students on summer vacation in New York, Times Square, with their friends.

***

"Jin-hyuk. Are you asleep?"

"Uh-huh."

"How can you answer while sleeping?"

"Why?"

Jin-hyuk slightly raised the business class seat he had fully reclined.

They had to return to Korea immediately after a three-day shooting schedule.

Just passing through New York. Jin-hyuk was fully realizing the busy life of a celebrity.

"Anyway, I can't sleep."

Without any jet lag, they completed the schedule and returned. The body was tired, but sleep wouldn't come. Jin-hyuk was in the same state as Seo-yeon.

"Se-yeon said she's going to shoot a music video with her."

"Uh-huh. Why suddenly?"

"Not really. Just thinking about it. I said I'd do a cameo."

"Hehe. Se-yeon must have been happy."

"Yeah, sure."

And silence again. Seo-yeon was the first to break it.

"Any news about the next work?"

"There is, but it's not certain yet."

"Really? What is it?"

"Well... it's not official yet, so it's a bit difficult to say."

"Tsk."

Silence again. After a while, Jin-hyuk, feeling a bit guilty, spoke first.

"I'll tell you as soon as I get an official offer. I think you should... at least once..."

"..."

"Are you asleep?"

She said she couldn't sleep.

But Seo-yeon was already sound asleep, breathing softly.

Looking at her, Jin-hyuk muttered to himself.

"You should at least once consider a role like this."

Considering the number of young actresses who could handle action scenes like Seo-yeon, it could be a role worth taking.

"Sleep well."

Click.

Jin-hyuk got up and turned off the reading light above Seo-yeon's seat. The surroundings darkened, and Jin-hyuk soon fell asleep.

Jin-hyuk had a dream.

A dream of flying in the sky. His friends were flying beside him. They were basking in the bright sunlight above the clouds.

Yoon Se-yeon, Do Min-woo, Kim Min-young, Lee Young-joon...

Familiar faces appeared among the friends.

His comrades from the mercenary days.

James, Steve, Hernandez, Miyamoto, Zhen...

The wolves who had wandered the dark and painful earth were now flying in the dazzling sky, a rather magnificent sight. And they looked happy.

Everyone was smiling brightly. Jin-hyuk smiled with them.

Seo-yeon came closer. Or was it Mi-ryung? Jin-hyuk squinted to distinguish.

"Captain."

Ah, it's Mi-ryung.

She was smiling happily, a stark contrast to her last anguished appearance.

"Mi-ryung. It's you. You look happy."

Suddenly, Mi-ryung's face faded.

"Hey? Mi-ryung."

The view cleared, and Mi-ryung's face became distinct. Jin-hyuk smiled in relief.

"Mi-ryung."

Mi-ryung frowned.

"Who is Mi-ryung?"

"What?"

Jin-hyuk's eyes snapped open. The business class seat on the plane, with the lights on. Seo-yeon was looking down at him.

"Breakfast time."

"Oh."

Jin-hyuk sat up. Seo-yeon, with a slightly embarrassed look, asked.

"Who is Mi-ryung? You must be close to her if you talk in your sleep. Wow, Woo Jin-hyuk. They say a quiet cat climbs the kitchen first..."

Seo-yeon, with a face identical to Mi-ryung, asking about Mi-ryung, felt quite strange.

"She's my sister."

"What sister? You're an only child. Oh, a relative?"

Seo-yeon asked, her expression slightly relaxed.

"A sister closer than a relative."

"What? What do you mean?"

Seo-yeon narrowed her eyes, not understanding.

Jin-hyuk chuckled and took a spoonful of the soup served before the main course.

Seo-yeon, who had been looking at Jin-hyuk, suddenly took a spoonful of soup roughly.

"Man, why is it so delicious."

She complained that the soup was delicious.

***

WP Entertainment Building.

As soon as he entered the lobby, Jin-hyuk heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Jin-hyuk. Long time no see."

A lazy voice. Actor Jung Ji-an, who was lying on the sofa with his eyes half-closed.

A twenty-year-old genius actor who rose to stardom as the lead in the movie 'Korean'.

The actor, who was deeply impressed by Jin-hyuk's performance at the Busan Theater Festival at the beginning of the year, became Jin-hyuk's senior at WP Entertainment.

"Ah, senior. Hello."

"Ah, what senior. Just call me hyung."

Jung Ji-an got up and walked over to Jin-hyuk, putting his arm around his shoulder.

"Come on, hyung."

Jin-hyuk smiled and said.

"Yes, hyung."

"Ha ha, good. It feels good when you call me that."

Jung Ji-an smiled like a child and said with sparkling eyes.

"You said you have a meeting about your next work today."

"Yes."

"Ooh! I'm curious. What are you going to do? Why won't anyone tell me?"

Jin-hyuk, looking at Jung Ji-an, suddenly said.

"Senior, do you want to join the meeting? If you have time."

"Hyung."

"Ah, sorry. Hyung. It just doesn't feel right."

Jin-hyuk was very curious about how the synopsis of Han Yu-kyung, the writer who came up with the idea, would be received. And what this genius actor would think of it.

"I want to hear your opinion, hyung."

"Really?"

Jung Ji-an's face lit up with a childlike, innocent smile.

"It's fine even if you don't have time. I'm really curious. Hehe. Let's go!"