Chapter 34

#034

Wish.

It's a very unfamiliar word.

Apart from when someone at a drinking party says, "Since you were the Black Knight, grant my wish!" I've never heard anyone else use it.

"A wish? That's scary. What is it?"

"I don't even know if I'll become a trainee at Garo Entertainment. I feel a bit presumptuous saying it. Oh! You can refuse, you know."

"You can refuse? It's not that important, then. You're not suddenly asking me to take you to a department store to buy luxury goods, are you?"

"Maybe it's about the same level of difficulty."

"I'll refuse right now."

"Ah, why?"

After some back and forth, she ended up accepting.

Since she said it was okay to refuse, there wasn't much pressure.

On the way to the academy, Jang Hae-yang talked non-stop.

Rika also talks a lot when she gets in the car with Seong Pil, but Jang Hae-yang felt different from Rika.

Rika didn't consider the listener when choosing topics.

She talked and rambled on her own, while Jang Hae-yang kept trying to find common interests with Seong Pil.

Thanks to this, the drive wasn't boring.

'I should ask now.'

He gripped the steering wheel tightly to gather his resolve.

"Do you have any lingering feelings about acting?"

"Since high school, I've been chasing auditions. Why wouldn't I have lingering feelings?"

Her answer was immediate, without any hesitation.

Before Seong Pil's heart could get heavy, Jang Hae-yang continued with a cheerful tone.

"But I'm trying to let go of those feelings slowly. The situation was what it was, and I couldn't continue. So you don't need to feel guilty at all."

"Are you saying that to be considerate of me? You can complain if you want. I'll listen."

"Actually, I like it this way."

Jang Hae-yang seemed to genuinely feel that way.

Though he couldn't be sure of her true thoughts, Seong Pil felt a bit relieved.

Rescuing her from future pain was a significant achievement, and it was even better that she said she was okay.

"Did you know? Rika originally wanted to be an actor."

"Really? Then why did she suddenly become an idol... Oh. She got scouted? I thought she was originally a KS Entertainment trainee. Rika is cute, though."

"I suggested it to her."

"To Rika? Why?"

"Because I thought being an idol would suit her better. It's been two years already. Time flies."

"......Hmm, I see. It's similar to my case."

"Maybe you two have something in common."

The conversation suddenly stopped.

By now, Seong Pil had come to expect Jang Hae-yang to lead the conversation.

When she didn't speak, he wondered if he had said something wrong. He felt relieved when she asked another question.

"Didn't you say the manager suggested that you become an idol again?"

"Yeah."

"I saw that video."

"Does Ara still not delete that? I really need to take her phone later; she can't live with all the teasing."

"From the video, it seemed like the manager was really serious."

"Well, yeah. I'm only grateful to Seol-ha. She even quit her job to come here..."

"Why did you want to be an actor in the first place?"

Jang Hae-yang interrupted Seong Pil.

"Huh? No, I didn't hear that."

"When I was in elementary school, my teacher praised me for being good at acting."

"For that reason? Wow, teachers' words really do matter."

"It's not just that. When I was in middle school, a nearby rental shop went out of business. They were selling manga books at a very low price. I picked up one that caught my eye. The main character's dream was to be an actor. It was really, really fun!"

"What's the title?"

"Glass Slipper. I didn't lie; I've read it over a hundred times. The main character's efforts to become a better actor are so moving that I cry every time I read it. When the main character succeeds, I feel like I've succeeded too. When the main character is sad, I even cheer them on out loud. 'Hang in there!' and all that."

"We should definitely succeed too."

"Of course, with you around. We'll definitely succeed."

"Together."

"Let's do our best."

Their words overlapped.

They were surprised and looked at each other.

Then, without any particular order, they both laughed until the car stopped.

* * *

Seong Pil flopped onto the bed as soon as he got home.

Today, he and Jang Hae-yang had only visited the academy.

Consultations, tests, more consultations.

"They're really beginners. It will take a long time."

"Just think of them as complete beginners."

The trainers all said the same thing. They even tried a bit of training.

"It's not usually like this..."

"You have no sense at all."

"It will take quite a while. When are you debuting?"

"I've never seen someone like this in my life."

The last comment was made by Baek Min-jung, a trainer at Ara's academy.

It stung even more because it was said by someone close to him.

"Ugh!"

Seong Pil rolled around on the bed, screaming.

Even though he didn't hear the words himself, he felt embarrassed, his face turning red.

It felt like his blood was boiling when he thought about Jang Hae-yang receiving such evaluations from others.

'I thought the reason for failing in acting was luck, but maybe it was just a lack of talent?'

To succeed as an actor, it's not enough to just be good at acting. There are plenty of good actors in Korea.

Only the best of the best get to shine. They are the 1% of the 1%.

And even then, you need a bit of luck. The difficulty level is beyond imagination.

'Hae-yang doesn't even have the talent...'

Seong Pil had seen Jang Hae-yang struggling at the dance academy.

He had seen her trying to hit high notes or making strange sounds at the vocal academy.

'Maybe she's just not suited for the arts?'

His thoughts grew deeper.

The only positive thing was that Jang Hae-yang was optimistic.

Even after receiving harsh evaluations, she smiled and said, "If I work hard, it will be fine."

It was good that she was positive, but...

'No. If I get disappointed too, what will happen? Have you already forgotten what the manager said?'

Seong Pil's persuasion had to be worth 10 billion.

He had to make it so that Jang Hae-yang could live comfortably, treating being an idol as a hobby, thanks to the 10 billion.

All he could give her was praise.

He had to shower her with praise to boost her motivation.

'But wasn't Baek Min-jung's comment a bit harsh? Saying she had never seen someone like Hae-yang before. Did she say it objectively because I was there...?'

Thinking about the harsh evaluations of Jang Hae-yang made his heart boil again.

Seong Pil screamed a few more times, then got up from the bed and rummaged through the bookshelf.

He had decided to lend Jang Hae-yang the manga "Glass Slipper" or something similar.

'Please lend me the books you like. We can exchange and read them.'

He wasn't particularly pleased.

Seong Pil had no time for hobbies these days.

But if he didn't read the book Jang Hae-yang lent him, she would be upset.

He would have to force himself to find the time.

'What should I choose?'

Seong Pil picked out a romance novel.

At twenty, he assumed she would like this kind of book.

* * *

"What's so thick?"

The thickness of the book Jang Hae-yang brought was about the length of Seong Pil's pinky finger.

"It's a collector's edition. This is volume one, and there are fifteen volumes in total."

He felt a bit suffocated.

Jang Hae-yang handed him the manga and spread her hands, looking forward to what he would give her.

Seong Pil flipped through the book.

"Do you like Brahms?"

Unlike Jang Hae-yang's manga, this book was very thin.

"It's a romance novel."

"What's Brahms?"

"He's a 19th-century German musician."

Han Goo-in, who had appeared like a ghost, explained.

"'Do You Like Brahms...?' is written by a French author. Brahms is not a popular musician in France, so asking if someone likes Brahms is a bit special for French people. It's a quirky way to ask someone out."

"Wow, Manager Han knows a lot."

"Are you two planning to start a book club? I could..."

"No, we're just exchanging one book."

Han Goo-in looked disappointed.

Jang Hae-yang also looked disappointed at Seong Pil's firm answer.

She probably thought she would keep bringing books, but it was good that he had cut it off early.

'Fifteen volumes of this thickness? When will I finish reading them?'

He didn't want to read the book out of obligation.

"I'll read it quickly and share my thoughts."

"No, if you don't find it interesting, you can just return it after reading a bit."

"But it's a book you like. I'll definitely finish it."

It's not really a book he likes.

"Um, how about setting up a bookshelf at the company? If everyone puts a book or two they like, it could help share interests."

"Sure, I'll discuss it with the manager."

"Got it."

Han Goo-in excitedly went upstairs.

He was really going to suggest it to Hong Gyu-hyun.

'Poor Manager Han. He doesn't have anyone with similar hobbies at the company...'

Seong Pil wished his life would be a bit more fulfilling.

* * *

"Ara, you're not going?"

"It's already time? Ah, I was just feeling good."

Joa-ra wiped her mouth and started putting on her clothes.

"Aren't you going to shower?"

"It's late. I can do it at home."

"Ah."

"Do I smell?"

She brought her arm to her nose.

She had been dancing non-stop all evening, so it was natural to be sweaty.

But her nose was already used to the smell, so she couldn't detect it.

"Rika, do I smell?"

"Um, that's a bit too detailed a question for me..."

"Who's giving you a ride home today?"

"Whoever it is, I need to shower..."

"Would Manager Han like it?"

"What do you think I am, Manager Han!"

"I'll be back in ten minutes after showering. Help me dry my hair."

"Did you bring your underwear?"

"I always do."

Joa-ra often forgot to shower after dancing.

Others would start to feel tired and slack off as it got closer to time to leave, but not Joa-ra.

For her, dancing was like going to a club or having fun...

"Ara?"

"I'm showering."

"Again? You're always so late! Why are you trying to make me stay late, Ara!"

"Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry!"

Rika apologized on her behalf.

"Still, it's good to see her working hard. I don't want to praise her directly, so Rika, you tell her."

"Sure. I'll tell her while drying her hair. Manager Park is upset because of Ara."

"What?"

"......?"

"Rika, don't use that phrase."

"Was it a bad word? I thought it just meant angry."

Rika disappeared to dry Joa-ra's hair.

Seong Pil was about to rest on the sofa.

But when he turned around, Jang Hae-yang was standing there with an awkward smile.

"Do you have something to say?"

"Um, no? No, I don't."

"What is it? Speak up."

"Um, well, um."

Seong Pil's expression turned serious.

"Is there something you can't say here?"

Was she being silently ostracized by the kids?

By Joa-ra?

That Joa-ra, she...

"No, no, it's not that. I just want to practice a bit more..."

Jang Hae-yang didn't want to go home and wanted to continue practicing.

While approaching Seong Pil with this request, she suddenly heard him shouting, "Why are you trying to make me stay late!"

"I don't need a ride! I can walk or take a taxi... I'll walk!"

"......"

"Can I stay at the company alone? Well, I guess not. Something might happen..."

"You can stay."

"No, I don't want to be a bother now that I think about it..."

"Who would say anything about you practicing? I'm actually happy you're working hard. Just don't overdo it."

The fact that Jang Hae-yang wanted to practice was a positive