Clang!
The sound of metal hitting metal. He definitely stabbed me in the thigh, but a metallic clang rang out when he did. How, you may ask? Because I was already made of hard stuff. That’s why there was a clang. Anyways, thanks to that, my thigh remained okay while the look on the guy’s face was priceless. Meanwhile, everyone watching gasped in shock. From their standpoint, they didn’t actually see the knife stab me, so they weren’t shocked by that. It’s the fact that someone had actually brought a knife to the set.
“No!”
“Hey!”
“Are you crazy?!”
One by one, they all yelled in anger and ran forward as if to protect me, but I was faster.
Pow!
With a high kick, I swiftly got him in the head and he immediately passed out on the floor. K.O. Everyone gasped again.
“S…Sian…a-are you okay…?”
“I’m fine, but what’s up with him?” I asked, giving the fallen guy a knock on the head. If I had been just any other person, it could’ve ended really badly. I’d probably be on the ground with blood everywhere. Just the thought of it made me so angry that I stepped on his chin.
Wham!
Suddenly, the guy’s eyes burst open, shocking me so much that I gave him another kick.
Pow!
And with that, he was out again.
“What the hell?”
I’ve really seen everything at this point.
“Call the police.”
Minho had indeed called the police, who arrived shortly after to take him away. His name was Jung-joon Park. When I was practicing with him, I hadn’t detected anything weird. To think, he turned out to be an anti. You really can’t judge a book by its cover. I later found out that he firmly believed that I was an alien. So he fully believed that I would live even after being stabbed. Crazy bastard.
Anyways, we began practicing again and soon, it was time to film.
***
“Hmmm…”
I was watching Heejin act. Her role was that of a top star, but a rather rude one at that. So, she was supposed to be cursing out at the manager, but her acting was rather awkward. Her words, her face, everything was just awkward. The only good thing was her appearance. There was no denying that she was pretty.
“Ugh. This is embarrassing.”
It was so cringey, I was getting goosebumps all over my body. When it finally ended, it was time to film my scene, and I walked onto the scene.
“Huh? Why is my bodyguard a girl?” Heejin snapped, glaring at me. Or at least, what she thought was a glaring expression. Other than that, she didn’t really look mad. Just cute. I bet all the men watching were thinking the same thing. The director himself was drooling, but if she’s supposed to be mad, then wouldn’t her being cute be considered no good? But the director didn’t say that. In fact, he complimented her for doing so well. Oh, the irony.
“But she’s the best one we’ve got…she’ll protect you…”
“Her? Look at her! She’s so skinny! I bet I’m a better fighter than her!” Heejin snapped. Then she aded, “Besides! She’s prettier than I am!”
Suddenly, she laughed and the director had to cut. But instead of scolding her, the director merely clapped and said that it was okay. That made me think that I had misjudged him and that maybe he was a good person. But then, it turns out I was wrong. Because right after, the actor playing the manager made a mistake as the director ripped into him.
“Hey, you! Get your fucking head out of your ass! What’s so fucking hard about that?! Also, your face! What the fuck is that?! Whose idea was it to cast her?!”
As the director continued shouting, the actress playing the manager bowed her head before she began to cry. I tried to comfort her.
“Don’t worry about it. Don’t cry.”
At that, she did stop crying. But really, did the director have to be that harsh? When Heejin makes a mistake, he just lets it go with a smile, but if anyone else does anything, he starts shouting like a maniac. How as that fair? Anyways, we continued with filming.
“How the hell am I supposed to trust you?” Heejin said her line awkwardly. I simply stared back with an aloof face. That was my role. Just stare with an aloof expression on my face until my scene when I’m supposed to come out and protect her. No lines. Anyways, Heejin did her scene where she was giving an interview out on the streets. I followed right behind her, looking around and making sure everything was okay, but there were a lot of people watching. Of course, they were just extras, but they were honestly fascinated to see me and Heejin. A few even tried to sneak a few photos with their phones. We had to do a lot of cuts because of that. Whenever that happened, the director would curse out the agency director that had sent the extras. Anyways, we continued filming, and it was soon my time to be the star. A man came running towards us from the side. I took Heejin by the arm, pulled her toward me while simultaneously giving the guy a kick in the stomach.
Wham!
“Ergh!”
The man flew backwards as others came out from all sides to attack me. Everyone began shouting in fright as I began to fight my opponents. I just fought as we had practiced. My kicks were smooth and swift, and everyone stared like they were watching a magnificent dance. Hence, we were able to finish the whole fight in one take. The final part of me on the wire and flying through the air ended just as smoothly, finishing the whole scene in five minutes.
“Cut!” the director shouted. Everyone applaud, clearly impressed. Even the other team members from the action school began to clap for me.
“Whew.”
As I looked around, I noticed the way people were looking at me. It was almost like they had fallen for me. I gave them a smile and a wink, and at the moment I did, everyone – both men and women – instantly lost it.
***
After filming was over, the director came looking for me. The director who treats top stars like family while making rookies feel like trash. Therefore, I decided I didn’t like him.
“Sian, you were amazing today.”
“Oh, thanks.”
“You looked like a professional stuntman. Actually, no, even better! I’ve been a director for 20 years, and I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“Thanks.”
“So I thought I’d ask…”
“Yes?”
“Is it fine for you to be in more scenes?”
“What?”
What the hell?
“I just can’t get your scene out of my head, so I want to include you in more scenes. We could even give you some lines.”
“….”
“So, what do you say?”
“No,” I rejected his offer.
“Oh…I guess you’re nervous at the idea…”
“Yeah,” I replied. Honestly, I wasn’t. It just sounded bothersome. I want to rest too, you know.
“Well, what are you nervous about? The acting? We could get you an acting teacher. Also, we won’t give you too many lines. You just have to keep fighting like you did today…”
“No,” I said with a smile.
The director’s face fell.
“But you’re exactly what this drama needs!”
“….”
Sheesh, couldn’t this guy take a hint?
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to,” I said again.
Finally, the director gave a sigh of resignation.
“Sigh…okay. I’ll call the director and ask him myself.”
“….”
Okay, this guy was officially stupid.
“Anyways, I really wish to work with you again.”
“Sorry.”
And with that, I turned to leave…but shit. This means that Jinwoo will definitely make me do it. I could tell him that I don’t want to, but the man is the agency president. I didn’t want to get to the point where I have to disobey him. Of course, if he continued to bother me, then I just might have to someday.
Anyways, I left with Heejin to go get food. The other Lovely Girlz members had already returned back to the dorms.
“Sian, what did the director say?”
“He wanted to include me in more scenes.”
“For the drama?”
“Yeah.”
“Really?!”
“Yeah.”
“Wow!” Heejin said, looking excited. I guess Heejin liked working with me as well. No surprise there. She was like a baby looking up at an older sister, but I really didn’t want to do it. I had enough on my plate, thank you very much.
“Don’t even think about it. I’m not doing it.”
“Why not?! Come on, Sian. Please~”
“….”
Fuck, how was I supposed to say no to someone as adorable as her? I could finally understand why fathers found it hard to resist their little girls’ requests.
“Sian~ Please~”
“….”
I could feel my resolve waning…
“Whatever. Let’s get food.”
I walked into the first restaurant we walked past. It was a restaurant for spicy octopus stew.
“Let’s have ocgoshi.”
“What’s that?”
I’ve never heard of that before. Ocgo what?
“It’s octopus, gopchang, and shrimp altogether!”
“Oh.”
So that’s what it was. People these days were shortening everything. It’s like thanks, King Sejong, but also go screw yourself.
Anyways, we ordered our food and began to chat as we waited.
“Sian, you were amazing today.”
“Yeah?”
“Everyone couldn’t stop talking about how amazing you were.”
“Well…”
I knew that, actually. Everyone kept running up to me, asking me to take photos with them. And so, I did…with every single one. But after smiling for so long, my jaw began to ache that I ended up not smiling in a few of the photos near the end. A few were disappointed by that.
“But Sian, are you really not going to do it? It’s the most anticipated drama. It could make you even more popular.”
“I don’t care about that.”
Really, I don’t. I’m already popular enough as it is. I may not be the hottest top star right now, but I was quite happy with where I was.
Just then, I heard a voice behind me.
“Well, you should.”
But wait a second. I knew that voice. It was Jinwoo’s voice, but I turned around, pretending that I didn’t know that, and spat out the first thing that popped into my head.
“What the fuck, you bastard?”
“….”
Jinwoo’s eyes widened as I quickly put on my most innocent smile.
“Oh, it was you. Sorry, I didn’t know.”
“….”
Anyways, Jinwoo still looked sad. Heejin immediately got up from her seat and said hello.
“Hello, Mr. Park. Here. Please, sit!”
“Oh right, sure. Thank you, Heejin.”
A small smile came onto his face as he took a seat. The three of us looked at each other.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“The director called me,” Jinwoo replied.
Joong-chun Cho. The man sure moves fast. We weren’t even done filming for the day. Anyways, judging by the way Jinwoo came out after one phone call, he definitely intended to make me do this drama.
“You should think carefully about this, Mr. Park.”
“….”
