A Lovely Happiness In Summer
#1 Fear
"No man is experienced, established, and beautiful at the same time. You can only choose two out of three, remember that!"
...🌞🌞🌞...
In five minutes, the main cast audition for the summer festival drama of Hangang Art University begins. The drama club will stage The Moon That Embracess The Sun (Haereul Pumeun Dal), a fictional work of Jung Eun Gwol that Yeoreum has read up to seven times. Other than the book being her favorite, the girl also did not want to lose the chance of becoming the lead. Research is the most important thing to being an actress. So, that's what Yeoreum had planted in the head since reading the announcement of the open audition for the drama.
Yeoreum opened the door of the hall in a hurry. Without careful preparation—jelas—Yeoreum lost the balance of the body by stepping on her own skirt show. The girl's face kissed the floor. A thick red liquid flowed from his nostrils as he tried to get up. Hyunseok who was already inside the hall immediately ran towards his best friend.
“Han Yeoreum! You okay?”Hyunseok gave the handkerchief that was in his pants pocket. However, the sound of stifled laughter began to dominate the room. Yeoreum only sighed while receiving Hyunseok's help standing up and following the man. The girl realized that she had become a laughing clown.
In the middle of the hall, the chairs had been neatly arranged forming a curve. The top point faces directly towards the stage of the show. There were only two empty seats left in the middle area and Yeoreum was unable to pick a spot. Though, he was eager to avoid Choi Yoora, the girl who had just wiggled her hair before Yeoreum sat down.
“Eoh, sorry. My hair accidentally hit your face. I didn't know you were going to sit down,” said Yoora as she chuckled. The girl had indeed never shown a good attitude since the first day Yeoreum followed the drama club. She doesn't understand the exact reason every act sucks Yoora.
Hyunseok almost replied to Yoora if Yeoreum did not forbid and told her to sit down immediately. Once the atmosphere is more conducive, a man stands at the center of the curve.
“Good afternoon,” said Park Kyungmin, Drama Club Chairman. He circulated a smile while holding a copy of the script. “Today we will choose the female lead who will accompany Jung Hyunseok. I release anyone who wants to try.”
The members stared at each other. Seemed doubt from the look on their faces, creating a few minutes of silence. Then, Yoora's voice broke the attention.
“I volunteered!”exclaim that girl.
The hall was again crowded by whispers. They were exactly ducklings who were bribed with hunger, but did not find the mother. Seeing the condition, Kyungmin cleared his throat, pounding the table in front of him.
“So, anyone else want to try?”
Despite a slight hesitation, Yeoreum raised a hand. However, the change in expression was equivalent to one bow ruler that he had instead obtained. The girl could hear the other members clucking as if in disbelief.
Kyungmin again calmed down the members and again asked the same question. However, there was no answer, even after the turn of the hand on his watch had passed the number 12 more than five times. The man decides to audition for Yoora and Yeoreum.
“Try to open page 33, scene four. Show on stage your interpretation of Yeonwoo and King Lee Hwon's farewell scene. If you are ready, you can go straight to the stage.”
Yoora grinned, looking down at Yeoreum. He put his lips closer to the girl's ear and whispered, “Nobody likes a fat girl as the lead,” then walks onto the stage.
Those words were like a time-deadening remote around Yeoreum. The applause as well as the cheers of Yoora's success in completing the scene no longer entered her consciousness. Yeoreum's hand shook after Yoora sat back down.
Hyunseok watched Yeoreum. He knew the girl would not be able to appear in a state of turmoil. He also held the girl's hand.
“Close your eyes,” said Hyunseok. The man led Yeoreum to calm down. Like a thirsty esophagus, Hyunseok's tenderness managed to reduce Yeoreum's immortality. The girl's hand was loosened and Hyunseok no longer felt any vibrations. Slowly, Yeoreum opened her eyes, then smiled faintly.
Hyunseok patted Yeoreum on the shoulder before going on stage. The girl was so calm sprucing up Yeonwoo's dialogue. He held out his hand and everyone bristled. The shadow of Yeonwoo's figure who had to remove the link from King Lee Hwon was clearly imagined. Tears and the sound of Yeoreum's voice had hypnotized the entire room. No one dared to speak up until the dialogue ended.
Hyunseok became the first person to stand up and give the most standing applause. One by one the members followed, albeit with doubtful faces. Yeoreum nailed, then the corner of her lips lifted as she saw everyone giving appreciation for her.
“We should already know who deserves the lead role,” Hyunseok said. The sarcastic intonation he deliberately aimed at Yoora. The girl clucked in annoyance. However, he was quite capable of self-control.
“You're not a judge here. I think Senior Kyungmin is also not stupid to make our drama glimpsed by many people.”
Yeoreum got off the stage. His lips moved silently, thanking Hyunseok, and the man nodded.
Then, the attention of the members is now on Kyungmin. The man was the determinant of today's audition. Long enough Kyungmin thought, staring at the two girls before him alternately several times. He discussed with the senior of another drama club. After reaching an agreement, he also voiced.
“Yoora and Yeoreum have displayed qualities beyond our expectations. But, we decided to choose.”
The man held back for a moment. Yeoreum's hands suddenly broke out in cold sweat with her heart beating against her watch. He really hopes to get this lead role.
“Yoora as Yeonwoo,” said Kyungmin, ending the drama club's main cast enigma.
Applause filled the hall, but Hyunseok's bluff stopped all.
“Are you all blind? A flavorless act like the Yoora you chose? You must be crazy!”
Rejecting the statement, Yoora stood up, staring at Hyunseok's bitch. “Hya, Jung Hyunseok! Who do you think you are commenting on my acting?! Even if the girl is your friend, you have to understand the professional meaning. Senior himself chose me. You better shut up and take care of your friend. Hope there is a hanbeok suitable for her!”
“Exploitation! I'm sick of this club. I was here at Yeoreum's request and now I'm out!”
Hyunseok withdrew Yeoreum's hand leaving the hall filled with Yoora's screams and the members' astonished faces.
...🌞🌞🌞...
Not wanting to fight alone with the sea of sweat-covered humans, Yeoreum banged on Hyunseok's house at 7:00 a.m. Despite having to fight for more than 15 minutes to keep the man from hugging the pillow back, Yeoreum finally managed to get Hyunseok sitting on the subway. They were jostling with other passengers. Every time Yeoreum passed through the crowd of passengers, she had to say sorry. Despite not expending a great deal of energy, seeing them stagger when they collide with her and enough to make the girl feel bad.
However, a bit of kindness is present in Yeoreum's life: Jung Hyunseok.
Yeoreum was truly grateful to the man. Hyunseok continued to hold his hand until they found an empty chair to sit comfortably.
Six minutes drive from Seocho ends at Seolleung Stastiun. Then, the two young men continued their journey by public transport to the largest mall in Gangnam district. Their struggle continued with a two-hour queue along 25 rows of shops before making it into the bookstore. So Seonhwa—favorite author Yeoreum—talked about his phenomenal work, Eternal Love.
Yeoreum breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she felt the wind from the portable AC blow away her long hair. The girl deliberately pulled over briefly to the left side of the door, moving the T-shirt she was wearing, hoping the artificial wind could remove her body sweat.
Hyunseok took out a bottle of mineral water from the backpack, sipped a quick sip before changing hands to Yeoreum.
“I won't accompany you to come to events like this again!” hyunseok cried out in flames.
Yeoreum chuckled, rubbing the remaining water on the corner of her lips after drinking. He had heard the same complaint too often. However, every time the friend will swallow his own saliva.
“Hyunseok-ah,” call Yeoreum, “I'm sorry about the audition incident yesterday.”
Yeoreum returned Hyunseok's drink, paying close attention to the man.
“They can't see your talent. I don't want to waste time working with people culas.”
Yeoreum paused for a moment, permeating Hyunseok's words before saying, “Please rethink your decision. Can you ruin a team's hard work just because of a girl like me?"
Hyunseok gave a quick look, staring at Yeoreum with a deadly aura.
"Han Yeoreum's! You're my best friend. How could I let them humiliate you!"
"But they need you. They offered me to be Princess Yeonwoo's ladies-in-waiting. That's not bad either. I can still show my talent with any role.”
Hyunseok sighed. He hated Yeoreum's pessimistic and resigned attitude. However, arguing with the girl would only add heat to the crown of his head.
“Already. I'll think about it later,” said Hyunseok ending their discussion. Afterwards, Hyunseok took Yeoreum for a walk.
The central area of the store is juggled like a television talk show studio. A small stage with a long table was ready, facing the entrance directly. Several reporters and cameramen sat neatly in the front row. The last time Yeoreum went to this bookstore, the central area contained a book display with the best selling title. The shelf has moved to the left corner. Since the show had not started yet, Yeoreum asked Hyuseok to accompany her to the row of fiction books. The girl searches for the novel Haruki Murakami, one of the world's contemporary writers she admires. His eyes were busy reading the short blur behind the cover of the second volume IQ84.
“Why do women love to be lied to with a romantic story?”
Yeoreum. "Roman picisan?"
Hyunseok advanced his chin towards his front, one shelf apart from where they were. Two girls were laughing, patting each other on the shoulder as they opened the pages of the novel. Yeoreum could vaguely see the cover of the book, the number one romance story in Korea right now. The story of a CEO who has to marry a poor girl due to an arranged marriage.
“There is such a story in the world. Teenage girls just fantasize about waiting for rich men to marry them. Those stories only make it harder for guys like me.”
Yeoreum's laughter exploded. "There is no caste in the art. You should understand that."
“Yes, yes, yes. But, in this world there are no men who are experienced, established, and beautiful simultaneously. You can only choose two out of three, remember that!”
Yeoreum's laughter grew louder, luring the girls they noticed to their heads. Yeoreum could feel an aura of hostility. Surprisingly, the two girls smiled when they saw Hyunseok, occasionally glancing. They whispered, then one of the girls walked towards Hyunseok and Yeoreum.
“Looks like I've seen you,” said the girl.
Hyunseok. “Maybe it's someone else. I don't know you.”
The girl smiled, closing her body to Hyunseok. “I've never been wrong, let alone about a handsome man.”
Hyunseok snorted weakly, away from the girl. “I'm sure you're wrong people.”
“Why are you being too formal. I'm sure we're the same age. Or, maybe you're a little older than me ... Oppa.”
A chill ran through Hyunseok's nape area upon hearing the call. He wants to leave immediately. “Sorry, I have to follow writer So Seonhwa's show. Maybe, next time we can talk.”
Hyunseok pulled out Yeoreum's hand which had been silent since. However, their steps were stopped by the words of the girl. “Yes! You're ignoring me because that pig-like woman? What good is he? You really are a man with no taste!”
Hyunseok turned around, snorted, then grinned. “Do you feel beautiful, Miss?” ask her sarcastically. “I admit you are beautiful. Unfortunately, I prefer women who have ethics.”
The girl widened along with clenched hand movements. “Physical insult is the last path that can be done when you do not find a lack of your opponent.” Hyunseok returned grinning. “So you've lost, Miss.”
Hyunseok passed, ignoring the girl's scream. Yeoreum did not make a sound. He just followed Hyunseok to sit in a row of already crowded chairs.
The pilot opened the show. The echo of the loudspeaker slowly shrank until it no longer shook Yeoreum's eardrum. He turned his head, looking long at Hyunseok's face from the side. The line of the man's face was so sharp that the nose bone was looming. The body is quite full. The veins of his arms protrude, adding to the impression of a man. The small basins on the cheeks that appear every time you smile add to the appeal. Yeoreum only realized that her best friend had grown into an extraordinary man.
“You're still thinking about that girl?” hyunseok asked, awakening Yeoreum. “Forget. They just envy you.”
“I'm fine.” Yeoreum smiled faintly. “Again, which he says is true.”
They went back to being quiet for a while, then Hyunseok said, “I've never been ashamed of you. I'm friends with you by nature, not physical.”
“Thank you,” said Yeoreum slowly. Although, that was not what he wanted to hear from Hyunseok. Yeoreum kept thinking, how bad was she that Hyunseok did not slip the word 'beautiful' to defend her?
“You must dare to fight those who insult you. Not every time I'm by your side.”
Yeoreum processed every word of it. He was too late in his mind to realize that the talk show was over. All the questions that the girl prepared finally floated. He only gets a chance to ask for Seonhwa's autograph. After his sequence number was called, Yeoreum stood up, taking the novel out of the bag.
Seonhwa smiled and greeted Yeoreum. “Thank you for reading my novel.”
Yeoreum nodded, handing over the book. However, the girl's eyes looked blank, making Seonhwa suspicious. “It looks like you're having a problem.”
“Ah, no. I just can't believe I can meet you.” Yeoreum forcibly pulled the corner of her lips and Seonhwa no longer interrogated.
“You want me to write what message?”
Yeoreum subconsciously voiced out the innermost contents of the heart, muttering little, but being able to catch Seonhwa. The woman had scrunched her forehead. However, a few seconds later he decided to write different words.
...I will be the first audience of actress Han Yeoreum....
...-so Seonhwa...
“Already,” said Seonhwa, resuscitating Yeoreum daydreams. “Thank you. I hope we can meet again.”
Yeoreum bowed and Seonhwa replied with a nod. The girl got off the stage, stuffed her novel into a bag without reading Seonhwa's message.