Chapter 12

“Happy 7th Birthday, Ha Eun!”

“Congratulations, our daughter.”

“Happy birthday!”

It was a few days after my first audition.

A cake with one more candle than last year was placed right in front of me.

Coincidentally, there was also one more person celebrating my birthday.

“Um, Ha Eun. It’s better to blow out the birthday candles from a little distance, because your mouth might get burned.”

The name of the person who was naturally sandwiched between my parents protecting me excessively around a tiny candle was Ju Jung-yun.

She was the manager that President Jeong Do-cheol had promised to assign to me.

According to what I heard from President Jeong and Ju Jung-yun herself, this was her first time working as a manager.

I wasn’t sure if it was because of that, but there were definitely some inexperienced parts to her.

After all, it was strange to assign a veteran manager to someone like me who almost had no proper schedule.

Still, she was an elite who graduated from a prestigious university and was proud of her exceptional driving skills…

“I’ll handle the cake cutting. Just in case Ha Eun’s finger gets cut.”

‘…This is a plastic knife.’

How should I put it, every moment felt a bit excessive.

There were often times when I was at a loss for words at the way she treated me like a precious gem, refusing to tolerate even the slightest scratch.

That said, it wasn’t enough of a reason to change managers.

For some reason, it seemed my mother and father also liked Jung-yun.

Most importantly, Jung-yun was a favor given by President Jeong, so it was easy for a mere 7-year-old kid to not deny the truth that favors are at the giver’s discretion.

My 7th birthday party wrapped up about 10 minutes after that.

“Um, Mom, Dad. I think it’s about time we should prepare.”

“Oh, okay. Let’s get up then.”

Unlike last year when there were no plans, coincidentally, today was scheduled for Jiji’s screen test for the role of Kim Ji-a from next door.

I ended up having the unique experience of going to a movie set on my birthday.

So, I got into the black van that was showcasing its presence among the small passenger cars in the parking lot.

We headed to the makeup shop that I had reserved in advance to become a suitable face for Jiji.

“Oh my, Ha Eun! Long time no see!”

“…Hello.”

I reunited with the warm-looking makeup artist whom I had met during the last music video shoot.

-Skip, skip.

-Tap, tap.

The makeup brushes were just as ticklish as I remembered.

Honestly, I wondered what was the point of makeup for a screen test for Jiji.

In my memory, Jiji’s appearance was rather shabby and unkempt.

So, I thought it would be fine to head straight to the screen test without needing makeup.

“If you go like that, you’ll be too shiny.”

“…I’m not bald, though.”

“Ha Eun, it’s saying that your face shines. You need to look at least somewhat pretty.”

According to the makeup artist who had just pinned a black hairpin in my hair, it was actually necessary to do makeup to match Jiji.

Instead of enhancing my appearance, it was makeup that made me look plain for a whole hour.

However, even my noticeably plain appearance seemed to come across to my mother as another kind of cuteness.

It was evident given how she kept shoving a camera in my face, asking me to pose in front of the full-length mirror like a professional photographer.

There was no way this was anything but love.

“You look just like a squirrel who’s gone back to the countryside to farm, Ha Eun. Let’s visit a farm experience place later.”

‘…That’s a bit too specific.’

After reluctantly posing in various positions that suited my mother’s preferences as the exclusive model for (Company) Nayeon Song for a while.

Finally, I stepped away from the full-length mirror after hearing Jung-yun’s cautious voice that it was about time to head to the set.

Once again, I got into the black van.

While rereading the script of the neighbor’s uncle that I had almost lived with these past few days, we soon arrived at the building with the set.

“This is Lee Ha-eun from Luna Entertainment.”

“Yes, confirmed. Please wait a moment.”

It was when I finally realized where I was, seeing Jung-yun starting her job as my manager.

It felt different from when I was shooting commercials or music videos.

A short while later, I was guided to the set by another staff member who came out from inside the set.

However, since there was still a little time left before the screen test began.

“Um, Mother. Should I go get some drinks for you and Ha Eun?”

“Oh, that would be great, Jung-yun.”

I sat quietly on a folding chair placed in the corner, waiting while scanning the set with my eyes.

Strangely enough, there were more things that felt familiar than new.

‘It looks just like the movie.’

An unpatterned tablecloth.

The slightly cracked table glass on top.

Even the neatly placed wooden chairs were just as I remembered them.

And soon, I would have to act the same scene in the same setting as in my memory.

I didn’t feel nervous, maybe because I had already memorized my lines.

“Nah, I’m really okay. So… …Ugh, this isn’t the feeling.”

“Uh, Da-yeon. I thought you were fine just now.”

“What part of that was fine? The emotion wasn’t there, the feeling.”

‘Oh, that girl….’

From a distance, I noticed a girl practicing a scene from the neighbor’s uncle, holding a thick script.

It was easy to guess that this girl was Min Da-yeon, the child actor playing Jiji in my memory.

“That girl is really working hard, Ha Eun.”

“…Indeed.”

I became slightly conscious of Da-yeon without even realizing it.

There were a few other child actors visible, but Min Da-yeon was the one most likely to take on the role of Jiji in this space.

In any case, she was a child who would originally have been selected for the role of Jiji.

A skilled actress who had already played the lead in the movie “Travel” before the neighbor’s uncle.

Still, I had no intentions of giving up on the screen test and run away.

I merely knew she wouldn’t be an easy opponent to beat.

Competitive spirit.

Or perhaps, rivalry.

Since I had the opportunity to compete for the role of Jiji, I didn’t want to miss this rare chance.

The key was how I would surpass Da-yeon’s performance that was practically a ‘model answer.’

‘…If I just try to mimic it poorly, that won’t work either.’

To be precise, the image of Da-yeon remaining in my memory was the one that had been deemed ideal after numerous takes.

It must have been a performance that surpassed Director Kwon Jong-hyuk’s passing mark, which ultimately ended up on the movie theater screen.

Mimicking Da-yeon’s image directly from my memory could be one approach.

The problem was that Da-yeon herself was right ahead of me.

No matter how perfectly I imitated, I could never be more Da-yeon than Da-yeon herself.

Then, let me take a slightly different route.

‘Well, it’s not like this is my first day. I’m really fine, so do whatever you like, President.’

‘…If that’s really how you feel.’

Amidst the vividly lingering memories of my past life, I decided to briefly pull out situations that were similar to what the neighbor’s uncle Jiji was facing.

I felt that doing my absolute best was also my courtesy to Da-yeon.

By competing with Da-yeon with all the means I possessed, regardless of the outcome, I wouldn’t have any lingering regrets.

***

“Na, I’m really okay. So, please don’t look at me like that.”

I gradually lifted my head, locking eyes with Kang Seon-woo, who was playing the role of the uncle Jin Kang-sik, as Min Da-yeon concluded her performance.

And almost simultaneously.

“Cut!”

Director Kwon Jong-hyuk’s approval echoed in Da-yeon’s ear.

To be honest, it wasn’t a performance that left me wanting; it was nearly perfect to the point of leaving no regrets.

‘This is a bit difficult to surpass.’

Da-yeon’s performance was solid enough that veteran actor Seon-woo deemed it satisfactory.

It was easy to understand why Da-yeon’s fame had spread throughout the industry with a convincing performance.

After a brief pause, the set was rearranged.

As Min Da-yeon was reflecting on her performance from the past few minutes, she locked eyes with a girl.

‘…Is she nervous?’

If I were to exaggerate, I could say she appeared more robotic than human in her expressionless state.

Yet, what kept Da-yeon’s attention was the girl’s remarkable beauty and the fact that she was supposed to play Jiji next.

That girl was also undeniably Da-yeon’s competitor.

While she likely wouldn’t be able to outperform Da-yeon, the fact that she was at the screen test implied she had some level of skill.

It wouldn’t particularly be bad to appreciate the talents of this girl named Lee Ha-eun.

Da-yeon’s father often said that whether someone was better or worse, there was always something to learn.

Not long after, the set was finally ready.

After Kang Seon-woo, who had stepped away for a moment, returned to the set.

“Alright, let’s get started. Get ready… Action!”

With Kwon Jong-hyuk’s shout, the final screen test began.

“…Jia?”

The character’s introduction began with Jin Kang-sik’s deep voice.

He was just a neighbor who lived right next to Jiji, yet for some reason today, he sensed something strange in the unusually quiet Jiji and started to scan her body with his eyes.

In merely a few seconds, he noticed the small bruises and cuts.

Blue-purple welts were swelling all over thin Jiji’s legs.

“What’s this… who did this to you?”

The anger and confusion slowly appeared on Jin Kang-sik’s sturdy face.

At that, Jiji trembled for a moment in fear of him.

Finally, after calming himself somehow, Jin Kang-sik asked Jiji if she was okay in a slightly softened voice.

That was when Jiji slowly raised her head, locking eyes with her only companion, Jin Kang-sik.

In that moment, the mix of resentment, hatred, sadness, and resignation swirling in Jiji’s gaze as they finally met with Kang-sik.

“…Are you okay?”

That was all.

At that moment, Seon-woo could realize that it was still just acting.

“Yes, I’m fine. After all, no matter what, a child born from my belly wouldn’t have meant to kill me.”

What followed was an obviously breaking voice.

The slight tilt of her head toward Seon-woo.

The smile that flowed gently from her scarred little lips.

It left Jin Kang-sik.

No, it rendered Seon-woo speechless for a moment, trapping the next line in his mouth.

“…What’s the point of suddenly bringing this up? Didn’t you already know?”

In some ways, it was only natural.

This was the kind of emotion a child shouldn’t possess.

“But, at least it didn’t break. I should be able to go to school.”

Finally, even as the trembling in Seon-woo’s eyes began to settle, from the beginning to the end, it remained calm.

The wounds on her legs seemed like a reality that the girl named Jiji would have to carry with her for a lifetime.

“I’m really okay. So please, don’t look at me… that way. Because if you do, it makes me feel like I’m really pitiful.”

Jiji firmly warned Seon-woo not to sympathize with her normalcy.

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