Chapter 15

Ha Eun learned that she had been finally cast as Kim Ji-a after her singing class with Daulby.

To be precise, it was in the black van heading home.

“From now on, I will be busy with various things. So, if you need anything, you must tell me in advance,” she said.

“…Yes.”

It would have been a lie to say she hadn’t expected it at all. Having given her best performance during the screen test, she secretly hoped she would pass.

However, now that she had actually secured the role of Kim Ji-a instead of Min Da-yeon, it was true that the reality felt a bit distant.

-Ah, what a surprise.

Feeling half dazed and half serious, she started flipping through the script of the neighbor uncle scene, rereading it from the beginning.

The official shooting script would probably be sent separately later, but there wouldn’t be many changes anyway.

In her memories, the highlights of the neighbor uncle’s various scenes were clearly imprinted.

And the unique portrayal of Kim Ji-a that Ha Eun had created during the previous screen test.

Using these two aspects appropriately, she planned to make the shooting of the neighbor uncle a meaningful time as well.

In a way, this was the first time she would compete with others on the ‘acting’ stage.

Being cast as Kim Ji-a over the famous child actor Min Da-yeon was proof that Ha Eun’s acting had competitiveness.

That meant, in the future, when Ha Eun became the virtual YouTuber “Diah,” there would be a high possibility of attracting attention.

‘What a relief.’

She unconsciously felt a bit relieved.

It was just after that when Ju Jung-yun’s cautious voice, who had been stealing glances at Ha Eun in the rearview mirror, came through.

“Um, Ha Eun. If I read the script in the car, I get carsick.”

‘…I’ll just take motion sickness pills next time.’

She thought that at least once, she should have a serious and deeper conversation with Ju Jung-yun.

Of course, at her young age, it was natural to still be protected by adults. While she could somewhat understand Ju Jung-yun’s excessive worries about little things…

Regardless, someone worrying about Ha Eun ranked among the things she was least comfortable with.

Instead of enduring Ju Jung-yun’s overprotection, she thought it would be better to gradually improve the situation, even if just a little.

“Oh, right. I think it would be better for you to take a break from singing class for a while. The Daulby group has an overseas performance scheduled for next month, too—”

As she listened attentively to Ju Jung-yun’s continuous talk about the upcoming plans, they finally arrived in front of Ha Eun’s house.

“From now on, I’ll be counting on you… Jung-yun unnie.”

She reached out her hand for a handshake towards Ju Jung-yun, who would be just as busy as Ha Eun until the neighbor uncle’s filming concluded.

No matter what anyone said, Ju Jung-yun was the only person Ha Eun could rely on at the filming site.

“Oh, yes. I’ll be counting on you too.”

A calm eye contact, a light handshake.

The alliance between those new to acting and management was thus established.

However, as time passed once more, when the day of the first shoot of the neighbor uncle finally arrived…

“Ha, Ha Eun. I’ll just go and take some Cheongsimhwan for a moment.”

For some reason, Ju Jung-yun looked more nervous than Ha Eun, making Ha Eun’s gaze narrow for a moment.

It seemed she had misjudged whom to lean on.

Still, now that they were at the filming location, there was no other choice but to do what Ha Eun had to do.

As Ju Jung-yun, who had disappeared briefly into the women’s restroom, returned, they moved toward the chaotic filming area.

“Hello.”

She presented a face, voice, and gesture perfectly fitting the description of a country of courtesy in front of several staff members.

Fortunately, no one ignored Ha Eun’s greeting.

After making all the staff who met her think of her as a polite girl, she headed to the makeup room for serious filming preparation.

However, quite coincidentally.

Just as Ha Eun was about to step into the makeup room—

-Creeeak.

“Ah.”

She had a slight collision as she came across an actress who had just finished her makeup and was leaving the makeup room.

Stepping back a bit, she bent down to politely greet her.

“Hello…”

However, before her customary polite greeting could fully finish,

-Swoosh.

The actress passed by Ha Eun without a single glance and disappeared somewhere, leading to Ha Eun’s polite greeting being ignored for the first time.

Consequently, Ha Eun stared at the distant back with slightly stiffened eyes.

Not long after, she realized something.

‘…Kim So-hyun?’

The identity of the actress who had just ignored her was Kim So-hyun, the actress playing the role of Kim Ji-a’s mother in the neighbor uncle.

In other words, she was the actress playing the role of the severely alcoholic ‘Seo Do-yeon.’

To be precise, she was not a complete stranger to Kim So-hyun.

They had met several times before for script reading sessions leading up to the filming of the neighbor uncle.

“Hello. I’m Lee Ha-eun, acting as Kim Ji-a.”

“…Hello.”

At the time of the script reading, Kim So-hyun had accepted Ha Eun’s greeting quite normally.

Thinking that she might have done something disrespectful to Kim So-hyun, Ha Eun recalled her past interactions, but the conclusion she could draw was simply, “Well, I don’t know.”

For now, she stepped inside the makeup room.

As expected, it was a continuous sensation of itchiness afterward.

The makeup from the screen test now seemed trivial compared to the meticulous detailing of the current makeup application.

Approximately two hours later, Ha Eun’s appearance fully transformed into that of Kim Ji-a.

‘…Hmm.’

From the disheveled outfit to the limp hair—the entirety of Ha Eun, excluding her face, closely resembled Min Da-yeon’s appearance in her memories.

Seeing how dramatically different Ha Eun looked, the power of the makeup falling under the category of special effects was truly beyond imagination.

Anyway, as the filming preparations wrapped up,

She decided to roam around the filming site of the neighbor uncle until the time remaining before the first shoot.

All these small experiences could become stories for her.

Of course, she did not forget to greet anyone she met politely.

For some reason, she could not run into Kim So-hyun anywhere she went, but once filming began, they would inevitably meet.

Coincidentally, the first filming scene of the day was also the scenario where Kim Ji-a was bullied by her mother, Seo Do-yeon.

Though called bullying, it would, in fact, be nothing short of one-sided abuse.

Thinking about it, it might be better for Ha Eun, who had to portray Seo Do-yeon’s emotional trash can role, to avoid meeting Kim So-hyun beforehand.

If she talked to Kim So-hyun even briefly, her immersion would inevitably diminish.

Thus, until the time of the first shooting of the neighbor uncle drew near, she wandered around without skipping even the most insignificant places.

“Are both So-hyun and Ha Eun ready? Well then… action!”

As the signal to start filming was given by Director Kwon Jong-hyuk, Ha Eun recalled the not-so-welcome memories from the depths of her mind.

*

A few days before the filming of the neighbor uncle began, when Ha Eun and Kim So-hyun were rehearsing together in the name of script reading,

Finally, as it became the day of the shoot when Ha Eun stood alone in front of the camera,

‘Could I really bully such a cute kid?’

Neither a star actor nor a rookie, Kim So-hyun found herself teetering somewhere in between.

She doubted her ability to harshly bully a girl as pretty and cute as Ha Eun.

In truth, this was Kim So-hyun’s first time playing a villain like Seo Do-yeon.

It was also hard to refuse this role since it had been recommended to her by the renowned actor Kang Seon-woo, who was from the same agency.

The reason for Kang Seon-woo’s recommendation of Kim So-hyun for the role of Seo Do-yeon remained a mystery.

However, one thing was clear: she didn’t want to disappoint the senior actor Kang Seon-woo, whom she admired deeply.

“Hello…”

-Swoosh.

She resolutely ignored Ha Eun’s greeting to collect her thoughts.

Still, the feeling of guilt lingered, and she thought she should definitely apologize after today’s shoot.

Regardless, just seconds from now, as the despicable alcoholic Seo Do-yeon, she had to ruthlessly torment her daughter, Kim Ji-a.

In other words, Kim Ji-a, played by Ha Eun, was about to suffer from her.

After re-affirming her odd mindset as Seo Do-yeon, she finally matched her thoughts to the queue sign given by Director Kwon Jong-hyuk.

“…You think I’m a joke too?”

She barely squeezed out a voice mixed with deep anger and a touch of sorrow.

Almost simultaneously, she slowly stumbled toward her daughter, Kim Ji-a, and ultimately…

-Bang!

She backed Kim Ji-a against the wall of the dimly lit one-room apartment, leaving her with no escape.

Slowly bending down, the fierce gaze of Seo Do-yeon fixed upon her daughter, Kim Ji-a.

“Tell me. Where did you hide the money from the drawer?”

This scene depicted Kim Ji-a being mistakenly thought to have stolen Seo Do-yeon’s money.

In reality, the money Seo Do-yeon was upset about had already been used by herself, and due to her drunken state, she had forgotten that she had spent the money from the drawer.

However, as Kim Ji-a silently looked up at Seo Do-yeon, no explanation or defense came forth.

She already knew Seo Do-yeon wouldn’t listen to any words.

Unfortunately, this silence from Kim Ji-a only intensified Seo Do-yeon’s rage.

-Slap!

Thus, the emotional explosion caused by the effects of alcohol struck Kim Ji-a, who was knocked down on the floor without any resistance against the adult’s heavy hands.

“Stop whining and get up. Where did you hide my money?!!”

As Seo Do-yeon, who cared nothing for her daughter, forcibly yanked Kim Ji-a by her collar and raised her,

“………………”

Kim Ji-a’s previous silence remained intact.

However, unlike her previous immobility, her lips trembled as they were painfully pressed together.

The once lively eyes of Kim Ji-a had turned into hollowness and emptiness.

It felt as if her emotions had sunk deep into a swamp, pulling Seo Do-yeon’s feelings down with it.

“T-This time, let’s see you die, Kim Ji-a…”

Even the seasoned actress Kim So-hyun faltered for a moment in front of the camera.

The character Seo Do-yeon, who was supposed to overpower Kim Ji-a with a horrific voice, found herself overwhelmed by Kim Ji-a’s voiceless despair.

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