[ Deer: ??? ]
[ Monkeying: ??? ]
[ Saeng-ji: ??? ]
That was the start.
It was true that the Black Bear had succeeded in getting everyone’s attention by absurdly collecting a huge amount of hooks all at once.
But everyone also knew well that the Black Bear was not the type to joke around.
[ Black Bear: Let’s meet once before I enlist. ]
[ Black Bear: Monkeying, where do you want to go? ]
[ Black Bear: Film Festival? We could watch it together. ]
Enlisting in the military is not something to be ignored.
Thanks to that, the group chat, which usually lacked unity, came together to set the date for a regular meeting, and it was agreed that Monkeying, who had been singing about wanting to see this year’s Short Film Festival, would indeed go.
Except for one person.
Sua was the only one not showing up.
[ Deer: Why isn’t Sua showing up? ]
[ Deer: Damn it. ]
[ Monkeying: Why do you like Sua so much? ]
[ Deer: Ah, what… ]
[ Monkeying: But it’s true that she’s not showing up. ]
[ Black Bear: That’s right. She was usually the most free. ]
[ Saeng-ji: I guess she is pretty busy lately? ]
The fact that Sua was busy was something hard for the group chat members to adjust to. But that didn’t mean anyone was feeling resentful. Everyone has their own circumstances.
[ Black Bear: Let us know once you confirm later. ]
[ Saeng-ji: Let’s wait and see. ]
[ Monkeying: Her game account has been offline for a very long time too. ]
[ Deer: Hmm; ]
Ah, there was one person who did feel resentment.
[ Deer: Why is Sua being so annoying? ]
Who else but Deer.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Morning. Sua had just woken up.
However, this meant her eyelids were lifted, not that her body had risen. She was still savoring the lingering sleep in bed.
That’s when it happened.
─♩♪♬
The sudden ringing of her phone.
Without checking the caller, Sua answered the call first.
“Hello?”
No response.
“Hello?”
“Hey!”
“…!”
Sua startled abruptly.
I thought my eardrums were about to burst.
“Yo, Yo?”
“Sua! Why aren’t you checking the group chat!”
“Huh?”
Sua furrowed her brows late.
Because the only person who would call her and the only one with such a clear voice was Go Eun-bi.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“The Black Bear is going into the military!”
“Huh?”
“Wasn’t Black Bear a girl…?”
Didn’t we only have females in our group chat? Come to think of it, Black Bear might have been the only guy? Never really noticed since he rarely chatted.
“…Are you even paying attention to the chat room? Anyway, are you coming? Everyone’s going except you.”
“When’s the date?”
“In a week. Monkeying is making a fuss about wanting to see the festival this year, so we decided to watch it together.”
Sua thought for a moment. Hmm.
Then Deer spoke up.
“I also have a really busy day, but since everyone’s meeting up, I decided to join after my work is done. So don’t be stubborn and come. I’ll cover your taxi fare.”
“What’s going on? Suddenly offering to pay for my taxi?”
But soon Sua figured out where this was heading.
“…Don’t tell me you’re serious about hitting me on the ass? Your attempts to drag me out are suspicious to the extreme. This is scary.”
“Hey, you’re the suspicious one.”
“Huh?”
“You told Saeng-ji you’ve been busy lately, right? Even mentioning acting or something. Are you crazy? Why are you suddenly saying you want to be an actor at this age?”
“We’re not old yet, right?”
Sua swallowed the latter part of her sentence at the mention of early twenties us?
“That’s not the issue… It’s your talent…”
Eun-bi was unable to continue her sentence.
Anyway, Sua had made up her mind by then.
If it’s on the film festival opening day, she would most likely be too busy to make it. Though it’s a shame not being able to meet Black Bear before he enlists, she could always get him a gift.
Soon, Sua nodded.
“Sorry, I don’t think I can make it.”
“…”
“Let’s do it next time. Next time.”
“…”
Is what you’re saying real?”
“Really, you’re not coming?”
“Uh, yeah.”
Then, a deep sigh was heard from the other side of the phone. Slightly annoyed by what kind of lecture she’d receive next, Sua unconsciously furrowed her brows.
ting─
The phone rang.
Sua absentmindedly checked the message.
“!”
She couldn’t help but widen her eyes.
[ Please receive 1,000,000 won. ]
[ Receive ]
Eun-bi had just sent her a million won out of nowhere.
“…What’s this?”
“Hey, Sua.”
“Huh?”
“I know whatever I do or don’t do, it’s tough and my pride is taking a hit, but don’t stress too much about it. Still, at least we… are… friends, right?”
“Hmm?”
“…If you’re avoiding meetings because you’re embarrassed about not finding a job, don’t do that. That’d be worse. Got it? Not got it?”
“Eh?”
“I’m just giving you some pocket money. I earn a lot these days.”
Sua understood the situation somewhat.
So, Eun-bi thought Sua wasn’t coming because she was skipping out due to feeling defeated after repeated failures and blaming herself.
Huh? I’m really just busy.
“And don’t fall for lame temptations. If any guys suggest sleeping together, don’t fall for it so easily. You’re genuinely making me worry about your intelligence.”
“Ah, what, anyway, a million won is too much…”
Then, suddenly, Sua’s words came to a halt.
Some parts of herself had surfaced from the inside.
First, there were two.
Kim Yu-han Sua, and Wi Ji-hye Sua. The two mini-Suas started a hurried conversation in her heart.
─Go!
Wi Ji-hye Sua shouted.
─A man knows of shame and thus is a man. You must definitely return it.
Sua also agreed with that thought. But.
─Seniors, is that truly correct?
Kim Yu-han Sua shrugged.
─Rather, accepting it would make the other person even happier, wouldn’t it?
“Wha? It’s a million won though. What do you mean?”
─Recall Deer’s usual antics.
‘Recall Deer’s usual antics…’
─When things in the game didn’t go her way, she blamed Sua and always teased her in the group chat. Sure, it might’ve been a form of affection in her own way, but that wasn’t necessarily good, right? Sua’s feelings matter too.
‘That’s right. That’s how she was. She teased me too much.’
─So, Deer wants to lessen her guilt. She knows herself that she hasn’t been nice before, so she’s trying to repay a debt by doing this. So, you should accept.
‘A?’
─It’s good for you as you will have money, and it’s good for Deer as she lessens her guilt. It’s mutual aid. In fact, you could even ask for more…
─You little rascal, you can say anything, can’t you?
Although Wi Ji-hye Sua started raging late, Sua had already decided to side with Kim Yu-han Sua.
Decision made.
Thus.
“Uh, Eun-bi, can I have one more fried chicken…”
[….]
◈◈◈◈◈
Two days later.
Special Mobile Unit 808 filming site.
Amidst everyone’s gaze, filming was in full swing.
Having filmed all the basic storylines, the current addition was weaving in the PPL for the energy drink ‘Extreme’.
“Hooong! Hoooong!”
“Mommy…!”
Inside the dark, narrow warehouse, children were crying desperately as they searched for their parents.
Boom!
Then someone began violently pounding on the warehouse door, which had been firmly locked.
Boom!
Boom!
The children hugged each other. The trembling of their bodies was noticeable, though their faces remained pale in the dim light.
“H, Hooong…”
“I… I don’t want to…!”
Bang!
However, when the door finally opened,
the figure that revealed itself was not a stranger but Kim Yu-han.
There was no need to tell them not to cry.
His usually fierce eyes were nowhere to be seen, replaced by an unexpectedly warm expression.
When Kim Yu-han knelt on one knee to match the children’s eye level silently,
“…”
“…”
The children had already ceased their crying.
‘Let’s go. I’ll buy you something tasty.’
That was all Kim Yu-han said.
Then the next moment.
“Great! That’s all!”
The satisfied call of PD Choi Hee-won echoed, and the staff who had been silently watching the situation burst into applause.
Interestingly, the children clapped along.
“Big brother is so handsome.”
“Sister is so pretty.”
“Sister…? Big brother…?”
Sua gave a small nod.
Afterward, the children quickly fled from the scene.
The expression of Sua, who had shaken off her role, was too terrifying. As a result, Sua, who had intended to hug each of the children once, felt disheartened.
“…”
At that moment, writer Lee Geum-sook approached.
In place of the children, she gave Sua a warm hug.
“Sua. Thank you so much. Our long filming is finally coming to an end. You’ve worked hard. You’ve worked so hard completing the unfinished role and interpreting my script. Truly.”
Writer Lee Geum-sook was looking at Sua with moist eyes. Sua vaguely understood what kind of expression this was. It was the look that appeared when one had too much to say.
Around that time, Sua felt many gazes.
All the staff were looking at her.
With the entire schedule of ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’ now complete, all they had to do was sit and wait for its broadcast. The staff, who had taken on the role of the lead, hoped she would give a few words to mark the end.
What would Sua say?
After a brief pondering,
Sua suddenly remembered her ridiculous slip of the tongue.
“I was Kim Yu-han, who played the role of Lee Sua. Thank you.”
It was accompanied by a mischievous grin.
◈◈◈◈◈
That night.
Sua was enjoying her newfound leisure with a relaxed schedule. It felt oddly unfamiliar to stroll around the neighborhood alone for the first time in a while.
Was the world always this beautiful?
‘I’m quite happy.’
The ending impression of ‘Special Mobile Unit 808’ was short.
If it had been selfish for only herself to be happy, this was not the case. She saw her own efforts become someone else’s drive, and everyone celebrating. She felt even more motivated.
‘I did the right thing by starting acting.’
Since gaining special privileges, her earnings skyrocketed.
She embarked on the path of acting.
Made precious connections.
And…
‘…Made a lot of money.’
When living as a jobless person, it’s chilly, but now, just looking at the bank balance melts away all worries, and her heart beats excitedly.
What should I do with this money?
‘Delivery food? No, save it. Save it.’
Sua quietly strengthened her determination when,
Suddenly─
Her steady pace halted. She had noticed something stopping her relentlessly going forward.
[ Doll Department Store ]
Gazing at the transparent showcase, Sua thought.
‘Ah, no.’
It was time to slowly let go of the hobby of dolls.
Yeah, it’s beyond time to stop playing with bunny dolls. North Pole foxes need more sophisticated hobbies. Anyway, doll play is not acceptable.
Moreover, it’s also not good for image building.
Even after thinking about it a hundred or thousand times, the conclusion never changes.
Yet.
No matter how many times.
“…?”
Her gaze kept returning to the fox doll. Where did this fox doll come from? Her eyes were drawn to it like magnets.
Ah, dolls are still not suitable for someone her age.
At least now Sua is mentally mature.
“…This nonsense. I absolutely have no interest.”
Sua confidently muttered that.
Exactly as she was opening the doll department store door.
“Welcome~”
“…Uhh?”
.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, a man and a woman, with hats and masks drawn low, were walking down the street. Their proportions were so excellent they drew attention even with their faces covered.
That was understandable. Their identities were Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo.
Seo Yeon-joo complained.
“Are you sane? You’re going to buy a doll at this age?”
“The doll is not for me. It’s for my younger sister.”
“Then ask your sister what she wants and buy it. Why ask me when I don’t particularly like dolls? There’s no place to put them anyway, and they’re something children like after all.”
Kim Sun-il kept silent as he walked.
His younger sister’s cherished bear doll was quite worn out, and it deeply troubled him. Now that he had renewed his intentions, he wanted to give her a new doll.
It would be so his younger sister could renew her mindset.
Yeah, it’s time for his younger sister to be happy too.
“So, how much further?”
“We’re almost there. I remember this area from when Sua took us in her van. The doll department store was nearby, wasn’t it? It’s large, so we’ll just pick something roughly.”
“…Roughly won’t do. Be careful with your words.”
“Okay okay. Ah, so scary.”
However, upon arriving at the doll store,
“…”
Both abruptly stopped in their tracks.
They had spotted someone familiar.
Lee Sua.
Moreover, she wasn’t in her usual demeanor. There she was, burying her face in the stomach of a fox doll and rubbing it vigorously. It was enough to stun Kim Sun-il and Seo Yeon-joo.
“…What is that?”
Cruel.
It was as if she were a predator devouring its prey down to the last organ.
