Free Web Novel‘An acting-prodigy rookie⋯.’
The newly obtained title shimmered, sparkling brightly. Myeong Jeha silently mouthed the words.
Even amid the noisy chatter of our classmates, Jeha’s voice came through with unusual clarity.
“You did well.”
It still felt like I was on stage. A stage I’d stepped onto for the first time in a long while—the ticklish flutter in my heart when the curtain rose, the blazing lights pouring down from above, the sensation of existing as Juliet. I closed my eyes for a moment.
The slow-blooming applause had vanished, but it still seemed to ring in my ears.
“⋯Ah.”
I want to act more.
“⋯Ah!”
I want to stay on stage longer.
“Yeoreum!”
“Whoa, you scared me.”
“What were you thinking about, zoning out like that? Are you that tired? Still, sleep on the plane—right now, snap out of it, okay? We have to get out. Hold on. Put this on, and your gloves—your scarf too, I’ll wrap it for you.”
I nodded at Hwang Coordinator, who was explaining clothes with a worried face right beside me. I must’ve dozed off completely without meaning to, just from closing my eyes for a second.
Right. This was Incheon Airport.
The moment the final play ended, I came straight here to prep for my next schedule. A trip to Japan to attend the year-end awards.
December is especially busy in the entertainment industry. There are endless award ceremonies and events, one after another.
For now, my schedule looked like this.
‘MusicN MC, the MBS awards, the upcoming <ParCheHi> Blu-ray pictorial shoot, and finally the wrap party for <Law-Faster-Than>, which just finished filming⋯.’
Meaning: no rest all of December.
I’m so tired I could die. I tugged on my fluffy scarf and gloves and opened the Carnival’s door. The instant the cold air outside hit my face, a commotion erupted.
Clickclickclickclick-!
Did I just say I was tired enough to die?
“Han Yeoreum-ssi!”
“Yeoreum-ssi! Say hi! Over here!”
I take it back.
‘This is⋯ the taste of being a celebrity⋯?’
Getting photographed the moment you step out of a car— I’d always wanted to experience that at least once. My fatigue evaporated instantly.
Acting like this was nothing I’d ever dreamed of, I gave a small wave, angling my hand so the sponsored gloves showed nicely.
‘I knew the airport would be crowded today, but this is way beyond what I expected⋯.’
It wasn’t just reporters—there were so many fansites with huge cameras that there was barely anywhere to step. Every idol and actor active this year was flying to Osaka for the MusicN year-end awards.
“Don’t push-!!!” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
“Keep a safe distance! Safe distance!”
Once the reporters got their photos outside the airport, the real chaos started. As we walked inside, fans who wanted to get even one step closer to celebrities bustled restlessly.
‘So can I go in now?’
Of course, I was an exception⋯.
I’d probably be able to enter the airport pretty comfortably. I wasn’t that famous yet.
When the shutter sounds eased a bit, I bowed politely to the reporters I recognized—even if only faintly.
Some of them were reporters who had written good articles about me at the <Law-Faster-Than> script reading. I monitored coverage multiple times a day, so I knew their faces.
‘Especially that reporter over there.’ freewēbnoveℓ.com
It paid off that I’d reached out a few times to check in. The way Wi Reporter looked at me was different from the others.
I greeted him while looking straight at Wi Reporter, Deduck.B.
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“Yeoreum-ssi, fighting-!”
It was right as I tried to wrap things up on a warm note. The reporters who’d been greeting me suddenly changed expressions and adjusted the cameras hanging from their necks.
‘What is it?’
It didn’t take long to find out. The van that had just arrived opened its door, and—
“Myeong Jeha! Myeong Jeha!”
“Please look this way just once-!”
Myeong Jeha appeared.
In an instant, every reporter rushed toward Jeha. Wearing a light brown shearling jacket, he waved leisurely as he greeted them. Left alone in lonely solitude, I buried my face in my scarf.
“Yeoreum, you worked hard! Let’s hurry and go inside.”
“Yes, unni⋯.”
“Is the scarf warm? Out of everything Manager Ryu packed this time, it’s the cutest. It matches your coat today too.”
“Thank you, unni⋯.”
I linked arms with Hwang Coordinator and headed into the airport. There was no time to feel deflated. Because I⋯.
‘It’s my first time going abroad⋯.’
I’d been to an airport once to go to Jeju. But the scale of the airport itself was completely different.
The crush of people, the footsteps coming and going, the confusing announcements, the constant ebb and flow like a tide that never stopped. Just being in this space made it feel like I was waiting for a new beginning.
‘I can’t waste a good opportunity like this.’
I observed the people around me.
“W-where did my passport go?”
“I told you a hundred times since yesterday! Honestly, honey!”
A couple urgently patting their pockets, searching for a passport.
“I need to pee.”
“O-okay. Wait a second! You can hold it, right?”
“I need to pee too.”
“You can⋯ hold⋯ it?”
A family with multiple kids—each child whining as if handing out missions, one after another.
“Yes, yes. That’s the part I sent over by email—have you not had a chance to check it yet?”
On an airport chair, an office worker had a laptop on his knees and was talking business on the phone; someone was filming what looked like a vlog, pointing a mirrorless camera at their own face; someone else was dragging a suitcase ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) at a full sprint, like they were about to miss their flight.
It felt like everyone’s lives were crossing in the same space, so I just stood there, watching the scenery.
‘Later, I might get a role working at an airport⋯. Or I might film a scene where someone leaves somewhere.’
Quietly, I imagined a few scenes. Airports were the best place to use clichés. If someday I got to do an overseas location shoot⋯.
“Hi, Yeoreum.”
“Whoa, you scared me.”
At the familiar voice behind me, I turned my head quickly. At some point, Myeong Jeha had come close.
“Are you two close because you’re classmates?”
“I guess you could say that. We did our final play together recently too. Reporter-nim, you didn’t come.”
“Oh come on— you know how crazy year-end season is.”
“Next time, please make sure you do. I’ll send you tickets.”
Unlike me, Jeha still had reporters trailing him even inside the airport. Even the way he spoke was different. He’d only done one film, even if it was a ten-million hit, but the way he carried himself—he was top of the top.
“Right, Yeoreum? You’d like it if they came, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course!”
“If Yeoreum-ssi says so, then⋯ okay. Next year, I’m definitely going! I’ll clear my whole schedule!”
While talking with the reporters, Jeha naturally pulled me into the conversation now and then. Thanks to Jeha, I traded a few words with reporters whose faces I’d only barely recognized.
Only after he even bought the reporters coffee did Jeha finally send them off. Then he handed me one of the drinks he was holding.
“Coordinator-nim, please have one too.”
“Thank you⋯.”
Unni. You were talking nonstop right next to me earlier. How did you miss that? Hwang Coordinator suddenly fell silent. I took a sip of the hot chocolate Jeha gave me.
“Whew⋯ it’s warm.”
“When we get to Osaka, let’s eat together.”
“Pardon? With me?”
I wasn’t the only one startled. Jeha’s manager behind him and Hwang Coordinator beside me both widened their eyes. Jeha laughed like he found this situation amusing.
“Why are you overthinking it? Choo Gaeul-ssi and Joo Junseo⋯ and that person too. Together.”
“Ah. I’ll introduce my friends too. Yeah. I can do that. Mm.”
I replied as if I wasn’t flustered at all. Good. Natural.
“I’m going into a film soon anyway, so I thought it’d be nice to shoot a vlog together while we’re at it.”
Huh? A vlog? I stared at Jeha like I had no idea what he meant.
“Hi-!”
From far away, next to Manager Choi—who must’ve gone to the parking lot—a woman I didn’t recognize was waving at me.
“Cutie!”
⋯Who are you?
