Chapter 26 : I’m a Living Actor (26)

Does my precious friend know? How happy I am that we can celebrate this graduation ceremony together like this.

“Seong-a, I seriously went through so much….”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden? You got in through early admission.”

“Is it not hard if you get in through early admission? Huh?! I really went through a lot!”

In the end, my friend never understood what Han Yeoreum meant by those words. But it was okay not to understand. After all, I never expected anyone to get it in the first place.

“Now, we will begin the 19th graduation ceremony of Cheonmun High School.”

Finally, the ceremony started. The principal’s congratulatory speech was still long and boring, and Han Yeoreum dozed off slightly.

But when her boyfriend received the Academic Excellence Award, she was more enthusiastic than anyone else, her eyes sparkling as she clapped fervently.

“Are you that happy? Your smile’s about to split your face.”

“Ah, our Jihwa is just so handsome today~ The coat fits him perfectly. Don’t you think?”

“Hmph. If I had to pick, I’d say I prefer Lee Hyuk.”

Her friend muttered the last part like a joke, then immediately glanced at Han Yeoreum with a hint of regret.

She knew better than anyone how hard it was for Han Yeoreum while she liked Lee Hyuk.

Expecting this reaction, Han Yeoreum gave a sly smile.

Honestly, convincing my friend was almost as difficult as confessing my feelings to Yoon Jihwa.

“So you like bad boys, huh?”

Answering her joke with a joke, Han Yeoreum relaxed her friend’s tension, who then replied with a serious face.

“Bad boys have that irresistible charm. And a man should have bold lines, you know? A wild, untamed vibe. In that sense, your Jihwa is…”

Han Yeoreum squinted at her friend, who loudly smacked her lips.

But then she chuckled softly and took her friend’s hand tightly, whispering.

“Seong-a, a man who’s kind, handsome, and gentle is the best.”

“……”

“You could say Jihwa is exactly that embodiment.”

In the end, it was pure teasing. Her friend pushed her away in disgust, but Han Yeoreum clung to her, acting cute.

“Lastly, I sincerely wish a happy future for all Cheonmun High School students stepping into society. This concludes the graduation ceremony.”

“Waaaaah!!”

The not-so-long event finally ended. Most students left the auditorium with their parents.

Han Yeoreum met her mother, who had rushed over after finishing urgent matters in the morning.

After taking photos with her friends, she slowly looked around the auditorium.

‘The end.’

Even though the long-awaited end had come, feeling a twinge of regret was inevitable.

Lowering her gaze briefly, she moved forward—when someone appeared in her line of sight.

A boy walking straight toward only Han Yeoreum.

She lifted her head and shouted,

“Jihwa!”

Yoon Jihwa approached cheerfully, holding out a bouquet.

“Congratulations on graduating.”

“Thank you. Jihwa, congratulations to you too.”

After receiving the flowers, Han Yeoreum smiled happily. Quietly watching her, Yoon Jihwa gently ruffled her hair.

“You really worked hard all this time.”

Filled with sincerity, his words made Han Yeoreum smile brightly.

Finally a couple, the boy and girl walked toward the exit chatting about this and that.

Just as they were about to step outside, Lee Hyuk came in from the outside.

They noticed each other and paused for a moment but then passed by silently.

“Yeoreum.”

“Yeah?”

“We’re having a happy ending, right? Just like you said.”

“Hmm… I guess…”

“Uh?”

“Haha, just kidding.”

After a brief pause, Han Yeoreum spoke again.

“It is a happy ending. Now and forever.”

Lee Hyuk quietly watched Yoon Jihwa and Han Yeoreum’s backs as they left the auditorium.

Then, lowering his head, he faintly smiled.

Someone approached him and handed him a bouquet.

Without a word, Lee Hyuk accepted the flowers.

“Cut! Okay!!”

The final “Okay” sign echoed.

“Great job, everyone!”

“Really, truly, everyone worked so hard!”

At last, the long filming was over.

It had started with summer, and now winter was just around the corner.

‘It was like a storm.’

Honestly, I had no idea how the time had passed.

Every day, I focused all my attention on completing the quests given to me safely.

Only when the quest completion message popped up could I take a breather and then prepare for the next shoot.

‘The only way to make up for my lack of acting skills is to get as used to acting as possible.’

I repeated the lines I had memorized over and over, recorded myself and listened, and practiced.

In front of the phone camera fixed on a stand, I repeated the same acting multiple times.

‘When I was younger, it was even worse, but back then, it wasn’t really my own will.’

Realizing that gave me a strange feeling.

It was actually somewhat similar.

When I was little, if I couldn’t memorize lines, I would get hit or starve.

Now, if I couldn’t finish shooting properly, it felt like I was headed to hell.

Still, why it felt completely different now was…

‘Because I’m not Myung Seungho.’

Or was there another reason?

But I couldn’t continue my thoughts.

“Hyung!”

“Chaemin!”

Just as I was lost in thought, two people ran up to me eagerly.

Both were holding bouquets.

It’s something the staff or company usually prepares after filming.

Of course, I had none. My damn manager was probably just sleeping in the van, complaining about the cold.

“Everyone really worked hard.”

I bowed sincerely to the two.

When I lifted my head, two bouquets were offered to me.

“…?”

“This isn’t from the staff; I prepared it.”

“Oh, me too! Me too!”

As Lee Choi spoke, Seo Sangwoo called out loudly to match her.

‘They each prepared these separately?’

“…For me?”

Before I could finish speaking, both shouted simultaneously.

“Yes!!”

“Uh…”

‘Why? Why would they? What did I do for them?’

If anything, shouldn’t they be the ones receiving flowers from me?

I’m the lead actor with terrible acting skills who managed to finish filming safely despite this critical flaw.

‘Well… I didn’t cause any trouble, at least.’

Ironically, among the three of us, I was the only one who approached filming with a consistent attitude, without any major problems.

My acting… was the problem itself.

“Hyung?”

“Ah, you’re not going to accept them?”

“Ah, no…!”

I hurriedly accepted the bouquets.

They were quite large, so holding both at once filled my arms.

“Let’s take a picture together!”

“We took some in the auditorium; let’s take more in the classroom later!”

Seo Sangwoo and Lee Choi excitedly called their managers.

Still dazed, I went along with them.

I never thought we’d end up taking photos all the way in the classroom.

“Wow, the pictures came out really well.”

“Right? Don’t you think our school uniforms are so pretty? I wish we’d worn them more.”

“True. Even if we took them with winter as a background, they’d be beautiful.”

Having grown somewhat close, the two chattered happily while looking at the photos.

Their flushed faces revealed pure joy and excitement.

‘Like watching two excited puppies…’

Now I think I understand why I felt that déjà vu every time the three of us filmed together.

The set truly felt like a graduation ceremony.

Lee Choi and Seo Sangwoo busied themselves taking photos and chatting with the staff and supporting actors who had worked hard alongside them.

I also walked around, offering thanks to everyone.

Then someone called me.

“Hey, Jihwa~”

It was Director Choi Younghwan.

“Director, you really worked hard.”

I said, hoping he could feel the sincerity in my words.

“Oh, it was you all who worked hard. Filming in the hot summer.”

“No, it’s not just me who worked hard…”

My throat tightened.

I had met many directors through countless projects, but I’d never felt this way before.

Back then, I arrogantly thought I was a good actor.

“Once again, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”

“……”

“I don’t know if I did as well as you expected… Actually, I know I was very lacking.

But I dare hope I wasn’t completely insufficient.”

Director Choi probably wasn’t satisfied with me—the bad actor Yoo Chaemin.

That’s why I was cast for Lee Hyuk’s role, which didn’t fit my image.

But after meeting me and watching my acting, he took a gamble.

‘It was quite a stroke of luck for me.’

If I had played Lee Hyuk, the drama would have aired and received even more criticism.

My acting was already so out of place, and playing a character that didn’t suit me would have been a disaster.

‘Of course, it’s a given the drama would get some flak once it aired.’

That’s something I could improve with gradually better acting.

Director Choi looked at me silently for a while.

Feeling awkward, I brushed the back of my neck.

Then his voice came.

“You weren’t lacking.”

“……”

“Actually, I was overly satisfied.”

“……”

“Most of all, thank you for doing your best.

It was clear and felt genuine that Chaemin was always putting his best into acting.”

I was so stunned that I only blinked.

‘I gave it my all.’

It was the first time a director I worked with said that to me.

I had heard praises like “You did great” or “You’re the best,” or sometimes criticisms disguised as insults.

And if I didn’t get good reviews on my acting, I felt miserable.

Actually, this wasn’t even a compliment on my acting.

But the words “thank you for giving your best” made my insides churn strangely.

“Thank you.”

“Haha, what a big deal. By the way, have you decided on your next project?”

I shook my head.

That surprised me a little too.

I thought the manager would immediately offer a new role like last time, but there was nothing.

I was glad to have some breathing room, though.

“Really? Nothing you’re discussing?”

“No. Nothing.”

Director Choi made a small ‘tsk’ sound and handed me something.

A thick envelope.

“A director I’m close with is preparing a film.

Take a look.”

“…Yes?”

“I can’t exactly recommend it actively… but if you’re interested after looking, contact me.

I think I can secure you an audition.”

“Th-thank you.”

“No, it’s nothing. I just felt it would be interesting if you played this role.”

I could barely respond, just fidgeting with the envelope.

“I thought you had a good perspective on interpreting characters three-dimensionally.

The way you portrayed Jihwa’s self-mocking yet dry side behind his kind and gentle exterior was impressive to me.”

Unexpected words followed.