Chapter 26: Big And Small Misunderstandings – (1)

“…It’s unfair.”

“What’s unfair?”

It was the breakfast time. 

As usual, the voices of the students from Dormitory 7 echoed around the table, where they ate together. 

The owner of the voice was Kang Jina, who had pulled her hoodie over her head.

I gave a bitter smile and looked in her direction.

‘Is she talking about that again? It’s been more than half a month.’

As expected.

Kang Jina was again trying to justify herself to Na Aeri with a frustrated expression.

“If you say it like that, you’d think I’ve been using my power to push everyone around since I was a kid.”

Na Aeri, holding a cup of black tea, replied.

“That’s not wrong. 

The senior who ruled over the acting academy and then suddenly appeared in front of the juniors to assert dominance….

Well, there’s a similar absurd culture like that in British schools with their ‘Club’ systems. 

But to think such a culture is still common in Korean acting academies is surprising.”

“So… that’s not how it was.

 To be honest, I was the only one who said anything at the academy. It was actually a pretty free-spirited place compared to others.”

Oh Yujin, who had been eating bread beside us, turned her head.

“Are you talking about the actress who played ‘Nari’ when you were filming the last time?”

“Yeah… technically, she’s a junior, but we’ve been friends since we were kids, even though she’s younger. 

We used to talk about going to Hanul together when we were in middle school.”

“But wasn’t she not from Hanul?”

“Yeah, she failed the entrance exam.

 I think she’s just going to a regular high school now. But I went to Hanul until the second year of middle school, so we stayed in touch.”

Kang Jina pouted and said.

“That kid… Kim Yuri. She was infamous for bullying and cursing the juniors at the acting academy. She started doing that after I left for Hanul.”

“Wow, that’s surprising.”

“It got worse and worse, to the point where even the senior students started talking about it. I couldn’t just stand by and watch Yuri bully the younger kids. 

So, I decided to be the one to talk to her. 

I invited her to do some physical training together and told her, 

‘If you keep treating the juniors like that, I’ll treat you as a senior, not a friend.'”

“So, what happened?”

Kang Jina shrugged her shoulders.

“Yuri didn’t care because we were close. 

The atmosphere kept getting more tense. 

So, in front of the other kids, I pretended to be a senior and showed her what it meant to be one, and only then did she stop. 

We stayed in a cold war until I quit the academy.”

“Did you treat the other kids harshly too?”

“No? I was just keeping Yuri in check.”

Saying that, she speared a bean with her fork.

-Thunk.

“…But seeing her still acting like that on set really pissed me off. That’s why.”

“I see.”

“Yeah.”

Oh Yujin made a complicated expression before nodding.

Na Aeri listened to Kang Jina’s story without asking any more questions and quietly sipped her black tea.

“…….”

As I listened to their conversation, I couldn’t help but think that it felt like military culture.

‘I started wandering around the art industry back in 2014.

 So, this must be the “back in my day” era that the artists were talking about. 

Listening to this, it really feels like a military-style culture.’

Of course, the hierarchy is much more intense in industries like the military than in the art world. 

But even in this era, it’s actually the ones leading the more harmonious atmosphere, like Yujin and her friends, who stand out as strange.

Ho-eeng.

To the distant Hana-chan from 2024, this must have been an incredibly barbaric time. I just wanted to quickly build up a following and draw while receiving mindless praise.

‘But was there “fan culture” back in this era…?’

I’m not sure.

I’d need a computer to check.

‘I feel a little self-conscious using the computer room, and since I’ve gotten used to not using it, I naturally avoid it now.’

So I trembled and ate the roll cake I had taken on my plate.

-Om nom nom…

The sweet aroma of syrup and buttercream gently enveloped my tongue.

Sniff

It’s delicious.

Before the sweetness fades, I drank the coffee I had prepared earlier.

-Sip…

The sweetness dissolved when it met the black liquid. 

But like fireworks reflecting on the dark sea, the faint sweetness spread, leaving a lingering aftertaste that was as deep as the weight of memories.

‘Is this sex…?’

There’s no doubt.

This is sex.

The intimacy between food and tongue.

If this isn’t sex, then what is?

I don’t know.

‘Tch…’

Anyway.

The biggest satisfaction I felt since coming to Hanul Comprehensive Arts School was the meals. 

Not only were three meals a day provided, but their quality was far superior to typical cafeteria food.

‘A bit of European flair in the menu selection is right up my alley.’

Especially, Hanul’s breakfast, which often consisted of bread, was perfectly to my liking. 

Homemade jams packed with fruit, cream spread between the bread, bursting out as you bite. The taste never got old, no matter how much I ate.

I heard that the bread was made by a supplier who also supplies department stores.

‘In twenty years, the price of bread will skyrocket, so I better eat as much as I can now…’

Even now, every time I see a 500-won red bean bun in the supermarket, I can’t help but gobble it up.

Ah! Inflation!

The cruel shackles of capitalism…

I muttered, sensing the harsh fate that awaited in the future.

“Sniff… the food today was so good…”

“Hehe, really?”

Yujin, who had been quietly listening, suddenly responded to my mumbling and offered me some cookies from her plate.

“Eat more.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Hana, do you want me to bring you anything else?”

“No… this is enough.”

“Hehe…?”

Yujin smiled, then ruffled my hair. She even tucked the stray strands of hair behind my ear.

“You’re pretty. Really pretty.”

“…….”

Then, as if nothing had happened, she went back to eating her bread.

“……..”

It was a fleeting moment, but I could tell that our level of intimacy had changed with that touch.

“……..”

What is this?

What’s this atmosphere…?

‘Ever since that day, it feels like we’ve gotten strangely closer…?’

After that day—after the crazy all-nighter to prevent Juri from being treated badly in the drama—Yujin had become oddly kind to me.

She’d always been kind, but it was like…

‘Is this what they call “guanxi” in China?’

In the past life, our relationship was more cautious, but this time, it became much more casual. 

I think it was because she liked how I had looked out for my cousin.

Of course, the drama didn’t get aired as expected, just like my previous life. 

I heard that the production team got caught up in various penalties, lawsuits, and claims, even being investigated for child abuse charges.

‘The rumors I spread turned into something like “just a kid having fun with a famous young actress.”’

What remained was the time Juri had to reflect on her acting alone, and somehow, Yujin had become closer to me…

‘Well, it’s fine if I get closer to my future mentor and ace writer.’

I accepted it as such and finished my meal.

*

「Mari: What are you doing?」

「Hana: Preparing for the practical class. What about you, Mari?」

「Mari: Preparing for surgery ᅮᅮ It’s the day they’re pulling out my heart.」

「Hana: Doesn’t it hurt?」

「Mari: It hurts・・・」

「Hana: Where?」

「Mari: The blue era has arrived…」

「Hana: Why? Is your whole body suddenly sluggish and depressed? That’s a sickness, so there’s medicine for it. If you try to handle it all by yourself, it’ll get worse. If you really can’t stand it, you should talk to Mari’s dad or Manager Kang… Anyway, you have to tell someone who can help, okay? It’s not weird at all, so don’t worry too much…」

「Mari: No, no, no khi khi khi It’s not like that, I’m just simply lonely.」

「Hana: Ah… I see.」

「Mari: Hana, the last time I saw you was 67 days, 11 hours, 21 minutes, and 31 seconds ago (probably adding around +16 seconds while typing this)… so I’ve been a bit down…」

「Hana: … You’re really smart.」

「Mari: Hehe, counting time is my specialty.」

*

「Hana: From next week, I’ll be able to go out. I’ll definitely visit you then.」

「Mari: I want to be Matisse.」

「Hana: I want to be Andy Warhol.」

「Mari: ☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆♡☆~!!」

「Hana: Are you expressing a Matisse painting?」

「Mari: M=⚪ M+1=⚫」

*

「Uncle: Ha. Na. Ya, eat well and take care.」

「Hana: Yeah, I’ll eat well. You don’t have to worry.」

「Uncle: I’m eating well too. I’m learning a lot and staying kind.」

「Hana: That’s a relief.」

「Uncle: The text is so difficult… but I’m managing.」

「Hana: …Right, let’s talk on the phone.」

*

“I forgot that you still used a feature phone even in the smartphone era, uncle.”

But then, how did someone like him learn to use emoticons like ‘ᅮᅮ’?

Anyway, after finishing the call, I realized it was almost time for my afternoon class.

“Is today the basic drawing class? Oh no… Looks like it’s time for ‘The Great Drawing Guru’ to wake up again.”

There was no time more enjoyable than drawing class. Nothing grows as honestly and proportionally to practice as drawing with a pencil.

That’s why, in both my past and present lives, drawing time was always the most fun.

“Being stubborn about just your strengths isn’t a good habit either…”

I got up quietly from my dorm room.

“Heave-ho…!”

I adjusted my clothes in front of the mirror by the door. It didn’t really matter since it was the school uniform.

I grabbed the pencil set, eraser, knife, and other supplies into my bag and headed out of the room.

 The quiet hallway greeted me, and I could hear the noise of the schoolyard in the distance.

I walked toward the C-building, where the art studio was. 

The building exhaled a cold breeze, and the scent of fallen autumn leaves filled the air.

Soon, I arrived at the art room. 

Today, I would be drawing with the first-year middle school students from the junior department.

 As I was about to grab the door handle, a chuckle escaped me.

“Heh, thinking about it, it’s funny. The first-year middle schoolers, who should be the youngest in school, call me ‘senpai.'”

To me, it seemed like I was almost a school legend.

But it seems the first-year middle schoolers in our art department didn’t see me that way. 

They stared at me like a meerkat, then shouted.

“Hey! Hana’s here!”

“Hana!!”

“Hello, seniors.”

“Se-Senpai…?! Hana, come sit here!!”

“Hey, what’s up? We’re drawing with our group this time!!”

“No way!! You guys already sat together last time!!”

“Why are you being so stubborn? We want to sit with you too!”

Unlike the cold and harsh atmosphere outside, the still-innocent first-year middle school students grabbed both my hands and pulled me here and there.

They were all just fresh out of elementary school, but their grip was surprisingly strong…

“Ugh…”

I silently screamed inside as they dragged me around.

Whenever I had class with the middle school students, it was always like this.

 Especially among the first-years, I was like a superstar. 

Could they be that amazed by someone calling them ‘senpai,’ especially someone who had just entered the school?

Hmm. Honestly, I would probably find it amazing too.

“Well, I guess it’s lucky that they didn’t ostracize me just because I took a different entrance exam than them.”

Thinking that way, I actually felt somewhat grateful for their attention.

“We’re your group, right? You want to sit with us…?!”

“This time, sit with us! Come on!”

“Hana!! Where do you want to sit?!”

“…Well, I’m not sure.”

The chick-like first-years looked at me with pleading eyes.

“Well, I don’t think I want a Solomon-style decision here. I just want to quietly focus on the class.”

While I was being bombarded with enthusiastic hugs, a knock came from the front of the classroom.

– Knock knock.

Then a heavy voice followed.

“Everyone, settle down. Sit at your desks.”

“…?!”

“…?!”

“…?!”

All the first-year middle schoolers who had been running around a moment ago quickly sat down with terrified expressions.

 It was because the person they feared most was the one leading today’s class.

“We’ll skip attendance today. After all, anyone who skips class won’t do well on their exams anyway.”

Professor Jeong Jeonjin entered the classroom, dressed in a black suit, with his usual expressionless face. 

He was the teacher who was feared most by the junior department students because of his blunt, no-nonsense evaluations.

But I felt curious.

“I wonder how Professor Jeong Jeonjin plans to teach. From his personality, I thought he would prefer very simple lessons.”

Just as that thought crossed my mind, Professor Jeong turned and glanced at me.

Then, after a moment, he nodded.

“Hm? Oh, I see.”

“…?”

“Go Hana, sit at the still-life table in the middle of the room, in front of me. I’ll evaluate you live.”

The first-year middle schoolers gave me sympathetic looks.

 In front of the terrifying Professor Jeong Jeonjin, the only way the chicks could survive was by relying on each other’s warmth.

– Oh no…

– Of all things…

– How pitiful…

– Alone and lonely…

But I felt thankful to him for allowing me to have a quiet class. 

It seemed like he had considered that I might not be able to concentrate on my drawing because of my unusual position.

“Professor is a good person.”

As expected, the class was concise and to the point.

 The chick-like first-years shivered under his unflinching evaluations. Some of them were even sniffling after the class.

And so, the days passed as I adapted to school life, melting into it.

Even as October slid into the back pages of the calendar, winter was approaching.

Along with the end-of-year atmosphere came an unexpected guest.

She looked like a shrunk-down version of senior Oh Yujin… the guest with braided hair and round glasses smiled at me.

She was child actress Juri.

“…”

“…Juri?”

“I still watch your work. Thank you.”

The drawing… It’s a bit rough since I did it in one night…

So embarrassing…

“I always get hope whenever I see it. It feels like you’ve been cheering me on all this time…”

“…Eh.”

Ah…

Re-really?!

Seeing my drawing had such an impact?!

“They called you a genius. I could feel how a genius’s drawing moves the heart like this.”

“…Huh.”

“Thinking back on my life… yeah. It gave me the courage to make a big decision.”

Ah…!!

Ugh, I’m not a genius though…!

Compliments make me melt…!

Unlike the set on filming sets, Juri, in her simple attire, smiled and said:

“So, I’ve decided to quit being a child actress.”

“Ah…?”

What….?