The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Translator Marctempest
Editor Rynfinity

Chapter 98

Hanna grumbled as she slowly walked into my room.

“Why did you suddenly want to study together?”

“It’s about fulfilling our duty as students. It’s better to study together anyway.”

“You’re right, but… why are you like this lately?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Her suspicious gaze made my heart pound.

As I shifted my eyes around, Hanna threw her bag into the corner and continued curiously.

“Why are you doing things that don’t suit you lately? You used to always run around the playground, but now you keep coming to the library.”

“That’s because…”

Because you’re in the library.

I swallowed the words I couldn’t say and firmly opened my notebook.

“No, it’s just… My mom keeps nagging me about my grades lately. Somehow, she found out about the English quiz next week and is demanding to see the results.”

“……”

Hanna, looking guilty, suddenly started pulling books out of her bag.

The only way my usually indifferent mom could find out about school exams was through Hanna’s mom.

Knowing this well, Hanna asked me in a small voice which part I found difficult.

I barely held back a smile that was trying to escape.

Ah, she’s really cute.

“This quiz only requires you to know the meanings of the words, so you can memorize the spellings later. Just focus on the meanings from here to here and tell me when you’re done.”

“Okay.”

I nodded obediently.

Even if I couldn’t show the intellectual image like that library guy, I had to behave as well as possible.

Listening to Han-yeol hyung’s words, I thought at least half of it might work.

‘I haven’t dated anyone either, so I can’t be of much help…’

‘With that face, you’re telling me you’ve never dated? Do you expect me to believe that?’

‘…You really are just like your sister.’

Han-yeol hyung laughed to himself after saying that.

As I stared blankly at him, he cleared his throat and spoke slowly.

‘So, how about that guy who confessed to your girl?’

‘Joo Ji-hyuk? He’s just a nerd. Quiet and… he only reads books.’

After pondering for a moment, hyung suggested behaving like that library guy.

He hesitated, saying he wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but I nodded anyway.

If a man draws his sword, he must at least slice a radish.

“Jung Hanna, I’ve memorized everything.”

“Already? That was quick.”

Grinning as kindly as possible, I handed her the vocabulary book.

“Then I’ll say the English word, and you tell me the meaning.”

“Okay. Got it.”

“…Hey, why do you sound like that? Speak normally.”

“Why~. I’m just speaking normally.”

Hanna looked at me suspiciously, with a confused expression.

She seemed uncomfortable with my unusually friendly demeanor. Good.

‘I hope she feels even more awkward.’

I didn’t want to be the only one feeling new and strange.

I wanted her to quickly share this awkward feeling too.

“Whatever. Here we go. Purity.”

“Purity.”

“Devoted.”

“Devoted.”

Seeing my answers flow smoothly, she looked surprised.

You wouldn’t know.

I hadn’t slept all week to prepare for this moment.

“Fond.”

“…What was that again?”

“I thought you were doing well.”

Pretending to have forgotten, I furrowed my brow, and Hanna laughed, sounding exasperated.

I quietly waited for the next question.

“It’s an adjective meaning ‘liking’ or ‘affectionate.'”

“What? It has the same meaning as ‘like.’ Why can’t we just use ‘like’?”

“Silly. ‘Like’ is a verb. The meaning is different. ‘Fond’ is used when you like something more deeply.”

Swallowing nervously, I fidgeted with my hands as she kindly explained.

“And especially when you feel affection for someone you’ve known for a long time.”

“Ah. Like you and me?”

“……”

The immense silence that followed my comment, made while looking at the book, was overwhelming.

I messed up. I expected at least a ridiculous laugh.

Unable to lift my head, I mumbled an excuse with a stiff mouth.

“No… Because we’ve known each other for a long time.”

“…Yeah, I know.”

I barely managed to glance sideways with rolling eyes.

Hanna wasn’t looking at me.

She was staring at the book with a slightly hardened face.

I wondered if what she was feeling was awkwardness or discomfort.

All I could do was guess at her feelings that I couldn’t quite reach.

“Cut! Ah~ That was perfect!”

The PD shouted okay without even checking the footage.

Then we quickly moved on to the close-up shots.

Like frying beans over a lightning fire, the shoot ended in a flash.

“Yeon-jae.”

“Yeah?”

Han Se-young, still in character as Jung Hanna, approached me.

Just a moment ago, seeing her face made me laugh, but now I felt nothing.

“Our school starts next week. What about yours?”

“Ours too. That’s why the PD is rushing the shoot.”

“I don’t have many shoots left, so it’s no problem for me, but it’ll be tough for you.”

It felt like vacation had ended without me doing much.

Seeing Noh Bi-hyuk every day wouldn’t change anything, but Baek Seo-jin was the problem.

We had parted awkwardly at the end of the vacation, so I didn’t know what it would be like seeing her again.

“You should be prepared when school starts.”

“Huh? Why?”

“As a senior, I’m telling you. It might be easier if you plan your rejection responses in advance.”

When I showed confusion, Han Se-young laughed brightly.

Her playful laugh didn’t match the quiet and studious Jung Hanna.

“Confessions, I mean.”

“Oh…”

“They’ll come pouring in like crazy now. Brace yourself.”

“I thought you meant something else. Well, I don’t think that will happen.”

“Want to bet? If you get confessed to more than three times in a week, I win.”

I let out a chuckle at her confident tone.

“Not just once, but three times?”

“I’m telling you this as a senior. The loser grants the winner one wish. Got it?”

Seeing her wrinkle her nose playfully, I smiled silently and nodded.

“Okay. Let’s do it if you want.”

“Then buy me steak. Let’s eat it on our last shoot. Okay?”

“Yeah. Let’s do that.”

Smiling like she’d already won, she hummed as she walked away.

And that weekend, I had to buy steak.

* * *

“So, how many confessions did you get exactly?”

I replied awkwardly to the playful voice.

“Four.”

“That was close. Whew, thank goodness.”

Han Se-young wiped imaginary sweat from her forehead and cut her steak. Her movements were incredibly natural.

As I quietly watched her, I picked up my knife.

Luckily, it cut smoothly without any pretense. The meat was of high quality.

“So, how did you reject them?”

“It wouldn’t be fun to hear anyway. Did nothing special happen to you?”

I changed the subject, thinking it wasn’t something to talk about for fun.

Fortunately, Han Se-young didn’t press further and agreed.

“Nothing special happened. No one else at my school would confess anymore. Most of them already have.”

It was amazing how she could talk so nonchalantly.

How many confessions do you have to get to be so indifferent?

I had gone through hell four times in the past week.

‘Yeon-jae, do you have a girlfriend?’

‘I enjoyed the drama! Do you remember our special class in the first semester?’

‘Hey, I made this…’

I had to smile awkwardly each time unfamiliar faces approached me.

I didn’t know how sincere their feelings were behind their blushing faces, but rejecting them sincerely made it equally uncomfortable.

When Baek Seo-jin confessed, it was just full of awkwardness and unease. Unfortunately, after playing Kim Ho-yoon, I knew what ‘unrequited love’ felt like, which made it even harder.

The only saving grace was that the reactions after my brief rejections were all dignified.

I sighed in relief at their resigned reactions.

“Isn’t it amazing how some people can just confess out of the blue? If I liked someone, I wouldn’t be able to speak and would just suffer quietly.”

I paused while eating well-cooked asparagus.

Is it too personal to ask?

As I hesitated internally, Han Se-young smiled as if she knew everything.

“Isn’t it about time you asked?”

“Huh?”

‘Can I ask you something, noona?’ I can see it all over your face.”

I laughed as she exaggeratedly mimicked me.

Then I cautiously asked.

“Have you ever liked someone, noona?”

“Not yet. There were some ticklish moments while shooting, but once they called cut, I didn’t feel anything.”

Han Se-young was two years older than me, sixteen years old.

Her usually calm demeanor made her seem more mature than her actual age.

Knowing that such a composed person hadn’t liked anyone made me feel at ease.

“Why? Do you have any worries?”

“Not a big worry, just feeling confused about how this topic suddenly appears in my daily life. Acting is just acting, so it doesn’t bother me.”

Of course, I knew that this was a natural part of adolescent development.

I understood that it was a time when interest in the opposite sex increased dramatically along with physical changes.

Seeing kids act exactly as described in books felt strange and curious, like…

“Feeling like I’m the only abnormal one?”

I widened my eyes and nodded at Han Se-young’s words.

“How did you know?”

“I felt it a few times too. Our country is obsessed with dating. They treat you like a weirdo if you don’t date. Sometimes when I meet seniors, they nag me to get a boyfriend. They say I need that to do ‘real acting.’ But I think I act just fine now.”

“That’s right. You act well, noona.”

Her smile deepened as if she liked my answer.

“I know it’s funny to say this at my age, but I’m not interested in guys. My career is more important to me. And I think you’re the same as me.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. I’ve met many child actors, but I’ve never seen anyone so focused on acting like you.”

I laughed awkwardly at the difficult compliment.

Ignoring my subtle smile, Han Se-young spoke seriously.

“If people around you tell you to try different things, don’t listen. Their premise is wrong. We’re not normal.”

“…”

“Actors, idols, athletes… Kids with clear dreams from a young age would all understand. You’re not abnormal, so instead of wasting time on useless worries, read another script.”

It was refreshing advice I hadn’t heard in a while.

After thanking her, she replied that I should call her again for good roles as payment for her advice.

Our glasses clinked in the air.

I felt like I had gained a reliable companion.

* * *

The next day, I went to the company urgently after being called by Team Leader Woo.

I had to ask dumbly at what he said without any preamble.

“An advertisement? For me?”