CH 11

“If we just film this scene, it’s over, so let’s do our best.”

The director shouted, encouraging the staff and actors. Everyone suffered because of the exceptionally cold weather. Choi Inseop found out why CEO Kim and Manager Cha sent him wearing such thick jumpers, and as he faced the cold with his whole body. 

Every time he moved to the filming location, he was busy just controlling the crowds, but today Lee Wooyeon had a lot of demands. He wished he had hot green tea, he wanted to wipe his hands with a hot towel, a hot pack or hot coffee will relieve his throat, he wanted to sit in a comfortable chair, etc.

Choi Inseop had been busy all day without a break, fulfilling his continuous requests. At the same time, he was unable to straighten his back because he looked after the child actor that the mother had thrown him from time to time.

Lee Wooyeon was drinking hot green tea and looking at Choi Inseop carrying a waiting child actor. As Jang Yeonsoo said, the child’s mother was having insignificant conversations with the director, so she didn’t seem to care about the child. Choi Inseop put the balloon he had bought with his own money into the child’s hand and was acting like a nanny. A smile was drawn on Lee Wooyeon’s lips. 

It was the car he was thinking of firing the manager. Choi Inseop was the perfect manager who accurately understood and matched his tastes and personality. He was quiet, quick-witted, and had a good personality. It was perfect. He was such a perfect manager that he really wanted to ask where he got these people from.

So Lee Wooyeon didn’t like Choi Inseop. Being overly perfect. 

It was as if Choi Inseop had researched to become Lee Wooyeon’s manager and fit himself into that frame. Most of all, it was funny that he claimed to be his fan. At first he thought it was so, but quickly realized that he was lying from the look in his eyes.

Lee Wooyeon was a natural actor. He was able to figure out at once whether he really liked him or if he was pretending to like him. 

The new manager wasn’t his fan. He knew all the information about Lee Wooyeon that he could never know unless he was a fan, but he was not a fan. However, he claimed to be a fan himself and tried his best to catch Lee Wooyeon’s eyes.

“It’s fun, but that’s it.”

He muttered as he looked at Choi Inseop, who was keeping an eye on him even while carrying the child. 

‘I mean, it’s fun, but the mood is so gloomy. So, I’ll have to change it now.’ 

“Mr. Lee Wooyeon.”

Choi Inseop, who was approaching him, called out his name. He continued to speak without a sign of difficulty, even though he was constantly breathing hard because the child was heavy.

“I made a reservation for a salon today, but I will change the time.”

“Okay. It may be later than I thought.”

There were many variables for outdoor shooting, so it was common to end much later than the expected time. Since CEO Kim insisted that cold wind was bad for the skin and that it must be taken care of after outdoor filming, Lee Wooyeon has often done so. Today, he forgot about it for a while, but the new manager seemed to have not forgotten that fact while he was frantically taking care of him and the child actors.

“I think Inseop is really talented.”

“…I am just doing my job.”

Every time he heard compliments, Choi Inseop showed a confused look, not knowing where to put his eyes. It was not a pleasant embarrassment accompanied by shame. It was clearly visible that he was somewhat displeased with what the other person said and did not know what to do to hide it. 

“Because you are the manager? Or are you a fan?”

“It is both…”

Lee Wooyeon laughed. 

It would have been really nice if this were excluded. It was obvious that he didn’t like it, but it was like he was desperately trying to catch the other person’s attention. 

Fun but annoying. However, the displeasure was much greater, so Lee Wooyeon decided to change the manager as soon as possible. 

“Mr. Wooyeon. You can sit here. We’re only fleming your facial expressions without lines, okay? You can take Yeonsoo’s hand. Without talking.”

“Yes.”

“Miss Yeonsoo, Are you good with rides?”

“Of course. I like it very much”

“Are you okay, Mr. Wooyeon?”

“Fine.”

“It’s not that scary, so don’t worry. If you are afraid, you can scream. I’ll edit that scene. Extras don’t shout too much. The mic is out.”

People burst into laughter at the director’s joke and got on the ride. Lee Wooyeon took Jang Yeonsoo’s hand and let her enter the ride first, and he sat next to her. 

“Is a seat vacant?”

The assistant director, who was checking the seat, pointed to Lee Wooyeon’s back seat and said.

“What? Who is it? Just ride anyone.”

“Anyone from the lighting team over there.”

The assistant director shouted, but no one willingly stepped forward. It wasn’t about other seats, but it seemed burdensome to appear on the screen because it was right behind Lee Wooyeon.

“There, Mr. Wooyeon’s manager.”

“Yes?”

“Take a ride. If you are afraid, you can keep your head down.”

“Me? … Me, me?”

Choi Inseop asked, stammering as he was quite scared. 

“It’s not that scary. It’s okay.”

“No, I…, I don’t like this… ”

“What are you so afraid of? Hurry up.”

When the director motioned for him to get on, Choi Inseop looked at Lee Wooyeon with a bright red face. In a brief glance, Lee Wooyeon was able to read what the manager wanted from him.

‘Help me.’

“If you’re scared, take my hand.”

Lee Wooyeon turned her gaze to Jang Yeonsoo and spoke kind words. The manager’s circumstances were outside his domain. If the manager quits his job because of this, that wouldn’t be a bad thing either.

“If Wooyeon is scared too, hold my hand. I will hold you tight.”

Jang Yeonsoo lowered the safety bar and answered with a pleasant voice. 

Choi Inseop, who became white, pushed his back and sat down. It seems that the child actor was taken by the child’s mother.

“I, Director, …There, I… ”

Choi Inseop called the director with a soft voice to see if he had something to say, but he was too busy paying attention to the camera position.

“I, there. Mr. Wooyeon… ”

“Yes?”

“There, there, I… , I am… ”

Seeing the face of Choi Inseop, who was scared enough to look pitiful, Jang Yeonsoo asked as if she was worried.

“Are you okay? Mr. Wooyeon’s manager must be really scared.”

“If you’re scared, will you hold my hand?”

Lee Wooyeon playfully held out his hand and smiled. Choi Inseop pursed his lips and shook his head. Security guards walked around and lowered the safety bar. 

“No! I am… ! Hello!”

Choi Inseop shouted something, but the sound of the safety bar squeaking and locking echoed heavily. 

“There, there… !”

“There, Mr. Wooyeon’s manager. Everything is recorded in the audio, so please be quiet and start filming. Ready, start.”

The director gave the cue sign. 

Choi Inseop grabbed the safety bar with a pale face and bowed his head. When Lee Wooyeon saw him trembling in fear, he smiled lightly.

“Hold on tight.”

He whispered to Jang Yeonsoo and looked at Choi Inseop. 

The ride started moving.

“I met the prince.”

“Yes? Again?”

“Yes. I met the prince. This time, I’m sure it must be the prince I have been waiting for.”

Every time Jenny moved, the floor squeaked. The elbows of her old pink cardigan were so worn out that they couldn’t be patched up any longer, and her black skirt was shiny enough to tell when she washed it. 

Jenny smiled broadly, revealing her crooked teeth. She sat down on Peter’s bedside and clasped her hands.

“Today, Sandra, that damn bitch fucked me up. Knocked me over, damn bitch. What a fucking bitch.”

Jenny was angry with her face that said she was unhappy. Peter, who had been lying in bed all day reading a book, listened to her as if it was interesting.

“And?”

“I fell. in the middle of the hallway. That damn bitch will giggle and laugh with the soccer boys and ask ‘Are you okay?’. Not to me, but to the hallway.”

“She’s mean. She will be punished.”

Peter frowned and nodded. A girl named Sandra, who he only knew through stories told by Jenny, was a bitch like no other in the world. 

“Everyone laughed. I was picking up a pen that had fallen out of my pencil case. Did I tell you about my favorite pen? Aunt Spencer…”

“The only pear-shaped pen in the world that Aunt Spencer gave you as a birthday present!”

“That’s right! That’s right.”

Jenny smiled brightly. It was a story he had heard countless times, but every time he heard it, Peter had a happy expression on his face. The only friend who comes to the attic.

“It rolled over. So I reached out to pick it up!”

Jenny’s cheeks were dyed rosy. Seeing her blue eyes twinkle, Peter was as excited as it was his job and waited for the next word.

“That person picked it up. My pen! The one and only pen in the world! It was an elegant and beautiful finger. He had black hair and black eyes just like you.”

With the words black eyes and black hair, Peter felt sympathy for the prince of Jenny, who did not know his face.

“Is he like me?”

“Ah no. Not at all.”

“No way…”

“Peter, Peter. I love you more than anyone, but the prince and you are completely different. He is a quarterback.”

“Quarterback?”

Jenny’s school was famous for its soccer team. Peter couldn’t help but be surprised to learn that Asians were playing as quarterbacks there. 

“He’s tall and handsome, and how good his voice is. He asked me if I was okay and handed me the pen. He has a voice like chocolate.”

“Wow… there are people like that.”

Jenny’s prince seemed to be a person who couldn’t be compared with him, who was weak and skinny, and whose daily life was to lie in bed and read a book.  

“He studies very well.”

“Awesome.”

“And he is also very popular with women. That damn Sandra is one of those girls who’s been chasing the prince!”

“Wow… ”

Asian boys were usually not popular. Asian girls were often liked  because of their mysterious charms, but men weren’t. Because they were compared to Westerners in terms of physical condition, most of the girls did not feel attracted to them.

“He is a very friendly person with a smile. The prince.”

Whenever Peter listened to Jenny’s explanation, the image of the prince he had in his head became more and more concrete.

Tall stature, beautiful hands, a chocolate-like voice, and a friendly smile. Quarterback.

“Forget it. I’m definitely going to the graduation party with the prince. Sandra, Rachel, Kelly, Emily, and all the girls, I will kiss the prince as much as I want!”

As she listed the names of the girls who bullied her, Jennifer’s blue eyes burned with enthusiasm. Peter burst out laughing. It was because Jenny’s voice was so serious.

“Ha ha ha ha ha.”

“Why are you laughing! funny?”

“No, just. Because it’s fun. You just met today, have you already imagined that far?”

“Of course. We will have five children. The youngest of them will take your name. You are the godfather of our children. It would be nice if his mysterious black eyes and my blue eyes were half and half mixed!”

She said, putting her hands together like a girl in a dream. 

“Jennifer! Jennifer! Where the hell did this damn pig bitch go! Jennifer!”

A phlegm-like voice from the window started looking for Jenny. It was Jenny’s mother, Matilda. Matilda always looked tired, wearing a black dress that was always tight on her body and without makeup. At six o’clock, she called her daughter with a force that seemed to kill her without fail. The whole town hated Matilda’s shouts, but no one could shut her mouth. As a devout Mormon, she saw not meeting mealtimes as a sin. The couple took the rod without hesitation to the daughter who committed the crime. The locals hated the eccentric couple who believed in heresy. No one liked their daughter Jenny. 

Jenny’s only friend was the shy, skinny Asian boy next door. And for Peter, Jenny was his only friend.

“It’s time to go.”

As Jenny got up from the bed with a smile, the sheets on the bed wobbled. She gave Peter a kiss on his sweaty cheek.

“Bye. Don’t be sick. Are you going to the hospital tomorrow?”

“Yes. For regular check-ups.”

“You should get well soon and go to school with me.”

“Wait. I will be going back to school in March.”

They both knew it was an unconfirmed promise, but no one showed any signs of it. Peter, who had undergone several surgeries for congenital heart disease, had a seizure while walking not long ago, and now spends most of his time lying down. 

He has had three surgeries so far. It was almost impossible for Peter to go back to school.

“When I die, I will give you my heart. My dear Peter.”

Jenny stood by the doorway and looked at Peter. It was her farewell to Peter all the time. Peter replied with a smile.

“Your heart won’t fit me. Besides, if I got it, I’d fall in love with your school soccer team one after another, right? I don’t want to be gay.”

Jenny laughed. Every time she smiled, her protruding teeth stood out even more. Peter liked Jenny. It wasn’t a romantic attraction, he just liked the human being Jenny.

He always thought it was unfair for people to ignore her charm because she was loud, delusional, fat, and badly dressed.

Peter pulled out a notebook lying next to the bed and held it. He had a habit of writing down his daily routine or anything else in his notebook. These days, the conversations with Jenny were all written in the notebook, but even that was enjoyable for him.

“Bye. Jennie.”

“Bye. Peter.”

After saying bye, Peter, holding the pen in his hand, called Jenny to stop her.

“Jenny!”

“What,” she said, turning her head.

“What is the prince’s name?”