“It’s not a test. I’m just curious how you got a unanimous vote. I auditioned for Chan too. I prepped like crazy. I did three versions—cute, a little mischievous, and a comic one.”
“……”
“So, how did you do it?”
His eyes were so serious that it brought back the memory of the audition. Kang Hyeon hadn’t memorized the lines properly because he switched roles last-minute. He’d originally prepared for Seon-woo, but he asked the director if he could switch to Chan and then just winged it.
“I sat down with my arms crossed… looked at the director and smiled with my teeth showing.”
“Oh…”
Yoon Do-yeong looked stunned, like he’d been slapped upside the head. As their conversation carried on, their mothers—who’d been chatting nearby—were led away by a staff member for some paperwork and disappeared into an office. They were left waiting and ended up in the lounge, sipping on drinks the staff had handed out.
Kang Hyeon didn’t have much to say. He quietly sipped his drink, already thinking about how nice it’d be to go home and rest. But across from him, Do-yeong’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, and he fired off questions nonstop.
“You did that crying scene in the war movie, right? The one where you lose your parents?”
“…Yeah.”
“How’d you get that look in your eyes? Seriously, that scene crushed me.”
“…That movie was rated R.”
“There wasn’t anything dirty in it.”
He said it like it was obvious, then his eyes flicked upward in thought.
“Maybe… there was something kind of dirty.”
He gave an awkward grin and changed the subject.
“But it was brutal. Probably because it was a war movie.”
“……”
“You didn’t watch your own part?”
“I did.”
“Wanna come to my place and watch it? You can just skip the scenes you don’t like. You don’t have to worry about your mom stopping you—I lock my door when I’m watching movies. It’s soundproof too, so you don’t have to worry about the volume leaking. I mean… a little bit might, but it’s fine as long as it’s not too loud.”
He looked so excited it was almost funny. Kang Hyeon ended up watching the movie years later in high school, and the performances were incredible. He finally understood why Do-yeong was so eager to show him. But at the time, he just seemed weird for turning down the role of Seon-woo.
“Shouldn’t you be deciding about your role first? You said earlier you didn’t want it.”
“Because that kind of role is boring.”
That pissed Kang Hyeon off instantly. He was busting his ass to land any part he could, and here Do-yeong was talking about roles like they were toys he could choose based on mood.
“At least be grateful for the kids who didn’t get the part.”
“Why should I be grateful?”
“……”
“I got picked because I did well and fit the part best.”
“You seriously just said that? What about the kids who really wanted that role? Try thinking about how they feel.”
“I get rejected too. I didn’t get the psychopath kid role—you did.”
“……”
“I accepted it. I didn’t get the part because I didn’t fit it. The director and producers obviously cast whoever suits the role best. That’s just how it is. Who gets cast can affect the investment in the project too. If you care about the quality of the show, of course you go with a good actor. That’s why you got the role of Chan, and I ended up with Seon-woo, which I didn’t even want. And you think I should be thankful?”
“……”
“Or do you think I got Seon-woo because of how I look? Or that my grandpa paid someone off?”
“……”
“Wanna see how I acted?”
Before Kang Hyeon could say anything, Do-yeong’s expression changed in an instant—cold eyes, twitching lips. He ran his fingers along the drink bottle and stared off to the side like he was slipping into character.
It was the same scene Kang Hyeon’s character, the psychopath kid, had where he toyed with a weapon while thinking dark thoughts. If there had been some set lighting, Do-yeong probably would’ve nailed the atmosphere. But Kang Hyeon never judged anyone else’s acting before, so he just watched quietly. A part of him was annoyed. Why was Do-yeong pulling this on someone he’d just met? But he didn’t care at all about Kang Hyeon’s reaction. After his little performance, he looked at Kang Hyeon, eyes gleaming.
“Well?”
“……”
“Adults say you’ve got some serious presence. How the hell did you act? I’m definitely watching that movie when it’s out. I’m super pumped!”
He even clapped, smiling so innocently that it was weirdly exhausting. Not annoying, just… too much. So Kang Hyeon snapped a little.
“Shut up.”
“My voice too loud?”
“……”
“Should I whisper instead?”
His cluelessness left Kang Hyeon speechless. But he didn’t seem to mean any harm, which made it even harder to get mad at him.
“……Let’s just be quiet until I finish this drink.”
“…Okay.”
He mirrored Kang Hyeon and sipped quietly while they waited for our moms to come back with the signed contracts. Kang Hyeon stared blankly at the floor. Even though Do-yeong kept sneaking glances, he didn’t say another word. The room had gone still and cold. He’d finished his drink ages ago, but he just sat there, fidgeting with his lips like he wanted to speak, holding it back like he was really waiting for Kang Hyeon to finish his.
It gave Kang Hyeon this strange feeling. Do-yeong didn’t seem like a bad kid. Odd, yeah—but not unpleasant. Kang Hyeon couldn’t fully grasp it back then, but after they met again as adults, he finally understood: Do-yeong seriously lacked social awareness. Some people might be able to deal with that, but at the time, he worried Do-yeong would end up getting on people’s nerves.
“Don’t say stuff like that in public. People’ll think you’re a total asshole.”
“Stuff like what?”
“That it’s only natural you got casted.”
“Oh… I don’t think anyone else would fit Seon-woo better than me.”
“Why are you so cocky and arrogant?”
“Because I am Seon-woo. I’m gonna kill it. So much so that anyone who wanted this role will feel embarrassed that they ever did.”
“……”
“You’re gonna do the same, aren’t you?”
Something stirred deep in Kang Hyeon’s chest at those final words. He didn’t know what it was back then. He just… sort of understood the smile on a kid with that much confidence.
After that, their mothers became a bit closer. And thanks to Do-yeong pressuring Kang Hyeon, he eventually visited Do-yeong’s house. That’s when he finally saw the foundation behind all his confidence and boldness. At the first shoot for Little Science Explorers, he was Seon-woo, the class president, to a T. Of course, his underlying smugness still bled through, but that was just part of the package.
“You didn’t see it?!”
“……”
Kang Hyeon’s thoughts shattered as Yoon Do-yeong’s face suddenly filled his vision. He’d leaned in, his wide eyes staring like he couldn’t believe Kang Hyeon hadn’t heard him.
“What were you thinking about? I’ve been talking this whole time.”
“I was remembering the first time I came to your house.”
“Oh… right. You asked if this was really a house.”
Do-yeong laughed at the memory. Kang Hyeon, still not used to the ridiculous size of the place, muttered bluntly,
“It’s too big.”
“More importantly—did you watch that drama everyone’s talking about?”
“Not yet.”
“Waiting till it’s finished?”
He nodded. He was planning to finish all his current OTT shows and subscribe to the platform with that drama next month.
“I haven’t watched it either. Let’s watch together.”
“Next time. You should get some rest.”
He turned down Do-yeong’s cheerful suggestion, and the latter quickly changed tactics.
“It’s rush hour right now. Traffic’s brutal.”
“I’ll take the bus.”
“Why cram yourself into an overcrowded bus when you could chill here for a bit, watch a drama, and then take my car home?”
“Why would I take your car?”
“The manager said it’s being used as a prop. I’ve gotta get it to the office, but I don’t wanna just hand it off to anyone…”
Do-yeong’s voice trailed off under Kang Hyeon’s frosty stare. But soon, he shifted into a pleading tone.
“I leave in two hours. Can you drop me off at the airport?”
“Sure.”
Because once he’s gone, I probably won’t see him for a while. Swallowing the rest of that thought, Kang Hyeon followed him up to the second floor. Do-yeong, beaming so hard his teeth showed, looked overjoyed by the quick yes.
“Relax in the room next door while I pack.”
He ducked into the dressing room and started loading a massive suitcase with travel gear. Kang Hyeon stood watching him for a moment, then turned and stepped into the adjacent room. It looked like a private theater, with a giant TV mounted on one wall and a sofa-bed arranged perfectly for lounging during movies.
He picked up the remote from the table and flopped halfway onto the couch before switching on the screen. Browsing through the OTT apps, he tapped into the one Do-yeong had mentioned. It had six episodes. One of them showed as halfway watched—episode 5. Pretending not to notice, he clicked on episode 1. As the opening rolled, the door creaked open briefly, then closed again.
A moment later, Do-yeong returned with a beer and some popcorn, plopping down next to him.
“Here’s your drink.”
“Huh?”
“You said to take my car, right?”
Do-yeong pressed his lips together.
“Then bring me something to drink.”
At the firm command, he clearly didn’t like it, his lips flattening again before he slowly replied.
“…Sports drink. Vitamin water. Zero Coke. Fruit juice…”
As Do-yeong rattled off options, Kang Hyeon popped some popcorn into his mouth.
“Coffee.”
“No coffee at night. You won’t be able to sleep.”
“Wasn’t gonna sleep anyway. Make it strong.”
“You have insomnia too? Mine’s been really bad lately. I even got sleeping pills. Want one?”
