Chapter 17
“Seol, are you crying? Don’t cry! Your makeup’s not finished yet!”
“I almost cried. I didn’t cry.”
Seol explained as she took the tissue Eun-jin handed her in a panic.
“If you cry now, I’ll have to redo everything from scratch!”
Eun-jin dabbed under Seol’s eyes with a cotton swab. Seol held her breath to swallow back the tears threatening to escape.
The environment didn’t give her time to dwell on heartbreak. Being rejected by her teacher wasn’t enough to crush her spirit.
…Well, Eun-jin unni was rejected ten times, after all.
When Seol stared at her blankly, Eun-jin asked with her eyes, “What?” Seol shook her head, saying it was nothing.
Maybe going straight for it wasn’t the best approach.
Did her teacher not see her as a woman at all? Not even a tiny bit?
It wasn’t like she had all the time in the world to try.
Seol felt her mood sink but quickly shook it off.
“You’ve been watching a lot of dramas and movies lately, and now it’s books?” Eun-jin commented, glancing at the book in Seol’s hand.
“Are you done with workbooks now? You’ve picked up so many hobbies—cooking, movies, reading.”
To Eun-jin, Seol’s transformation was refreshing. Seol used to be glued to workbooks, like a model student preparing for admission to a prestigious university. She had no interest in trends or social media like her peers.
Instead, Eun-jin, who was eight years older, would often act as a mother bird, bringing her the latest memes or trends to keep her updated.
“What’s the book about?” Eun-jin asked.
“Oh, this one.”
Seol ran her fingers over the book’s cover. She had bought it while feeling heartbroken after being rejected, curious about her teacher’s taste in books.
The story was a bit challenging to read but deeply moving. It was about a Korean girl adopted to America, struggling with her identity and searching for her birth mother through faint memories.
As the girl in the book went through hardships to find a sense of belonging, Seol saw herself in the character.
She also found herself wondering about the teacher’s first love, who had recommended this book to him. Was she a book-loving intellectual?
Why did the teacher read this book so many times? Because it was from his first love?
Or was there another reason?
Maybe, like the girl in the book yearning for her mother, or like Seol missing her father, her teacher also longed for his parents.
[“Seol, you know Grandpa has a grandson older than you.”
“He lost his parents when he was young but grew up strong and never cried. He was a top student and is now studying in America.”
“Curious? Want to meet him?”]
Back then, Seol, desperate for help with her studies, nodded without thinking about how bold it seemed.
That’s how she met Kang Tae joo. He didn’t seem thrilled about tutoring her, but meeting him completely flipped her world upside down.
Kang Tae joo was like the North Star in the Amazon jungle, the aurora lighting up the Antarctic, or a beam of light for a lost sailor.
But what good was that if her feelings didn’t reach him?
Confessing her love and hearing him say, “I like you too,” like in dramas or movies, was unrealistic. The reality was harsh.
Seol sighed, trying to keep her emotions in check.
“Still… didn’t it seem like the teacher wasn’t very fond of Grandpa?”
Even though Grandpa spoke highly of him, Tae joo didn’t seem to feel the same.
Why was that? She’d always wondered but never asked.
When’s my graduation?
Seol checked her phone’s calendar while holding the book. Graduation could be the perfect excuse to see him one last time.
One, two, three…
“Graduation?”
Eun-jin noticed her counting.
“Yes.”
“Excited? I was back then. You’re officially an adult once you’re out of your uniform.”
“…”
Seol dropped her phone, stunned.
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
“Once I’m out of my uniform? Does wearing a uniform make me look like a kid?”
“Well, isn’t the uniform a symbol of being a student? That’s why there’s that song about taking off the uniform. Of course, wearing it makes you look young.”
No way.
“You might as well stop wearing it now, Seol. Kids your age usually hate uniforms, don’t they? There are so many pretty clothes out there, and your uniform doesn’t even fit after losing weight.”
But to Seol, the uniform was special.
As a kid, she dreamed of wearing it to school. Now, she wore it to defy her mom proudly.
Plus, the uniform reminded her of Tae joo, who made it possible for her to attend school. Wearing it felt like carrying his encouragement with her.
That’s why she wore it even when she didn’t have school.
Could it be… the uniform?
Was the uniform the reason she got rejected?
It was a possibility she hadn’t considered.
And she even confirmed it herself.
[“Notice anything different?”
“You’re wearing a uniform.”
“Right! Does it suit me?”]
After four years, she’d met him in a school uniform. How childish must she have looked?
“Seol, don’t you want to dress up sometimes?” Eun-jin, noticing her reaction, excitedly pulled up Instagram.
She showed Seol pictures of trendy celebrities around her age.
“Look, Seol, wouldn’t this feminine style suit you? Or maybe this cool, edgy vibe?”
“unni, I need something that makes me look mature,” Seol said firmly.
“Then this could work too. You’ve got a baby face, but you’ve got curves to pull it off.”
The two bent their heads together, seriously discussing outfits when the door suddenly burst open.
“Seol, how have you been?”
A loud voice made Seol’s neck hair stand on end.
“Oh, Director, you’re here?”
“Yep! Hi, Eun-jin. Where’s Sun-young?”
The man wore a flashy leopard-print shirt under a navy blazer, his tacky outfit screaming for attention.
“She went to meet the assistant director for a moment,” Eun-jin replied, looking pained by his appearance and focusing on Seol instead.
“Seol, you’ve been doing well, right?”
The man draped an arm over her shoulder, leaning close.
He was Ju Chanyang, who used to be her road manager when she debuted. Now, he was a director at the agency.
“Yes, thanks to you.”
Seol coldly pushed his arm off her shoulder, grimacing at his overpowering cologne.
“What were you two talking about so enthusiastically?”
“Just some fashion concept ideas for photoshoots,” Eun-jin said quickly, putting her phone away and calling Sun-young.
“Seol, you just keep getting prettier! You’re looking like an adult now. Not like a child actor anymore, huh?”
“…”
Ju Chanyang’s gaze blatantly swept over her from head to toe, followed by a whistle.
“But, Seol, aren’t you curious about how your mom and brother are doing? You should reach out more.”
“…Why?”
“Do you even know what your brother’s up to these days?”
Her brother, Yoon Kang, was practically a stranger. He’d squandered his opportunities, failed at running a small café, and now owned a hunting-themed pub.
“I heard he’s in trouble again, money-wise.”
Seol bit the inside of her cheek.
“Come on, you two. Stop stressing your mom out. Don’t you feel bad for her? She worked so hard as a single mom to raise you.”
Once, Seol had felt sorry for her mother.
“Then why don’t you take care of it, Director?”
“Of course, I’m always looking out for her,” Ju Chanyang replied slyly, his tone making Seol’s lips twitch in restrained anger.
