Chapter 60: Tangled Hearts

<Girl and Boy> is a youth romance drama currently airing on public broadcast. I heard it’s especially popular with middle-aged women. 

In it, I, as Ewhawon from Save Me, scoff when I see a face identical to Min Dohyuk’s. Cheating on me with another woman? 

“They said it’d be great.” 

“If it’s Director Han Jun-hyuk, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” 

“Oh, he said he checked with the director and writer of Save Me.” 

Then, well… 

“Of course I’ll do it.” 

<Girl and Boy> had the quintessential internet novel (inso) setup that dominated the 2020s. A story about a female lead, an inso writer waiting for her prince charming, naturally falling into a romance as she develops feelings for someone. 

Its popularity was skyrocketing. The ratings went from 0.9% in episode 1 to 4% by episode 5. 

The drama’s content aside… 

‘It doesn’t match.’ 

Knowing Go Eun-hyuk’s true self is the problem. I can’t imagine him as the aloof, prickly sub-male lead with a scarred past in <Girl and Boy>. 

But the sub-male lead in <Girl and Boy>… 

‘Shim Seonam?’ 

That name sounds familiar. Where have I heard it? Digging through memories always gives me a headache. 

Shim Seonam, Shim Seonam. Muttering the name, it hit me. 

‘That guy.’

The one always cheating with the female lead in dramas. In this one too? 

First, I need to watch Go Eun-hyuk’s drama. While filming <Youngyoung>, I couldn’t watch his. I generally avoid other dramas during shoots to prevent confusion. 

‘Could mix up the works.’

Time to see our Eun-hyuk’s acting after a while. 

*** 

Go Eun-hyuk bit his nails, trembling. A message from the scariest person in the world, Im Bada, had arrived. 

[(Wave emoji): Go Eun-hyuk.] 

[(Wave emoji): Why’s your acting back?] 

[(Wave emoji): What’s with your acting?] 

…He thought I wouldn’t watch dramas while filming <Youngyoung>. 

‘How’d she know?’

While shooting <Girl and Boy>, his acting was inconsistent. Sometimes good, sometimes not. 

[(Wave emoji): Talk later.] 

Later? When? Now? Probably not. 

“You’re lucky, Eun-hyuk.” 

“Huh?” 

Director Han Jun-hyuk slapped his back. Ouch, that hurt. Sensitive despite his size, he grimaced. 

“…Why lucky?” 

“Bada’s coming. She’s your friend, right? Didn’t hear?” 

“Oh, oh. Huh?” 

Bada’s coming? Im Bada? 

“Why, why?” 

“For a cameo.” 

So that’s why she messaged about watching the drama. 

“What? You don’t like it? You don’t look thrilled.” 

Go Eun-hyuk forced a smile and shook his head, denying it. His noona was scary, but no one was scarier than Bada. Meeting her now, who knows what he’d hear. 

“Why wouldn’t I like it, Director?” 

A voice from behind startled him. Like entering a haunted house at an amusement park, his spine chilled. 

“Hey! Bada-ya!” 

“Director! How’ve you been?”  

“I’m good! Been watching <Youngyoung>.” 

“Oh! Director, thank you.” 

Her cheerful voice suggested she wasn’t angry. If she were, her leg would’ve already flown at his shin. 

‘Phew… maybe?’ 

As he relaxed, Im Bada pressed her nose bridge, seeming to suppress emotions. 

‘Or not?’

“Go Eun-hyuk? Good to see you?” 

“…Uh, yeah, Bada-ya.” 

“You’ve been doing well.” 

“Yeah? Yeah, I have.” 

She’s not mad? As he cautiously gauged her, she spoke. 

“I’m not mad.” 

“Huh? Really?” 

“No reason to be. I was just curious.” 

“Curious? About what?” 

“Why can’t you look into the female lead’s eyes?” 

…This, this is. There’s a reason, but he couldn’t say it. It’d sound like gossip. 

“Eun-hyuk!” 

Her shout pulled him from his thoughts. 

“Yeah, yeah! Bada-ya.” 

“You zoned out again.” 

“Sorry, I can’t focus lately…” 

Go Eun-hyuk looked dejected. 

“Come here, sit.” 

“Uh, okay.” 

As soon as he sat on the bench, she bombarded him with questions. 

“Are you being ostracized on set?” 

“No…” 

“Is someone scolding you?” 

“No…” 

“Then? What’s up?” 

“I can’t say.” 

If he spilled! He shut his eyes tightly, avoiding her gaze. 

“This is new for me too.” 

“Huh? This?” 

He peeked at her expression. Her eyes narrowed like a detective onto something. 

“So that’s why.” 

“Huh? What, what?” 

“The main male lead is separate, but the sub-male lead and female lead are dating. So you can’t muster romantic feelings. I get it.” 

“How’d you know! Did you read my mind?” 

“Read? I saw it on my way here.” 

“On your way?” 

Im Bada saw them near the staff’s bus, embracing and… 

“Bada-ya! Don’t look!” 

“Kiss or peck, I don’t know.” 

“No! It’s a peck!” 

But Go Eun-hyuk couldn’t look where she pointed. Even if it was a secluded spot with no staff… 

“Are they dating?” 

“Uh-huh.” 

They started dating during the drama shoot. 

“That’s why your acting was like that, I get it.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I watched <Girl and Boy> before coming. You couldn’t focus on acting.” 

As she said, he couldn’t focus on the romantic arc. In <Save Me>, he could channel love well, but feeling love for someone else’s girlfriend, and a kiss? 

Even if it’s acting… 

“How can I do something so shameless?” 

“…You’re an actor.” 

“I know, but.” 

How could he? 

“It feels like cheating.” 

“…As long as you don’t actually like her.” 

“Still!” 

He bowed his head, looking sad. 

“My heart’s uneasy.” 

“…Fair enough. Hearing kissing sounds from here would be rough.” 

“Bada-ya!” 

Don’t say that! Someone might hear. He shouldn’t drag her into this. 

*** 

I rubbed my chin with a sidelong glance. I knew who was kissing in the corner. 

Shim Seonam, the male supporting actor, and Dokgo Young, the female lead—actors notorious for scandals. 

“You’re shameless, Bada.” 

“Acting is acting.” 

“How can you do that?” 

Well, acting is just acting. Without real feelings, it’s not cheating. Plenty of actors film romance movies or mature scenes even when married. 

But that’s when your partner isn’t on set. 

‘That’s tough.’ 

It’d be hard filming with your lover nearby, kissing and building romantic chemistry. 

“How’d you endure, Eun-hyuk?” 

Carrying that arc through eight episodes must be tough. 

“There was a short peck scene. Shim Seonam came to me asking if I’d kiss on the lips.” 

“…Asking?” 

What a mess. 

“Dokgo Young even asked the writer to cut the kiss scene.” 

“…” 

“She’d rather do it with her boyfriend, the sub-male lead…” 

“…Asked for a scene with him?” 

“…” 

That must’ve hurt. He looks like a predator but acts like a herbivore. What can you say? Live and learn. 

“The fans too…” 

“Fans?” 

“They’re complaining my screen time’s gone.” 

Go Eun-hyuk showed me his SNS comments. Most were about his reduced screen time. Endless scrolling, pages of complaints. 

“So I told the writer to secure my main role’s screen time.” 

“Wow, you did?” 

That’s progress. 

“But they said no, it’s already revised…” 

He did his part. While I was filming <Youngyoung>, this was happening. I patted his broad, mountain-like back. 

“Ba, Bada-ya.” 

“…Poor thing.” 

The <Girl and Boy> writer must be struggling, rewriting scripts because of that couple. 

I thought that was it, but… 

“There’s more.” 

“More?” 

The backstory was wild. 

“…There was a scene where we just held hands and walked like high school lovers. Just holding hands. But Shim Seonam came to me, complaining about how I held her hand.” 

“What a jerk.” 

“Yeah, a jerk. You know how much of a jerk?” 

The pressure of being the male lead in <Girl and Boy> must be heavy, and they’re confusing him with nonsense. 

‘Their acting’s trash.’ 

They’re not rookies—seasoned actors who can’t separate work and personal life. Amateurish. 

“But!” 

Go Eun-hyuk’s voice rose for the first time. 

“The staff know they’re dating. Even the director knows. They think I don’t?” 

“…” 

“Later, they said I can’t act…” 

Gaslighting too? Kissing in a corner and thinking he wouldn’t notice? Nothing adds up. 

“That pisses me off.” 

“…Ba, Bada-ya?” 

“Acting’s a game? This drama involves so many people’s efforts.” 

They toy with someone over their relationship and change the drama’s story. 

“Our kid isn’t that bad at acting!” 

“…Uh, Bada-ya? Your voice…” 

“He wasn’t great before, but not that bad!” 

“Uh, thanks? Sounds like an insult.” 

“I can’t forgive this.” 

I hate people who mess with acting. No, I just don’t like it. But what can I do? 

‘Is there a way?’ 

Shim Seonam and Dokgo Young. 

‘…What to do.’ 

I wanted to support Go Eun-hyuk. Like Rodin’s Thinker, I curled up, deep in thought. 

“I’m your ex-girlfriend, right?” 

“Yeah, exactly!” 

Ex-girlfriend. Shim Seonam. This combination… 

“Oh.” 

“Bada-ya?” 

No articles about “dating” or “scandals,” but rumors spread fast. Shim Seonam’s dating someone, broke up with someone else. 

“Bada-ya, you’re not sick, are you?” 

Why? As I glared, Go Eun-hyuk pointed at my dark circles. 

“Dark circles under your eyes.” 

“Oh, I was sick yesterday.” 

“Why yesterday?” 

“Drank coffee and took medicine on an empty stomach. Plus, caught a cold?” 

“Still sick?” 

“I’m better now.” 

While chatting idly, I took the script from Director Han Jun-hyuk. 

I knew from watching the drama. Go Eun-hyuk’s role was Eom Goyo. Basketball, soccer, born to a rich family, having everything he wanted. But he felt nothing for love. 

‘…The story’s ordinary.’ 

Nothing unique. It seemed the drama thrived on Han Jun-hyuk’s direction and atmosphere. 

“Bada-ya!” 

At Director Han’s call, I jumped up from the bench. 

“Yes, Director!” 

Go Eun-hyuk tugged my sleeve. 

“Uh, Bada-ya, you’re not gonna do anything bad, right?” 

“Come on.” 

I smiled warmly and patted his hand. 

“You think I’m a bad person?” 

“No, no.” 

“Then we’re good.” 

I ran to Director Han, waving the script. 

“Bada-ya, today’s cameo is all ad-lib. You okay with that? You know the situation?” 

“Yes. I can do it. I roughly know the context.” 

But just ad-libbing is boring. What if Min Dohyuk appears at the end? 

“Can I suggest something?” 

“What?” 

“How about Min Dohyuk calling me at the end?” 

“Oh, that’s good.” 

“Go Eun-hyuk will like it too.” 

The director signaled the assistant director, who gathered the actors. 

“Let’s start filming! Everyone, gather up!” 

The actors assembled on the school field, and I sat on the second step of the stands. 

I checked my appearance. Red lipstick, black sunglasses, black suit. Dressed as the sharp, venomous Ewhawon. 

I crossed my long legs casually, waiting for filming to start. 

“One! Two!” 

Go Eun-hyuk and Dokgo Young approached from a distance. 

“Action!” 

I stood, brushing dirt off my hips, and descended the steps. Looking at Dokgo Young, I said, 

“So this is the type my boyfriend liked?”