Chapter 12

Chapter 012

Gil Bo-young had been working as a child actress since the age of seven.

At the young age of twelve, she had already won the Rookie Actress Award for her acting skills, which were said to be no less impressive than those of adult actors.

After becoming famous first as the nation's daughter and then as the nation's little sister, she had announced a temporary retirement from acting when she was in her second year of high school, saying that it was time for her to focus on her studies.

And now, after recently graduating from university, Gil Bo-young was once again preparing to challenge herself as an actress.

‘N-no way.

It’s Gil Bo-young···.’

To me, Gil Bo-young was practically my first love.

Well, didn't everyone have at least one celebrity they admired when they were young?

For me, that person had been Gil Bo-young.

So when Gil Bo-young announced that she would temporarily stop her entertainment activities, I had secretly wiped away tears.

But··· the first love I had once admired so much had appeared right before my eyes.

I tensed my entire body, afraid that the sound of my pounding heart might somehow escape.

“Ah, so you came along with your friend.

Ahem.”

Just then.

“Bo-young.”

A tall man with handsome features approached while calling out to Gil Bo-young.

It was Moon Hyun-bin.

“Oppa.

Why are you so late?”

“Sorry.

I got a little nervous.”

Even though I recognized Moon Hyun-bin immediately, I pretended not to know him.

“You’re here for the audition, right?”

“Yes.

I’m Moon Hyun-bin.”

Moon Hyun-bin politely greeted me even though I was younger than him.

Then he looked back and forth between Gil Bo-young and me before carefully speaking.

“Ah, she’s my friend.

I asked her to come with me···.

I hope it’s not a problem?”

“No··· it’s fine.”

“Thank you.

Actually, she was also planning to audition here, but she missed the deadline for submitting her profile···.”

“Ah, I see.

That’s unfortunate.”

‘Oh my God!

“That's unfortunate”?

What kind of stupid thing did I just say···?’

I felt like I would make another mistake if I continued talking, so I quickly explained the audition procedure.

“First, please wait here for a while.

When we call your name, go through that glass door.

Once you enter the audition room, just perform the lines we sent you by email.”

Moon Hyun-bin nodded to show that he understood.

I then quickly left the area.

Cha Seung-jun looked at me as I returned to my seat with a dazed expression.

“What happened?

Why do you look so out of it?”

“Hyung, you know Gil Bo-young, right?”

“Gil Bo-young?

The former child actress, Gil Bo-young?”

“Yes.

That Gil Bo-young.”

“Why are you suddenly talking about Gil Bo-young?”

“She’s over there.”

“What?

Gil Bo-young?

Why would Gil Bo-young come here···?”

I explained that Gil Bo-young had come along with Moon Hyun-bin.

I also told him that she had wanted to audition here but couldn't submit her profile because she had missed the deadline.

“Really?

Wow~.

Our Gibaek finally hit the jackpot.

You used to like Gil Bo-young.”

“W-who said I liked her?!”

Seeing my face turning red, Cha Seung-jun teased me.

“Oh, really?

Then why is your face turning red?”

I awkwardly glanced toward where Gil Bo-young was sitting.

‘Come to think of it, it really is a shame···.’

Beyond simply being a fan, if Gil Bo-young joined our movie, the title of it being Gil Bo-young's comeback project as a former child actress could raise the awareness of our movie as well.

“Hey, don't you think it’s a waste?”

As if he had read my thoughts, Cha Seung-jun spoke.

“I mean Gil Bo-young.

If Gil Bo-young appears in our movie, we could promote it as the comeback project of former child actress Gil Bo-young.

Wouldn't our movie benefit from that too?”

“You think so too, hyung?”

“Of course.

I'm not the only one thinking that way, right?

Then should we ask the PD if we can let her audition even now?”

I thought for a moment before speaking.

“Wait.

Rather than the PD, there’s someone who can push this matter more aggressively.”

“Who?”

The person most disappointed by Yoo Hae-in's failure to join the movie was none other than the assistant director.

Of course, even if she wasn't Yoo Hae-in, someone like Gil Bo-young was enough to make the assistant director greedy again.

I stopped the assistant director when he briefly came out of the audition room to use the bathroom.

Then I told him about Gil Bo-young.

“Is that really true?

Gil Bo-young is here?!”

As expected, the assistant director looked as if a gift had suddenly fallen into his lap.

He immediately went to tell Director Song and PD Jung about it.

A little later, the assistant director came back outside.

“Where is Gil Bo-young?”

“Over there.”

I pointed toward Gil Bo-young, who was sitting in the corner with Moon Hyun-bin.

The assistant director immediately walked toward Gil Bo-young.

We quietly followed behind him.

“Excuse me.

You’re actress Gil Bo-young, right?”

“Yes?

Ah, yes···.”

“Hello.

I’m Park Young-soo, the assistant director of this movie.”

“Ah, yes···.”

Gil Bo-young looked bewildered by the assistant director's sudden introduction.

The assistant director told her that he had heard she had missed the profile submission deadline and therefore couldn't participate in the audition.

He then offered her a chance to audition even now, if she was willing.

Gil Bo-young looked surprised by the sudden offer.

She seemed to think about it for a moment.

Then she accepted the assistant director's proposal.

“Yes.

I’ll give it a try.

Thank you.”

Beside her, Moon Hyun-bin encouraged Gil Bo-young, telling her that it was a good opportunity.

A little later, Moon Hyun-bin entered the audition room.

He seemed accustomed to auditions like this.

Rather than being nervous, he even wore a relaxed smile.

“I’m Moon Hyun-bin.

Please take good care of me.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.

According to your profile, you recently appeared in Director Hwang Seon-hyeok's movie ‘Eye of the Typhoon.’

What role did you play in that movie?”

Moon Hyun-bin answered PD Jung's question.

“Ah, I played the protagonist's friend.

He was the son of a wealthy family, but he was a reckless and spoiled heir.”

“That kind of role does seem to suit your image better.”

Despite Director Song's question, which seemed to put subtle pressure on him, Moon Hyun-bin answered calmly.

“I also had fun filming it.

But I've always liked the noir genre.

Making a noir movie someday has always been one of my dreams, so I’ve been preparing for it.”

“Really?

Now I’m looking forward to this.

Shall we begin?

Tell us when you’re ready.”

The cinematographer stared at Moon Hyun-bin with curiosity.

Moon Hyun-bin took a short breath and nodded.

“Yes.

I’ll begin.”

In an instant, the atmosphere changed.

Moon Hyun-bin took a stance as if he were holding a pistol in his hand and aimed it at someone in the empty air.

“Ha··· that's right.

I was mistaken for a moment···.

For a moment, I almost thought I was doing the right thing.

But now, I think I can pull the trigger.

Because this is nothing more than revenge!”

‘Bang!’

Moon Hyun-bin moved as if firing a gun.

His face was filled with emptiness and regret.

Then he murmured toward the empty air.

“It’s all over now.

I know.

I know I have to pay for my sins too···.

I’ll turn myself in tomorrow.

Then I’ll finally be at peace.”

After finishing his performance, Moon Hyun-bin politely bowed.

The intense expression from moments ago had completely disappeared.

Satisfied smiles spread across the faces of Director Song, PD Jung, and the cinematographer.

Since Gil Bo-young's audition had not originally been scheduled, hers was held after all the other actors had finished their auditions.

Moon Hyun-bin, who had stayed until the very end with Gil Bo-young, clenched his fist and cheered her on as she headed into the audition room.

“Don’t be nervous.

You’ll do great.

Fighting!”

As a fan of Gil Bo-young, I couldn't resist my curiosity.

I moved right up to the glass door and watched the inside of the office.

Tension could be seen on Gil Bo-young's face as she entered the room.

“Ms.

Gil Bo-young.

This was a sudden audition, so you probably didn't have time to prepare.

Don't be too nervous.

Just relax and show us some free acting.”

Director Song smiled as he spoke, seemingly trying to ease her tension.

“Ah, yes.

Thank you.”

“Then tell us when you’re ready.”

At the cinematographer's words, Gil Bo-young took a deep breath as if preparing herself.

Then she nodded.

“I’ll begin.”

Scriptwriter Jung pressed the recording button on the camera positioned in front of the actress.

At that moment, Gil Bo-young's eyes changed completely.

It was hard to believe that this was the same person who had been frozen with nervousness just moments ago.

All traces of tension disappeared.

It was as if she had become a completely different person.

With sharp eyes, she stared directly into Director Song's eyes.

“Yes.

That’s right.

I killed him.”

A confession as cold as ice flowed from Gil Bo-young's lips.

Director Song's eyes trembled as he felt a chill run down his spine.

“Why?”

Her sharp gaze changed in an instant.

It became gentle, almost like the innocent eyes of a seventeen-year-old girl who had fallen in love.

“Because I loved him···.”

Gil Bo-young's sweet and enchanting voice suddenly became rough and metallic.

“If I have committed a sin, then the only sin I committed was loving him!”

Gil Bo-yeon's slender fingers slowly brushed down her own neck.

Even the smallest movement of her body carried a sensual charm.

From behind the glass door, I couldn't take my eyes off every single movement of Gil Bo-young's hands.

I held my breath.

“**I had to have him.

Even if I had to kill him···.**”

Her red lips twisted.

Her expression filled with madness was terrifying enough to send chills down one's spine.

Silence fell for a moment.

“That’s all.”

After finishing her performance, Gil Bo-young smiled calmly.

Everyone sitting in the room applauded almost simultaneously.

‘As expected.

She really is the legendary Gil Bo-young.’

And so, Gil Bo-young's spectacular comeback had begun.