Joon-won didn't go straight backstage. Instead, he stopped at the washroom on the way and changed into his costume. Keeping his normal clothes back inside the bag, he continued toward backstage. He finally reached the backstage and noticed the scrambling students and a very demanding Roh Ji.
He saw Jung-hwa in her school uniform, sitting in the corner, going through her lines in a panic, and sighed. This was very common for people who go onto the stage for the first time. They panic and go through their lines, thinking they might have forgotten any of them.
He walked straight toward her and sat beside her. She was panicking so much that she didn't even notice him sitting. He tapped her arm, but she completely shrugged it off. Taking a deep breath, he shook her, and Jung-hwa snapped her head up with an irritated expression. But it changed immediately when she saw his face.
"Joon-won, you are finally here. What should I do? There are so many people out there, and I also heard there was a sudden judge who will criticize our drama and that he is a producer," she hurried her words and sounded more panicked.
He looked at her and said, "Don't think too much. Do you really think it makes a difference if there is a producer or director in the judging panel? It's not like he is going to hire any of us for a movie. He's probably some relative of the Star Batch kids. So just don't think about it and expect too much from him. Just do what you did the past week; don't waste the time I spent teaching you how to act."
Hearing his words, she nodded and closed her eyes. What he said was true. There was almost no way that a producer would pop up suddenly to see the first-year exam where most students were still new to acting. She nodded and went over her script once again before closing it and taking a deep breath.
"Yeah, you are right. I guess I was just overthinking everything. I'll just do my best and get a good score," she said while opening her eyes. Joon-won noticed a few changes in her from the first day they met. She was not hung up on getting into the Star Batch as much now compared to before.
The time was finally here as Roh Ji called up all the actors for the first scene, in which Jung-hwa was involved. She asked them to go ahead. The drama started, and Joon-won watched Jung-hwa on stage. He could see she was nervous but slowly getting the hang of it. Her acting became more comfortable as she continued to stay on stage, becoming more normal.
She came back after another scene, and he could see the sweat on her forehead. He handed her a handkerchief he had on him and said, "That was not bad for your first time on stage. Even though you were shaking in the beginning, you got used to it. So, not bad."
She nodded and said, "Yeah, it was too overwhelming with so many parents out there. The judges were also at the front with a large desk in front of them, like those talent shows you see on TV. It was so scary." Taking a few deep breaths, she slowed down the adrenaline.
Joon-won nodded. The drama continued as Jung-hwa kept going on and off stage with several scenes. The more she went, the more she seemed normal and in tune. Watching her act, Joon-won felt like a proud teacher watching his pupil spread her wings on a big stage.
Soon, it was his turn. He walked to the edge of the stage, preparing to enter. One of his classmates was fixing his mic on his collar. Meanwhile, he took a deep breath and got a glance at the audience. Even though it was not full, there were still many people, most of them parents. He also quickly caught sight of the devil, Hea-Jung, sitting in the first row, looking at him with anticipation. He also noticed a strict-looking man at the judging table in the middle.
It was finally his turn. He walked on stage, taking a deep breath. Going behind a prop wall, he looked at the two lead actors and brought out the best acting skills he had nurtured through decades, changing his face to anger and jealousy.
"Wait, what are they doing together? Happily talking, holding hands, it's like they are on a date. Why him? He is nothing. Why is she going out with him? Just because he is famous?" he growled in anger. Changing the dialogue a bit came out naturally; he didn't intend to change it.
"Should I go and strip those two apart? Should I beat that guy up? No, not here and not like this. This is a betrayal. She showed hope and snatched it away. Ah! I can do that instead," he continued as his face morphed into a crazy smile, his eyes depicting his mental state.
The scene ended with the narrator continuing with his character's past, and he slowly walked backstage. As he did, he noticed Hea-Jung's surprised and excited expression, giving him a thumbs-up.
He also noticed the special judge raising an eyebrow at him, then turning back to Hea-Jung and giving her a nod, making her more excited. He just shook his head and sat beside Jung-hwa, who kept looking at him like she had seen a ghost.
"You are a madman. This should be your first time on stage too, and your acting was completely natural. How did you do that? And you weren't even acting your best in our private teaching sessions and the combined practice. How much are you hiding?" She snapped out and fired questions at him.
Joon-won chuckled softly. "Relax, Jung-hwa. I've been doing this for a long time, longer than you can imagine. I told you before, it's all about practice and dedication. You did great out there too, by the way."