As both of them stood up, Joon-won looked at Jung-hwa and asked, "So, at which part should we start? I assume you only need to practice certain interactions, not all of them."
Jung-hwa blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected such a direct question, but he was right. She had mastered most of the general interactions between the characters; her challenge lay in the more emotional scenes. Seeing his confident demeanor and calm expression, she responded, "I mostly need help with the emotional sections. It's fine if you just read the lines normally; you don't have to put in too much effort."
She hurriedly added the last part, worried she might be imposing on him. Her tone came out harsher than intended, but Joon-won didn't seem to mind. He flipped through the script, stopping at a page filled with dialogues between the heroine and Jung-hwa's character.
"Alright, let's start with this scene," he said. "This is where your character discovers the heroine is dating the hero and tries to advise her against it. It's a pivotal moment, full of concern for your friend. Let's start here."
Jung-hwa, taken aback by his self-assured approach, turned to the indicated page and nodded, her surprise turning into admiration for his confidence.
"Why did you call me to the back of the school, Jung-hwa? Don't tell me you're proposing," Joon-won said, smoothly slipping into the role of the heroine, his voice teasing and playful.
The sudden shift in his tone and demeanor caught Jung-hwa off guard. She stared at him, wide-eyed, struggling to react until he gently shook her shoulder.
"What was that, Joon-won?" she stuttered, still reeling. "You suddenly turned into a playboy with that teasing voice. I couldn't even respond."
Joon-won smiled. "I was acting out the role. If I don't play the part convincingly, how will you improve? We're wasting time talking. Let's try again. I'll read the lines the same way, so be ready this time." He took a deep breath and started again, "Why did you call me to the back of the school, Jung-hwa? Don't tell me you're proposing," his voice teasing as before.
Prepared this time, Jung-hwa delivered her lines with a serious tone, "Don't joke around. You probably know I've figured it out, but let me be straightforward. I know you're dating Hyeong Myung. It's a terrible idea right now. Do that when you get to university, when you have more freedom. Now isn't the time. Focus on your studies and get into that university you always talk about."
As she spoke, Joon-won's expression transitioned from playful to serious. He responded, "So you know. I didn't want anyone to find out, not even my best friend. Stay out of it, Jung-hwa. I'm not a child. I can handle my studies and still date him. Don't concern yourself with this."
The sudden change in his voice and demeanor once again stunned Jung-hwa. She saw a different side of him—a depth and professionalism she hadn't expected. Her face flushed slightly, but she quickly recovered, her concern genuine as she continued, "Don't be stubborn. I'm telling you this for your own good. If he really cares about you, he'll wait until after high school. If anyone finds out about your relationship, it could get messy. You know how our school views these things." She took a step forward, her expression filled with earnest concern.
Joon-won, noting her impressive acting, responded with a calm, reassuring tone, "Oh, Jung-hwa. You're always worrying about everything. Don't be so pessimistic. Trust me. I can manage my studies and get into that university even while dating him. And as for the school, nobody knows about this except you. Everything will be fine if you don't talk about it or do things like this."
"But—"
"No buts," he cut her off firmly. "If you're truly my friend, support me instead of opposing me. Let's get back to class; lunch break is almost over." He turned away, signaling the end of the scene.
Jung-hwa stood there, momentarily lost in her thoughts, astonished by Joon-won's unexpected proficiency. He had delivered his lines with a depth and authenticity that made the scene compelling. Snapping out of her role, she looked at him, her eyes wide with disbelief.