Season 3_Jang Ma-eum, an orphan with a family of 13

#49_I wanted to be someone who could give her a break.

"Cut, okay! Good work, Ma-eum Yang."

Those words from the director seemed to bring an end to a long journey, and I let out a sigh of relief.


I felt a little better knowing that I didn't have to bother hundreds of people just because of me.

“No… I’m truly sorry because of you.”

Director Kim Hee-yeol approached me with a smile still on his face.

“I’ve never learned acting before.”

“Yes… That’s probably why I made a lot of NGs today…”

“No, I don’t mean to scold you.

Audition, I want to tell you why I chose you, Ma-eum Yang.”

It was something I was curious about. There were many other great actors besides me, and there were many who, even without a singing background, could lower the viewership ratings.


Why did it have to be me? What good was there in causing harm?

“I wanted to ask you something…”

“Of course, my acting skills weren’t that great.”

It was expected. No matter how much I practiced, three days was not enough for a first-timer, and even I was just interested in participating.

“But… there was passion, and there was potential.

And, I could see the effort.

I have never learned acting before.

Actually, I had almost no expectations from PD Bang's words.

“You did a lot better than I expected.”

I think I have some idea what you are trying to say.


Anyway, this role was created for a rookie. They probably wanted to give it to someone with passion, a beginner's mindset, and hard work, rather than acting skills.

“It’s my first time and it’s only been three days.

It felt like I practiced for a month,

Besides, the eyes were so eager to do it.

“Those eyes, it’s not easy to forget them.”

Moreover, since he was not that bad at acting, the director must have thought he was a good person.

“Thank you. I really… I really appreciate it.”

Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt guilty for being chosen despite my lack of acting skills, but when I heard that wasn't the standard, my self-reproach vanished. I was so grateful for that.

“Oh, I think you feel sorry towards the production team too.

Don't worry about that either. We all had a hunch."

"yes…"

I managed to answer while crying, and the director watched me with a chuckle. No, it felt like he was sending me some kind of signal.

“Happy birthday~ Happy birthday~

Dear Jang Ma-eum, Happy Birthday~”

When I turned my head to the familiar singing voice, I saw that not only the actors but also the production crew were singing with one heart.


It was a birthday song as touching as Seventeen's. Even lead actor Park Seo-joon was holding a cake.

“That, that is…”

“Happy birthday, Ma-eum Yang.”

Tears welled up again at the kind words of senior Song Ha-yoon.


I thought it would be enough if only Seventeen were the ones wishing me a happy birthday, but with so many people wishing me a happy birthday, I didn't know what to do.


No one celebrated my birth. They probably didn't mean anything by it, but it was a very moving moment for me.

"My heart is filled with tears. Come here."

“Sister…”

When Jiwon opened her arms, she hugged her without hesitation, and her sister slowly comforted her.

“Next time we meet, let’s not cry.”

I smiled to the corners of my eyes at senior Song Ha-yoon's words, which seemed like something you would only see in a comic book.

Tears were still flowing, and I might have looked like a pitiful and pathetic female protagonist. But I cherished every single scene.

“What, are you calling Jiwon ‘unnie’?”

Senior Song Ha-yoon asked, glancing at me with a nonchalant glare. I smiled bashfully and answered.

“Jiwon said so, Hayoon.”

Senior Song Ha-yoon was born in 1886, so there was a 13-year age difference between us, but it didn't really matter. Age is just a number, so calling her "sister" wasn't strange.

“It’s not strange to be called ‘sister’,

“I guess you’re a bit weird, oppa?”

Senior Park Seo-joon scratched the back of his head and asked, and I was slightly surprised. There are people as obsessed with titles as Seventeen.

“He’s my older brother in the drama anyway, so can I call him ‘oppa’?”

"then!"

For some reason, he seemed to be in a very good mood, so I didn't say anything more and just watched him intently.

“Heh, Hayoon and I are the same age…”

I was startled by Senior Ahn Jae-hong's words and turned around to see his face flushed red, almost bursting with surprise. He smiled and said,

“Oh, I’ll call you Jaehong oppa!”

Only then did the situation come to a head, and since it was very late, Seojun tried to send her out in a hurry.

“Minors are supposed to get off work at 10 o’clock, sorry…”

“It’s because I can’t do it. It’s okay.

Oh, then can I go first?”

I was met with a barrage of compliments, and I left the set with a word of thanks.


And I called Seok-woo to tell him to come back home.

“Yeah, my heart.”

“Did you sleep, oppa? Your voice is hoarse.”

"I dozed off for a bit. I'll be right back. Just wait a moment."

I felt like I was going to be a nuisance until the end, so I had no choice but to open my mouth.

"I'll go alone. You sleep more, oppa."

“I got scolded by the CEO.”

I thought I knew what he meant. I knew that because I was a woman, short, and young, the PD really doted on me and adored me.

“I’ll say I asked you to do it.

“It’s my first time having my manager wait for me, so I’m having trouble adjusting.”

“Ha… So it’s just today?

“It’s my job to wait for you. You understand?”

I agreed to his earnest request. Honestly, I might have felt more resentful if he'd left me alone, but he wasn't a complete kid, and he was turning 19 soon. There was no need to protect him too much.

“See you tomorrow, my heart.”

"Yeah, take a break."

After I hung up the phone, I saw that it was already raining. And it was pouring down hard.


You could take a taxi, but you would have to go out to the main road or taxi stand where the taxi comes.

I wondered if anyone would lend me an umbrella on the way there. But I'd already left the set, and the nearest convenience store wasn't that far away.

“…I guess I’ll just have to run.”

I pulled my hoodie down low and tied it tightly with a ribbon to keep it from slipping off. Life is hard, and I've been soaked in rain a lot, but I didn't care. I ran as fast as I could, and then suddenly the rain stopped.

"…what?"

I felt the warmth of someone behind me and turned my head to see Jisoo smiling as if he was looking at something most adorable.

“Brother!”

I couldn't figure out why. Was it because she was tired, or was it because she was so strong that she needed someone?


I was a little flustered because of the sudden hug, but I soon hugged her warmly with my left arm that wasn't holding the umbrella.

“Heart…”

My feelings for my heart were vague and sad.

“I heard from Mr. Kim Seok-woo. Why did he tell you not to come…

I came because I was worried. Are you okay?”

"I did it because I'm sorry. I'm completely fine."

The thought of always saying "it's okay" on your lips. It's not that I don't understand, but it's okay for me to whine and say things are hard for me and ask for a hug. I really wish you would do that.


I wanted to be someone who could give her, someone she had never had anyone to lean on, a place to rest. Not as a person to person, but as a man to woman.


I stared at the small heart silently. Her eyes, sparkling in the moonlight of the night sky, were staring intently at me.


He never averted his eyes, as if it wasn't a burden.

“…Would you like to hold the umbrella for a moment?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah.”

I held out my umbrella to her. Then, Ma-eum, reaching down to my heels, eagerly tried to place the umbrella on me. I chuckled and quickly bent down to accommodate her.

“Oh, sense”

Still unable to control the corners of his lips, he took off his cardigan and wrapped it around her. Only after carefully wrapping it around her did he finally feel satisfied and ask her a question.

“You got rained on. Weren’t you cold?”

“I felt a little cold…”

“You are very sensitive to cold.

“I have a cold so I have to keep my body warm.”

The cardigan was a bit thick for winter, but it was still not enough for her, as she was shivering a little.

“If you’re cold, you can put your arms inside the cardigan.”

“Wouldn’t it be huge?”

She said that with a snicker, but she ended up putting her arms inside my cardigan. It was definitely noticeably bigger.


It seemed like that because there was a big difference in height and also a big difference in physique.

She passed my hand, her remaining sleeve fluttering slightly as if she were curious. She was buried deep in her oversized clothes, like a child wearing her father's clothes.

“Oppa, your clothes are really big…”

“Thanks to you, our hearts seem smaller, little one.”

“I’m not a kid…”

“You’re smaller than me, aren’t you?”

After answering like that, I realized that I still had feelings for the umbrella.

“No… You can’t compare that to my brother.

“The average height of men and women is different.”

I loved hearing her whining. It felt like the only moment when she, who had always acted like an adult, became herself.


After chuckling, he gently took the umbrella back in her hand.

At that moment, Ma-eum's hand and mine brushed against each other. Then, Ma-eum's face, which had been a happy child, suddenly lit up.

“What’s wrong, Ma-eum? Your face is really red.”

I waited for her answer with anticipation, wondering if it was the product of something I had hoped for.

I realized it was just a false hope. Dating isn't just a pastime; it's a stepping stone for personal growth, or finding someone to spend the rest of your life with.

“It’s nothing…”

“…Yeah, let’s go home quickly.”

I started walking in the direction of the car I had brought.


It wasn't that far away, but I was worried that she would get rained on her shoulders because of her narrow umbrella.


Without even realizing it, without any emotion or selfish intention, I grabbed her shoulder and pulled her inward, toward me.


To be honest, even I was surprised. Aside from my feelings for her, the fact that she hated getting wet made me realize that she just liked people's hearts before considering them romantically.


Ma-eum's face flushed as expected. I wasn't sure what she thought about love, but she was a girl who had just turned nineteen.


It seemed that, apart from romantic feelings, he was simply thrilled by every single act of kindness or affection shown to him.


And I didn't know what to do with those feelings, so they just showed on my face.

“There was…one umbrella?”

I nodded to her question.

“Are you uncomfortable, Ma-eum?”

“Oh, no. That’s not it… I feel a little dizzy.”

“When you say you’re feeling excited, does that mean you’re feeling excited?”

Half joking, half serious. I asked the question as if it would be a good thing if she answered yes, but it didn't matter if she didn't. The answer I got from her was incredibly satisfying.