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

#51_Friends, guys

It was a confusing time.


It was a series of situations I had never experienced before.


I had never learned acting before, but I decided to try it and it was just a waste of time. And I felt like I was going crazy because it seemed like Jisoo oppa's confession wasn't just about him asking me to understand his feelings.


I'm not the type to move my body when I'm upset or confused, but with the schedule pouring in like a flood, I calmed my mind a little by moving my body.




After the Entertainment Relay interview video aired, the police department, somehow aware of me, offered me an honorary police officer position. It was even called "Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Ambassador." I usually don't turn down incoming appointments, but this time I was particularly cautious.

“…I really don’t know what to do.”

I knew that if I talked to Seventeen, they would be 100% worried, so I first confided my concerns to my friends through a group voice chat on KakaoTalk. Seungsik immediately responded.

“When I look at it, it seems like it would suit your personality?”

“I admit it…”

Then Seungwoo. When asked to explain exactly what he meant, Seungsik began to explain without hesitation.

“If you do, then what is your purpose?”

Seungsik, who had been silent for a short time, continued speaking.

“It must be because I hope that such things will decrease.”

“That sounds right…”

This time, it wasn't Seungsik or Seungwoo, but Subin who responded to my question. Since she hadn't seen me for as long as Seungsik or Seungwoo, I was curious to see what she'd say.

“And if you don’t do it, it’ll keep bothering you?

You know, maybe it actually happens less often. Just do it.

“It’s better to just do it and regret it later than to worry about it.”

I chuckled at Subin's words. Perhaps she'd just told them what she wanted to hear.

“Oh, you’ve been doing really well lately. What’s your next project?”

“I did a script reading for ‘Strong Woman Do Bong-soon.’

“The first shoot is tomorrow.”

“Isn’t that an unknown schedule?”

He chuckled at Seungwoo's playful question and answered yes.

“What station is it?”

“If I tell you, you won’t know?”

“Don’t say it by name

Please tell me what your relationship with the main character is

“I get the gist of it.”

I was convinced by Seungwoo's words and introduced him to the role of 'Jo Heeji' that I was playing.

“The female protagonist’s crush’s current girlfriend?

And the future girlfriend of the female protagonist’s younger brother?”

“It must be so complicated…”

I chuckled at Seungsik's low-pitched voice. Still, I liked that he was interested in my work.

“You seem like a total workaholic. Is there anything else you don’t like?”

“I’m going to an American movie. A live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.”

We decided to barely talk about work with Seventeen. The reason for this decision was their deep-seated desire to respect each other's choices and do whatever they wanted without worrying about what others thought.


Of course, I agreed because I didn't want to fight with Seventeen about work, but I still wanted to brag, but I had nowhere to do it, so I was a little bored. But all those desires were satisfied by my friends whom I hadn't talked to in a long time.

“Wow. I really need to learn English.”

Subin was impressed.

“As for English, you just have to memorize the script.”

“Still, your pronunciation is really good.

“You will definitely get beyond memorizing.”

It wasn't a role that was difficult to analyze, and all he had to do was show up for a moment and say one line, but it seemed like that wasn't the case for his friends.


Well, before I debuted, celebrities seemed like a distant existence to me, like people from another world.


Anyway, even if I tell you, you won't know until you experience it, and everyone will know once they enter the entertainment industry, so there was no need to say it now.

“Kang Seung-sik, what are you doing now in Korea?

“You must have graduated from school, so you have nothing to do.”

“I’m currently going to auditions.

“I haven’t heard from you yet.”

“What kind of auditions are you going to?

“I’m not an idol trainee.”

“Is that right?”

“No, if you had gone all the way to China to study abroad,

“Shouldn’t you be making a name for yourself as a scholar?”

Subin said exactly what I wanted to say, and Seungsik answered with great embarrassment.

“I went there and couldn’t study!

“I barely graduated, so what do you mean by scholar…”

Everyone burst into laughter at Seungsik's shouting, and I felt that even that moment was very precious.

“Oh, I have to register for a university lecture today.”

“Then do you want to come to the PC room?

“Come and play games.”

I snorted and replied to Seungwoo's words.

“You know I’m really bad at games.

And going to the PC room is going to see your faces.”

“I guess that’s because you haven’t played the game before.

“Come on first. Can we teach you?”

I couldn't help but agree with Seungwoo's words. It wasn't that I couldn't do it, it was that I just hadn't tried.

“Okay. Get ready to go out,

I'll go out after getting permission from Seventeen oppas.

“Where shall we meet?”

“We’ll decide on the address and send it to you.

But, are you living for Seventeen?”

I smiled happily at Subin's words. It wasn't like I was living alone, but even if I were, I thought I'd be happy with that.


Seventeen, because I love you more than you think.

“No. It’s not like my personality is like that.”

“Yeah, I don’t know if you’d rather throw a trap.”

Although I'd known Subin a little less than Seungsik and Seungwoo, he knew me well enough, was considerate, and warm. I chuckled, thinking once again that he was a person overflowing with good fortune.

“Should I take Jeongyeon too?”

“Jeongyeon? Your friend? Jeonghan’s younger sister?”

Seungwoo, who was the one who was most interested in me, and perhaps the one who was most interested in and knew the most about Seventeen, asked. After all, only Seungwoo knew about Jeongyeon's existence.

“Are you the same age as us?”

“Yeah. Born in 1999. Can I take you with me?”

I smiled broadly at the answer that it wouldn't be impossible. I thought it would create a good connection for both Jeongyeon and my male friends.

“See you later, guys.”

All three hung up with halfhearted responses. But even that made me feel a pang of longing, as if I were seeing a real friend I'd never known before.



I thought it was fortunate that I could enjoy things that everyone else could enjoy even now, even though I couldn't enjoy them when I should have.


I really liked it because it seemed like it was trying to compensate for the time that was taken from me.




I shook off my thoughts and called Jeongyeon.

“What are you doing now?

He also said he would let us meet our BTS oppas

You don't keep it, you don't even keep your promise to go see a play!

I'm so pissed"

"That's so typical of Jeongyeon, sulking the moment she picks up the phone. I thought to myself with a faint smile."

“Sorry, I’m really busy.

So I was busy too,

They say that BTS seniors were busier.

He even said he would buy me a meal

I'm so sorry for not being able to keep it~"

“No, if you say it like that, I’ll just feel bad for no reason…”

“We can meet up later for dinner.

When BTS seniors try to buy me food

“I think you’re 100% into it, so I’ll call you then.”

She was silent for a moment after I spoke. She was worried that I might have hurt her feelings, so she didn't say anything.

“…I just don’t want to meet BTS.”

"huh?"

I was genuinely surprised by the unexpected words. Jeongyeon wasn't the type to do that, but she suddenly changed her tune and lowered her voice, a change from her usual range.

“BTS wants to do this for you,

“You don’t want to do that to me.”

“But I think you’ll understand…”

“Of course I will understand.

But wouldn't it be a little awkward?

And my friend is a celebrity

As you receive special privileges little by little, you come to realize that they are your rights.

“I hate that.”

Jeongyeon remained silent, lost in thought, unable to speak. Always a bright and cheerful child, I never imagined she'd be capable of such thoughts. Perhaps I was secretly living a life shackled by stereotypes and prejudices.

“I’m sorry, Jeongyeon. I just…”

“There’s no need to apologize. I changed my mind a while ago.

Instead, let's eat together and write a review, please?"

For some reason, she felt a bit off right now. She'd tried to change her words to reflect her values, but it still felt like a real shame.

"…okay."

Next time, I'll have to tell a white lie, like saying it's for a fan signing or concert, or for employees, or that I got it myself, and get it in her hands.


Even though I said I didn't want to receive special treatment, this isn't special treatment; it's just the heart of a friend who wants to be nice to his friend.



Ah, the thought suddenly occurred to me that this was not the main point, and I naturally changed the subject.

“I’m going to meet my male friends. Do you want to come with me?”

“Male friend? Hey, you’re not Lee Chan, are you?”

I laughed as if I was dumbfounded and continued speaking.

“That will never happen.

“I’m going to meet Kang Seung-sik, Han Seung-woo, and Jung Soo-bin.”

“Okay. This is the first time you’ve heard that name.

"I'll go, send me the address."

As if she had just been deep in thought, Jeongyeon immediately returned to her usual self.

“I’ll send it to you as soon as the kids send it to me.

“Oh, should I just invite you to the group chat?”

Jeongyeon responded with a vehement yes, and I put my phone in the background and invited her to a group chat. While the four of us chatted excitedly, I finished preparing to go out, and as expected, the Seventeen oppas stopped me as I was about to leave the house.

“Schedule? Wasn’t today a day without schedules?”

Min-gyu asked me how I knew all my schedules, and I answered half in wonder and half in excitement.

“Lecture Application”

Wonwoo oppa said as if he had been waiting for a short answer.

“I like the computer in our room. We can do it there.”

“I know. Your room is practically like a PC room.”

Then Seungcheol whined like a child. He asked, "Then why are you going?"

"I'm going to meet my friends. Jeongyeon and my male friends."

"Wait a minute, why is there a revenge attack after 'boyfriend'?"

Sunyoung spoke in a hurry, and I answered as if I knew this would happen.

“Originally, there were three of my male friends.

Were you guys only keeping an eye on Seungwoo Han?

There were originally two more people~

“The names are Jung Soo-bin and Kang Seung-sik.”

And as expected, the reactions of my brothers were all spectacular. They had eyes that seemed ready to crush any male friend I had, and they were willing to participate if they could.


The guys who come up to me as if they're about to ask for my phone number. Seriously, nothing's changed. Nothing's changed.

“Hey, I’m 99 too, can I join you?”

Chan-i asked, and I hit the iron wall with a smiling expression.

“If you have any sense, don’t interfere~”

“Ah, my heart…”

Chan snickered and stroked my head.

"Oh, my heart. I absolutely hate that Han Seung-woo guy."

I just felt sorry because I knew why Chan-i hated me, and because I knew that at the root of it was jealousy as a love rival.

“Seungwoo is a real friend, Chanah.

Seungwoo, don't say that.

Seungwoo is to Seventeen in his own way

“I think you want to look good.”

“That’s all a lie. I’m not serious.

“You don’t know because you’re stupid.”

“Hey, even if you speak, speak nicely.”

Chan-i teased me by rolling his tongue artistically and making strange sounds like "ebebebe." Of course, he wasn't angry or offended, he just thought it was a bit much.

“Hey, you live to tease me.”

“No? I live to make you excited.

“I live to make you happy”

His heavy blow, a joke he'd intended to make, suddenly returned with a serious tone. For a moment, his heart began to pound again, but only temporarily.

“Thank you, but

“That’s not how you say that, Chan-ah.”

He smiled faintly, opened the front door, and went outside.