Chapter 183 - Second Lead

As Ye Rim headed for the audition, her mind briefly wandered to the conversation she had the day before with Jun Hyeon, at the cemetery. He expected to hear that they would be together ... but how could she promise that if it was in her destiny not to be happy in love?

These were Ye Rim's thoughts on arriving at HTN for her audition. 

They took her to a waiting room, where 3 other actresses were waiting. Ye Rim knew those faces, they had done dramas before.

After greeting them and having a pleasant conversation with them for a few minutes, they called the first and the other two decided to reread the text. Ye Rim closed her eyes, choosing to relax, although her mind kept returning to the moment they were, she and Jun Hyeon, holding hands the day before.

They had said that the weather was changing, that it would rain soon, and they left with the first drops of rain. 

She didn't have the heart to tell Jun Hyeon what she had heard from Dae Won. It might even be true that she wouldn't have the support of her agency to take on a relationship with a plastic surgeon. She was knowledgeable enough to know that people would brand her as 'Dr. Kim Jun Hyeon's girlfriend'. Derogatory comments could arise. But it wasn't for this reason, for her career, that she would move away from him. Rather, knowing that, at some point, something tragic would separate them.

In the past, choosing a career over love was difficult. And in the end, she lost both. But now, Ye Rim knew that there wasn't even that option. It wasn't destiny. Love had been excluded from her life, her mother said.

This time, the belief that Jun Hyeon would be by her side until the moment she had to leave was bittersweet, but it gave her strength. 

She had never felt so encouraged before. It was better not to anticipate suffering, but to live the moment. Nothing had happened yet. Neither she had the role, nor had she been judged for having a boyfriend. And in fact, why was he taking so long to ask her?

Her thoughts were interrupted when a person entered the room. It was a famous drama actress, Jang Han Ri. 

Ye Rim knew that she was the likely protagonist of the drama. Well, she acted like she was, as Miss. Jang immediately greeted her friend, one of the candidates, with effusive statements about how good it would be to work with her on this series.

'Aish, how unethical. What is she doing? Trying to undermine our confidence?' the other actress beside her, looking at the script, started to stomp nervously. 

The two women talking loudly and commenting on their personal relationsh.i.p.s with the director and the creative team made her feel a little better for having received the support of Dae Won. At the same time, they were angry at having received the news that the character had changed, requiring more effort from the actress.

"I might take dance lessons," said the candidate for Han Ri. "But that's okay…"

"Don't worry about it. Just do your best. It won't be possible for a secondary character like Se Yeon to be so prominent in the story. It would take the focus off the main couple. They should rewrite most of it and the concept will stay, but ... Honey, we both know what those things are like. Stay calm about it. It's not necessary to sing or dance, only to interpret. I was talking to my agent yesterday and he reassured me about it. For that reason alone I'll accept the invitation."

"Oh, good, Han Ri! I was a little worried!" said the candidate who was friends with the famous actress. 

The other candidate beside Ye Rim bit her lip nervously. Ye Rim also didn't like what she heard. But more than anything, she wasn't liking the overbearing attitude of Jang Han Ri and her beta friend.

'What are you doing, uh?! Are you tired of living?! Do you want to die?! Is it polite to ignore other people in this way while talking nonsense, disrespecting the other candidates? So is the role of the protagonist Chae Ah already yours, Miss. Jang Han Ri?! Don't act spoiled!'

However, this time instead of opening her huge mouth and saying something that would hurt her, or running out of hope, she ignored her sense of justice and kept silent. Jang Han Ri was a well-known and well-liked person, arguing with her would be awful. 

But hearing that unbearable conversation gave her a sudden 'click'.

Ye Rim was the next to be called. Drawing a breath, she got up, straightened her dress and entered the room.

Five people, including the director and the screenwriter, were there.

It was a surprise that the screenwriter was present. She was excellent and had made Ye Rim fall in love with the tragic and ambitious character, who was destined to die with a shot in chapter 11, saving her beloved. The main male character would be played by an established actor and quite loved by the public, making the comeback after being discharged from the army.

She greeted them and thanked them for the opportunity, and they were kind.

"Hello, Miss. Nam. We saw your portfolio and we are happy that you are interested in the role. You are a singer, but you never acted, is that it? "

"Not really, Director Lee. But I completed the Acting Course and I am licensed."

"And what interested you in the second lead Se Yeon?"

"Second lead?" she raised an eyebrow, slightly arrogant, "There must be some mistake. Se Yeon isn't the second lead. This story is about her, her love for the country, Shin Yool, and music. I'm here for this role."

She knew that she had surprised and pleased them by the discreet smiles in her small audience. Director Lee then asked,

"Please, Miss. Nam, convince us that Se Yeon is the main character. Show us what you have prepared."

Ye Rim smiled. She wished Jun Hyeon was there to see her.

ººº

Opening the umbrella, Jun Hyeon got out of the car in front of HTN in long strides.

Ye Rim was doing the audition, and he'd surprise her when she left. It didn't matter what the hearing was about. Or if Dae Won had taken off his miraculous patronage, as he had threatened. He, Jun Hyeon, would be there, to applaud her.

In the pocket of his pants, the small gift he had bought for the occasion, a gold chain with a star-shaped pendant, where a small 2K diamond sparkled discreetly.

He was waiting for her in the lobby when Jang Han Ri left the elevator with another woman and her personal manager. Jang Han Ri was his client and the person who introduced him to one of his past girlfriends, the also actress Yoon Se Ra. 

Even though she introduced him to his ex-girlfriend, Han Ri had a bad habit of meddling in their relationship. In the end, she appeared drunk at Se Ra's apartment when he was there and declared herself to Jun Hyeon in front of his girlfriend. That was so embarrassing!

She looked up at him, and smiled. Jun Hyeon begged the heavens not to do this to him. The lobby was full of people because it was raining outside. There was no way to simply ignore a national star if she came to talk to him.

But he felt tempted to do so, for the briefest of the moments.

"Han Ri!" he greeted her with a slight bow when she stopped in front of her with her friend, "How have you been?"

"Now infinitely better and feeling like I've won a prize. See my dear Dr. Kim after so long! It just crowned my wonderful day!"

"That's great. I am also happy to see you. What are you doing?" he spoke, while looking behind her to watch the elevator where Ye Rim would appear.

"I came to talk to the team about a drama to which they invited me. Informally, of course," she laughed. "We are in talks, but it is quite interesting. And you, Jun Hyeon ...? Did you come to take part in an interview show?" she spoke his name without embarrassment, although he insisted the last time that they should keep a professional relationship.

"Me? I'm actually here to pick up my fianceé," he said, happy to see the elevator door open and Ye Rim to leave. Along with her was that agency intern, who was always with her now.

He broke into a smile at the same time that Jang Han Ri barely hid the unpleasant surprise by turning to the elevator door.

Ye Rim walked toward him staring at him with bright eyes as if he were the only human being in the place. Her heels made tack tack tack in the lobby and with the peripheral vision, the doctor noticed people turning their necks to look at that full of charisma goddess and poise to come to him.

And suddenly Ye Rim threw herself into his arms, unexpectedly and in front of all those people! He hugged her. It was brief but a bold display of affection, but he didn't mind. When they parted from each other, she exclaimed,

"They loved it, Jun Hyeon!"

"Wow!" he smiled, genuinely happy, only deep in his heart the fear that Ye Rim would choose her career and cut him out of her life. But it was no time for serious business now. 

Ye Rim turned around pretending to see Han Ri for the first time. Ye Rim didn't possess Se Ra's sweet personality, and she would never be tolerant of an inconvenient 'friend', he was sure. His hand went back into his pocket, where the jewel box with the pendant was. 'Damn it! Why did I think this could be romantic? Is it my impression, or is fate making everything difficult for me?'

"Jun Hyeon, we have to go, our friends are waiting for us to celebrate at a restaurant near here! If your friend Miss. Jang wants to come, she will be welcome!" he heard Ye Rim say, to his shock! She sounded so sweet!

But Han Ri wasn't that bold, and when they reached the parking lot, he asked quietly,

"Can't you just let your personal assistant go a little bit?" he nodded to the boy holding the umbrella for Ye Rim, near the car.

Ye Rim looked at her young assistant, and smiled,

"'Persimmon' is not a personal assistant, he is my spiritual bodyguard!" she and the young guy smiled, but Jun Hyeon just frowned.

It seemed like an inside joke he wasn't a part of. And it left him restless.