I Don’t Want to Play Villains Anymore - Chapter 40

“Rottobs, what? Youth drama is all the rage now.”

Buram. Buram.

After everyone left school, the sunset slowly dyed the club room through the window.

The thick script I had opened alone was filled with situations and scene descriptions that were overwhelming.

The intricate relationships between characters and slapstick scene directions felt like a direct reflection of director Mash’s ‘Desire’.

Should I say it was chillingly detailed?

Or that every movement was written down…

Of course, it was natural that the script was slapstick, but…

“…Ji-woo.”

“Yes?”

Ji-woo, who was diligently organizing the script and preparing for editing, turned her head.

“Honestly, no lie. You’re the first person to expect such acting from me.”

I meant it.

In all my lives, I had never seen a director who tried to manage me this way.

Ji-woo blinked her eyes in confusion, undoubtedly unsure what to say, before cautiously asking.

“…What do you mean? You don’t like it?”

Is that the interpretation she’s going to make?

I let out a long sigh.

Then slowly closed my eyes and conveyed my calm impressions.

“They say it’s a youthful drama, but this is just a historical drama.”

Ji-woo was at a loss for words.

“Oh, no! That… there’s no way! This is a refreshing tale of friendship among young people set in a school!”

What friendship and delinquency? Loyalty and a fist fight are half of it.

I stared at her coldly.

“It’s true that the setting is a school. But look at this.”

I held up the script and quietly pointed to the first scene.

“I’m Baek Cheong-taek. The best fighter at Han Dae High…”

“…”

Ji-woo hung her head.

I could see her face getting redder by the moment.

Is she trying to elicit sympathy?

Still, she couldn’t bring herself to stop.

“Are you the school’s… um, huh?”

I recited the lines Ji-woo had written in the coolest yet most serious Shin Sound.

“Your fists aren’t weak. It’s just your beliefs that are weak.”

Ji-woo’s ears completely turned red.

“And the answer given by the second-ranked fighter at Han Dae High. ‘Don’t make me laugh. Do you really know this world?'”

“Ugh…”

What is this, a blatant denial?

I shook my head slowly.

“Can you really say this isn’t a historical drama after writing this script?”

Ji-woo mumbled, biting her lips.

“…But the background is Han Dae High.”

“Right. But that role isn’t a student; it’s a gang member in a school uniform. You even gave me a nickname like ‘the king of the delinquent circle.'”

She’s turning this into a legendary fist.

Ji-woo covered her face with her hands and whimpered.

“I thought it would just be cool…”

“…”

This is the kind of director she is.

But oddly enough, rather than irritation, I found myself laughing.

To be honest, I wondered if there could be another director who could seriously write such a reckless script.

I didn’t know what kind of appeal she found in this, but there was a distinctly unique charm to it.

“I’ll ask you seriously, Ji-woo.”

“…Yeah.”

“Just calling it a youthful drama, but having nothing but fight scenes? This is just gangsters in school uniforms.”

Ji-woo didn’t respond.

Instead, she approached me with sparkling eyes and whispered.

“You were cool when you acted as Suha.”

“…Huh?”

It was a sudden confession.

“What?”

Ji-woo continued cautiously.

“Every time I saw your performance, I was impressed. If you were a proper actor, you would be amazing.”

I was speechless in disbelief.

The director, who had the chance to revive my career, approached the project with such enthusiasm.

“So that’s what got you impressed?”

Ji-woo smiled shyly and nodded.

“Yes. I wanted to write a story that could capture your wonderful acting as much as possible. I thought it would be even more fun and unique as a school drama…”

“Puh…”

Now, I felt like I was really going to burst out laughing.

This girl was pure and simple, more so than I expected.

“And if possible, I wanted to see you acting in ways you usually wouldn’t.”

I was momentarily stunned and quietly looked at her.

It was touching to think that she did all this to coax me, create a warm drama, and had worries while writing the script.

But that didn’t mean I could just film this script as it was.

“…Okay. But Ji-woo, we need to make some adjustments.”

“What should I change?”

Great. I had been waiting for that line.

I picked up the pen calmly.

“At the very least, take out the loud cries like ‘Kraack!’ whenever someone gets punched. And let’s remove the term ‘hyung.’ It’s weird for gangsters in school uniforms to be calling each other hyung.”

Ji-woo nodded.

“Oh… I’ll reflect on that.”

I continued.

“And please add more emotional depth and description to the slapstick scenes. If it’s just fighting, it’ll just look like a brawl.”

Ji-woo finally became serious.

“Professionalism really is different.”

I slowly twirled my pen and spoke.

“It’s not because I’m professional… but since I’ve been drawn to you like this, if I don’t do it right, it’ll tarnish your career.”

Ji-woo’s eyes widened as she quickly smiled brightly.

“Haneul.”

“What.”

“Thank you so much.”

“…For what?”

Ji-woo lightly tapped my shoulder.

“This kind of proper directing is something I hoped for. Keep directing me like this in the future.”

“Sure. Of course.”

I could no longer hold back my laughter.

This script. It was ridiculous, but I felt inspired to make it entertaining.

Whether it’s youth or hysterics, this would become the most unique piece of work that would be remembered in history.

As long as it’s not Rottobs. Just not Rottobs.

Buram.

Again, the first line written on the script’s page caught my eye.

[Baek Cheong-taek: (taking a boxing stance) From now on, this school’s power is determined by me.]

“…Wow.”

“Ugh. Stop looking!”

Ji-woo, you’re really… the best director.

.

.

.

After teasing Ji-woo for a while while reading the script, lunchtime was slowly coming to an end.

I had promised to go to the snack bar with Su-a. That’s a problem.

“So exactly what’s the plan?”

“Yeah. I’ve completed most of the cast, but I’m having trouble deciding on the most important actor…”

Ji-woo held up a large notebook and fell deep into thought again.

On top of the notebook were the names of already cast actors and the blank roles of still-to-be-cast characters drawn out in a complicated manner.

I sneakily peeked at the notebook.

“Hm… Who?”

Ji-woo started counting her fingers one by one.

“The most important role among the three is the main character’s rival and the practical rank one of Han Dae High. The final boss of our drama…”

“…Final boss?”

I absentmindedly brushed a hand through my hair at the awkward term.

Now that I think about it, have I ever had a chance to use that term since TS… I should get back to normal soon.

“No, I mean the ultimate rival. A hidden king of the school, very handsome, cool-headed, quiet, but truly a genius when it comes to fighting, you know?”

Ji-woo’s eyes sparkled, and her gaze began to become wild.

“And importantly, they should have enough presence to match you in a two-top structure.”

I glanced at Ji-woo’s face and scrunched up my eyebrows.

“Isn’t that like an ideal type? It’s too detailed.”

“Oh, no! That’s not what I mean… just an incredibly crucial character!”

Ji-woo’s ears turned red.

‘This girl really is something.’

I chuckled and asked my next question.

“Okay. So who is this final boss candidate?”

Ji-woo said with a slightly awkward smile,

“…Na Jae-hyeon?”

“What?”

My eyes widened in surprise.

Na Jae-hyeon… is it that Na Jae-hyeon?

The one who, after getting demolished by my acting, called me hyung while being two years younger?

To be honest, it started as a joke.

Having been a bit arrogant, I thought I’d just have fun teasing him a little and started giving him acting lessons…

But it somehow became serious, and soon he would bow his head in front of me saying ‘hyung.’

‘Of course, he did that without me forcing him, right?’

He seemed smart enough to think like that from the memories. Hmm.

Although I called it acting guidance, looking back, it was more like acting hell training.

It was because I was harsh, and despite him being older than me, he couldn’t quite catch up to me.

‘Well… I did tease him after we became close later.’

I was relieved that he changed that arrogant attitude quickly.

“Um… I wonder if Na Jae-hyeon is busy.”

Of course, he must be since he’s probably doing well.

“Naturally. That’s probably the case.”

“Weren’t you in ideal type? You’re surprisingly letting this slide.”

“Well, I thought Haneul is the only one… I don’t have an ideal type!”

Slowly, I savored her expression, not because I was teasing her.

Ji-woo, who tried to act relaxed when talking to me earlier, couldn’t hide her eyes.

The posts she wrote on the café related to photos taken with Jae-hyeon were still fresh in my memory.

But I didn’t mind her denying it verbally now.

In fact, it was somewhat cute.

“Yeah, I guess not. But I still remember the posts you wrote on the café.”

Ji-woo’s eyes widened as she looked at me in surprise.

“You saw that…?”

“Of course. I read almost all the posts on the café.”

It was because my mom printed them out in panic and stuck them on the fridge, but I didn’t say that.

Ji-woo covered her face with both hands and fell into deep despair.

“Oh, no… I now regret posting acting posts.”

I chuckled and lightly patted Ji-woo’s back.

“It’s okay; there aren’t many precious people like you around.”

“…I don’t know if that’s a compliment or not.”

“It is a compliment. How many people are as detailed in their posts as you? Jae-hyeon would probably be surprised if he saw that.”

Ji-woo slowly lifted her head and stared at my face. Her still blushing cheeks were adorable.

“By the way, are you close to Na Jae-hyeon?”

I shrugged my shoulders lightly and answered.

“Well, we’re on that brother-sister kind of thing.”

Of course, I’m the one who’s older.