GalaxyTL
Kids are especially perceptive to sincerity.
What I mean is,
They’re sensitive to good intentions and bad ones alike.
When Ryu Jae-rin was six,
and just starting to discern things around her,
living with her grandma meant she often wore clothes a little shabbier than others.
Surviving poverty required adaptation more than overcoming.
At six, Ryu Jae-rin had matured faster than most.
'So, people don’t really like me, huh?'
Aside from her grandma, no one approached her.
That’s how she felt when,
The prince on a white horse appeared.
He’d look out for her,
wipe her face if there was something on it,
share snacks during picnics,
and over time, Ryu Jae-rin grew curious.
What was the purpose of this seemingly undeserved kindness?
Why was he giving her Pokémon bread stickers every day?
How did he always manage to add an extra boiled egg to their tteokbokki orders?
When she asked, he simply answered,
An idol?
That sealed Ryu Jae-rin’s fate.
She was six—a forgettable age, as the years pass.
But the vivid memories with Kim Dong-hoo were etched deeply in her mind.
The emotions only grew stronger as time went on.
The pure kindness and happy moments they shared for just a year, always as seatmates by some miracle.
How could she ever forget?
That memory became a huge source of strength when Ryu Jae-rin became an idol trainee.
She held onto it when people were harsh to her, when she faced bullying just for being pretty.
Part of her wanted to find Dong-hoo.
But idol trainees couldn’t have phones, and
contact with the outside world was limited; she lived in a dorm due to her family’s circumstances.
Ryu Jae-rin couldn’t find him.
Time passed, and by the time she turned fifteen,
‘Oh?’
She saw Kim Dong-hoo on TV.
Watching him shine brightly in High Dream,
she wished to be by his side,
dreaming of appearing with him on Shall We Get Married?
It was a show popular with well-known celebrities, and she pictured them going on when they were adults.
She only had to imagine it to feel happy.
Then, like fate, Kim Dong-hoo appeared right before her eyes.
As if that weren’t enough, they were paired as a couple for the school uniform campaign.
Her previously emotionless eyes sparkled,
and seeing that he didn’t immediately recognize her, she felt like playing a prank.
“W-who are you…?”
With that mischievous question, Ryu Jae-rin answered,
“It’s me, your bride, Ryu Jae-rin.”
Congratulating their fateful reunion,
already planning their wedding on Shall We Get Married? in the near future,
“Have you been well, honey?”
She smiled radiantly.
+++++
'Ryu Jae-rin?!'
That top idol Ryu Jae-rin?
The one destined to be a global diva?
'Why are you here?'
Did they lower the female model’s fee to match my price?
Or was it because of her privileged status?
Regardless, I gently pushed her away.
“People might get the wrong idea.”
An idol scandal was a different beast compared to an actor scandal.
For actors, it’s like casual news,
but for idols, a scandal becomes a chewable topic.
It could even lead to backlash, hiatus, or even retirement—the worst possible paths.
“There’s no CCTV in rooms like this. It’s fine.”
Ryu Jae-rin said nonchalantly, which made me chuckle.
“Still laid-back as ever. You haven’t changed a bit.”
“And you’re still like the prince on a white horse.”
“You still use that phrase? I haven’t heard it since we were six—it’s kinda embarrassing.”
“Come on, who cares? I do what I want.”
Ryu Jae-rin pouted for a moment, then quickly relaxed and moved closer.
I was glad to see her again, but this was a bit much.
Should I say something? Idols shouldn’t behave like this, right?
Just as I was about to give her another reminder,
The door swung open.
“Oh, look at you two, already getting along well?”
Seok-ho, my manager, walked in and smiled approvingly at us.
He had that businessman’s gleam in his eye, thinking that a friendly rapport between models would be good for synergy.
'When did she move away?'
By the time I realized, Jae-rin had already stepped back.
The distance was just right for a friendly interaction—close, but not too close.
I was impressed by her subtle control of the distance.
Knowing exactly how far not to cross the line… It was the instinct of a top idol.
“There’s a suggestion to shoot with a sweet couple concept. How do you feel about that?”
Seok-ho continued speaking, oblivious to the subtleties.
A couple concept, huh.
Would that be okay?
Glancing at Jae-rin, I saw she gave me an approving look.
More than just approval, it felt like a determined gaze, though maybe I was imagining it.
“Yes, it seems Jae-rin’s fine with it too.”
“That’s rare, having a fifteen-year-old be a school uniform model. Dong-hoo’s really something else.”
The sudden flattery made my face flush.
I mean, it’s embarrassing enough when he says stuff like that just between us,
but in front of Jae-rin?
The worst part was that Jae-rin was nodding along enthusiastically.
Right, right.
Her little agreement noises made it hard to keep a straight face.
“Alright, since everyone agrees, let’s get you changed into the uniforms and get started.”
“Yes.”
Seok-ho left the room, and I moved to follow.
Well, I tried to.
Suddenly, Jae-rin grabbed my hand.
“Dong-hoo, can you give me your number?”
“My number?”
“Yeah, it’d be awkward to ask later.”
“True, it’ll be hectic after the shoot.”
But why is she fiddling with the ring finger on my left hand while asking for my number?
I wanted to ask, but it didn’t feel like the right time.
'And why is her face so red?'
Was she sick?
+++++
The shoot wrapped up more smoothly than expected.
With the couple concept, we did some intense poses,
holding hands, intertwining fingers, making heart shapes.
We took typical couple-themed shots in the uniforms,
and then Jae-rin and I shared a few words before parting ways.
“Did you know each other before?”
“Yes, we went to kindergarten together, but I didn’t expect to meet again like this.”
“Kindergarten? It really is a small world.”
Once I got in the van, I had a quick chat with Seok-ho about the schedule.
“Oh, it looks like the special concert will be on the second Sunday of March.”
“Not right after High Dream ends?”
“Yeah, they said it was tough to coordinate schedules.”
He added that they might do both a piano solo and a band ensemble—did I think I could manage?
I nodded. That wouldn’t be a problem.
“So I’ll be resting until then?”
“Yeah, I think that’s for the best. Usually, after a burst of projects like this, it’s good to have some downtime.”
Physical recovery might not be an issue, but the mental strain would be significant.
I nodded at Seok-ho’s thoughtfulness.
'This immersive acting really is a cheat.'
It saved me time and energy for research, letting me switch emotions on and off with ease.
It was like having an unbeatable skill.
“Oh, and by the way, Director Hero wants to watch the final edit together when it’s ready. He’s also prepping for the Mise-en-scène contest.”
“Already? That’s fast.”
“Last I spoke with him, he said he’s been sleeping three hours a night lately.”
Hope he doesn’t burn out.
We were chatting away when,
‘Hmm?’
I noticed a script I hadn’t seen before, lying next to me.
Interestingly, it was entirely in English from cover to cover.
“Seok-ho, is this script entirely in English?”
“Oh? Oh yeah, sorry about that. There was a translated version of an indie film script, so I printed it out but forgot to put it away.”
As I listened, a question popped into my mind.
'Can I immerse myself in English?'
I’d never tried it before.
'Does this mean I could learn English?'
As soon as I thought that,
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The Sims - Real Life app sent a notification.
-[The script language is not suitable for the user’s current state.]
-[Downloading the app "Unbreakable Babel Tower."]
-[From now on, when immersing in foreign language scripts or characters, the appropriate language will also be acquired.]
...?
Could I actually learn languages now?
‘Immerse.’
I activated the immersion to test it.
Since it wasn’t for a script, I quickly deactivated it.
In that brief moment,
The English text that should have looked like gibberish to me,
‘I can read it.’
It felt as natural as my native language.
“Seok-ho, could you find other foreign language scripts too?”
“Huh?”
“Like Japanese or French scripts.”
He seemed stunned for a moment, as if his mind had blanked out,
then resumed driving and responded.
“...Dong-hoo, you can read that? You mean other languages, too?”
I couldn’t before, but now...
“Yes, I can.”
I think I can do it now.