Side Story Chapter 28 - Sesha (3)

Before Shin Sung-chan met Sesha, the recording was quite boring.

Cut! Lets resume after editing this part out.

On Producer Kims orders, the cameramen and staff moved busily. Shin Sung-chan scratched the back of his head and sidled next to Producer Kim, asking, Its not going well, is it?

Well, we can cut out the odd bits, and the episode doesnt need to be too long, so well get a good chunk. Since its for Youtube, it can be more raw, butyou seem pretty nervous today.

Really? Maybe its because its been a while since Ive come to school.

As Producer Kim said, idol variety shows these days were about ten to fifteen minutes per episode, and no more than thirty. It wasnt that difficult to film a full-length episode. Also, it wasnt that worrisome that the filming wasnt going smoothly because fans actually liked it when their celebrities seemed nervous. It was the type of raw emotion that wasnt shown on public TV channels.

However, neither Shin Sung-chan nor Producer Kim looked satisfied. Shin Sung-chan had two years of idol experience under his belt, so he knew that there wasnt much that could really be salvaged from today. Producer Kim had gone freelance after quitting a pretty well-known TV station, so he was anxious not to fail.

Shin Sung-chan and Producer Kim racked their brains to think of a solution. They looked through the script and contemplated whether they should prepare another corner or not. But there wasnt anything interesting in particular that could be filmed with the school or the store as the background Or they could ask for permission from the school and film him hanging out with his friends. That might be better. There were many fans who wanted to know about Shin Sung-chans school life too.

Just as Producer Kim was wondering what direction they needed to take this in, one scriptwriter came up to him and said something.

What? Really?

The scriptwriter nodded, saying it had been confirmed just moments ago, and Producer Kim brightened. Then, he looked toward Shin Sung-chan mischievously, as if asking why he had kept such an item hidden.

Shin Sung-chan got an ominous feeling. All of their group members had suffered whenever Producer Kim made that smile.

I just heard the Idol attends your school? And shes in the same class as you. Why did you hide something so interesting?

N-No! Shin Sung-chan barely stopped himself from shouting. He was an idol too, but he knew too well who the Idol Producer Kim was speaking about was: Cha So-yeong. The girl was famous for being the youngest S-class player when there were dungeons and gates. She was well-known internationally, and she had many fans due to her cold and arrogant expression despite her age.

However, after all the dungeons and gates were closed, Cha So-yeong retired and didnt make any public appearances. The mystery of it all made people curious about how Cha so-yeong was doing these days.

Cha So-yeong recently garnered attention after articles about her entering high school made waves, but to think that it was the school that Shin Sung-chan attended! On top of that, she was his classmate. Producer Kims eyes blazed.

On the other hand, Shin Sung-chan had difficulty controlling his expression as the name he wanted to avoid came up. It wasnt like he could say it was awkward to see her because she rejected him either. He could trust Producer Kim, but if the other staff got wind of this his face might be on the front page of tomorrows newspaper.

These would probably be the main headlines, and as a seventeen year old, Shin Sung-chan didnt want to be embarrassed on a national level when he had just become an adolescent. I have to stop him! Shin Sung-chan was about to say anything but Cha So-yeong, when

Youre close, right? Producer Kim grinned and spoke first.

The thing is

Goodness, Producer Kim. Thats such an obvious question.

Shin Sung-chan was about to hint why he couldnt do it when the scriptwriter jumped into their conversation.

Right?

Of course. They call her an Idol and all that, but our Sung-chan is famous too. Famous people have that connection with each other, dont they, Sung-chan?

U-Uh

Ooh. Thats nice. So hows the Idols personality? Is she really as arrogant as they say? I also heard shes quite mature for her age.

Oh my. Then she must be close to Sung-chan. Sung-chans also like that. It must be because theyve been in society from a young age.

Thats true.

So? Youre close, right?

It was hard to say no since they said that. Shin Sung-chan couldnt refuse the producer and scriptwriters expectant faces. On top of that, the other staff were murmuring excitedly about seeing the Idol, so he couldnt decline them and say he wasnt close He was a people pleaser, and his pride as a young boy didnt allow him to say he didnt know the girl.

Shin Sung-chan swallowed and nodded. O-Of course! Shin Sung-chan felt like he was digging his own grave.

* * *

Usually, Sung-chan was right when he received an ominous feeling, and this very moment was no exception. He greeted Sesha when she was pushed to the store by the crowd, but her face looked as if she was asking him what he was doing. It was the expression she made when her classmates or seniors who werent close to her spoke to her. Many male students had fallen for that icy gaze.

Well, I was among them too.

Cha So-yeong was very pretty. She was as pretty or even prettier than the female celebrities Sung-chan has met during his career.

But what should I do now? Sung-chans heart raced when she didnt answer him. Thump, thump, thump. He got chills running down his back, because he thought that the lie he told would be revealed. Producer Kim and the scriptwriter seemed to notice something was off too. His heart pumped faster as if he ran straight for two hundred meters.

Yeah. Hi. Sesha waved and walked back up the stairs. Her best friend Park Yoo-min smiled awkwardly and followed her.

Wow I heard even adults have a hard time speaking to her, so it was true! Yoon-hu, did you get that just now?

Yes, I got it clear and well. She really is different.

Fortunately, Producer Kim didnt think it was strange. He was more interested in how much of Sesha was recorded.

Haaa! Shin Sung-chan breathed out in relief. Thump, thump, thump. His heart slowed down, but it was still beating fast. However, the reason for this thumping was different from before.

Shin Sung-chan stared at the stairs where Sesha had just been.

* * *

You know that?

What?

They say youre indifferent, but I think youre just super cynical.

Nonsense.

Sesha chatted with Park Yoo-min as she walked back to class.

Im right. Only you could treat Sung-chan so coldly.

I dont care.

See? But youre really not interested in boys?

Not really.

Strange.

Didnt girls usually dream of having boyfriends at this age? At this age, girls had lots of dreams and things they liked. They would gossip with their friends about who was good-looking, who was cute, and who was their ideal type.

The same went for Park Yoo-min. She was determined to get a boyfriend this spring and go to the cherry flower festival with him. If that didnt happen, she would get a boyfriend before June and go to the Yeouido Festival then. If she couldnt do either before she graduated high school, her high school life would be too sad.

But thinking about it, Park Yoo-min didnt remember Sesha ever talking about boys. When they were talking about it with their friend group on the way home, she was just listening. She only spoke up to give advice.

That was why Yoo-min was curious as to whether or not Sesha was interested in boys or not. She never looked at the boys who were always chasing her around. It couldnt hurt to take a slight peek, could it?

And the Bad Boys were one of the top three boy bands these days, with Shin Sung-chan being the most popular and youngest. He probably had many individual fans. And the way he looked at Sesha From a third-partys point of view, he looked like he still cared very much.

Sure, very strange. Sesha just responded with an uncaring face. To be honest, she wanted to say if you went through those things in the Tower, you wouldnt be interested in boys either. She spent a childhood most people couldnt even imagine, and she had matured psychologically unwittingly. Of course the boys her age wouldnt meet her standards. They just seemed like immature little children to her.

Seshas surroundings didnt do any good for her either. Kronos, Cha Jeong-woo, and Yeon-woo All of them were men who were at the top of what they did. Moreover, they were lookers too.

Still, our So-yeongs grown up, huh? You responded to him since there was a camera rolling?

Stop hugging me. Its hot.

That only makes me wanna do it more!

Hey!

* * *

Class began, and they were on their second break period.

Growl. Sesha hugged her starved stomach. So hungry She shouldve eaten the breakfast her mom prepared for her. Strangely, she was feeling even hungrier today. She rested her head on her desk, not wanting to do anything in particular.

Plop! Suddenly, something fell next to her. Sesha opened her eyes and saw a plastic bag filled with bread sitting on her desk.

Park Yoo-min looked at Sesha like she was pathetic. You should go to the store if youre hungry. What are you doing lying over your desk like that?

Im too lazy.

Youre sure youre not too lazy to breathe too?

I am. But not anymore! Sesha jumped up and dug through the bag. Yoo-min had brought many kinds of bread, even the bean jam buns Sesha enjoyed.

Sheesh. And they call you Idol. Park Yoo-min shook her head from side to side. Starving out of laziness? Yoo-min detested being hungry more than anything, so she didnt understand. But Sesha still enjoyed eating what Yoo-min brought her. She looked like a squirrel eating an acorn as she carefully tore open the cover and chewed the bun.

Be neater when you eat, geez. Park Yoo-min pulled out a wet tissue and wiped the jam and sugar that was on Seshas face. Sesha squeezed her eyes together and began to eat her bread again when Yoo-min removed the tissue. Yoo-min muttered, How did you become the Idol when you require so much care?

Humph. I can take care of myself.

Yes, yes. Sure. Park Yoo-min shook her head and spoke as she pulled a bun out of the bag for herself. Oh right. You know the filming from this morning.

Chan-sung? That thing he was filming?

its Sung-chan.

Same thing.

Dont ever say that in front of his fans. Theyre gonna crush your head in.

Sheesh. Anyway, what about it? Theyre still filming it?

Yeah. Theyre probably filming until the after-school study session is done.

Whats there to film?

They said theyre going to film our schools mystery.

Hearing about the schools mystery, Sesha had an odd feeling and tilted her head inquiringly.