The next day, I woke to my phone almost being blown apart by a continuous string of texts. The constant ringing indicating incoming texts was not something I wanted to wake up to in the morning.
I sit up in bed, rubbing my groggy face to erase the lingering sleep. Picking up my phone from the bedside table, I wonder who's blowing it up at this time of the day. When the screen lights up and my manager's name appears on the display, everything that happened last night comes rushing back to me like a tidal wave.
Right. I totally created a scene in front of the media yesterday.
I tap on the messaging app and open my chat with manager Gil, only to find a string of messages beginning from a few hours ago. Upon checking my call log, I found that I had twenty-four missed calls from this guy, all placed within the last hour.
Isn't he persistent today?
But I suppose I only added to his workload. I'm sure the media wouldn't be going easy with rumors and allegations right now, and he will have to neutralize anything that might ruin my reputation and career. He should know that I did what I did for the public. But what if he thinks I saved Ryu Jinsang because we are genuinely friends? Does he believe that I risked my life to save someone I shouldn't know personally...because I like him, or something?
God, no. I should clear things up before they get out of hand. Knowing him, he would certainly be thinking that way.
I call my manager with purpose, determined to erase any wrong ideas he has about the situation at hand. He picks up on the third ring, and doesn't waste a second before yelling into the phone and my ear. But what he says is completely different from what I expected. This time, he's not berating me about being in a ''one-sided relationship with someone who wouldn't want me.'' Gross.
"What the hell were you up to last night?! Do you know what it was like waking up to find my phone vibrating constantly because of posts and threads I was tagged in, regarding your heroic act? Do you know how absolutely irritating it is to wake—"
"No, I don't know how annoying it is to rush to work after spending the night with someone." I interrupt his rant, my voice the epitome of calm. My sudden interruption catches him off guard, and he splutters on the other side of the line, unable to find a snarky retort. I take that as my cue to take control of the situation.
"Tell me why this is such a problem for you?"
My words snap him from his state of fluster, but his words no longer hold the vigor he spoke with earlier. "Why is this a problem? Seo Chungae, you just picked a fight in public, with a crowd watching and recording you! Do you know how bothersome this has been? I have been trying to calm the online hordes down for hours now, and the situation with your fan club is no better. Everyone thinks you're a punk who likes to get in random fights with strangers!"
Wait, what?
"Not only that, but you injured two pedestrians. And do you mind telling me what happened with Ryu Jinsang? His father is on my case! Your reputation online isn't helping, either. All I had to do to even everything out was to say that I know you're not that type of person, but without a statement from you, it has become impossible!"
Shit. I didn't think it would come to this. Did anyone focus on me saving Jinsang from those thugs, instead of me beating them up? No? Just me?
The media can be a real pain in the ass sometimes.
I sigh heavily, running a hand through my hair. All it took were a few words from Gil Shinil to tire me out.
"Look," I murmur, my voice low and dejected. "I didn't pick a fight with a few randos. Those two ''innocent'' pedestrians you were talking about? They were beating up Ryu Jinsang for whatever reason. I couldn't just stand there and watch." The way those words came out, so soft and full of worry for my enemy, made me want to throw up. But if this builds the image that I want, then fine.
"Is that true?" My manager's voice lowers. "You were protecting your friend?"
"What, no!" My voice rises again, and I have to fight to keep it down. That was an answer on instinct, a thoughtless mistake. "I mean, yes. I was trying to help him. Ask him if you want, he'd say the same!"
I know Jinsang would never take my side. But if he has sense, he will. He should.
I hear Gil Shinil heave a sigh from the other side of the line. He sounds relieved that the rumors aren't true. That I was doing anything but picking fights randomly. The sound makes me feel bad. I know how hard he works to keep rumors at bay whenever something goes awry. He tries so hard to preserve my image and popularity, and all I do is dump more problems on him. Perhaps I should have been more careful yesterday.
"I'm glad," he says softly. "I would have had a heart attack if anything the media said was true." He chuckles softly, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm sorry." My voice is laced with guilt, coming out heavier than I intended to. That's fine. I mean what I say, anyway.
"Oh, no," Gil Shinil says, contradicting me. "You shouldn't apologize for doing the right thing, saving your friend. This is good, though. When the media realizes how wrong their assumptions were, you will be loved for saving Ryu Myung's son. Not only that, Mr. Ryu himself will come to favor you."
"Oh," I sigh unenthusiastically. I don't want Ryu Myung's favor. I want nothing to do with Ryu Jinsang and his family. All I want is peace away from them.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this. Just pay junior Ryu a visit at the hospital soon. It will look good to the public." Gil Shinil says, once again brightening.
"Got it," I say softly.
"You focus on memorizing your script, yeah?" He reminds. "Shooting starts tomorrow, so you'd best be ready." With that as his parting words, he ends the call.
Now that's worrying.
I had totally forgotten that shooting starts from tomorrow. I haven't even gone through half of the script yet, not with how busy I'd been throughout the weekend. And what about Ryu Jinsang? Isn't he the second lead? Is Director Kim really going to start filming without him?
I suppose it makes sense, though. He'd likely film the scenes where my character appears individually, where Ryu Jinsang won't be needed. It will be a workload for the latter later on, and I look forward to having a few days of work where I won't have to see him.
It appears that I might get something out of this, after all.
I check the time on my phone—it's nine a.m.—and finally get out of bed. I should visit Jinsang at the hospital later in the evening, as revolting as the thought is. But for my public image, I can do it. I have to.
Today will be a busy day. I have to memorize the script word-for-word, and waste my time on my enemy, the person I hate the most in the world. It's a possibility that my manager finds trouble smoothing out the situation online, so he might need me to post a public statement on my social media.
As for my visit to the hospital, I have to formulate a plan that will make Ryu Jinsang regret ever crossing paths with me.
And I have just the perfect idea for it.