Chapter 9
Inah gave a awkward, uneasy smile at Dohyun’s words.
If the actors struggled with a movement or couldn’t grasp the emotions of their characters, she could always step in to guide them. That was part of her responsibility.
Yet, Inah couldn’t bring herself to say she would do it or step forward. She feared that her personal feelings for Dohyun would show too clearly to him.
“Director?”
Dohyun raised his voice slightly toward Inah, who was sitting quietly.
Inah glanced at the actors’ eyes on her, steeling herself, and set the script she was holding down. She rose from her seat and approached him.
Seorin naturally stepped aside, giving way to her.
“If… this were Rosalyn, I think she would feel this way here.”
Inah took a deep, steady breath and nodded slightly, signaling for the music to start.
The practice room filled with music once more.
What must Rosalyn have been thinking as she pushed Orlando away? Why did she feel she had to protect a new life, even if it meant giving up her dreams?
Through Inah’s red lips, a Rosalyn distinct from Seorin conveyed the character’s emotions deeply on stage.
Her face heated slightly during brief eye contact with Dohyun, but Inah refocused on her performance.
When the song ended, the actors clapped in unison.
“Wow, so the director used to be an actor… no wonder!”
“I honestly thought you were Rosalyn herself.”
Blushing, Inah offered an awkward smile at their compliments. Her gaze then fell on Seorin.
“Seorin, do you understand now?”
Seorin nodded softly.
Had Inah just imagined the faint tension in her expression?
Breathing heavily, Inah returned to her seat and picked up her script. Her heart felt full, the kind of thrill she hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Thank you for your hard work!”
The day, full of twists and turns, had finally ended.
Feeling that today had been unusually long, Inah left the practice room and habitually glanced at her wristwatch. She then raised her head at the sound of Seorin’s voice echoing down the corridor.
“Oppa!”
Unlike during practice, Seorin’s cheerful voice rang out as she stood in front of the elevator. She ran up to Dohyun and naturally linked arms with him, ignoring anyone else’s gaze, smiling brightly at him alone.
Watching Seorin look at him so tenderly, Inah hesitated, unsure of how to move.
Seorin called out again.
“Are you free tonight?”
“Why?”
“My mom wants to have dinner together. Let’s go to our house.”
Seeing the two of them so close, Inah’s face involuntarily stiffened.
Baek Dohyun—he said we’re nothing, that it’s just a misunderstanding—but it turned out he was lying, not me.
“I’ll pass on dinner. I have plans.”
“Can’t you postpone? My mom called, and she wants us to eat together. There’s something to talk about.”
After watching them disappear into the elevator, Inah resumed walking. Some might call her cowardly, but after Dohyun’s absurd confession yesterday, she felt awkward running into him outside the practice room. She had decided it was better to avoid him again.
After stopping briefly at the office to greet Hwi, Inah hurried to the parking lot to meet Chan for dinner. The growing urgency made her walk faster.
Just as she started the engine, a knock sounded on the driver-side window.
Inah’s eyes flickered uneasily.
“We still have things to talk about.”
Had Dohyun expected her to run? He swung open the door of the driver’s seat.
Inah furrowed her brows at his reckless behavior and words, exasperated.
“What are you doing? Move.”
“I didn’t hear your answer.”
Was he always this persistent? Inah let out a long sigh.
She knew well that nothing he said yesterday was a lie. She also knew that if he set his mind to something, he would do whatever it took to accomplish it. She used to like that about him—the focus, the drive.
But now, that same persistence directed at her left her with a strange feeling.
“You talk on your own, make conclusions, and now you want to hear my answer? What’s the point?”
“So, you’re saying you don’t dislike it?”
Seeing no point in arguing with his determination, Inah pressed her lips shut.
Dohyun’s faint smile barely noticeable, he closed the driver-side door he was holding.
Was he leaving? Inah looked out the window—only to see him open the passenger seat door and sit down, almost mocking her thoughts.
“Let’s have dinner. Together.”
“Baek Dohyun.”
“Why did you stop acting?”
“What…?”
“I liked seeing you in the audience, but I liked seeing you act on stage with me earlier even more.”
“……”
“So why did someone who loves acting so much quit to become a director?”
Inah clamped her mouth shut at his words. What did he want to say? Did he want to hear about what happened during the six years since they parted, or was he genuinely curious?
She decided she couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke sharply.
“I don’t owe you an explanation.”
“……”
“And I think I clearly said I don’t want to talk privately anymore… You’re the worst.”
She had meant to hurt him, but somehow, it felt like she had hurt herself more.
A brief silence fell between them. Dohyun glanced at her, seemingly about to get out, but Inah misread it.
“……!!”
In an instant, his face moved close to hers, as if to kiss. Inah instinctively held her breath.
The scent of his cologne spun her senses into disarray.
Seeing her frozen, he smirked.
“Men are most attractive when they’re the worst.”
Trapped in his gaze, with no way to escape, Inah’s heart raced and she gripped her sleeve tightly.
She barely found her voice.
“G-get away!”
“Really?”
“Baek Dohyun…!”
She shoved him, but he didn’t budge. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and tilted his head slightly.
Inah squeezed her eyes shut.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
With a voice tinged with laughter, his cologne gradually faded.
“You shouldn’t be too terrible.”
His last words were followed by a loud slam of the car door.
Once he got out, Inah finally opened her eyes and watched his retreating back.
Her body, tense the whole time, went slack.
She leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes. She had drawn a line to keep him away, shoved him with harsh words, yet when he approached, she had almost… hoped.
She let out a hollow laugh, covering her face with both palms and splashing water on her dry cheeks.
She felt a flicker of regret—maybe she shouldn’t have returned to Korea.
“You’re the worst, Seina.”
With a sigh, Inah’s car slowly exited the parking lot.
