Beginning
The soft golden light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the peaceful apartment. The air was calm, save for the odd rustle of fabric as Sinb shifted in her slumber. Sowon had woken up early, her body naturally adapted to starting the day before the world around her really came to life.
She looked over at Sinb, who was curled up on the couch with her hoodie pulled over her head and arms tucked close to her chest. Sowon's lips curved into a tiny smile. It was unusual to see Sinb so calm—without the customary playful taunting, dramatic groans, or snarky comments.
Sowon walked quietly across the kitchen, making a basic breakfast. She wasn't the best chef, but she knew Sinb wouldn't go without eating, especially after flying so late the night before to see her.
As the aroma of warm food entered the room, she placed a plate on the table and gently stirred Sinb awake.
"Wake up," she muttered.
Sinb grumbled, drawing the hoodie over her face. "Five more minutes…"
Sowon chuckled. "You have practice, remember?"
Sinb sighed deeply before finally rising up and pushing the sleep out of her eyes. She smirked as she stared at the dish in front of her. "You made me breakfast? How rare."
Sowon rolled her eyes while smiling. "Just eat before you're late."
They sat together in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the occasional clinking of cutlery and the soft whirring of the heater. As Sinb finished her lunch, she rose up, stretching lazily before getting her things.
Before she could leave, Sowon stepped forward and, in a rare display of affection, leaned in to kiss SinB's cheek.
Sinb blinked, clearly taken aback, before a slow smirk tugged on her lips. "What was that for?"
"Just take care of yourself," Sowon stated simply.
Sinb giggled. "You’re so soft sometimes."
Sowon sneered. "Go before I regret it."
Sinb laughed as he walked out the door, leaving Sowon alone in the quiet apartment once more.
With SinB gone, Sowon resumed her daily routine. She fed Meonji, the tiny dog, cheerfully wagging its tail as she laid its bowl down. As she made her own breakfast, she flipped through the script lying on the counter, her fingertips going over the nicely typed sentences.
Acting.
It was something entirely new for her.
She had always been comfortable in front of the camera as an idol, but this was different. This was about becoming someone else, about expressing emotions that weren’t entirely her own. She wanted to do it right. She wanted to demonstrate to herself—and everyone watching—that she could succeed in this, just as she had as a leader.
She read the lines while holding a spoon in one hand and her script in the other, delicately mouthing the words as she tried to express the correct emotions.
Her character was complex, with multiple layers of emotions that needed to be carefully dissected. It wasn't enough to simply recite the phrases; she needed to feel them.
"How do I make this sound natural…?" she wondered to herself.
She tried again, varying the tone of her voice and the emphasis on specific words. However many times she said it, she felt something was lacking.
Sowon sighed as she placed the script down and finished her breakfast. She had a meeting with the director and the cast later that day, when she intended to learn more about how she could improve
A few hours later, Sowon walked into the huge, sophisticated studio where she would meet the director and her other cast members. She had met several of them during the audition process, but today was the day they would formally work together as a team.
As she came in, she felt a little flutter in her chest. It had been long since she felt like a newcomer to things.
The director, a seasoned filmmaker with many years of experience, greeted her kindly. "Welcome, Sowon. I'm glad you arrived early."
"Thank you for having me," she replied with a polite bow.
Her co-stars gradually came, and the room was soon alive with talk. Some were established actors who had been in the industry for years, while others, like her, were fresh to the scene.
After everyone had settled, the director stood up. "All right, let's begin. This initial gathering is to become acquainted with one another and gain a better idea of the story we're bringing to life."
They began with a table read, working over the script together. Sowon paid special attention to how the more experienced performers said their lines. Their voices conveyed weight and emotion in an effortless, natural way.
When it was her turn, she took a big breath before reading her lines. She did her best to immerse herself in the scene and elicit the appropriate feelings, but as she finished, she could sense it wasn't quite there yet.
The director smiled at her encouragingly. "That was good, Sowon. You have a strong presence, which is excellent. Try to relax a little more. Acting is not about perfect delivery; it is about feeling. Let's try it again, but this time don't overthink the lines. Simply react naturally."
Sowon nodded, absorbing his advice. She tried again, concentrating less on how she said the words and more on why her character said them.
This time, things felt different. More real.
One of her co-stars, a senior actor, gave her a subtle wink. "That was better. You are learning quickly."
She felt a little sense of pride at the praise, but she realized she still had a long way to go.
Following the meeting, Sowon remained behind to speak with the director.
"I really want to do well," she said. "Do you have any advice on how I can improve?"
The director smiled. "You already have the basis—your presence and ability to demand attention. You just need to let go a little. Watch movies and study how individuals express their emotions in real life. Most importantly, do not be scared to make mistakes"
Sowon nodded while taking mental notes.
As she exited the studio, she felt both exhausted and excited. She had learned so much in just one day, and she knew there was still a lot more to learn.
When she got home, she saw Meonji waiting at the entrance, tail wagging excitedly.
She grinned and scooped the small dog into her arms. "I think today was a good day, Meonji."
Meonji agreed by barking.
Sowon set her things down, stretched, and let out a deep breath.
She had taken another step forward. And for the first time in a long time, she truly felt like she was moving towards something new—something that was hers.
One step at a time.