The CEO Forced Me to Be a Movie Queen! (GL) - Chapter 10

When Seol-soo returned, it was already past 11:00 PM. President Choi dropped her off at the doorstep, and Seol-soo headed back to the dorm clutching the heavy stack of books.

She didn’t dare turn on the lights for fear of waking the others. Guided only by the glow of her phone, she was startled to hear Ji-hyo’s low whisper: “Are you back? How did it go?”

Seol-soo set the books by the side of the lower bunk. “It went… alright,” she whispered back.

Ji-hyo peered over the edge of the top bunk. “You brought back a lot of books. Did the director require it? Are you preparing for a role?”

I suppose you could put it that way.

Seol-soo let out a weary sigh. “It’s a requirement. I don’t know the first thing about movies, after all.”

Ji-hyo smiled. “Then it’s a good start. Even if you don’t get the role this time, if you’re prepared, there’s always a next time.”

Seol-soo nodded, sighing again at the daunting stack of texts. Though she had always been a good student, she hadn’t touched a textbook in a year. Still, she wasn’t afraid of things that could be conquered through hard work. She looked up at Ji-hyo; the girl’s blue hair looked a bit ghostly in the pitch-black room. Seol-soo reached out, brushing a stray strand of Ji-hyo’s hair away. “Go to sleep. It’s late.”

Touched by the gesture, Ji-hyo’s gaze softened. “You should rest too. Papa said the investment cleared. Training is paused tomorrow—the company is moving, and we’re moving dorms.”

“Moving?” Seol-soo hadn’t heard.

Ji-hyo beamed. “Since we’re now under NEWONE, the company name is changing to NEWONE-SPE. NEWONE has its own office tower downtown, and they’ve given us an entire vacant floor.” She looked genuinely excited about the new environment. “They gave us a new dorm, too… high-rise apartments, thirty square meters per person. Right near the office. All five of us will have our own space.”

This was the kind of treatment usually reserved for top-tier groups. Seol-soo offered a small smile. “Are you happy, Ji-hyo?”

Ji-hyo nodded. “Of course. This is elite treatment. It’s not just a resurrection anymore; we’re moving up in the world.”

“As long as you’re happy,” Seol-soo murmured.

Hearing such a doting tone, Ji-hyo leaned closer. “Hey… your favorite member isn’t actually Yoo-ri, is it?”

Seol-soo took a breath. In the stillness of the night, she shook her head.

Ji-hyo met her eyes, a faint, satisfied smile playing on her lips. “It’s me, isn’t it?”

Normally, Seol-soo would deflect or stay silent. But tonight, the rain outside seemed to amplify her exhaustion and the damp, heavy feeling in her chest. She looked at the blue-haired girl and gave a soft smile. She climbed quietly up to the second bunk, leaned into Ji-hyo’s ear, and said in her deep, velvety voice: “It’s you.”

Ji-hyo’s heart skipped a beat. The air around her was suddenly filled with the girl’s faint, clean scent.

Tonight, Seol-soo seemed uncharacteristically vulnerable. She switched off her phone light and huddled close to Ji-hyo. “I’m a little scared… Can I sleep with you?”

Since her sister Seol-jung had passed away, Seol-soo often made this request whenever the anniversary of the tragedy drew near.

Ji-hyo let out a slow breath and nodded. She pulled the thin blanket over both of them, sharing the narrow, hard bunk. Seol-soo curled into Ji-hyo’s right side. “Hwa-sun’s shyness today… it reminded me of Seol-jung,” she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears.

Ji-hyo held her, offering the only comfort she could. “Seol-jung is probably doing well in heaven. Don’t worry.”

Physically and mentally drained, Seol-soo nodded. “Ji-hyo…”

“Mhm?”

Seol-soo couldn’t find the words. A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. Finally, she whispered, “Things will get better, won’t they?”

She rarely allowed herself to be this emotional. Ji-hyo’s breath hitched, her gaze turning incredibly tender. “They will.”

Seol-soo nodded, closed her eyes, and drifted into a fitful, seeking sleep by her friend’s side.

*****

The Next Morning.

Regardless of how late she slept, Seol-soo always woke at 6:30 AM. She would wash up first, then wake the younger ones, prepare their milk, and make oatmeal. For the younger ones like Moon-wol, she’d even squeeze the toothpaste onto their brushes to keep them moving.

They had been a group for nearly three years. Moon-wol and Yoo-ri were only fourteen when they joined; they had practically been raised by Seol-soo. They followed her lead instinctively.

The sky had cleared by morning. Yoo-ri was the first to wake, but she didn’t hear the usual sounds of the leader in the kitchen. She assumed Seol-soo hadn’t returned last night, but then Moon-wol pointed to the top bunk. Seol-soo was still fast asleep in Ji-hyo’s arms.

Moon-wol climbed down quietly, pressing a finger to her lips. “That date is next week,” she whispered to Yoo-ri. “Unnie must be feeling down.”

Yoo-ri nodded. Every year during this month, their “Big Sister” entered a period of mourning. Ji-hyo had told them that three years ago, while Seol-soo was still a trainee at a major agency, she received a call from the police. Her mother and sister had suffered carbon monoxide poisoning at their home in the countryside.

Her mother survived but suffered brain damage, remaining in a nursing home to this day. Seol-soo’s beloved younger sister, Seol-jung, did not make it.

The younger girls only knew the outline of the tragedy; Ji-hyo was the only one who had been there to support Seol-soo through it. Because it was so painful, they never asked for details. They just made sure to be extra well-behaved during this time of year.

“Let’s go to the kitchen and make her a sandwich,” Yoo-ri whispered. “She can eat when she wakes up. It might make her feel a bit better.”

The two slipped into the tiny kitchen. Moon-wol, a self-proclaimed “cooking black hole,” could only watch as Yoo-ri skillfully handled the bread and vegetables.

Yoo-ri was the youngest child of two engineers; she came from a stable, well-to-do family. Her parents were supportive and doted on her. Moon-wol’s family was more average, and as the only girl among brothers, she was a bit of a mischievous tomboy who loved hanging out with Ji-hyo.

“How touching, Yoo-ri making food for everyone,” Moon-wol teased in her ear.

Yoo-ri giggled, dodging her. “Don’t do that, it tickles.”

“I like Yoo-ri the most,” Moon-wol chirped. “You’re pretty and so capable.”

Moon-wol had been saying things like that since kindergarten, making sure everyone knew how proud she was of her best friend.

Yoo-ri frowned playfully. “It’s because you say things like that that the fans call you ‘greasy,’ Moon-wol.”

Moon-wol didn’t care. “But it’s the truth! You really are pretty.”

Yoo-ri’s heart warmed, and she surreptitiously popped a cherry tomato into Moon-wol’s mouth. Moon-wol chewed happily, her eyes crinkling into crescents. Looking at her “silly” best friend, Yoo-ri couldn’t help but lean in and peck Moon-wol on the cheek.

Just then, Ji-hyo, hearing noises in the kitchen, opened the door thinking there might be mice. She caught them in the act.

“Agh! Can you guys stop with the PDA?” Ji-hyo groaned. These kids were way too open with their feelings. She hated these “Conjoined Twins”—it was too early for this much fluff.

Moon-wol, unphased, wrapped her arms around Yoo-ri’s waist. “Ji-hyo Unnie is just jealous because we’re so close.”

“We’ve been together since kindergarten,” Yoo-ri added, blushing slightly but standing her ground. “We’ve never been apart… hugging and kissing is normal.” She didn’t see anything wrong with it; she simply loved Moon-wol. Back in middle school, when Moon-wol had briefly dated a boy, Yoo-ri had been so miserable she could barely function. Eventually, Moon-wol broke up with him to spare Yoo-ri’s feelings. Yoo-ri sometimes hated her own possessiveness, but she was grateful Moon-wol never found it a burden.

Ji-hyo sighed, defeated. “Just… don’t provoke me.”

“But we’re jealous of you and Seol-soo Unnie, too,” Yoo-ri said, plating the sandwiches. “You’ve been through so much together. Moon-wol and I have just been together a long time, but we haven’t faced real hardship. Who knows? If things got tough, she might abandon me.”

“How can you say that? You’re breaking my heart!” Moon-wol pouted.

Yoo-ri coaxed her with a plate. “Eat. I’m just reminding you—you’re not allowed to leave me.”

Moon-wol brightened instantly at the sight of food. “If I were a boy, I’d marry you. Since I’m a girl, we’ll just be friends forever. I’m never leaving you.”

Yoo-ri felt a bittersweet pang at those words. “I wouldn’t date a boy like you anyway,” she teased. “Immature and noisy—not my type at all.”

“Then I’m glad I’m like this,” Moon-wol chirped. “Yoo-ri likes me because I’m cute.”

Ji-hyo had heard enough. She grabbed a sandwich and started eating. “If I were a boy, would you date me, Yoo-ri?”

Yoo-ri looked at Seol-soo, who had just finished washing up and stepped into the kitchen. “I wouldn’t have a chance, would I? Unnie and Ji-hyo would have been a couple since middle school. Didn’t you walk her to and from school every single day?”

Seol-soo’s brow furrowed slightly as she overheard. “I wouldn’t have had a chance either,” she said dryly. “She would have been dating other girls.”

Ji-hyo’s face turned bright red. “That… that was a misunderstanding!”

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