Between A and B C12

Chapter 12

Receiving that, I sighed to calm the others and went to the dining table.

“Hyung, you absolutely mustn’t be nervous. Stay relaxed, okay? Before going, let’s each take a Dose of Uhwang Cheongsimhwan. I’ll go get some after I eat. When you feel tense, deep breaths help — inhale deeply, exhale slowly. Hoo, haa, hoo, haa.”

Jinhyuk, trembling with tension, spoke. But I don’t have camera stage fright…

“When exactly is it? When do we leave? Let’s start daily face packs — these days, cameras are so HD you can see pores! Get your eyebrows done later; what is that mess? Are you a mountain bandit? Do you even realize you’re an idol?”

Yunoel exaggerated about my untidy eyebrows, but I had no retort since it was true.

“I’ll lend you my sunscreen and clothes, and my shoes too. Take my snacks; secretly eat them when you’re hungry. You shake when your blood sugar drops.”

Kim Kang’s offer felt like a kid secretly giving me his emergency 500 won cash. No matter how urgent, I couldn’t just take it.

I nodded and picked up my spoon.

“I’ll do deep breathing, wear a mask pack, and apply sunscreen. First, let’s eat.”

“But how do you and Segawon end up going together? We don’t even know what program it is, right?”

Jinhyuk asked curiously with his spoon raised. I nodded.

“I don’t know anything yet. Maybe it’s just a guest spot? I was so surprised I didn’t even ask. They said they’ll contact us soon, so we’ll find out then.”

“Maybe Segawon already knew about the program and came to get closer?”

Yunoel made a good guess. It felt like a weight lifted.

“Maybe so. So it wasn’t with bad intent.”

Silent Kim Kang mumbled while eating scrambled eggs. Yunoel, embarrassed from yesterday’s outburst, cleared his throat awkwardly.

We finished breakfast talking and I did the dishes. While drying my hands, my phone rang. I thought it was the manager contacting already, but it was Jung Woojin.

“Hello.”

“Hi, senior. Are you available to talk?”

“Yeah, I’m okay.”

Was this about the variety show? I wanted to ask, so this was good timing.

“Did you have breakfast?”

“Yeah, just ate.”

“Oh… what about lunch?”

“Lunch? I’ll eat it later.”

“Do you want to have lunch together? I said I’ll treat you today.”

I was speechless at the offer, but guessed it was to talk about the program. I nodded.

“Okay, let’s do that. What time?”

“An hour later? You’ll need time to prepare… I’m ready now.”

I checked the wall clock — it was only 10 am, too early for lunch. Maybe just a cafe visit? I didn’t care much, so I said,

“I haven’t showered yet, so I’ll wash up and contact you.”

“Okay, I’ll wait.”

After hanging up, Yunoel asked,

“Where are you going?”

“Uh, Segawon asked to meet briefly. Probably to talk about the show.”

“Sunscreen.”

“Huh?”

“Put on sunscreen before you go.”

Though annoyed at the sticky feeling, seeing his fierce gaze, I nodded.

After washing, I roughly dried my hair and wore a short-sleeve tee and jeans. Glancing at the door, Yunoel was watching me like a sentinel with arms crossed. I had no choice but to squeeze the sunscreen Kim Kang gave me onto my palm.

I spread it onto my face, neck, and forearms.

“All done?”

“You missed your chin.”

I rubbed my chin and said,

“All done?”

Yunoel inspected my face like a robot searching for flaws and nodded. After getting permission, I messaged Jung Woojin.

[Where should I meet?]

The reply came instantly.

[I’m waiting down below. Just come out.]

As I read the message, I hesitated. Had I told him exactly where I stayed? Or had he asked the manager? When had he started waiting?

“Take your mask too.”

Turning, Jinhyuk handed me a mask. Accepting it, I answered blankly.

“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”

“Be careful. Don’t get into trouble before the shoot.”

“Got it.”

“Good luck!”

Kim Kang, sitting on the sofa drinking misutgaru, waved at me. I waved back, put on my sneakers, and hurried down the stairs. Approaching an expensive-looking car parked in the alley, Jung Woojin emerged even before I got close.

“…”

“Senior!”

I had to stop walking. Jung Woojin, unmasked and barefaced, raised his hands and waved. Thankfully, no one else was around.

“Uh.”

I waved awkwardly and then sprinted to the car, opening the front passenger door and getting in.

“Hello.”

Jung Woojin greeted as he got into the driver’s seat. I took a quick breath and nodded.

“Hey, don’t people recognize you?”

“There’s no one around.”

“Really? Since when have you been waiting? Call me if you come.”

He didn’t respond but just smiled shyly. It was a little strange, so I didn’t ask more. It wasn’t important anyway.

“You heard, right? Our variety show…”

I stopped speaking. Jung Woojin suddenly leaned in and buckled my seatbelt.

“…?”

I was confused, frozen like a stone pressed into the seat. When the seatbelt clicked, I came to my senses.

“What are you doing?”

He looked innocent.

“You don’t usually wear seatbelts?”

“What? Of course I do.”

I always put on seatbelts myself, never had someone do it for me. I was too surprised to respond properly, and the car started moving softly.

“Senior, did you hear? We’re doing the variety show together.”

“…”

Still stunned, I blinked and stared ahead. Jung Woojin looked toward me. I cleared my throat and said,

“I heard this morning, just now.”

“Do you know what kind of show it is?”

“No, not really… do you?”

Though I still wondered why he buckled me in, I thought maybe he was just being kind.

“Do you know shows where they go to the countryside, cook and fish? Pick veggies and make food from them?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of something similar.”

“Right. The PD is Song Cheol. He directed a rural real variety show years ago, and this time it seems like a pilot.”

Song Cheol? If it’s the same one I know, he was quite famous in variety shows until a few years ago. Why was I cast? No connection at all. Just the company’s introduction?

“Song Cheol is known for pushing cast members hard, but this show won’t be like that. That’s okay, right?”

I nodded. Song Cheol was known for being strict; his previous rural show forced cast members to win games for meals and shelter. One time, a cast member lost all games and had to sleep outside in a tent at -20°C. Whether it was real or staged, the show earned him the nickname “Satan.” Variety shows shifted to healing and observational genres, and the show naturally ended.

This was a pilot but my comeback work. It baffled me even more.

Why me?