Candy ✦ jjk [✔]

🧃chapter three🧃

"I wanted to become an actress. As long as I can remember. All my life my only dream was to be recognized and known for my talents. I always dreamt of playing in a movie. First I wanted to be the main character. I wanted to be the face of the one people think of when hearing the title. Then it turned into the side-character. The one some people find annoying while the others love them. Now... now I would be happy if I played a tree. Which is never going to happen. Me," the gril scoffs, "An actress. Never."

Mr. Jeon doesn't know how to comfort the girl that just opened up to him. She just shared something so personal. Just like he just did.

A big sighs fills Jeongmin's chest. He notices her holding back her tears.

"Don't cry. It's unnecessary. You only cry when you've failed. And you... you haven't failed yet," Mr. Jeon tries to comfort her.

"What do u mean?" Her red eyes slowly find her way towards his.

"I mean that you could still become an actress!" he says. A quick laugh leaves Jeongmin's mouth.

"Sure," she says uninterested. Jeongmin walks to the door of her office, feeling Mr. Jeon's presence following behind her.

"You are, what? 22 years old?"

"23," she quickly corrects.

"23. Your are 23 years old. Your are still so young! Don't you realize? You still have your entire life! Everything you want is in front of you. You just have to grab it! The opportunities are endless. Believe me. If you aren't doing it now, it will never happen. I'm serious. It's now or never."

Jeongmin looks over her shoulder listening to what the old man is telling her. It's now or never. Does she even realize it? No, she doesn't. She has lost all hope.

He doesn't know. He doesn't realize how long she has been fighting. From acting classes to auditions to getting rejected over and over again. She's young, but the opportunities aren't endless.

She has the store. That's where she belongs. People love her. People praise her for her talents. Her talents of serving the customers.

If that's what makes people happy she will do it. To please others.

She drops her head back down. She locks her office and turns around. Without making eye contact she walks past Mr. Jeon.

"Jeongmin," Mr. Jeon speaks. She stops walking.

"Yes?"

"I believe in you."

Jeongmin's eyes widen. Those words. Yet so simple, yet so meaningful.

Ever since she was young she hoped one day somebody would believe in her, but no one ever did. Not even her closed friends. Not even her family, but now this random man told her that he believes in her. He doesn't even know her! How can he believe in her?

"Don't waste your time," she says frivolously and continuous walking towards the cash register.

"I'm not. You are."

She stops walking, again. She lets out a big breath. Jeongmin has had enough of this man. Who the fuck does he think he is. He wasn't there when people told her to give up. He didn't hear the voices of her teachers yelling at her for being the worst student they've ever had.

She wants to stay calm but can't.

"Shut up! Just shut up!" she yells.

The man is flabbergasted. Slowly silence fills the store. The only thing you can hear is Jeongmin's breathing being on the edge of cracking and overflowing with tears.

"Jeo-"

"NO! LEAVE! I WANT YOU TO LEAVE! Now. Please. I want to be alone," Jeongmin starts to whimper.

Mr. Jeon knows what to do. Leave. He has said what he needed to and now it's time to go.

He grabs his groceries and walks towards the exit. His head turns one last time and looks at the girl on her knees. Crying. Then, he leaves.

🧃

"Idiot," she says as she's looking in the bathroom mirror. Her grip tight on the sink.

She isn't talking to herself. She's talking to that man who said that he believed in her.

Idiot.

That's what he is.

After 17 years of not being believed in, Jeongmin can't convince herself otherwise, let alone a customer of hers.

She sighs. He was right. She's wasting her time. Why did she even bring it up? It doesn't matter. Dreams are to be dreamt about, not to be executed.

She turns on the sink and lets the cold water touch her hands. She washes her face and turns off the sink.

Time for bed.

She walks over to her room and sits down on her bed.

The store isn't so bad. The customers are so nice to her, always. Hearing all the stories in town. Jeongmin doesn't even need a newspaper.

She lays down on her bed. She turns to her side and grabs her teddybear and holds it tight in her arms.

"Goodnight bear," she whispers against the stuffed animal and closes her eyes.

🧃

I know y'all are waiting for Jaykaayy...
Next chapter (;

nina