Touch your Heart

II.

"I said I'll do this." Hyewon insists with a smile plastered on her face.

"I got that the first time but that script isn't for you!" Is all that it takes for Hyewon's smile to turn upside down in just a second. Despite the information, the grasps she has on the book are still there, hugging it on her chest.

"You should have said that in the first place. I got my hopes up for nothing then." Her voice, it trails with sulk and disappointment. Her gaze slowly diverts from the script to her manager as she extends her arms to hand it to him, a sadness then quickly replaces her attitude as she feels like parting away to something she can definitely do. "Who's that for anyway?"

"Hwang Miso." Words the manager has spoken that made Hyewon glare at him in an instant, shivers run through his spine. "I mean she was supposed to be cast as the main character but it seems like she doesn't want to take the role for particular reasons."

"Is that so? Then that should be given to me! You know, I can definitely nail the role. An attorney with soft, gentle, and elegant features. This series may even be my debut on the big screen." Hyewon looks at her manager with pleading eyes, along with an innocent smile that is comparable to a child having their favorite toy given to them. "Please."

•=============================•

"No." Hyewon is definitely amused to hear the answer from the author of the script. She is taken aback by the abrupt words, the immediate rejection is somehow a little too fast and overwhelming for her.

Her manager shares the same reaction with her. Both are puzzled by the answer, while the author keeps her expression serious, it is a gaze that can probably command you in a second. The author's expression is already enough to tell that any attempts to persuade her for Hyewon as a cast will be nothing.

"Can you at least tell us the reason for your rejection?" The manager takes the stage and asks for Hyewon's stead.

"This story is challenging especially for you who'll have and consider this as your debut on the big screen, if I may say Hyewon-ssi. Also I do get that you need something to work on after all these long years of nothing but don't you think it's a big jump?" The last words definitely struck Hyewon like lightning as the author's words sounded harsh.

Though it baffles Hyewon by the words of the author, she's all in for the series or so that is what she thought. Silence fills the air along with an awkward atmosphere in the room. They are exchanging glances trying to determine what's to come next.

"Fine. On one condition..."

•=============================•

"Law firm? One year? As if three months wasn't long enough!" A loud voice is heard in a large room filled with wallpaper of people, even with the soft materials such as couches and soundproof walls and a door, there is still a chance lingering that the loud voice can still be heard outside the room. Furious, as she is, Hyewon looks at her company Director, sitting on his chair while her manager sits across the table. "Isn't that too much for someone like me? Byeonsanim?"

*변사님(Byeon-Sa-Nim) - Director in English.*

The director is minding his own business until Hyewon asks him the question, although it seems like he isn't paying any attention to her rambling at all he definitely is hearing and understanding everything she said and is now obligated to answer her question.

"Yeah!"

"And with that condition, I don't think I'll be able to accept the role for this series. I do not care anymore." Hyewon remarks with frustration and irritation lingering in her voice. She sighs deeply as she keeps remembering the conversation earlier.

"I mean it will be your big screen debut so it's a large step. All I am asking you is a year of practice in law, it would be shorter if you had an experience, like at least a semester in law, but as we know you do not have so probably a year would be fitting and the greatest choice I can give you. You waited a long time for a big screen role, so what is a year for you? Right?"

As the director hears Hyewon's words, he leaves his seat and joins them on the table, taking the single couch. He looks at the manager and smiles.

"Jisung, well as you heard her words, she does not want any participation in that drama so why don't you give that author a call and tell her that our Kang Hyewon here is not going to take the role, never. I don't care if she begs for it, consider shouting or cursing at her as long as you tell her that we will not take it, okay?!" All those words come out in just a matter of seconds from the director, the haste with his words made Hyewon look at him with surprise. Although it was said in a quick manner, Jisung, the manager of Hyewon was able to comprehend all that.

"But this might be the last offer she can have on a big screen for years." Hyewon's eyes grow wide as she processes her manager's words. Hesitation is now overwhelming her along with frustration, she struggles to determine whether to actually reject the role or take it considering her circumstances.

Hyewon glances at the script on the table, to her manager, and to the director as her mind keeps contemplating to pick her own decision. She bites her lip as it keeps overwhelming her. While she's busy choosing an option, the voices of the other people in the room can be heard arguing which adds more fuel to her, getting pressured too much at the current situation.

"FINE! I'll t... t.. r..." Her sudden outburst stopped the two from proving their point from one another, their eyes turned at her, unable to process her last words while she on the other hand was hiding her face in defeat.

"What?" The director asks.

"I'LL TAKE THE ROLE, OKAY!" Hyewon shouts once more to clear everything in an instant, still hiding her face in defeat after losing her pride against the condition given to her. Cheers have immediately erupted in the room, curve on the lips of the two.

"Cool, now call the author and tell her that Hyewon has accepted her offer..." A brief silence follows after, in that span of time, he turns his attention towards Hyewon. "Congratulations to our Hyewon! She's finally going to be on a big screen! Just a few more steps and you'll bring your name back to the industry." The director celebrated with excitement in his voice, clapping excessively along with laughter of joy but only to stop when he noticed that no one was paying attention to him, clearing his throat as a way to excuse himself from the awkward atmosphere.

On the other hand, Hyewon is still hiding her face as she faces her side with her eyes closed. It's too much to bear in just a few seconds, a while ago she was annoyed, pressured, overwhelmed, and then annoyed once again at the sudden noise.

"Just so you know we can't offer you anything once you start working in the firm, is that okay with you?" The director asks.

"It's fine!" Her words are trailed with annoyance.

The director stands up from sitting on the couch, walking his way towards his table. "Call. I'm going to contact the firm I know. There's no backing out now, Hyewon."

"I know!" In her mind are questions that arise, asking her whether her decision is right or not. She huffs in annoyance, and bites her bottom lip once more.

Silence has engulfed the atmosphere, her manager is busy talking to the author, while the director is talking to someone on the line, which is supposedly the person he knows. After a few more minutes, her manager's call comes to an end followed by the director a few seconds after, and a few more seconds after he walks back to the single couch and takes his seat. "I have made the call. Tomorrow's the start of your work."

Hyewon could only sigh at her situation, while the two are grinning.