20: Restart

“Nam Woohyun!”

When Woohyun turned around to face me, he was already wearing a stupid grin on his face. This morning, I called him on the phone to ask for a favor. That is, to join the drama club.

I was never interested in joining clubs. The only club that I joined was the Nature Club back when I was still in 9th grade, but that was because Sungyeol asked me to sign up as a member. Club activities are just a waste of time, so I quit right away. Since then, I haven’t joined any clubs. It’s not like students are required to join, anyway.

So why exactly am I doing this? Have I decided to accept Sungyeol’s challenge and try to win over Jung Jieun’s heart?

I’m not even sure yet. I’m not sure if I want to face my feelings for her straight-on. But I do know that I would go insane if I don’t do something or try anything.

“So…have you agreed to let me join?” I asked Woohyun hesitantly. If it’s the old me, I’d find it awkward to ask a favor from any of my gang members, especially since I’m the leader. But I realized recently that before we were a gang, we were just a group of friends who hang out together. So I’ve decided to rely on my friends from now on whenever I’m in a pinch

“Of course, man!” With his annoying grin, Woohyun roughly slapped his hand against my shoulder. Normally, I would have hit him back, but I might lose my chance of joining the club so I resisted. It was really painful, though. “But do you know how to act? I was actually looking for an understudy for my role in the play. My character has a romantic relationship with Minjung’s character, and the story’s really great. We thought of it together and…”

This guy sure talks a lot. I can’t even keep up with whatever he’s saying. Besides, I don’t know how to act. I don’t really want this understudy job. I just want to be a club member and—

“…Minjung already chose Jieun-sshi as her understudy so—“

“I’LL DO IT!”

Both Woohyun and I were shocked at my sudden outburst. Yeah, I was also surprised ‘cause, well, I SAID IT UNCONSCIOUSLY!

“Oh…well…” Woohyun looked confused for a moment, but he suddenly had that stupid grin on his face again after a while. “I didn’t know you were this enthusiastic about theatre! It must have been hard to hide your desire for the arts for so long!”

IT WASN’T! THERE WAS NO SUCH DESIRE! “Y-Yeah…I guess—“

“Wait, shhh!” Woohyun suddenly placed a finger on my lips, which was really disgusting by the way ‘cause who would want to feel another guy’s finger on their lips?! But as usual, I had to stay calm because he is the drama club’s president. “I hear someone talking.”

We both leaned our heads closer to the wall that separates us from the main stage.

“Minjung-sshi insisted on having an understudy just for the sake of having an understudy. I’m not even worried about being Woohyun’s understudy ‘cause I know I won’t be performing anyway.”

I’m pretty sure that was Sungyeol’s voice. Who could he be talking to?

“But Minjung said we should still join the rehearsal with them this week,”

I gasped. It’s Jung Jieun’s voice!

“It’s fine with me but, aren’t you already busy enough as the director?”

Upon hearing that, Woohyun suddenly stepped out of our hiding place. I didn’t even have time to stop him.

“Don’t worry! I have a solution to that!” he said with his loud, annoying voice.

“Woohyun? Where have you been?” I heard Sungyeol ask. I paced back and forth in the backstage, wondering if I should show myself or just run away.

“I have found my understudy.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be me?”

I stopped pacing and began thinking hard. So…Sungyeol is the understudy? Which means, if anything happens to Woohyun and Minjung, Sungyeol and Jieun would have to take their roles? Should I just back away and let Sungyeol be the understudy? But…is it right to just give in like that?

With hesitant steps, I marched out of my hiding place and showed myself. Woohyun’s face gleamed with joy, while Sungyeol and Jieun were dumbfounded.

“Ta-dah!”

Dammit, Nam Woohyun. Read the friggin’ atmosphere.

“Kim