From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show-Novel

Chapter 440  I'm In Trouble, I'm An Addict

The set turned eerily silent as June uttered those words. For this particular scene, Nana expected them to retake it plenty of times because of its complexity. Jin, June's character, was the golden boy of New Heights Academy. His life was supposedly 'perfect.' He had good looks, was the top student of the school, and was adored by everyone in the school—except Nayeon. However, what they didn't know was Jin's life wasn't golden as it seemed. Unlike the students of New Heights Academy, who were born with golden spoons in their mouths, Jin was only able to enter because of an academic scholarship. Behind his sparkly looks was a poor life. Of course, the author had to give him a sad backstory so people would fall in love with him even more! This scene was pivotal for the drama because it showed Jin's facade being broken. This was the very first time he was breaking out of his 'cool' persona, so it was a fan favorite among those who read the webtoon. June was aware of this fact because Jisung and Akira had given him a crash course on 'Hate To Love You.' He realized that this scene was vital to the drama, so he wanted to give justice to his character. So, during his very limited breaks, he called Hana to ask her for some tips on how to project such emotions better on the screen. "You think I enjoy being the center of attention, Nayeon? You think it's easy being 'Jin'?" his voice rose with frustration. For a moment, Arin was stunned. The two had acted together for a couple of days now, and Arin couldn't deny that June was a decent actor. However, it was still obvious that June was an amateur, especially during more complex and intimate scenes. However, the scene he was portraying right now was a different story. Arin snapped back to her character, taken aback, before shaking her head. "I never said that, Jin. I just…" "That's all I have," Jin cut her words early. He took a deep breath, and in that moment of vulnerability, he dug deep into the feelings he had buried deep within his heart. Nᴇw chapters are publɪshed on ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt

"I need this scholarship, Nayeon," he finally revealed the truth.

Director Nana and Bubbles held their breaths as they waited for his next line. It definitely wasn't perfect. It was awkward at some points. However, there was a certain charm to June's acting. Every scene he portrayed felt like it wasn't truly 'acting,' but an extension of his real self instead. The extras watching were also surprised by June's hidden talent. They were all familiar with June because of Rising Stars and King of Kings, and they never expected someone who was good at singing and dancing to also be great at acting. Jin raked his hands through his hair, and that seemed to make the Halo Light more obvious.

It wasn't a blatant light that floated around him. However, it gave him a certain 'aura' that made those watching unable to tear their gazes away from him. Even Arin, who was supposed to not be able to meet June's eyes, was captivated. It felt like she was locked into his gaze. "I can't afford tuition; my family can't. I don't have the luxury to let my guard down or to care about what people think. I work after school and study late into the night." "I thought you, of all people, would understand what it would feel like to be exhausted all the time," Jin continued. "I thought you understood me," Jin said, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes glistened with unshed tears, making him look like a pitiful deer caught under the headlights. Director Nana's heart raced inside her chest. A knowing smile appeared on her lips as she gazed into the night sky. Contrary to the past nights when the skies were usually dark, it was filled with stars at this very moment. However, the shiniest star that night was none other than the handsome boy with blonde hair, who she hastily cast after watching a show she wasn't even interested in. Nayeon's eyes widened, absorbing his revelation. The moonlight traced the contours of Jin's face, highlighting the shadows of weariness on his features. "I—I'm sorry," she spoke hesitantly. "Jin, I didn't know. I didn't know you were going through all this." "You've never bothered to ask," Jin chuckled bitterly. Nayeon looked down at the ground, her eyes watering with guilt. Arin, not in her character, also felt guilty for how she had been treating June for the last couple of days. There was no plausible reason for her hostility to him in the first place. She had to admit she was just pretty disappointed they had to film the scenes over again with an actor who didn't have any experience. However, now, it felt like she was the amateur. "I'm sorry," Nayeon continued to apologize. "I—I didn't mean to. I'm just so exhausted," she also confessed. "It's so tiring to put up this facade, to always compete with you when I never wanted to in the first place. I just want to prove to my parents that I'm worth more than what they see me as," she said. Jin's eyes visibly softened, and then he stepped forward. His lips were right on top of Nayeon's forehead, and as she gazed up at him, she felt his hot breath against her skin. The pace of Arin's heart doubled in speed. 'Frick.' Jin tucked her hair behind her ears before speaking. His voice was softer this time but filled with even more intensity.

"So, isn't it exhausting to live in a facade, Nayeon? Why don't we escape together?" "Just the two of us?"

Arin's breath got caught in the back of her throat. 'Frick, frick, frick.' "...and cut!" Director Nana exclaimed, very satisfied with the outcome of the scene. Like the magic had instantly ended, June's eyes lost their softness, and he took a step back. He smiled robotically at Arin before leaving the set. However, what he didn't know was that the magic wasn't really over for Arin. "I'm in trouble," she whispered.