Chapter 425 Bad Luck Stealer
"Alright, let's think of a concept for the next performance already. We'll just listen to the chord progression two days after the winner has been chosen," Akira said, softly clapping. June turned to him and chuckled. "Am I really such a bad actor?" "Yes," Akira deadpanned. "And that's honestly okay! You're talented in many different aspects. Being good at acting will be a cheat code." "Yeah," Sehun chuckled. "We think you're amazing as is. You don't need to be a good actor at all." "June will be able to do it," Casper said, nudging June's shoulder, "right?" June pursed his lips and didn't respond. Honestly, he also didn't know the answer to Casper's question. The first two times he acted, he actually didn't consider it as 'acting.' As a bandit, he had his face covered, and he only had to fight. Meanwhile, during their music video filming, Chul heavily steered his emotions, which made it easier for him to channel what the director wanted. The cheese ball commercial was definitely more resonant with his potential in acting. So, in short, June wasn't really confident. Moreover, he had gained the 'acting' skill not too long ago, and he hadn't used it since then. "Will the chosen representatives please come to the front and pick their evelopes?" Wonbin asked, making June snap out of his thoughts.
They trudged to the front, with June trailing behind. Robby and Nico held onto the same envelope, having a small fight, with Robby ultimately winning in the end. June reached his hand for the envelope in the middle, but Nico quickly snatched it before his skin could even touch the piece of paper. June shook his head and got the very last envelope at the end of the table instead. He didn't understand Nico's and Robby's logic since they couldn't even see what was written inside the envelope. In the end, the chosen scenario will all boil down to luck. "First, open the flap of your envelope and see the corresponding number written," Wonbin instructed. "However, don't take out the scripts just yet." June opened his envelope and saw the number '7' inside. "What did you get, June?" Wonbin asked. "Seven," June said. Wonbin smiled and patted his back. "Congratulations! You will be the last performer of the day!" June's eyebrows raised in surprise, wondering why his luck suddenly changed. Then, he heard a whine from beside him, and when he glanced to his side, he saw Nico's envelope, which had the number '1' written on it. "Looks like Nico will start things out for us," Wonbin chuckled, causing the idol to complain further. June shook his head in disbelief. He was about to take that one just a while ago. It seemed like his bad luck didn't completely go away, but Nico just momentarily stole it from him. "The numbers written inside the flap of your envelopes correspond to the sequence of the performances," Wonbin said. "Now, aside from Nico, please vacate this area," Wonbin gestured to the middle part of the room. "Still, don't take your scripts out. We want to be as fair as possible, so you'll only get to see it once it's your turn."
"Nico, please take out your script and read the title out loud for us," he instructed. Nico felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he clutched the script in his hands. "The proposal scene in 'Chasing Weddings,'" he read out loud, and the other participants exclaimed in nostalgia as they recalled the iconic scene. "You will have five minutes to prepare yourself," Nico said, "and the timer starts now!" The chosen scene from 'Chasing Weddings' was notorious for its emotional rollercoaster, and he had just five minutes to internalize everything before he was thrust into the spotlight. 'Chasing Weddings' is a love story between a divorce attorney and a wedding planner, and the entire movie has a whole lot of angst and misunderstandings.
They watched as Nico frantically flipped through the pages, muttering lines under his breath like a madman.
"Come on, Nico, you got this!" Jordan cheered, but Nico stayed focused. When the buzzer finally sounded, he snapped his eyes open. "Let us begin," Wonbin said, and even the idols who weren't chosen to act felt chills run down their spine out of nervousness.
Just then, Hana Lim stood, and the others now exclaimed in envy. "I would have gone first if I knew it would be Hana Lim who would be acting alongside me," Y muttered, causing his members to chuckle. Nico's nervousness slightly faded away as the beautiful actress smiled encouragingly at him. However, his nervousness quickly returned when Hana began to read her lines. "Donghyuck, can't you see? Love is the foundation of everything beautiful, the essence of life. I create magical moments that celebrate that very love. It's the reason people come to me: to find happiness. You, on the other hand, deal with the aftermath when that foundation crumbles. We're different. I create love. You end it." The audience was immediately enamored even after her first lines. It was as if Hana Lim had stepped into the shoes of her character effortlessly, embodying the essence of a wedding planner conflicted by love. Her eyes sparkled with hope and uncertainty, and her words hit their hearts with sincerity. Nico cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure. He straightened his tie and took a deep breath. But the moment he opened his mouth to speak the first line, a jumble of words stumbled out. The awkward silence that followed was punctuated by a few sympathetic looks from his members.
"Uh, sorry, let me try that again." Nico scratched the back of his head, stealing a glance at Hana, who was still in character, patiently waiting for him to catch up.
"I—It's my job. People change, circumstances change, and so does love."
The second attempt didn't fare much better. Nico's stammering persisted, and it became increasingly evident that he was struggling to match the intensity and sincerity Hana had effortlessly brought to the scene. Hana, ever the professional, continued with her lines. "If you think love is destined to end, then perhaps our love should just end, too."
The audience was taken on an emotional rollercoaster—literally. They would become immersed during Hana's lines but would feel awkward once it was Nico's turn.
"And scene!" Wonbin exclaimed as Nico said his last lines. Nico sighed in relief, thankful that it was finally over. He threw an apologetic look at Hana, but the young actress just brushed it off. "Wooh! We'll definitely take last place," Sunwoo joked, causing the participants to burst into laughter. Nico shook his head in amusement as he sat back in his seat. "I'd like to see the other participants do better."
