June didn't know if he was lucky or unlucky. 'Life of a Criminal' was a movie he enjoyed because it was one of the few movies that actually portrayed the world of crime realistically. It was filled with dramatic scenes that showed that criminals aren't exactly as heartless as other people make them out to be. It hit close to home once again. June knew he had committed plenty of crimes in his life, but most of those were executed due to the inescapable cruelty of life itself. The others murmured among themselves as soon as June revealed the scenario he had chosen. "Poor June," Y said. "That's definitely the hardest scenario today." "Man, I love that movie," Zibo said. "I really hope June doesn't ruin it for me."
"I thought I was unlucky," Nico sighed in relief. "Turns out, he's much unluckier than I am. I can't even imagine acting out that scene."
"That scene made me cry really bad," Jaeyong said. "That's not a surprise," Akira retorted. Jaeyong slapped the back of his head. "I didn't even cry much before I met June." Jisung chuckled at their leader. "He's finally admitting that he became a crybaby after meeting June."
Jaeyong clicked his tongue. "You've been a crybaby even before you met him. I don't think you have the right to talk." Jisung pursed his lips and focused his gaze on June. His five minutes had just started, but it didn't seem like he was studying the script. Instead, his gaze was merely focused on the piece of paper, appearing to be thinking about something deep. Jisung frowned, wondering what June was thinking about. Did he give up on the challenge already?
Hana, too, felt quite uneasy as she gazed at June. "This is a hard scene," Seobin said, getting ready to act as June's counterpart. "When I was a rookie actor, I found this quite difficult to act out." Minho nodded in agreement. "I don't even think I'll be able to do it today. I feel like this role requires a lot of immersion into the character. It's hard to understand the life of a criminal when you haven't experienced being one." "One minute," Wonbin said, causing June to snap out of his thoughts. It was only at that moment that June began reading the contents of the script. June felt a pang in his chest as he read his lines. 'Life of a Criminal' was a cinematic gem released in the early 2000s. It was the tale of an ex-convict who had just been released from prison after ten years. It revolved around the protagonist's quest for a fresh start, only to be caught in a web of crimes involving his own little brother. It was portrayed by an actor who had a real-life brush with the law in his youth, so it was a film that resonated with authenticity.
In the movie, the main character witnesses his little brother get involved in criminal activities, and he tries to stop him at all costs. However, the younger sibling remains oblivious to his sibling's identity due to the years of separation. The movie captures the emotional complexities of the main character as he protects his brother from a similar fate.
The scene June and Seobin were going to recreate was when the little brother finds out his real identity and convinces him to leave him alone and start a new life. "Ready," Wonbin said, making the others focus their attention on the middle. However, some of them, undoubtedly, weren't expecting much from June's performance. After Robby's impressive display, they had already accepted that he would win the pre-mission.
June stood in the middle with Seobin, only an arm's length away. "Start," Wonbin said, sitting back in his seat as he waited for the scene to unfold. The two were stuck in silence for a couple of moments, and that gave June the time to think about his next course of action. Honestly, he definitely wouldn't have the chance to beat Robby in the challenge if he had chosen any other role. However, since he was given something he was familiar with, he might as well channel his past experiences to the scene. Then, Seobin sighed, raking his fingers through his hair. At that moment, he genuinely looked vulnerable as he processed the information slowly. "You're my brother," he softly said, his words hanging in the air like an unspoken truth. June pursed his lips and also got into character. He maintained a stoic expression and responded, "It doesn't matter." With that one line, the others were intrigued. The members of EVE glanced at each other, wondering if they all heard it right. Robby, too, who wasn't expecting anything from June, frowned in confusion. Although he merely said a short line, it felt as if he really meant those words.
Confusion was evident on Seobin's face as he questioned, "Then why? Why are you doing all of this if you don't care? Why are you covering for my crimes?"
A heavy silence settled, broken only by June's exasperated sigh. He found himself transported back to a time when he had a similar conversation with Mei Ling. It was the time she wanted him to break away from the gang, but that meant they would lose their house and everything Jun Hao had worked hard for. "Just go home," June dismissed. "I'll handle it. I'll surrender myself to the police." Anger sparked in Seobin's eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong! Why are you giving up everything for me? It doesn't make sense!"
June looked away and shook his head. "It's not about what I did. It's about what I could've prevented. I can't let you go down the same path I did."
"Then, what? You'll go back to that rotting prison to pay for the sins you didn't even do?" Seobin asked. A small smile appeared on June's lips, but his eyes were a different story. They were filled with sadness, and they glistened with unshed tears. Hana gasped softly as she stared into his eyes.
"I deserve it," June defeatedly said.
