"He said Kwon Shia, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," Oh replied with a respectful bow, her words crisp and precise as she acknowledged Yua's instructions. Yua settled into the chair, her gaze drifting towards her reflection in the mirror. The familiar image that stared back at her brought a sense of comfort, a reminder of the person she had become over the years.

As she stared at her reflection, Yua felt a wave of nostalgia wash over her, memories of happier days flooding her mind. The one person she had spent those carefree moments with was now here, by her side once again. A sense of warmth spread through her, easing the tension that had coiled in her stomach, and she found herself grinning involuntarily.

However, her sudden burst of joy seemed to catch Oh off guard, the concern evident in her voice as she spoke. "Uh...ma'am. Are you feeling alright?" she inquired, her tone tinged with uncertainty.

Yua blinked, tearing her gaze away from the mirror to meet Oh's eyes reflected in the glass. "Ah? Yes, yes," she reassured, her smile widening as she dismissed Oh's concerns. "Just excited to meet the rest of the cast."

Oh nodded in understanding, her expression softening as she took in Yua's demeanor. With a final glance, she turned to leave the dressing room, leaving Yua alone with her thoughts.

Alone once again, Yua allowed herself a moment of introspection, her head spinning with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Excitement and apprehension danced in her mind, each vying for dominance as she grappled with the implications of the upcoming shoot.

"Oh doesn't know about Shia yet, but this is such a great opportunity," Yua mused aloud, her voice filled with a mixture of determination and anticipation. "I finally get to see my best friend. You have no idea how much I missed you, Shia. Seriously."

A grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she imagined the reunion that awaited her, the prospect of sharing her joys and fears with her long-lost friend filling her with an undeniable sense of excitement. With each passing moment, her anticipation grew, her nerves buzzing with the promise of what was to come.

With a sigh of contentment, Yua leaned back in her chair, the weight of her thoughts momentarily forgotten as she allowed herself to revel in the sheer exhilaration of the moment.

A sudden knock on the door shattered Yua's reverie, pulling her out of the flowery daze that had enveloped her thoughts. With a start, she sprang up from her chair, leaving the chair spinning in a slow merry-go-round motion as she jogged towards the door. As she swung it open, her eyes met the commanding figure of the one person the entire entertainment industry held in awe – the director Dowon.

"The cast is here. I came here personally to call the star to the conference room," he declared, his voice carrying an air of authority that brooked no argument.

"I'll be right there, sir," Yua replied, her voice steady as she bowed respectfully. He nodded in acknowledgment, his expression stern as he turned on his heel and marched away, leaving Yua to hastily adjust her blue blazer before rushing out of the dressing room.

With determined strides, Yua dashed across the hallway, her mind focused solely on reaching the conference room where the rest of the cast awaited her. But in her haste, she failed to notice the tall figure approaching from the opposite direction. The collision was inevitable, and before she knew it, Yua found herself sprawled on the floor, her back hitting the cold surface with a painful thud.

Wincing, she looked up, her glare softened slightly as she took in the sight of the apologetic figure before her. "Can't you see where you are going?!" she exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.

"Ah--ah! I--I am so sorry, Noona*!" the person stammered, their voice trembling with genuine remorse.

(*Noona is a term used by younger males to address older females)

Yua clicked her tongue in annoyance as she attempted to stand up, the frustration evident in her movements. Before she could fully rise, the boy extended his hand in a gesture of help, a conciliatory expression on his face. However, Yua's rage flared, and she slapped his hand away with a sharp motion, her irritation palpable.

"Move," she commanded in a disinterested yet rage-filled tone, her eyes flashing with a fiery intensity. The boy stumbled back, his apology falling on deaf ears as Yua hopped back onto her feet with practiced ease.

As she strode forward, her steps quick and purposeful, Yua felt the weight of the boy's gaze on her back, his hesitant footsteps echoing in the hallway behind her. With each passing moment, her irritation grew, until finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

Stopping abruptly, Yua whirled around to confront the boy, her gaze piercing as she demanded an explanation. "Hey. Why are you following me?" she questioned, her voice sharp with frustration.

The boy flinched at her tone, his words tumbling out in a nervous rush. "S-sorry, Noona, but I am supposed to be going this way too..." he stammered, his eyes wide with apprehension.

Yua's expression softened slightly at his response, a flicker of understanding crossing her features. "Is that so? Then go on," she replied, her voice softer now as she stepped aside to let him pass.

He bowed to her politely, a gesture of gratitude and apology rolled into one, before continuing on his way. Before she could utter a word, the realization dawned on her, and she couldn't help but let out a breathless whisper. "No way..."

With a sigh, Yua resumed her journey, the hallway stretching out before her as she made her way towards the conference room.

However, her thoughts were interrupted as a cheerful voice called out from behind her, causing her to pause in surprise. "Yua Noona~~?" the voice exclaimed, its cheerful tone cutting through the tension of the moment.

As Yua turned around to the excited voice, she was met with the sight of the one person she had been avoiding since her career had taken off – Jeon Wubin. His smile, wide and infectious, lit up his face as he greeted her with enthusiasm.

"Yua Noona~~!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement as he took in her presence.

Yua's eyes narrowed slightly at the familiar nickname, her lips forming a thin line as she regarded him with a cool detachment. "Jeon Wubin. I am not your Noona," she stated firmly, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance as she rolled her eyes at the boy's unabashed grin.

Wubin's smile faltered slightly at her words, his expression morphing into one of sheepishness as he realized his mistake. "Ah! You are right. It's Seonbanim* now, isn't it?" he corrected himself, his voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and admiration.

(*Seonbanim: a respectful term for someone of higher status or seniority in Korean.*)

As Yua approached the closed door, she was met with the sight of the familiar tall boy standing nervously in front of the shut door. Without missing a beat, Wubin skipped towards the boy and grabbed him by the shoulders, his excitement palpable.

"Are you mister Kang?" Wubin inquired eagerly, his enthusiasm bubbling over.

The boy, visibly flustered, managed a shaky affirmation. "Ah yes...Jeon Hyeong*," he responded, his voice tinged with first-time nerves.

(*Hyeong: a term used by younger males to address older males. Usually casually used.)

Yua couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's nervousness, recognizing him as Junhyeok, the same boy who had accidentally bumped into her just moments before. "Wait. You are Junhyeok? The male lead?" she questioned, her surprise evident.

Junhyeok stuttered a confirmation, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment under Yua's gaze.

Without wasting another moment, Yua took charge, swiftly pulling the boys away and swinging open the door, stepping confidently into the room. Her eyes immediately locked onto the figure of a young woman, engrossed in reading through her script with the manager.

"Kwon...Shia...?" Yua muttered, her gaze softening as she observed the innocent girl diligently memorizing her lines.

"Come in," the manager - Nam Tae-Hyun beckoned, nodding their way, welcoming them into the room.

Wubin followed suit, entering last and shutting the door behind him with a soft click.

"Have a seat, you guys. Shall we introduce ourselves first?" Tae-Hyun suggested, breaking the silence as they entered in.

Yua nodded, a smile playing on her lips as she settled into her chair.

As they settled into their seats, Wubin made a beeline for the spot next to Yua, eager to be by her side, leaving Junhyeok with no choice but to take the seat next to Shia. Shia, with her warm smile and bright demeanor, placed her papers on the table and addressed the manager with confidence.

"Shall I start then, sir?" she asked politely, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Sure," Tae-Hyun responded, nodding in approval, clearly pleased with Shia's eagerness.

With a nod, Shia began her introduction, her voice steady and self-assured. "Alright then. I am Kwon Shia. I began my acting career at the age of fourteen, and I have been cast as the female lead in three dramas so far. It's a pleasure to meet you all," she finished with a polite bow of her head, her smile radiant.

The audience, including Yua, applauded Shia's introduction, impressed by her accomplishments. Yet, amidst the applause, Yua's mind was consumed with thoughts of doubt. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that crept into her thoughts.

Yua had known Shia for years, and something about her sudden dive into acting didn't sit right. She remembered how Shia had always expressed disdain for the idea of pursuing acting professionally, despite her involvement in the drama club during their school days. Whenever Yua would vent about the challenges of her acting career, Shia would offer comforting words but would also jokingly remark, "you shouldn't have chosen acting as your career." It was a lighthearted jest between friends, but Yua understood the underlying sentiment.

For Shia, a way to express herself creatively without the pressures of the industry was essential. She had always believed in staying true to oneself and not succumbing to societal expectations. Yua couldn't help but wonder what had changed for Shia to suddenly embrace a profession she once scorned.

Amidst the applause and polite exchanges, Yua's thoughts lingered on her friend, hoping that Shia hadn't lost sight of her own values in pursuit of fleeting success.