Chapter 198: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (5)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

d.a.m.n it. This was frustrating.

So it wasn't Director Joo Jaechan's scenario?

"So it wasn't your scenario?"{1}

… Huh?

Did 'I' just speak?

The words 'I' thought had come out of my future self's mouth. Without a single difference. Was it a coincidence? Was it just incredible timing? I gulped anxiously. I tasted the disgusting smell of alcohol from my mouth.

It felt like I had actually gulped just now. Was it also a coincidence?

Maybe I should try it once more?

Ah.

I tried to speak whilst perking my ears.

However, my voice simply echoed in my mind. I tried again. I tried to talk to Director Joo Jaechan and singing the 'ABCs' and national anthem. I even shouted, but there was no sound.

There wasn't any, but it was still different from before.

The breeze on my skin felt so real that it p.r.i.c.kled my skin. My heartbeat quickened. My voice crawled up my throat, almost speaking, but failed at the last obstacle.

Just a little more, if I try a little more, maybe…!

"Don't spout nonsense."

My collar was involuntarily grabbed. Then I was pulled.

"It's my scenario. It's f.u.c.king mine."

Director Joo Jaechan said in a seething voice right in front of me. The stench of alcohol overwhelmed me. Although he had looked like a man suffering from starvation and thirst, he suddenly looked satiated.

An odd case of madness lingered in his eyes.

"Mine. My scenario…! It's mine now."

My lungs were suddenly filled with air. Struggling, I coughed.

"You scared me!"

"Water, please have some water. Here!"

"Ah, you made me bite my tongue!"

Chief Lee Bongjoon and Chief Sung Uimin spoke one after each other. I instantly downed the cup of cold water Chief Jung handed me. I even crunched on the ice. Chief Lee Bongjoon, who stuck out his tongue with a frown, looked at me.

"What is it all of a sudden? Were you dreaming with your eyes open? Or did you see a ghost…"

He suddenly pushed the scenarios towards me.

"Hey- I mean, Team Leader Jung Sunwoo, what do you think will be a hit?"

"What are you doing?"

"No, I just thought that he might be possessed or something."

"Now really."

Their voices m.u.f.fled in my ears. My head felt like it had inflated like a balloon. I jolted to my feet with the mug. The chair fell back and crashed on the floor. Surprised, the two stopped whispering and stared at me.

"I had something caught in my throat. I'll be back after drinking some water."

"Ah… Something was caught?"

I left the meeting room, leaving behind their disappointed faces. Employee's gazes stuck to me everywhere I walked. I went straight to the drinking fountain and drank multiple gla.s.ses of cold water, My mind cleared a little. I filled my empty cup as I thought things through.

What was that just now?

It was only for a moment, but I felt a sense of realism from my future vision.

It had never been like this before. Every time I saw the future, I was like a puppet. I couldn't do anything I wanted. The only things allowed were seeing, hearing, and feeling.

But just now…

My heart raced so fast it felt like it would explode.

If…

If I could move the way I wanted in my future visions…

If that was possible, I could make my family, celebrities, only walk a path of success. Whether it was a project, song, show, or anything else, I could figure out which would be successes and failures through my visions.

Also, which celebrities would succeed or fall.

And who would become my friend and who would be my enemy.

There would be no need to try to piece the sc.r.a.ps of information obtained through my visions like now. I wouldn't need to worry and carefully examine every step I took either.

Since the future… would be in my hands.

I filled my empty cup once more. I rinsed my overheated head with cold water.

Why did this suddenly happen? Was there some sort of sign?

Now that I thought about it, I had three future visions in the past few days. I met Director Joo Jaechan in two of them like the visions would guide me to Director Joo Jaechan and City Jungle.

So that I could change my future by getting them both and not have my next project flop and my nickname 'Midas's Hand' rust away.

But… Wait.

All three visions I had were full of static.

Why didn't my last future change?

The clear vision from twenty years in the future was always fixed no matter how I changed the present, but the static-filled ones changed as I changed the present. Like how I saw the vision where Jung Jae committed suicide after seeing the one where Pretty Girls succeed.

After seeing the futures with Director Joo Jaechan and City Jungle, I definitely decided to get them in my hands, but why did I still see a vision where I failed to get City Jungle? Why didn't it change?

Did it mean I tossed City Jungle away and picked a different one?

"… Team Leader!"

A voice pierced my ears. When I turned around, Lee Kwanwoo was standing there with a taken aback expression. Kim Hyunjo and the Team 3 Leader were also looking at me with bulging eyes. Other employees were gathered around me like they were seeing a spectacle.

"Team leader, are you all right?"

"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Lee Kwanwoo and Kim Hyunjo asked at the same time. I shook my head as I answered,

"No, I'm fine."

"If you're fine, why are you blankly standing there after breaking a cup?"

"Pardon?"

I looked down. The floor was soaked, and the cup that had just been in my hand was shattered all over the floor. When did I drop it?

"Ah, I must have been lost in my thoughts for a moment. I'll clean it up right away."

I moved to find a broom or tissues when the floor disappeared. My vision turned black.

Don't tell me, again?!

I opened my eyes.

The noisy employees were nowhere to be seen. All I saw in front of me was a window. It seemed to be night as it was dark outside. It was raining heavily. Lightning split the cloudy sky.

What kind of vision was this? And where was I?

d.a.m.n it, my head ached.

"Hmm…"

My mind jolted the moment I groaned and grabbed my forehead.

My hand moved.

"Oppa!"

I unconsciously turned towards the voice before becoming shocked again. My head moved as well. My body moved at will. I raised my hands and waved them in front of me. I even tried bending each finger. It worked.

My mind was a bit hazy and my body felt heavy, but my body was definitely moving at will. Excitement surged like a tidal wave.

"My hands are moving."

"Oppa, are you okay? Why are you acting like that?"

"ABCDEFG. Until that day when… I can even speak." {2}

"Oppa!"

I heard a frightened voice. It was Lee Songha. Panic and worry were clearly evident on her face. I even saw Im Seoyoung, LJ, and Lee Taehee. They were all looking at me with oddly contorted expressions.

Lee Songha grabbed my hands.

I could clearly see tears pooling in Im Seoyoung's eyes…

Huh?

Wait, why is there no static?

"Oppa, you're scaring us! Can you see me? You know who I am, right? How many fingers am I holding up?"

I blankly stared at the sobbing Im Seoyoung. Lee Songha quickly turned around.

"I'll go bring the nurse!"

"Wait, wait!"

I stopped the situation and looked around me. I was lying on a comfortable bed. There was a needle in my right arm, and I saw an IV to the side. The blanket on top of me was branded with the hospital name. I was in a hospital room. A private one.

I clutched the bed as I raised myself up. My vision was still clear, with no sign of any static.

What the heck? Was this not the future?

I licked my dry lips and asked,

"What day is it today?"

Tears finally fell from Im Seoyoung's eyes. At the same, Lee Songha ran out of the room, shouting for a nurse. LJ, who had a frown on her face, replied as she waved her hand in front of me.

"You fainted after collapsing at work. Don't you remember?"

"I did what?"

Fainted?

As soon as I asked back, Lee Songha ran back in with a nurse in tow. I saw Lee Kwanwoo and Kim Hyunjo behind them. I left my body in the nurse's care as I heard the whole story. When I fell after stepping on the wet floor, I lost consciousness and was sent o the hospital.

Oh my G.o.d.

"You slept for half a day."

Kim Hyunjo, with bags under his eyes, sighed.

"I talked to the doctor, and he said that you were fine aside from the few scratches you received when you fell. I didn't call your family since he said that you were probably just sleeping after fainting. The doctor said that it was probably sleep deprivation or exhaustion after hearing your work schedule."

Still, to have fainted at work…

I couldn't believe it…

"No."

Im Seoyoung joined in. Her eyes were moist.

"He's not fine. I think he hurt his head."

"His head?"

"Maybe he hit it when he fell? He was spouting nonsense as soon as he woke up."

When even LJ joined the conversation, Kim Hyunjo tilted his head.

"What are you talking about? He didn't his head."

"ABCDEFG. Until that day when."

"What?"

"That's what he said. Like he just woke up after being put under anesthesia. Shouldn't he be checked once more?"

I quickly waved my hands when they started talking about MRIs and stuff. I told them that my mind was preoccupied because I had an incredibly vivid dream. Only after telling them that it was a nightmare where I couldn't see or speak like Helen Keller did the agitated mood finally calm down.

"Sunwoo, you…"

Kim Hyunjo paused in the middle of his sentence.

"Never mind. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Don't think about work tonight and just rest with the IV."

He patted my shoulder with a complicated expression before giving Neptune a look.

"Let's just leave and not bother him."

"Just a little lon…"

"Let him rest. You are also making a comeback the day after tomorrow. You have a ton to do right now."

The girls whispered to each other for a while before lackadaisically walking out. They all seemed like they wanted to say something to me. Im Seoyoung spoke,

"Rest well, oppa. You don't need to worry about us."

"Huh?"

"There are so many people counting the days as they wait for us to release new songs. Since you've set it all up, how can the alb.u.m fail- not do well? Everyone says that it'll be a minor hit at worst!"

"If it flops, it's because my songs were lacking…"

"It's the will of the heavens."

LJ correct Lee Taehee after poking her sides. Im Seoyoung nodded.

"That's right! We need to blame the heavens!"

That's what they said, but they all left with grim expressions.

While the other girls were leaving, Lee Songha approached me. Her face was still full of worry. There were also flashes of regret and guilt. Someone might think that I had a terminal illness.

"Oppa, you know how I said I would do any project you picked."

"… You did."

"I want to cancel that."

What?

"Projects should be decided on by the actor and their manager."

Lee Songha added as if to emphasize her intentions,

"So it's not your fault if it fails."

I was wondering why she was suddenly saying that…

-Team leader, is it true you have a panic disorder?

Im Joowon whispered with a worried voice on the phone.

"Where did that nonsense come from?"

-Apparently, you suddenly went over to the water fountain while panting and downed six or seven cups of water consecutively. Your hands trembled before dropping your cup, and you fainted after trying to run away as people started to gather. Is that not it?

I felt like I was about to go crazy.

-That rumor is spreading in the company. That you developed a panic disorder from the pressure and anxiety now that you are suddenly managing so many people after becoming a team leader.

I really felt like I was about to go crazy.

I dissuaded him from visiting and hung up after telling him I was fine multiple times.

I checked my phone, and it was full of missed calls and messages. There was nothing more to say about the chiefs at work, but I also received some from Nam Joyoon, Seo Jijoon, Pretty Girls, and Song Inho. After looking through them, it seemed they had visited while I was unconscious.

I even saw Son Chaeyoung amongst the missed calls. I didn't know how far the rumors about my supposed panic disorder had spread.

I clicked my tongue and checked the remainder of my messages before pausing. There was a long message from an unknown number. I pressed the 'call' b.u.t.ton as soon as I read it.

-h.e.l.lo?

Someone picked up as soon as it started to ring. It was a woman's voice. She seemed nervous.

"Is this Director Oh Hyunkyung?"

-Yes, this is Oh Hyunkyung. Is this perhaps Team Leader Jung Sunwoo…

"Yes, that's me. I'm calling you after reading your message. I wanted to learn more about it."

-Ah, that is… I didn't know how you found out… But I heard that you talked about my scenario.

"Your scenario?"

She replied immediately.

-Yes, City Jungle.

{1} The two lines are the same in Korean.

{2} I used 'ABC' over the Korean alphabet but used an English translation of the Korean national anthem.

/ /

Chapter 199: Stop at Nothing, By Any Means (5)

TL: emptycube / ED: Isleidir

There was only one scenario…

But two people who claim it's theirs.

-Ah, was I wrong?

Director Oh Hyunkyung said in a fl.u.s.tered voice.

-To be honest, I was unsure when I received a call from Director Joo.

Director Joo. Joo Jaechan. So they knew each other.

-City Jungle isn't a very common t.i.tle, and I had only come up with it recently after thinking about it for the past few months. I also heard you mentioned the noir genre, which is what my project is. It all fit perfectly, so I was just wondering…

That's right.

The pieces all fit together, but the final picture was very odd.

-If I was mistaken then I'm really sorry. Please excus-!

"No."

I said calmly so that I wouldn't have too high hopes or be too disappointed.

"We talked while having a few drinks so my memory is hazy. The project came up while we were discussing minor genres. Hmm, I didn't know that it was your work."

-Pardon?

Her excited breaths suddenly stiffened.

-… Did Director Joo Jaechan say it was his?

She reacted in a sensitive manner, like her precious egg was being threatened.

Without waiting for my reply, Director Oh Hyunkyung hastily said.

-Then you've been tricked. City Jungle. Maybe not in the past, but now it's my work.

Now?

-I bought it.

I twirled my phone in my hand before tossing it aside. Thunder rumbled outside.

I dragged the IV stand over and opened the window. A fresh breeze and raindrops blew in, accompanied by the pitter-patter of rain. It was refres.h.i.+ng. I looked up at the sky, which seemed to want to wash the earth away, before sticking my head out the window.

She bought the scenario.

If Director Joo Jaechan sold her his scenario and gave up all rights to the work, then there would be no problems with the law. Director Joo Jaechan would not be able to claim his right on the work either.

However, why was it back in Director Joo Jaechan's possession in the future?

Did Director Joo Jaechan buy it back?

Or…

"What are you doing? That's dangerous."

Someone grabbed the back of my neck.

"You'll die if you fall from here."

Looking back, I saw a face covered with a black face mask. It was Seo Jijoon. While he pulled me away from the window from the back of my neck, Chief Lee Bongjoon closed the window. Just what outrageous thoughts were they thinking right now?

"I was just taking in the breeze. Why would I fall?"

At my words, Seo Jijoon tilted his head.

"Out of impulse?"

"Am I crazy?"

I asked laughing, but there was no reply. Rather, Seo Jijoon's eyes turned slightly misty.

I told him the exact same words I told Im Joowon as I sat back down on my bed.

"there was no need for you to come."

"I came because it was a rare opportunity for me to go out. I wanted to feel the breeze too."

He took off his mask and handed me a basket.

It was a basket of roses. I wasn't even surprised.

"It's bigger than last time. And redder."

"I paid special attention because it was a hospital visit. Ah, apparently, they don't gift flowers for hospital visits these days. It wasn't good for the patient. Allergies and such."

"If you know that, then why?"

"Those are fake."

Ah.

"They are soap flowers. You can pick one out and use it when you're taking a bubble bath."

"… I'll use it well."

I placed the flowers on top of the cabinet shelf. Chief Lee Bongjoon clicked his tongue as he said,

"Do you know how shocked I was when I heard that you fainted after going to get water and had to be brought out by an ambulance?"

"Probably less than me."

"If you were suffering mentally, you should have let us know."

"I'm telling you that's not it."

While I did have various symptoms for mental illnesses, I didn't have a panic disorder.

However, Chief Lee Bongjoon and Seo Jijoon didn't look like they believed me. I had initially thought that those rumors were spread by those who didn't like me.

"Does it really look like there's something wrong with me?"

"No."

Chief Lee Bongjoon rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"You look fine on the outside. If I were you, I would probably have a panic disorder, loss of appet.i.te, and a mental breakdown? But you looked extremely normal even who the situation changed drastically after the Team 2 Leader left. I would have continued to think that if you didn't faint."

"This was simply exhaustion and sleep deprivation…"

"It's not 'simply'. Whether it's exhaustion or sleep deprivation."

Saying this, Chief Lee Bongjoon patted my arm.

"It could be that you've been acc.u.mulating a lot of burden without you realizing."

"Team leader."

Seo Jijoon said while scratching his neck,

"Although I said I wanted to work with you, it wasn't because I had hopes that all my projects would be successes if I did. I'm not smart, but I'm not that senseless."

"I don't know about that."

Chief Lee Bongjoon smirked. Seo Jijoon added,

"Well, I did think you'd have a better eye for projects than Bongjoon hyung."

"Hey."

"I came to tell you that you don't need to worry about it in case you felt burdened because of that."

Seo Jijoon looked at me.

"It's not like I'm going to retire after one or two projects. It's normal for there to be bad times and good times. I'll do what I can and leave the rest to the heavens. Also, above all…"

His sharp eyes curved in a joking manner,

"The reason why I wanted to work with you is simply because I thought it would be fun."

So many people came to visit me even though I was only there for a day.

After Seo Jijoon and Chief Lee Bongjoon left, Nam Joyoon and Kim Hyunsup came to visit. Even Im Joowon visited after finis.h.i.+ng his entertainment show schedule. Pretty Girls and Chief Lee Taes.h.i.+n visited at night after coming all the way from Busan.

The rain calmed in the morning, and I looked back on the past few days.

Although everything happened before I could even catch my breath. My relations.h.i.+p with the Team 2 Leader sharply deteriorated, and because he left the company, I was able to bring in people into my team faster and without any big obstacles.

Did I have no free time?

It seemed like it. Receiving the duties of a team leader, the number of meetings and discussions increased. There was a lot more I had to organize. On top of all that, I was absorbed in thinking about my actor's next projects and my future visions that there were a few days where I didn't sleep a wink.

Burden.

I recalled Seo Jijoon's words. Kim Hyunjo had said it before too. That if I failed once, I could just succeed the next time. That my life wasn't over because I failed. I had thought that I had put down some pressure to succeed after that.

The uncertain future visions kept tugging at my mind.

Just in case I saw a vision where the project I chose failed.

In case I saw a vision where the project I rejected became a hit.

In case I would regret my decision like this time.

"Team Leader Jung!"

"I'm fine."

"Are you ok-!"

"I'm fine."

"Team leader, you have a guest?"

"I'm fin… A guest?"

An employee nodded.

"She said her name was Director Oh Hyunkyung."

Director Oh Hyunkyung?

I thought I ended yesterday's call quite well, but why did she suddenly show up here?

When I frowned, the employee looked taken aback and said,

"I brought her to a meeting room because she said she brought a movie scenario. I had thought that you had set up a meeting with her since she mentioned that she had talked to you on the phone yesterday. Was that not the case?"

"She brought a scenario?"

"Should I say you have another meeting and send her back? Ah, but because the director came to see you, Chief Park and Chief Yoon went over to greet her."

They were the chiefs under Team 2. They were the prime suspects for spreading rumors about my panic disorder. They probably went over because they were interested than to greet her. In case it was a scenario I was interested in.

This was complicated.

The events where Director Oh Hyunkyung came to see me and where she meets other chiefs were probably not in the original future. I had planned on walking the path and waiting for the project to come into my hands, but hiccups have already begun to appear.

If things were headed in a direction I couldn't predict…

I made my decision and asked the employee,

"Where is she?"

The meeting room was full. I saw Chief Park and Chief Yoon's bitter faces through the window. Chief Lee Bongjoon sat his round body right between them.

"Oh, you've come."

Chief Lee Bongjoon got up when he saw me.

"Then we'll be on our way. Please enjoy your meeting."

The other chiefs reluctantly got up with even more bitter expressions under Chief Lee Bongjoon's prodding. Chief Park's gaze landed on the scenario on top of the table for a moment, but he left without much regret. After sending those two off first, Chief Lee Bongjoon whispered,

"It seems she's here to promote her scenario. Why there are investors who pay attention if it's a scenario you're interested in. There are a lot of people who come to meet you with those motives."

"Did you see what kind of project it is?"

"I heard from her."

He looked back at the meeting room as he clicked his tongue.

"It's a stylish action noir. I'll have to read the scenario to know for sure, but from what I heard, it seems like it'll cost a lot to produce. A director who had numerous flops in the past and a small-scale production company. I don't know if they'll receive enough investments. I wonder if it'll even be produced."

I sent Chief Lee Bongjoon off and entered the meeting room.

The woman, who had been standing for a while now, was looking at me with a nervous smile. Her hands were tightly clutching her scenario. My gaze focused on the t.i.tle page for a moment. Below the t.i.tle 'City Jungle' was a clearly printed name.

Script/Director: Oh Hyunkyung

This would be produced and become a huge success.

If the owner changes.

/ /