Ch. 89 - Don't I just need to become first place, then?

"So, we're installing cameras in our office to film our daily lives, and during that time, Alice will be participating in my team as a trainee?"

"That's exactly right."

Broadcasting station PD Jang Seong-Gu nodded with a smile.

I roughly understood how the filming would proceed. But there was one thing I needed to point out.

"Do you know exactly what kind of place our Team 5 is?"

"Huh? Isn't it just a team that catches Awakened criminals?"

"That's correct, but... our team is a bit different."

Writer Oh Ha-Min tilted her head and asked what I meant.

"Our Team 5 handles more dangerous cases. If something happens during filming, the environment could become hazardous. Are you okay with that?"

I asked out of genuine concern. There was a real chance that something too graphic to air could be caught on camera.

Or worse, the cameramen following us could be in danger.

Hearing my words, the two of them only smiled even more brightly.

"If that's the case, even better. It'll make for a more exciting show, don't you think?"

"If things get too dangerous, we'll just shoot from a distance, so you don’t have to worry, Ms. Hye-Rim."

"...I see."

Seeing how excited they were about the words ‘dangerous’ and ‘intense,’ I understood.

These people were true broadcasting professionals, through and through.

To them, the more shocking and thrilling, the better.

Ah, so that's why they're so determined to film me.

I already have a certain level of fame.

And bringing Alice in for the shoot? That was likely for the same reason.

Well, whatever happens, they'll handle it on their end.

"We'll also be recording interview segments for the broadcast. After filming, our panelists will watch the footage and react to it."

"Understood."

I had no intention of playing up to the camera or trying to look good.

Too bad for them—I won’t go out of my way to be entertaining.

I'll just speak like I always do, the way I talk to my team members.

Once the discussion was wrapped up, Jang Seong-Gu started getting ready to leave.

"Filming will begin next week. Ms. Hye-Rim and Alice, I’m looking forward to working with you both."

"Of course."

"I'm excited, too! It's an honor to experience such a rare opportunity."

After exchanging farewells and handshakes with Jang Seong-Gu and Oh Ha-Min, they left the café. They apparently had more meetings scheduled.

Now, only Alice and I remained.

Once the others were gone, she scooted even closer to me.

Did she feel more relaxed now that the strangers had left?

"Ms. Hye-Rim, what do you think about this shoot?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, this is your first time appearing on TV. Are you excited? Nervous?"

"Not really."

I shrugged and took a sip of my coffee.

I'm not the type to get nervous in front of people.

I was a little concerned that becoming more well-known might make daily life more annoying, but at this point, I'd already crossed the point of no return.

With all the footage floating around on YouTube and that recent button incident, I've reached a state of enlightenment. People can think whatever they want about me now.

"I don't feel the need to put on a show just because of the cameras. I see this as just another passing event."

"Really? That's unexpected. Most people I know would dress up and put on heavy makeup for a broadcast."

"Like teachers on Parent Observation Day?"

"Hehe. Yeah, exactly!"

"That's not my style."

"Now that you mention it, that does sound like you."

Alice mumbled something about it being a shame, then rested her head on my shoulder.

"I thought this would be my chance to show off my skills as a broadcasting senior. I wanted to give you tips on how to act on camera… but I guess I won’t get the chance now."

"If anything, you should be learning from me. After all, you'll be part of our team during filming. I'll teach you what to do and what not to do in the Awakened Crime Division."

Alice clapped her hands in excitement.

"Even if it's just for the shoot, I can’t slack off. I’ll work hard to become a great Awakened investigator!"

"Yeah… just don’t try too hard."

Most of our daily routine is just goofing off anyway.

While chatting with Alice in the café, time passed quickly.

Just as I was thinking about heading home, Alice cautiously asked,

"Ms. Hye-Rim, do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"

"Why?"

"I don’t have anything scheduled today either. Want to go grab a drink with me?"

"Drinks, huh..."

That reminded me of the bar Alice once recommended. That place was pretty good.

This could be a good chance to check out more nice bars with her.

I was just about to say yes when—

Ding!

A text notification appeared on my phone.

[Ms. Hye-Rim, are you free to meet right now?]

It was from Jung Ha-Yeon.

She wants to meet now?

I had just been about to go for drinks with Alice… but I hadn’t given an answer yet.

Rejecting her wouldn’t be strange.

Still, my priorities leaned toward meeting Ha-Yeon.

Normally, I would have hesitated, but ever since that incident… I found it hard to ignore her.

"Sorry, something came up. Let’s grab drinks another time."

"Was that from Ms. Ha-Yeon?"

"Yeah—wait, how did you know?"

Did she see the sender's name on my screen?

I gave Alice a questioning look, but she just shrugged.

"I had a feeling. You two are close, after all."

"...I have other close friends too."

"But aside from work colleagues, you don’t really have many people to text on weekends, do you?"

"...That’s a painful truth."

She had a point. It wasn’t that hard to guess.

I really do have a small social circle.

"Sorry. It seems urgent, so I should go. Let’s drink another time, okay?"

"…Yeah, sure!"

For a moment, Alice's face seemed stiff.

But maybe it was just my imagination—she soon smiled brightly and waved goodbye.

***

"Did Ha-Yeon make the first move?"

I didn’t need any special reason to figure out who sent that text.

Hye-Rim had smiled a little when she read it.

That was a look she sometimes had when she looked at Ha-Yeon.

So I just took a guess—and I was right.

"Leaving me behind to meet another woman… how cruel."

If this had been the old Ms. Hye-Rim, she would have prioritized the person she was already with. But now, she was putting someone who wasn't even here first.

Something had definitely changed between them.

Something happened.

Somewhere I wasn’t.

Something I don’t know about.

Crunch.

I bit my nails without realizing it.

I wanted to be the one closest to Ms. Hye-Rim.

I thought I was the first.

But it feels like my chance was stolen from me.

Actually, today was supposed to be the day.

I had planned to get her drunk and take her to a motel.

With so much competition, I wanted to use alcohol as an excuse to seal the deal.

"If Ms. Ha-Yeon wants to play like this… I have my own plans too."

But it looks like I’ll have to put that plan on hold for now.

From what I can see, Ms. Hye-Rim’s feelings toward Ms. Ha-Yeon don’t seem strong enough for me to be worried yet. If she truly loved her and wanted to date her, she would’ve reacted a bit differently.

That means there’s still room for me to squeeze in.

"A hero she’s spent a lot of time with. A coworker she lives with."

I know this fight isn’t in my favor.

But heaven has granted me an opportunity. Through this filming, I’ll make sure Ms. Hye-Rim remembers me.

And I’ll let the viewers know as well. That I’m this close to Ms.Hye-Rim. That we get along so well. That our relationship is like this.

"Hehehe..."

Just thinking about it makes me happy. Just being this close to Ms. Hye-Rim makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst. If we actually started dating, how happy would I be?

It would be the kind of happiness where I’d want for nothing more.

"For now, let’s go over what Ms. Hye-Rim taught me again."

I can’t afford to look incompetent during filming. This is for Ms. Hye-Rim, of course, but also for the viewers watching the show.

I don’t want to be seen as someone who just stands around idly in front of Ms. Hye-Rim. I’m a hard worker. Memorizing notes like this is nothing for me.

Filming starts next week, right? Until then, I’ll make sure to learn even more about the Awakened Crime Division.

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