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We used Bryan’s delivery app, so I ask, “How much do we owe you, Bryan?”
Bryan gives me a smug smile. “Don’t worry about it. Oppa’s got you covered.”
Minjee and I both give Bryan a death glare.
“I told you never to use oppa like that ever again!” I reply, just as Minjee says, “Wait, you’re older than us? You don’t look it.”
“Yup,” Bryan says. “I’m a year older than both of you.Although, if you really want me to, I can call you ‘Noonim.’”
“Noonim” is the really formal version of the word for “older sister” in Korean. Minjee shoots him a look that could break glass.
“No way!” Minjee says. “That makes me feel way too old. Unlike Hana, I’d behappyto call you Oppa.”
We all burst into laughter at that.
“Come on,” I say when we’ve calmed down. “Let’s dig in.”
The food is just as good as it smells, and it puts everyone in a good mood. By the time we finish eating, we’ve talked about all sorts of things from our different tastes in movies to our dreams about the future.
“I want to try directing one day,” Bryan says. “Cone of silence, but that’s the real reason I took a break from NOVA. Traveling around the world and performing for fans is fun and all, but I know a lot of that will go away when I get older. And what will I have then? What if I go serve my time in the military and come back to no one knowing who I am?”
I’ve always heard Korean male celebrities worry about the compulsory two-year military service, since it’s nearly impossible to get an exemption from that rule, no matter how famous you are. Even BTS only managed to get their service requirements delayed. In an industry that’s always rapidly changing and moving on to the next big thing, being away for two years is frightening.
“That’s a valid fear,” Minjee says. “Are you using this role as a way to break into the film industry?”
“Basically, yeah,” Bryan says. “I’ve always loved movies and TV shows. After long training days and exhausting concerts, watching stuff is how I always wound down at night. Don’t laugh, but I was also really inspired by Bong Joon Ho and how he made the world pay attention to Korean cinema by winning all those prestigious international awards. I know a lot of people probably won’t take me seriously at first, especially since they only know me as a K-pop star. But maybe someday they will.”
Minjee and I give him encouraging nods.
“Also,” Bryan adds, “I’m honestly looking forward to getting out of K-pop in the next few years. It’d be nice to be able to date someone without being afraid of breaking a contract.”
I give him a sympathetic pat on the back.
“How about you, Hana?” Minjee asks me. “What’s your wildest dream?”
I look first at Minjee, and then at Bryan. Part of me can’t help but feel self-conscious since the two of them, with their superstar lives, will probably think my “wildest dream” is pretty ordinary. But then I remember where I’m from and what my parents do every day to help me live the life I want to live. No matter how humble my beginnings, I’m not ashamed of them.
“I want to have a long career as an actress,” I say. “Whether it be in blockbuster movies or more Korean dramas. Acting is the only thing I know I’m good at, and I love it a lot, too. My parents sacrificed so much for us to just live in Korea after Igot scouted. I want to make their sacrifice worth it.”
“That’s understandable,” Minjee replies.
Bryan also nods at what I said. I guess, as teen stars, every one of us comes from families that sacrificedsomethingto help us get to where we are today.
By then, we’ve pretty much finished eating, and we’re picking at the few remaining scraps. I lean back in my chair in a content, incoming food coma state.
“How about you?” I ask Minjee, since she’s the only one of us who hasn’t shared anything.
She shrugs. “I honestly don’t know. I got into acting and modeling pretty early.... My parents sort of pushed me into it as soon as I learned how to talk. Don’t get me wrong, I love both things, but there’s still this... voice in the back of my head telling me that I might only like these things because it’s all I’ve ever known. I kind of just want to take some time off and travel a lot after I graduate from high school. Or I might take a break from the industry and go to college. We’ll see.”
Minjee’s response surprises me, because I’d always thought that she has the perfect life, this dreamlike existence that I’d kill to have. But I guess what she said makes sense. Acting is something Ichosefor myself, while for Minjee, it’s something everyone expected her to do.
“Let’s hope all thisFated Destinydrama blows over so we can all get what we want,” Bryan remarks as he gets up to throw away the now empty food containers.
Minjee and I nod grimly. This evening had been so nicethat for a brief moment, I almost forgot about all the drama. I didn’t even check my phone for the entire time we had dinner.
When I first startedFated Destiny, I only cared about the ratings and furthering my acting career. I didn’t expect to find friends in my costars, especially not friends who’d know things about me that only a handful of people do.
Somehow, regardless of everything that’s going on right now, my friends make the world feel like a less scary place.
