NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Noona’s Plans and Jae-min’s New Role
Chapter 5: Noona’s Plans and Jae-min’s New Role
Jae-min stretched lazily on his couch, wearing nothing but pajama pants, lounging comfortably. The script sat unopened on the coffee table, a reminder of the new world he was about to step into. He knew a bit about his character—Tae-seok—from the casting scenes, but now he had the full script, and that meant diving deeper into the role.
The sound of the door unlocking pulled him from his thoughts. Jin-ah let herself in, as usual, without knocking. She never needed to. She owned a key and rarely bothered with formalities.
“Still lounging around?” she called, striding into the apartment and dropping her bag on the kitchen counter. “I thought you’d be halfway through the script by now.”
Jae-min grinned, watching her as she made her way over to the couch. “I was just about to get started.”
Jin-ah raised an eyebrow, glancing at the untouched script before her eyes flicked to Jae-min. Her gaze lingered on him for a brief moment longer than usual. Subtle, but there it was—the way her eyes traced the sharp lines of his abs, the defined V-line that led down seductively beneath his pajama pants. He wasn’t just fit; he had the kind of boy that made people stop and take notice, even when he wasn’t trying. Jin-ah’s eyes flicked back to his face, her expression composed, though her glance hadn’t gone unnoticed by Jae-min.
She sat down beside him, her expression casual as ever, though a glint of amusement danced in her eyes. “You comfortable?” she asked, her tone teasing as she settled into the couch.
“Yeah, why?” Jae-min smirked, stretching out even more, his muscles flexing slightly. “Need me to get dressed or something?”
“Not at all,” Jin-ah replied smoothly, her gaze now firmly on his face. “I’m just wondering when you plan on actually doing some work.”
Jae-min chuckled and reached for the script, flipping it open to the first page. He skimmed through the initial scene descriptions, then found Tae-seok’s name in one of the early scenes. He paused, reading the lines to himself, trying to get a feel for the character beyond the little he’d performed during the audition.
“Playboy reporter,” he muttered, “with a secret agenda.”
Jin-ah smirked, crossing her legs as she leaned back into the couch. “It fits, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, from what little I know,” Jae-min said, still scanning the script. “I’ve got the charm part down, but there’s more to him, right? It’s not all smooth talk.”
“Exactly,” Jin-ah replied. “Tae-seok has layers. On the surface, he’s this cocky, womanizing reporter, but deep down, he’s driven by something darker. He’s trying to expose the corrupt organization that’s been running the city.”
Jae-min nodded, taking it in. It was more than just a flashy role—there was depth to Tae-seok, and the more he read, the more he realized how challenging the character could be. He wasn’t just delivering lines; he had to figure out how to balance the charm with the underlying intensity.
“You know,” Jin-ah said, her voice softening a little, “I pushed you into this because I knew you’d get it. But now you’ve got to take it seriously. This isn’t just about coasting on good looks anymore.”
Jae-min sighed, putting the script down for a moment. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you.”
“Good,” Jin-ah said with a smile. “Because I’ve already arranged for you to have a manager.”
“A manager?” Jae-min raised an eyebrow, leaning back against the couch. “You mean someone to babysit me?”
Jin-ah smirked, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Someone to keep you in line. This isn’t just a hobby anymore, Jae-min. It’s showbiz now.”
“And who’s this lucky manager?” Jae-min asked, half-joking but sensing where this was going.
Jin-ah didn’t miss a beat. “Me.”
Jae-min blinked, then laughed. “You? Noona, come on. You don’t have enough on your plate already?”
“I’m serious,” Jin-ah replied, her tone firm. “I’ll handle the business side of things—scheduling, meetings, contracts, everything. You just focus on the acting.”
Jae-min stared at her for a moment, surprised. “You’re really going to be my manager?”
Jin-ah’s smirk widened. “I already am. It’s settled.”
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. “Well… with you as my manager, I guess I have no choice but to take this seriously.”
Later that evening, Jae-min was sprawled out on his bed, the script lying open beside him. The initial skim he’d done earlier didn’t do it justice, and now that he was reading through it in detail, he was starting to feel a spark. Tae-seok, his character, wasn’t just a womanizing reporter for kicks—there was so much more depth to him than Jae-min had realized.
Jae-min’s voice lowered as he read Tae-seok’s lines aloud, trying to feel the rhythm of the dialogue.
“‘Come on, Detective,’” he murmured, a slow grin tugging at his lips. “‘You think you can keep me out of this case? Let's see how long that lasts.’”
He chuckled, leaning back against his pillows. The flirtatious front was one thing, but underneath, Tae-seok was someone who was driven, willing to do whatever it took to expose the corruption running through the city. Jae-min found himself drawn to that complexity. There was something satisfying about playing both sides—charming on the surface, but with darker motivations beneath.
As he continued flipping through the pages, Jae-min found himself getting caught up in it. For the first time, he wasn’t just reading words on a page. He was starting to feel the character come to life, and it was exciting. The challenge of portraying someone with so many layers... it wasn’t just about performing—it was about becoming the role.
“I think I could really enjoy this,” Jae-min muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
There was a passion sprouting inside him, an eagerness to bring this character to life. It wasn’t just about proving Jin-ah right anymore. Jae-min was starting to feel invested in the role, in the world he was stepping into. Tae-seok was a character he could sink his teeth into, and that realization was starting to stir something in him that he hadn’t felt before.
He flipped back to one of the earlier scenes, reading it over again, letting the words settle in his mind. It was starting to feel less like work and more like something he genuinely wanted to do. For the first time, Jae-min found himself excited about the challenge, eager to dig deeper into who Tae-seok really was beneath the charm.
After spending some time reading through the script, Jae-min wandered back into the living room. Jin-ah was still there, lounging comfortably on his couch, scrolling through her phone. The city lights from the window cast a soft glow across the room, giving the apartment a warm, relaxed atmosphere.
Jae-min flopped down beside her, grabbing a bottle of water from the coffee table. “You’re still here? Don’t you have CEO stuff to do?”
Jin-ah didn’t even look up from her phone, smirking. “I delegate. Perks of being the boss.”
“Must be nice,” Jae-min replied with a chuckle, leaning back and stretching out.
Jin-ah finally set her phone down, turning her head to glance at him. “You’re not complaining. I’m keeping you company, aren’t I?”
“True,” Jae-min said, grinning. “Though I’m pretty sure I’m supposed to be the one keeping you entertained.”
“Hmm, you can start by figuring out dinner,” Jin-ah quipped. “You know your cooking scares me.”
Jae-min let out an exaggerated gasp. “That was one time. And for the record, I didn’t hear any complaints when you were eating.”
“I was being polite,” she teased, a playful gleam in her eyes.
Laughing, Jae-min grabbed his phone and started browsing for delivery options. “Fine. How about some pizza?”
“Much better,” she said approvingly, leaning back into the couch.
As Jae-min placed the order, the air between them settled into a comfortable rhythm. He stretched his legs out in front of him, glancing at Jin-ah out of the corner of his eye. “You know, for someone who’s always busy, you sure do spend a lot of time on my couch.”
Jin-ah shrugged, her voice casual. “Maybe I like it here.”
Jae-min raised an eyebrow. “Is that right? Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late,” she shot back, giving him a smirk.
With the food ordered, they both settled into the cushions. Jae-min grabbed the remote, flicking through the TV channels aimlessly. “Wanna watch something?”
Jin-ah shrugged again. “Sure, if you can find something decent.”
Jae-min rolled his eyes as he continued flipping through channels. Eventually, he landed on an action movie that neither of them had seen before. “This good?”
“Fine with me,” she replied, shifting into a more comfortable position.
As the movie started, the conversation lulled, and the room was filled with the sound of the TV and the soft hum of the city outside. The two of them were sitting close—comfortable, easy. Jin-ah’s arm brushed against Jae-min’s as she adjusted herself on the couch, but neither of them seemed to mind.
Jae-min glanced at her. “You staying for dinner, then?”
Jin-ah tilted her head slightly, a small smile on her lips. “Looks like it.”
“Good,” Jae-min said, his voice softer now, more relaxed. “I’d hate to eat all that pizza alone.”
They shared a quiet smile, and as the movie played on, the comfortable silence between them spoke volumes. There was no rush, no need for words—just an easy closeness that came naturally when they were together.