Chapter 7
Rockstar is a predictable story about a woman who grew up in an unfortunate environment and happens to enter an audition program, where she achieves her dream of becoming a singer.
The role Sarah plays, Chae Min-seo, is the antagonist who obstructs the female lead. Around episode five, she drives the heroine into a crisis by committing suicide in front of her.
A very stereotypical, one-dimensional villain.
At least until Seo Sarah plays her.
“Hey. Pauper. Open your ears and listen carefully.”
“What? Don’t you think that’s a little harsh? Just a while ago, you were all sweet, calling me ‘Binna unnie, Binna unnie’…”
“You got all puffed up because the director praised you, huh? Feeling like you’re someone now?”
Chae Min-seo stepped closer to Oh Binna. Even in the dim space, her eyes gleamed as if slicked with oil.
Oh Binna instinctively took a step back.
“You’re nothing. Just a stepping stone for me to climb higher.”
“……”
“This audition program? It’s already decided I’ll win. No matter how much you struggle, it’s pointless, so don’t waste your time.”
“Still… still, I’ll sing.”
Oh Binna clenched her fists tightly, glaring at Chae Min-seo.
Even if the rumors among the contestants were true—that the winner had already been decided—she couldn’t let this chance slip away.
“Go sing. Who cares? Sing at karaoke, or belt it out alone in your crappy little house. Just stop hovering in front of me. You’re annoying.”
Chae Min-seo tapped Oh Binna’s forehead twice and left with a blatant sneer.
Oh Binna stared at Min-seo’s retreating back, then shouted with clenched fists:
“You’re scared you’ll lose if it comes down to real talent, aren’t you?”
“What?”
“Otherwise, why are you so desperate to keep me down?”
“Funny way to put it.”
Chae Min-seo smiled faintly and came back toward her.
“I just find it disgusting to stand on the same stage as trash. Binna.”
“…You.”
Chae Min-seo leaned in and whispered in her ear. Her voice was so low and chilling it sent a shiver down her spine.
“You stink when you’re nearby.”
T-r-a-s-h s-t-e-n-c-h.
She mouthed the words silently, so the cameras couldn’t see or hear.
Oh Binna—no, Kim Se-yeon—almost forgot she was acting and nearly shoved Sarah away.
When their eyes met, Sarah grinned. Unlike usual, her eyes glinted with madness, unsettling enough to raise goosebumps.
Se-yeon blurted without thinking:
“…What did you just say?”
Sarah only smiled silently. That infuriated her more, and she was about to snap back when the director’s voice cut in:
“……Cut!”
At the sound of Director Kwak’s voice, the taut atmosphere of the set finally loosened.
The two had acted so naturally that some crew members stood slack-jawed even after the cut.
Director Kwak laughed warmly.
“Haha, Se-yeon. Nervous on your first shoot?”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Director.”
Only then did Se-yeon realize she had flubbed her line, and she bowed her head.
Sarah beamed.
“I was nervous too, since it was my first time acting opposite Se-yeon.”
“…I’m sorry, sunbae.”
“No need. It happens.”
“Still, Se-yeon, your gaze was amazing. If I’d known, I would’ve shot a bust instead of a full shot.”
“Exactly, she really looked terrified.” The cinematographer chimed in.
On the monitor, Se-yeon’s face looked so convincing it seemed real.
Seeing that, she bit her lip unconsciously.
“But Sarah, you only got the script recently, right?” the director asked, now turned fully toward her.
“When did you even manage character research? You gave me chills with those lines.”
He kept praising Sarah’s performance.
She just smiled lightly.
“Of course. By the way, Se-yeon, your acting was really great. I think you could go for Best Actress this year.”
“Of course! Absolutely. I’ll bet on our Se-yeon!”
“…That’s for me to ask for, isn’t it?” Se-yeon forced a smile.
This year, she said. It sounded casual, but the barb was there.
Before Se-yeon could react, Sarah and the director were laughing together about something she couldn’t even follow.
Her stylist approached to fix her clothes.
“Unnie, that first scene gave me chills. You were amazing—”
“Shut up, will you? You’re noisy.”
“S-sorry…”
At her sharp tone, the stylist ducked her head.
Acting? What Sarah showed wasn’t acting.
At least, that’s how it felt to Se-yeon.
Whispering unscripted words in her ear when the camera wasn’t even rolling—she had done it deliberately, for Se-yeon to hear.
And the most humiliating part? That she fell for it, giving Sarah exactly the performance she wanted.
Everything about it grated on her nerves.
Joining the drama suddenly as a supporting role, laughing and joking with the director as if they were old friends—it all drove her crazy.
Grinding down the anger bubbling inside, Se-yeon stood before the camera again.
“She’s shooting lasers from her eyes.”
“And the shoot hasn’t even really started yet?”
Sarah sat sipping the warm Americano Joo-young had bought.
Beside her, Mu-gyeom snickered and nudged her with his knee.
“She looks like she wants to eat you alive.”
“If she tried, her mouth would rip open.”
“True. Just look at the set—who’d think she was the lead, not you?”
Mu-gyeom wasn’t wrong.
Somehow, the set had naturally begun revolving around Sarah.
After filming, the director showed the monitor to Sarah first, not Se-yeon.
And the male lead, Mu-gyeom himself, stuck to Sarah’s side. To anyone watching, she looked like the real protagonist.
“What are you saying? The lead here is actress Kim Se-yeon.”
“Please. Anyone can see you’re trying your best to steal her spotlight.”
“If she can be outshone by a supporting role who exits in episode five, she should’ve quit acting already.”
Sarah’s words were icy.
Mu-gyeom almost replied, Not just any supporting role, but Seo Sarah, but he held his tongue.
“Cut!”
Perhaps too distracted by Sarah, Se-yeon kept messing up her lines.
At first, the director laughed it off, but after an hour of delays, his irritation was obvious.
“Se-yeon. You did fine with Sarah earlier. What’s going on now?”
The words struck her pride. Her expression stiffened.
She muttered she was going to fix her makeup and stormed off set.
When she still didn’t return after a long while, Director Kwak yanked off his cap in frustration.
“Damn it, she can’t even memorize five lines and calls herself an actress? This is why… Hey, Seong-cheol! Go fetch Kim Se-yeon. Does she think she’s the only one shooting today?”
“Yes, Director.”
The assistant director dashed off.
Watching from afar, Mu-gyeom leaned back and muttered:
“First shoot and the set’s already a mess. What a great start.”
“No kidding.”
“Tsk. At this rate, Kim Se-yeon won’t last long.”
He clicked his tongue openly.
It was galling enough she’d landed the role through connections, but now she was causing endless NGs and delays.
At last, after a long wait, Sarah’s scenes wrapped.
Exhausted, she was about to head home when Director Kwak suddenly appeared and grabbed her arm.
“Leaving already? Come on, Sarah. First shoot calls for a staff dinner.”
“Ah… a dinner?”
“Of course. I booked a great place. Just wait a bit, we’ll be done soon.”
Her opinion didn’t matter.
She forced a smile and nodded.
But contrary to his promise, shooting didn’t wrap until after 9 p.m.
Dozing off in the waiting room, Sarah only stirred when Joo-young shook her awake.
“Noona, are you feeling okay? Should I tell the director you can’t go?”
“No. You know what Kwak’s like. If I skip the first dinner, who knows what he’ll say.”
Dragging her feet, she finally arrived at the dinner spot, where the cast and crew were already gathered.
“Oh, Sarah! Over here, sit here.”
