From Thug to Idol: Transmigrating to a Survival Show

"You ready?" June asked the woman beside him. Arin merely sighed before stretching her arms. "We have no choice, don't we?" she muttered. June smirked. "You really don't like me, huh?" Arin didn't respond. "Make sure we get this in one take." Director Nana called for silence in the set before Bubbles prepared to slate. "In 3...2...1...Action!" It was already late in the afternoon, but June and Arin, in character as Jin and Nayeon, begrudgingly found themselves side by side in the elegant poolside. The blue water sparkled, oblivious to the tension that burned between them. Nayeon disdainfully clicked her tongue as she maneuvered through the pool, scooping up the debris. Her eyes narrowed as she observed June mimicking her movements.

She sighed impatiently, breaking the silence. "I should have been home by now," Nayeon said. Jin smirked, momentarily stopping what he was doing. "Well, I'm not the one who escalated the discussion about meteorites into my annoying existence now, aren't I?" Jin scoffed. Nayeon shot him a withering glance, trash dripping from her net. "Well, Jin, maybe if you weren't everywhere, people could actually enjoy their space."

Jin chuckled, leaning on his net. "But admit it, you like having me around. Adds a bit of excitement to your dull routine."

Nayeon scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Excitement? More like irritation. You're like a persistent mosquito, buzzing in my ear."

Jin grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And yet, you can't resist the buzz."

Nayeon paused, shooting him a sharp look. "Don't get too comfortable. I wouldn't mind if you disappeared."

Jin's eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "Really? You'd miss me."

Nayeon's eyes narrowed. "No, I mean, I genuinely want you to disappear," she said with sincerity. The others watched, enamored by their acting. It really did seem like they weren't fond of each other (because they really aren't), and Director Nana found herself imagining the awards this drama would receive. Arin really played Nayeon's part very well—a spoiled princess who wanted nothing but to be loved by her parents. No matter how hard she tried, it was never enough. Despite having everything in the world, she lacked the one thing she wanted the most—her parents' approval. And the very person in front of her was the reason why she couldn't get to the top. "I really...really hate you," Nayeon muttered, looking at the sparkling water with profound hatred.

Jin halted, his tone suddenly serious. "Do you really mean that, Nayeon?"

Nayeon scoffed, tossing trash into a bag with more force than necessary. "Of course I do. You're everywhere, and everyone compares me to you. I can never be as good as Jin, the golden boy with the best grades and charming smile, and you don't even seem to care. You don't study. You don't mind what other people tell you. You—you are infuriating," she ranted, finally saying the words inside her heart. Jin watched her, his expression softening. "You do know that we're different, right? And that's okay."

Nayeon's frustration spilled out. "You don't understand. My family expects me to be like you. I'm suffocating under their expectations, and I can't stand being constantly reminded of how I'll never measure up."

The camera focused on June, and on the director's screen, his cold yet empathetic eyes were displayed. Nana, her mouth agape, stared satisfyingly at the screen. She sensed the vulnerability beneath his arrogant gaze.

"He's so good," Bubbles muttered, immersed in their performance. At that certain moment, June thought of the time when he would compare himself to his classmates who had their parents to take care of them. After the acting challenge, June realized what set good and bad acting apart. It was the authenticity of the feeling. June didn't consider himself as a 'good' actor just yet. Even though his stat was at a B-, his experience as an actor was very limited. Nonetheless, he had gone through a lot in his past and present life, so the best way he could channel those feelings was through relating them to his experiences. In the midst of her emotional outburst, Nayeon's footing betrayed her on the slippery poolside. A gasp spilled from her lips as she teetered on the edge, close to falling into the water. However, just as she was about to fall down, Jin's reflexes kicked in. He reached out and grasped onto Naeyon's wrist. Nayeon found herself pulled to Jin's chest, her heart racing inside her chest. This was the part where they had to look into each other's eyes, but June wasn't entirely comfortable with that. So, he glanced at Arin's lips and kept his gaze there (without any malicious intentions, of course). However, that action made Arin, not Nayeon, shy. Their gaze held, and the poolside surroundings faded into the background.

"Be careful," Jin murmured, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You might fall."

That was Arin's tipping point.

She broke away from June's hold and took a step back, and before she could comprehend her actions, she had already pushed June backward into the pool. The splash echoed through the air as June plummeted into the pool, his white polo shirt now clinging to his body. June's eyebrows furrowed. That wasn't part of the script!

The other crew members, who also realized they were deviating from the script, turned to Director Nana, expecting her to shout for a 'cut.'

However, Director Nana held up a hand, an approving smile playing on her lips. "No, keep rolling," she whispered. Arin watched from the side, wide-eyed after the unexpected blunder. She knew it wasn't part of the script, but at that moment, she just couldn't help herself. June emerged from the pool, water cascading down his soaked frame. The white polo, now transparent, clung to his toned physique. Months of training as an idol definitely toned his body even more. His disheveled blonde hair also clung to his forehead, making him appear sexier under the warm, golden sun. Arin couldn't tear her eyes away, her heart racing even faster in her chest.

He shot Arin a look of disbelief, water droplets sliding down his face. "What was that for?" he exclaimed. Arin, who had snapped out of the character she had playing, stammered, "I-I didn't mean to... It was just... You were annoying, and I—"

June shook his head, already hating how the water felt cold against his skin. He raked his fingers through his hair as he walked away from the pool, leaving a stunned Arin behind. In the girl's mind, June's words echoed—

"You might fall."