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A couple of days later

Kyu-ha, who had been reading the script for the past few days, stopped by the Bluebird Orphanage before he officially started filming.

When things got busy, he couldn't visit as often as he used to. Besides, Han Gyeo-ul called him every day; she had finished writing the lyrics for Longing Song and wanted to let him listen.

"Hi, Oppa! Congratulations on being cast in your new drama! I saw the article."

"Thank you. So, did you write the lyrics well?"

"I did work really hard on the song. Please listen to it later."

"Well then, let's take care of what needs to be done first and then listen to it."

As always, Kyu-ha and Gyeo-ul did various chores and cared for the children. Then they went under the ginkgo tree when they had a little free time.

"I struggled to write the lyrics because your song was just so wonderful. Please listen to it."

Cough, hmm-aaaa…

Han Gyeo-ul cleared her throat and started singing the final version of the Longing Song.

[I lost my way with you, can't feel any emotions. 

My heart aches; I can't breathe well

I wish you could hurt me so that I won't be sad anymore

I feel like I'm falling, falling into darkness

Not knowing where to go

I'm staring at the stars, and in the end, I'm wondering about you

Are you looking down at me?]

Han Gyeo-ul's voice spread delicately under the golden ginkgo tree.

Her tone was pure and clear, and her emotions were restrained. The way she uttered the lyrics changed the atmosphere to melancholy. 

"What do you think, Oppa?"

"Hmm… First of all, the song, the lyrics, and your voice were well harmonized. I got lost in the song. And you did a great job catching the point; everyone who misses someone can relate."

Kyu-ha was content with giving his self-composed song to Han Gyeo-ul, as his creation became richer by combining her voice and lyrics.

Gyeo-ul smiled as she finally felt at ease with Kyu-ha's simple and sincere compliments.

"Phew... What a relief! When the song is completed, it's my-- nope, our song? That's odd as well. Anyway, I'm so proud of it and attached to it like my own baby, you know? Oh! The Longing Song was registered to the Copyright Association under your name as the composer, and under my name, lyricist!"

After considering it, Kyu-ha came to the idea that Longing Song would fit well with the mood of his latest work, Pygmalion Reverse Effect.

"Gyeo-ul, don't you want to use this song as an OST for a drama?"

"Is it for your Pygmalion Reverse Effect? I'd be so grateful if that's the case."

It was typical for the idol group's lead vocalist to be underrated for their potential and ability as a vocalist, as they had only a few verses to showcase it.

Thus, even if they released a solo album, their abilities got no approval, so they faced many difficulties promoting it.

However, it was usual for the song to get picked up naturally through being a drama OST as the popularity of the drama increased. Therefore, it was easier to build awareness as a vocalist.

"From my point of view, the drama and the song go well together. Let me ask the director tomorrow."

***

The next day

Just in time, producer Jung Yeon-hee was with writer Park Jeong-ah for a meeting. Kyu-ha sent her an email with the music file and called her.

"Yes, Producer Jung. I just sent you the file. Could you please tell me what you think about using it as an OST for our drama? You may delete it right away if you don't think so. Yes, yes. Please listen to it and call me back."

And five minutes later, Jung Yeon-hee called back.

"Mr. Kyu-ha? What song is this? Who sang it? It's perfect for our drama."

"The singer was the lead vocalist of Heart Signal, Han Gyeo-ul. I happened to hear it because we were close, and I sent it since I thought the lyrics and mood of the song would go well with our drama."

Kyu-ha didn't bother to mention that he was the song's composer.

"Oh! Heart Signal. The lead vocalist was this good? I'll have to call her agency. Thanks anyway. You solved a problem, Mr. Kyu-ha!! Ho ho."

Producer Jung Yeon-hee instantly contacted Blue Moon Entertainment, Heart Signal’s agency, to inform them of her intention to use Han Gyeo-ul's song as a drama OST. They pulled off a contract smoothly since it was a welcome event for the agency.

Later that night, Gyeo-ul thanked Kyu-ha.

- Gyeo-ul: Thank you so much, Oppa!!!

 Thanks to you, the OST contract went well, and I feel like I'm one step closer to my dream!

 After meeting you, I think the things I was worried about will be easily solved. ㅠㅠ

 (Touched Emoticon)

- Kyu-ha: It's all because of your hard work, lol

 Anyway, since we're in the same boat, let's do our best together.

- Gyeo-ul: Are we…? (Embarrassed)

 Got it! I'll do my best!!

 (Fighting Emoticon)

"Yaaaay!! I’m so happy."

Han Gyeo-ul felt like she was getting closer to her dream one step at a time, which kept her up all night with excitement.

***

Script Reading D-Day

Script reading is an event that is more crucial than people think, whether it is a drama or a movie. As the saying goes, "well begun is half done." It was the first day when the entire cast gathered, when each character demonstrated their lines in front of others.

"Hello, I'm producer Jung Yeon-hee, who’s directing Pygmalion Reverse Effect."

"Nice to meet you. I'm the writer of the script, Park Jeong-ah."

Everyone from the leading to supporting actors, beginning with Jung Yeon-hee and Park Jeong-ah, had time to greet each other one by one before officially reading the script.

Despite the tense atmosphere at meeting, all of the actors who sat down were seriously engaged in the reading.

The Pygmalion Effect was initially defined as a person's beliefs, expectations, and predictions of something actually happening.

The male lead, Si-chang, grew up with his parents, who ran a chicken restaurant when he was young, so he spent a lot of time alone in an empty house.

Feeling lonely and empty the whole time, an old carving knife at his house caught his eye. As if possessed by something, Si-chang held the carving knife and began scribbling and engraving something on the wooden floor.

After returning home late in the evening, Si-chang's parents were dumbfounded and tried to scold the young Si-chang for what he'd done on the wooden floor, but they soon realized what their son had carved was not simply a scribble.

It was of Si-chang's parents and Si-chang holding hands, embarking on a picnic together.

The quality of the finished carving was so sophisticated and well-done that no one would believe a child had carved it.

"I mean… What is this… Did you really do that?"

What they saw at this time was not Si-chang's longing for his family, but Si-chang's mind-blowing talent.

From then on, his parents had been searching for gifted person-related TV programs, wanting Si-chang competing and making money in the name of the egoistic adults who just wanted to use their child's talent... However, Si-chang was okay with it.

He had hoped to spend more time with his parents when he first carved a picture on the floor, and that dream seemed to be fulfilled.

Si-chang was getting more and more tired of being exposed to many TV programs and having to carve like a clown in front of people at different venues.

And at some point, Si-chang stopped sculpting properly.

Even when he appeared on a show, he carved roughly without thinking, sometimes looking blankly without raising a knife at all.

"What the hell is wrong with you!? Do you want to see me die!?!?"

Si-chang's talent naturally began to be questioned, and he gradually faded from the attention of the people around him.

His parents grew disappointed with him and went back to their regular jobs.

That memory deeply hurt Si-chang, and he didn't want to show himself in front of people.

He lived a dull life, enrolled in the correct department at the right university, just as his parents wished.

One day, Si-chang, who was informed of his first MT participation as a freshman, had no intention of participating. Yet he half-heartedly attended it because he thought he would have to join the first MT as part of everyday college life.

The MT location, Turtle Rock Beach, was a small beach in Incheon that was not well known to people.

Anyway, he joined the game and looked normal by getting along with the surrounding people. When most of them were drunk and asleep, Si-chang quietly made his way to the beach, alone, with a camping shovel and chopsticks from his bag.

It had something to do with a sand sculpture that he had always wanted to try.

It was almost 2 a.m.

Where the darkness fell, there was no human presence, only the waves splashing sound.

Pitching in the direction of the flashing streetlight, he stared blankly at the night sea and started sculpting the sand with the shovel and chopstick, using the slope of the beach as if something had come to his mind.

The sand, though, would naturally be washed away by the water during a high tide in the early morning.

Through his hand, the sand, bit by bit, began to take shape, and three hours passed. It taken the shape of a woman.

He stared at the completed sand sculpture and spoke as if possessed. “Ah… It’s beautiful…”

Although he carved it unconsciously, the female figure was reminiscent of his ideal type when he finished it.

When he was staring blankly at his sculpture for a while.

"Hey… Did you make this?"

Startled!

Si-chang was stunned by the unexpected voice, and when he turned around, a woman was staring at the sculpture and him, back and forth, with her eyes wide open.

Her face was identical to the woman he carved…