Became an American Retro Novelist - Chapter 144



Only Noblemtl

144.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles.

This is where Alexa Flare’s super powers come into play again.

“hi-!”

Alexa enters the practice room with a bright smile.

“Alexa!”

“You’re here?!”

“The restaurant you recommended last time was really delicious!”

Her fellow models from the same agency warmly welcomed her.

It may be a bit of a tricky situation as they are rivals, but Alexa ‘The Golden Retriever’ Flair’s superpowers are still going strong even after she entered society.

She quickly became close with the models belonging to ‘KH Agency’ to the point that it was hard to believe she was a freshman in society.

On the first day of practice, she glanced at the model next to her and started off by saying, “Your lips are really pretty.” Her dazzling conversation skills and gestures became a ray of healing(?) for the models who were growing tired of the endlessly competitive society.

And since everyone had similar experience and years of experience, we became so close that we practiced together separately even after the lessons with Alexa were over.

At about the same time, a boy at Stanford University looked completely different.

Before she signed her first contract and officially started modeling, she was very nervous, but she quickly adapted by making good use of what she had learned in high school, and she was able to rise to become the leader, or rather mascot, of the models here.

And my experiences in high school helped me not only in interpersonal skills, but also in actual ‘work’.

Modeling was quite similar to cheerleading practice in that it involved practicing in a group and directly showing off one’s skills in front of people.

There were many things to learn, starting from ‘how to stand up straight’, which I usually don’t think about, to how to handle eye contact, pose my body, how to express each outfit appropriately, and how to use objects like chairs. It didn’t end there, but I also received guidance on how to make myself look good, walking, and acting.

Alexa gradually learned that this job was not just about wearing pretty clothes and taking pictures.

‘This is what it means to be a pro.’

The average person is not aware of it, but he embodies and expresses each and every thing with his whole body.

It was so much fun to understand and apply the lessons and see myself changing every time I looked at the results in the photos. And the opportunity to shoot for ‘Dolly’ magazine at the end of the course gave me a great sense of accomplishment.

Alexa found herself enjoying this more and more.

Today, the four people continue practicing various exercises under the instructor’s guidance.

The instructor shouted as he saw Alexa’s facial expression while smiling while drenched in sweat.

“Bravo! What a great expression! Alexa!”

“thank you!”

“If only I was a little taller, I would have dominated the American modeling world! What a pity!”

“Ah, ahaha!”

Alexa couldn’t help but laugh awkwardly when she heard that.

Of course, not all of the work process was enjoyable. Sometimes, negative situations like this one unfolded.

He is short.

Although it was a complex to me, it was something that had never been directly pointed out as a weakness when I was a student. However, in this situation where I had come out into society and become a professional and a product, I had no choice but to accept it as a weakness.

For Alexa, it was best to just accept those words without getting discouraged and focus on practicing.

‘Because height is something I can’t do anything about!’

Alexa’s height is around 160 cm, unlike other models that reach 170 cm.

However, because her face is small and her proportions are good, she was also evaluated as not being noticeable in solo shots. If necessary, there was a way to cover it up by wearing high-heeled shoes.

After comforting herself like that and calming her shaky mind, she immediately immersed herself in the task given to her: facial expression acting.

The practice continued like that and finally ended in the evening.

“Should we stop here for today?”

“Thank you for your hard work!”

Alexa cheers brightly as the instructor announces the end of the lesson.

The other models who were out of breath and exhausted around her couldn’t help but laugh along with Alexa who was radiating positive energy.

“I told you I can’t show that I’m having a hard time because of Alexa?”

“That’s right. The atmosphere here has gotten a lot better since Alexa came in.”

“Oh, no!”

“Be confident, Alexa. I think so too.”

The instructor who had come closer agreed.

“Your energy will be an advantage wherever you go. Be proud.”

“Go, thank you······.”

Alexa’s blushing face and embarrassed expression made everyone gathered there laugh again. It was as if she had a cute little sister.

In that cheerful atmosphere, the door finally opened and someone came into the practice room.

It was none other than Karl Hobbs, the head of KH Agency.

“Ah, sir!”

“hello~!”

“Did you all practice well?”

The head of the agency, Karl Hobbes, was a young and capable man.

Originally, he worked as an exclusive scout for a large agency, but with the connections he made while discovering numerous stars, he became independent and is currently running and growing his own company.

He was a man who knew that patience was the most important thing in this industry, and the models gathered here were newcomers whom he had personally selected and scouted. He had high expectations for them, and among them, he believed that Alexa would become a star in the magazine modeling industry in the future.

Because she had a cool teenage drama called ‘Cheerleader’.

And as if to support his prediction, Alexa was at the center of the group in no time thanks to her original temperament and her unique leadership skills that were further honed during her days as a cheerleader.

“I have some good news to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“I heard that LBS is producing a pilot drama and I got an audition offer for it.”

“Oh, really?!”

“What kind of drama is it?”

“’About T’. You all know, right?”

“Whoa-!”

“Of course I know!!”

The models screamed in excitement.

Carl chuckled at the positive response, then tilted his head when he saw Alexa’s frozen face with wide eyes. He didn’t know how much ‘About T’ meant to her.

“Uh······ First of all, I want Chemi and Lucy to go. They’ve both learned some acting.”

“We love it!”

“What role are you playing? Alice? Hannah? May? Or Carmella?”

“Looking at the sharp masks on both of you, I think Camella would suit you, but unfortunately it’s just a minor role. For roles with more weight, they only give audition opportunities to those who are chosen through judging.”

“What a pity. I could have tormented Alice so well.”

“But how can I be on TV?!”

“Are we going to become stars?! Like ‘A Star Is Born’?!”

“They’re already counting their chicks before they hatch. Isn’t it a topic that can be discussed after you’ve done well in the audition and passed the interview?

“Um······.”

Just then, Alexa, who had been quietly watching the situation, opened her mouth.

Carl, who had been secretly concerned about her, glanced back.

“Yeah, Alexa.”

“Can you only support Chemistry and Lucy?”

“Huh? That’s not it. The two of you have been taking acting lessons for a long time. But why is that?”

“I, I want to apply too!”

“Huh? Why?”

“As the CEO said before! You have to grab the opportunity when it comes! Of course, the chances of me getting it right now are extremely slim… but… wouldn’t it be worth it to try it, even if it’s just for the experience?!”

Alexa, who had finally mustered up the courage to speak, soon froze like a stone when she sensed the reactions of those around her.

Suddenly everyone started giggling and laughing.

Just as Alexa’s shoulders hunched over, wondering if she had been joking around without even knowing the topic, Carl nodded after hearing her words.

“I hadn’t thought about that. You’re right, Alexa. In terms of ‘experience,’ I think everyone would be up for the challenge. It’s an agency that doesn’t have much work anyway, so I’ll have to make myself known somehow.”

“Sorry, Alexa. You look so cute and flirty that I couldn’t help but laugh.”

“I’ll buy you ice cream later!”

The models also didn’t take Alexa’s brave words lightly.

“I need to manage my weight, so I’ll change to something like a latte.”

A knife that slightly pours cold water on such a friendly atmosphere.

Alexa let out a sigh of relief in front of them, who had begun to bicker.

‘Whew.’

I was worried whether they would allow me to do it since it had been less than a month since I started taking full-fledged acting lessons, but fortunately, things worked out well.

Alexa, who had calmed her trembling heart, smiled faintly as she thought of someone.

‘I really want to stick with you.’

Even if it was just a minor role where my face only flashed for a moment on television, I was happy just to be there.

‘About T’ is a work that holds a special meaning to me, so I really wanted to appear in it.

Above all, because it is the work of a precious person.

And everyone looked at Alexa, who was lost in thought and steeling her resolve, with loving eyes.

······After coming out into society, she somehow monopolized the cuteness and love of ‘KH Agency’, just like ‘Ji-woo Jang’ who is still in high school.

***

A night with a high moon.

I decided to change my mind.

‘This is not an easy experience!’

If I can manage these feelings well now, I might be able to use them well in my novel later!

Because it’s unlikely that a person will feel the emotions of a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse unless they’re caught by a crazy serial killer or something like that!

Yeah, let’s think of this as an opportunity too!

······No matter how much I thought about it, my heart didn’t get any better.

Ten o’clock at night.

I left the dorm to attend the freshman welcome party.

‘Everyone wants to see me, so I can’t not go.’

I had been avoiding it until now, but from the moment I revealed to the outside world the fact that I was ‘SEEN’, it was something I had to humbly accept.

Although it was burdensome, it was a situation that had to be taken for granted even more here.

‘The students here are gathered here because they are obsessed with ‘writing’.’

So, if a writer who is already famous in California comes in, wouldn’t you be curious about who he is and even want to say a word to him?

Thinking that all of this was a fate I had to accept, I walked slowly down the dark road.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t alone.

That made me even sadder.

“Are you really a god?!”

John Smith kept talking to me from the side.

“······.”

I nodded silently.

It looked like it was hidden, but that wasn’t the intention.

An excited John shouted with exaggerated gestures.

“Wow! God! I really enjoyed reading your work! About T and Mother, seriously! How did you come up with such ideas?! Since when did you start writing?! I started writing when I was in elementary school! My father worked at a publishing company, you know! You could say that his influence on me since I was young raised me! Since when did you start writing?!”

“High school, first year.”

“Is that true?! This is crazy! This is crazy! Guys! Stop walking behind me and come here! You said you’ve been writing since you were in high school?! Is this what it means to be a genius?! What the heck! Stop making me feel the talent gap! Hahaha! My goal for this year was to be the top student in my class, but I’ve met a tough opponent! What the heck! What’s your goal for this year?!”

“Going home.”

“Yes! Of course, I have to go home safely······!”

“Excuse me.”

I looked at John Smith, who was suddenly approaching me.

“Because it’s too close.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Then, all the first-year students who had been standing close to me stepped back. It seemed like most of the friends I had seen during orientation had arrived.

There was a moment of silence.

As I walked silently along the road, following Jeffrey in the lead, I unconsciously looked up at the Stanford night sky filled with countless stars.

And suddenly, I felt my complicated mind becoming more at ease.

‘Well, this is nice.’

I felt like I could write well while surrounded by nature that stretches out endlessly.

As I suddenly had that thought, a fact that I had been half-unaware of until now came to mind.

The point is that everyone gathered here right now is writing.

Novels, poems, plays, screenplays, essays, criticism, etc.

Each of them writes in their own style, and they have gathered here to hone their skills and show them to the world. And I have been able to compete with them and sometimes build camaraderie.

‘Yeah, what could be wrong?’

Don’t feel too burdened by this fame now.

I smiled awkwardly and spoke to John, who was still walking right next to me.

“John, what do you usually write?”

“Me? You’re asking about my writing?!”

“······Oh, right. But let’s calm down a little.”

“I write novels!”

After hearing that answer, I took a quick look around.

The colleagues nearby each answered.

“Me too, a novel.”

“Ah, I am a poet.”

Most of them were novels, with some poetry mixed in.

‘Well, it’s rare for high school students to learn and write plays professionally.’

During orientation, it was said that students would learn about various fields related to writing at Stanford and then decide on their career path.

When I heard that explanation, my heart raced at the thought that I too could deeply learn about a field that I had never really had a chance to learn in my previous life. Those specialized elements will be of great help in the novel I will write in the future.

‘That’s not all.’

Stanford, a comprehensive research university, was also renowned for its scientific field. I thought I should prepare my next work step by step by attending lectures in various fields and looking up books in the library.

Of course, in the meantime, the serialization of ‘About T’ continues steadily.

I looked up at the stars again.

‘Is this why so many American science fiction novels were created?’

Did he look at a distant star and turn his imagination about it into a work of art?

When I think about what people in the distant past, far beyond the time I was living in, might have thought, I find myself looking forward to this college party thing.

Because everyone gathered here today will each have their own special imagination.

Come to think of it, in my previous life, I was very shy and was discriminated against because of my race, so I didn’t attend many parties like this.

‘I just played games with a few friends.’

That alone made me happy.

But now it was different. I was someone who had played TRPGs when I was a high school student. And I was a master at that. I was sure that the experiences I had gained by returning to this era would help me write better now.

Finally we arrived in front of the clubhouse, which was not far from the dormitory.

Jeffrey looked around at the first-year students gathered in front of him and explained.

“Okay, this is the place our literary department often uses as a hideout. Remember it well and if you have any questions about school life, come here. We’ll get to know each other today, so you can ask questions in the dorms. Okay?”

Contrary to his blunt speech, he is a senior who has a very kind attitude.

‘I wonder what the other seniors are like?’

The moment I followed Jeffrey inside, who had given me such high expectations, I was speechless.

“Hey, are these guys the first-years this year?”

“God! Where is God! I want that guy!”

“Haha, he’s cute. I have my eye on that Asian guy over there.”

“He is a god.”

“Uooooooooooooohhhh-!! How delicious!”

The upperclassmen gathered in the hallway, their eyes shining like war boys from some post-apocalyptic world.

They were holding ‘beer’ in their hands.

For reference, it was recently designated as federal law that drinking is allowed from the age of 21, but due to the ideological nature of the law, it has not yet been applied to people’s perception.

No, well, California was 21 before that too.

Was it because of the ‘university’ environment? Everyone laughed sinisterly.

“Holy moly······.”

I had a feeling this night was going to be a very long one.

End

(144)