Translator: Marctempest
Editor: Rynfinity
Chapter 128
It wasn’t like I had promised in advance, and there was no reason for me to rush over just because Noh Bi-hyuk came to my house.
At least, that’s what I thought.
“I’ll be there by 7. Let’s have dinner together.”
Hearing his slightly sulky voice, I unintentionally said those words.
―Got it. I’ll wait.
After hanging up, I felt uneasy for no reason.
“Who was that? Noh Bi-hyuk?”
“Yeah.”
“He always clings at the best times. Seriously.”
Baek Seo-jin criticized Noh Bi-hyuk as usual. At this point, it seemed like a habit.
If this continues, she might complain about him just for breathing.
“It’s not clinging. He’s at my house now.”
“That is clinging, Yeon-jae…. Sigh, I should have become closer to you before Noh Bi-hyuk.”
I just laughed at Baek Seo-jin’s regretful look as she smacked her forehead.
Seo Ji-oh, who had been quietly listening, interrupted.
“Who is this Noh Bi-hyuk? A friend from middle school?”
“Yeah. He’s aspiring to be a singer, so we were in different classes.”
“Hmm. You two seem pretty close.”
We are close. As long as I stay famous, there shouldn’t be any major issues.
“He’s similar to you. The vibe is similar.”
“Similar to me? This Bi-hyuk guy?”
“Yeah.”
While Seo Ji-oh had a relaxed aura, Noh Bi-hyuk had a more friendly appearance.
But their eyes crinkled similarly when they smiled, and their speech had a similar rhythm.
“Then he must be good-looking too.”
“……”
Yes, even in such details.
As I looked at him skeptically, Seo Ji-oh laughed while stirring his drink with a straw.
Even in his slow movements, a hint of his inherent sharpness emerged.
‘This guy has quite a personality too.’
Noh Bi-hyuk often smiled, but his eyes quickly scanned his surroundings upon entering a new space, revealing he was no ordinary kid.
Seo Ji-oh was the same. When we first met, I could feel his eyes analyzing me rapidly.
‘Well, I’m the same.’
It’s funny that I think this way.
It’s not ideal to act like I’ve figured out a lot about someone I just met today.
‘Let’s stop thinking about it here.’
Who Seo Ji-oh was had nothing to do with me.
After organizing my thoughts, I focused back on the conversation.
But the silent phone kept bothering me, so I had to get up before 6 o’clock.
“Actor, you’re here?”
“Yes. Where’s Bi-hyuk?”
“He’s waiting in your room.”
After washing my hands in the bathroom, I went into the room.
As soon as I opened the door, I saw Noh Bi-hyuk pouting with his swollen lips.
“Did you have a good time?”
The words he greeted me with made my effort to arrive early seem pointless.
It was the first time I saw him sulking like a child.
“Yeah, it was fun.”
“……”
His tightly shut lips made him look like mist.
Mist often made various expressions on Noh Bi-hyuk’s face, so it wasn’t unfamiliar, yet it felt strange. What’s wrong with him?
“Bi-hyuk, are you mad?”
“Huh? Why would I be? Ridiculous. Why would I be mad?”
As he snorted, I kept staring at him, making him look embarrassed.
“Sorry, I was a bit… childish.”
“Yeah, a bit.”
He looked even more awkward.
I chuckled and sat next to him.
“Next time, contact me before coming over. Don’t do it after arriving.”
“I sent a text, but you didn’t check.”
“Call me. Call.”
“Why do you like calls so much?”
“Too lazy to type.”
“…And talking isn’t?”
I grabbed his hand, which was poking my cheek, and stood up.
“Let’s eat first. I’m hungry.”
“Okay~.”
Confirming he was back to his usual self, I left the room.
Raising a kid isn’t easy, really.
* * *
“Actor.”
Knock knock.
As soon as I heard the knocking, the door burst open.
“I was going to ask if you’re ready, but I guess I don’t need to.”
Jin-bae hyung looked at me with wide eyes, making me smile awkwardly.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
Today was a rare day for an on-site shoot.
A day to really act. It had been so long that my body was itching.
“Shall we have breakfast first? We still have plenty of time.”
“Yes.”
Honestly, I wanted to skip breakfast, but I sat at the table obediently.
I couldn’t taste anything.
Ignoring Jin-bae hyung’s words to eat slowly, I quickly finished breakfast and got in the car.
At the same time, my phone rang. It was Sung Lee-jun.
We’re going to see each other soon, so why call?
“Hello.”
―Yeon-jae. Did you sleep well?
“Yeah. I’m heading to the filming site now.”
―Already? It’s only 9 a.m. Isn’t your shoot at 3 p.m.?
Although it was an afternoon shoot, I decided to go in the morning to prepare.
I also wanted to stay longer at the filming site.
“Just. Wanted to watch you act. What’s up?”
―No, nothing special…. Just wanted to ask if you slept well!
Such a trivial reason. But I still preferred calls to texts.
A short call became longer and longer.
By the time the set building appeared through the windshield, I finally managed to hang up.
Of course, it was pointless. As soon as I opened the car door, Sung Lee-jun popped out.
“Yeon-jae. Hi…!”
“Hi. Your hair looks good.”
“Thanks….”
“When did you dye it?”
“Oh, it’s not dyed, it’s a wig. This color requires multiple bleaches, and it damages the hair too much….”
I see. I didn’t know that.
I lightly touched his yellow-dyed hair to fit his character Han Seung-min. It didn’t look like a wig, which was fascinating.
“I’ll introduce you to our director and staff.”
“Sure. Thanks.”
Today, I was participating as an extra in the new drama “Dogs’ Leash” that Sung Lee-jun was shooting.
It was also the drama I had told Team Leader Woo I wanted to be part of.
If I had been more ambitious then, I could have been the one wearing this wig.
‘But it’s already over.’
I thought seeing Sung Lee-jun as Han Seung-min would make me feel complicated, but surprisingly, it didn’t.
Instead, it was intriguing. The character was completely different from what I had imagined.
‘I didn’t expect him to say that line in such a high tone.’
What was written in the script was just text.
The writer could emphasize actions like nods, glances, hand gestures, and movements, but how to implement them was up to the actor.
‘Depending on who takes on the role, a completely different character can emerge.’
I felt like I was just starting to understand acting.
Completing a character made of words—that’s acting, and in the end, there’s no correct answer.
Sung Lee-jun, who delivered a different answer from mine, did an excellent job.
I was quietly observing from a corner, trying not to interfere when I sensed someone beside me.
“Our Lee-jun acts really well, doesn’t he?”
It was the main PD of “Dogs’ Leash.”
“Yes. He’s really good.”
“Ha-ha. I feel proud every time I see him. I was the one who first suggested he try acting.”
“You must have known Lee-jun hyung’s father for a long time.”
“Yes, indeed. It’s been a long time since we became like brothers. Looking at Lee-jun feels like seeing my own son.”
I see. It was sudden, but not entirely incomprehensible.
Anyone would understand after seeing that gaze.
Not wanting to stir up any trouble, I told him what he wanted to hear.
“I want to act as well as Lee-jun hyung.”
“Ha-ha! You can do it too. Learn a lot today.”
His previously displeased look softened.
There was no need to be tense around him. Easy to handle, though annoying.
“When Lee-jun asked if he could bring an extra, I was unsure. But seeing you now, you have a great presence!”
“Yes. Thank you.”
The main PD chatted for a long time before leaving. What a headache.
Finally getting some peace, Sung Lee-jun approached.
“Yeon-jae, are you bored?”
“No. You act really well, hyung. I enjoyed watching.”
“Thanks…! Talking with you last time helped a lot.”
Responding to Sung Lee-jun’s chatter, I recalled the overall story of the drama.
“Dogs’ Leash” mainly featured a teenager, Han Seung-min, and a man in his 40s, Lee Jan-hyuk.
Han Seung-min was a typical street thug who had run away from home at a young age.
He gained superpowers through an opportunity but wandered without using them properly.
The drama was about Lee Jan-hyuk discovering and raising such a Han Seung-min.
Initially, they bickered, but eventually, they became a team and fought other superpower factions together.
‘Superpowers… They better execute it well.’
Superhero genres easily turned cheesy if overdone.
Despite not being my taste, I was greedy because of the character.
Han Seung-min was a charming character unlike any seen in other dramas.
‘It’s still a pity… but getting to act as an extra is something.’
Today, my role was a student being bullied by street thugs 1, 2, and 3.
Shortly after gaining his powers, Han Seung-min saved the student from the thugs.
When the student thanked him, Han Seung-min shamelessly said, “You should pay for saving you,” and took the money back.
A truly unique character. Tsk, I still have regrets.
As I was about to get lost in thought, Sung Lee-jun glanced at me and spoke.
“Remember what we talked about when we first met? ‘Butterfly Flower on the Zelkova Tree’ was my first drama.”
“Yeah.”
“This is my second drama, and I’m glad to be filming with you again….”
His shy face was full of sincerity.
‘He really needed a friend.’
Maybe it would be better for him to go back to school.
“I’m happy to be shooting with you too. Let’s do well today.”
“Yeah…!”
Sung Lee-jun answered brightly.
Thinking about how this face would transform into Han Seung-min made me excited.
‘I want to act soon.’
Han Seung-min’s superpower was ‘Obedience.’
By making direct eye contact and giving a command, he could control the other person.
When the student 1, who was thankful to Han Seung-min for saving him, was taken aback by the demand for money, Han Seung-min, annoyed, used his power.
Since it was a scene that properly showed Han Seung-min’s power, the acting of the student being controlled was important.
Since Sung Lee-jun contacted me three days ago, I had been practicing with that in mind.
The thought of standing in front of the camera after such a long time made me feel elated.
“Actor, you need to change now.”
Following Jin-bae hyung’s guidance, I changed into a school uniform.
It was much duller and darker than the uniform of my school.
After creating scars around my lips and lowering my skin tone, the shoot was right around the corner.
“Please take care of me today.”
“…Ah, yes! Same to you.”
When I greeted the actors who were to take my money, they flinched collectively.
They had been glancing at me earlier. Do they have something to say?
Ignoring them, I took my position. Don’t get too excited. Stay calm.
I slowly closed my eyes. And then, words I hadn’t heard in a long time reached my ears.
“Stand by—action!”