Chapter 10: The First Reading
“Gaaah! It’s so good!”
Pork belly and beer!
It was a taste Oh Seok hadn’t experienced in a long time, so he shed a few tears.
It was the last week of February, just before the start of the semester.
Instead of the smell of sweat from the students, the practice room was filled with the smell of meat.
“It’s so good. Really!”
“Come on. Try this too.”
“Do we have more lettuce and perilla leaves?”
“Stop stuffing your face and cook some yourself!”
It’s what you’d call a graduation party.
It was a wrap-up party for Oh Seok and the students, who had been together throughout high school.
Of course, there was also good news to liven up the mood.
“Kids, have a drink.”
“Ah, teacher. This is already the third time.”
“Oh Seok was a disaster at drinking parties.”
“Shut up! Cola doesn’t have that weird taste you don’t know about. Hurry up and drink!”
Oh Seok had beer, and the kids had drinks.
Whether it was because of the heat from the portable gas burner or the alcohol, his face was as red as a beetroot.
“You’ve all worked really hard, and I’m grateful that you trusted me and followed me, and I’m glad you all got into college—!”
“And you’re happy that Bora and Muyoung passed their auditions, right?”
Junho quickly interrupted Oh Seok’s words. It was his third toast, so it was bound to be memorized. Junho smiled and put a well-cooked piece of meat on Bora’s plate.
Thud.
Bora, who had been nibbling, put down her chopsticks as if to say that was enough.
Oh Seok and the other kids all glanced at her, but they didn’t stop eating the meat.
“Why are you even here?”
“Me? I brought the meat. The director said that since I was here, we should eat together.”
His cheeky words.
Bora turned to look at Oh Seok.
“Wasn’t this supposed to be on the teacher?”
“Where do I have the money?”
“Ha Muyoung. Tell your friend to leave. He’s annoying me to death.”
Ha Muyoung just smiled.
“Sorry. Want to switch seats?”
“We already switched once!”
If that guy leaves, the meat will go too. That would be a problem, since we’re just getting started!
There was no one in the practice room who would take Bora’s side.
Even Yuchan was too busy eating.
“By the way, when do you both start filming?”
Junho put another piece of pork belly on Bora’s plate and asked, quickly changing the subject. Muyoung answered promptly.
“We have to do a reading first. They said we’d rehearse this weekend and then start filming right away. I think it’ll coincide with the start of the semester.”
“Really? You’ll be busy. You said the lead was Enbin, right?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know him, but his songs are familiar.”
“……Muyoung, I think you’re the only one here who didn’t know Enbin.”
He’s the center of the famous idol group ‘Zero Term’ and has succeeded as a solo artist too—he’s a really hot celebrity these days. The fact that he was chosen as a spokesperson for Seoul says it all.
“Let me know what you think after you see him. Is he really the same as on screen?”
“Yeah. Looking at his photos, he’s really handsome. I’ve never seen a man that pretty before.”
Muyoung smiled in admiration. For a moment, Junho and his friends’ faces turned serious.
‘Liar……?’
‘What’s he talking about. Really.’
‘Is that guy joking?’
Celebrities are supposed to be glamorous and cool because it’s their job to look good, but it’s really hard for ordinary people to be called pretty.
Everyone had curses and compliments rising in their throats, but they forced them down with the meat.
“What about Bora?”
“……I’ve got a bit of a wait. Reading in mid-to-late March. And please, can you stop giving me so much meat?”
“You haven’t been eating much lately.”
“I’ve eaten a lot.”
Bora was also a minor supporting character.
She played the role of the female lead’s coworker at her part-time job.
But she had lines from time to time, and whenever the male and female leads’ chemistry exploded, her reactions were caught on camera.
“Meat doesn’t make you fat.”
“You eat a lot. I’m going to get fat.”
She had started dieting.
Muyoung looked at her sympathetically and stuffed a large piece of meat into his mouth.
I’ve starved involuntarily, but I’ve never tried dieting……
“Anyway!”
Oh Seok, who had been gulping down his beer, started banging on the table with his spoon again.
“Don’t forget this teacher when you go to college.”
“Ah. Poor Oh Seok. When we leave, he’ll really be broke.”
Hyeongju pretended to wipe away tears and put kimchi in Oh Seok’s mouth.
The intermediate class, which had been the backbone of the academy’s revenue.
If they were adults, they would have moved on to the advanced class, but since they were going to college……
“It’s okay. It’s okay. The most stylish thing to do is to leave when it’s time to go. And don’t just give me kimchi, wrap the meat in it too. Tsk!”
He laughed heartily and waved his hand.
Muyoung wrapped kimchi and meat in a leaf for Oh Seok, as he had asked.
“I’ll come by often if I can.”
Of course, he’d be busy, but since he wasn’t in the acting department like the other kids, he didn’t have much to do with school.
Besides, Muyoung thought he still had a lot to learn. He’d only been learning for about three months.
“And if anyone asks on set, I’ll be sure to say I learned from the teacher.”
“Come on. Who’s going to ask that? Your agency, your experience, or what—”
“The team leader asked me. He wanted to know where I was learning to act.”
Muyoung innocently responded to Hyeongju’s words.
He then ate the meat as if he had become a mute. Yuchan clicked his tongue and refilled his drink.
‘It’s self-inflicted stress. Hyeongju.’
“So? What did you say?”
Oh Seok asked, his eyes sparkling. What’s the point of telling him, Muyoung thought, smiling.
“I said I was learning at BV Academy.”
“Good! Well done! My boy! Bora, you too, go out there and say proudly that you’re from BV. Got it?”
“Yes, yes. I got it—”
“Okay! Then let’s have another drink—”
“Stop it! Teacher! Really!”
It was a winter evening with a short day.
It was only six o’clock, but outside it was as dark as night. When had they ever eaten so much and laughed so loudly together? Muyoung raised his glass, feeling truly happy.
Then came the weekend.
Muyoung realized it when he arrived in front of Square Film—the area around the company was too quiet.
‘Come to think of it, it’s the weekend, isn’t it?’
He was a student who was half-unemployed, but the people at the company were office workers. It was definitely a day off, so he had no idea why the reading was scheduled for that day.
Squeak.
“Hello.”
“Yes. Come in. What can I do for you?”
“I’m here for the reading today—”
“Ah. This way, please.”
The lobby was narrow. Muyoung followed the employee upstairs to the conference room. Inside, he found the team leader sitting with a few familiar employees.
“Hello.”
“Oh! You’re here?”
And two more people.
A woman in her thirties and a middle-aged man.
The reason he thought they weren’t employees was their name tags.
[Episode 2: Marriageable Age Guest]
[Episode 3: Regular Guest]
It was probably a story that would follow Muyoung’s episode.
The team leader tapped his wristwatch and introduced them.
“Enbin can only make it this afternoon, so we’re only going to read up to episode three. Since it’s an omnibus, Muyoung, you can leave when you’re done. Sit over there. Rookie!”
“Hello. Nice to meet you.”
Muyoung sat down next to them and greeted them warmly.
Everyone seemed nervous, responding with awkward smiles. The rookie employee, called ‘maknae,’ put a name tag in front of Muyoung.
[Episode 1: High School Student Guest]
It was made by folding A4 paper, but Muyoung thought it looked pretty good.
It was probably because it was his first time doing anything like this.
Tick tock.
Muyoung sat still and watched the clock tick.
It was about to start, but the protagonist was nowhere to be seen.
The employees were just waiting in a subdued atmosphere.
Squeak.
“I’m sorry.”
The one who opened the door was the team leader. Behind him came CEO Cho Miyoung.
Of course, to the supporting actors, she was just another staff member.
“Enbin said he’s going to be a bit late.”
“Ah. I see.”
“Would you like some more tea?”
“No, thank you.”
Everyone shook their heads at the team leader’s formal offer.
They were supporting actors, and since it was a one-time role, they couldn’t complain about the delay.
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man fidgeted with his phone, looking troubled.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
Muyoung, who had noticed this, asked.
“Do you have something going on?”
“Ah—”
The people in the conference room turned to look at the two of them. The man’s face turned red, and he stammered.
“I, uh, it’s nothing. I was just planning to pick up my daughter after this. It’s fine. Really.”
Not wanting to give a bad impression, the man actively defended himself.
It was a middle-aged man’s late challenge to become an actor, after all!
The team leader and the employees whispered to each other, and he felt defeated.
‘Why is he suddenly talking—’
Just as resentment was about to rise.
Muyoung laughed as if it were no big deal.
“Then would you like to switch places with me?”
“Switch places?”
“Since it’s an omnibus, it shouldn’t matter, right?”
Muyoung asked, looking at the team leader.
He was so bold.
Most newcomers were too nervous to speak properly.
But this guy……
‘Does he think all he has to do is act?’
What a strange guy. He seemed really peculiar from the first time they met. The team leader nodded, saying there was no problem.
“As long as Enbin is okay with it.”
“Ah, I, thank you!”
Once a solution was found, the man relaxed. He then quietly gestured his thanks to Muyoung. Cho Miyoung, who had been watching the whole scene, thought to herself,
‘Is that him?’
The team leader had praised him so much.
He said the high school student from episode one had come to life, and he couldn’t stop talking about how great Muyoung was. His overall physique was definitely good.
But just sitting there blankly, she couldn’t tell.
‘I want to see how he acts.’
How had he managed to get all the staff on set talking about him?
Cho Miyoung checked her wristwatch and clicked her tongue.
‘We need to start quickly, or I won’t be able to watch.’
She had another schedule to keep.
She had come to watch because Muyoung was going first, but at this rate, she might not be able to……
“Brother, please do well.”
“I’m sorry. But they’re really clingy.”
“That’s too much! Sue them!”
“I’ll suggest it. But they’re fans—”
“Fans, my ass. Stalkers aren’t fans.”
Then, there was a commotion in the hallway.
A familiar voice.
Muyoung noticed that Enbin’s singing voice was much lower.
The door burst open, and a somewhat disheveled Enbin appeared.
Finally!
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
Enbin tidied his hair and sat down. His apology was very mechanical.
Because he didn’t even glance at the supporting actors or the other staff.
“Was everything resolved?”
“Yes? Ah. Yes, yes. Well.”
What had happened?
Muyoung scrutinized Enbin’s face, curious, so he could give Junho a vivid report later.
By the way, it’s really strange. To see someone in person that he’d only seen on screen!
“Let’s start right away. We’re running behind schedule.”
“Ah. Shall we? Director!”
The director and writer, who had been snacking in the next room, came rushing in. They were all employees of Square Film.
Even though they came in, Enbin didn’t look up and kept sighing. He was clearly in a bad mood.
“I’m director Kim Hangmok.”
“I’m writer Cha Yejin.”
“I’m Enbin. Nice to meet you.”
After the formal introductions, Enbin opened his script.
“Oh. The order.”
“Yes?”
“Could you do episode three first? This person has a date with his daughter.”
Muyoung asked with an innocent expression.
His eyes were bright, and he had a 100% pure, mischievous look with no trace of malice.
Enbin hesitated for a moment, looking absurd.
“Because we’re running late.”
Muyoung subtly implied that it was the other person’s fault, but he expressed it politely.
Enbin let out a dry laugh but unexpectedly agreed.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Thank you!”
“We’ll start with episode three. Director and writer, could you please explain the work first?”
Since everyone was busy, the reading proceeded at a very fast pace.
The purpose of the work and the expected directing methods were briefed.
“Shall we start with the lines then?”
“Yes. Let’s begin.”
Enbin recited the first line expressionlessly.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Cho Miyoung, who was listening, almost screamed in agony.
“Ah. Another. Morning. Has. Come.”
It was a disastrous performance still under development.