Chapter 131: Second Audition
“What’s wrong with Unta?”
Enbin, who had just returned from meeting the manager, asked as he entered the practice room. It was like he was a gorilla who had his banana snatched away, huffing and puffing all by himself. The dancers silently gestured towards Muyoung.
“I might have…”
…accidentally caused some trouble.
No, but Muyoung didn’t say anything! He just said he was friends with Enbin.
“What do you mean, ‘might have’?”
“…I think I messed up the hierarchy.”
“Huh?”
Enbin was clueless.
As Muyoung explained the situation, looking embarrassed, Enbin burst out laughing, even holding his stomach and rolling around.
“Crazy! Hahahaha!”
“It’s not that funny.”
“It’s hilarious! Unta’s such a stickler for hierarchy, and now it’s all messed up! Hahahaha!”
And that’s not all?
Once he decides on a relationship, it’s set in stone, no matter what. It’s both a strength and a weakness of his stubborn personality.
Enbin patted Muyoung’s shoulder reassuringly.
“It’s okay. It’s okay. These things happen.”
“Seeing your reaction, I’m sure it’s not okay.”
“Nah, it’s fine. Whatever. So, are you really going to learn acrobatics?”
“Acrobatics? Not breakdancing?”
“They’re a bit different. What you just showed me was acrobatics—handstands and side flips. It’s basic, but it’ll still be tough on your body.”
Since it’s a physical skill, that much was to be expected.
Muyoung nodded repeatedly, seeming determined.
“Then, while we’re practicing, you can do it over there by yourself. Hey, where’s the mattress?”
“In the basement storage. Want me to get it?”
“Yeah, please.”
It worked out for both of them.
Muyoung could practice his special move, and Enbin was relieved. He had been worried about coordinating his schedule with Muyoung’s to practice the third album tracks.
“Please take care of me. Should I call you ‘teacher’?”
“Huh? Hahaha. No need. I’m no teacher. And I’m not great at teaching. You’ll have to figure it out, Muyoung.”
The dancer brother laughed awkwardly and waved his hand.
There were even specialized academies for this. He could teach him the quick and dirty way, though.
Squeak—
“Move, move.”
“Give me a hand over here.”
Soon, three or four large, fluffy mattresses were brought in.
“The company has all this? That’s cool.”
“With so many people preparing for performances, they come in handy.”
Enbin tested the mattresses by stepping on them. They were almost 20 cm thick, and the softness was extraordinary.
“Wanna give it a try?”
“What first?”
“Start with handstands and spins.”
“Don’t kids do that in school all the time?”
“…Do they?”
Muyoung tilted his head, looking unsure.
First, the dancer brother demonstrated. He placed his hands on the ground, gracefully swung his legs in a semicircle, and landed!
“Easy, right?”
“Oh… yeah.”
“You try.”
Everyone took a break, sitting around the mattress to watch Muyoung. He tucked in his shirt, ready to give it his all.
“Hwaa! Hwaa!”
“Nice spirit!”
“Hahahaha!”
Nervous, he kept jumping in place, shaking his hands and feet. And then, with all his might, he went for it!
“Uh-oh?”
“Oops! Hahaha!”
Thud—
He managed to place his hands on the ground, but his legs wouldn’t cooperate. He tumbled sideways, collapsing.
The dancer brother and Enbin tried to catch him, but he still couldn’t get it right.
“Just keep practicing this for now.”
“Okay.”
The dancer brother glanced at his watch and nodded to Enbin.
It was a signal that they’d rested enough and should get back to practice.
Everyone got back into formation, and Enbin’s third album track blasted through the speakers.
Boom! Boom boom!
“One, two, three! Turn! Again!”
“Let’s gooo!”
“Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta! Spin! Spin again!”
“Nice!”
Their practice was like a performance, full of energy and enjoyment. They were truly stage masters. Muyoung watched in a daze, then got up.
‘I need to work hard too.’
Just two weeks.
He had to master at least one special move for the audition! Muyoung kept falling and rolling.
After a while, even though he hadn’t eaten, he felt nauseous.
‘Ugh—’
As he sat down to catch his breath, he suddenly remembered that day. When he and Romin practiced singing and guitar at their dorm.
‘Right, back then too…’
Though he didn’t realize it, hadn’t he been told he was singing well, as if he were acting?
Muyoung observed the dancer brother’s passionate dancing from behind.
‘What if I act like him…?’
He closed his eyes and let his imagination run wild.
The world had ended, and the dancer brother had moved into a building filled with mysterious power.
He was part of an exploration team heading outside… Damn! The ground was split by a crack?
‘Only I can do it. I’m the only one who can cross this.’
Mumbling to himself,
Muyoung felt the emotions deeply, making the imagination feel more vivid. The strange metallic smell, the blazing fire, and the urgency of the situation.
“Huff!”
Whoosh!
Muyoung closed his eyes tightly and jumped with all his might. His upper body naturally twisted, and his head followed the spin.
He couldn’t land standing up, but he ended the move on his knees.
Thud—!
“Oof.”
He collapsed, completely exhausted. It wasn’t perfect, but he’d succeeded about halfway!
As hope began to show, he couldn’t contain his joy and rolled around on the mattress.
“Heeheehee!”
“Bro, what are you doing?”
The dancer brother, who had been watching him in the mirror, was stunned. It wasn’t a handstand—he was doing a front aerial!
But seeing him succeed halfway, even if clumsily, he stopped dancing in disbelief.
“Bro?”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Focus. Let’s go again. One, two, three!”
For someone who couldn’t even land a handstand to suddenly spin in mid-air, it was shocking. The dancer brother brushed it off as a fluke and focused on his own dance.
But…
“Ugh! Haa!”
By the time practice ended,
seeing Muyoung clumsily complete a full spin, he knew it wasn’t just luck.
“How did you do that?”
“What? I did what you told me?”
Enbin was just as baffled.
He’d learned acrobatics during his trainee days, and this wasn’t something you could pick up in a day. He muttered seriously, chin in hand.
“…Maybe you’re just good with your body since you can’t sing?”
“I’m not that bad at singing.”
“No, you really can’t sing.”
Ugh. Like a scientist pondering a strange phenomenon, he mumbled.
Clearly, no matter what Muyoung said, it wasn’t getting through. He grabbed Enbin’s arm and held his stomach.
“Let’s eat! I’m starving!”
Time passed, and the day of the second audition arrived.
This time, it wasn’t at the Nepflix headquarters but at a studio on the outskirts of Gyeonggi-do. As soon as he heard the location, he had a feeling…
“This is serious.”
He didn’t expect it to be this detailed.
There were wired rails and equipment for camera tests. And even a chroma key screen—they were clearly serious about the evaluation.
“Muyoung!”
Kang Ok-kyung called him as she stepped out of her imported car.
“Hi, Manager.”
“You’re early?”
“Yeah, no traffic.”
She greeted Ko Gyeongmin too and led them to the waiting room. It was just a room with a sofa, though.
“There are fifteen actors participating today.”
“Fifteen?”
“Three for the lead role of Kim Kido. The rest are for supporting roles, except for the female lead.”
He was shocked.
At least it’s only two competitors for the lead.
“It’s a big setup, so the more guests, the better, right? No need to prepare twice.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
Muyoung stretched his wrists and ankles lightly as he replied.
For two weeks, he’d practically lived at SN Entertainment, even more than the trainees. He’d leave in the morning and return with Enbin at sunset.
“Are you ready for the action scenes?”
“Yeah! I’ve been working hard.”
“Good. I’m looking forward to it. Once you’re cast, you’ll get support from the action school before filming. The company wants actors who can handle physical scenes.”
“I understand.”
“It’s just to see your basics, so don’t stress. I have to take care of something, but other staff will guide you when they’re ready. Oh, I almost forgot.”
Kang Ok-kyung turned around as she reached the door.
“The others who passed with you are Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae. You know them, right?”
“Oh, yeah.”
He’d seen Cha Seung-on in the company hallway before, and Kim Min-jae was a mid-20s actor he recognized by name and face. Kang Ok-kyung cheered him on with a light fist.
“Good luck.”
“Thanks!”
Ko Gyeongmin bowed deeply.
After Kang Ok-kyung left, he muttered worriedly.
“Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae.”
Both had good images and acting skills.
Cha Seung-on was set to enlist soon, but his filmography was solid, and he specialized in action roles. He’d heard rumors of him joining the Marines this time.
“What about Kim Min-jae?”
“You’re the youngest of the three. Kim Min-jae must have done some action scenes in his last two projects, right? One was a historical drama, I think.”
A historical drama filled with war and battles.
Of course, Kim Min-jae, with his experience, would be more flexible than Muyoung, who had no background.
Muyoung confidently raised his arm.
“It’s fine! I didn’t just play around for two weeks!”
“Right, we’re competitive too! Yeah!”
Bandages wrapped tightly around his wrists. And braces on his ankles and waist.
They were badges of honor, proof of his effort. No matter the result, Muyoung had given it his all.
“Bro, I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, I’ll grab some food from the car.”
He had no idea how long the wait would be.
With fifteen people auditioning…
Muyoung explored the warehouse-like studio, looking for the bathroom. As he navigated through the crowd, someone grabbed his arm.
“Oh, hi?”
“Yeah?”
Huh? Where have I seen her?
A woman with long hair tied up. She seemed familiar yet strange.
Maybe a rookie actress he’d seen in passing?
“Don’t you remember me?”
“Who are you?”
Muyoung quickly tried to match the face. Beep—no match.
“We met at Hadong Theater.”
Hadong Theater? Oh, right!
She was the lead actress in
“I’m Kim Jin-seo.”
“Oh, I’m Ha Muyoung.”
“Yuchan told me a lot about you. By the way, we’re the same age. She wouldn’t stop bragging.”
“She bragged? She never said anything in front of me! Hahaha!”
“Anyway, are you here for the audition? The lead role?”
“Yeah, you too?”
“Me too. The female lead.”
After wrapping up her theater work at Hadong, she debuted in a drama and somehow made it to the Nepflix second audition. It was quite a journey.
“Good luck to both of us today.”
“Absolutely! You too!”
They shook hands and parted ways.
Muyoung didn’t think much of it, but Kim Jin-seo couldn’t shake off her surprise. She’d been impressed back then.
“Muyoung!”
“Yeah?”
“The audition’s starting. Get ready and come out in five minutes.”
After returning from the bathroom, Muyoung had been stretching on the sofa. Hearing the standby call, he zipped up his tracksuit.
Whoosh—
“Okay, let’s go!”
With his pants and shirt neatly tucked in,