Chapter 35: The War of the Real Ones
“You crazy bastard. You must’ve gone crazy after inhaling gas.”
“If you want to get out alive, it’d be best to shut that mouth of yours!”
Harsh words echoed through the Big Win Entertainment office.
Muyoung covered his nose with the script and rolled his eyes. How many hours had it been since they sat on the table and cushions in the middle of the office?
“Stop it! If we do this to each other, we’re all really doomed.”
“Oh, I see. So you were the factory manager?”
On the table were dried-up ramen noodles and instant food packets scattered around. There were three people delivering lines. Two of them, Na Geumdong and Ko Gyeongmin, played dozens of roles.
‘This is amazing. Really.’
The experience of being an actor doesn’t just disappear. They were taking turns playing the numerous roles that appeared in the movie. All for Muyoung, for Louis.
“Louis! Ah-”
Na Geumdong closed his eyes and opened his mouth towards Muyoung. Seeing this, Ko Gyeongmin flared his nostrils. He was desperately trying to hold back laughter.
“Chocolate, quickly.”
“Ahh-”
Muyoung put a piece of candy in Na Geumdong’s mouth. The cheeks moved up and down happily as he chewed. This was not a middle-aged man, but Louis’ beloved…… Jaeni…….
“Damn it. I can’t watch this anymore!”
Muyoung’s immersion was about to break just before it became too precarious. Taeseok, who had been lying on the sofa, had a fit and threw a newspaper.
“Phew. Thank goodness.”
He, too, exhaled the breath he had been holding and collapsed onto the table. It’s too difficult. To superimpose another person onto someone who’s clearly right in front of you.
“Muyoung, you’re crazy. How can you feel any emotion when looking at that face?”
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“No. More than that, listen to your voice. Is that a sound that comes out of an uncle’s throat?”
He could handle other roles perfectly, but ‘women’ and ‘children’ were just too difficult. They were the ultimate opposites. When Ko Gyeongmin played Jaeni, he just spoke in a normal tone.
“I did my best!”
……Only the enthusiastic Na Geumdong imitated a child’s voice and delivered his lines. Muyoung munched on some candy and flipped through the remaining script.
“How far are we going today?”
“Let’s just do until the next page. Oh, but in scene 74, you have a habit when delivering that line. Why do you keep shaking your arm?”
“Me? I didn’t know.”
“Be aware of that and fix it. And the next line, yours is good too. Cutting your breath with every syllable. But I’d like it if you did it like this-”
Not only Muyoung’s script, but Ko Gyeongmin’s was also tattered like a rag. Muyoung’s notes focused on lines and emotions, while his focused on comments.
“Oh. It’s much easier to speak.”
“Yeah. It’s probably because the words have a soft feel to them.”
Combined, Ko Gyeongmin and Na Geumdong’s acting careers spanned over twenty years. And they were pouring all of that into the youngest rookie. Muyoung followed the lines without even realizing his throat was getting hoarse.
“Shouldn’t we all stop and get some sleep?”
Only Taeseok, the outsider, noticed this. At his words, Muyoung fell backwards. It felt like déjà vu. Didn’t he live like this at the BV Academy too?
“……There’s no end to learning.”
“Even more so in art.”
“Aaahhh!”
Outside, the dim dawn was spreading. As Muyoung stretched and rubbed his eyes, Na Geumdong made some small talk to lighten the mood.
“But isn’t it surprising that Lee Hijun got the role of Jin?”
“Is it? I thought he suited it quite well.”
Ko Gyeongmin recalled Lee Hijun’s face as he had seen it in person. He definitely had a stereotypically soft aura, but his eyes. They reminded him of a sword glinting beneath a magnolia tree.
“Casting for an opposite image is popular these days. Since Jin is an explosive character, I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s good for him too. If he’s going to transform his acting, there’s no better opportunity. I heard the actor who was originally cast was Kim Sangyeon?”
“Oh, really? He would’ve suited it too.”
“The writer wrote the role with an actor in mind.”
“But why did it end up going to Lee Hijun? To be honest, when it comes to acting ability…….”
Kim Sangyeon would’ve been better. The writer wanted him too. Ko Gyeongmin tilted his head and chewed on some squid.
“Was it because of scheduling conflicts?”
“His last work was two years ago, right? If he wasn’t working, he was probably just playing around.”
Muyoung just watched their conversation with interest. In truth, he was too tired to contribute as well. He rolled around and asked the two of them,
“By the way, what are the seniors you work with like?”
Muyoung knew roughly what their public personas were like. Sung Hyejun seemed like an elite who was sharp and efficient, Hyojung seemed kind and affectionate, and Jinsu seemed like a teasing mood maker.
“What are they like……”
Ko Gyeongmin recalled their rumors and impressions. Even though he was exhausted, Muyoung’s eyes were full of anticipation. It felt like he’d be breaking their image if he said it outright.
“They’re all just a bit unexpected. Unexpected.”
“Really?”
“Think of them as Avengers-level.”
“……?”
He clearly didn’t understand what that meant. But did he really need to know in advance? If ‘that’ Yoo Yuna liked Muyoung that much, the others were probably similar, right?
“Just go over there and be polite, like you usually are. I’ll support you with the rest.”
Ko Gyeongmin patted him on the back and muttered resolutely.
And then came the day Muyoung had been eagerly awaiting.
It was the day of the reading.
Squeak-
“Huh? Hyung. Why aren’t you going in?”
Ko Gyeongmin looked around the parking lot entrance and then turned the car around. Muyoung, who had been preparing to get out, was confused as he watched the company building move away.
“Monet’s parking lot is narrow.”
“Yes. So what?”
“Today, the director, the production team, and all the main and supporting actors are gathering. So how will they park? We need to clear the space in advance.”
They had arrived an hour earlier than the scheduled time, so there was plenty of space. But a rookie like Muyoung couldn’t just barge in.
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.”
“You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll take care of being observant.”
It was similar to leaving the best seat empty at a company dinner. Of course, no one would say anything outright, but if you were unlucky, you’d get finger-pointed.
“Let’s get out around here and walk.”
“Okay. Sounds good.”
In front of a shopping center two blocks away from Monet. It was an awkward time in the afternoon, so the streets of Chungmuro were quiet. Muyoung grabbed his script and entered Monet with an excited heart.
“Welcome.”
“Hello. I’m Ha Muyoung.”
“Oh. Yes. This way. You’re early?”
The production staff seemed busy preparing for the reading. Following their guidance, he arrived at the meeting room. The chairs were stacked in two rows.
“There are just so many people coming.”
That was part of it, but the meeting room itself was small too.
“How many people?”
“Hmm. We’ve received about thirty applications.”
The employee wearily ran a hand through his hair. It would be so nice if only the main and supporting actors gathered and proceeded cozily. If it weren’t for Director Jin Gyeongmun’s instruction that any actor who wanted to read should be allowed to come, it would’ve been easier.
“Just sit in the spot with your name tag.”
The real supporting actors among supporting actors would be doing the reading without a table. Not having a name tag was normal. They’d probably just attach it to their chest.
[Ha Muyoung (Louis)]
Muyoung found his seat at the end of the table. He was a supporting actor, but still quite important, so he was seated next to the lead actors. Specifically, next to Yuna.
“It’s nice to be close to the door.”
It’s easier to greet people as they come in.
Ko Gyeongmin muttered as he checked the overall size. Just because he was a rookie didn’t mean he had to grovel, but he should do things to a certain extent. Greeting people first, handing out materials if there were any, or holding the door open, etc.
“Where’s hyung?”
“I’ll be here for a bit, and when people start crowding, I’ll go out to the hallway.”
If possible, he wanted to hide in a corner and watch over Muyoung, but there didn’t seem to be any space. The only empty spots would be taken by staff and cameras.
Zziiing. Zziiing.
“Muyoung, stay here for a moment.”
“Yes. Take your time.”
Ko Gyeongmin took a call and left. Muyoung was left alone in the empty meeting room and spent his time wandering around blankly.
‘Am I nervous? Time is going by really fast.’
He just fiddled with the end of the script. Muyoung decided he couldn’t take it anymore and took out his phone. At times like this, the cringey comments on SNS photos were the best.
Click-
It was then.
People started arriving one by one. As expected, they were slightly surprised to see Muyoung sitting there, thinking he’d be the first to arrive.
“Hello. I’m Ha Muyoung! Nice to meet you!”
“Oh, hello. I’m-”
Muyoung greeted people just as his manager had firmly instructed him to. Whoever it was, if it looked like a person, greet them unconditionally! Reflexively!
“You must be playing Louis? It’s nice to meet you. I’ve never seen you before. You’re amazing.”
He smiled bitterly and sat in the back row of chairs. His gaze was fixed on Muyoung’s name tag. He fumbled and attached his name tag to his chest.
[Kim Dosu (Main Reporter)]
“Your agency must be good.”
They were the same age, and both had no experience, yet one was a lead supporting actor and the other was a passing character. It must’ve been due to the agency’s influence.
In truth, he didn’t need to participate in today’s reading. But if he wanted to make his presence known even once, he had to do it like this.
“Yes. Our agency is really great!”
“……Oh. Is that so?”
It was a thorny remark, but Muyoung’s response was harmless.
Was he a slow person? Or was it a high-level response? The man just tilted his head and took out his script. The awkward silence between the two didn’t last long.
Click-
Click-
As the promised time drew near, people arrived one after another.
“Hello! I’m Ha Muyoung!”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Director Jin.”
“These are all the production team members. You’re Louis, right?”
“Director. The weather is nice today, isn’t it?”
The space became bustling in an instant. Muyoung was so busy greeting people mechanically that he lost his mind. His manager hyung was also bowing behind him.
‘Oh. It’s Sung Hyejun and Hyojung.’
And then came the famous actors, one after another. It was really amazing to see them in person after only seeing them on screen. Everyone was openly surprised, but they were sneaking glances at the two of them.
“The parking lot is too narrow.”
“Hyojung. Long time no see-”
“Unnie is still the same.”
‘Oh. So this is what they meant by unexpected.’
Sung Hyejun, who had a city-like image, was actually more of a silly, tomboyish type. Hyojung, who seemed kind and affectionate, exuded a cold aura.
“Hello.”
The lead actors already knew each other. They’d been working in the industry for quite some time, so even if they hadn’t worked together, they knew each other through connections.
“Is everyone here?”
“Wow. There are too many people.”
“I heard Lee Hijun is coming too?”
“Hehe. Really? I didn’t think I’d get to work with that oppa.”
“You heard the rumors?”
Muyoung sat across from them and just smiled. Ko Gyeongmin watched him from behind.
‘Is he okay?’
Even from a step away, he could feel his energy being drained. These were people who had survived in a battlefield of stars. Just looking at them was overwhelming, and the aura of successful people was naturally felt.
‘I can’t see his face.’
Ko Gyeongmin could only glare at the back of Muyoung’s head as he was pushed by the growing crowd and slowly made his way out to the hallway.
“Lee Hijun-ssi. Yoo Yuna-yang. This way, please.”
“Oh. Thank you.”
“Mom will stay here.”
The two people who had just arrived.
The employee held the door open and notified the inside.
“Actor Lee Hijun and child actor Yoo Yuna are the last to arrive. Everyone is here now except for the sound director, who is running late. Director. I think you can start the reading now.”
At his words, Yoo Yuna hesitated. She frowned, looking displeased. And soon, she corrected him firmly.
“I’m an actor.”
“Huh?”
“I’m an actor too. Not child actor Yoo Yuna.”
The child brushed past the employee coldly and entered the reading room. As soon as she entered, she greeted everyone politely. Ko Gyeongmin, who had been watching her closely, took a deep breath.
‘People who live by capturing the audience’s attention are truly-’
Even a nine-year-old child was no pushover.
‘She’s the real deal. The real deal.’
The meeting room was filled with a fierce and intense atmosphere. The door slowly closed. Muyoung turned his head and waved to his manager.
‘I’ll do well-!’
He mouthed the words silently.
In Ko Gyeongmin’s eyes, he looked like a block of tofu among wild beasts. Oh, Muyoung. Fighting!
Squeak-
He clenched his fists through the door crack and silently cheered. There was one fact he had forgotten because of his worry.
‘Everyone looks so cool and shiny! Wow! It’s Jaeni!’
Sometimes, something softer than sharpness is stronger. And no matter how wild the beasts are, if you don’t fear them, they don’t become a problem. Muyoung waved to Yuna, as if urging her to come quickly.