Chapter 51: Thank you

“I believe you, but, how…?”

Unjeong-gil kept stumbling over his words.

At that moment, a staff member came in with a slate. The extras standing far away in the back got into position.

“Okay, we’re rolling! Everyone, move according to the planned route. No overly flashy actions, please!”

The assistant director’s voice boomed through the set via a megaphone. Then, he quickly wound his arm around, gesturing to Unjeong-gil to get back to his place.

“Cigarette 1, have you checked everything?”

“Huh? Yeah, yeah. So, I’m supposed to walk in a straight line from there to here, right? I think I understood correctly…”

“Yes, that’s right. Let’s move quickly!”

Unjeong-gil walked stiffly back to the group of extras. The camera would capture ‘Cigarette 1’ walking towards Louis and Jaeni in a long shot.

“Hmmph!”

He took a deep breath to try to relax and keep his lines and instructions from slipping away. But would that work as he wanted?

Once the set was more or less ready, a staff member slammed the slate down hard.

Thwack!

“Ready! Action!”

Unjeong-gil walked in from far away. Muyoung and Yuna watched him while sitting amicably.

Maybe it’s because he’s played passing roles countless times over ten years, but he wasn’t bad. A little awkward, though……

Stomp, stomp.

‘Oh no.’

The trajectory was starting to shift, little by little, very little by little. At this rate, his left shoulder would be cut off in the frame. Muyoung and Yuna, who were supposed to be looking forward, glanced at each other with the whites of their eyes.

‘What should we do about that?’

At Yuna’s gesture, Muyoung pointed to the right with the fingers on his knee. Since it was his back, it wouldn’t be caught on camera. Well, maybe the director over there holding the boom mic would see.

‘Right side! Go to the right!’

But Unjeong-gil seemed too nervous. His gaze stretched out beyond the horizon.

Squeak, squeak. His joints moved so mechanically that it sounded like metal.

‘Oh dear!’

Yuna exclaimed inwardly. Her eyebrows furrowed naturally. Her thoughts trailed on, one after another, like a mind map, fluffy and floating.

If this continues, it’ll be an NG. The uncle will get scolded. He’ll get discouraged and it’ll be another NG. The uncle will get scolded even more. They’ll have to find another extra. ……In the end, will the shoot be extended?

‘This won’t do.’

If that’s the case, it’d be better if she did it herself.

Yuna lightly bounced her body to start the engine. The dust piled up on the set came in through her nostrils on the hot wind. It came in and tickled—

“Aaaah— Achoo!”

“Cut! Yuna, are you okay?”

Yuna let out a very refreshing sneeze. Her acting was so good that no one suspected a thing. Only Muyoung, sitting with his shoulder against hers, felt the unnatural breathing.

When he laughed in confusion, Yuna cutely met his gaze and turned her body around. Then, she sniffled once!

“Yes, sorry. There’s too much dust.”

“Oh dear. Just bear with it a little longer. Pour some water on the floor here!”

She’s a child and the lead. At Gyeongmun’s instruction, the staff wet the floor with the water they’d been drinking. Only the area behind them, so it wouldn’t be caught on camera.

“Everyone, get back to your places!”

“Let’s go again!”

At the staff’s instruction, the extras returned to their original positions. Unjeong-gil hesitated as well. He turned around to leave when—

“Uncle, wait a moment.”

Muyoung approached and grabbed him. Then, he whispered.

“Just now, to your left—no, to the uncle’s right, I guess. It was too far off. Then, your shoulder would be cut off, you see? I’ll give you directions with my finger, so watch carefully as you come.”

“I, I did?”

“I think you’d do better if you just relaxed a little. Your walking speed and breathing were really good.”

And thumbs up!

Proper coaching and praise are essential. Unjeong-gil caught his breath and returned to the starting line. When Muyoung sat on the floor, Yuna held up her palm.

“Did well, didn’t you?”

“You’re so considerate, Yuna.”

“I know I am!”

Light high five! When Muyoung gave her a high five, the corners of Yuna’s mouth twitched. The child looked ahead with a very pleased expression.

“Here we go! Ready! Action!”

The second take was called. Unjeong-gil walked with much better gestures than before. Good, good! Feels nice!

‘Left, right! Good!’

Following Muyoung’s secret signal, he was able to step on the appropriate angle line. Finally, the man approached nearby. Muyoung smiled silently—

‘One, two! Are you the supermarket owner? Do you have any spare cigarettes?’

“Are you the supermarket owner? Do you have any spare cigarettes?”

“Okay, cut! Good job.”

“Wow, you’re good. You understand instructions well.”

The acting wasn’t particularly outstanding, but it wasn’t a scene that required a lot of effort either. Gyeongmun removed his headset, feeling moderately satisfied. The assistant director patted Unjeong-gil on the back in encouragement.

“How would you like to be paid for the extra role? If it’s cash, we’ll give it to you right after the shoot ends, and if it’s a bank transfer, it’ll be in your account in two days.”

“Ca, cash, please. But how much is it?”

Honestly, he hadn’t thought about the money.

He’d applied just because he wanted to say a line once.

“300,000 won.”

“Whoa!”

That’s more than I thought! Even after working on set for three days, the money gets eaten up by food and accommodation, so the daily wage is less than 100,000 won. He bowed deeply and kept expressing his gratitude.

“Thank you!”

“Yes. Then, go back to the Broadcast Story team. Muyoung, Yuna! Next time, I’ll take pictures of your faces. Can you come in right away? Check the kids’ makeup!”

As soon as the two nodded, the makeup team swarmed in. Muyoung, getting touch-ups, gave Unjeong-gil a double thumbs-up.

“Uncle, you did well.”

“You did well—”

“Yuna, say pa-pa-pa.”

“-Pa-pa-pa.”

The chaotic set. Unjeong-gil was pushed to the side, smiling awkwardly. He wanted to say thank you, but there was no time.

‘Was it because of me that Yoo Yuna coughed?’

Standing still and thinking back, it seemed like it. He hadn’t thought about it earlier because he was too nervous…… It was time for Unjeong-gil to be a little moved.

“Touch-ups complete!”

“Attach the camera. Let’s go right away!”

“Ready! Action!”

He saw it.

Muyoung’s face, which had been so gentle, changed in an instant. His features were clearly the same, but the vibe he gave off was completely different. The two looked up at the camera with empty and bored expressions.

“…….”

Just silently. As if to say, don’t talk to me and get lost.

Gyeongmun, looking through the viewfinder, snapped his fingers in satisfaction.

“Okay! Good!”

Then, Muyoung’s mood changed again—swoosh. He came back to life, a fresh twenty-year-old youth.

If, say,

he’d seen that during the shoot, he would’ve been too shocked to deliver his lines.

“Uncle, you worked hard.”

Just like Yuna’s consideration, it was Muyoung’s consideration. Even though the shoot had started, he was being Muyoung, not Louis. So that the uncle could deliver his lines comfortably.

“Uncle?”

“……Oh, uh. Thank you so much. I really got a lot of help today. The coffee too. Hehe.”

Unjeong-gil suddenly snapped back to his senses and laughed.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad we could get it done in one go. Oh, by the way, tell the assistant director your name before you leave. That way, you’ll be on the cast list.”

He’d been in this business for ten years and met a lot of actors. Some were shockingly rude, and some were kind.

But this was a first.

He’d never received such thoughtful consideration. On set, extras are literally the lowest of the low.

“Ca, cast? Me?”

“Of course. You’ll be listed as ‘Cigarette 1, Unjeong-gil,’ I’m sure.”

Instead of being dismissed with a ‘shooting cooperation: broadcast story,’ his full name would be listed. Unjeong-gil mumbled dreamily, as if in a trance.

“Th, thank you.”

It was a dream. A vague dream he’d only held onto. He never thought it would come true so suddenly.

“Muyoung is such a great person. Kind, too.”

“Me? I’ve never heard that before!”

“If only my son were half like you, I’d have no more wishes in this world.”

What’s his son like for him to keep saying that? Muyoung just smiled and tilted his head. It’s not like he knows the guy if he talks about him……

“Muyoung!”

“Yes!”

At the director of photography’s call, Muyoung raised his hand.

“Uncle, just a moment.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Watching Muyoung’s back as he ran off, Unjeong-gil made a promise. Just as that friend had helped him, he’d help others wholeheartedly if he ever got the chance.

‘I hope we can work together on other projects, too.’

Since dramas run season by season, it should be possible if the opportunity arises, right? Unjeong-gil fiddled with the can of coffee he’d put in his pocket.

‘I shouldn’t drink this.’

He’d keep it to commemorate today. Unjeong-gil took a cheerful step, heading back to his original place, the extras’ waiting area.

“Okay! Cut!”

“Take 3 of Scene 113. Good job, everyone.”

“Good job. Oh, I’m so tired!”

The sun had been gone for a long time. It was only when the morning star rose that Gyeongmun’s final cut signal echoed.

The staff, exhausted, busied themselves with cleaning up the set.

“You worked hard, Director.”

“Oh! Yeah. Muyoung. See you next time. When is it?”

“I think it’ll be at least a couple of weeks. Hyojung sunbae is coming back, they say. I’ll see you if there’s reshooting.”

“Ugh. That’s not a beautiful meeting. Let’s part ways coolly and meet again.”

“Haha. Okay. I’m a bit cool with reshoots, too.”

There wouldn’t be many scenes for him to appear in from now on, and starting next week, when Hyojung appeared, things would revolve around her for a while.

Muyoung walked around the set, exchanging jokes with the staff.

“Let’s go now, Muyoung.”

“Take care!”

Muyoung bowed until the end! He enthusiastically said goodbye and got into the car. As soon as he entered his personal space, the tension eased, and fatigue set in.

Thwack!

“You worked hard today.”

“It’s harder when Yuna leaves early in the middle. It’s tough doing it alone.”

Children get to leave on time, while adults have endless early morning shoots. Ouch, every time he stretched, it felt like his bones were breaking.

“Still, it’s fortunate. For a few days, you’ll only have to worry about the final exams. They start the day after tomorrow, right?”

“Cramming probably won’t work. I’ve already caught a whiff of it. The faint scent of a ‘C+’……”

Hooook. Muyoung turned his head toward the window and swallowed his tears. Days had passed, and morning was approaching, yet he’d only turned ten pages on set.

“If you fail the exam, you can’t stay in the dorm, right?”

“It’ll be a bit tough. My grades are dropping.”

“……You’ll have nowhere to go?”

“I have to take time off during the vacation, so that’s why.”

Gyeongmin glanced at Muyoung. He turned his head, but his face was reflected in the dark window. Oh dear, he looks like he’s about to cry?

“If you’re okay with it, you can stay at the office. The boss will understand, too.”

“There’s no place to wash up. Considering the cost of a bathhouse, a gosiwon might be better.”

“I’d like to invite you to my house, but I live with my parents.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll figure something out.”

If it really came down to it, he’d have to go to Junho’s house. Even if he felt self-conscious, he wouldn’t make others feel uncomfortable. Muyoung took a deep breath and checked his phone.

[3 missed calls]

[Director-nim]

[Dr. Martel CEO]

[Bora]

Quite a variety.

It was too late, so Muyoung planned to reply after the sun rose. But then, a ringtone sounded.

Zziiing. Zziiing.

“Dr. Martel?”

“Yeah. I sent you a text earlier when I left. I was wondering if you were waiting.”

Gyeongmin nodded, as if to say he should answer quickly. Since it was someone who wanted to express gratitude, he should accept it readily. Who knows?

Ding.

“Yes, hello. This is Ha Muyoung.”

Whether it was honey, rice cakes, or something else.