Chapter 53: Thug Acting

“Are you kidding me…….”

It was a holiday that he had gotten after a long time. Junho watched the scene in front of him with a swollen face. It was surprising enough that he had come suddenly, but what was up with that outfit?

“What do you think?”

“What? It’s fucking pathetic.”

Muyoung, who had loosened every button on his school uniform and was dressed as if he was going to a fashion show. Was it just his clothes that looked pathetic? Why did he put so much wax in his hair?

“Doesn’t he look like a thug?”

“He looks like a dork.”

“Oh no. That won’t do.”

Muyoung slumped down into a chair in despair. According to the information Bora had given him, Muyoung’s minor role was that of ‘a gang member’s friend who was head over heels for the female lead and followed her around.’

“Hurry up and do something about it. You know how it feels.”

“What do I know? I was a nerd. Not a model student, but still.”

“That’s weird. Weren’t you a thug?”

“Are you crazy? What are you talking about?”

“You really liked girls, and you often skipped night classes and got your sideburns caught by the teacher. You caused a lot of trouble in class, too, like pranks were a given, and you even smashed the principal’s flower pots like dominoes. Wasn’t that you?”

Junho blinked repeatedly at the recitation of his past deeds.

Forgotten memories came flooding back. He had played around a bit, that was true. But wasn’t that just a cute, lovable level of mischief? Any lively high school student could do that.

“Hey, thugs are different, man. They’re basically criminals.”

“Oh, so the second male lead is a criminal.”

“In dramas, they use that kind of character to bring the story to life. A rough charm! A rebel! It’s almost a cliché, isn’t it? Haven’t you watched any romance dramas?”

“No, detective shows are more interesting.”

He looked completely baffled. Thugs? Why? Junho stretched and shook off his sleep completely.

“And, you know, there are actually a lot of good-looking guys among gang members. Like Park Seung-gu from Class 3. I bet he was good at studying, too.”

“……Was he a gang member?”

“Yeah. That’s it.”

You’re hopeless. You’re clueless and uninterested, so what do you know? Junho waved his hand and pointed to the bathroom.

“Go wash your hair. You’re not supposed to put wax in it like that. And wear your clothes properly. Kid, looks like your big brother needs to give you a styling lesson. Right?”

“Yes, that’s what I wanted. And while you’re at it, could you drive me to the broadcasting station?”

Ko Gyeongmin couldn’t take any time off right away because of Taeseok’s filming. It was a job that had been scheduled for that day, so there was nothing he could do. Muyoung had only grabbed his school uniform from the dorm and headed to Junho’s house.

“Did you meet Bora?”

“Of course.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Muyoung, who was washing his hair, fell into thought.

‘Image’ and ‘minor role.’ It was a role closer to the background than to an actual character. It would be nice if he had lines, but he would just appear as ‘Friend 1’ without a name.

‘Can I do it well?’

Whoosh—

He was worried. Until now, the characters’ dialogue, names, and settings had all been organic, like living people. He had briefly expressed himself through ‘themes’ at the academy, but this was his first time acting in front of a camera.

“Come here. I’ll dry your hair.”

“Can’t I just towel it off?”

“Thugs like to groom themselves. It’s not like they’re putting on makeup, but what else would they touch up? Hair. Clothes. Shoes. That’s what’s important. Your shoe size is the same as mine, right?”

Muyoung handed his head over to Junho and nodded.

“You should be grateful to have a friend like me.”

Junho was divided in the fashion industry, which was sensitive to trends. He was already sensitive to such things, and he knew the latest styles.

“Your hair is brown, too. Perfect. This big brother will turn Ha Muyoung into a total thug.”

“Oh, I don’t think we need to go that far.”

“Uh-oh. Wait.”

Junho shook the hairdryer as if to tell him to shut up. The warm wind blew gently, ruffling his brown, curly hair.

“There are many types of thugs. The kind you’re thinking of is the one who rides a bike and carries a bat with nails in it. That’s too low-level. Do you know what the worst kind is?”

“What is it?”

“The one who has it all. He’s rich, he’s good at studying, but he’s just a jerk. You can’t beat those guys.”

In the lobby of the Yeouido MBV broadcasting station, Bora crossed her arms and looked around. She was wearing a café part-time job uniform because she had been filming.

“Bora-yah—!”

Among the crowd, she spotted two familiar men. No, she had seen them. They both had tall heads that stuck out.

“Hi, hi!”

“Why are you so late?”

Bora slowly scanned Muyoung from head to toe.

She was worried that he might dress strangely because he was playing the role of a thug, but he looked neat. The angle of his uniform was perfect, and his shoes and bag were the latest models.

‘He looks more like a rich young master than a thug.’

“Junho got lost. He’s bad with directions and doesn’t trust navigation.”

“No, I’ve been here before, and it was blocked back then. It’s so unfair. Really. And bad with directions? You shouldn’t say that to—”

“Shut up. That’s enough, let’s go up quickly. Get a visitor’s pass.”

Bora urged the two of them forward, pushing them on the back. They could only enter the elevator passage after swiping a card like office workers.

“Were you filming?”

“I had about an hour of waiting time. Right now, the male lead and the female lead are filming together. I don’t know if the PD will tell me to wait when I meet him, or if he’ll hand it over to the assistant director.”

“Which one is better?”

“Being told to wait.”

While Muyoung and Bora were talking, Junho kept glancing at Bora. She looked even prettier than he remembered after a long time. He vaguely recalled his memories.

“Was the lead actress Daryeong?”

Bora smacked her nose.

Perhaps realizing that she had gone too far that day, Daryeong did not have a fit like she used to. She was still tired and dirty, but she could endure it and work. Bora warned Junho.

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Come on. What do you take me for? I’m a working man, you know. You should be more worried about Ha Muyoung’s mouth over there. He has no filter. Well, he does, but the holes are too big.”

What did I do? Muyoung glared at Junho with a sullen expression.

Ding-dong, as the elevator door opened, Bora walked ahead. The long corridor looked exactly like a broadcasting station from the media.

“What’s the filming team’s next schedule?”

“Hey, who put these props here? Clean them up quickly.”

“I’m sorry.”

On either side of the corridor lay unknown equipment and props, as well as the staff’s belongings and such. When Bora opened the door, a set appeared.

“Wow.”

Unlike Muyoung, who had experienced this once during Late Night Pocha, Junho seemed fascinated by the way the world changed with just one door. A middle-aged man sat in front of the viewfinder. Was he the PD?

“AD, where is the PD?”

Oh, he’s the AD. The assistant director.

“Uh? Oh, he’s downstairs for a moment. And who’s this?”

“It’s Ha Muyoung, the one I told you about back then. Muyoung, this is AD Park Sang-il.”

“Hello. I’m Ha Muyoung.”

“Uh, nice to meet you.”

A 90-degree polite gesture. The AD leaned back in his chair and arrogantly scanned Muyoung. His plump belly rose like Namsan Mountain.

“He’s got a good face.”

‘What the—’

What? What’s with the way he talks?

When Muyoung opened his eyes wide and looked at Bora, she just blinked as if to tell him to ignore it. It was rough. Very rough and rude.

“But it’s a bit different from what I heard? I heard you had a free-spirited image, but you’re completely boxed in. You look like someone who went to elementary, middle, and high school without a hitch and graduated from college safely. Are you a friend who got him the role? Wow, rookies are already pushing and pulling each other. You’re amazing. Amazing.”

He sniffed and snorted, acting cocky.

Well, the real thug was here. Junho took a step back and observed the situation. He had heard that the broadcasting industry was tough, but the intimidation was no joke.

“Muyoung’s image is what the PD said, and I just said he was good at acting.” Bora corrected him, and the AD let out a ‘hmmph’ and openly showed his displeasure. Now he understood.

‘That’s what it means when she said it’s better to wait. The AD has a personality like that, so it’s better to wait and watch with the PD.’

Perhaps because of the heat from the lights and equipment, he was sweating profusely.

“Bora, you’re making me so mad.”

“I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“No, it’s not offensive. I’m sure there was no bad intent. Was there? Was that your intention?”

She just kept giving him a troubled smile. This was in front of her friends. How could this be allowed? Junho stepped in and turned Park Sang-il’s gaze toward him.

“Hello, AD.”

“And who might you be?”

“I’m Junho Lim, an MD at BORNTORE. Bora and Muyoung were SNS models for our company. It’s an honor to meet you.”

And he even gave him a business card.

Park Sang-il was taken aback by the greeting, which was unusual for a twenty-year-old kid.

“Oh, BORNTORE? That’s really popular these days. Everyone on TV is wearing it.”

“Haha, thankfully. There’s no sponsorship here yet, is there?”

Huh? Really?

Muyoung opened his eyes wide and looked at Junho. When did that happen? Damn, he just woke up one day and everyone was wearing it. The two of them exchanged a silent conversation with their eyes.

“As far as I know? Give me some.”

“Anytime, if there’s a chance! Haha!”

“Then we’ll wait here.”

Bora grabbed her two friends’ arms and tried to pull them away from Park Sang-il. There was nothing good about being close to him, as a human being.

“Uh-huh. No. Why?”

“When the PD comes—”

“I’m sitting here like this right now. You can have a meeting with me. It’ll take the PD a while. Mr. Ha Muyoung, is it okay? You’re not dissatisfied because I’m an AD or anything, are you?”

At his question, Muyoung smiled and answered.

“Of course not.”

“Hmph. No matter how I look at it, the image isn’t right. He’s too innocent. Shiver!”

A tone that was both pitying and strangely dismissive. It was weird. He had never heard anyone speak like that before.

‘Should I study this character?’

The director had said it. Save everything around you. It will become nourishment for your acting later.

When he thought about it like that, the unpleasant object in front of him began to look objective.

“So, how about we see some of that acting Bora was bragging about so much? How good is it?”

Park Sang-il crossed his legs arrogantly. Passing staff members glanced at them. The space was too open, so even if you didn’t want to hear or see, you could.

“Here?”

“Huh? Why? Don’t you want to? This is the set and the scene. When the shoot starts, you’ll have to act in front of these people, so if you can’t do that, what’s the point? This guy won’t do, he doesn’t have the basics.”

Hmm. That’s how you pick a fight.

Muyoung kept nodding his head as if he understood something and exclaimed in admiration.

‘Whoa—! I think I can do it! Thug acting!’

If you live a character’s life but there is no character? Then create one, based on a real person. And then borrow that character’s life again. Okay.

“You’re not going to do it?”

“No, I’m fine with it, but I was worried that the AD might be inconvenienced. I’ll start acting now. Please take care of me.”

Muyoung pulled over one of the chairs lying around and placed it in front of the AD, sitting down across from him with the backrest facing forward.

Everyone pretended to do their own thing, but their eyes and ears were on them.

“Me? What?”

The trio was eye-catching even when they were just standing there, and now that they were doing this… Muyoung just smiled without answering.

“……?”

As if he had discovered a very interesting toy, his gaze became increasingly dangerous. He was still smiling, but it felt like he was sharpening a knife inside, that kind of atmosphere.

“Haha. What’s this guy up to?”

He just kept staring silently, intently, as if he was going to pierce through him. Park Sang-il awkwardly followed his laugh and looked away for no reason. For some reason, he couldn’t meet his eyes. He felt like his energy was being pushed back.

“Whoa—”

Muyoung leaned his chin on the backrest that was facing forward and murmured in wonder. The moist laughter in his eyes was chilly.

“The pig is laughing?”