An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 47

#11 – There is no eternal ‘Gap,’ nor eternal ‘Eul’ (5)

“Kuh, Hee-sung, your acting skills are really hitting their stride, aren’t they?”

Director Lim gave Jin Hee-sung a satisfied smile.

“Thank you, Director. I’ll work even harder.”

Jin Hee-sung smiled brightly and bowed to Director Lim.

Meanwhile, Kang Chan-sung, still seemingly unable to break free from his role, glared at Jin Hee-sung with a clenched fist.

Director Lim placed a hand on Kang Chan-sung’s shoulder.

“Chan-sung, you were good today too. That look of anger at being mistreated by your idol manager…”

Before he could finish, Kang Chan-sung glared back and replied,

“If filming is done for today, I’ll head out first.”

“Huh?”

He bowed towards the flustered Director Lim, who forced a smile.

“Alright, you must be tired from filming all day. See you tomorrow.”

He shook his head as he watched Kang Chan-sung walk away.

‘Tch, that rude bastard.’

“Chan-sung, you worked hard today.”

Manager Shin Tae-in greeted Kang Chan-sung as he got into the car.

“Whatever, just hurry up and leave.”

“…Okay.”

Kang Chan-sung was more often in a bad mood than a good one.

Today, Shin was busy trying to read Kang Chan-sung’s mood.

After checking his condition in the rearview mirror, he turned down the navigation volume as much as possible.

It was obvious he would get annoyed at the guidance voice and complain.

The car rode on in silence for a long time.

Kang Chan-sung, who had been closing his eyes, sighed deeply.

No matter how hard he tried to think of other things, he could only remember the last scene with Jin Hee-sung.

“Aish.”

He opened his eyes and picked up the script lying on the seat next to him.

Then, he quickly read through the lines from the last scene they had filmed.

But Jin Hee-sung’s lines were exactly as written, not a single word out of place.

‘That bastard didn’t even ad-lib, but something feels dirty.’

Seeing Kang Chan-sung’s restless behavior, Shin cautiously spoke up.

“Chan-sung, what’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

At his question, Kang Chan-sung looked in the rearview mirror and replied,

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], you saw the last scene we filmed today, right?”

Not long ago, Shin had been on set but missed Kang Chan-sung’s performance due to an urgent phone call.

He had to endure endless nagging from Kang Chan-sung that day.

Remembering that, he hurriedly nodded.

“Of course.”

After answering, he checked Kang Chan-sung’s expression in the rearview mirror.

“During the last scene with Jin Hee-sung today, did you feel anything strange?”

At Kang Chan-sung’s words, Shin’s eyes darted around.

He had been watching their performance on set while looking at the script.

He hadn’t noticed anything strange at all.

So, Shin tilted his head and asked back,

“What do you mean?”

“I just feel bad no matter how much I think about it.”

Shin shook his head and replied,

“Maybe you just felt that way because you were both acting so well?”

When Kang Chan-sung didn’t respond, he spoke again.

“The acting in the last scene today was all good.”

Then, Kang Chan-sung frowned, turned his head sharply, and looked out the window.

“No. Jin Hee-sung, that bastard, something feels unpleasant…”

***

“Hello.”

As always, I arrived at the set and greeted the staff.

“Hee-sung, you’re here?”

Now, instead of no reaction, the staff called out my name.

I sent an even more energetic greeting in response.

“Let’s all do our best today.”

Just then, a car drove in from afar.

A familiar license plate.

It was the van carrying Han So-jung.

Including variety shows, this was already our third project together.

She was the most comfortable and closest actress on set.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], I think So-jung is here. I’m going to go say hello.”

Manager Kim raised his eyebrows at my words and said,

“Let’s go together. I should also greet So-jung and Manager Park.”

“So-jung’s manager?”

He nodded.

“Yeah, Manager Park is the one I talk to the most here.”

It seemed Manager Kim had also become close to Han So-jung’s manager, Park Cheol-jin.

“Okay.”

Han So-jung’s vehicle parked at the edge of the parking lot.

We quickly walked towards the car.

“Oh, hello.”

She opened the car door and greeted me with a bright smile.

Before I could answer, Manager Park quickly approached.

“Manager Kim, you’re here?”

Manager Park warmly grabbed Manager Kim’s arm.

“Oh, Manager Park. Was that matter resolved well the other day?”

“Yes, it was resolved thanks to Manager Kim…”

They exchanged words and naturally walked towards the smoking area.

Then, Han So-jung got out of the car and said to me,

“Hee-sung, I actually had something I wanted to ask you.”

I raised my eyebrows and asked,

“What is it?”

Han So-jung showed me the script she had been looking at in her car.

Highlight marks and densely written notes on the script.

And the pen on her hand showed that she had been practicing diligently.

She pointed to the script with the finger that had ink on it and said,

“We have a scene to film together today, right? I don’t really understand my character’s emotions in this part.”

The part Han So-jung showed was a scene where she and I were alone.

It was an important scene where we exchanged lines, emotionally depicting her wavering between work and love.

It was also the part that took me the longest to practice when I was preparing for this scene.

“I practiced with my manager, but the emotional part is still difficult.”

She smiled and replied,

“It must have been even more difficult for you, Hee-sung, since you practiced with a man.”

“Haha, I guess so. I feel like my emotions at this time…”

We looked at the same script together and exchanged words as if we were having a heated debate.

Han So-jung listened attentively to my words and nodded repeatedly.

After a while, she snapped her fingers and replied,

“Oh, that’s right. I think that’s the most accurate way to put it.”

I smiled at her words, and Han So-jung spoke again.

“Hee-sung, are you busy by any chance?”

I tilted my head and asked,

“No. Why?”

“If you’re not busy, would you mind practicing this scene with me?”

Han So-jung blinked repeatedly and looked at me.

I smiled at her very polite tone and replied,

“Of course. It’s a scene I’m filming with you anyway, so it’s good for me to practice too.”

Han So-jung grinned and leaned against her car.

“Then let’s practice here for a bit.”

“Okay.”

She put the script in the car and then looked at me.

I also took a deep breath and quickly began to immerse myself in the role.

Even though it was practice, simply exchanging lines would be meaningless.

If that was the case, it would have been enough to practice with Manager Kim.

We looked at each other with longing, as if it were real.

I opened my mouth with a trembling voice.

“I told you. Your emotions, your expression…”

My words trailed off, and she swallowed the tears that were welling up, barely managing to speak.

“No. My emotions and expression…”

“Hee-sung!”

Han So-jung and I turned our heads at the loud voice.

Manager Kim, seeing our expressions, seemed to realize something and opened his mouth to say,

“Ah, were you practicing?”

We burst into laughter at his expression.

Manager Kim put his hands together and lowered his eyebrows.

“Sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s okay.”

“But where is our Manager Park?”

Han So-jung asked, seeing him alone, and Manager Kim gestured with his hand holding a phone to his ear and replied,

“He’s on a call, and it seems like it will be a long one.”

Han So-jung nodded. At that moment,

Clang, bang.

The three of us shifted our gaze in unison at the loud noise.

A coffee truck was being set up a little away from Han So-jung’s car.

It seemed a snack truck had arrived for someone again today.

The coffee truck, which had just arrived, set up a signboard and began making coffee.

Seeing this, Manager Kim looked at me and said,

“Should I get you coffee?”

“No. Let’s go together.”

Manager Kim smiled brightly and waved his hand.

“Hey, an actor needs to practice.”

He looked back and forth between Han So-jung and me and continued,

“Besides, you were matching your acting with So-jung, and I interrupted you.”

“It’s okay…”

Manager Kim raised the corners of his mouth.

“I’m okay too. I’ll get So-jung’s as well, you keep practicing.”

Han So-jung bowed her head at his words.

“Thank you, Manager.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

Manager Kim walked towards the coffee truck, leaving our greetings behind.

The two of us were left in front of the car.

I looked at her and opened my mouth.

“Then shall we start again?”

“Yes, let’s.”

She and I immersed ourselves in our roles again, looking at each other with warm eyes.

***

“Chan-sung, we’ve arrived.”

Manager Shin said to Kang Chan-sung, who was sitting in the back seat of the car.

But Kang Chan-sung was just staring blankly out the window.

He fixed his gaze somewhere and opened his mouth.

“What are those guys doing?”

Following his gaze, Shin’s eyes also moved.

At the end of it, Jin Hee-sung and Han So-jung were looking at each other with longing.

Seeing their mouths moving non-stop, Kang Chan-sung shook his head as if it were an eyesore.

“What kind of love affair are they having on the sacred filming set?”

Shin tilted his head at his complaining tone.

“It just looks like they’re practicing acting; aren’t they just exchanging lines?”

When Shin Tae-il turned his head to look at Kang Chan-sung, his expression had already turned cold.

Seeing this, Shin Tae-il quickly changed his attitude and said,

“Now that you mention it, it does look like that. Should I go say something?”

“…No.”

Kang Chan-sung closed and opened his eyes and turned his gaze, and the coffee truck located near Han So-jung’s car came into view.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], is that my coffee truck that’s supposed to come today?”

Shin strained his eyes and looked, then nodded.

“That’s right, it looks like it came a little earlier than expected.”

At his words, the corners of Kang Chan-sung’s mouth turned up into a smirk.

“I need to contact Ji-cheol and thank him.”

“Let’s go quickly.”

Kang Chan-sung smiled broadly as he read the words on the placard that Kang Chan-sung’s celebrity friend, actor Kim Ji-cheol, had sent.

“They’re just opening it now. I need to go quickly and take pictures first.”

At his words, Shin turned on the camera and replied,

“Yeah, I’ll try to take a good picture in one go this time.”

As they approached the coffee truck, there was a person standing in front.

Kang Chan-sung frowned and stared at him intently.

“Someone’s already here, who is it?”

At his words, Shin snapped his fingers and said,

“That person is Jin Hee-sung’s manager.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Kang Chan-sung raised one corner of his mouth and muttered softly.

“Jin Hee-sung… Good, you’re just the one I wanted.”

Kang Chan-sung lowered his raised mouth and shouted at Manager Kim.

“What are you doing right now!”

Manager Kim turned around with a surprised look at his loud voice.

“Oh, hello. I’m Hee-sung’s manager, I came to get coffee…”

Looking straight into his eyes, Kang Chan-sung raised his voice.

“Why are you bringing it without my permission?”

Kang Chan-sung blushed as he spoke to Manager Kim, who was blinking with a bewildered expression.

“The owner hasn’t even started yet!”

Jin Hee-sung and Han So-jung flinched at the shouting that echoed through the set.

Jin Hee-sung, who had been practicing acting, saw the scene at the coffee truck right next to him.

His face quickly hardened.

“What’s going on over there?”

Jin Hee-sung quickly ran towards the coffee truck, leaving Han So-jung behind.

Jin Hee-sung arrived in front of the coffee truck in a matter of seconds.

In the meantime, Kang Chan-sung continued to shout at Manager Kim.

“Who do you think you are, getting coffee here first!”

Jin Hee-sung, who had reached the coffee truck, quickly assessed the situation with a serious face.

‘Kang Chan-sung, what the hell is that bastard doing yelling at our hyung [older brother/male friend]?’

There was no need to think any further.

Jin Hee-sung’s expression, who had grasped the situation at once, gradually distorted.

‘What the f*ck… that’s the same as disrespecting me.’

Jin Hee-sung exhaled hot breath and clenched his fist tightly.

His body began to tremble.

The eyes that he closed and opened rolled back, turning white.

“What are you doing right now?!”