An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 337

337 #61 – The Realm of Acting (2)

Vibration…

Vibration, vibration…

Continuous vibrations.

With my eyes closed, I groped around.

“What, where is it…”

As I waved my hand around, I finally touched my cell phone at the edge of the bed.

I barely opened my eyes, still heavy with sleep, and looked at my cell phone.

[Caller: CEO Kim Ji-hoon]

A call from CEO Kim.

“Ahem…”

I lightly cleared my throat and clicked the receive button.

“Hey, Hyung.”

-Oh, hello?

“Yeah, what’s going on so early in the morning?”

At my words, CEO Kim chuckled and said,

-Early morning? The sun is already high in the sky. Were you still sleeping?

Startled, I jumped out of bed and checked the time.

The clock hand was pointing at 1 PM.

I was shocked and stammered.

“It’s already 1 PM?”

-Yeah. Did you sleep late last night?

“I was practicing and fell asleep around sunrise.”

-You’ll be practicing every day when you go to New York, aren’t you overdoing it?

“No, I need to build up my fundamentals before I go. And practice my acting a bit more.”

At my words, CEO Kim clicked his tongue.

-Aigo [Korean exclamation of frustration or endearment], Hee-sung. Who can stop you? With that talent and effort, you’re bound to succeed.”

“Of course. I have to work hard so the company can make money. Haha.”

He laughed heartily, but then replied in a serious voice.

-Hee-sung, always take care of your body while practicing. You’re eating well, right?

“Of course.”

-You have to go to America next week; let’s have a meal before that. Are you free today?

I quickly replied.

“I’m meeting Yuna today. She’s coming home in the evening.”

-Okay. Then let’s schedule it for another day.

“Okay, but why did you call?”

At my question, CEO Kim exclaimed.

-That’s right, I called because I got an interesting offer. The introduction got too long.”

Intrigued, I leaned back against the bed frame and raised my eyebrows.

“An interesting offer? From America?”

-No, an offer came from Korea, not a casting… but an offer.

Before he could finish, I quickly expressed my refusal.

I had already rejected all interviews, advertisements, and program castings, no matter what the offer was.

“Hyung, I told you I’m not doing any new projects, advertisements, or programs… anything.”

-It’s not that; I got a lecture offer.

I was taken aback by the unexpected offer and asked back with wide eyes.

“…A lecture?”

-Yeah. An acting lecture. And I got an offer for a formal professorship!

“Wow… that’s amazing.”

Instantly, countless memories flashed through my mind.

I also took acting lectures in college.

Because I dreamed of becoming an actor.

Back then, I could count on my fingers the number of professors who lectured directly in the Theater and Film Department.

From formal professors to adjunct professors, and even visiting professors.

At that time, all the professors were like incredibly high heavens.

Their words were like law to me, a student.

It was a time when I was filled with the thought that if I didn’t do as the professors told me, I wouldn’t even be able to step onto the path of an actor.

Perhaps that’s why teaching someone in front of a professor or a podium felt so grand and full of pressure.

Because the job of a professor could change a person’s life with my lectures and words.

But to think that I, who don’t even have a master’s or doctorate, would get a professorship offer…

I was more surprised and bewildered than grateful or happy.

“But I don’t have anything.”

At my answer, CEO Kim opened his mouth as if he didn’t understand me.

-What do you mean you don’t have anything? You’re someone students who dream of becoming actors want to learn from more than a professor right now.

“I’m not someone who can teach formally. I’ve never received that kind of education.”

-Hee-sung, it means you’ve reached the same level as those who have gone through those processes. No, even beyond their position.

“……”

-So you have plenty to teach students as a professor.

At CEO Kim’s words, I bit my lip.

Of course, the place students who dream of becoming actors want to stand in the future is not the podium, but my current position.

But that didn’t mean I wanted to stand on the podium rashly.

No, I couldn’t.

-What should we do, do you want to try it?

At CEO Kim’s words, I opened my mouth without a moment’s hesitation.

“No, Hyung, I don’t want to do it.”

-It’s actually an honorary position, so you won’t actually have to lecture much. It will also help your reputation…

“No, please refuse anyway.”

CEO Kim, not expecting my answer, asked as if he was puzzled.

-Why?

“I don’t want to be a professor just because I want fame.”

-That’s…

Before CEO Kim could finish speaking, I conveyed my feelings.

“I think you can only stand on the podium if you have the skills and abilities to take responsibility for the students.”

-Your skills and abilities have already been proven through your acting.

“Even if I’m good at acting as you said, I don’t know about the teaching field… I’ve never done that before.”

After my words, CEO Kim hesitated for a moment, then chuckled and said.

-Hee-sung, you have such righteous values?

“Huh?”

-If it were me, I would have said yes right away.

At his words, I also burst into laughter and replied.

“Hyung, you know what kind of honor is real honor now.”

There was a time when I thought it was honorable to participate in award ceremonies as an actor and receive awards.

But true honor was not that.

The honor that the job of an actor gives is the ‘recognition’ of the people who watch my acting.

That is the honor of an actor.

Realizing the meaning of my words, CEO Kim no longer tried to persuade me.

-I see. I know what you mean. I’ll refuse it well.

“Okay, thank you.”

After hanging up the phone, I headed to the terrace.

And I looked at the clear sky and murmured.

“To come up this high… it’s a new feeling.”

***

“I’m so full.”

Song Yuna said, looking at me with a satisfied face.

“Did you eat a lot?”

“Yeah, the food I eat at Oppa’s [Korean term for older brother used by females] house is the most delicious.”

She smiled and moved to the living room.

“That’s a relief.”

We sat side by side on the sofa and watched TV, and Song Yuna asked me with the remote control in her hand.

“Let’s binge-watch Oppa’s drama for the first time in a while. How about it?”

At her words, I waved my hand.

“Are you going to monitor it with the person involved next to you?”

“No, let’s watch from the very old dramas. I want to see Oppa’s old acting…”

Song Yuna was busy searching for dramas, not paying attention to my words, and in the meantime, my cell phone rang non-stop.

Because of that, I turned my eyes from the TV and looked at my cell phone.

“Wow…”

When I opened my cell phone, the number made me doubt my eyes.

It was the number of conversations in the group chat with Callie, Robert, and me.

I definitely had a conversation with them before dinner.

The conversations they had in that short amount of time exceeded 300.

But the content of the conversation was very light.

[Group Chat]

[Robert: Look at this fish picture. It looks like Jin Hee-sung and Callie.]

[Callie: Do you want to die? Where did the white monkey dare to ㅋㅋ [Korean laughter expression].]

[Robert: Huh? Are you making a racist remark right now?]

[Callie: Is Robert even allowed to say the word racism?]

[Robert: Where is Jin Hee-sung? What is he doing that he’s not looking at the chat? Come quickly and help me.]

[Callie: Even if Hee-sung comes, he’ll be on my side, right?]

[Robert: Callie, you’re dead when I meet you in New York.]

[Callie: Robert, when are you coming to New York?]

[Robert: I’m going a day earlier than the practice day. I had something to do in New York last week, so I went to Broadway? It was no joke.]

[Callie: That’s right. People who do musicals look really cool.]

[Robert: That’s right. If those musical actors advance to Hollywood, they’ll eat everything up.]

[Callie: I agree. I heard that the actors there deliberately wear costumes that expose their skin, is that right?]

[Robert: There are actors like that. That’s how much they emphasize the splendor on stage. How about… is Callie exposing too?]

[Callie: I can emphasize splendor without exposing, right? Haha.]

I chuckled at their conversation.

I smiled happily as I watched the chats where they were tearing each other apart.

At first, we were busy being wary of each other.

Before I knew it, we had become so close that we didn’t hesitate to make fun of each other.

The conversation showed how close we had become.

And as soon as they confirmed that I had read the chat, they called me like crazy.

[Robert: Oh, Hee-sung read the chat?]

[Jin Hee-sung: Yeah, you two are so noisy.]

[Callie: Busy, Jin Hee-sung. By the way, how are Korean musicals?]

[Jin Hee-sung: Are you curious about Korean musicals?]

[Callie: Of course. I’m also curious about Korean musical actors.]

[Robert: That’s right. I’m curious about what the stage is like there. How is it?]

[Callie: Tell me quickly. He makes us too curious, right?]

With a playful face at their conversation, I tapped my fingers.

[Jin Hee-sung: If you’re curious, come to Korea. I’ll treat you to a full course in Seoul.]

[Robert: What the heck is that Seoul full course?]

[Callie: Is it a course to watch musicals? Are you telling us to work even when we go there?]

[Jin Hee-sung: No. First of all, it’s a course that doesn’t watch musicals.]

[Robert: What? There’s no such thing as ‘Seoul full course’ even if you search the internet?]

[Jin Hee-sung: Are you curious?]

[Robert: Yeah!!! What the heck is it?]

[Jin Hee-sung: Come and visit if you’re curious ㅋㅋ [Korean laughter expression].]

[Robert: I can’t take it. Callie, let’s go to Korea.]

[Callie: Okay.]

[Jin Hee-sung: I’ll book you a good hotel when you come.]

[Callie: What are you talking about? I’ll sleep at your house.]

[Robert: That’s great. Let’s go to Jin Hee-sung’s house!]

I burst out laughing while chatting.

Song Yuna, who was next to me, tilted her head and asked me.

“What is it, is it so fun?”

“Ah… Callie and Robert.”

At my words, she raised her eyebrows and said.

“What are they talking about that you keep laughing?”

At her question, I pointed to my cell phone and replied.

“They said they’re coming to Korea. They’re going to empty my wallet when they come.”

“They’re coming all the way from America to Korea?”

Song Yuna asked with wide eyes, and I frowned and shook my head.

“No, they’re not coming.”

“Then?”

I put my cell phone face down on the table and approached Song Yuna and opened my mouth.

“They’re just saying that. There’s no way they’re coming all the way from America to Korea.”

Then, looking at the TV, I continued.

“What, are you finally watching my drama?”

At my words, Song Yuna smiled and nodded.

“Yeah!”

That’s how we watched dramas until late at night.

All the works I appeared in.

What was amazing was… my acting.

Of course, my acting had improved significantly compared to when I first stood in front of the camera.

After I dreamed and realized that I had lived a life of 10,000 years.

Even after that, my acting was constantly improving.

Clearly, I was just bringing the memories of 10,000 years and applying them to my acting…

I was surprised that my acting was improving as time went by.

It’s not like the amount of memory has increased and my acting has become richer.

My acting that I watched with Song Yuna.

Thanks to that, I became more interested in ‘acting’.

“So that’s what acting is…”

I didn’t know it then, but it seemed like I could see more now that I had come this far.

That acting is not easy.

And the paths I have to take further with acting in the future.

“…I want to do better.”

Not the awards or works that are recognized by others, or the career that can be achieved.

The realm beyond that as an actor.

I wanted to reach that place.

Desperately.