An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 139

139. Overflowing Gratitude (1)

The first thing I always do during a break is go down to the main house.

I usually try to call my parents often, but once I start working on a project, it becomes difficult.

I know a call with my parents only takes a moment, but I always put it off, using being busy as an excuse.

Perhaps that’s why I think of my parents even more after a project is over.

I hadn’t decided what to do during my break yet, and it felt like such a waste to spend this time lazing around at home.

So, as soon as I opened my eyes, I headed to the main house.

It didn’t take long for me to arrive.

My parents rushed to greet me as soon as I parked.

“Heeseong-ah!”

“Son, you’re here?”

As always, my parents welcomed me, but today, they greeted me even more brightly than usual.

“It’s cold, why did you come out? You should have waited inside.”

My mother waved her hand and replied, “Our big star is coming, how can we wait at home?”

“Oh, Mom, come on. Big star, who’s going to listen to that?”

“Did I say anything wrong? Let’s go in quickly, aren’t you cold?”

“No. I’m fine because I came by car. Mom, Dad, you must be cold, let’s go in quickly.”

My father silently took my luggage and offered a brief, “You worked hard to come here.”

After giving me that brief welcome, he returned to his usual stiff tone, but having grown up seeing that kind of father, I could tell he was happy to see me. He just doesn’t show it outwardly.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Come in quickly and eat. Your mom made a lot of your favorite dishes.”

“Hey, Mom, we could have just gone out to eat.”

My father joined our conversation. “You’re always eating out or ordering in while working in Seoul. It’s good to eat Mom’s food when you come home.”

“That’s true, but it’s hard on Mom….”

My mother came to me, put her arm in mine, and said, “Mom is happiest when she’s cooking for our son, you know?”

“Still, don’t work too hard. It’s hard to prepare a full course meal every time I come.”

“It’s okay. It’s good if my son eats well.”

As I entered the house, I could smell the food from the entrance. Sniffing my nose, I exclaimed, “Wow! The smell is amazing.”

My mother smiled brightly at my words and started serving rice.

“You like japchae [glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and meat] and braised short ribs, right? And there’s soybean paste stew and braised spicy chicken….”

“Mom, are we having a feast?”

My eyes widened at the sight of the table full of food. My mother laughed and replied, “Of course. Our son is coming, it’s a feast.”

My father sat down in his usual seat and gestured to me. “Sit down and eat quickly. The food will get cold.”

“Yes, I will enjoy the meal.”

I moved my chopsticks and spoon non-stop, like someone who hadn’t eaten for days.

“Wow, Mom, this is really delicious.”

“Hoo-hoo, I’m glad. Try this too.”

“Okay. Mom, you eat too. Don’t just take care of me.”

My mother kept pushing all the food in front of me. My father silently removed the fish bones so I could eat comfortably and placed them in front of me.

I couldn’t help but smile at my father’s actions.

The love of my parents that I felt after a long time, the happiness, melted away the busy and tired feeling in my heart.

Even a meal with family felt healing.

Before I knew it, I had emptied two bowls in an instant.

“Wow—I’m really full.”

Leaning back in my chair and sticking out my stomach, my mother jumped up and said to me, “Son, eat a little more.”

I burst out laughing at my mother’s words. “Mom, I emptied two bowls of rice!”

“Oh my, you’re always working hard filming, eat more.”

“I’m really full. We’re going to eat dinner again in a few hours.”

“That’s true. Haha.”

I patted my stomach and got up from my seat. To get rid of my bulging belly, I started walking around the living room and the house.

“Mom, is there anything you want to change in the house?”

Looking at the old furniture, my father, not my mother, spoke up. “No. Don’t waste money.”

“Still, if it’s old and uncomfortable, you should change it.”

“Stop it. Not everything old is uncomfortable. We’re comfortable with this. And we can change it when it breaks down, so don’t waste money.”

My father answered firmly and leaned back on the sofa. I nodded and slowly looked around the house.

At that time, a piece of furniture caught my eye. It was the oldest display cabinet in the house—a display cabinet where my father and mother put their long-time hobbies, photos, and souvenirs.

It was a piece of furniture that had been there since I was born. When I was just born, when I started walking, when I entered elementary school, they displayed photos of me at every commemorative moment. And souvenirs that my parents sometimes bought when they went on trips were also placed everywhere.

It was a display cabinet that always filled the wall that I always saw, but with a frown on my face at the somewhat new appearance, I fixed my gaze on the display cabinet.

“Huh…?”

Instead of the albums that were always in their place, my photos were on display, from the first work I appeared in as a minor role, ‘The Clockmaker and the Dancer,’ ‘Extra in the Entertainment Industry’… and even ‘Temptation of the Mistress’ and ‘Black Man’ that I recently filmed.

Not a single work was missing, and photos from all the works. They even framed the newspaper clippings and hung them up.

My heart swelled at the sight because my father was the one who always opposed my dream of becoming an actor. I knew from my mother that he was proud of me and bragged about me to his acquaintances.

I was surprised that my father now had my photos and stories of my work in the display cabinet that he always displayed, in the most visible place.

“What is this?”

And the CDs next to it… I tilted my head and looked at dozens of CDs. When I took one out and looked closely, there were letters written crookedly by my father.

‘Black Man Episode 3.’

Looking at the letters written on the CD with a permanent marker, I turned my head and looked at my father. “…Could it be.”

Then my mother came to my side and said to me, “Your dad recorded all of that.”

“What?”

As I looked back at my father with surprised rabbit eyes, my father cleared his throat as if embarrassed and got up from his seat. “When did I….”

Then he hurried into the room, and my mother smiled at the sight and quietly opened her mouth to me. “Your dad, even during a gathering with acquaintances the other day, had to run to watch and record your drama’s live broadcast, so he didn’t even finish his meal.”

“Dad did?”

“That’s right. He rushed over in a hurry, checked that the broadcast hadn’t started yet, and let out a sigh of relief. He grumbles, but he loves his son all by himself.”

I smiled as I looked at my father through the slightly open door, and with my eyes fixed on my father, I replied to my mother, “Mom, you don’t have to go through so much trouble. I’ll request the DVD files and get them for you.”

My mother’s happy appearance and seeing my father, who was embarrassed even while collecting everything about me, filled my heart.

My mother patted my butt and whispered softly, “Our son… it was really good that you became an actor. Thank you for always showing your face on TV.”

***

“I told you to go out for dinner.”

“No. Your mom bought the ingredients to make it for you.”

“Then we don’t have to go to the mart now, do we?”

My mother wrinkled her nose at my words and replied, “But a few things are missing. Mom can just go.”

“No. Let’s go together.”

“Your dad is going too, so you must be tired. Rest.”

My mother and father changed their clothes and headed to the front door. I quickly put on my hat and mask and replied, “I’m bored if I just stay at home. Let’s go together. I’ll be the porter.”

My mother raised the corners of her mouth at my words, as if she secretly wanted to go with me. “I’d be happy if my son went with me. Isn’t that right, Heeseong’s dad?”

“It’ll be a hassle, rest at home.”

“Hey, I’m just going to get some fresh air together.”

My father nodded and held the open front door.

A short while later, we arrived at the mart. It was a regular large mart that we always went to, but it had been quite a while since I had visited, so I pulled the cart in an awkward posture.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here.”

“I know. It’s so nice to be here with my son.”

The mart was crowded even on weekdays as dinner time approached. Just in case, I pressed my hat down again. After raising the mask that had gone down while talking to below my eyes, I pulled the cart and moved next to my mother and father.

We entered the large entrance of the mart and walked straight to the fresh food section when—”Hey, isn’t that Jin Heeseong over there?”

A woman’s voice that seemed to recognize me. The man next to her stared at me intently. I quickly bowed my head and pressed down on my hat.

“You can only see his eyes?”

“I think it’s him… or is it not?”

“Of course not. Why would Jin Heeseong come here?”

They passed me with a dubious expression. I didn’t want to hide it, pretending not to know, but that doesn’t mean I can take off my hat and say, ‘I’m Jin Heeseong.’

I couldn’t help but be surprised that they recognized me even though they could only see my eyes. I smiled at the fact that my face was becoming more well-known and walked on when—”Heeseong’s mom is here?”

My mother’s acquaintance at the mart approached my mother and greeted her. “Oh, Chan’s mom, are you here to shop too?”

“Huh?”

My mother’s acquaintance saw me standing next to her and shouted, “Oh my, isn’t that Heeseong?”

I slightly raised my hat to my mother’s friend, whom I had known since I was young, and bowed my head. “Hello.”

“Oh my, oh my. Heeseong-ah, I really enjoyed your drama.”

“Haha, thank you.”

She hurriedly took out her cell phone, turned on the camera, and said, “Can I take a picture with you?”

Looking to the side, my mother was looking at me with a proud face. I smiled and nodded. I felt like I had become a son that my parents could be proud of.

I quickly lowered my mask and struck a pose. At that moment—”Kyaa! It’s Jin Heeseong.”

“Wow, it’s really Jin Heeseong?”

“I’m a real fan. Can I get an autograph, or can I take a picture with you?”

“Hurry up and come here. Actor Jin Heeseong is here!”

“Hey, actor Jin Heeseong is here, hurry up and come to the mart in front of the house!”

People gathered in an instant. I was very embarrassed, but I couldn’t just pass by the people who came up to me saying they were fans. I smiled brightly and struck a pose with a thank you greeting. “Thank you.”

That’s how the entrance to the mart, which had been stagnant for several tens of minutes, was now filled with people. My parents didn’t seem bored or tired at all while waiting. Rather, they looked at me with proud faces and said, “Our son is famous.”

“Haha, well, I’m the lead in a drama with high viewership ratings!”

I smiled awkwardly and put on my hat and mask again. As I walked forward when—”Wow! I’m a real fan of oppa [term used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends], can you take a picture with me?”

“Kyaaa! What’s Heeseong oppa doing here?”

“Please take a picture….”

“Can’t you just sign one and leave?”

Once again, the mart became a sea of people. I couldn’t even take three steps before the road was blocked. As the quitting time approached, the number of people in the mart was twice as many as when they first came in. In other words, the number of people who gathered to me also increased tremendously.

We couldn’t put a single item in the cart. That’s how the road was blocked. It wasn’t just our problem, but I thought that even the people who came to the mart to shop were being inconvenienced.

I quickly greeted them and tried to move, but I couldn’t easily move forward.

“Kyaa!”

“Heeseong oppa!”

“It’s really Jin Heeseong, hurry up and come here. Oh, it’s inside the mart. Hurry up and come.”

“Hey, actor Jin Heeseong came here, hurry up and come to the mart in front of the house!”

The number of people is increasing more and more.

Eventually… the traffic police on the road near the entrance of the mart rushed into the mart. Then they surrounded me and my parents. Only then were we able to get out of the mart.

My parents, who got into the car, gasped for breath.

“Haa… Heeseong’s popularity is very scary?”

My father shook his head with a dazed face, but a faint smile was on his lips.

“Oh my, we didn’t even see anything?”

My mother clapped her hands as she looked at the empty shopping basket in her hand, and I took a breath and looked at the crowded mart.

…I think I’m getting really famous?

***

All I did when I went down to the main house was eat with my parents at home. Of course, that was great too, but I couldn’t even go to the cafe in front of my parents’ house or a famous restaurant.

I was so happy and proud that I had recognition, but I also felt a little disappointed that I couldn’t go anywhere comfortably because I just couldn’t come out of the house.

Back in Seoul, I was looking out the window when—bee-beep.

[Sender: Senior Choi Seobin]

When I received a call from Choi Seobin, I quickly answered the phone without hesitation. “Hello?”

-Oh, Heeseong-ah. What are you doing?

“I’m resting at home.”

-Have you been at home all the time?

“I went to the main house and came back to Seoul today.”

-Then what are you going to do now?

“I don’t have any plans yet. Did you get a good rest after the drama, senior?”

-Yeah, I’ve rested enough now, so should I have some fun?

“Oh, are you going somewhere good?”

-Yeah, I’m going on a trip.

“Where are you going?”

-It’s cold here. I’m thinking of going to warm Australia.

“Wow, are you going alone?”

-I have to go with you. Let’s go on a reward vacation too.

“Yes?”

I was surprised at Choi Seobin’s words and jumped up from my seat. He laughed heartily and replied, -I’ve already booked the plane ticket. You couldn’t go on a reward vacation to Hawaii. Let’s go to Australia instead.