An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 344

344. Influence (4)

“Let’s cool down and get ready for the next scene!”

At Patrick’s words, the director of the musical ‘Karma,’ we swallowed our panting breaths and shouted.

“Yes, Director!”

I slowly took deep, even breaths and headed towards the air conditioner.

Seeing me, Callie and Robert naturally approached.

“Hee-sung’s acting was really good in that last scene.”

At Robert’s words, I smiled, forgetting my exhaustion.

“Really?”

“Yeah. You were struggling with that scene when we practiced it a month ago.”

At his words, I nodded, thinking back to a month ago.

“Right. I have to run and sing in that scene without a break.”

“But today, it was perfect. We were admiring you from behind, you know?”

Callie agreed with Robert.

“I was so busy admiring you from behind that I couldn’t see the other actors’ performances. Hee-sung, you must be a natural at musicals.”

“Haha, thanks. It’s rewarding to have practiced so hard.”

We sat side by side in our chairs, leaning back and gulping down water.

As always, Robert led the conversation.

“Hey guys, should we get together for the first time in a while?”

At his words, Callie and I made eye contact and nodded without hesitation.

“Sounds good.”

“Tomorrow is our day off, so how about tonight?”

“Deal!”

“Let’s finish practice diligently and go to that place we always go to.”

A few hours later.

As soon as we finished practice, we headed straight to the bar we always went to.

A connection that started in LA.

Our friendship grew stronger, and now we could tell what each other wanted just by looking into each other’s eyes.

“I knew you guys would like this bar.”

Robert laughed heartily and raised his glass.

Clink-

We looked at each other and drank the cool beer.

“Ah… Beer is the best after sweating all day during practice!”

I laughed at Callie’s words.

“You didn’t used to drink beer.”

She admired the beer, then waved her hand at me.

“That’s right. But I fell in love with beer because of you, Hee-sung.”

“I’m glad you, Callie, have also come to know the taste of beer after a hard day.”

Robert tilted his head and asked Callie.

“That’s right, Callie used to like whiskey. Why do you only drink beer these days?”

Callie sighed briefly and replied.

“Jin Hee-sung always drinks beer when we meet for drinks. And he drinks it so heartily and says it’s so refreshing.”

I chuckled.

Callie looked at me and continued.

“But for some reason, I wanted to drink it too when Jin Hee-sung was drinking it. It’s all because of Jin Hee-sung.”

At Callie’s words, I put my hand on her shoulder.

“So, you’re also my fan?”

Callie shook off my hand and exclaimed.

“Oh my god. I’ve become Jin Hee-sung’s fan!”

“Haha, just admit it. Callie, you like me too much, don’t you?”

Callie frowned and shuddered, and Robert turned to her.

“Oh, I was originally Jin Hee-sung’s fan, so Callie, you’re also Hee-sung’s fan?”

“Oh, man.”

Callie tried to ignore us and picked up her glass, and our glasses clinked loudly.

How long had it been?

As we soothed the end of a hard day with beer, our faces naturally turned red.

Callie broke the silence.

“Actually… I kind of looked down on you at first, Hee-sung?”

At Callie’s words, I nodded, unsurprised.

“Yeah, I knew.”

“Well… I’m sorry for looking down on you. Anyway, I think you’re a really great guy.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Whether it’s acting or personality.”

Robert smiled and said to Callie.

“Callie, I’ve been telling you that since before. Jin Hee-sung is a good guy.”

“I should have listened to you back then.”

“Right. Who knew Jin Hee-sung would be good at musicals when I thought he was just good at movies.”

“He seems like an actor who comes along once in a hundred years, no, a thousand years.”

I got goosebumps on my arms.

With embarrassment, pride, and shyness all mixed together, I said to them.

“Hey guys, shouldn’t you be saying those things… when I’m not here?”

At my words, the table was filled with laughter, not seriousness.

I spoke again to Callie and Robert.

“I always thought you guys were amazing too.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah. Anyway, let’s stay together for a long time!”

At my words, Robert shouted like an excited child.

“Sounds good. Let’s go as a trio forever.”

“Yeah. You guys are like my sworn brothers.”

As soon as I finished speaking, Robert and Callie raised their eyebrows.

“Sworn brothers?”

“What’s a sworn brother?”

At their questions, I stroked my chin and slowly explained. “Um… a sworn brother is like… a fake brother, but the relationship is like real brothers.”

“A fake brother, but a relationship like real brothers?”

Robert scratched his head.

“No, it’s not that they’re not real brothers, but it means a relationship as close as real brothers.”

They still didn’t seem to understand.

Robert and Callie looked at each other and tilted their heads.

I quickly waved my hands in front of them and said, “Ah, never mind. We’re all just brothers. Okay?”

Only then did smiles bloom on their faces.

“Okay.”

“Sounds good, brother!”

We decided to become sworn brothers, or rather, brothers, and drank our drinks.

And soon the conversation returned to acting.

“We only have a month left until the musical.”

“I know. Time really flies.”

“Hee-sung, how do you act with that expression when you’re acting in scene B?”

“That’s right. That expression is so creepy every time I see it. When you guys are immersed, what part do you start with…”

That’s how the three of us spent the night, deep in contemplation about acting.

***

Nearly midnight.

A dark road.

On the way home after parting with Robert and Callie, I chuckled.

“They can’t understand sworn brothers, but they’ll be brothers. Funny guys.”

Since the three of us had become so close, there was always a word used to describe us on set.

‘Trio’.

I liked hearing that nickname, and I was happy to be able to build friendships with them.

Then suddenly a memory came to mind.

“Trio… suddenly reminds me of when we were called the Three Musketeers.”

The actors who appeared in the same work together.

Including me, there were Seo In-woo and Shin Min-young.

At the time, we lived like three siblings who were closer than anyone else in the world, and I thought we would be together for life.

Of course, until the relationship with Shin Min-young grew distant.

There was a clash with Shin Min-young, and she even caused a rift between me and Seo In-woo.

I thought the two of them would go their separate ways, but they developed a romantic relationship and eventually became estranged forever.

After that, Shin Min-young committed terrible acts such as leaving malicious comments about me, and was eventually kicked out of the entertainment industry.

At one time, we were closer than anyone else, and we walked in the same direction as actors.

There’s a saying that as time passes, bad memories and unpleasant things fade away.

Only good things and happy moments are beautifully remembered.

I, too, had that time packaged so beautifully.

Of course, I ended it thinking that the last part was a bad relationship with Shin Min-young.

Putting all that aside, I wanted to ask how Seo In-woo and Shin Min-young were doing.

There was a time when we were happy acting under the name of the Three Musketeers.

As soon as I stepped into the house, I called Seo In-woo without hesitation.

And soon a welcome voice was heard.

-Hello?

“In-woo, it’s me, Jin Hee-sung.”

-Wow, it’s been a while, senior [term used to address someone with more experience].

“Have you been doing well?”

-Yes. I’ve been hearing about you from Korea. Are you in New York right now?

“Yeah, I thought of you after a long time and contacted you. What have you been up to these days?”

Although it was a contact after a long time, we continued the conversation as if we were so close in the past.

We exchanged stories without a break as if we missed each other.

After talking for a long time, I asked, “Come to think of it, I wonder if Min-young is doing well.”

-Forget about her. Why bother with someone like that.

“Still… we had fun back then.”

-You’re too nice, senior. Look at what she did to you.

“That’s that.”

-Ha, you’re too nice for your own good, senior.

“Do you know Min-young’s contact information?”

-I do have it.

“Then please send it to me.”

I obtained Shin Min-young’s contact information that way.

I hesitated for a moment, but soon called her.

Before the signal rang many times, Shin Min-young’s clear voice was heard.

-Hello.

“Shin… Min-young?”

-…….

Perhaps she recognized my voice right away; she couldn’t answer.

“Is this Shin Min-young’s phone?”

-Could it be… Jin Hee-sung?

“Yes, it’s me, Jin Hee-sung. How have you been?”

Her flustered expression seemed visible in front of my eyes.

-Ah… yes, I was wondering if you were doing well these days because your movie is doing well. Thank you for contacting me first.

Unlike what I thought, Shin Min-young seemed to have been waiting for my call.

“I thought of you after a long time and contacted you.”

-Um… Hee-sung.

“Yes.”

-I was really sorry in the past. Both at the filming site and in the comments….”

I interrupted her.

“It’s okay, it’s all in the past now.”

-Still… I sincerely apologize.

“I sincerely forgive you too. By the way, what have you been up to these days?”

-I’ve found a new job and I’m doing well. I’m a florist.”

“A florist? Wow, you had such a talent.”

-I’ve always liked flowers, so I ended up doing it. It suits me.”

“Next time I go to Korea, I’ll be sure to visit Min-young’s flower shop.”

-Okay. I’ll give you a gift.

***

After the weekend, the musical practice room was bustling again.

“Since there’s only a month left, we’re going to practice hard starting today!”

“Yes.”

Non-stop practice.

Before we knew it, it was afternoon when the sun began to set.

Callie and Robert were facing each other and talking.

“Another beer today, deal?”

“No way. We have practice early in the morning tomorrow.”

“Oh, that’s right. But where’s Jin Hee-sung? He’s been quiet all day today?”

At Callie’s question, Robert sighed and pointed to Jin Hee-sung.

“Over there. Hee-sung isn’t feeling well today.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He said he has a bad headache.”

“Is it because we practiced too much today… Hee-sung is the main character, so he has the most practice.”

“That’s right. Let’s go to Hee-sung.”

They quickly approached Jin Hee-sung and asked him with worried eyes.

“Hee-sung, are you okay?”

“…Yeah.”

“Okay? You don’t look good at all?”

Robert put his hand on Jin Hee-sung’s forehead and asked.

“Do you have a fever?”

“I don’t know. My head has been hurting since last night and it’s still like this. I think I’m just tired.”

Even at their words, Jin Hee-sung shook his head and stood up from his seat.

“It’s okay. I should finish practice.”

“You look like you’re in too much pain….”

Just as Jin Hee-sung was heading to the practice stage.

Thud-!

Just before Jin Hee-sung was about to go on stage, he lost consciousness and collapsed.

Robert and Callie grabbed Jin Hee-sung’s body and shouted.

“Jin Hee-sung!”

“Here… 911, call 911 quickly!”