An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 345

345. Episode 62 – Influence (5)

“What on earth is going on?”

“Hee-sung, are you alright?”

“Robert and Carly are close to Hee-sung. Wouldn’t they know when he started feeling sick?”

A hospital in New York.

Specifically, the largest VIP suite.

It was a hospital room with a large bedroom where the patient could lie down, along with a shower and toilet.

There was even a living room for guardians and guests to relax.

It was a large room capable of accommodating many people.

However, the room where Jin Hee-sung was currently admitted was as noisy as a marketplace.

“He collapsed suddenly; could there be something wrong with his health?”

“Oh dear, I’m so worried….”

“Robert, weren’t you talking with Hee-sung earlier?”

Director Patrick approached Robert with a serious expression and asked.

He sighed heavily before answering him.

“Yes, I was with Carly. He said his head had been hurting a lot since last night.”

It wasn’t Director Patrick, but Director Ronaldo who spoke up at Robert’s answer.

“Carly, Robert, you should have told me. He shouldn’t have pushed himself….”

“We did tell him to go to the hospital or rest, but Hee-sung said he was fine. So, we believed him.”

“That’s right. We shouldn’t have believed him….”

With their sighs, Director Patrick also let out a lament.

“The performance is only a month away, so did he overdo it with practice? Did I fail to consider Hee-sung’s condition today? I’m sorry.”

Everyone, including Robert, Carly, the directors, and even Chief Park, seemed to think that Jin Hee-sung collapsing was their fault.

They were blaming themselves, reflecting on their words and actions towards Jin Hee-sung.

In the meantime, a quiet stillness flowed through the room.

The only sound in the room was the worried sighs of many people.

Their gazes were all focused on Jin Hee-sung’s well-being.

Then, suddenly.

“Oh? Hee-sung’s opening his eyes!”

Jin Hee-sung, who had been lying motionless, slowly opened his eyes.

Many people in the living room, next to the bedroom, and near the bathroom rushed to Jin Hee-sung.

“Hee-sung, are you coming to your senses?”

“Hee-sung!”

“Jin Hee-sung, can you recognize me?”

“Hee-sung, are you okay?”

A flood of questions poured out towards him.

“Ah… what happened….”

At that moment, the doctor in charge opened the door and entered.

“The patient needs to rest now. Except for the guardian, could everyone else please leave the room?”

At the stern doctor’s expression, the directors, actors, and some staff nodded and left the room.

Then, only Jin Hee-sung and Chief Park remained in the room.

As soon as the door closed, Chief Park unleashed the questions he had been holding back towards the doctor.

“Doctor, what’s Hee-sung’s condition right now? Why did he suddenly collapse? Hee-sung’s health….”

His face was flushed as if it would explode, and tears seemed ready to flow if touched.

At the sight, the doctor looked at the chart and opened his mouth with a calm expression that contrasted with Chief Park’s.

“Since he collapsed and came to the emergency room, there don’t seem to be any particular findings from the simple tests we’ve done.”

“If there’s nothing special, then why is he collapsing powerlessly?”

Jin Hee-sung bit his lip and listened intently to Chief Park’s question.

The doctor made a ‘tss’ sound and replied.

“For now, it seems like overwork. However, we need to check how many times this has happened and the patient’s physical condition.”

Then, he turned and looked at Jin Hee-sung.

“Patient, can you speak?”

At the doctor’s question, Jin Hee-sung nodded instead of answering.

“I heard you had a headache. Have you had severe headaches often?”

Despite the simple question, Jin Hee-sung didn’t answer rashly.

No, he couldn’t.

‘The headache started because of the 10,000 years of the past, should I say I have it… or should I just say I don’t?’

As he hesitated with a complex expression, the doctor stared at Jin Hee-sung and asked again.

“Do you also experience dizziness due to the headache? If so, how often….”

Even with his question, Jin Hee-sung was lost in thought and couldn’t concentrate on the doctor’s words.

Chief Park, who was next to him, spoke up instead of Jin Hee-sung.

“Doctor, actually… it’s not the first time Hee-sung has complained of headaches. From before….”

Chief Park told everything about Jin Hee-sung’s condition that he had seen, without a single lie.

“Hyung [older brother/male friend], it was because I was tired.”

Even with those words, Chief Park continued to talk about Jin Hee-sung’s condition.

Then, the doctor’s expression became serious.

He scribbled something on the chart for a long time, then looked at Chief Park instead of Jin Hee-sung and replied.

“This doesn’t seem like simple nervousness. To be more accurate, we need to do a thorough examination.”

“That’s right. Hee-sung hasn’t had a check-up yet.”

“In that case, it’s even better to proceed with the examination as soon as possible. The schedule is….”

“Wait a minute!”

Before the doctor could finish speaking, Jin Hee-sung jumped up from the bed he was lying on.

“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll get the check-up again next time.”

At his words, Chief Park sat him back on the bed and said.

“Hee-sung, since we’re at the hospital, let’s get the check-up today….”

“Hyung, you know. My musical is only a month away.”

“That’s true, but the check-up will be over soon. It’s just getting a check-up, what’s the problem?”

“That’s….”

The doctor, who was standing next to them, also opened his mouth as if agreeing with Chief Park’s words.

“We need to know the patient’s condition to see if it’s overwork or if there’s something wrong with his body. It’s dangerous to delay it further.”

“…Then I’ll think about it for a moment and tell you.”

***

I wondered if I had ever received so much concern from so many people, as everyone urged me to get a thorough examination.

No, they forced me to get a thorough examination, even more forcefully than the headaches I had experienced so far.

Including Chief Park, who always worries about me as much as he worries about himself, Robert and Carly, who are like my brothers.

Besides them, countless colleagues who sweat together during practice.

Even Director Patrick and the cold Director Ronaldo, who seemed emotionally dry.

They came into the room and sent requests, like demands, to get a check-up until I was sick of hearing it.

I knew that everything they were saying was for my sake, but I still couldn’t readily agree to the check-up.

The reason was very clear.

The cause of my headache wasn’t something wrong with my body.

It was a painful headache of memories that started from the day the memories of 10,000 years rushed in.

Rather, if this check-up reveals that there’s nothing wrong with my body….

I thought that would worry those around me even more.

But Director Ronaldo approached me.

“Hee-sung, this is for you, but it’s also for us.”

“Yes?”

“To be honest, the musical starts in a month, and I can’t let you practice in this condition because I’m worried.”

“…….”

I couldn’t say anything at his words.

“Frankly speaking, you’re perfect enough to stand on stage right now.”

I raised my eyebrows at Director Ronaldo’s words.

It was really the first time that praise came out of his mouth.

Because he was such a stingy director with praise, the compliment he gave me felt unfamiliar.

“So, getting a thorough check-up and resting for a day or two? I can adjust the schedule enough. Of course, Director Patrick also agreed.”

“Thank you for understanding. But I have to practice….”

“No, I mean, for our sake, for the sake of your fans, Hee-sung, you have to get a check-up. This isn’t the only performance you’ll do in your life.”

Director Ronaldo persuaded me for dozens of minutes while sitting down.

I couldn’t express any more opposition to the check-up.

There were so many people who thought of me as much as I thought of myself; I couldn’t overcome it.

“…Yes, I’ll get a check-up and quickly rejoin the practice.”

***

It felt like I had received all the check-ups that could be done on my body during the long day.

I was so physically exhausted just from getting the check-ups.

I leaned back on the bed and stared blankly at the air.

At that time.

Robert and Carly, who were making a lot of noise, ran towards me.

“Hee-sung!”

“Jin Hee-sung, what are you doing?”

They bought snacks and drinks with both hands and came to me.

“What’s all this?”

“What else? You couldn’t eat because you were getting a check-up. Eat this when you’re bored after eating the tasteless hospital food.”

I burst out laughing at Robert’s words.

“Whether it’s Korea or America, hospital food is the same.”

“Is it like that in Korea too?”

“Yeah, there are sick people in the hospital, so the seasoning is weak. It can’t be helped.”

“I guess.”

Robert and Carly took out the drinks they had bought, drank them, and leaned back on the sofa.

“What, go home and rest.”

“We’re going to hang out with you here and then leave, right Carly?”

Carly smiled and nodded at Robert’s words.

“Hee-sung, I told you to take it easy during practice. What are you going to do if you overwork yourself to the point of collapsing?”

“That’s right. Because you collapsed like this, it feels like we practiced a little less.”

At their words, I shook my head with a playful face.

“It’s because someone is so bad at acting that I have to cover for them. So, I must have overdone it with practice.”

As soon as I finished speaking, they jumped up from the sofa and sat down again.

Then, Robert glared at Carly and muttered.

“If someone is so bad at acting… it’s not me, you’re talking about Carly, right?”

Then Carly glared and shouted.

“You punks?”

Then, she playfully pressed down on Robert’s shoulder and shouted.

“Robert, do you want to lie down in the hospital room next to Jin Hee-sung?”

At those words, Robert repeatedly tapped the sofa with his palm.

“Ahhh, sorry. Save me!”

No matter how luxurious and large the hospital room was, it was still a hospital.

It was only my friends who filled the bleak atmosphere with laughter.

***

A quiet hospital room without Robert and Carly.

Chief Park went home to get my clothes and belongings.

I was sitting alone in the hospital room, blankly.

“Now the headache seems to be disappearing little by little?”

I moved my head from side to side, checking my condition.

“It seems like I was working too hard when I was using the memories of my past life, so I got sick….”

A boring hospital, on the bed.

I wanted to hear the results quickly and get out of here.

I was worried about the musical practice right away, and besides, the headache had completely disappeared now.

“When the results come out quickly, I’ll grab the script and go to the practice room….”

Then, the door burst open, and a doctor wearing a gown strode towards me.

“Hello, doctor.”

“Yes, are you feeling a little better?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I feel refreshed. Did the results come out?”

I looked at the doctor with a bright face and a smile, but somehow the doctor’s face was very dark.

Well, it would be stranger if the doctor smiled brightly and told me about my condition….

I looked at him casually and blinked.

The doctor bit his lip and seemed to swallow a sigh.

“Yes, the results of the thorough examination just came out, so I came to tell you right away.”

“I don’t have any problems, right? My head doesn’t hurt at all now….”

“Patient.”

“Yes.”

“…It’s a brain tumor.”