An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 6

#2 – Unexpected (2)

Park Min-joon.

A classmate from university’s Department of Theater and Film.

Since I majored in Theater and Film, there are countless classmates who are now working as actors, besides Park Min-joon.

Though I don’t like to admit it, Park Min-joon is currently the most successful among my classmates.

Of course, that doesn’t mean he’s a lead in dramas, but he often plays significant supporting roles.

Park Min-joon was the type who never stopped showing off since university.

Not someone who is genuinely talented, but someone who pretends to be.

To him, I was always a thorn in his side.

Because I was always the ace during our university days.

So, Park Min-joon was jealous of my acting and was always busy trying to undermine and slander me.

He even spread rumors that he was having an affair with a female professor and that he received improvisation scripts in advance to practice.

After finding out about that, I stopped treating him like a human being altogether.

Other classmates treated him similarly.

However, after graduating, Park Min-joon was lucky enough to get into WG Entertainment, washing away his past and working in the entertainment industry.

In contrast, I developed a terrible camera phobia.

Compared to Park Min-joon, who was on a winning streak, I was stuck in minor roles.

It would have been fine if it ended there, but he still asked our university classmates about my whereabouts due to his rivalry with me, and I kept hearing news that he was saying all sorts of nasty things about me, such as, ‘I knew it,’ ‘His acting was only good for school,’ and ‘I’m embarrassed to call him a classmate.’

And of all places, to see that bastard here.

Standing in the area where the extras were gathered, I turned my body away, not looking at Park Min-joon.

I didn’t want to run into him, who came as a special appearance, and say hello.

He seemed to get out of the van and walk straight to Director Kim.

But I remained unconcerned about the situation and focused only on the script.

At that moment.

He called me in a very loud voice.

“Jin Hee-sung!”

I don’t know how he knew, but he came up to me and waved his hand.

“I saw you from afar and wasn’t sure, but it’s really Hee-sung. Wow, it’s good to see you!”

His loud voice made the extras and staff standing around glance at me.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

I didn’t want to greet Park Min-joon in a pleasant mood in a place like this.

Of course, it would have been the same even if it wasn’t a place like this.

“Hey, I heard about you….”

He paused, looked me up and down, and then spoke again.

“You’re still doing minor roles…. Well, do you have any lines today? About… one line?”

“Six lines.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. I thought you were still just a passing extra without any lines.”

His lips twisted, and he seemed to be trying hard to hide his laughter.

What an annoying bastard.

“Yeah.”

I know he’s eager to show off that he’s doing better than me.

So, I have no intention of playing along with him.

“I came here for a special appearance today. Did you hear?”

When I didn’t respond to his question, he continued to speak.

“I had a drink with the director here before, and he asked me to come out just once. I have a connection with the director, so I couldn’t refuse, right? Haha.”

How much he wanted to brag.

I didn’t respond at all to his appearance of shouting out words that no one asked about so that everyone could hear.

After he finished boasting by pouring out everything he wanted to say, he tapped my arm and added a word.

“Anyway, do your best today. Good luck. Then I have to go see the director.”

How many hours had passed since then?

After several takes, it was my turn.

This scene was about the royal guards protecting the princess.

Several soldiers appeared, but my role was the only royal guard holding a sword and standing by the princess.

After checking my clothes and sword, I took my position on the set.

“This scene will only record the lines, so we’ll only go up to before the sword swinging!”

The assistant director came over with the script and explained the scene.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Okay, we’re going to start shooting!”

“Ready, action!”

“Princess, we can’t go on any longer. You must hurry and escape.”

At my line, Song Yu-na quickly became immersed in her role and began to tremble.

“But… aren’t there soldiers in front of us?”

Behind me, who was speaking firmly, was Song Yu-na, who was immersed in her tense role.

It was as if only she and I were present in this place where even breathing could not be heard.

Holding the sword with a brave look to protect the princess, I opened my mouth.

“The soldiers are woefully inadequate. I must protect the princess with my life. Quickly….”

Clatter!

“NG!” [NG is an abbreviation for “No Good,” a term used in film and television production to indicate that a take was unsatisfactory and needs to be reshot.]

The noise was felt even louder because everyone was immersed in Song Yu-na and my acting.

“Who was it!”

It was clearly the sound of something like a knife falling to the floor.

Director Kim jumped up from his seat and shouted.

“Ah! I’m sorry, Director. There was a prop nearby, so it seems like it fell off my clothes.”

Damn it.

It’s Park Min-joon.

That bastard, he must have done it on purpose.

A prop falls on the set and causes an NG?

That’s ridiculous.

It’s not like the props are scattered dangerously everywhere.

He’s just trying to interfere with my acting.

Director Kim suppressed his anger and replied.

“It’s okay. Be careful, don’t get hurt.”

“Yes, I’m really sorry.”

Then, Director Kim shouted at the innocent prop team.

“Prop team! What are you doing? Why don’t you quickly move the swords and everything else out of the way?”

Meanwhile, Song Yu-na, whose immersion was broken, looked at the camera with a frustrated expression in front of me.

“Okay, let’s go again right away. The acting was so good just now. Do it again like you did!”

Director Kim looked around and then sat down in his chair and shouted.

“Ready, action!”

The first scene was successfully completed.

Of course, there was an NG due to Park Min-joon’s interference, but I was quickly able to immerse myself and act.

“When Yu-na doesn’t avoid it here, Hee-sung, you block it by swinging your sword. Got it?”

The martial arts director moved his body and explained the scene to us.

“Yes, block it with the sword here….”

“That’s right. This scene is important, so I think Hee-sung should immerse himself and show the same acting he showed earlier.”

Director Kim had come next to me at some point.

“Yes, Director. I’ll do my best.”

“Okay. Your acting was so good earlier. I look forward to the next scene.”

Director Kim raised his eyebrows and made a satisfied expression.

This performance was also a great success.

I wondered if I ever had camera phobia.

“Yes! Please trust me and leave it to me!”

You never know.

My role, which will end today, may continue tomorrow.

Yesterday, my role increased due to my acting.

Let’s do our best in the given role.

I nodded vigorously.

“Excuse me….”

At that time, someone was walking into the set.

It was Park Min-joon.

Director Kim tilted his head at his words and asked.

“Oh, what’s wrong?”

“Director, I’m a special appearance, so it might be a bit much to say this….”

“What are you talking about?”

“Can I talk to you over there for a moment?”

Park Min-joon pointed to the director’s seat and said, and Director Kim nodded.

Then, Park Min-joon glanced at me and walked away with an unknown expression.

What is he up to?

***

Park Min-joon smiled with suspicion and said.

“Director, wouldn’t it be better for the royal guard to die here rather than protecting the princess while fighting with swords?”

At his words, Director Kim frowned and asked back.

“Uh… what do you mean?”

“As an avid viewer of Royal Flower, I think it would be more thrilling to have the royal guard die and then have the princess chased, rather than having the princess immediately overcome the crisis through the royal guard. I’ve seen all the viewer boards, and there’s a comment saying that a historical drama without suspenseful scenes is boring. I think the writer would like this even more.”

When Director Kim didn’t respond to Park Min-joon’s words, he grabbed Director Kim’s arm and continued.

“Director! Please just think of it as a viewer’s opinion, and if my words make you feel bad, you can cut me off immediately.”

At his words, Director Kim stroked his chin with his hand and muttered lowly.

“Hmm…. There’s some truth to it.”

Without stopping there, Park Min-joon continued to speak in a loud voice.

“Yes, I thought it would be more heart-pounding. The royal guard isn’t a character that will last long anyway.”

Park Min-joon glanced at Jin Hee-sung, who was standing on the set, even while having a private conversation with Director Kim.

The distance between Jin Hee-sung and Park Min-joon was not that far.

The reason for telling this story near Jin Hee-sung.

Of course, it was to make the conversation flow into Jin Hee-sung’s ears.

‘I don’t know if Jin Hee-sung will appear in the next episode, but I have to cut off the seeds of possibility like this.’

“That’s right. There won’t be any royal guard scenes after this anyway.”

At Director Kim’s words, Park Min-joon’s lips twisted.

There was a brief pause in their conversation.

And soon, Director Kim opened his mouth.

“Thank you, Min-joon, it’s amazing that you’re even thinking about directing now?”

“No! If it’s something the director is doing, I’m always thinking and thinking again, aren’t I? Haha.”

“Assistant Director! Call Hee-sung.”

“Yes, Hee-sung! This way.”

Soon, Jin Hee-sung ran to the front of Park Min-joon and Director Kim.

Jin Hee-sung didn’t even look at Park Min-joon and stood looking at Director Kim.

“Did you call me, Director?”

“Oh, Hee-sung. In the scene I mentioned earlier, I’m going to have you fight while swinging your sword and then fall down after being stabbed by a sword, okay?”

Jin Hee-sung couldn’t say anything against the director’s words.

He just felt anger towards Park Min-joon.

“Ah… you mean instead of blocking the sword, I should get stabbed?”

“Yeah, I think it would be better to go that way. The martial arts director will tell you about the breathing with the other actor again. Can you practice right away?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay, let’s shoot when you’re ready.”

Jin Hee-sung bowed and greeted him, then immediately went to the set.

Park Min-joon, watching his back, raised the corners of his lips.

Director Kim asked Park Min-joon.

“But Min-joon, aren’t you going in? Your role is over today, so you can go.”

“No. The atmosphere on set is so good that I’m going to watch a little more before I leave. Is that okay?”

“Of course, it is.”

‘Jin Hee-sung, you’re just a small extra who can be swayed by my words.’

Park Min-joon took a deep breath and tried to hold back the corners of his lips from rising.

For a few minutes, Jin Hee-sung and the other actor finished practicing their acting.

And the shooting starts right away.

“Okay, let’s go straight to the royal guard’s next scene.”

“Ready, action!”

“…Aren’t you afraid?”

When the red light turned on in the camera, Jin Hee-sung’s eyes changed.

He looked at Song Yu-na, the other actor, with a worried look in his low voice, and tears were already welling up in her eyes.

She opened her mouth with a trembling voice, holding back tears.

“You will always protect me by my side, so why would I be afraid?”

“Princess, you must preserve your body no matter what happens. That is for the sake of this country and for the sake of the people. Please…. Who is it!”

Jin Hee-sung tried to persuade Song Yu-na with a desperate voice, but at the rustling sound, Jin Hee-sung picked up his sword and stood up solemnly.

Then, he looked diagonally at the side of the camera and held the sword tightly with both hands.

The breath of all the staff stopped, and their eyes moved to Jin Hee-sung’s sword-wielding hand.

And the sound of shouting.

“Protect the princess!”

At Jin Hee-sung’s loud line, the soldiers standing around rushed to surround the princess.

In an instant, the scene was filled with cold air, and there was tension as if a sword fight would break out at any moment.

“No. You promised to always protect me!”

Song Yu-na’s wailing voice.

The atmosphere was further heightened by her voice.

A black-clothed enemy with a black cloth covering his face swung his sword in front of Jin Hee-sung.

Clang!

The swords collided several times in the air, creating tension.

Jin Hee-sung swung his sword freely as if he had practiced swordsmanship many times.

A solemn look to protect the princess, who is more precious than his own life, and a fierce expression towards the enemy.

His eyes and voice were enough to overwhelm the scene.

“Ugh….”

The moment he was hit by the enemy’s sword and knelt down.

The corners of Park Min-joon’s lips twisted greatly as he stood next to Director Kim.

The reason why he was still on set even though his scene was over.

It was because he wanted to see the moment when Jin Hee-sung’s role disappeared.

Whether he knew his heart or not, Jin Hee-sung was only focused on acting.

Jin Hee-sung, who was in pain with a distorted face as if he had actually been hit by a sword.

His eyes were trembling, and his face was flushed red, as if he was barely holding on to his fading life.

The staff’s eyes were pouring out, looking at his realistic acting with concern.

At that moment, Song Yu-na and Jin Hee-sung’s eyes met.

Song Yu-na shedding tears.

Jin Hee-sung, looking at her face, didn’t blink his trembling eyes and looked at Song Yu-na with a faint look and shed a tear.

“No!”

At Jin Hee-sung’s tears, Song Yu-na cried out in sorrow at the loss of the royal guard and began to cry loudly.

***

“Cut! Okay!”

Director Kim clapped his hands while sitting in his seat and shouted vigorously.

The martial arts director, who made eye contact with me, raised his thumb.

At the same time, Park Min-joon, who was looking at me, was distorting his face with an uncomfortable expression.

It seemed like he was upset that he had interfered, but the immersion was not broken and he received an OK at once.

And with a face full of anger, he turned around and walked to the van.

The moment I saw his face, I made a decision.

I will definitely rise and crush that bastard’s nose.