An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 85

85. #17 – Surviving is Winning in the End (7)

“Hee-sung, over here!”

It was a pub near my apartment.

A small, neighborhood place I used to frequent with my friends.

Lee Myung-jin waved and called out to me.

I made eye contact, but he called out again, louder this time.

“Jin Hee-sung! Hee-sung, you made it?”

Myung-jin’s booming voice immediately drew the attention of other patrons.

I could hear the whispers starting.

“Oh my gosh, isn’t that the actor from that drama?”

“That’s right! Jin Hee-sung… the one who was such a good cook in that show!”

“Seriously, did you watch ‘Mystery Family’?”

“Of course!”

“That other actor was in it too. He was hilarious.”

Myung-jin’s shout had instantly turned the pub’s attention to me.

I gave an awkward smile and hurried to the table in the back.

“Wow, our celebrity has arrived!”

“Keep it down, you idiot! Everyone’s staring because of you. Hee-sung, come sit inside.”

Myung-jin and Shin Hyun-soo were playfully bickering, as usual.

“You shouted on purpose so everyone would see. Isn’t he the most successful classmate among us?”

“That’s true. Haha.”

“I told the people around here that I’m friends with Hee-sung, but they didn’t believe me.”

“Hee-sung, sit down, man. Let’s have a drink.”

I laughed, seeing my old friends.

“Haha, it’s been so long, guys.”

“Indeed.”

A 500cc [approximately 17 ounce] beer glass, a spoon, and chopsticks were immediately placed in front of me.

Looking at the friends around the table, I said, “I saw Ji-ohn and Myung-jin last time, but it’s been a while, Hyun-soo.”

Hyun-soo smiled. “Hey, I feel like I see you all the time.”

I tilted my head, confused. Hyun-soo elaborated, “These days, every time I turn on the TV, you’re on it, Hee-sung. So even though it’s been a while, it feels like I see you every day. Haha.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

We clinked glasses in a friendly toast.

“So, when are you going back to Seoul?”

“Hey, are you close to Song Yu-na too?”

“Idiot, of course. Song Yu-na and Hee-sung are in the same agency.”

“That’s right. I heard Song Yu-na made a cameo appearance on the variety show out of friendship this time?”

I held up my hands, trying to stem the flow of questions.

“It’s been so long since we met, let’s catch up first. Haha.”

They laughed, and the table finally quieted down.

“Still, Hee-sung is the guest of honor today, so let’s order what he wants to eat. What do you want, Hee-sung?”

Park Ji-ohn handed me the menu, but I put it down on the table and looked around.

“Shouldn’t we wait until everyone gets here to order?”

Ji-ohn’s eyes widened. “Everyone’s here. Who else is coming?”

I was the one who was confused now.

The people who were supposed to come today were Ji-ohn, Myung-jin, and Hyun-soo – the three sitting in front of me.

And, most importantly, Park Min-joon.

But Min-joon hadn’t arrived, and there wasn’t even a place setting for him, as if he’d just stepped away to use the restroom.

I scratched my head. “Min-joon said he was coming too.”

Myung-jin sighed. “Ah, Min-joon said he’s busy and can’t make it.”

I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

“…That’s too bad.”

I wanted to see him. Of course, the disappointment wasn’t because I missed Min-joon’s face.

I hadn’t seen him since his career imploded.

I was curious to see what he’d say to me, now that I had a successful drama under my belt. But mostly, I was disappointed that I wouldn’t get to witness his reaction.

“That’s right. Min-joon said he came back to his hometown, right?”

Ji-ohn asked Myung-jin, who shrugged.

“Yeah, but who knows? He said he’s busy and can’t come, so I just said okay.”

Hyun-soo chuckled. “Let it go. Min-joon is probably too embarrassed to show his face.”

No one seemed surprised or argued with him.

They all knew it was true, but they couldn’t bring themselves to say it out loud. They just nodded.

Soon, they started talking about Min-joon.

“Yeah, it was Min-joon’s first lead role, but he completely screwed it up. He shouldn’t have done a drama that distorted history in the first place.”

“Oh man, I feel bad for him. He probably won’t get another lead role for a long time, if ever.”

They talked about Min-joon and sighed briefly, then switched to a more joking tone.

“They say you shouldn’t worry about celebrities, so let’s forget about the guy who didn’t come and talk about our actor Hee-sung!”

I shook my head. “Hey, don’t keep calling me ‘actor’ when we’re just hanging out… It’s embarrassing, haha.”

I quickly opened the menu and handed it around. “Order up! It’s been a while since we met, and I haven’t been able to come down to my hometown. I’m treating you all tonight.”

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

“Wow, really?”

“Of course.”

“Wow, successful celebrities are different, aren’t they?”

“That’s right. Min-joon never bought us anything….”

They were busy choosing dishes, throwing in digs at Min-joon as they did.

And I, too, was reminded of Min-joon.

The way he came to me at our last reunion, puffed up with pride, trying to put me down.

His cutting words flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t help but smile.

That Min-joon is gone now.

Now, there’s only me, who has surpassed him.

The beer flowed freely, and empty plates piled up.

“See? I knew our Hee-sung would do well like this.”

“That’s right. Ji-ohn always said Hee-sung would be a hit.”

Ji-ohn and Hyun-soo leaned back in their chairs.

Ji-ohn turned to me. “So, Hee-sung, what are you going to do for your next project? Are you going to do a movie this time?”

“Um… nothing’s been decided yet. I’m still thinking about it.”

“Then what are you doing these days?”

I rolled my eyes. “I haven’t had a break yet, so I’m going to travel a bit and then get back to work.”

Hyun-soo straightened up. “Wow, actors have it good.”

He chugged his beer.

I frowned slightly. “Hyun-soo must not remember because he hasn’t seen me in a while… I suffered so much when I was unknown.”

“You?”

“Of course. Everyone has those times.”

Ji-ohn nodded emphatically. “That’s right. This guy Hee-sung did so many part-time jobs while acting.”

Hyun-soo exclaimed, “Oh… well, you’re doing so well now.”

I picked up my beer.

I clinked glasses with my friends.

The alcohol burned down my throat.

I set the glass down and muttered softly, “…I need to do even better.”

***

In the pitch-black darkness.

All I could see were eerie trees and tall, uneven grass.

The only sources of light were the large full moon and a scattering of stars in the night sky.

I was in a large jeep, gripping the heavy steering wheel tightly with both hands.

I knew it instinctively.

This is… a dream…!

It didn’t take long for me to realize it was a dream.

And from that moment on, forgetting that it was a dream, I couldn’t help but focus on the scene in front of me, as if I was being pulled into it.

The car had no lights on.

I couldn’t see anything in front of me, but the car kept moving forward.

I wanted to get out of this place, but I couldn’t.

The red light on the car’s dashboard read ‘Fuel Low’.

Damn it.

If the car stops in the middle of this mountain, I’m screwed….

-Static… Static.

The radio, which was on at a low volume, crackled with static whenever the signal was interrupted.

-Everyone….

I slammed on the brakes at the sound of a voice on the radio.

If I moved forward even a little, the signal might cut out completely.

-Zo… zombies have occupied the city…. Static-.

The radio signal was weak and distorted.

I slapped the radio in desperation.

-The zombies, which were previously thought to be sensitive to light, are now also reacting to sound…. Static, static….

The radio went silent.

I frantically started hitting the radio, which had been my only source of information.

“Why isn’t it working, why….”

I slammed my fist on the radio, but it only made mechanical sounds.

“What am I supposed to do here…!”

Tears welled up in my eyes.

But crying was definitely not the answer right now.

I had to get out of here somehow.

No, I had to survive somehow.

Definitely.

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard.

Then, I slowly started the car again and turned up the radio volume.

“It will definitely give me information. The only place I can hear anything is the radio….”

Suddenly, a high-pitched mechanical sound burst from the radio.

I frowned and covered my ears.

I quickly turned down the volume.

Dada-da-da-.

I could hear someone running towards the car.

The sound grew louder in an instant.

Wada-da-da-!

Running quickly… no, it wasn’t the sound of one person’s footsteps.

This is….

It was definitely a horde of zombies.

The moment I realized that.

“Kuaaaaa-.”

“Heueaaaaaaa!”

The zombies were running menacingly, making strange noises.

Blood stained their torn clothes.

Their pupils were unfocused, their teeth bared in open mouths, and sticky, dark red blood dripped down their chins.

My heart pounded in my chest.

The only thought in my head was that I had to do something to avoid being bitten and to survive.

That was it.

I quickly turned off the radio and held my breath.

That’s right.

The radio said that zombies are sensitive to sound.

So far, it has been known that zombies only react to light, so I turned off the lights and ran….

I rummaged through my bag and pulled out the emergency supplies.

A self-defense device that emits a loud, ear-splitting noise when you press the button.

It was designed to attract attention if someone was being attacked, but now it would be the perfect way to lure the zombies.

The zombies were standing around, twitching their facial muscles at the silent radio.

With the zombies gathered on the driver’s side, I carefully opened the passenger window and threw the self-defense device as far as I could.

-Beeeep!

The zombies shrieked and started running towards the small device, its loud sound echoing through the forest.

I covered my mouth, making sure no breath escaped.

My sweat-soaked body was trembling with fear.

I held my breath and tried to suppress the hiccups that kept bubbling up.

Pop-!

I gasped awake, looking around wildly.

My whole body was drenched in sweat.

A very vivid dream.

My clothes and bed sheets were soaked.

I jumped out of bed and headed to the shower.

And the question that kept nagging at me:

I’m not preparing for any dramas or movies yet.

I don’t even have any auditions scheduled right now.

Why did I have that dream?

The content of the dream was something I had never seen or read in a script.

…Is something going to happen?