An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 99

99. Episode 20 – In a Strange Place (2)

Before I knew it, my face had become gaunt and emaciated.

Before filming started, I had been on a strict diet to lose weight.

And after filming began, the lack of sleep and irregular meal times naturally led to more weight loss.

The hardship wasn’t all bad.

“Wow, Hee-sung, you’ve completely nailed the character today!”

I even received praise from Director Kang, who said the character had jumped straight out of the script.

“Haha, thank you.”

“Then let’s try it again, just like we did now,” Director Kang said, settling into his seat.

I immediately wiped the smile off my face and nodded.

“Okay.”

“Ready, action!”

At Director Kang’s shout, my eyes changed instantly.

Torn and ragged clothes.

Hair matted and clumped together; I couldn’t even tell how many days it had been since I last washed it.

Of course, it was makeup, but being on a set that looked like it was straight out of a zombie movie made me feel like I had actually become someone hiding from zombies.

Overcome with anxiety, I held my breath and suffered from hunger.

“Ah… I don’t think there’s any point in living like this anymore.”

I raised my head and stared blankly at the rope tied to the rafters [a beam supporting the roof].

Just as I was feeling that maintaining my life as a human was meaningless and having dark thoughts…

Bang-!

The sound from outside made me quickly hide.

“Damn it, I didn’t want to live. I clearly felt that there was no point in living like this…”

Huddled up, I sobbed as I watched myself quickly hide, not wanting to become a zombie.

“How long… how long do I have to live like this…”

The sound of my sobs leaked out.

I quickly covered my mouth, afraid the zombies would hear it.

“Hiss, quietly…. Even if I cry, I have to cry quietly….”

Having lost the meaning of life, I slumped to the floor, staring blankly at the narrow space that I couldn’t even call outside.

“Cut, okay!”

Director Kang put down the megaphone and shouted as he stood up from his seat.

Then, he clapped his hands and shouted.

“Hee-sung, your acting was great!”

Wiping away the tears I had shed while acting, I stood up and approached him.

“Thank you, Director.”

“Kuh, that scene, everything I intended was perfectly conveyed. You’ve worked really hard.”

It was a scene where I had to convey a multitude of emotions in a short dialogue.

So, I practiced my gaze and facial expressions countless times.

The thought that it had been conveyed made me slightly raise the corners of my lips.

And I immediately bowed to him.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Yes, Hee-sung, you’ve worked hard too.”

Director Kang clapped his hands high in the air and shouted.

“Everyone, you’ve done a great job!”

With this scene, all the domestic filming was completed.

This movie is divided into Act 1 and Act 2.

Act 1 is the domestic filming, like the scene we just shot.

Act 2 was to be filmed overseas.

The domestic filming was successfully completed, but there was only one regret.

Since the main content of Act 1 was surviving alone from a horde of zombies, there were no scenes where I filmed with other actors.

Therefore, naturally, there were not many opportunities to meet or overlap with other actors on set.

Of course, acting was rewarding and fun.

But I was a little disappointed that I couldn’t be with other actors.

That’s why I was even more excited about Act 2, the overseas filming.

It was also my first time filming overseas in my life.

After filming alone for a long time, I was excited to work with other actors as soon as possible.

After finishing filming, I got into the car, and Manager Kim immediately turned around to look at me.

“Hee-sung, you’ve worked hard.”

“No, it’s okay. But, Hyung [older brother/male friend], when does our overseas filming start?”

He raised his eyebrows and opened his diary.

“We’re not leaving right away; it looks like we’ll have a short break before we leave.”

“How long?”

“Not long… it’s a week from now, so take a good rest at home starting today.”

As soon as Manager Kim finished speaking, I leaned back in my seat.

“Then I’ll get going.”

“Okay.”

The car immediately began to leave the set.

Wiping the black paint off my face with a tissue, I opened my mouth towards Manager Kim.

“But, Hyung, can I really rest all this week?”

Manager Kim looked at me through the rearview mirror and replied.

“Of course. You’re going abroad next week, so if there’s nothing else, you can rest.”

“Okay.”

I looked at my face reflected in the window and muttered softly.

“What should I do while resting?”

***

My first overseas location in life.

I checked the overseas filming schedule with excitement.

The schedule, starting from the departure at Incheon Airport, was densely filled on the paper.

I started reading it with a pounding heart.

And I fixed my gaze on one place, making a “tss” sound and tilting my head.

‘Desert’.

The filming location was a desert.

I had never been to a desert even once in my life, so my heart was filled with worry.

“I’ve seen on TV that deserts are dangerous….”

But soon, that worried feeling disappeared without a trace.

“Still, it’s an overseas location… that’s awesome!”

With a smile on my face, I burst out of the house.

I spent a few days of my short break catching up on sleep.

I had been eating irregularly, so I rested well while eating properly.

Today, I decided to go to a place I wanted to visit before leaving.

I immediately got into the car, started the engine, and set off towards my destination.

The car drove for a long time.

Entrusting myself to the song flowing from the car, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of the overseas filming that would begin in a few days.

Could there be anyone else who is as excited about overseas filming as I am?

As I drove with excitement, the car soon reached its destination.

Then, my mother, who had spotted my car, came running.

“Mom!”

“Son, you’re here?”

I had to be away for a long time.

And because of the busy filming schedule, I hadn’t been able to visit or even call.

I visited my parents’ house to see them and spend the night.

My mother greeted me with a bright smile.

Today, the table was set with so much food that it seemed like the legs would break.

“Mom, you don’t have to set the table like this.”

“Oh, I just made a simple meal. Eat quickly.”

“I’m on a diet because of filming….”

Contrary to my words, my eyes were already scanning the food on the table.

My quick hands picked up the food with chopsticks.

At my reaction, my father chuckled and stared at me as I ate.

“Dad, please eat quickly too.”

“Yes, eat a lot.”

“Yes.”

Not even a few minutes had passed, but my rice had disappeared as if a crab had eaten it.

I patted my bulging stomach and leaned back in my chair.

“Wow! I’m really full.”

My mother looked at my empty bowl, her eyes widening, and asked.

“Son, have you not been able to eat properly lately?”

“Haha, no. I’ve been deliberately controlling my diet, but your food was so delicious that I completely inhaled it.”

My mother got up from her seat and said.

“Eat more. I’ll get you another bowl of rice.”

I waved my hand at my mother and replied.

“No, I’m really full. I’ll rest and then go out for a walk.”

When I said I wouldn’t eat any more rice, my mother looked disappointed and picked up her spoon again.

Then, as if something had come to her mind, she clapped her hands and said.

“That’s right. So, you’re going abroad next week?”

“No, I’m leaving the day after tomorrow.”

“Oh my, that’s soon?”

I nodded at her words.

“Yes, that’s why I came to see Mom and Dad today.”

My mother got up from her seat and walked towards my luggage.

I also followed my mother.

“Mom, why the luggage?”

“Your dad and I packed a few things because you’re going abroad.”

“What?”

I tilted my head and sat in front of my luggage.

My mother took out a shopping bag and stood in front of my luggage.

“This is tube gochujang [Korean chili paste] and small ramen noodles, okay?”

I shook my head and pushed away my mother’s shopping bag.

“Ah, Mom. It’s okay. I don’t need these things.”

“Take them. You’ll definitely think of these things when you go abroad, okay?”

My mother spoke with a worried expression, as if she were packing for a son who was immigrating for several years.

“Mom, I’m just going for a short filming trip. It’s really okay. Haha.”

“Still….”

I pushed away my mother’s hand, which was trying to put things in my luggage, and smiled.

“It’s okay, Mother?”

“Oh my, I understand, I understand.”

My mother took her hand off my luggage and said with a worried look.

“Don’t get hurt over there, and if anything happens, tell Manager Kim.”

“Yes, yes, Mom. I’m almost thirty.”

“But to Mom, you’re always a baby.”

***

As soon as I arrived at Incheon Airport, my eyes widened.

As soon as I got out of the car, there were reporters lined up at the entrance, as if they knew I was coming.

They held up their cameras and asked me to pose.

“Hee-sung, please look over here.”

“Hee-sung, please give us a heart [make a heart shape with your fingers].”

I had to keep my eyes wide open to avoid closing them from the flashing lights, and after posing frantically, I was finally able to enter the airport.

I was already excited about going abroad, but thanks to the numerous reporters, I moved my feet with an even more heightened heart.

Since it was a zombie movie, there were quite a few cast members.

Numerous actors and staff.

It was an overseas location that was being flown to by a chartered plane.

I was amazed by the scale, my mouth wide open.

And my seat wasn’t in economy class, nor in business class.

It was first class…!

I looked around the plane and found my seat.

“Wow….”

An exclamation that came out without me realizing it.

I quickly swallowed that exclamation and sat down.

A seat I had never seen before.

It felt almost like a small room.

It had everything.

The chair was so big that I wondered if this was really a plane.

The thought of being able to lie down and go on the flight like a bed made me shake my head.

In front of me was a large monitor and neatly placed pajamas and amenities from a luxury brand.

“Wow-.”

I was exclaiming and looking at each one with wonder.

At that time, a flight attendant came and offered me welcome champagne.

“Ah, thank you.”

“Yes, enjoy.”

After taking a sip of champagne.

I picked up the booklet in front of me.

The booklet was none other than the in-flight meal menu.

I opened my mouth wide at the course menu that looked like it would only be served in a high-end restaurant.

“This is a menu that you can eat on a plane?”

I covered my open mouth with my hand and turned the page with eyes full of anticipation.

A smile was spreading across my face when…

“Ahem.”

Unfortunately, the person sitting next to me was none other than Song Yuna.

She cleared her throat and called me.

At that sound, I raised my head and looked at her.

She looked at me, who was smiling brightly, and clicked her tongue as if I was pathetic, and asked me.

“Is this your first time riding first class?”

I smiled at her question and said.

“No?”

Then, Song Yuna frowned and stared at me.

“Then why are you so excited?”

She had a face as if she couldn’t understand my actions at all.

I looked at her and smiled, opening my mouth.

“I… it’s my first time on a plane itself.”

Her eyes widened.

“…Oh my.”

Swish.

She shook her head and immediately closed the door between her and me.

That’s how the wall was created between us.

I looked at the wall and shrugged my shoulders.

Then, I leaned back and muttered softly.

“…It’s really good.”