The Road To Glory [EN]: Chapter 541

# 54. A Repeating Life

“So, would you like to work together again?”

Halo blinked at Music Director Park Jung-ho’s question. The music director looked at him, waiting for an answer, seemingly sincere.

*He’s been buttering me up this whole time*, Halo thought, realizing the director had only highlighted the positive aspects of dramas and the industry with this collaboration in mind.

Halo slowly shook his head.

“Thank you for the offer, but I want to focus on my own music for now.”

The music director readily backed down.

“It was just a suggestion, so don’t feel pressured. But it wasn’t an empty offer either. Think about it. Drama music has a lot of appeal in many ways. It can be fun.”

“Director!”
The music director, who had winked at him, turned around. Assistant Director Lee Jong-seop was calling him.

“The PD [Production Director] is calling for you.”

“Okay, just a moment. I’ll look around a bit more. I have some work to do.”

“Yes, thank you, Director.”

Gil Laon politely bowed.

“Wow! You’re so cool.”

As the director walked away, Gil Laon exclaimed.

“To already get an offer to work together from the director.”

“…”

“And to reject it right away.”

Halo knew Gil Laon had heard that he had turned down offers from the producer and the CEO, but rejecting the music director’s proposal felt different to Gil Laon.

“Wouldn’t it have been a good opportunity?”

“I don’t know. I don’t like anything half-hearted.”

Working on OSTs [Original Soundtracks] was fun, but he didn’t want to do it again. *Well, if I ever get to put my own music in a drama or movie, that might be different*, he mused.

“True, we’re busy enough just going our own way.”

Gil Laon nodded as if he understood Halo’s words.

Since he was here, Halo sat down in the staff area and looked around. It was almost the first time he had properly seen a filming set. He had visited before, but only to see friends, so he hadn’t had much reason to be on set.

*If I came, too many people would gather, making it difficult to proceed with filming*, he thought.

He was sincere when he said he liked this place.

From the staff working hard to keep people out,

to the sound equipment and cameras moving according to instructions,

to the actors in their padded coats.

The way they built up the drama piece by piece was beautiful.

Halo watched them, his fingers twitching.

A few notes gathered like Lego bricks, becoming a melody.

It wasn’t a complete song, but he wanted to express it as sound.

He regretted not bringing his guitar.

Halo snapped his fingers and looked at Lee Jung-min in front of the camera. He was twenty-nine years old, but the actor in the school uniform didn’t look awkward at all.

The scene was about being instructed to frame the protagonist, using a recommendation as leverage.

The conflict and anguish revealed there were the same as a high school student’s. Even though the drama wasn’t finished yet, it didn’t feel awkward, so he must be a good actor.

-How does it feel?

The director’s words suddenly came to mind.

A change caused by a whim, thinking that Hee-tae’s story shouldn’t end like this.

“Cut!”

“Wow, he never makes a single NG [No Good – a filming term for a failed take]. I didn’t know Lee Jung-min was such a good actor.”

Seeing the actor seriously looking into the camera next to the PD, talking about his acting, Halo definitely felt a subtle emotion.

“Aren’t the seniors coming?”

Gil Laon, who had brought snacks that actress Lee So-ra had provided, said regretfully.

Halo took a coffee-scented bread and was surprised by the rich butter and salty flavor inside the coffee scent, and the fluffy bread. He thought it would be a coffee-flavored scone, but it was delicious.

Gil Laon also said, “I wanted to say hello before leaving,” and put the bread in his mouth.

Then Halo drank the coffee in the cup,

“!”

and immediately spat it out.

Who put water in the espresso?

Instead of the bitter and savory aroma of coffee beans, it tasted like water with cigarette ash.

“What is this?”

“Don’t you drink Americano? You have such a childish palate.”

“!”

Gil Laon drank the cigarette-flavored Americano just fine and said that.

Halo was dumbfounded.

To be called childish by a child.

“There might be lattes too, not just Americano.”

Then Gil Laon pointed to the coffee truck.

It was a truck crowded with staff.

“Go get another one. And don’t lose your mind looking at actress Lee So-ra.”

“Actress Lee So-ra?”

Halo, who hadn’t been paying attention to the coffee truck until now, frowned and looked at the banner. A cheering message was written along with the face of the actress in a school uniform.

*To fall in love and lose his mind-* he thought.

“She looks too young.”

Halo said after staring intently for a while, and Gil Laon spat out his Americano.

“Uh… I don’t think we should be saying that?”

They were seventeen years old,

while actress Lee So-ra was thirty-three.

Even if she looked good in a student role, it was strange for an actual seventeen-year-old to say someone looked too young.

“Actress Lee So-ra is thirty-two…”

“She’s over thirty?”

Halo looked back at the banner in disbelief.

No matter how he looked at it, she only looked like a teenager to him.

It was a similar feeling to when he first saw Noh Hae-il and thought he was an elementary school student.

“Ahem.”

Just then.

Gil Laon turned around when someone cleared their throat.

A man in a padded coat was clearing his throat and rolling his eyes.

When his eyes met a woman with her arms crossed behind him, Gil Laon’s mouth dropped open. He didn’t mean to talk behind their backs, but it seemed like he had. Fortunately, they didn’t say anything in particular.

They glanced at Gil Laon and Noh Hae-il and headed to the field where the van was parked.

#

Kim Kyung-ho was startled as he got into the van.

The witch, who had been quietly looking into a large mirror, smirked and laughed. It sent chills down his spine.

“Noona [term for older sister or older female friend], why are you suddenly doing that?”

“Kyung-ho.”

“Yes.”

“Do I still look like a student, kind of young?”

Kim Kyung-ho was taken aback by the sudden question and became serious.

Regardless, his actress was looking at her face with satisfaction, like the witch in Snow White.

“Come to think of it, they asked for my ID last time too…”

“Noona.”

Kim Kyung-ho said seriously.

“If you’re past thirty, shouldn’t you be more careful-.”

“Hey!”

“Sorry.”

Only when Lee So-ra shouted did Kim Kyung-ho realize his position as her subordinate. Lee So-ra, who had been huffing and puffing for a while, crossed her arms and put down the mirror. It seemed like her self-praise was over.

“Go out and buy some drinks.”

“Drinks? Will Dr. Pepper be okay?”

“No, am I the only one with a mouth? Buy some for the director, the staff, and the other actors too.”

“…”

How many staff members were there?

Was she making him buy them as payback?

Kim Kyung-ho pouted and turned around.

Then, Lee So-ra’s voice was heard again.

“And Kyung-ho.”

“Yesss.”

“What do kids like these days? Buy some drinks that kids like these days too.”

Kim Kyung-ho turned around and shook his head.

He was already twenty-eight years old. The kids Lee So-ra was talking about seemed to be the ones who had said she looked young, but they looked like middle and high school students.

“Noona, how would I know what kids like these days?”

“Then do you think I, who’s past thirty, would know?!”

“I’ll be back.”

Squeak. The van door opened and closed at the same time.

Lee So-ra sighed, looking at his receding back with a dumbfounded expression. Her manager was great in every way, but his lack of tact was a problem. Well, it was enough if he was kind and did his job well.

“His name was Noh Hae-il, right?”

Lee So-ra then recalled the name she had overheard. She hadn’t meant to listen, but she had heard the staff talking. He was the singer who sang Hee-tae’s theme song. He was a rookie who hadn’t debuted yet, but the music director liked him so much.

If it was Hee-tae’s theme, they had talked about it a few times. She heard that the writer had changed the script because of that theme. She didn’t know if it was true. The Hee-tae OST she heard in the drama was good, but she didn’t know if it was enough to change the script.

But it was true that Hee-tae’s lines and scenes had increased.

Lee So-ra thought of the boy behind Gil Laon. He hadn’t even debuted yet, but the way he looked at her was quite arrogant. Not in a bad way.

-She looks too young.

“Hmm, he’s not a bad kid.”

She nodded. Then she smiled and picked up her phone. Her neat fingers quickly tapped the keyboard.

[Lee So-ra: Hey Joo-hyuk]

[Lee So-ra: The kid who sang Hee-tae’s theme came to the set, and he’s way better than you lol [laughing out loud]]

He usually checked his messages quickly, and the ‘1’ disappeared in an instant. He was definitely aware of it.

[ㅋ] [Korean equivalent of ‘lol’]

The reply came right away.

He was annoying, but Lee So-ra chuckled and imagined the face on the other side of the phone.

[Lee So-ra: You should have come here today too]

[Lee So-ra: You’d be surprised if you saw him]

[Lee So-ra: He looks a bit like you lol]

[Whatever]

[Bullshit]

[Lee So-ra: I’m serious 1]

[Lee So-ra: It’s a pity you can’t come today because you have a schedule 1]

He clearly didn’t trust her words at all.

Lee So-ra left her phone and opened the van door, used to being ignored or not read.

The phone left on the chair rang not long after.

[I’m a bit curious though]

#

Not long after returning from the filming set, the 14-episode drama [From Today On, We Are] was heading towards its finale, airing its 13th episode.

The students accepted the protagonist as a true teacher, but the chairman wanted to get rid of the protagonist at all costs.

So, they used Hee-tae, the most docile model student, to frame the protagonist for admission irregularities, which was the story of last week.

Whatever else, the original fans were burning up the viewers’ bulletin board because of Hee-tae’s increased role compared to the original.

In fact, even if they weren’t original fans, the existence of a frustrating and indecisive character made the viewers’ hearts ache.

It was even more so because the actor was good at acting.

And at least those who had read the original knew that today’s 13th episode was Hee-tae’s biggest turning point.

The protagonist gives Hee-tae, who is being manipulated by adults, several chances, but Hee-tae ultimately does not take the protagonist’s hand. The protagonist remains the only student he fails to save.

[Why does Hee-tae appear so much]

[Is the writer him???]

[Just skip over it;;;]

The gymnasium basketball court where ‘that scene’ would soon appear.

The viewers were already bursting with frustration.

When the protagonist enters the gymnasium to find Hee-tae, Hee-tae’s theme song begins to play instead of the protagonist’s.

The beginning was the same as before.

Which made it even more uncomfortable.

Hee-tae’s inner thoughts, which they hadn’t thought about even once.

The more they heard about his inner thoughts, the more uncomfortable they felt, not only for Hee-tae but also for the protagonist who had given up on him.

The protagonist told Hee-tae to reveal the truth, but Hee-tae couldn’t. As in the original, the protagonist reaches out to Hee-tae to go with him, but Hee-tae’s theme plays continuously as Hee-tae struggles, and ultimately he doesn’t take his hand.

With a deep sigh, the protagonist walks further and further away.

Looking at the sneakers getting further and further away,

Hee-tae’s head drops down.

Regret and fear swept over his face.

The door clanked shut.

This was the scene from the original.

If it had been Hee-tae’s original theme, it would have returned to the original with a repeat sign.

But.

Ttun.

With a discordant piano sound, the song changed.

The first thing to reflect that wasn’t the actor’s acting, the camera’s movement, or the background.

The screen was frozen. But viewers unconsciously felt that something was about to happen. Something different from the original.

[I close my eyes like that again]

The lyrics with the breath mixed in were clearly the same, but

[I melt in the rising sunlight]

Something was changing.

Clank.

Hee-tae raised his head, and the camera raised its head with him. The gymnasium door was closed.

But the protagonist was leaning against the closed door, calmly looking at Hee-tae.

Thump, thump. The basketball hits Hee-tae’s hand and rolls to the wall.

With that, the protagonist’s sneakers, which had been moving away, strode towards him.

Light comes in behind the protagonist.

It was the sunset in the playground coming through the windows of the gymnasium.

The sunset reaches Hee-tae’s feet.

The shadow drawn under Hee-tae begins to slide back along the sunset.

The protagonist comes into his tearful eyes.

He can’t see what expression he’s making or what he’s saying.

But the strong cigarette smell that the protagonist was carrying stopped right in front of him. Hee-tae raised his head without a single distortion and looked at the protagonist.

“Hee-tae.”

Suddenly, such a voice was heard.

“It must be hard because of the adults, right?”

“!”

The protagonist didn’t reach out to Hee-tae.

That was the same as the original.

But he leaned against the basketball goal and stayed by Hee-tae’s side.

“You just needed a good adult too.”

The protagonist took out a lighter from his pocket.

He didn’t light it, but he flicked the Zippo lighter as if he wanted to smoke. He said that a mentor he had met once gave it to him.

“I guess I’m not a good adult after all. As I always say, I’m not a good teacher either. I have a bit of a temper.”

The calm voice made Hee-tae cry.

The protagonist, who had been flicking the Zippo lighter for a long time, stopped flicking it at some point.

“But after meeting you guys, I think I know roughly what a good adult is. Roughly.”

Hee-tae looked up at the protagonist.

“Hee-tae.”

The protagonist called Hee-tae gently.

“Come at your own pace. It’s okay if you’re late.”

Hee-tae wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

The tearful vision was clear again.

“I don’t have money, but I’m a tycoon when it comes to time. Yeah.”

The person who was throwing out silly jokes couldn’t look so huge.

Hee-tae’s reprise rang out.

A path is shown where Hee-tae’s life can head to a period instead of a repeat sign.

It is not known whether that period is a good ending or a bad ending.

But Hee-tae decided not to live trapped in a repeat sign anymore.

It was really late, but it wasn’t until the sunset and the moonlight filled the gymnasium that Hee-tae stood in front of the teacher.

The firmly closed latch was finally opened.

With that, the latch on the viewers’ bulletin board also opened.

[Hee-taeㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[What’s Hee-tae’s song? It’s crazyㅠㅠㅠㅠ]

[Who sang this???]

[ERROR; Inaccessible site]

With a few posts, the viewers’ bulletin board exploded.

“Huuuh.”

The mother sobbed as she listened to Hee-tae’s reprise, which had taken over the ending of episode 13.

Hee-tae’s song, going up to a high note.

Rather than wandering aimlessly in one place, he moves forward. No one can know his path, but everyone will cheer him on.

Because.

Everyone has been Hee-tae at least once in their lives.

Those who were Hee-tae became adults and comforted their past selves. They gain the courage to move forward with Hee-tae’s story and his variations.

:

The OST is an important device that completes the drama.

It dramatically shows a scene from the drama, creates a famous scene, and that famous scene imprints the OST in the mind for a long time.

And so, this may be another beginning.

[89. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On, We Are’ Hee-tae theme (Reprise))│ Noh Hae-il]

[100. A Repeating Life (‘From Today On, We Are’ Hee-tae theme) │ Noh Hae-il]