Ghost-seeing actor

“Here, drink. It’s on me.”

“Wow, our adorable Taesu is buying coffee! I’m truly moved.”

“Adorable? I’m already 21.”

“To me, you’ll always be my cute little Taesu. It feels like just yesterday you were this small.”

Hwang Cheolsu smiled fondly.

A few days ago, at a wrap party for a film, they chatted endlessly. Still not enough, they decided to meet at a café.

Over the past 10 years, while Taesu took a break from acting, connections naturally faded away. Yet, the cherished memories remain.

Hwang Cheolsu, whom he met while acting as Young Woohyun in the film ‘Pigeon Chick,’ was a part of those memories.

Back then, as the youngest member of the crew, Hwang Cheolsu had looked after Taesu like a younger brother.

When filming ended late at night and there was an early shoot scheduled, he would bring Taesu home and take care of him like family.

“Taesu, if your parents saw how you’ve grown up, they’d be so happy. I bet they’d be wanting you as a son-in-law for Yuna.”

“Yuna? Oh, your younger sister?”

“She’s already 20. Back in the day, you two played role-playing games so well. You were the husband, and Yuna the wife.”

“Hyung!”

They could talk for hours without interruption.

Despite the ease of conversation, Hwang Cheolsu occasionally gazed at him with a wistful look.

“Actors and crew alike were all curious about you. I spent hours scouring SNS to find you.”

“I don’t have SNS.”

“No wonder it was so hard to find you. So, what have you been doing all this time? Are your parents doing well?”

To that question, Taesu answered calmly, trying to hide his emotions.

“My parents died in a car accident. I live with my aunt now.”

A brief silence ensued. Hwang Cheolsu struggled to find the right words for comfort.

“It must have been… tough. I had no idea…”

After hesitating for a long while, Hwang Cheolsu finally spoke.

“Well, anyway, Taesu, you’re back to acting, right?”

“Yes.”

Taesu’s answer was firm, without hesitation.

Finally, Hwang Cheolsu gave a small smile.

“Oh, this feels great. If you don’t act, it’s like wasting a national treasure.”

After rummaging through his backpack, Hwang Cheolsu handed Taesu a script.
The title on it read, “Declaration of Freedom.”

“This is Yang Gunbo. He’s my university classmate, and he’s a genius. He’s made a couple of short films and is now working on an independent film.”

“This is his debut work?”

“Yeah. Even though Kunste Film stepped in to produce, it seems like the project must be good. There’s a project selecting and supporting about ten independent films annually.”

“Sounds promising.”

“The script is interesting. But it seems like the casting process is tough. Whether the acting is difficult or if actors don’t like this kind of gritty performance, I’m not sure.”

Hwang Cheolsu leaned in closer.

“But when I saw you acting in the last shoot, sparks flew. Your gentle face combined with such gritty roles—there’s no greater thrill.”

Quickly flipping through the script, Taesu asked, “It’s about gangsters. Who’s cast?”

“So far, the confirmed ones are Senior Soo Hyun and Senior Kim Seong Jung.”

Childhood connections surface again. Taesu had worked with Soo Hyun as a child actor and Kim Seong Jung in a cooking show.

Taesu silently fiddled with the script. A whirlwind of emotions swirled in his mind.

“If you want to audition, contact me by Sunday. The audition is next Wednesday.”

Turning another page of the script, Taesu replied, “Yes, I’ll get back to you by then.”

***

The next day.

Taesu strolled through the streets of Gangnam.

‘Is this it…? Am I here this time? It has to be right!’

[Without me, where would you be? How many times are you going to get lost? This is the right place!] Lee Jung Hyup, with his sharp sense of direction, helped Taesu find the location.

It was Studio Goblin, the drama production company.

Thanks to Team Leader Kwon Gi Do’s introduction, Taesu was here to audition for The Vampire’s First Love.

After being guided inside, two people were seated—the man introducing himself as the producer, and the woman as the production PD.

“Oh, you’re the one Kwon recommended, Han Taesu.”

“You have good proportions. Did you model somewhere?”

“I’m a shopping mall model.”

“No wonder you stand out from a distance. I heard you acted in a short film and played a minor role in Shadow Warrior. Is that correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The production PD smiled with satisfaction.

“A face that hasn’t been revealed yet is even better. How did Team Leader Kwon find a new face like this?”

“Song PD, you need to set a condition. A new face with good acting skills and charm.”

The producer examined Taesu carefully and continued.

“I heard you landed a solo scene with Director Yoon Ido?”

“Yes, thankfully, the director provided the role and lines.”

“Hm… creating roles on set that weren’t in the script. Dealing with a tough director like Yoon isn’t an easy task.”

“You’ve got a great look. Different from Im Kang Hyun, you have a more masculine charm. Maybe it’s your voice?”

For a while, the two people scrutinized Taesu.

Soon, the audition began.

Taesu performed a scene from the script given by Team Leader Kwon beforehand.

The role was that of a kind, tall man who supports the female lead.

“Haneunbi! I’ll always be there to help you. I’m your guardian angel!”
“If you’re struggling, lean on me. In this merciless sea called the world, I’ll protect you.”

As Taesu recited the lines, Lee Jung Hyup’s expression grew increasingly stiff.

[Oh my… the lines are cringy. How much butter do you have to spread on your tongue?]
Once the reading ended, both the director and PD had satisfied looks on their faces.

“You have good emotional control, and the tone of the lines is great. It’s like mixing whiskey with lemon—it has that refreshing touch. Your acting is natural too.”

“Your delivery is solid. You’re more than just a one-time short film actor.”

“Haha… thank you.”

“Honestly, every recommendation from Team Leader Kwon has been top-notch.”

The producers seemed to like Taesu.

“Let’s wrap it up for today. We’ll see you again next week. This time, we’ll bring the camera and do a full test.”

***

Friday soon arrived.

The decision-making day was approaching.

‘The Vampire’s First Love’ and ‘Declaration of Freedom’ auditions overlapped.

“What should I do?”

No matter how much he thought about it, there was no clear answer.

Taesu picked up his phone and checked the news.

Articles about ‘The Vampire’s First Love’ kept appearing as one of the most anticipated projects for the latter half of the year.

Among them, Im Kang Hyun frequently topped headlines.

‘The Vampire’s First Love’ is a romantic comedy-drama airing on terrestrial TV.

He knew how much of an impact appearing on TV had.

For an actor, being recognized widely meant everything.

Being seen by a larger audience and receiving acknowledgment—was something Taesu desired deeply.

Dongrak gave his thoughts.

– Of course, you should go with ‘The Vampire’s First Love.’ Our school friends are auditioning like crazy just to get in. Man, opportunities like that are hard to come by!

The decision weighed heavily on Taesu.

After finishing his part-time job, he walked home and sat down at a park bench, pulling out the movie script.

‘So Hyun-hyung was fixed as the boss.’

So Hyun had been stealing scenes for over ten years.

Taesu knew just how good of an actor he was.

There are just some people whose acting clicks.

So Hyun was one of those mentors.

‘An actor who clicks with me in scenes.’

Taesu held the script for a while when Lee Jung-hyup asked,

[Why are you still hesitating? You were supposed to go with the vampire drama, weren’t you?]
‘I’m not sure.’

[You’ve got a second audition coming up, and the production PD seemed to like you.]
“It’s more fun.”

The action noir film ‘Declaration of Freedom.’

The basic storyline was like this:

The protagonist, Jukjeong, grew up among gangsters from a young age, with no memories of his childhood.

Now, he works as a high-end sushi chef at a premium nightclub.

While other gangsters manage their territories and keep the bar girls in check, Jukjeong, being gentle and submissive, is constantly looked down upon.

The only person who looks after him is Miss Bong.

She had taken care of him like a mother since he was young, as the boss’s woman.

The boss, however, mocks Miss Bong’s actions and often raises his fists at her.

For the boss, strength and submission were the only ways to communicate.

One day, during a fit of rage, the boss almost kills Miss Bong, and for the first time, Jukjeong rebels against him.

For his mother figure’s sake, he decides to leave that world, even if it means risking his life.

It was a truly captivating character.

[Then you should go with the more interesting one.]
Lee Jung-hyup asked Taesu.

[What’s the role that excites you more as an actor?]

Taesu didn’t answer.

He already knew the answer.

Without a word, he picked up the script again.

He didn’t want to lose. Given the late start, he wanted to show more and prove more.

Taesu wanted to walk the path of an actor, not that of a star.

Even if it was a difficult path.

***

After wandering outside for hours, Taesu finally returned home.

He felt an eerie sense of emptiness in the dark house and called out for his cousin.

“Taeei, I’m home.”

There was a bag, but no sign of Taeei.

“She said she’d be back by 7.”

When he tried calling her friends, they said she had already gone home.

He quickly stepped out again to look for Taeei.

“Taeei! Where are you!”

The night had fully settled, with only the moonlight illuminating the streets.

He checked every possible spot—playgrounds, apartment gardens, underground parking—but still no sign of Taeei.

Worry gnawed at his mind as his mouth grew dry.

Suddenly, a large man in a black leather jacket loitered nearby.

With a stern face and a distinctive bald spot, he caught Taesu’s attention.

[Hey, what’s going on?]
Lee Jung-hyup swiftly approached the man.

[Looking for a very cute little girl with a bald head?]
[I wouldn’t know.]
[She looks like her. About 10 years old.]
Lee Jung-hyup pointed toward Taesu, and the man nodded.

[I saw her in the garden of building 106. She was sitting in the corner.]
“Really?”

Taesu immediately ran toward the garden of building 106.

In the dark corner of the garden, Taeei sat.

“Taeei!”

“Shh! Oppa, the cat woke up!”

Taeei gently pointed to the kitten nestled in her arms.

She was covered in dirt from sitting in the grass.

“What were you doing here? Why didn’t you answer when I called you?”

“The kitten was cold, so I held it. It kept sneezing like it had caught a cold.”

“Still, you can’t be here like this!”

Taesu hugged Taeei tightly.

Holding back tears, he softly whispered,

“I was worried about you.”

Sniffling sounds came from Taeei, who he thought was crying.

He gently patted her back, but he realized it wasn’t her— it was the leather-jacketed man sobbing quietly.

[Huh… so touching. Family bonds are the best.]

Taesu brought Taeei home, helped her bathe, and tucked her into bed. Afterward, he took care of the orphaned kitten she wanted to keep.

Taesu also called his aunt, and after some discussion, they agreed to keep the kitten.

He wrapped the coughing kitten in a blanket, holding it like a baby.

“Now, how did you end up without a mom?”

Thinking about raising a kitten made Taesu feel a sense of uncertainty about the future.

‘This responsibility falls on me.’

As Taesu stroked the kitten’s head, it rubbed against his hand, making his heart soften.

“Oh, you’re so cute. I’ll let it slide.”

But then, suddenly, the kitten puffed up its fur, turning into a little spiky ball.

Its eyes became vertical slits, and it seemed overly cautious.

“What’s wrong? Are you seeing a ghost or something?”

Turning around, Taesu saw a large man in a black leather jacket grappling with Lee Jung-hyup.

The man had a massive tattoo of a dragon on his arm.

Even Jung-hyup, known for his tough build, was struggling against the man.

[What right do you have to follow me in here? This is my territory!]
[That guy says he exorcises ghosts! I helped him find that kid, so let me go!]
Ah, another ghost.

‘Is he here to settle his grudges?’

Although startled, Taesu tried to remain calm.

“Calm down, sir. Let’s talk first. Then we’ll figure this out.”

The man who was about to choke Jung-hyup paused, cleared his throat, and then quickly knelt in front of Taesu.

[I’ve caused this mess. My mother is left alone because of me. I’ve only ever caused her sorrow.]
Jung-hyup, not one to hold back, interrupted.

[What exactly did you do to upset her so much? Were you beating people up?]
[Beating people up? Pfft! You think I’m just a thug?]
The man lifted his shirt to reveal numerous scars from knife wounds.

[I had a name in my prime. They all knew me—Gwon Hyeok-du.]