Chapter 19
“Wow… I’m tired.”
Six hours to film self-introductions and free performances. It took about two hours to edit.
I was in the studio for a total of eight hours.
‘I’m sorry to the staff.’
The good news is that I was able to take breaks while performing freely.
If I hadn’t taken a break like I did during my self-introduction, not only I but also the staff might have collapsed from exhaustion.
‘If you think about it, Director Eom Hyeryeong had the best physical strength.’
What was so funny about her was that she was smiling all the time while filming.
When she introduced herself, she didn’t really show that side of herself, but when she did, she definitely looked bright.
‘She filmed at a level that satisfied the director of the school, so he’ll get accepted, right?’
Actually, I was really worried about what to do with free acting.
I knew a lot of scripts, but when it came time to choose one, there wasn’t one I really liked.
In the end, after much deliberation, Kim Yeonmi chose her favorite drama, My Love from the Moon.
It is a drama about the romance between Oh Minjun, an alien who fell to Earth hundreds of years ago, and Man Songi, a bad-tempered Korean Wave star. It was so popular that it was said to be a syndrome when it aired.
In that work, I chose to freely act out some of the lines of the female protagonist, ‘Man Songi’.
‘It wasn’t easy for me, a man, to play a female role… Still, I decided to show Yeonmi’s acting.’
Kim Yeonmi was a huge fan of Jeon Hyeonji, the actress who played the role of ‘Man Songi’. Did I say that if you like something, you will resemble it? In my memory, Kim Yeonmi closely resembled Jeon Hyeonji.
‘Their acting was really similar.’
Playing a female role was a new challenge for me as well.
However, when Kim Yeonmi acted based on what she had practiced so far, she was able to act naturally.
‘It was a lot worse than when I possessed Minsu or Kang Hoshin, but cinematographer Eom Hyeryeong passed it, so it should be okay.’
I transferred the temporarily edited video to my phone and left the house. The destination is a warehouse not far from my house.
It was soon time for my part-time job.
***
“Hello.”
When I arrived at the warehouse and said hello, several men greeted me.
“Oh! Come! Top star!”
“Hey, being a top star is tacky. “Call me a ‘Korean Wave’ star.”
“Will it become the Korean Wave? “Let’s just call him ‘Wald’ Star.”
“It’s ‘Old’, not Wald, you idiot.”
“Oh, really? Welcome! ‘Old’ star!”
‘Old’ means old… Brothers.
The guys welcomed me cheerfully, as usual. What’s a little different is that it’s a bit more lively than usual.
At that time, the work foreman sighed and said.
“Ugh… Ignorant bastards. It is not ‘old’ but ‘world’. ‘World’ star!”
As expected, the work crew chief. He was knowledgeable as a leader.
The work foreman who gave advice to other men said.
“I enjoyed watching <The Talk Show>. “Kang Jinseok, you came out looking really cool, didn’t you?”
“Oh, did you see it? I was surprised to see it too. “I never thought it would come out that big.”
“By the way, my daughter wants me to get your autograph first. Do you have an autograph?”
Other men also agreed with what the work leader said. They slowly gathered together, as if they had forgotten something.
“Oh right. “can you also sign for my wife.”
“I am your older brother.”
“I am your younger brother.”
“I’m just trying to get it.”
He said with a shy smile.
“I don’t have an autograph yet. “I couldn’t even debut…”
“Ah~ What does it matter if you debut or not? “Just write your name with your hand and that’s your signature.”
Immediately, other men joined in with the work leader’s words.
“Okay, okay. “Park Chunsam also has an autograph here.”
“That’s right. But his autograph was in English. “I don’t even know the alphabet, but he can write his name in English.”
“···Amazing?”
These guys are especially good together today. Mr. Park Chunsam, who was pointed out, came out with a proud expression.
“Hey, Jinseok. When this hyung sees you, you will definitely stand out. So, make a sign in advance. “You can sign to mine.”
Uncle Park Chunsam took out a notebook and a pen from his pocket.
‘Do you usually carry something like that around?’
He wrote something in his notebook for a while and then showed it to me.
-PARK SPRING THREE.
“···?”
‘Why is Chun a SPRING…? Is it really spring?’
As I quietly looked at the notebook, other men came to see Park Chunsam’s autograph.
“What? Chunsam, why do you have spring in your name? “Aren’t springs supposed to bounce?”
“Do you know how to read English?”
“It’s among the items in our warehouse. spring.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“What is three again?”
Park Chunsam, who was looking at those men with pitiful eyes, clicked his tongue and said.
“Tsk tsk. These ignorant bastards. PARK is Park! SPRING is spring! THREE is three! “Writing my Chinese characters in English is an English name, you idiots.”
Then the men shook their heads in admiration.
“Oh···. “Park Chunsam is more knowledgeable than I thought.”
“I had no idea.”
“Then what is Jinseok’s name? The last name must be KANG, and if it is Jin, it is REAL of Jin, and if it is Seok, it is Stone of Stone?”
My English name that the guys wrote down was ‘KANG REAL STONE’.
It was a very powerful name.
‘If you translate it literally… ‘It’s a real stone.’
The work foreman shook his head. Then he gave me a large sketchbook and a marker.
“Just sign your name. “Don’t listen to those idiots.”
I smiled slightly at his words and clearly wrote ‘Kang Jinseok’ in the sketchbook.
‘Now that I’ve written it all down.’
I wrote down all my names on the paper left behind. Then the work foreman smiled and said.
“Haha! Later, when you become known, I will have to brag about it. “that I worked with you!”
“···?”
“Haha…”
The man’s laughter was strange.
Unlike usual, his laughter felt artificial.
‘It seems like you are watching me for some reason…?’
As he looked around him while thinking that, he saw bitter smiles on the other men’s faces as well.
As I looked around, the foreman smiled bitterly and said,
“Actually… I talked to other guys before you came. “Maybe you’ll have to quit this job soon.”
“···.”
“It will be difficult to work early in the morning once filming starts, so today may be your last day with us.”
He didn’t think of that. One day, I might have to quit my part-time job when my schedule gets busier, but I didn’t think that was the case yet.
“Then the atmosphere died… so I prepared some jokes on purpose, but I don’t know if they liked it.”
The atmosphere in the warehouse calmed down even more at his words.
My relationship with the guys was quite deep. We’ve been working together ever since I passed the high school qualification exam.
‘We always worked together except when we were in the military. They also came to visit me.’
I also received a lot of help.
Every holiday, we received pocket money and shared food. I attended the weddings of their daughters and sons, and one man even used me as an officiant at his own wedding.
I learned about alcohol and life from these people.
Although I was single since birth, I also learned about dating from a guy who was good at theory.
‘They all look rough, but they are really nice people.’
Anyway, what should I say when they say things like this?
I didn’t want to feel sad in this calm atmosphere.
“Oh, what are you saying? Will I become a different person just because I debut? “I’ll come and say hello when I’m not busy, and help with work when I’m free, and that’s it!”
The work foreman who heard me hesitated a little. It wasn’t behavior suitable for someone as big as a bear, but it wasn’t strange.
But sincerity prevails. The man said with a big smile.
“Fuhahaha! That’s right! We took it too seriously. Are actors always busy? isn’t it?”
“Yeah, right! Oh, and I took Jinseok as my son-in-law, so he can’t go anywhere.”
“Huh? What does that mean? “Jinseok is my daughter’s husband?”
“Have you guys heard of it?”
But it didn’t feel as awkward as before. As usual, the atmosphere is bright and lively.
He said, holding out his cell phone to them.
“I filmed a video introducing myself and acting yesterday. Would you like to watch it? There’s still some time left before work starts. “I also included stories about men.”
Then the men rushed in like a swarm of bees.
“What? “Jinseok mentions us in his self-introduction?”
“Yes. You said you were going to college, right? This is a college entrance exam video. “These days, you have to submit an application like this.”
The guys sat right next to me and started watching the video.
[Hello! I’m Kang Jinseok applied to the Department of Theater at Seoguk University! jin! three! no see! The reason I started acting…!]
As soon as the video started, Mr. Park Chunsam was impressed.
“Hey~ Our Jinseok is handsome…!”
Then, fierce comments came back right away.
“Ah! “Shut up!”
“Take a look first and then tell me!”
“Park Chunsam, get out!!”
“Hey, get the box tape. With a stick. Shut up Park Chunsam.”
“So sorry···.”
Due to the commotion that continued for a long time, the video was eventually replayed from the beginning.
As the self-introduction was finished, the story the men had been waiting for is now being played.
[···It was a really difficult time. The people who gave me strength at that time were the men I worked with. These are people whom I am truly grateful for.]
[···If I become a great actor someday, I definitely want to repay them. And until then, I will not give up and work hard like I do now.]
After that, we talked a little bit about other things and the self-introduction video ended. Video of about 2 minutes.
Although it was a short video, the guys seemed to be quite impressed.
“Wow, sir… Did dust get into your eyes? “I’m crying.”
“Oh, it’s like this again. Sometimes I cry even when nothing is going on. “It’s even worse as I get older.”
“Sniff… Wow, it’s still summer, why is it so cold? This isn’t a runny nose from crying. “I guess I have a cold.”
“Hey! “Jinseok’s acting is being shown now.”
The men, who were showing different reactions, stared at the cell phone screens again after hearing a word from the work crew leader.
[What’s going on…? Now? What time is it? Is it a little after 10 o’clock?]
[I was on a diet today, so I ate an apple and cabbage all day…]
Mr. Park Chunsam gaped after watching the video of my free acting.
“Uh? Isn’t this it? “It came from the moon…”
This time too, countless looks of criticism poured into Mr. Park Chunsam couldn’t bear it either, so he smiled awkwardly and gestured that he was sorry.
The guys couldn’t take their eyes off my phone.
‘But… I’m more embarrassed than I thought.’
Other people can see my acting through video. It was a different feeling from an audition.
***
Clap… Clap…
A small applause was heard from behind.
Clap clap clap!
“Wow, Jinseok is no joke! “You can be an actor!”
“he’s an actor” “Idiot!”
“It’s amazing! “Our Jinseok!”
The men who watched the video to the end were happy and patted me on the shoulder. It was only a clip of my acting, but I felt like I had done something great.
Mr. Kim, who was right next to me, said.
“Hey! Jinseok. “Are you really good at acting?”
“Yes? ah···. thank you.”
“No really! When did you film it? No, more than that, when is it going to air?”
“Filming will be next week, and the broadcast will probably be in a few months.”
Then the men each shouted in irritated voices.
“Does filming take that long? “Isn’t each drama one hour?”
“You idiot. Just because one episode is one hour, are you going to film it for just one hour? Anyway, Park Chunsam always shows his stupidity.”
“I want to see you act… “Jinseok, can’t you just steal what you took?”
In the midst of the commotion, the work foreman shouted loudly.
“Everyone be quiet! “I had something to ask you!”
The men all became quiet. Then the work foreman asked me in a solemn voice.
“Ahem. Jinseok. “You said you were going to college, right?”
“Yes. But it’s not confirmed yet. “You have to stick together to go…”
“It will stick. clearly! “Don’t be so lucky, but what I, or rather we, are curious about is….”
The work foreman asked with a proud voice.
“How much does college tuition cost per semester? “That guy says it costs 400 to 500 million won, is that right?”
He said, pointing to Mr. Kim, who was watching my video again next to me.
“Yes. It will be a little over 4 million won. But why is that?”
“Why, why? “We want to give a scholarship to you from ‘Seongsu Warehouse.’”
“···?”
“My son, Jinseok, is going to college. He should pay the first tuition fee. Isn’t that right?”
After speaking, the foreman took out a thick envelope from his pocket. The envelope was much thicker than the ones he had received before.
From the looks of it, this money also looked like it saved them.
Of course, I couldn’t receive it. This kind of money.
“Oh, no. I’m really fine. “I received an appearance fee, and the money I saved…”
“Sheesh! If an adult gives you alcohol and money, you definitely accept it. So “Just accept it okay.”
The work foreman forced an envelope into my hand. Then he gave me sincere advice and support.
“Keep working hard and be humble like you are now. Then you will definitely achieve your dreams. Got it? “These guys will support you until the end no matter what happens to you.”
Suddenly, the words ‘our son, Jinseok’ came to mind a little while ago.
For some reason, my heart sank. I never cried except when acting, but strangely, I cried.
Suddenly, tears filled my eyes.
‘···Why are you crying over something like this? You not a child anymore…’
I lowered my head so as not to be caught crying. But I couldn’t completely suppress my crying.
“···Black.”
Then the men gathered together one by one and patted me on the shoulder.
“Good luck with your filming tomorrow. “Don’t forget that we are always behind you.”
“Okay. If a strict guy bothers you, tell the guys. “I will chase after them right away.”
“Don’t worry about anything else, just work hard, work hard. “Be Healthy.”
I couldn’t raise my head. So I just nodded.
And I thought to myself.
‘For my first shoot, I’ll have to work really hard…’