After Story 24

Bada stood up. She then raised her head up high and started running on the spot, seemingly to loosen up a little.

Maru leaned against the backrest and looked at his sister with lazy eyes. It would be like this in the audition as well, especially in public auditions with a lot of applicants, as the judges fatigue would be at an all-time high. He knew this from numerous experiences as a judge himself.

He drained any energy from his eyes like he was watching a boring movie.

I will not respond no matter what kind of amazing thing you show me was his att.i.tude as he waited for his sister to start acting.

It didnt even take a minute for Badas confidence to collapse. Had it been a stranger, she wouldve started acting immediately. She was stiff and creaking because she was acting in front of someone she knew.

Bada started acting. She seemed to have gotten into a fight with someone. She quarreled with an invisible opponent and stopped right as she was about to raise her voice.

She was visibly fl.u.s.tered. She was probably panicking because she couldnt do as well as she wanted.

Todays really hot.

Their mother had returned. Maru took his eyes off the still-shocked Bada and returned the chair to the dining table.

What were you doing?

His mother seemed confused since he brought a chair to the living room when it was supposed to be in the kitchen. Maru said that it was nothing. His mother didnt pry either, as though she was used to seeing him doing useless things.

Im going to get some sleep. Bada went to her room.

His mother was about to say something to her, but he stopped her.

She looks tired. Just let her be.

Youre old enough to look after your sister, huh?

Well, Im old enough, sure, Maru said as he looked at the door to Badas room, which was firmly shut.

His mother said that she should make the most of her sons visit and took out all the dishes and plates from the cupboard, reorganizing everything from scratch.

After cleaning and organizing, it was time to eat dinner.

Take out the marinated bulgogi from the fridge.

Dinner was bulgogi. While his mother cooked rice in the rice cooker, he chopped some onions and mushrooms.

Do we have any spicy peppers here?

There are some in the freezer. You want to put it in the bulgogi?

Yeah.

The rice cooker started making noise, and a savory smell spread around the kitchen. Maru put the ingredients in the frying pan and stir-fried them for a while before handing it to his mother.

Ill go wake Bada up.

He stood in front of the door and knocked. He knocked again when there wasnt a response as he could hear a presence inside. He opened the door slightly.

Why arent you responding when you arent sleeping?

I dont know.

His sister was laying flat on the bed, with the blanket all the way up to her head. Maru pictured her huffing and puffing in frustration before crying a little.

You should eat.

Im not going to eat.

Even though its bulgogi?

Forget it, Im not having any.

She sounded like she couldnt be bothered to do anything. He peeked out the door and looked at the table. There were three bowls of rice on the table.

Its natural that you cant do it. Not being able to do it is the norm. If someone who just started acting can do it so nonchalantly, then that person must be a natural. There arent many people who can do that.

Bada didnt respond at all. He spoke a few more words to his sister, who was squirming under the blanket.

Whats important is that you tried. Whether you did it well or not, you tried. There are many people who cant even do that. There are loads of people who freeze up when theyre asked to do it. So dont feel down. Theres no reason to feel like that.

He then closed the door.

What about Bada?

I think shell eat later.

She should eat together since youre here.

We ate separately more than weve eaten together.

Just as he picked up his spoon, the door to Badas room opened. Wearing a t-s.h.i.+rt with a stretched-out neck and pajama pants, Bada walked over and sat down at the table. Maru smiled as he watched that.

You always made jeyuk-bokkeum when only Im here. Your son is more important to you than your daughter, isnt it, mom? Bada grumbled as she picked up her chopsticks.

Their mother raised the spoon she was using to eat and hit Badas head with it.

I bought it because I wanted to eat it. Okay?

Mom! Dont hit with a spoon. Its dirty.

Your t-s.h.i.+rt is even dirtier. Why wont you let me wash it?

This is clean, you know?

Then this spoon is clean too.

The two of them nagged at each other about their hygiene before eating the bulgogi without a word. The table banter hadnt changed.

If Marus father was here, he wouldve focused on eating the bulgogi while the mother and daughter were busy fighting. He was someone who knew when he would benefit after all.

You two are the same, he said to the two.

After dinner, Maru stood in front of the sink in order to wash the dishes.

Ill do the dishes, so go buy some ziplock bags. I was looking for some so I could pack you some food, but I didnt see any. Go buy some milk and eggs while youre there. And also, a big beer.

Saying that, his mother opened her wallet. He waved his hand in the air, saying that he didnt need the money. As his mother ran the finances of the house, she didnt offer twice. Instead, she asked him to buy even more things: ziplock bags, milk, eggs, beer, some meat for soup, and a few snacks.

Han Bada. Why dont you come with me for grocery shopping if you dont have anything to do?

His mother scoffed, saying that she would never do something like that. Bada went to her room without a word.

I think shell go? he said. A moment later, Bada changed her s.h.i.+rt and came back out again.

She looked at him as though telling him to hurry before putting on her slippers and leaving the house.

Whats gotten into her?

Maybe shes really bored. Im going now.

He left his house with the grocery bag in hand. Bada was walking ahead while looking at her phone. Maru walked faster and stood next to Bada.

Ive seen many people get hurt while walking looking at that.

Bada glanced at him before turning off the screen.

They walked for a while without talking. Bada seemed to have something to say, but she did not speak. Maru decided to wait rather than urge her.

After walking for a while, they saw a bunch of children laughing and running around in the neighborhood playground. They seemed to be heading to the nearby PC bang. These days, kids preferred the mouse and keyboard over slides and swings.

It was when Maru was looking at the kids becoming distant,

Was I that strange before?

She seemed to be referring to her acting, which she stopped midway.

It wasnt strange. It was just purely bad.

Badas slightly drooping eyes became taunt again as though they were about to reach her temples. She seemed like she was about to snap out at any moment.

Maru did not avoid her gaze. He looked straight back at her as though to have a staring contest. His sisters angry eyes slowly sank back down again. A mixture of regret and disappointment was reflected in her eyes.

Was I that bad?

You stopped midway. If youve decided to act out something, then do it until the end. You have to continue even if your head blanks out midway and you cant think of anything. Thats what practice is for. Just like how you would reflexively pull back your hand if you touch hot water, its not bad to have a mechanical side to you if its your first audition. The sensation of finis.h.i.+ng the act youve prepared is pretty important.

Bada suddenly stopped. She glanced at him with eyes full of suspicion.

What the h.e.l.l?

What?

That doesnt sound like you heard it from people around you. You sound like youve experienced it yourself?

Is that how it sounded?

Maru did not resolve her curiosities and started walking. Bada quickly caught up after the distance widened.

Its strange.

Whats strange.

You, everything. Did you hurt your head? Why do you look like youre a different person?

Do you wish for something to be wrong with my head? Youre my only sibling, but youre being way too cruel.

Thats clearly not what I mean. But look. Have we ever talked to each other like this? No. Consultation? Thats just absurd, but.

After smacking her lips, Bada swallowed her words without speaking them. She seemed weirded out to death. Her steps quickened. She walked ahead as though to racewalk.

Wait for me.

He ran lightly. As soon as they left the residential area, they saw a large mall.

Bada pushed the cart while exuding a dont talk to me aura. Even when they were young, Bada was always in charge of pus.h.i.+ng the cart in the family. Maru could remember her huffing and puffing whenever one of them tried to take it away from her.

He first looked for items his mother ordered. As they walked past the meat corner and the instant-foods corner, Bada picked up an item and put it in the cart. It was fried chicken.

If you want to become an actress, you should watch out for your weight.

Youre even nagging me.

Bada glared at him as though she had enough of it, but she did not return the chicken. After paying for the items, they left the mall. His sister picked up the paper bucket with the chicken in it. She looked like she wasnt going to touch anything else.

With bags in each hand, Maru quickly followed Bada, who walked ahead.

Eat that and practice hard.

Gosh, you.

You said you wanted to become an actress. It doesnt sound like you said that as a form of escape so try hard. Practice in front of the mirror and show it to mom. At first, you might feel awkward and not able to do it properly, but youll get used to it. Once you get used to it, you should be able to tell what kind of acting you were doing objectively.

Bada didnt say anything, but she didnt express her dissatisfaction either. She walked side by side with him and listened to him.

As for acting schools, you should do some research. Its good to find good acting schools, but it should be more important to find acting schools that you should never go to. There should be internet communities for aspiring entertainers around so refer to those. You should watch out for the tuition fees, but the places with good instructors are pretty costly. Thats for you to decide, so I cant help you much with that. But since mother said she will support you.

Mother?

She was weirdly fixated on something strange after listening obediently for a while.

Maru turned his head away and continued, If you keep going for a while, you should be able to see how you should polish yourself. Well, if you pa.s.s the audition for an agency that you talked about, the agency will teach you about this themselves, so I wouldnt need to worry, but thats not likely.

You never know. I might pa.s.s.

I dont think so.

Badas lips twitched before she sighed. Oppa.????w??????l. c?

What?

Youre really weird right now.

Get used to it. Im going to be like this in the future. I want to talk about various things with you, and if you want, listen to your worries. Im sure you dont find me that reliable, but you never know, so if you get stuck on something, tell me about it.

Im getting gooseb.u.mps.

Turn that into acting that gives other people gooseb.u.mps. Youll get good scores that way.

Bada stared at him for a while before smiling for the first time today. Though, it was more of a flabbergasted smile rather than a happy one.

Even if my future looks bleak, Im never going to you for consultation. Ill be creeped out and wont be able to stand it.

Do what you want. Its not like I really want to help you either.

Maru b.u.mped Badas shoulder before walking ahead.

Bada immediately shouted hey before running up to him.

Until they arrived, she neither walked ahead nor behind and stayed by his side. It was just like the old days, when they ran to the dalgona seller, hand in hand.