After Story 107

He received everyones gazes at once. Maru nodded at everyone as a greeting before walking down the stairs. Moon Jungah rushed over. It was only after she neatened her hair, which had become messy from ripping it apart, that she managed to greet him.

When did you arrive?

I just arrived. The door was open, so I peeked inside, but you were all in the middle of doing something, so I stayed quiet.

The people on the stage looked at Jungah, looking for an explanation.

Everyone, come down. This is the person I told you about last time. The person who won the grand prize at the film festival.

h.e.l.lo, everyone. Im Han Maru, he said to the students gathered in front of him.

Some of them acted like they knew him, while some of them seemed puzzled.

One of them, the girl who was quarreling with Joohwan before, pointed at him and shouted,

Ah! That drama! Youre from that drama, arent you? The rookie investigator!

If youre talking about The Witness, then yes, that is me.

The girl jumped in excitement before realizing that her hand gesture was rude and apologized.

I was so surprised. I definitely didnt mean to point fingers at you.

I know. I do that from time to time too when Im surprised.

I looked you up after hearing what Jungah told us, and I found out that youre that investigator from The Witness. That was why I asked Jungah if she could invite you over, but I never knew youd actually come.

The girl rebuked everyone for not knowing who Han Maru was. Maru just looked at Jungah with an awkward smile. He felt like Jungah needed to step in in order to get this situation sorted.

Sinhye, we all get it, so calm down. For now, err.

Jungah trailed off and stared at him. She seems to be asking what they should call him.

Call me however youd like.

Ill explain to everyone why actor Han came here.

Mr. Maru was better, but this wasnt the time to cut her off. He scratched the tip of his eyebrows and listened to what Jungah was saying.

As you all know, were supposed to put on a play. We prepared quite hard, so we cant just let it go to waste just because the school does not have a good atmosphere.

We definitely have to do it, said one of the others.

But we are stagnating right before the final rehearsal, arent we?

Thanks to a certain someone that is, Sinhye grumbled as she looked at Joohwan.

Joohwan didnt pay her any heed and was staring holes at Maru.

Honestly, Maru felt rather awkward and turned his eyes away several times, but Joohwans eyes were fixed on him. Whether it was back at the closing ceremony, or now, this guy really lived in his own world.

Thats why I asked actor Han to resolve this problem. First of all, lets have a round of applause for the actor who visited us despite his schedule.

Jungah looked at him while clapping. Her eyes looked desperate. She was full of vitality when he last saw her at the closing ceremony, but right now, she looked like she had pulled three all-nighters in a row.

Jungah narrowed her eyes and looked at Joohwan. She seemed to be indicating that he was the source of all evil.

I am an actor who, like everyone here, is still learning, but Ill do my best to help. I dont know how helpful I would be, but let us all do our best to put on a good performance.

Youre not like us. Ive totally become your fan after seeing the ending of episode two of that drama. Hey, hey. Lets go buy something. We have a guest here, so we cant have him just stand here. Sinhye urged everyone. Three boys got Jungahs credit card and left the theater.

Actor, this way.

Sinhye politely guided him to a chair.

Uhm, please call me something other than actor Han. Its a little too much for me.

Then what would be good? Uhm, if you dont mind me asking, how old are you? Sinhye asked while clasping her hands.

Im twenty-four this year.

You are one year older than us. Then shall we just go with senior? You arent our uppercla.s.sman at college, but you are a senior in the bigger frame of life.

Thats better.

How about you stop using polite speech with us?

Ill see how things go.

Youre quite introverted, huh? Its fine even if you call me Sinhye you know?

Sinhye was unrestrained. The outgoing att.i.tude suited her. She easily shrunk the sense of distance between them without a problem. This seemed to be something she was born with. She was that one girl who barges into your life but doesnt make it feel awkward while doing so.

Shes normally like that. Shes a good girl, so dont think of her too badly.

Its better than stuttering.

Jungah nodded. The men who went to get drinks returned.

The students rolled out some newspapers on top of the stage.

Senior, come on up. Sinhye gestured.

Maru looked at Jungah.

Its okay. We laid out a stage double, Jungah said as she got on the stage.

Maru lifted the cover slightly before getting on the stage. There was an additional layer. From the traces of nails here and there, it seemed they had finished setting up the stage.

Its not a stage double, but a platform, Joohwan said.

Jungah blocked her ears and shook her head as though she didnt want to listen to it.

Did you install everything by yourselves? Maru said as he scanned the stage. The curtains to the left and right of the stage had special logos embroidered on them as well.

Yes. We came here every day throughout the winter holidays. We made the set, the props, and costumes as well.

It must have been hard.

But it was worth it. Thats why we want to put on the performance no matter what.

Everyone nodded at Jungahs words silently. Everyones pa.s.sion for acting seemed to be the same.

He looked behind the stage. He saw two hangers with clothes on them. They were costumes that were created from modifying commercially available clothes.

He was looking at the worn-out belt on the overalls when Sinhye approached him.

I made that. I made it from scratch with all the fabric and everything.

Youre good with your hands.

Im indeed quite good with my hands.

Sinhye kept explaining as though she wanted more compliments.

Senior, there wont be an end if she keeps explaining so come here. And have some of this.

He went to the center of the stage after listening to Jungahs words. He sat down on the newspaper laid out and got some drinks.

Meanwhile, Joohwans eyes were still glued to his head. Maru felt like he had been flicked on the forehead a bunch of times.

Park Joohwan, its been a while.

Yes, senior. Its been a while.

Doing well?

I havent run into an accident, so I am doing well. But senior, youre going way too far ahead.

I am?

You remember what I said at the GV, right? That youll be a good stimulus for me and that Ill keep chasing you if you remain a good senior. But the gap has widened too much over the past few months. I cant even put on a college play properly, but youve received good a.s.sessments through your short appearance in the drama. I heard you even shot a movie as well?

I was lucky.

Joohwan wiped under his nose.

You said this during the closing ceremony, right? That I can take the acting award because you could win it elsewhere. Back then, I had the confidence that I would be able to compete with you on similar works at a similar time. But now, I feel at a loss.

Joohwans lips twitched before he downed the drink in front of him in one go as though he felt frustrated. He still hadnt changed his habit of saying everything that was on his mind without filtering.

Hey, did I just see and hear that right?

Sinhye frowned. The other students had similar expressions. They looked surprised like they had seen a dog talking.

You now see why I called him here, right? Jungah said. The others nodded in a daze.

I never knew Id hear something like that from Park Joohwans mouth before the end of the world. I think I need to buy a lottery ticket today.

Sinhye walked over to Joohwan on her knees.

Park Joohwan. Say that again. Im going to record it and listen to it when I get depressed.

Joohwan pushed away Sinhyes phone. The guy full of self-confidence had changed a lot in a few months. No, his personality hadnt changed. That much was obvious enough from how he still uttered embarra.s.sing statements to peoples faces.

So, youre depressed? Maru asked.

I dont know. I dont know if this is depression or not. This is the first time I felt like this. Ive never felt something like getting further away from what Im aiming for. Whether its studying, sports, or acting, before I met you, I was confident that I could one day reach my objective and that I only needed time, but looking at you, I dont really know anymore. I dont get that confidence. The sense of vagueness I got on that day is still there. Its not a good feeling. I feel like my acting is not improving.

Sinhye freaked out and got away from Joohwan. The others also laughed in vain as well. Maru realized what Joohwan was usually like. The actions he showed during the GV and the closing ceremony were not false.

He was a talented kid filled with confidence. Yet such a guy was sighing with feelings filled with frustration.

But hes at least not lying. Hes the top of the year in terms of grades, and our department came in 3rd place thanks to him during the last sports festival, said one of the men.

Thats true.

Hes a talented guy for sure.

The problem is hes way too c.o.c.ky.

The others chimed in. It wasnt blatant mockery, just jokes. Maru could tell that they were close. Well, they were trying to put on a performance despite the volatile atmosphere at the campus.

Wait. I just saw an article. Senior Maru, youre in JA? For real? One of the girls asked as she held her phone out. It was an article from a few months ago.

I am.

Thats crazy. Hey, Joohwan. Hes in a completely different league than you.

Joohwan lowered his head even more. He was showing with his whole body that he was depressed.

Youre going far ahead of me, while Im just here. Should I do something other than acting? Joohwan muttered.

Jungah glared at him.

Are you serious?

No, running away like a loser doesnt suit my character. If I do, I wont even be able to die because of frustration.

Maru drank a sip of strawberry milk. He now got a barrage of questions. Most of them were about the celebrities in the agency. The girls asked about Hong Geunsoo and Yang Ganghwan, while the boys asked about Kim Suyeon.

It hasnt been that long since I signed the contract, so I dont have any relations.h.i.+p with them.

Thats a pity. But youll probably get close really fast since youre in the same agency, right? Sinhye asked.

Being in the same agency is a separate matter from getting close. Its just like school. Not everyone gets close in the same school.

Aha, thats true.

Maru stood up. The students turned around to look at him.

Now that we had something to eat, shall we get some exercise? For now, Id like to see your acting.

?e?we?n???.???

You want to see my acting? You shouldve told me beforehand. I have my talent in acting too.

Sinhye jumped up to her feet and put away the newspaper. She urged everyone that they should start.

One of the boys came over and whispered to him,

Joohwans the main problem, but shes problematic too. Shes like that niece with infinite energy and wont stop running around.

Looks like I should drain her stamina a little.

Please.

Maru smiled at the boy.

Can I have a look as soon as youre ready?

Of course! Sinhye said as she raised the newspaper into the air.

Joohwan, who was acting like a turtle, also started moving quickly when Maru said that he wanted to see them acting.

Maru also cleaned the stage with them while carrying the trash bag. The stage became clean in no time.

Since were doing it, shall we do it properly? Sinhye asked as she looked at Jungah.

Jungah turned to look around at him.

Do it properly. Ill also watch you with the mind of an audience that came to watch after paying for a ticket, Maru said as he sat down.

KTLChamber's Thoughts

Anyone figure out what the problem is? I think it's pretty obvious... (Think back to Heewon and what it was like for him in high school)

Editor's Note:

Genius syndrome heh.