After Story 233

You wont have any schedule for a while. Ive also postponed everything thats coming in, so get some good rest. Tell me if youre uncomfortable anywhere. You know that youll suffer your whole life if you get hurt the wrong way when youre young, right? Or should I just book an orthopedist? Yeonjin said as he poked his head out the window of the drivers seat.

Maru waved his hand in denial. Its not that bad. Ill recover fully if I rest at home for a while, so dont worry. Im sure the bruises will subside in a few days.

Dont try to hold it in thinking that a man should endure that much. Tell me as soon as you feel something off. Ill take you to the hospital.

Hyung, Im halfway through my twenties right now. Im not a kid anymore, so you should be rest a.s.sured and go do your work.

My work consists of looking after you. Anyway, give me a call if anything comes up.

Okay. Stop nagging and get going already. Good work driving me home today.

Not as much as you. Have a warm shower and get some sleep.

Maru watched the van leave before going inside a convenience store. As he had spent the past few weeks at the set, he hadnt been at home. His wife must have also been busy practicing for the musical, so the refrigerator was probably totally empty.

h.e.l.lo.

The part-timer he had gotten pretty close to greeted him. It was a girl, which was rare to see working at night. He responded with a smile and grabbed some instant noodles, instant rice, a pack of salad, and some ready-cut fruits.

Have you been traveling?

I havent been able to visit because I had a shoot in the countryside for a while.

For a movie? Or for a drama?

A movie.

The part-timer stopped asking any further questions and proceeded with the payment. Maru was grateful that she knew when to stop.

He took the plastic bag and headed home. He heard a sound inside the house as soon as he started typing in the pa.s.scode. It was the sound of the cat scratching at the floor.

When he opened the door and went inside, he found the cat staring at him.

Ricebun he tried calling out. The cat brushed her tail against the floor a few times before turning around to go inside the room.

Fine, its my fault for expecting you to welcome me.

There was a faint smell of cypress trees in the house. A diffuser he had not seen before was placed in front of the TV.

He placed his nose against the brown lead stick in the long ceramic bottle.

His nose stung from the pretty intense smell. It seemed that it hadnt been long since it was opened.

He walked past the robot vacuum crawling across the floor of the living room and went to the bedroom.

The neatly laid out duvet, the neatly organized makeup table, and even the book placed under the bed lamp next to the table were the same as before he left for the movie shoot.

He could picture what kind of lifestyle Haneul must have had during the past while. She was probably doing her business alongside practicing for her musical and barely came home to get some sleep. He could picture her burying her face in the pillow and snoring softly.

I just got home. Where are you now?

-Im at the office. The samples for the new product were thrown away, so Im making them again in a hurry.

I wonder who made my wife suffer.

-Its one of our new guys on the R&D team. He mixed up the sample and the scarps and threw them all away.

That new guy must be feeling terrible right now.

-He said he was okay, but Im sure hes feeling complicated inside. The manager seems to have scolded him separately as well.

He should get scolded if hes done something wrong. So, do you think youre going to be late?

-The manufacturing starts tomorrow, so I have to do this tonight. Everything else, I can hand the work to other people, but developing trial products needs me. I have practice for the musical tomorrow morning too.

You should eat some vitamins and tonics.

-Everyone has been eating that for a while now. Are you done with the shoot, sweetie?

He could hear someone call out director amidst Haneuls voice. It seemed they were really busy.

Should I call you later if youre busy?

-No, she was just asking what I was going to eat. We have to eat to get some energy.

Thats true. Im done with the shoot. I dont know if the director was considerate of me or not, but my death scene was the last one.

-How was working with Geunsoo-oppa after a long time?

Its semi-joyful and semi-regretful. Looking at him act made me think that maybe hes chosen by the G.o.d of Acting.

-He might as well be.

I can tell where Im lacking wherever I act with him. Thanks to that, I had to gnash my teeth the whole time. I have no other choice if I dont want to lag behind, right?

-Your biggest advantage is your persistence. How about your injuries? You told me you twisted your wrist the last time we called.

It wasnt anything big. It healed in a short period of time.

-Any other injuries?

Nothing. Im totally fine.

He asked about the diffuser in the living room. His wife replied to him that it was a product that would go on sale.

-Hows the concentration of the fragrance? There are opinions that its too strong, but I think its okay.

It stung my nose when I smelled it up close, but no ones buying diffusers to do that, so I think it should be fine?

-If its like that, then I guess a warning label should do it. Oh, how about dinner? There shouldnt be anything to eat at home.

I thought about that and got something to eat at the convenience store. Dont worry about me and just focus on your work.

-Okay. Also, I think Ricebuns been feeling lonely these days. She should have gotten adjusted to the new house after we moved in, but she still looks somewhat depressed. Should we get her a friend since we have a bigger house now?

Ill look into adopting abandoned cats.

His wife shouted Ill be right there. It seemed that someone was looking for her.

Be on your way then.

-Okay. See you later.

Ill be sleeping though.

-Its okay, Im going to wake you up.

I guess I have to lock the door then.

-If you wish to hear me wail in front of the door, then sure.

He hung up and then went out to the kitchen. The cat, which was looking at what he was doing from her own abode, came to the living room. The way she glared at him looked like a native resident looking at a foreigner.

He cooked some instant noodles and warmed up the instant rice. Inside the refrigerator, which they bought a new one when they moved, was just a single box of kimchi that he brought from his own house. If his mother saw this, then she would scold him, asking if this place was inhabited at all.

He took some of the kimchi out onto a plate. Rice, instant noodles, and kimchi he ate a meal with the food loved by all people living alone in South Korea.

He then turned on the TV and picked up his phone.

Park Daemyung. You still alive?

-Im half alive, I guess.

Daemyung responded in an exhausted voice.

Where are you right now?

-The office. The lonely office where Im by myself. The office where no one comes to visit. The office where Haneul only occasionally visits to toss some food at me.

Sounds like half of your soul has left you. Hows the writing coming along?

-The scenario is done, and Im polis.h.i.+ng the script. The writing is going well, but I dont think Im well. It wasnt this bad when I was working at the s.h.i.+pyard. Home, work, home, work even modern-day slaves would cry at the sight of my schedule.

Its you who keeps coming to work even though we told you to rest.

-Thats because its fun. Im also writing my own novel while Im at it.

Now you sound like you have some time to do other things, huh? Let me have a look once youre done with the draft.

-Im still far from done. I think Ill only be able to get a firm grasp on it after Im done with the script.

Maru laughed and asked, Whats it going to be about?

-The life story of a full-time writer who met a quiet death in a small room somewhere.

And the writers named Park Daemyung?

-Should I go with that?

Daemyung giggled but said that he hadnt decided on anything concrete yet. Apparently, there was nothing he could tell Maru because he had only put the first dot on a piece of blank paper.

Then I hope you can write some great lines in that script. Dont forget that Ill be acting based on that.

-Dont give me so much pressure. Its enough as it is already. It wouldve been better if you let me do this when you were moderately famous. Theres a lot of pressure on me when I think that Ill be writing something that Han Maru will be doing.

Thats the point. Ill visit you tomorrow or the day after.

-You finished your shoot?

Yeah. Im back at home right now.

-Good work. Come over and buy me some meat.

Thatll depend on how good the script is.

-You two really are a match made in heaven. Youre both quite vicious. Haneul nags me like that too.

Daemyung hung up. After all he said, he seemed to be enjoying writing.

Maru called the next man. He originally shouldve gotten a call during the day, but from how there was nothing, it seemed things didnt go according to plan.

Yoonseok.

He called out his name after the calling beeps ended, but Yoonseok did not reply. Maru once again called out to him in a soft voice.

-Uhm, hyung.

You dont sound energetic. Were you sleeping?

-No.

According to my memory, you were supposed to call me earlier today.

Yoonseok fell silent again. Maru sat down on the sofa and waited for Yoonseoks answer.

-Uhm, hyung. I received an email and I checked it and I didnt get the support program. Someone else was chosen instead.

His sighs were very loud. Maru did not say anything and kept listening.

-I looked into banks as well, but even the 2nd financial sector seems difficult. I saw a few posts on the interest about loans for college students, but all of them are shady with phone loans and fake employment loans or whatever.

Really?

-Im out of options now. I cant just rent a single camera like before and shoot with that. Itll take money to rent out that store too.

There are no other options?

-There isnt anything I can choose right now.

Then what do you plan to do?

-Im really sorry about this, but I dont think I can do the shoot.

Are you giving up?

-No, Im not giving up. I think we need to delay it a little. I did earn some money through part-time jobs throughout summer vacation, but its nowhere near enough. Thats why I plan to apply for a gap year and earn money properly.

Your family will find out if you apply for a gap year.

-Ill gloss it over just once. Ill tell them that I feel insufficient after getting discharged and that I need to study before going back. Of course, Ill do my studies as well. If I earn money for a full year, I think Ill manage to sc.r.a.pe together 20 million won.

20 million? Thats going to be hard.

-I just have to keep up what Im doing now. Im doing part-time jobs on weekdays and weekends. Also, Im running chauffeur service whenever I have time. The earnings are pretty decent. Though I have to admit, its quite taxing.

If you spend a year like that, youll ruin your body.

-There are people who provide for their families like this, so I can do it when Im in my prime. Hyung, so can you just wait one more year? With 20 million, that should be sufficient for a minimum production budget.

Minimum production budget, Maru repeated Yoonseoks words.

The city-funded support programs for indie movies was 500 million, right? How many minutes of the final film do you think you can make with that?

Yoonseok did not reply.

And how many minutes can you make with 20 million? Youll use half of it for rental fees like cameras, lights, and the building.

-Will it be too difficult after all?

Youre at the stage where its no longer a hobby anymore. There is one reason why directors who have shot a good work take years to start on their next work. Its money, so, the production budget. Ill just conform to whatever payment youll give me, but what are you going to do for the other people like the production staff? Is 20 million really going to cut it?

-No, it wont.

Ill ask again. What are you going to do?

-Theres no option. Finding an investor is no good, and me earning money is no good either.

Have you looked for investors?

-Where would you find people to invest in someone like me? I mean, I didnt make the support program, so theres that. I actually knew that I wouldnt make it. Thats why I couldnt call you even though I knew I had to. No, I guess I didnt call you. I was afraid of having you tell me that there is no answer.

Yoonseok laughed before continuing.

-If theres another opportunity later, then you can listen to me then. I dont know if I will ever get one though.

Are you giving up?

-For now, I dont have a choice. If one year isnt enough, then I just have to bide my time for two or three years and try again at that time. Im still in my early twenties, arent I? Im still too young to blame the world. If theres a problem, I guess its that your payment will have gone up even more by then. I know Im being shameless, but can I ask you next time too?

I dont think I can do it next time.

-Then I guess I cant help it. Working with you once felt like a dream to me. Ive realized reality now, so I have to get ready. Ill hang up now. Im working right now too.

Alright then. Good luck with work.

Yoonseok, who said he was going to hang up, did not end the call for a long while. Maru waited patiently.

-Uhm, hyung.

Speak.

-I know Im being crazy, but can I ask you for something even more shameless than before?

What is it?

-Are you perhaps interested in investing in me?

His voice was shaking like crazy. He must have gone through a lot of hurdles just to say those words. Shame, guilt despite all those feelings, his persistence and his desire to work on film must have overcome everything to ask that question.

Of course, the answer is yes.

-...What?

I said Ill invest in you.

-Really?

If you asked me for an investment at the beginning, I wouldve taken care of it right away. Why go through so much trouble? Maru said while laughing.

On the other side of the phone, Yoonseok huffed and puffed for a while before turning silent, then ended up chuckling.

-How could I say that? I'm a n.o.body.

His voice sounded tearful.

Dont cry. The person next to you will look at you strangely.

-Im not crying!

Lets talk about the details once we meet up. Cut some slack on the part-time work and watch out for your stamina. Youll be having the hardest time once the shoot starts.

Yoonseok muttered something intelligible for a while before thanking him and hanging up. Maru smiled and put down his phone.