After Story 246

-I used to resent you when I was still in school. I knew it wasnt your fault, but just the fact that such things were happening to me was too much for me. But I dont think like that at all now.

I see.

-I think both of us were too late to bring this up. We should have had this talk ages ago. Though Im glad that were doing this now.

It was me who was avoiding it all the time, not you.

-Its neither my fault nor yours. Its just what it is.

Had I come to terms with it earlier, I wouldve talked to you about a lot of things.

-Forget it. Even if you dont look out for me, I can live my own life.

Yeah, being you, Im sure youll do well.

Joohyun let out a long sigh. The clumped-up emotions dissolved away too easily. She felt refreshed as though she was walking in the forest after a rainfall. She hoped Bangjoo felt the same.

-Is senior Maru next to you?

Yeah. Hes watching with indecent eyes next to me.

-Indecent?

Hes like a wily snake even though hes around your age. Im not saying I hate it.

-I guess he does have that side to him.

Anyway, do well at the shoot. See you at home later. Lets eat with the three of us, you, me and mom.

-Youre leaving?

Huh?

-Since youre here, you should come see me. You can see how my acting is. Tell me if Im lacking in anything. I mean, youre an actress. An actress with really good acting.

Can I do that? People will find out.

-I dont care. Im not at the age where Id be swayed by things like that anymore. Also I want to boast that Ahn Joohyun is my sister. Youre an actor I admire after all.

Joohyun clutched the phone with both of her hands.

Her voice was getting excited.

What did you say just now?

-What do you mean?

Boast, admire you said things like that. I couldnt hear it properly. Tell me that again.

-It was nothing, so forget it. Just leave if youre going to be naggy about it.

No, no, no. Ill go there right now and tell everyone in a loud voice that Im Ahn Joohyun who my brother Bangjoo admires and likes the most.

-Youre being excessive again. Just dont come.

No, I am going!

Haha: Joohyun laughed loudly as she crouched down slightly. Her brother on the other side muttered something before hanging up.

She remembered when she was still in her early twenties. She was taking a break at home after a shoot and her mother came over and showed her a piece of paper, telling her to have a look at it.

On that paper, it was written: My dream is to become a great actor like my sister: in crooked letters.

Hell probably freak out if I show him that.

Joohyun wiped her eyes, which had become teary after laughing so much, before returning the phone back to Maru.

Show him what?

A gift my cute brother gave me.

Something that will freak Bangjoo out if he sees it, huh?

Hell probably jump in joy, you know? With his face all red and everything.

Maru put his phone in his pocket.

Sounds like things went well with your brother.

Yeah. It was ridiculously easy. It was hard to bring it up, but once I brought it up, I kept talking without stopping. Just what was I so afraid of, do you think?

Maru smiled and responded,

Its not surprising that youre scared. I also told you to try it without thinking much, saying that nothing bad would happen, but I would actually be really hesitant if it was my own matter. There are things you cant tell your family precisely because youre close to them.

Thats true, but what were you planning to do if the relations.h.i.+p between me and Bangjoo got worse?

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The responsibility lies with the one who makes the decision. I only told you the method, so I wouldve quietly run away.

Youre such a bad guy.

Dont you think its excessive to ask me to take responsibility?

Joohyun stared at Maru before smiling softly.

Youre right. The responsibility should lie with the person in question. Anyway, I cleared up all the pent-up emotions thanks to you. I think Ill be able to see Bangjoo like before again.

Treat him comfortably. Dont try to give him so much though. You know that a sense of distance is important too, right?

I do. No, perhaps I didnt know about it. I became more knowledgeable about theory as I got older, but I didnt have any practical experience. In the first place, I tried my best to not create such problems.

Thats how adults are. Clas.h.i.+ng and learning through failures is a privilege for the young. If a fully grown adult lives like that, theyll run out; whether it is their money, health, or reputation.

Joohyun nodded. When she was young, she always had this thought when she looked at the adults around her: I will not live like that when Im an adult. Isnt it embarra.s.sing to live with such a conservative mindset?

However, as she got older, became more experienced, and saw for herself what she had achieved, she had also become someone who made conservative decisions.

She realized when she became an adult that older people didnt make such decisions just because they were foolish and selfish.

Then shall I get going? Joohyun said as she turned around.

Go where?

Where else, the shoot, of course. I have permission from my brother now, so I should go say h.e.l.lo. If possible, Ill promote him too, saying that Im his sister.

Bangjoo might be so happy that he might run away from the shoot.

Sounds interesting, doesnt it?

She didnt stop laughing. She walked towards the shoot with bold steps.

* * *

What did the landlord say?

Either I pull out or pay more rent. I was even advised to change the line of business.

Well, I guess it is?pretty hard to earn money through a bookstore. I saw on my way here that two more cafs are coming in. I saw that the interior construction was underway.

There are four cafs in this cramped s.p.a.ce, and theres even more coming? This isnt a democratic country. Its a coffeecratic one, Maru said his line as he sat down.

The way he looked outside the window with an indifferent expression while resting his chin on his hand was precisely what Yoonseok wanted.

As expected of Maru, hes good.

Bangjoo, who was rummaging through some books, sat opposite Maru. Even Bangjoo, who looked rather awkward during the first shoot, was completely a.s.similated with the atmosphere now. The more he acted with Maru, the greater the charm of his acting became. Having a good synergy should be used for situations like this.

Are you going to keep running the bookstore?

I definitely cant with the rent that the landlord wants from me. It feels like yesterday that I was so overjoyed that more people were coming, but now, I guess Im going to get pushed out by those same people.

Why dont you change the line of business like the landlord says? I saw that the caf owners were all young. If you buy roasted beans and make coffee with them, youll be doing the basics at least. The location is good here, so dont you think there will be some profit if more and more people keep coming?

I thought about that too. I did, but this is a bookstore.

Like I said, if you change it

Bangjoo stopped talking midway and looked at Maru before sighing. The way he distributed his breaths and silences was good.

Its not something I should be advising you about. Anyway, do your best. Give me a call if you need help. Thats what is so good about friends, right?

Alright, Ill call you if I need some help. Thanks for coming today.

Dont mention it. Then see you next time.

Bangjoo opened the door and left, and Maru kept staring at the door which swayed back and forth until it eventually stopped.

Futility, unease, precariousness these emotions were displayed in the middle of the screen.

Yoonseok did not shout cut and kept stalling for time. The act they had rehea.r.s.ed was finished. It wouldnt be bad if they cut the master shot here and moved over to the detail cuts to be used as inserts.

However, he had a sense of antic.i.p.ation when he saw Maru dragging it for so long. Yoonseok tossed the actor into a s.p.a.ce without lines or instructions, just the background and the nature of the character.

Maru started wiping the covers of books with a cloth. One, two, three When he picked up a thick novel, Maru lowered his head. His lips, which were clenched shut, trembled. The emotions he swallowed up in despair spread around his face. His emotions were quite blatant to see.

Yoonseok thought about himself as he watched Marus acting.

The vanity of having to go to the military without being able to achieve anything after the Short Film Festival.

The despair of not seeing any improvements in his scenario when he was in the military.

And lastly the regret of not being able to let go and continuing to hang on to it.

Right now, he knew that those emotions had become good nutrients that contributed to the final outcome, but back then, he had such a hard time that he had nightmares.

No training exercises and no bullying from his military seniors could compare to the fright of facing pure white paper.

This is it? Just like that? Maru said in a slightly sunken voice.

Those were words that expressed Yoo Daejoos feelings, and also words that summarized his past. Maru really dug deeply into the character. Yoonseok shouted cut in admiration of the occupation known as actors.

Only after he shouted did he realize that his own voice was sunken like Marus.

He quickly drank some water, blowing away the rattling sadness inside him. If he suddenly started crying, he wouldnt be able to continue the shoot because of embarra.s.sment.

He quickly calmed down, but just as he was about to compliment Marus acting, the voice he had forgotten about during the shoot could be heard,

The director is very emotional, huh? I really like this style.

Huh, what?

Yoonseok turned around.

The first on his list of male actors that he wanted to work with if he were to become a famous director was Hong Geunsoo. For actresses, it was Ahn Joohyun.

When he recalled that the actress of his dreams was watching his own work right behind him, his face became flushed.

Its a lot easier to act with a director who can express himself. Its easier to understand what the characters are supposed to be like.

I-I see.

Yoonseok looked at Joohyun before turning around.

When Joohyun first appeared at the set, the atmosphere became silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar. It was surprising that she appeared at all, but when she revealed that Bangjoo was her brother, it became almost impossible to shoot for a while.

When he barely calmed everyone down and was about to continue the shoot, Joohyun started watching from behind him. He had no choice but to look at the monitor with several times more nervousness than when he did the audition.

Thankfully, he was able to forget Joohyuns presence and focus on producing the film when the shoot began, but he would come to a realization every single break time.

That one of the top actresses in the country was watching from behind.

Moreover, he was personally a fan of hers, so he couldnt make eye contact with her. It was driving him crazy.

Director, what do you think about using me as a cameo? Joohyun said.

Yoonseok was surprised out of his wits, but then eventually replied,

As a personal fan, Id love to do so, but I dont think I can do it this time.

Why?

Because youre too eye-catching.

Not because Im fat right now?

Yoonseok shook his head.

Not at all! Youre really charming even now!

When he said it, he realized how embarra.s.sing those words were.

Maru came over with some coffee.

Looks like our directors not in the right mind right now. Senior, please go easy on him.

I will. But hes so innocent that its worth teasing him.

Thats true. Director Lee is definitely worth teasing.

The two actors smirked.

Yoonseok stood up after pulling himself together. It was time to give feedback on the cut he shot just now and prepare for the next one.