After Story 264

That was good, Maru said to the student who just displayed her act.

Senior, you keep saying that we were good. Are you sure we really are? asked a student who finished her act a while ago.

I can lie very well when its really necessary, but when I dont need to, I usually tell the truth. Right now, theres nothing for me to gain by lying to you all here, so everything Im saying is the truth.

Really?

You said your name was Miss Ijin, right?

Yes.

Miss Ijin, your acting has a sharp taste to it. Its splendid that you know your strong points and chose a story that can bring out those strong points. Of course, if I want to find a weak point, then I can do that too. If it was a critique session like before, I would have talked about them, but were not doing that now.

Rather than my strong suits, I want to improve on my weak points. I think itll be really helpful if you can tell me about them.

I get what youre worried about. In terms of tests, you are getting a D in one subject while getting a B in the rest so you want to improve the scores for that subject, right? But I believe that actors should bring out their strong points rather than be moderately good at everything.

He looked around at the students sitting around him.

Theres no one in this cla.s.s whos doing acting as a hobby, right?

Yes the students replied all at once.

In the end, you should all be aiming to act on top of a stage or in front of a camera and to consolidate your positions as actors. You must also be thinking about the financial benefits that would come along with it. If this was a meeting of those who purely enjoyed acting, then I would have told you to practice your weak points and improve on them. But thats not the case for everyone here, is it?

He put up nine fingers, equivalent to the number of students here.

There are nine people who want to become actors. Among these people, how many do you think will achieve success? No, forget success. How many of these people will be able to make a living with a single occupation known as an actor?

No one spoke. It should be hard to say anything. If they were in Misos cla.s.s, they should know what kind of place the entertainment industry was.

Maru folded all the fingers.

I am talking about the reality that you all know about. Im sure youve all visited the various agencies and production companies with your profiles. You must have thought about all sorts of things while putting your profile in the plastic container they provide for you. Each and every agency and production company gets hundreds if not thousands of profiles. Who here has pa.s.sed an audition for a commercial film?

Only Bangjoo raised his hand.

Bangjoo managed to pa.s.s because the requirement was being able to do action and stunts, not ordinary acting. It was a minor role, but despite that, the compet.i.tion was fierce. But being a minor actor in a film doesnt resolve the everyday needs issue. It would if you keep getting work, but those actors are extremely rare.

What do we do, then? asked a student wearing gla.s.ses.

Thats why the first thing you should be doing is improving on your strong points. Becoming an actor who can do everything is something you should think about once you get on the stage. If you havent even climbed onto a stage, thinking about improving your weak points is just inefficient. Ill say this again, but Im only saying this to you because you are all people who want to make their livelihood on acting.

He stood up from his seat. He held his hands politely and spoke,

h.e.l.lo. I have somewhat decent p.r.o.nunciation and breathing, and my acting is moderately good too. I can also digest stunts to some extent.

He then unfolded his arms.

There are too many actors like this. Acting is not a single category. A spiteful character, a character whos quick to cry, a character who smiles a lot, a character who can look vicious, a character who can sound cold characters who need various emotions are only the lead and supporting characters that the camera focuses on. Aside from them, all other characters will have just one emotion stand out. Now, you should all know what Im trying to get at after I told you this much.

Isnt it a big minus to have your image conform to one specific type of character as an actor?

Maru nodded to that students question.

It is a big minus. But for an actor who isnt even on the starting line, there is no such thing as a minus. The artistic facet of acting is important, but if you want to make a living as an actor, if you want to live as an actor, you must think about the realistic side as well. Bringing out the true taste and coolness of acting is something you should be thinking about once you have your name in the credits.

Miso clapped once before speaking,

You should all talk about what he said among yourselves. Talk about what your strong suits are that you should be emphasizing.

What about you, instructor?

He came here to see me, so dont you think we should talk at least?

Leave senior Maru here, said the students mischievously.

Miso frowned and told them to discuss before signaling towards him. He left the practice room with Miso.

Im sure the words you told them will be helpful. Advice from a real actor should hold a completely different weight.

He followed Miso up to the rooftop. When she placed the key card on the door of the rooftop, the door opened.

Its nice and breezy here.

Its the resting spot for the people working in this building. They smoke and drink coffee here. Since were at it, would you like some coffee? The vending machine coffee here is better than most cafs.

If its popular, then I should have some.

Miso bought some vending machine coffee that cost 300 won. It was a stereotypical vending machine coffee that had a lot of sugar.

These days, its hard to find vending machine coffee because there are more cafs than vending machines.

Miso walked up to the railing with the paper cup. He put his arms on the safety railing that was higher than his waist level. Even though it was past 9 in the evening, the street was still bright.

It doesnt look like you have business for me. What made you visit?

Its not that I dont have any business, but I mainly just came here to see you.

Thats so cheesy.

People are all cheesy depending on the situation.

Maru sipped some coffee before speaking,

Im going to get married soon, so Ive been going around telling people Ive been indebted to.

I had a hunch. When I saw the news, I thought that you two had made up your mind. Did you propose to Haneul?

Thats a bit difficult. Weve proposed to each other countless times.

You were very successful if you were trying to get a single mad, Miso said as she glared at him.

He smiled softly.

I came here because I felt like Id only be able to get you to come if I told you about it before I gave you the invitation to the wedding.

Do I have to go no matter what?

Yes, you have to come no matter what.

Arent there other people you should be calling, not me?

Were going to hold a small one outdoors.

Thats even more of a reason to invite people closer to you.

To me, you are one of those people. Ive been indebted to you a lot too.

Youve been saying things about being indebted for a while now, but its not like I helped you much.

You did. A lot.

She looked at him.

Well, if you say so.

Youre coming, right?

Just tell me once the wedding invitation is ready. Ill go if I dont die.

He smiled and nodded.

Oh, how are things going with Geunsoo hyung-nim?

Were total duds as members of the opposite s.e.x, but as friends, theres no one better than him. Thanks to you, I got a good friend. It looks like Im destined to live by myself. Its just too comfortable. Geunsoo said that too.

Being alone isnt always a bad thing.

I feel like youre teasing me since youre about to get married. Im being paranoid, right?

Probably?

Miso lightly slapped him on the back of his head.

Live a good life. I liked Haneul the moment I saw her for the first time. Its like weve known each other since before.

Thats why Im having a hard time. Everyone around me looks out for her. It makes me sad, you know?

If youre sad, then give Haneul to me. Ill feed her well.

Haneul and I are a combo, you see.

Then live well by yourselves.

Miso spread her hand and slapped him on the back. Maru frowned at the pain before smiling.

* * *

You saw it, right? Youll be hard-pressed to find anything better. The location is good and theres a large moving population here. As you saw during lunch, there is a decent number of customers as well. If you grab this now, youll be able to earn 6 million a month on pure profits alone. You see the profits on the contract, right?

Yeonjin looked at the materials attached to the contract.

If its really like this, then this is really good.

Something as good as this only appears once or twice a year. And thats why Im saying that youre very lucky. Isnt it really hard to do investment these days? And theres a shop that has already proven its business at this cost? You can just hire some part-timers and go traveling overseas. Itll change your life. If I could take out another loan right now, I wouldve taken this place for myself.

It definitely looks good.

Team leader Park rolled his pen around and spoke,

You met us through someone whos acquainted with our company.

Yes, thats true. Woojin hyung-nim told me this company was upright and good.

Thats why Im giving you such a great place. If someone came here without connections, I wouldnt even bother introducing them to this place.

Yeonjin nodded and had another look at the contract. He subconsciously smiled because of the profits that looked better than he expected. It was a pretty easy job for him because running the caf could be left to part-timers and he just had to take care of the inventory.

Uhm, but sir. I think we need to proceed with the contract as soon as possible, said team leader Park as he put down his phone.

Theres another person who wants to buy this place, even going as far as to pay more for it.

Really?

Im holding him back for now, but I cant hold him back for long. As you can see, its a very good item.

Yeonjin looked at the clock. There were about 30 minutes left for Maru to come.

Uhm, cant you wait for just 30 minutes?

Itll be difficult. They want this item very much.

He started becoming nervous. It was outside of his expectations that he had to get more loans, but even then, this place looked good enough to undertake those risks. He felt like he couldnt miss this opportunity. Just as he was hesitating,

If you dont plan on accepting it, Ill take this contract back. You saw this, didnt you? Theyre very desperate on the other side.

Team leader Park showed him his phone which was vibrating like crazy. One message after the other was being received. It really looked urgent.

Wait, Ill sign the contract.

He had a look at the store in person and saw that they had a lot of customers. It was a bit of a pity that he couldnt meet the owner in person because the deal was through an agent, but that couldnt be helped.

Yeonjin took out his stamp. Just as he was about to stamp the contract that team leader Park laid out for him, a knock could be heard from the other side of the window. When he turned around, he saw Maru outside. He had a mask and a baseball cap on.

Who? team leader Park asked.

Someone I know. I called him because this is a first for me.

Oh, okay. You should stamp the contract first.

Hearing those words, he lifted up the stamp subconsciously. The endlessly buzzing phone, team leader Parks urging, and the customers at the caf moved his hand.

Just as the stamp was about to touch the paper,

h.e.l.lo.

Maru, who had entered the store, grabbed his arm and greeted them. Team leader Park smiled and greeted Maru.

Yes, h.e.l.lo there. I heard, our good sir over here knows you.

This is the first time my brothers done something like this. I plan to partic.i.p.ate as well, is that okay with you?

Of course, but Ive explained things well and our good sir was just about to stamp the papers after accepting it. This is a really good place, so everyone wants it.

That must be one great item then.

Maru naturally sat down and picked up the contract. Team leader Prak looked at Maru before tilting his head. He couldnt tell because of the mask, but he seemed to think that it was a face he had seen before.

Maru didnt even look at the first page and had a look at the benefits page. What was he trying to look at? Team leader Park spoke to Maru, who was looking alternately at the front and back pages,

Uhm, sir brother, were not scammers. We even have a business registration and are the first in this industry. You dont need to worry.

Yes, of course. What world do we live in for you to scam us so outright? I know that too.

Team leader Park started acting up again.

Uhm, sir, Im really sorry but theyre really desperate right now. Are you not going to sign the contract?

Wait a second.

Yeonjin also looked at Maru. It was good that he was worried for him, but he became uneasy about missing this good place because of it. Just then, Maru put down the contract.

Just as I thought. No matter how the times change, the schemes dont change. Isnt that right, team leader?