Chapter 104
Chapter 104
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: I'll Catch the Wave
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I gazed down at her lying there. The moment I thought of someone, my eyes began to sting.
‘Mom.’
No matter how hard I tried to forget, I couldn’t. My mother had lain there just like this, skin and bones.
A tear streamed from one eye. Droplets fell onto Yumiho’s face.
‘Don’t blink. It won’t look right on camera.’
Sometimes you had to wipe your mouth, but not now. I took her hand and slowly lowered my head.
‘Emotions intense, mind cool.’
This was the scene of losing a loved one. Even the tears had to be elegant.
‘Well, depending on the character interpretation.’
Once the tears started, they kept flowing.
“Cut!”
I let out a sigh. I blinked a few times and snapped back to being Cha Dowon.
The director muttered.
“Wow, a real acting genius.”
I told you it’s not that.
I stood up to check the monitor. As I walked absentmindedly, I noticed Yumiho following behind.
‘Wants to see my acting?’
She bit her lip hard and stood in front of the monitor. The director, me, Kang Minje, and Yumiho reviewed the footage.
‘It’s good.’
Even I had to admit the sorrow came through well enough.
“This, this. It’s good.”
Kang Minje nodded.
“Really good. Dowon.”
“Thanks for the praise.”
“Changing it to something more poignant was much better. Good call from Minje.”
Of course it was.
“Hmm, I just want to call it OK, but now I’m getting greedy.”
Regret dripped from the director’s words. I smiled brightly and replied.
“Order whatever. I can do it.”
“Whoa, that confidence! Great, love it! Dowon, want to do one more? Change the camera angle. I have a feeling this angle will work better.”
“Sure.”
“You’ll have to cry again?”
“I’ll cry again, sure.”
The director burst out laughing. I shrugged as I caught a glimpse of his chili-flecked gums.
“Wait just a bit. Hey, move that light. Yeah, there.”
The staff moved efficiently. Kang Minje patted my shoulder.
“As expected of Dowon.”
What did he mean by that? I ignored it and turned slightly toward the other actress.
“Oh, Yumiho.”
I should apologize.
“Sorry. We have to do the scene again.”
“It’s fine. I, I wouldn’t get mad over something like that!”
Yumiho, you do get mad over stuff like that.
“Really? That’s a relief.”
She lifted the corners of her eyes. When I smiled back, she seemed even angrier and stomped off to the side.
‘What a temper.’
That confirmed it was the real Yumiho.
Then Kang Minje spoke.
“That’s not like you, Dowon.”
What?
“You apologized on purpose? To piss her off?”
“Truth gets misunderstood. As if.”
Kang Minje grinned like a fox.
“You hate that actress?”
Well, closer to hate than like.
“Yeah. Not really.”
“As I thought. Got it.”
“Got what?”
“Normally, you’d say something like, ‘It’s just one take, does like or dislike matter?’”
I was at a loss for words. What the hell? Kang Minje whispered softly.
“No scandals, Dowon.”
What are you talking about? Seriously. Me and Yumiho in a scandal? Not even attraction would spark first.
‘Watching this guy’s face is annoying enough, why add bad luck?’
I shook my head immediately.
“As if. Plus, I told you I don’t like her.”
“That’s interest too.”
He sees me as some reporter bait.
“You’re the one who should watch for scandals.”
“Well, I already had one this year.”
This year?
‘Ah. Sa-hyuk’s mess.’
Revulsion surged. Right, that happened.
“I’d forgotten, but now I remember.”
“Sorry.”
“Women are a hassle. And right now, the water’s rising for me.”
Kang Minje stared at me intently.
“I’ll catch the wave.”
The fox chuckled and released my shoulder. Annoying bastard.
The director waved from afar. I jogged over to show some enthusiasm.
“We’ll shoot from this angle. Dowon, want to slate first?”
“No. Let’s go right away. Co-star’s already stand by.”
I headed straight to the center of the set. The slanted light from above was blinding.
‘The light’s way brighter.’
They want to blow out my face completely?
‘Well, that’s their expertise.’
I felt the director watching through the camera.
“Stand by, cue!”
I pulled up the memory again. Tears fell once more. My eyes burned, but my mind stayed cool. I adjusted for the camera angle and expression.
This time, the tears falling on Yumiho’s face were clearly visible.
With trembling hands, I caressed her cheek.
That’s when it happened. The light ahead flickered.
‘What?’
I looked up quickly. A light fixture from the ceiling was falling.
‘Damn it!’
I grabbed Yumiho’s shoulder as she lay there, rolled us to the opposite side, and shielded her with my body. A massive crash followed.
Boom—
My eardrums throbbed. I gasped for breath. The startled Yumiho blinked. I winced immediately.
‘Left arm?’
A stinging sensation. As my body flinched above her, Yumiho gripped my costume tightly.
“The light!”
“Dowon, you okay?”
People rushed over. I tried to stand casually, but Yumiho made me hesitate and sit back down.
“I’m fine.”
I surveyed the scene.
“Did the light fall?”
It had come loose from the ceiling and shattered. Luckily, it was a distance from our shooting spot, but debris had flown far enough.
I looked at my left arm. Something like a screw had grazed my forearm; the costume was torn, revealing red blood.
My manager rushed over.
“Oh my god, Dowon, you okay?”
Tinnitus rang in my ears. I steadied my breathing quietly.
“Everything but this is fine.”
“Blood’s coming out! Does it hurt?”
I replied calmly.
“It stings a bit.”
I moved my fingers, bending and straightening them. Fortunately, only the surface was cut; they moved fine.
“Seems like just bleeding.”
Kang Minje hurried over and lifted my arm.
“Dowon, move your fingers!”
Too late, bastard.
“I did. It’s fine.”
“Ah, seriously. What’s with today.”
“I told you to stop me.”
But the accident happened anyway.
Looking at my torn costume, I asked.
“What about the costume? It was expensive, right?”
“Costume doesn’t matter right now. Glad you’re safe.”
I chuckled.
“It didn’t fall right on me.”
I glanced at Yumiho still lying on the floor. She seemed pretty shaken; her pupils trembled endlessly.
Kang Minje looked at her, then grabbed my other arm.
“Let’s rest for now.”
I nodded. Her manager was running over from afar. I tried to stand but stopped.
“Yumiho? Could you let go of the costume?”
She was still clutching it.
“Huh? Oh, I...”
“You rest too, Yumiho.”
She wouldn’t release it. I furrowed my brow and pried her fingers off one by one, tossing her hand aside lightly.
‘I shielded her and now she clings?’
I shook my head and stood. Kang Minje watched me intently. His fox eyes were odd.
“What?”
“I’ll tell you inside.”
I nodded. My manager hurried to support me. Then the director finally snapped out of it and rushed over.
“D-D-Dowon! You okay?”
My manager answered for me.
“Blood on the costume and left forearm. Director.”
“Wh-what happened? Why’d the light fall?”
The light sparked once more.
“Aren’t you cutting the power?”
“R-right! Hey, kill the power!”
Finally, the lights went out. I sighed and shook my head.
‘No wonder accidents happen with that carelessness.’
Cause: safety negligence? No way it was deliberate.
“I’ll go rest for now. Update my manager on the situation.”
“Y-yeah!”
Unsettling. Can he even handle cleanup? How’s he top of the industry?
I entered the waiting room with Kang Minje. Sitting on the sofa and sighing, I finally felt alive.
“You really okay?”
I lifted my arm.
“Ah, except this. Bleeding’s already stopping.”
“If it’s just scraped, maybe liquid bandage. Tetanus would be bad.”
“I’ll keep an eye. If it worsens, straight to ER.”
“I’ll grab some liquid bandage from the van.”
Kang Minje left the waiting room. I rolled my shoulders. Strangely, the muscles felt stiff.
‘What a day.’
Tried to dodge small stuff, but one big one hit.
Leaning back on the sofa, I pulled out my smartphone from the manager’s bag. As I did, the liquid bandage fell to the floor.
‘Does the manager carry this everywhere?’
I applied it to my arm. Debris graze, just superficial skin scrape.
‘Face would’ve been trouble.’
Good it wasn’t. I rubbed my forearm and turned on the phone.
‘Better use the cheat quick?’
[cheat mode 1/3]
[Cha Dowon arm wound recovery]
[Recovered.]
[Side effect: Vision shakes for 15 minutes starting in 15 seconds.]
[cheat mode 2/3]
I tilted my head. 15 minutes was a heavy side effect.
‘Was the wound that bad?’
Soon my vision shook. I kicked off my shoes and lay on the sofa. Hand on forehead, a sigh escaped.
Yumiho and the worried Kang Minje came to mind. I muttered inwardly.
‘Damn. Who cares.’
Both annoying as hell.
That’s when the waiting room door opened. Someone entered. Eyes still closed, I said.
“Ah, hyung? Oh, and I used the liquid bandage from the manager’s bag.”
Kang Minje’s footsteps were unusually cautious today.
“Hyung?”
Why no answer?
I opened my eyes; vision spun. Still a ways from 15 minutes. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up—and froze.
“Uh...”
I narrowed my eyes.
“Yumiho?”
Why’s this woman in the waiting room?
“Y-you... okay?”
I sighed softly.
“I’m fine.”
“Your arm was hurt...”
“I’m fine. I want to rest. Yumiho, can you leave me to it?”
Please go away, Yumiho.
Forcing my eyes open made me dizzy. As I tried to lie back and close them, Yumiho suddenly yanked open my costume.
“What are you doing!”
“J-just let me see the wound!”
“Let go!”
“There’s blood!”
I desperately protected my costume, but Yumiho’s grip was insanely strong. Come to think of it, she was freakishly strong.
“Huh? W-wound. It’s gone?”
Damn.
With unfocused eyes, I stared at Yumiho.
‘Of all people, why her catching it.’
Never a dull moment.
I smiled brightly.
“Yumiho, I’d like to keep my clothes on.”
“Huh?”
I clutched the costume tight.
“What happened to the wound?”
“I put on the bandage.”
“No. I saw it. Bloodstain but no wound.”
She saw closely.
I needed time.
“You must’ve seen wrong.”
“No! Definitely! Look again!”
Yumiho lunged again to open my costume. I desperately held the collar.
She charged like a bull seeing red cloth.
“I definitely saw it!”
Wow, Yumiho. No joke.
With unfocused eyes, I resisted desperately. Finally, she pinned me down.
‘Damn it!’
Is this woman crazy?
She panted roughly over me. This is insane. What situation is this? Frowning, I said.
“What are you doing?”
“J-just confirming!”
As Yumiho reached for my costume again, the sound I’d been waiting for came.
The door flew open—
“What, what!”
“Dowon?”
Shit. Damn it. Why so late.