Chapter 47
Chapter 47
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Yu-na Cheers Dad On
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The morning shoot wrapped up pretty late.
It wasn't because of Senior Kang Min-woo's injury forcing the schedule forward and souring the set's mood.
The extras just kept screwing up.
“Whew.”
How many times had they messed up today? The extra students weren't focusing like they usually did.
While the director reviewed the footage we'd just shot, I put my hands on my hips and shot the extras a glare.
“Kids. What's going on with you today? Your mistakes dragged everything out.”
“Teacher... you look so cool today.”
“Yeah. Your style changed, and you're seriously hot now.”
I was caught off guard by the compliments on my looks. The girls' faintly flushed faces made it seem genuine.
Was it the hairstyle?
This time, I'd swept my bangs back for a more rugged, masculine vibe.
It felt awkward since it was my first time styling it that way, so I fiddled with my hair.
“Really okay?”
“Teacher, are you embarrassed?”
I snapped my fingers and flicked the forehead of the girl who'd just said that with a grin.
“Fun teasing grown-ups?”
“Our age gap isn't that big...”
“By looks, I'm the adult.”
That was when.
The director's voice rang out.
“Check's done. Morning shoot's over. Let's go grab some food.”
“Good work!”
“Good work, everyone!”
The second the director said we were done, the extra students bolted out of there like a shot.
‘They're gonna hurt themselves running like that.’
They must've been starving since the shoot ran late. I shrugged it off.
“Hey!”
“Let's go eat too.”
Senior Cha Eun-hyuk and Senior Kang Min-woo both slapped their hands down on my shoulders.
It was heavier than expected, and my shoulders sank.
“Senior Cha, Senior Kang. That's heavy.”
“Haha! Come on, let's hurry and eat. I heard it's a buffet today.”
“Sweet. Gonna try one of everything.”
I narrowed my eyes at the seniors.
“Senior Cha, eat light. We don't need you getting food poisoning again.”
We used an empty classroom to run through our lines real quick. Not just today's stuff, but even the scenes set for next week.
“The teacher used to be just like you kids, nothing but trouble. A notorious delinquent everyone in the neighborhood knew about. Surprised?”
“You don't seem like it...”
“...R-Really?”
The students, who normally wouldn't even respond, lifted their heads to ask—but their voices were stiff and unnatural.
Just relax a little...
If I pointed it out, they might snap that some newbie actor doesn't know what he's talking about.
Of course, I figured these seniors wouldn't blow up over it.
Still, no need to risk annoying them, so I nodded and let it slide.
“Yeah. Ten years ago...”
I flashed a bittersweet smile and placed my hands on the shoulders of the two seated students.
My smile conveyed that the teacher was always on their side.
The two students stared straight at me.
This was the point where their attitudes started to shift. They'd stop bullying classmates, focus on class, and buckle down for exams.
Of course, this was right before I left the show.
“Whew, should we wrap here? Seniors, you've got to check your blocking for the next shoot.”
“This guy's acting has improved even more. Am I imagining it?”
Senior Cha Eun-hyuk's sincere praise had Senior Kang Min-woo chiming in excitedly.
“Where'd you learn to act? You said no agency, so you must be at an academy or something. Where is it?”
“Haha. No academy.”
“For real? You're not lying?”
His suspicious stare stung.
How to explain this?
Say it's natural talent so a little practice gets me this far? That'd come off as obnoxious.
But spilling about my past life? I'd look like a lunatic.
“Haha. Seniors, calm down.”
“You don't wanna share?”
“Keeping it to yourself to hog the spotlight?”
Their narrowed eyes were intimidating.
No, seriously. Do I even need classes? I can just learn from watching other actors on set...
A senior actor's words from a variety show came back to me vividly.
Something like...
‘Guys who only focus on their own acting are still rookies who can't shake the label.’
Muttering it to myself, it had a nice ring.
Sure, you might be so immersed in your character that you can't study the other actors' performances.
But...
That was just an excuse.
No matter how deep you get into the role.
The other actors' performances stick in your head. You can always replay them later and pick out what to learn.
“Hmm, that's what retired Senior Kim Hye-soo said on that variety show, right?”
“Huh?”
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
Did they hear me mutter?
Just a rookie like me, spouting advice in front of seniors.
They'd think I was arrogant.
This damn mouth...
But something was off.
Contrary to my worries, both seniors' faces turned deadly serious.
“Hmm, no wonder we weren't improving. We never tried learning from others.”
“Didn't even cross our minds.”
The two seniors turned to stare right at me, their eyes burning like predators'.
My body shivered under their gaze.
I headed to the gym with the seniors—the location for this shoot.
“We're late?”
“Looks like it.”
The stunt coordinator in a tank top, muscles bulging, was blocking out moves with the extras in school uniforms.
I'd held things up fixing the seniors' acting, and now we were behind.
This scene had the seniors fighting Im Ju-ho's gang—two against fifteen.
I'd show up mid-brawl and break it up.
“Hmm, we'll go match our moves then.”
“Yeah. Good luck.”
After seeing the seniors off, I found a spot outside camera range and watched them run their blocking.
“Hmm...”
Something felt off as I observed. The tension was way too high.
Im Ju-ho's massive movements.
Cha Eun-hyuk and Kang Min-woo dodging attacks awkwardly.
It looked like a chaotic real brawl with sloppy, frantic action.
“What the hell. Again?”
I frowned at Im Ju-ho's over-the-top swings. It was like he was really throwing punches.
‘Someone's gonna get hurt at this rate.’
I watched anxiously as they practiced.
“Um, want a chair?”
Someone tapped my shoulder and handed me a folding chair. A young female staffer with her long hair tied back.
“Oh, thanks.”
“No problem. I'll get going then.”
She scurried off, face red.
I glanced after her, then looked away.
The set was ready. Director Han Mun-jin stood from his chair and raised his voice.
“Alright! Let's roll. Actor Im, ease up a bit. If you go overboard like last time... got it?”
“...Yes. Understood.”
Even the director noticed Im Ju-ho was putting too much force into it.
“Don't slip on the sweat! Wipe the floor first!”
Once the set was cleared.
Shooting began.
The opener was an intense student brawl, which worried me, but it flowed smoothly—my turn came faster than expected.
“Cut! Good! Next setup. Actor Lee Jun-seo, get ready!”
The director kept eyeing Actor Im Ju-ho, probably why.
“Actor Jun-seo! Heads up!”
I snapped to attention and jumped up as instructed.
“Yes! Got it!”
Gym back door.
Guided by staff, I waited at the rear entrance, hand on the handle as directed.
How much time passed?
As I steadied my breathing and loosened up.
“Huh? Already go? Yes, understood. Actor Lee Jun-seo? You're good to open and enter.”
“Oh, okay.”
The cue came.
I took a deep breath to lock in my emotions, then yanked the door open.
Creeeak!
“You kids! Stop this right now!”
My booming voice filled the gym.
Cha Eun-hyuk grappling Im Ju-ho by the collar. Kang Min-woo on the floor, face twisted in pain.
“...What? Why's that teacher here?”
“Shit. Run!”
The brawling students scattered.
Im Ju-ho bolted without looking back. In a blink, his gang was gone, leaving just the two students.
‘This take should be clean.’
Worried about the fallen kid, I hurried over.
The two staggered to their feet.
I let out a deep sigh, glanced between them, then spoke slowly.
“Sung-min. And In-hyuk... Didn't you promise the teacher?”
“......”
“......”
“Sigh... I'll handle this. You two, head to the nurse and get patched up.”
“...Sorry, Teacher.”
For the first time, Cha Eun-hyuk—no, student Yoo Sung-min—apologized.
It hit me right in the chest.
In the script, the teacher had worked tirelessly hoping Yoo Sung-min would change. I poured that relief into my expression.
I calmly smiled and reached out to them.
“Yeah. Trust your teacher.”
I patted their shoulders encouragingly. They bowed their heads and ran off.
Left alone in the gym.
I muttered softly to myself.
“Guess it's time to move on?”
My promise to the principal.
If Kim In-hyuk caused trouble even once, I'd have to transfer schools.
A wistful smile crossed my face at leaving this school full of memories.
That wrapped today's shoot.
I held the emotion until the director's signal.
But when's the cut?
No signal came no matter how long I waited.
Standing there alone, staring into space.
“Good take! Great job, actor. Yu-na. See? Your dad's killing it.”
“Yeah! He did awesome!”
“...Huh?”
Were my ears playing tricks?
I whipped around at Yu-na's voice. There she was, plopped next to the director.
“What are you doing here? We need to reshoot from another angle. Prep.”
“Oh, yes!”
“Daddy! You got this! Daddy! You got this!”
Seeing her tiny fist pumped high filled me with energy.
‘Who the hell brought Yu-na all the way here from home?’
After wrapping efficiently, I rushed to the director.
“Why's Yu-na here when she should be home? Who brought her without telling me...”
I appreciated someone watching my daughter while I worked late.
But without a word to me?
It pissed me off.
“Figured the shoot would run long, so I asked some idle staffer. You weren't gonna leave a little kid home alone, right?”
“Oh, well...”
“That's the problem. How scary must it be for a kid alone? If you'd asked, I'd have helped. But you didn't say a word.”
“Well...”
“Yeah, sorry for not telling you. Still, leaving a six-year-old by herself? Too much.”
He had a point.
But...
Why was I getting chewed out by the director?
And...
How'd he know I was raising Yu-na alone without a wife?
I clasped my hands politely and bowed my head.
“Anyway, next time the shoot runs late, we'll handle Yu-na so you can focus. Got it?”
Yu-na wasn't just standing there blankly watching me get scolded.
She charged forward!
Arms out, brows furrowed, her tiny lips parted.
“Don't scold my daddy!”
“Haha! What a kid. Total firecracker.”
Yu-na, eyes fierce, stammered in confusion.
“Y-Yu-na's not a firecracker... Yu-na's just Yu-na.”
From the moment I'd been getting lectured, all eyes on set had locked on.
Everyone turned, shoulders shaking with laughter.
Everyone except one.
Actor Im Ju-ho, mid-makeup, looked pissed.