The Godlike Child on Set
Honestly, I hadn’t expected a child actor to be the one filming something like this.
Now that I thought about it, it actually did seem possible.
Commercials would cast whoever had the buzz, after all, and drop them right in front of the camera.
I don’t know the brand all that well, but I do know this stuff is expensive.
I tilted my head at my reflection in the mirror. With a wreath on my head and a Greek-style outfit draped over me, I looked absurdly cute, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about it was questionable.
Is this concept really okay?
It was ancient times, basically. It felt random.
Well, if they tell me to film it, I’ll film it.
Marketing people were the experts. They could handle it.
No matter what I thought, the dressing room was bustling. Once the makeup was done, the stylist, who was helping me into leather sandals, said, “All right, that’s everything. Whew, you’re beautiful. This actually works?”
Well, yes, I suppose it does.
“When I saw the concept, I honestly thought only a kid who was ridiculously beautiful could pull it off.”
I completely agree.
I also think it’s only possible because this is my face.
The stylist took two steps back and stared at me openly, admiring the result.
“Maybe it’s because Gongja’s coloring is a little light. With all this dressing-up, you look like you walked straight out of a Greek mural.”
No, that’s a bit much.
My hair is brown, though.
Come to think of it, I was a little curious.
I’d never given it much thought before.
Am I really Korean?
My family registry was in the Republic of Korea, so I was definitely Korean, but was there a chance I was mixed?
There was no way to check.
Come to think of it, I’m suddenly curious about my biological mother and father.
Well, if they’d abandoned me the moment I was born, they probably weren’t thinking about me at all.
Still, this face didn’t just fall from the sky.
I was lost in those thoughts when one of the staff came into the dressing room.
“Gongja! It’s time. Let’s go.”
Ah, right. Time to work.
“Okay!”
“Wow. No kidding. It suits you so well.”
“Right? I was surprised too when they dressed me.”
The stylist turned slightly and asked, “Um, there—ah, there he is. Th-the bodyguard for Gongja. Is it okay if I take a picture?”
There was a reason her voice trembled at the end.
In one corner of the dressing room, Duk-su was standing with his back to the wall.
Come to think of it, he really does look like a man who makes his living with his fists.
The huge man was intimidating just to look at.
Duk-su answered slowly. “Yes.”
His low voice struck the wall and came back heavy. The stylist and the staff both took an involuntary step back and exchanged glances.
They must think it’s strange.
Holding up her smartphone, the stylist asked, “Y-your bodyguard is very... dependable, isn’t he?”
“He’s not my bodyguard!”
“R-right? Then he’s your manager?”
I shook my head.
“He’s my teacher!”
“Huh? A teacher? What does he teach? Fighting?”
As if.
The only thing Duk-su has ever taught me is Hangul.
Well, he’d also taught me how to brush my teeth and exercise.
Not that I needed that, since this is my second life.
But it was necessary for a child. Good habits shaped a whole life.
I smiled brightly and said, “How to live.”
“Huh?”
“H-huh?”
It’s true. Washing your hands before eating matters more than math.
“I-I see. But, Gongja, is that man angry? He’s been standing there with his arms folded and staring at the ceiling since earlier.”
Ah. That.
It looks like he’s holding back tears.
Had something else stirred his emotions again?
One possibility came to mind.
Hmm. Could it be the outfit?
I lowered my gaze to the clothes I was wearing. The folds of fabric fluttered especially dramatically.
Over this?
I let out a long breath. He really did cry easily.
But if I said he was holding back tears because he was moved by my outfit, no one would believe me.
There was nothing for it.
I flashed a wide smile and replied, “He’s not angry.”
“Oh. R-really?”
“Yep.”
“I-I see. Thank goodness. I was scared ever since earlier.”
Even trembling with fear, the stylist kept taking photos diligently.
The staff took my hand. “All right, let’s really go now.”
“Okay!”
“Oh, let me explain again. What Gongja’s filming today is...”
Once we opened the door and walked down the corridor, the studio spread out before us.
“It’s a concept where you hand over perfume, um... Gosh, it’s harder to explain simply than I thought.”
You can just explain it normally.
But well, I am still a kid.
I shouldn’t say something like that.
The staff scrambled to find the words. “Gongja just has to hand over the perfume in a sacred way.”
So that was it.
“Ah, that sounds a little hard to understand. Gongja, are you religious?”
I shook my head.
“Well, what I mean by sacred is...”
She tried hard to explain, but she seemed to be struggling.
I know exactly what the word sacred means.
The problem was something else.
How am I supposed to hand something over in a sacred way?
I asked bluntly, “Do I have to smile?”
“Huh? Yes, you do. But not in some loose, goofy way. You should smile elegantly as you hand it over.”
Ah. I think I get it.
They want me to smile a little.
That explanation had been a trial. But the staff member only got more tangled up as she kept talking.
“Elegantly... no, how do I explain elegance?”
She was spinning her wheels.
Then a deep voice rang out like thunder.
“Gongjaaaaaa!”
What, what is that?
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud.
When I looked up, someone was charging toward me like a buffalo.
I didn’t even have time to identify him before he swooped me up into the air.
A pair of rough hands locked firmly around my waist.
“I missed you! Gongja, you missed me too, right? How long has it been?”
I gave him an awkward smile.
It has been a while.
I looked at the man and smiled sweetly. “Good to see you!”
“Good to see you too. Hey, isn’t this cruel? I haven’t seen you even once while you were growing up this much. Dad’s heart is broken.”
Excuse me. If anyone overheard that, they’d think he was my actual father.
“I’ve been hearing all about you. Our Gongja, your drama was a hit too. I heard you filmed a movie this time? Dad will go watch it the moment it comes out. No, seriously, why did you have to grow up so much?”
The man lifted me high into the air and inspected me from every angle.
Hey. My back hurts.
“Kids really do grow fast.”
“Yes! Gongja grew a lot.”
“That makes me sad. My tiny Gongja isn’t tiny anymore.”
Who gave you permission to slap a possessive on me?
“Time really flies. Ah, this is a little worrying. Gongja, you didn’t forget Dad’s name, did you?”
As if.
“Gongja. Call Dad’s name.”
His eyes were desperate.
Honestly, I’d like to pretend I don’t know it, but...
His expression was ridiculously moist-looking. I smiled and said, “I didn’t forget! Han Woo-jin!”
“Yes! Our Gongja!”
Han Woo-jin spun me twice in the air before setting me down.
He was laughing as he looked at me. He was chaotic, sure, but he was genuinely happy to see me.
It really has been a long time.
I looked closely at Han Woo-jin’s face.
Well, he’s still handsome.
Even when he looked loose and casual, he was the type who took good care of himself. His build was the same as ever, too.
Hmm, or is that just my imagination?
He looked a little worn out. His eyes were even slightly red.
I tilted my head and asked, “Hyung, did you sleep badly last night?”
“Ah, does it show?”
“Yep.”
Han Woo-jin lowered his head and scratched at the back of his neck.
What was it, something he couldn’t talk about?
He let out a long breath, then rested a hand lightly against my cheek.
“Well, someone I’d been with for a long time went ahead of me.”
Oh dear.
“That must be hard for you.”
“Hahaha. Well, it’s personal, so I shouldn’t let it affect work, but... every time I think of that kid, I just can’t sleep at all.”
Wow. So it had really been someone very close to him.
Hmm, not only has he been unable to sleep, he must’ve been crying nonstop too.
Was he really okay in this condition?
“I’m sure that kid wouldn’t want me acting like this either. But memories don’t exactly obey you, do they?”
How sad.
I stepped closer and hugged his waist.
“Huh?”
“Cheer up.”
Once you live long enough, you learn there’s nothing you can do about birth, aging, sickness, and death.
“I’m sure he went to a good place.”
Han Woo-jin, who had always had so much to say, fell silent.
“Don’t be too sad.”
His arms wrapped around my shoulders. Being this close, I could tell.
His hands are shaking.
He must really be devastated.
Well, there’s nothing for it.
Without saying anything, I stayed tucked against his waist.
How long had it been? Han Woo-jin spoke in a small voice.
“Wow. I didn’t think I’d be getting comforted by Gongja... This is a little embarrassing.”
He patted my head.
“Seriously, my son is still such a good kid. Gongja, thank you.”
“It’s nothing. How long have you been sleeping badly?”
“Hmm... about two weeks?”
What? That was serious.
“Have you gone to see a doctor?”
If it was that bad, he should be getting help from a professional. Why was he just forcing himself to work?
Han Woo-jin kept scratching the back of his neck. Then he gave an awkward smile.
“Hmm. If it gets worse, maybe I’ll do that?”
Wasn’t it already worse?
“I just haven’t gotten used to it yet. We always slept together.”
Wait.
That sounds a little strange.
Slept together?
Well, I guess it could happen, but...
I quickly glanced around. There were a lot of staff members here.
Isn’t this a scandal waiting to happen? Or no—if he already passed away, maybe it doesn’t matter?
Han Woo-jin said calmly, “I had no idea the bed would feel this big without that kid.”
No, look at this guy.
Were they together for that long?
Then why didn’t they get married?
He’s old enough that it probably wouldn’t have been strange. Personal reasons, maybe?
I had no idea what to say. Han Woo-jin let out a sigh.
“The empty space is bigger than I expected. I’m scared to go home.”
There must be some reason behind it.
“P-please go see a doctor soon.”
“Yeah. I guess you can’t take pet-loss syndrome lightly.”
Wait.
It was a pet?
Han Woo-jin sighed and said, “Want to see a photo of our Napoleon?”
Was he French or something?
Han Woo-jin took out his smartphone and showed it to me. On the screen was a white Persian cat.
It really was a cat.
Just from the photo, it was incredibly cute.
Well, that’s why they’re called pets.
I comforted him sincerely. “He’ll be waiting for his big brother when he gets there.”
“You think so? Whew. I really do need to stop being so sad.”
I’d heard it was better to set aside a whole day and cry your heart out when you were grieving.
Han Woo-jin bent his knees and hugged me tightly.
“Thanks for comforting me, Gongja. You really are my son.”
If anyone heard that, they’d really think I was his son.
I wriggled a little, but he still wouldn’t let go.
Well, he is deeply upset. I’ll bear with it a little longer.
I patted his broad back.
Is it just my imagination?
These kinds of things seemed to be happening a lot lately.
Besides, this bastard has a face like that.
I slipped my face out of his arms just enough to look around. The staff were all staring at us.
Oh, no...
I lowered my voice and whispered, “Hyung, we have to take pictures.”
“Ah, right.”
Han Woo-jin immediately let go. I turned to the staff and said, “I’m okay now.”
The moment I finished speaking, they all swarmed in.
“Gongja, let me fix your hair just one more time.”
“Han Woo-jin’s clothes got wrinkled.”
“Someone hand me a pin!”
What a mess.