Chapter 128
What on earth was that supposed to mean?
How do you call a person a creation?
I frowned.
"He was a creation made by his parents. Well, after seeing my brother, I sometimes wonder if I turned out to be the better work..."
No, damn it.
"Whenever I say things like that, everyone around me feels sorry for me."
Yeah, because you really are pitiable.
"They sympathize. Is that not the case for other people?"
I nodded.
"Really? Other child actors seem about the same. There are differences in degree, of course."
Good grief.
I pressed a hand to my forehead. There was a reason he thought that way.
It isn't rare for a child actor to be doing this because of their parents' greed.
Sometimes a child really wanted to do it. But more often, it was parents forcing them forward, saying it was the dream they themselves had never achieved.
East or West, the same thing keeps repeating.
Well, my case was different.
Han Su-yoon, I can't leave him like this.
It was close to child abuse, but no one would ever get punished for this.
Not even Ma Jeok could get away cleanly. There was no way Han Su-yoon would.
At least with Ma Jeok, there had been the excuse of sending him abroad for soccer training. But this kid looked like he had an IV drip stuck into him and nothing else.
It was depressing. Seriously, why did every kid around me end up like this?
Still, there's no helping it.
If he had been completely out of sight, I could have pretended not to know. But he had already come into view. Once that happened, I had to find a way.
I have no idea what the right way would even be.
Maybe I should ask a lawyer for advice.
I was deep in thought when Han Woo-jin reached out and patted Han Su-yoon on the head.
"You live such a hard life."
There was sympathy all over Han Woo-jin's face.
"Ah, yes, it is a bit like that."
"I don't know the solution, but I'll be a witness for you."
Han Su-yoon blinked.
"Pardon? A witness?"
"If you need one, say the word. I can't just stand by and watch something this miserable. Here, eat this first."
Han Su-yoon took a protein bar out of his jacket.
"These are expensive because the ingredients are carefully selected. They taste awful, but they'll fill you up and give you nutrition. At least they're better than konjac jelly."
"They make things like this?"
"This is my staple. How do you think this nice body was built? By eating good things."
Han Woo-jin suddenly puffed out his chest.
"Honestly, I prefer salad, but I can't exactly carry that around all the time."
"I see."
"I'll hand them to you regularly. Hide them somewhere secret."
Wow. Han Woo-jin.
I'm seeing him in a new light.
I had no idea there was such a method.
"Don't forget you need to drink plenty of water when you eat it. If you swallow it down without water, you can get kidney stones, apparently."
"Thank you."
"Athletes who need to manage their weight recommend these. Su-yoon, don't forget. If you need a witness, I'll stand for you."
I blinked.
Han Woo-jin is something else.
He was older now, but he still carried the label of a top star. Scandals were the last thing he needed. And yet, for Han Su-yoon's sake, he said it so boldly.
He can be a little ridiculous, but he's not the sort to say one thing and do another.
So this was why Teacher Yoon Jung-hyun liked him.
"Thank you."
"Don't mention it. You have it rough too."
I looked at the two of them and smiled brightly. When Han Woo-jin caught my eye, he struck a pose like he was on a magazine shoot.
"What do you think? Handsome, right?"
Honestly, he'd be even more handsome without that stuff.
But, to be fair, he really is impressive.
I nodded, then lifted my index finger.
"Yes! I didn't know my brother was that handsome!"
"Really? Hahaha! Wait a second. What do you mean you didn't know? Am I usually not that great? Ugly?"
Well, not ugly, just ordinary.
"Gong-ja. Your brother is a man of great looks, great heart, and great physicality."
Yes, I see.
"No, Gong-ja's eyes are cold! Say it after me. Han Woo-jin is a handsome older brother!"
What is this, brainwashing?
I narrowed my eyes and shook my head. Then Han Woo-jin scooped me up in his arms.
"Ah, Gong-ja's grown up and isn't innocent anymore! If this were before, you'd have repeated it!"
"Mm, Brother..."
I rested a hand on Han Woo-jin's shoulder and said very seriously,
"Does Gong-ja who isn't innocent make you dislike me?"
Han Woo-jin had no answer. Watching him open and close his mouth like a fish, I grinned.
"Your love has faded!"
I flailed a little.
"Put me down. Gong-ja wants to get off!"
"No, Gong-ja. I only have you. Do you know how much I like you?"
What is he even saying, seriously.
Then someone spoke from behind us.
"Um, may I start the script reading?"
Still holding me, Han Woo-jin turned around.
Ah, Director Won.
I bowed my head toward Director Won. The director, still blessed with a full head of hair, looked wounded.
"I came in earlier, but I had no idea Gong-ja, Su-yoon, and Han Woo-jin were here..."
Ah, dear.
"I'm still the director, you know..."
No one said you weren't.
"No, Director, that's not it."
Han Woo-jin hurried to soothe him. Listening to that while being held in a man's arms, I let out a sigh.
Is it just my imagination?
For some reason, everyone around me seemed unusually strange. Why did they all act like children?
Except the children here are me and Han Su-yoon.
I glanced at Han Su-yoon. The pitiful kid living on konjac jelly smiled faintly when he saw me.
He's actually the mature one...
I shook my head. In the end, the real problem was the adults acting like children.
* * *
Ma Jeok, the son of Sungjin Group's second son, had been happy lately.
I feel light!
No bruises on his body. He was eating well. He slept soundly.
It feels like I've grown wings!
Every time he played soccer, people praised him. And for some reason, the team spirit had improved too.
Maybe it's because I haven't had anything to complain about lately.
In the past, he'd get angry the moment things didn't go his way. But after he started eating properly, that all disappeared.
Maybe it's the power of the lunch boxes?
At the Annex, someone was always packing food for him. Especially that scary person, who would pile in things she said were good for his muscles.
At first I wondered if I was even allowed to eat it...
Now he couldn't get enough.
Besides, Gong-ja said it himself.
The doll-like kid had crossed his arms and given him a warning.
"Jeok, tone down your temper."
When Ma Jeok asked what he meant, Gong-ja let out a sigh and patted his shoulder.
"You can't go around bullying people when you're angry."
"Why not?"
The answer that came back was firm.
"Well, because your mother does it, doesn't she? You don't want to be like that, do you?"
At that moment, reflection had happened all on its own.
"If you hate something like your mother, then you shouldn't act like it."
After that, Ma Jeok started looking back on his own behavior. Thinking about it, he had been copying his mother.
Why did I do that when I hated it?
He hung his head. Looking back on the past made him ashamed.
Why did no one ever say this to me?
If he'd known sooner, he wouldn't have done it.
They say regret can't turn back time.
That kid Gong-ja had patted his shoulder and told him to do what he could right now.
Right. I'll do it. I will.
Ma Jeok let out a sigh and returned to his math problems. He kept getting sidetracked because the work was boring, but still, he was moving through it faster than before.
"Gong-ja said if I want to be good at soccer, it's better to be good at math."
Come to think of it, maybe math skills were needed for counting formations and attacking possibilities.
Until now, I've just been relying on instinct.
So maybe improving his soccer wasn't just about his body becoming stronger.
He was in the middle of solving a problem when a voice suddenly came from above him.
"What are you doing here?"
Ah, jeez.
Ma Jeok looked up with round eyes. An old woman leaning on a cane was looking down at him.
"Hello! I came here because no one was around. Sorry! I was so busy with math that I was late greeting you."
"You must have been focused."
The old woman looked sharply at his workbook.
"So you do focus sometimes, Jeok."
That was probably her way of calling him stupid.
If it had been before, he would've gotten angry. But not now. Ma Jeok smiled and said,
"Gong-ja told me to do it. He said I have to be good at math."
"That mixed-blood brat?"
"Thanks to him, I understand soccer tactics better. Gong-ja is amazing!"
The old woman didn't say anything. Ma Jeok hurried on.
"He's really good at acting too! He even did a play all by himself! And this time they're saying he's going into a movie."
"If he's Soo-jung's son, of course he is."
"I watched that play on YouTube, and honestly, I was shocked. Gong-ja feels like an acting genius."
Ma Jeok was actually dizzy with sincerity.
To stand alone in front of so many people and act all by himself. Soccer was fine because there were other people around, but if he had to do that alone, he'd die before he managed it.
"He's good at acting. The play was excellent."
Huh.
Ma Jeok tilted his head.
"Grandma, you watched it?"
At once, the old woman's brows drew together. Ma Jeok shut his mouth.
Does Grandma like Gong-ja?
She was the type who hardly cared about anyone in the first place. And yet she'd deliberately gone looking for that play?
That video came down pretty quickly too...
How?
Ma Jeok blinked. The old woman pushed her glasses up.
"Why are you studying here, then?"
Ma Jeok gave an awkward laugh. There was a proper study room elsewhere. This was the old woman's library. Of course, she was busy and didn't come here often.
I came here because of that, and she had to show up today.
Ma Jeok lamented his rotten luck.
If I lie, she'll catch me.
Gong-ja had said so.
If you've done nothing wrong, honesty is also a weapon.
He hadn't understood what that meant, but now he knew when to use it. Ma Jeok explained calmly.
"My mom comes to the study room a lot."
"And?"
"I can't focus, and she's been angry a lot lately, so she hits me. Um, it's better if Mom doesn't see me."
The old woman's brows furrowed viciously.
"Still? Even after I told her not to?"
"Yes. But thank you. Thanks to you, she doesn't hit me too badly. She doesn't use her feet."
"What?"
"She kicks me a lot. My mother's legs are very strong. Maybe that's why I got those and became good at soccer."
The old woman's face twisted horribly. Ma Jeok scratched his head. He had been completely honest.
Honestly, not seeing her face is nice...
At some point, whenever he sensed his mother's presence, he'd start running away in every direction.
The old woman let out a sigh. Then she nodded.
"Fine. If you're only going to study quietly, you can come here often."
"Thank you! I like it because Mom doesn't come here much!"
"If you need anything, tell me."
Huh.
Ma Jeok blinked. The old woman was someone who didn't care about anything except God-hyung. If someone dug through Ma Jeok's whole life, this was the first time he'd ever seen her be so kind.
I have to say thank you. Gong-ja told me to always thank people when they do something nice.
Ma Jeok sprang to his feet and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Grandma! I feel like I can live because of you!"
"What?"
"I get to eat at the Annex, and I get to stay somewhere Mom doesn't come! Honestly, I love it. I'm happy!"
He could tell something had gone badly wrong, but Ma Jeok forced himself to go on.
"It must be annoying to worry about me, but thanks for not just leaving me alone. Honestly, getting hit hurt!"
Ma Jeok raised his head. The old woman's eyes trembled.
"I thought no one cared about me, but if I'd known this would happen, I should've come looking for you sooner, Grandma!"