A Debut Under the Spotlight
The staff member carried me up the stairs just as the crowd’s attention was gathering at the far end of the stage.
Then, all at once, the staff member’s body jerked hard.
“A bee!”
The staff member panicked completely.
Is this because of the coin?
Flustered, the staff member hurriedly set me down. That was when the lights suddenly spilled over me.
Wow, this is the kind of situation that makes a scene.
While the staff member flailed around trying to escape the bee, I was left standing there on the floor. Seeing that, Mom set down the microphone and started to rise.
Mom, stop. You can’t come over here.
Because, you know.
I put my hands on the floor and lifted my bottom. I wanted to hurry, but my body wouldn’t quite obey me.
At last, I got to my feet and took one step. Then I tottered forward on my baby legs.
I’ll come to you myself.
I could hear people murmuring. I smiled brightly and walked toward Mom.
Mom, this is your first time seeing me walk, right?
So I prepared a little something.
Well, I hadn’t expected it to take this long when it was just a few steps.
The stage wasn’t large. But with baby steps, it felt pretty far.
The host’s voice came over the speakers.
“Oh, the baby’s walking over by himself?”
Yes. That was exactly the effect I wanted.
With each step I took, the flowers attached to my backpack swayed.
The prop is great. It makes the cuteness hit twice as hard.
At times like this, the stronger the staging, the better.
I deliberately swayed my hips a little more. Thanks to that, the artificial flowers tucked into my backpack shook even more.
That’s right. Watch me, all you preview audience members.
With every tiny step, I could feel people’s eyes on me. Before long, the screen behind me was showing my walk too.
Everyone’s holding their breath.
Exactly as planned.
Now it’s time for a little crisis.
Just as I was taking my tenth step, I fell straight on my backside.
At once, the crowd inhaled sharply. I could feel the air tighten.
I deliberately frowned. My expression was visible in full, bright detail on the screen.
They’re expecting me to cry.
But audiences love a twist, don’t they?
I beamed and put strength back into my legs. Then I started forward again, just like before, with my little wobbly walk.
The host, now clearly excited, spoke quickly.
“Oh, the baby didn’t cry and got back up again!”
That’s right.
Heh. Right on schedule.
I could feel the crowd buzzing.
Well, there was no helping it.
Instead of letting the nun get healthy, I was supposed to fall once every ten steps.
I’m not the one who decided to create this crisis. I did consider it, though.
I kept going. Soon I had reached right in front of Mom.
I held out my hand and said,
“Mama!”
Mom covered her mouth and blinked. The host quickly moved the microphone closer.
“Ms. Ma Soo-jung, your son brought you flowers.”
I thought Mom would break into a radiant smile. But she only stood there, staring at me.
“Our Gongza...”
A bead of water slipped from the corner of Mom’s eye. Huh? Huh?
No. Why are you crying?
Mom rubbed at the corner of her eye with one hand, but the moisture kept gathering.
The host, flustered, asked,
“N-no, Ms. Soo-jung! Why are you crying?”
“Our Gongza.”
Slowly, Mom bent her knees. The host, still holding the microphone for her, crouched down too.
I looked into Mom’s eyes. Tears kept pooling at the edges of her beautiful gaze.
What is she trying to say?
I stretched out my arms. With her other hand, Mom took mine.
She murmured softly, but because of the microphone, her voice rang out clearly through the hall.
“I don’t know his birthday.”
Oh.
Well, of course you don’t.
I don’t know it either.
Mom held my hand and gave it a little shake.
“So I was going to choose a good day and hold a first-birthday party for him.”
Fresh tears gathered again at the corners of her eyes.
“But lately I’ve been so busy. I just haven’t had time at all.”
The host hurried to comfort her.
“Ms. Ma Soo-jung has been busy lately, yes. City of the Dead is about to be released, and you’re also starting a new drama, right?”
Wow. Even in the middle of this, he was shamelessly plugging the movie.
That host is a pro.
Mom gave a small nod.
“Yes. One way or another, I ended up meeting a lot of good projects in a rush. So lately I’ve only barely been able to see my son sleeping.”
I blinked.
Well, that’s true.
But Mom, you have to strike while the iron’s hot.
I’d be sadder if you stopped taking roles because of me.
I don’t want your filmography ruined because of me.
Ma Soo-jung the actress is a treasure to the film industry.
Don’t mind me. Just keep working a lot.
Mom let out a tiny, shaky breath. Then she pressed her lips to both my hands.
I could feel the softness of it.
“I didn’t even know our Gongza could walk this well.”
Goodness...
“I didn’t even get to see his first steps...”
I hurriedly shook my head.
“Bwa-bwa!”
No, no.
Damn it.
It was Ansan-daek who’d hidden the fact that I could walk.
I misjudged that.
How had I been found out? Had I walked too well?
Still, I’d thought she’d just be delighted to see me walking. Why was she crying?
Honestly, it’s fine! Actors should live busy lives!
What’s such a big deal about a baby walking?
He just walks and talks when the time comes.
Mom pulled me into her arms. I let out a quiet breath.
I still don’t fully understand it, though lately I’ve caught it now and then.
The way she’s moved to tears, the way she’s sad over something so small.
Was this what Mom’s love was?
What on earth was there to cry about?
So, Mom.
I muttered inwardly.
Coin Activation!
How would you like to use the Love & Peace Coin?
Make Mom healthy!
It will require 30,000 coins to make Mom Ma Soo-jung healthy. Proceed?
By now, I probably had all thirty thousand coins.
Mom’s embrace was warm. I whispered softly,
“Bbuya!”
Execution confirmed.
Everything comes at a price.
The cost of using the coin is a loss of pitch for six years.
Huh. That penalty’s kind of random.
I let out a long breath.
Well, I wasn’t planning to become a singer anyway.
Besides, it wasn’t forever. Just six years.
Mom stood up while holding me. I lightly grabbed a lock of her hair.
Compared with Mom staying healthy for the rest of her life, that’s cheap.
To think the person who loved me like this wouldn’t be sick anymore.
The coin is the best!
I remembered Mom’s final moments from my previous life.
The reporters took her portrait photo without permission.
I still remembered it clearly, because it was so sad that the last picture of such a beautiful, gifted actress had been treated that way.
So this death has been avoided now, right?
I stared at Mom.
Her fingers brushed lightly against my cheek. I kicked my legs and reached up to touch the corner of her eye.
Don’t cry. Don’t be sad.
Stay with me for a very, very long time.
I don’t really know how to do it yet, since I never got the chance in my last life, but I’ll work hard to be a good son. Mom.
Our eyes met. We smiled at the same time.
How much time had passed?
The host, suddenly flustered, said,
“Right. Ms. Ma Soo-jung, your son gave you flowers. How do you feel!”
Really now.
You were doing just fine, and then suddenly that came out of nowhere.
Still, I understand. You’ve got a script to follow.
Mom steadied her breathing while holding me.
“I’m happy.”
The artificial flowers sticking out of my white backpack swayed.
“I’m so happy that no matter how hard things get, whenever I think of this moment, I’ll always feel happy.”
Wow. I showed up with a few flowers and that’s all it took!
You’re going to remember this for the rest of your life over this?
“I see! That was Ms. Ma Soo-jung’s adorable son presenting flowers. Now we’ll move on to the next segment.”
Mom met my eyes and adjusted her hold on me. I smiled brightly and searched for my reflection in her pupils.
Strange.
Maybe because Mom said she was happy.
I’m kind of happy too.
In fact, I was the one feeling happy.
Then someone called Mom’s name. Looking up, I saw Director Heo Bong-pal.
“Soo-jung. Are you okay? You were crying a lot.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Director. Was that a bit much? It’s a good day, after all.”
The director immediately shook his head.
“No, no. If this becomes a talking point, it’ll help the movie get mentioned too, so that’s good. But...”
The noise of the preview screening mixed around us. The host was already interviewing another actor.
“As expected of Ms. Soo-jung’s son. He’s really different.”
Good.
As expected, you know how to read people.
Mom shifted me in her arms and asked,
“Our Gongza is an angel, after all.”
“Sure, he is cute like an angel. But Ms. Soo-jung, this is the first time I’ve seen a child in such a crowded, noisy place, under all these lights, and not crying.”
Mom nodded.
“Our Gongza is broad-minded.”
“No, it’s more than that. This kid doesn’t seem to fear the lights at all. It sounds funny to say it, but he feels born for the stage. Every time I look at him, it’s uncanny.”
Good eye. That’s exactly it.
I grinned at the director.
How about it? Interested in casting me, Director?
You’ll be making good work for a long time, so put me in a lot of it.
Mom laughed and answered,
“Oh my. Maybe our Gongza takes after me. Gongza, do you like the stage?”
I flapped my legs furiously.
“Bbu!”
Yes!
Mom looked at Director Heo Bong-pal and asked,
“Doesn’t it seem like he’s saying yes?”
“It does. Hey, little one. Do you really like the stage?”
“Bbu!”
Yes!
The director gave a broad smile.
“Wow. Maybe I’ll see you again if things go well?”
Wow.
That’s exactly the kind of thing I wanted to hear.
That works for me.
From now on, I’m going to keep turning out hit after hit.
Director Heo Bong-pal tapped my cheek a few times, then looked ahead again. Still in Mom’s arms, I swung my legs back and forth.
Everything went according to plan today.
The audience’s cheers rang out. Listening to the host continue, I blinked sleepily.
Ah, I’m tired.
I rubbed my cheek against Mom’s chest. Smiling, she said,
“Gongza, if you’re sleepy, you can sleep.”
My eyes drifted shut on their own.
A baby really does sleep a lot.
That was the last thing I thought.
* * *
Ansan-daek smiled at me.
I waved to show her I was fine, then stood up on the carpet.
Let’s walk.
Even though, because of the penalty, I’d be tripping once every ten steps for the next year without fail, I still had to exercise.
Maybe it’s because I’m a baby. Using my body is harder than I expected.
I hoisted myself upright, and Ansan-daek clapped.
“Our Gongza gets up so well! Goodness, the young miss needs to see this too!”
You saw it at the preview screening. Hm, do you want to see it again?
Ah, right, the preview screening...
A sigh escaped me on its own.
Was it because of the penalty? I really did sleep deeply.
When I opened my eyes, I was already home.
What a pity. It had been a while since I’d been on stage.
I wanted to enjoy it a little longer.
Ansan-daek said,
“Auntie’s going to step out for a moment! Stay quiet, all right?”
“Bba!”
Ansan-daek disappeared.
Well, it’s safe enough.
All that sat on the carpet was a sofa with rounded corners. And everywhere I could possibly go had a fence around it.
Now, if Ansan-daek isn’t here...
A grin spread across my face. I tottered over and pressed the remote control lying on the sofa.
How long has it been since I watched TV!
I could hear the sound of people laughing.
A variety show? Ah, it’s an entertainment news program.
I wanted a drama more than this.
Just as I was about to change the channel, the MC’s voice came on.
“This next segment is ‘Juri Goes Out.’”
“Ms. Juri, you went to a preview screening this time, right?”
“Yes. I went to the preview screening for the first-half sensation City of the Dead!”