Episode 59
Becoming a baby taught me that being held in someone’s arms was oddly uncomfortable.
No, it was fine when I was smaller. Now that I’ve grown, it’s not so great.
The bigger the person supporting me, the more comfortable it was.
Dek-su is comfortable.
He was a little stiff, though.
Han Woo-jin, on the other hand, was, well...
He’s not exactly small, but he’s definitely lean for an actor.
His bones pressed against me too much, so there wasn’t much cushioning at all.
Ah, I want to sit in a chair.
Han Woo-jin kept kneading my hand over and over.
“You really did get bigger. You were smaller than this.”
I let out a sigh.
Why are you the one judging that?
Why are you like this?
This time, Han Woo-jin was staring intently at my feet. Just then, the host asked, “This is Han Woo-jin, who plays Yu-hyeon in When the Wind Touches. Woo-jin, we’ve had a lot of questions for you.”
Han Woo-jin took the microphone and said, “Yes, I’ll answer anything. I may be a difficult man, though.”
Laughter rippled through the audience.
Hmm, maybe I should learn that kind of smooth talk.
He’s good at this. Well, I’m good too.
But I didn’t have this kind of atmosphere.
Was it because Han Woo-jin was handsome, so everything got a boost just from that?
While I was thinking that, the host said, “There were a number of questions, but the most common one was whether anything was difficult during filming.”
It was a very ordinary question. That must be why Han Woo-jin answered so smoothly.
“The atmosphere was great, and the director was excellent, so I had a really enjoyable shoot. There was only one problem.”
“Oh? What was that?”
“Mm, it’s a little hard to say.”
Han Woo-jin turned his head slightly and smiled. I blinked.
Was there a problem?
Honestly, I was curious. Probably everyone in the preview theater was, too. Han Woo-jin definitely had a talent for pulling people’s attention.
There’s definitely something to learn there.
Then all at once, Han Woo-jin looked down at me. He glanced back toward the front and smiled faintly.
“Well, Gongza wasn’t there.”
At once, murmurs swept through the room.
“Oh my, Woo-jin?”
“I got close to Gongza while filming Emergency Room. I expected to see him a lot while filming When the Wind Touches, but Gongza was playing my younger self.”
Han Woo-jin grabbed my feet and shook them gently.
“I found out in the middle of it that our schedules didn’t overlap, so I couldn’t see him.”
“Looks like you got pretty attached to Gongza.”
“Mm...”
This time Han Woo-jin kneaded my feet. I blinked again. Camera flashes erupted all around us.
This lunatic.
Han Woo-jin smiled again.
“Would it have been just attachment?”
Damn it.
What, did you do something wrong?
Why would you say something like that!
“Oh my, it sounds like you really like Gongza.”
“I’ve never seen a child this cute before. When I look at Gongza, I feel like I want to get married. But apparently children like Gongza are rare, so I’m torn.”
Don’t be torn.
Whatever my feelings were, the mood in the preview theater was excellent. Laughter rolled in from every direction.
“Ah, if you get married, your fans will cry.”
“That’s true. I really am a bad man.”
The host covered her mouth and laughed.
“Yes. You really are a bad man, Woo-jin. Ah, this time I’ll ask Gongza a question. Mm, this was the most common one. Gongza, what do you like most in the world?”
It was a very clichéd question. Of course, I already had my answer ready.
“Mama!”
“Ma Soo-jung? Oh, your mom is the best! Then, Gongza, what’s your second favorite?”
Mm, I hadn’t expected that. It was harder than I thought.
What should I say?
I was thinking hard when the top of my head started tingling.
What is it?
Looking up a little, I caught Han Woo-jin’s eyes sparkling.
W-why? Why are you looking at me like that!
Surely he didn’t think he’d be second, did he?
I hurriedly answered, “Mama!”
“Oh my, your second favorite is mama too?”
I smiled sweetly and said, “Third favorite is mama too!”
The top of my head still tingled, but I refused to look up.
“Oh, Gongza. Then is there anything besides mama? Like food, maybe...”
Han Woo-jin held onto my feet.
The pressure is no joke.
But I won’t lose!
Only, there really wasn’t anything to say.
Something that feels childish and cute?
Then I remembered the bow tie around my neck.
Right! There was that!
“Bear!”
Thank goodness. I found something decent!
“Oh! A bear? Hahaha! That’s adorable!”
Damn it.
Now that I’d said it, I felt a little embarrassed.
I’m suddenly looking like someone who likes bears.
Come to think of it, what do kids that age even like?
Just food?
The grip on my feet tightened a little. When I looked up slightly, Han Woo-jin muttered, “I lost to a bear.”
No, what are you losing to?
“Oh my, Han Woo-jin! You look disappointed.”
“I may have to start wearing bear-patterned clothes from now on.”
Don’t!
Damn it, why does that feel ominous?
For some reason, it felt like I was digging my own grave with my own hands.
The host laughed and said, “Then I’ll wear a bear-patterned T-shirt when I come to see Gongza too.”
Please don’t.
The interview moved on to Teacher Yoon Jung-hyun. I sat quietly, listening only half-heartedly.
But...
The preview was taking longer than I’d expected.
The audience has a lot of questions.
Especially about the movie. They seemed curious about everything.
Well, that’s a good thing.
It meant they’d paid attention.
Besides, it is the kind of movie that leaves people with questions.
But the thing is...
I have a price to pay, though...
The price for fixing Teacher Yoon Jung-hyun’s ankle was that I’d fall asleep.
Hasn’t it been almost four hours now?
I hadn’t expected the preview to last this long. I blinked.
Han Woo-jin whispered, “If you’re sleepy, you can sleep, Gongza.”
No, I can’t.
I widened my eyes.
I can’t fall asleep in Han Woo-jin’s arms!
I was shaking my head hard to wake myself up when consciousness suddenly slipped away.
This fucking...
My eyelids became unbearably heavy. I drew in a breath.
Not good...
That was my last thought. The light disappeared, and I fell asleep like that.
* * *
“Lift your leg here, please.”
“Yes, Director.”
Ma Soo-jung kicked the sandbag.
Bang-
The sound was enormous. The action director blinked.
“Soo-jung, that was amazing.”
“I think I’ve gotten stronger lately.”
“You were already strong, but lately it’s on another level. Sometimes I think that if you’d been at Taereung, you’d have won several gold medals.”
Ma Soo-jung laughed. “Mm, should I go there now?”
“What event would you do?”
“Who knows?”
The action director laughed behind his hand.
“All right, then take a short break. You’re absolutely perfect.”
“Thank you.”
Ma Soo-jung walked off lightly. The other actors were groaning here and there.
It really is because I’ve gotten stronger.
As she rolled her shoulders, Ma Soo-jung thought, Action feels too easy.
People had always said she was talented, but lately it felt like she’d fully ripened.
My condition is too good.
Maybe that was why she didn’t tire at all these days.
Honestly, by now I should be exhausted and sitting down...
She had so much stamina to spare that even during breaks she just stood there, looking around.
Then a familiar actor came over.
“Soo-jung, you look really lively.”
“I know. I think I look lively too.”
“What, are you eating ginseng or something these days?”
Ma Soo-jung shook her head. “No.”
“Then why is your skin so smooth, and why are you getting even prettier? It feels like you’ve gotten younger.”
Ma Soo-jung burst out laughing. “Hahaha! Who knows? Maybe it’s because I’ve got an angel at home.”
She turned on her smartphone and kissed the screen. Inside it, a cute little Gongza was holding out his hand.
“Wow, he’s really adorable.”
“Our Gongza is the cutest in the world.”
“You said you went to the preview today? I saw articles pouring out a while ago.”
Ma Soo-jung blinked. She’d known Gongza was going to the preview.
Articles are pouring out?
Did someone cause trouble?
She searched immediately. When she typed in Gongza’s name, a row of fresh articles filled the screen.
Oh?
Ma Soo-jung checked only the headlines.
Ma Gongza Falls Asleep in Han Woo-jin’s Arms.
- The preview was far too long for a child
Ma Gongza Falls Asleep During the Preview.
- Han Woo-jin: “He was sleeping so deeply I couldn’t wake him.”
What Sleeping Ma Gongza Likes Most Is Bears
- First, second, and third place are all mom.
Today’s Photo
- Sleeping Ma Gongza.
Ma Soo-jung blinked. On the screen, Gongza was sound asleep in Han Woo-jin’s arms.
“My angel is adorable, isn’t he?”
But Gongza. Why are you in that bastard’s arms?
Ma Soo-jung clenched her fist.
“That bastard is not allowed!”
It was still fresh in her mind. Back then, the bastard had said:
- Soo-jung, Gongza. Can’t I make him my son?
When she’d said absolutely not, he’d gotten surprisingly serious.
- I can raise him well.
Ma Soo-jung ground her teeth.
“I’ll raise him better, you jerk!”
No matter how many articles she kept flipping through, it was the same thing over and over: photos of Han Woo-jin holding her angel.
“S-Soo-jung. What’s wrong?”
“I’m pissed off.”
Ma Soo-jung flipped to another article. Thankfully, there was one without that damn photo. She jabbed at the screen.
When the Wind Touches Preview Site
When the Wind Touches is being released. Today’s preview will be held at the Light Art Hall...
Ma Soo-jung skimmed the article. Once she scrolled down a fair way, she found what she was looking for.
- As soon as the child fell asleep, the preview theater was filled with laughter. Han Woo-jin patted the child’s shoulder and said:
- I guess I’m too comfortable to him.
For a moment, Ma Soo-jung almost smashed her phone.
“What child is that bastard putting to sleep right now?”
“S-Soo-jung?”
She was fuming. With a sharp burst of irritation, Ma Soo-jung raked a hand through her hair.
“He goes and knows Gongza is cute, too!”
She could feel the eyes of the others training on her. Ma Soo-jung took a deep breath. She needed to calm down.
I can’t calm down!
This is insane. Who does he think he is, talking about our Gongza like that!
Grumbling under her breath, Ma Soo-jung said to the martial arts director, “Director, I’m going to try another kick.”
“Ah, yes.”
Ma Soo-jung kicked with all her strength.
Bang-
The sound was tremendous. The sandbag swayed pitifully.
Moving my body helps a bit.
Ma Soo-jung sent out another kick.
Pang-
Again, the sound was huge.
Should I do a few more?
Just as she was mulling it over, she finally became aware of the stares around her.
Oh?
Ma Soo-jung smiled and said, “Ah, something made me a little angry.”
“So you’re taking it out on the sandbag?”
She nodded. “Well, that’s what it’s there for.”
“Th-that’s true, but...”
Then the fellow actor she’d been speaking with a moment ago said, “S-Soo-jung. You know, if I did something wrong, I’m sorry.”
No, what was this?
“This isn’t because of the shoot. You know what I’m mad about.”
“I know, I know. But that thing is, Soo-jung... See, in the movie, I’m the villain, right? So I have a lot of scenes where I’m up against you.”
Ma Soo-jung nodded.
“The one you’re supposed to hit that hard? That’s me.”