Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Do You Dislike Kim Seonwoo?
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—Do you dislike Kim Seonwoo?
It was a question I'd received during the script reading for episode 1 of One Room.
Less a question and more like feedback. A note that my dislike for Kim Seonwoo was showing too much in my acting.
In truth, back then, Seonwoo hadn't been able to burst that color bubble of Kim Seonwoo's.
Kim Seonwoo... more precisely, it was because he wasn't ready to face and accept that past version of himself directly.
Taking that into account, the fact that Seonwoo could now burst that color bubble meant he had confronted his past self.
The gloomy, depressed, listless version of himself.
But apparently, that alone wasn't enough.
—I get that Kim Seonwoo's a dry character in a lot of ways, but it just feels too dry?
Park Myungjin's second piece of feedback.
To be honest, even understanding those words had been incredibly difficult for Seonwoo.
What was the problem with playing a dry character dry?
Yi Mubeom's comment that Kim Seonwoo shone was nothing but a riddle to Seonwoo.
To him, Kim Seonwoo was someone who couldn't shine... someone who shouldn't shine.
But now, he got it.
'A defense mechanism... was it?'
At this point, he had no choice but to admit it.
Seonwoo still disliked Kim Seonwoo.
You could even say he was afraid of him.
He'd pretended otherwise, acted like he'd accepted him... but the moment he affirmed that guy, it felt like that old listlessness would swallow him whole again.
Like he'd be dragged back into that dull, black-and-white movie of a life.
He knew it was an irrational fear.
But fear was never rational to begin with.
Yeah. He was scared.
So he'd denied it.
Kim Seonwoo wasn't worth looking at... that ash-gray life of his wasn't worth a glance.
The past him, who didn't even know what to do and just stared at job interview notices? Not even worth mentioning.
Seonwoo had thought the old him was living a life not worth affirming.
That was probably how he'd seen it.
He had to deny it like that... only then could his life ahead bloom into vivid colors.
Become even more beautiful.
But while giving advice to Yeonwoo, while defending psychopathy—a condition no one in this world would ever call "good"—Seonwoo had a sudden realization.
Maybe he needed to apply that same gentle standard to himself.
And now.
"Don't worry."
Seonwoo finally felt like he could understand what Yi Mubeom had said.
"It'll be okay soon. Breathe in slowly through your nose, then exhale long through your mouth."
It was that scene from yesterday.
The one where Park Myungjin had yelled cut over and over.
Too dry. That had been his verdict.
Seonwoo had wondered.
Why, out of all the words in the world, had Park Myungjin chosen "dry"? What part of Seonwoo's performance could possibly sparkle for him to say that?
The answer was in the eyes.
Think about it.
In the eyes of Kim Seonwoo—who felt no value in life and was ready to let it go—what would these people look like? People trapped here, struggling desperately to survive somehow.
He already knew the answer.
Back when he wasn't acting, watching people live their vibrant lives from his own spot—the feeling was still vivid.
What Seonwoo had felt then was a profound distance.
No matter how hard he struggled, he'd never be like them.
And Kim Seonwoo must be feeling something similar right now.
"Follow me: Suuuup— Haaaah."
"H-Huh, huuup... Khk...!"
"Don't hold your breath. ...Slowly."
Watching Yu Jieun tremble in fear before a threat to her life... Kim Seonwoo felt that same profound distance.
Because it was a feeling Kim Seonwoo could never dare to have.
"Th-Thank you, mister...!"
"...No need. It'll be fine, so don't worry too much."
It was blinding, pure and simple.
Even her fear.
'The look in his eyes... it's different.'
Jieun, Seonwoo's scene partner, seemed to sense the change most acutely.
It was a gaze hard to put into words.
Envious, maybe? Resigned? An emotional line he'd never encountered before.
This was the "spark" in Kim Seonwoo that Seonwoo had found.
Kim Seonwoo doesn't shine.
He's drab, dark, deficient.
But precisely because of that, he loses himself more easily in others' light.
To him, with no will to live, people thrashing to survive no matter what... all look dazzling.
So only when he gazes at them... his eyes can shine in turn.
It seemed this was the right answer.
When the director called "Cut!", Park Myungjin was smiling with satisfaction, as if yesterday's frustration had never happened.
"Yes, that's it, Seonwoo! You've got the feel now!"
"...Thank you!"
"Good, let's keep that energy. Oh, everyone's beat, right? Five-minute break!"
He was in such a good mood he even gifted them a break right away.
As the cast collapsed in exhaustion, Jieun approached Seonwoo hesitantly.
"O-Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Just now... what was that? Why'd you have that look in your eyes?"
"My eyes?"
"Yeah! Like an old man watching kids play in the park or something. It was... super weird."
"Park bench grandpa, huh..."
Seonwoo chuckled.
It wasn't wrong.
An old man looking at youth... it wasn't all that different from Kim Seonwoo gazing at their will to live.
"Close enough. To me, you looked dazzling."
"...Dazzling? Come on, what's dazzling about hyperventilating?"
"Hm... maybe it's better for your acting if you don't know the answer."
"Well... yeah, but."
She was too curious.
Jieun groaned.
Korea National University of Arts, Film Department—only geniuses got in.
And even there, she'd always snagged the lead roles.
She'd never doubted her talent her whole life... but here, she was realizing there were heavens beyond heaven.
Especially Seonwoo. The more she saw, the more inscrutable he became.
'Who'd believe this guy's got less than a year of experience?'
Even her classmates texted her sometimes.
That Kim Seonwoo you're filming with—is it really true he's got less than a year under his belt?
Honestly, Jieun had doubted it until recently.
Sure, she got that he'd lived a life with no room for acting... but even so, she couldn't believe someone with that experience could deliver this depth.
More like, she didn't want to believe it.
But Seonwoo's acting improved every single day.
Comparing yesterday to today, it was like a different person.
'How the hell is this possible?'
Did he just approach emotions differently?
Or was it the depth of the person himself?
She didn't know.
Just as Jieun was about to ask again, unable to hold back—
"Script! Script's here!"
A staff member's voice stopped her.
"Episode 2's full script!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Ah!"
Jieun slapped her palm while reading the script.
"Oppa, remember earlier when you said Yu Jieun was dazzling?"
"Yeah."
"Was it just 'cause I'm so pretty...?"
"......"
Seonwoo sighed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Two days.
The time it took Ryu to write the full script for episode 2.
'...Not even a daily drama. Is this even possible?'
Of course, he'd heard writers varied wildly in speed... but he hadn't expected this fast.
Well, Seonwoo was grateful for it.
He read through the script slowly.
The one thing he focused on throughout was how to make Kim Seonwoo shine.
He'd just confirmed it through the shoot.
He knew how Kim Seonwoo could sparkle.
'He needs more interactions with other characters.'
Kim Seonwoo was like a mirror.
The more the emotions of those around him churned, the more he'd reflect them as a window—precisely because he himself couldn't.
'The main character I tangle with in episode 2...'
Yu Jieun naturally had plenty of scenes with him afterward.
But surprisingly, another character tangled with him just as much:
'Park Moonhyeon.'
Park Moonhyeon.
In fact, Park Moonhyeon was involved with almost everyone this episode. He was set to exit, after all.
But there was something special about his bond with Seonwoo.
Park Moonhyeon: I'll drop out.
They select dropouts by vote.
Dropout. That anxious word makes people wary and hostile toward each other.
And that's when Park Moonhyeon steps up, telling them to vote for him. Volunteering to be the first out.
Of course, even then, some pointed fingers at him.
Seo Jinwook: What's your angle? You know something? You do, right? Dropping out doesn't mean you just walk out of here.
Park Moonhyeon: I don't know anything. But isn't all this suspicion pointless?
Seo Jinwook: Bullshit. I've gotten screwed believing old fogeys' sweet talk more than once.
Park Moonhyeon: If you can't trust me, I can yield. How about it? Then you'll drop out today.
Seo Jinwook: (Grinding his teeth, glaring at Moonhyeon.)
Something like that.
And that's when Seonwoo chimes in.
Kim Seonwoo: Sir, it could be dangerous. These guys even kidnapped us. Dropout... I don't think it just means kicking you out.
Park Moonhyeon: Still, we can't just sit here, right? (Smiling) Someone has to do it.
This is where Park Moonhyeon and Kim Seonwoo's relationship begins.
While everyone's lost in chaos, the one trying to sort things out... and the one worrying about him.
Thanks to that, Park Moonhyeon and Kim Seonwoo grow close enough for private chats.
What they'd been doing before entering here. Well, more like Park Moonhyeon monologuing his story to him.
And they even promise to grab a drink if they get out—only for that night, after the vote...
Every contestant in One Room hears Park Moonhyeon's scream.
A horrific, anguished scream stained with regret.
And the next day, the room where Park Moonhyeon had been... stays firmly shut.
As if whatever they imagined, the reality inside was even worse.
'...Gruesome story.'
But at the same time... somehow compelling.
Just imagining the colors bursting in that scene sent chills down his spine.
Seonwoo pictured it.
How brightly Park Moonhyeon would shine in Kim Seonwoo's eyes.
What would it feel like to gaze at that light?
Imagining it from his seat here wasn't enough.
He'd only sense that emotion once he acted opposite Moonhyeon for real, facing the colors he emitted.
Moonhyeon's role was crucial. Depending on how well he acted, Seonwoo's performance could shine even brighter.
'This Kim Seonwoo character especially seems like that.'
A figure who could only shine with someone beside him.
Like the moon glittering in the sun's borrowed light.
The problem was,
"Going again. Moonhyeon, your acting right now lacks depth. You need to capture all the complex emotions Park Moonhyeon feels in this situation. Not just 'I need to change!'—more hopeful! Get what I mean?"
"Sorry. I'll do it right."
Moonhyeon seemed overwhelmed today.
Couldn't be helped. With so much focus on him, he was carrying the current story.
Practically co-lead in episode 2.
The burden was inevitable.
By the end of the shoot, Moonhyeon's takes had racked up dozens of retakes.
'This is worrying.'
On the bus back to the dorms.
Seonwoo glanced at Moonhyeon's complexion.
It couldn't look good. Feeling like you were delaying the whole shoot would wear on anyone.
At least he didn't seem utterly defeated.
Watching him silently pore over the script even now... his will to push through hadn't broken.
'...Well, the section chief's got experience.'
A man who'd survived decades in society.
And after all that... bold enough to dive into acting, a total new field.
A late hurdle, sure... but Seonwoo believed he'd overcome it.
And Moonhyeon lived up to that faith.
That night.
On his way back to the dorm after late dinner, Seonwoo ran into Moonhyeon waiting by his door.
"Section Chief?"
"Ah, Seonwoo."
Moonhyeon looked at him.
Deep fatigue in his eyes... yet they still sparkled.
"Mind if I ask a favor?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"Could you... teach me some acting?"
Moonhyeon hesitated but finally voiced it.
Asking a kid thirty years younger couldn't have been easy. It must've taken more courage than Seonwoo could imagine.
Facing that courage, Seonwoo...
'Can't stop you, can I.'
...just laughed.
He suddenly recalled Moonhyeon's words to him before. When he'd been agonizing over Kim Seonwoo's character... Moonhyeon had said,
That no matter when or where... people sparkle in their own way.
"Sure. Sounds good."
That didn't seem wrong at all.
"I'll teach you."
Even now, in this moment... Moonhyeon was sparkling just like that.