Chapter 141: ...My Ramen Got Soggy.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 141: ...My Ramen Got Soggy.
After getting my makeup done at a salon at the crack of dawn, I stepped out of the car with a pounding heart.
“Taemin-ssi. Just do what you practiced.”
Seeing how frozen I was, my manager smiled and squeezed my shoulders.
“Ugh... But wow, this is definitely...”
I felt overwhelmed just by the set.
It really hit me just how low-budget my last web drama was.
The staff bustled around.
Even at a glance, dozens of people were moving in perfect sync, preparing for the shoot since early this morning.
“First, let's go around and say hello.”
My manager led me on a tour around the entire set.
The camera director, the lighting director, the scriptwriter, the sound technician, and so on and so forth.
I couldn't memorize all their faces, but I bowed so much I thought my back would break.
When it was time to greet the other actors, I felt even more nervous.
“Ah... hello. I'm Han Taemin, and I'll be playing the role of Baek Gyeongho.”
“Ah! A pleasure to meet you! My son!”
The graying actor greeted me playfully.
He was playing my father in this project.
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Likewise. Let's have a great time filming together.”
Next, I greeted actress Seong Hanna, who was playing my younger sister.
“Oh, yes! Hello~ You're Han Taemin-ssi, right?”
She... she knows me?
Knowing she was a fairly well-known actress, I nodded with a somewhat dumbfounded expression.
“Uh... you... know me?”
“Ah~ I saw your interview video. The one on that YouTube channel.”
I guess that video really was a big deal.
To think that established actors have seen it.
“When we got the cast lineup, I was like, 'Oh~ so he's in it too.'”
“I see.”
“I have to go for a quick costume check now, so let's talk more later!”
With that, she moved to another area.
I stood in a corner, silently waiting for filming to begin.
Once the signal was given that all preparations were complete, the shoot officially began.
Episode one was mostly about introducing the main characters, so I didn't have many parts.
Out of a 50-minute episode, I'd probably be on screen for about five minutes.
And finally.
After three long hours of waiting.
The scene I was in was called.
Dressed in a fancy suit and tie, I definitely looked the part of a detestable chaebol's son.
Appearing in the scene with me were the actors playing Baek Gyeongho's older brother, Baek Gyeongmin, and the male lead, Shin Hoyeon.
“Action!”
On the director's signal, we walked forward side by side.
“Baek Gyeongho. Don't you dare say anything to get on Dad's nerves today. Just try it.”
“That's your problem, hyung. You're too... uptight. I know he's our father, but how long are you going to live with your head bowed down like that? Huh?”
The lines I had practiced dozens, no, hundreds of times flowed from my mouth.
“Don't you remember? Just the other day, because of your nonsense, Mom, me, and even my wife got dragged in and chewed out. After causing all that trouble, you're still talking like this?”
Professional actors really are on another level.
His delivery perfectly captured the feeling I got when I read the script, and even though I was acting, I couldn't help but be amazed.
“Hey... I'm sorry... I said I was sorry back then, didn't I? Why are you being so petty and holding a grudge?”
As I patted his shoulder and we turned the corner, the male lead, Shin Hoyeon, was waiting for us.
“...It's been a while.”
He was smiling with his lips, but his eyes showed no sign of welcome.
This is where I'm supposed to deliver my line... The line... huh...?
“Cut!”
The moment I heard the word 'cut,' I immediately bowed my head.
“I'm sorry!”
The atmosphere on set turned cold.
No one acknowledged my apology, and the director just said to go again.
“Taemin-ssi, don't be so nervous.”
The actor playing my older brother, who was acting alongside me, patted my shoulder.
“Just stay calm.”
“...Thank you.”
I guess he's encouraging me because I'm a rookie.
Not wanting to make the same mistake again, I quickly reviewed the lines in my head.
After turning the corner and he says 'It's been a while,' I'm supposed to say, 'Well, well, look who it is,' in a slick way.
Then, 'You're looking great after studying abroad.' That's the one.
When the cue was given again, I repeated the same performance.
“...It's been a while.”
It was the part I had messed up just a moment ago.
“Well, well, look who it is.”
I raise one eyebrow, pretending to welcome him.
“Hoyeon, you're looking great after studying abroad, huh?”
“Nah. I still prefer living in Korea.”
“Hey. Still, abroad is way better. The air itself is way...”
Ah. I wasn't supposed to say 'way' twice, it was 'entirely different'.
The moment I realized I'd messed up, my body froze, and the director stopped the shoot once again.
“I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!”
The director, with a bored look in his eyes, raised a megaphone toward me.
“Han Taemin-ssi.”
Hearing my name called, I swallowed hard.
“Please focus.”
It wasn't a curse or a harsh remark, but I'd never heard the word 'focus' sound so terrifying.
“Yes. I'm sorry!”
Even though it wasn't a difficult scene, I flubbed my lines one more time after that, but on the fourth try, we finally got through it.
As soon as my part was over, my manager rushed over to me.
I couldn't face him.
“Taemin-ssi. You did well.”
He handed me a warm can of coffee.
“I'm sorry...”
Ah. But the pressure was on a completely different level.
Huge cameras were following my every move, and there were so many people watching me.
I had to struggle to keep my mind from going blank.
“Even if you mess up a line, sometimes it's better to just keep acting as long as it fits the context. Some directors will let it slide if it comes out naturally, you know?”
“Okay...”
“You'll do better tomorrow. Just make sure to study the script even more diligently.”
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say the ride home was pure gloom.
My manager, sitting next to me, tried to console me by saying most rookies make mistakes like I did, but it wasn't much of a comfort.
After getting out of the car, I stopped in front of Doah's apartment building before turning and heading toward my own place.
I wanted to see Doah, but I really didn't want her to see me like this.
I thought it was pathetic to whine after not even being able to do my own job properly.
Even I would think a boyfriend like that was lame.
A medium where I could hide my feelings.
Text.
[Just finished and got home]
I took out my phone and sent Doah a message.
[What? But why didn't you call?]
[Ah. Had a lot to talk about with my manager.]
[Aha. How was it? Did it go well?]
I lied shamelessly.
[Yeah. It was fine. Just normal.]
[That's a relief. Hehe. Did you see the other actors?]
Curious about the atmosphere on set, Doah asked me all sorts of questions.
I answered her questions faithfully, leaving out only the part where I got scolded.
[I'm doing a VRWorld stream today, which you like. You're gonna come watch, right?]
I want to watch.
I really, really want to watch.
If it were any other game, I wouldn't mind, but I really want to see the VRWorld content.
But I had no choice.
[I don't think I can watch the whole thing.]
After what happened today, I couldn't afford to do the same thing tomorrow.
The practice I thought was sufficient still felt far from enough.
I felt like I needed to memorize my lines more.
[Ah, really? I even got a new avatar... Hmph... Well, watch the full VOD when you have time to rest!]
[Okay! haha]
[I have to go into a meeting about my solo concert now, so I'll talk to you later!]
[Okay~ Do a good job!]
Her reply was a puppy emoji running with a heart in its mouth.
Talking with Doah definitely seemed to lift some of my gloomy mood.
“Hoo... Right... Shit. I'm not messing up tomorrow.”
The way the atmosphere instantly froze when I messed up was no joke. If this happened every time, my sanity wouldn't last.
Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.
Feeling that even taking the time to prepare a proper meal was a waste, I put a pot of water on to boil and tore open a pack of ramen.
Holding my chopsticks, I started practicing the part I'd be filming tomorrow.
“I'll talk to Hoyeon. I will.”
“Aish! Father already talked about that part. Why are you getting hung up on it?”
“Call the legal team. And tell Manager Kim to be here by 7.”
“Do it! I said get it done! No. If you can't even do that, why the hell are you collecting a paycheck!”
Getting too into the angry acting, I threw my chopsticks down, and a small laugh escaped me.
Ah. That felt pretty good, actually.
I think I'm getting the hang of acting angry.
But my moment of pride was short-lived.
I turned my head and let out a deep sigh.
...My ramen got soggy.
I guess it was just one of those days where nothing goes right.