Stalker (2)
Kang Hee-ok was a veteran actress and an old acquaintance of Director Bong Jun-seo. The moment she heard that Stalker was going into production, she had come running.
Now she looked at Ara — transformed into Eun-bin — and her eyes narrowed.
"You… how are you still alive?"
The shaman stared at Cheon Eun-bin, eyes round with shock.
Rewind three years.
At some point, the headaches had simply begun. To call them ordinary migraines would have been a lie — the pain was too relentless, too cruel. Hospital after hospital found nothing. A month of nothing but painkillers. As the agony only grew worse, she clung to one last hope and climbed to a Mountain Spirit Shrine said to house a truly gifted shaman.
And there she heard the words that shattered her.
"Divine sickness."
No hospital had managed an answer. The shaman diagnosed her as if it were the simplest thing in the world.
"What?"
Cheon Eun-bin doubted her own ears.
"A person's fate is like a long-flowing river."
Jingle—
The stick hung with bells traced a fluid arc through the air.
"Water begins as a small spring or a mountain stream, then grows with the help of many tributaries."
Jingle—
"It is shaped by weather. It meets obstacles. But in the end, a river flows. That is the natural order."
Jingle—
"That once-small stream swells until at last every current gathers in one place."
Jingle—
"The sea. Different beginnings, yet the final destination of every river — and the place of new departure."
The end of fate.
Death.
And from that death, nourished by it, a new birth.
Jingle—
"Principle. Natural law. Truth."
Jingle—
Cheon Eun-bin sat quietly and listened, but her mind was chaos. She understood, and she did not understand. Caught in that contradiction, she chose silence.
"But sometimes — I, or…"
Jingle—
The tip of the shaman's stick pointed straight at Cheon Eun-bin.
"…someone like you — a god suddenly intervenes in water that was flowing as it should."
"W-what does that mean…?"
"There is no reason. Or rather — not knowing is the correct answer."
"Excuse me?"
"In any case, you are chosen."
Jingle—
"Then… isn't that a good thing? It's a god, after all…"
Cheon Eun-bin voiced the question.
"Well."
Jingle—
"It depends on how you receive it. Depending on your heart, it can become a lifelong blessing."
Jingle—
"Or an eternal curse."
"Then… what am I supposed to do?"
"You must receive the spirit."
Jingle—
"And if I don't?"
"You die. Without fail."
"…"
"I-I don't understand… Why would I die…?"
"I said life is like a flowing river."
Jingle—
The bells arced again as the shaman answered her confusion.
"Yes."
"Then suppose, right in the middle of that flowing river, a massive dam suddenly appears. What happens?"
"Ah…"
Cheon Eun-bin thought she understood.
"Exactly. A god is like a dam. It blocks your fate and lets you rot. That is divine sickness."
"Th-then…"
"Receiving the spirit is, simply put, opening the dam's floodgates."
Jingle—
"Our role is to take the water released from that place and supply it to people."
Jingle—
"That is the fate you must live from now on."
Jingle—
"So choose. If you decide to receive the spirit, come find me again. I will help you."
Jingle—
"But know this — the time left to you is not long."
The diagnosis had become a terminal sentence waiting for Cheon Eun-bin. She left the Mountain Spirit Shrine behind.
Thud—!
"Ugh—!"
Walking the street, Cheon Eun-bin clutched her forehead with one hand as the headache spiked and dropped to her knees.
"Are you all right? Are you hurt?"
And she met him.
"Should I call an ambulance?"
"Ah…"
The man who approached her like fate itself.
She had not received the spirit — yet she knew at first sight.
This was her destined partner.
It had been chance, but that did not matter. From that day on they were drawn to each other, began to meet, and at last began to date.
As if a fogged field of vision had cleared.
The headaches that had worsened by the day simply vanished.
Her fated person.
The shield that protected her.
"I like you."
"Yeah. Me too."
They liked each other.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They loved each other.
"…"
"…"
They said nothing, and it was comfortable.
Happiness.
In the middle of that happy ordinary life, Cheon Eun-bin even forgot about receiving the spirit. The Mountain Spirit Shrine itself blurred into the far edge of memory.
Three years passed that way.
The shattering of that easy happiness came without warning.
Jingle—
"Hah…"
Having heard the whole story, the shaman of the Mountain Spirit Shrine let out a long sigh.
"That dream was likely a premonition…"
"A-a premonition…?"
Cheon Eun-bin's eyes went wide.
Jingle—
"Yes. Because your partner has reached his limit."
"W-what are you t-talking about?"
Cheon Eun-bin asked again, voice trembling.
Jingle—
The shaman began to explain in terms Eun-bin could grasp.
"He opened a side channel next to a dam on the verge of overflowing. His own stream, most likely."
Jingle—
"Because of that, the water that had been pooling in you began to move into a newly formed river course. Your divine sickness would have started to fade as well."
"Yes. That's right…"
Cheon Eun-bin nodded.
"But a side effect appeared."
"What is it? What side effect?"
"When flowing water meets flowing water, that is what we call destiny. Two river courses become one and naturally grow larger."
Jingle—
"But you and your partner are different. Your stream simply rode along on his. You should have merged and flowed as one path — yet two waters still run a single course. What do you think happens then?"
Jingle—
"You were happy, weren't you?"
"Yes…"
"A love as unstoppable as a powerful current. What could have stood in its way?"
"…"
"You never fought much. It was comfortable."
"Yes, that's right."
"Even trials could not hold against such a strong current. When an obstacle appears, a river should bend around it — yet you cut straight through. No hesitation on the road toward your destination."
"Th-then what do I…?"
"How do you stop a current that has already begun to reach the sea?"
Jingle— Jingle—
"I-is there n-no way…? Th-that's it! I-if I receive the spirit…!"
Jingle—
"You already know it would mean nothing. You can feel it, can't you?"
She knew.
She knew there was no way.
The terminal sentence that had once been aimed at her had, through her own greed, been redirected at the person she loved most in the world.
"…B-but."
Trembling—
Her body shook as she began to sob quietly.
"…"
"Hic…"
…
Only the sound of weeping filled the silence.
Jingle—
The bells cut through it.
"…There is one way."
The shaman spoke with difficulty.
"W-what?!"
The words sounded like a miracle. Cheon Eun-bin gasped and asked again.
"H-how?!"
"You save him yourself."
The answer was unexpectedly simple.
"Ah…!"
"You carve a new path into the straight course created by that rough current. However…"
Jingle—
"However…?"
Cheon Eun-bin looked at the shaman, face tight with tension.
"However — the existing path is the one that formed because of you."
Jingle—
"When the embankment built by your current collapses, the memories you shared with that man will vanish with it."
"!!!"
"The more you save him — the more side paths you open — the more every trace of you will be forgotten and erased from him."
"Th-that's…"
Her two yellow-glowing eyes trembled.
"It is awkward to say this as one who serves the gods, but the gods are not kind."
Jingle—
"This is the crime of leaking heaven's secrets — of rewriting one person's fate."
Jingle—
"Whatever the result, you will inevitably pay the price for that sin."
"W-what kind of price…"
"Well… I don't know either…"
Jingle—
"Most likely in the form you fear the most."
Jingle— Jingle—
"I… understand."
Cheon Eun-bin bowed her head.
"Thank you, Teacher."
When she raised her head again, something resolved burned in both eyes.
And so Cheon Eun-bin left the Mountain Spirit Shrine.
"I suppose that is enough business for today…"
Jingle—
"Okay!!!"
Director Bong Jun-seo's call cut through the set.
"Hello, Teacher. Kim Jae-jun. We met last time — do you remember me?"
Kim Jae-jun greeted Kang Hee-ok.
"Of course I remember. Have you been well?"
"Yes, Teacher. If I'd known you were coming, I would have greeted you much sooner."
Kang Hee-ok's visit had not been on the schedule. Outside of Bong Jun-seo and his inner circle, no one had expected her — so when the production staff and the two actors found her sitting alone inside the Mountain Spirit Shrine set, surprise was inevitable.
"Hello, Teacher."
Even sharp-tongued Ryu Mi-so bowed her head obediently in greeting.
"Yes, Mi-so. Still bullying the juniors these days?"
"What? N-no! When have I ever bullied anyone…"
"Hohohoho."
Whoa. She must be really famous?
Ara watched them exchange greetings and thought to herself.
No wonder her acting was so good.
She had already suspected this was no ordinary bit part, but watching Ryu Mi-so act so deferential made the woman's stature easy to guess.
That aside—
I should go say hello too.
She had to introduce herself either way. A junior this far down the ladder could not stand there with her chin in the air.
Ara walked over to where the three actors were exchanging pleasantries.
"Hello, Teacher. It's an honor to meet you. My name is Gil Ara."
Ara bowed politely.
"Yes, Ara. Forest of Crime left a deep impression on me. Truly."
"Thank you."
"Ah — I haven't introduced myself. Kang Hee-ok."
Ara felt as if she were looking at the living model of a true adult.
"Well then, everyone. It was lovely to meet you, but I should be going for today. Work is finished, so I ought to rest, yes? I'm clocking out. Hohoho."
"Yes!"
After the round of farewells, Kang Hee-ok walked over to Director Bong Jun-seo.
"Thank you so much for coming, Teacher."
"Oh, nonsense. Our Director Bong is making a comeback — of course I have to get a spoon in the pot."
"Hahaha. I'm grateful to hear you say that."
"By the way — Gil Ara. What a peculiar child…"
Kang Hee-ok let her gaze rest for a moment on Gil Ara resting in the distance.
"What about Ara?"
"Hmm. She acts extraordinarily well. I felt it in the drama, but it really is remarkable…"
"Right? I consider myself very lucky."
"But she's unusual."
"Pardon?"
Bong Jun-seo looked at Kang Hee-ok with a question in his eyes.
"I've only faced her briefly, but I'll say this — that child right now doesn't feel like Cheon Eun-bin at all."
Kang Hee-ok considered.
"How should I put it… as if there's no aftereffect?"
"I know exactly what you mean. I felt it myself at first."
"What did you feel, Director?"
"Ara's acting is… like flipping a switch on and off. That kind of feeling."
"Exactly. As if she becomes possessed by the character. It worries me. I hope she doesn't break."
Kang Hee-ok withdrew her gaze from Ara.
"But you can't stop a junior who's flying so beautifully, can you? For now, we watch."
"That's right."
"Well then, Director? I'll be going. Call me for the premiere. Promise."
"Huh? You're not staying for a meal? AC sponsored it. Please eat before you go."
"Good heavens, Director. Clocking out comes before dinner."
Perhaps every working person was the same. Even Kang Hee-ok simply wanted to go home.
"Understood. You've worked so hard today. I'll be in touch!"
Bong Jun-seo bowed at a full ninety degrees to Kang Hee-ok.
Then he turned and shouted.
"All right, everyone! We'll continue after lunch!"
There was more good news waiting.
"AC sponsored a catering buffet! A round of applause for Kim Jae-jun and Ryu Mi-so!"
Waaaaah—!
Under the staff's applause, Kim Jae-jun looked sheepish —
Clap clap clap!
— and right beside him, Ryu Mi-so struggled to keep her expression under control, flustered by Gil Ara clapping enthusiastically in her direction.
"And! YW sent a coffee truck, so help yourselves after the meal! Please thank Ara as well!"
Whoooaaa!!!
Cheers and applause washed over them. Before anyone noticed, the fatigue had been forgotten, and the whole crew finished a happy meal.
C-coffee! I'm saved!
That ominous black liquid was a blessed rain to Ryu Mi-so.
Filming continued through the afternoon as well.
"Action!!"
The shoot proceeded without incident, and at last the final scene arrived.
The last stretch of the story.
Cheon Eun-bin was already gone.
She had already been forgotten. Already erased.
Sizzle—
The man and woman here were simply grilling delicious meat and eating it.
"Oppa, doesn't this place feel familiar somehow?"
"Yeah? First time we've been here, though. Weird."
"Just my imagination?"
Park Seung-ah picked up a piece of meat as if it were nothing and ate it.
Then — drip—
Tears spilled from her eyes without her knowing.
"Huh…?"
?
It was an NG.
Originally she was supposed to just eat the meat as if nothing were wrong and end the scene.
But for some reason, no cut call came.
So the two of them simply kept acting.
From here on, it was pure ad-lib between them.
"Seung-ah? What's wrong? Was it so good it made you cry?"
"Ah! Yeah! I guess so."
Drip drip—
Tears fell.
But this time it was not Park Seung-ah.
"Looks like it was really good for you too, Oppa? Hehehe."
"Hahaha. Guess so?"
The pair wiped away tears whose cause they could not name, and went back to eating their meat.