Daegu-haeng Audition Results
Before the audition, I began practicing the script lines I had received in print.
"Dad only sees himself... So that's why Mom left."
"Dad! Don't go, Dad!!"
I rehearsed the lines by trading them back and forth with Ha-jun.
This way of practicing felt great. Even when I practiced alone, I could get immersed, but without a real partner the intensity never quite reached the same level.
'Nice.'
It was fun.
The more I practiced, the clearer it became that my acting skills were improving, and the time spent on rehearsals turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable.
"Should we take a little break?"
"Sure. Let's rest for ten minutes."
Right after I finished speaking, Ha-jun headed to the fridge and pulled out two cans of cola.
"You want some?"
"Of course."
I snapped the tab on the can Ha-jun had given me and took a long, satisfying sip.
'Ahh~ This hits the spot.'
Cola after all that hard work was the best thing in the world.
"Then how about we practice a bit more?"
"Good idea."
If the effort really paid off, I could keep going forever.
#1
"Dad's scary..."
Looking at my own acting, my father Lee Tae-seok had to fight the urge to jump up and help me right that second.
'Yena!'
Yena was calling for me, but the cruel reality that I couldn't do anything about it hurt worse than anything.
'Dad. Can you help me with my acting practice?'
'Sure. How should I help?'
'Just act like your usual dad self.'
'Okay.'
Just a little while ago, my daughter had asked for my help.
But my acting skills were so terrible I couldn't help her at all.
'My friends haven't been saved yet!'
'S-sorry, Haneul-ah. I don't think I can save them.'
'No... Dad, why do you keep stuttering?'
'Sorry. As soon as I start acting, I get nervous.'
'Hmm. Then just rest, Dad. I'm practicing with Mom right now.'
That's how I had become the spectator for quite some time.
"Sorry. It's all my fault, Haneul-ah!"
"I'm okay..."
'Why do both of them act so well?'
My daughter was only nine years old, and my wife had never acted a day in her life. In reality, it made perfect sense that they were both excellent at acting.
'I don't know...'
I decided it was best to just let it go.
I had already realized long ago that trying to understand my daughter was pointless.
'Maybe she's just talented in every single field?'
She edited better than almost any professional, had a great personality, and was already raking in over ten million won a month as a review YouTuber.
'I hope she's happy.'
I could only pray that. That my daughter would live a happy life.
That she would never live only for money.
Luckily, it didn't seem like my daughter was the type who got lost in money.
Seeing how many people had gone crazy over money, I counted myself lucky.
'She might still be too young to realize its full power.'
Of course, I couldn't be too relaxed. My daughter was only nine; she might not have truly felt the danger of money yet.
While I was lost in thought, a voice pulled me out of it.
"How was it, Dad?"
"How was it, honey?"
Even my wife, who I loved so deeply I wouldn't trade her for anything, and my adorable daughter both asked me the question. I couldn't help smiling.
It was still a miracle no matter how many times I thought about it. How had I ended up with such a beautiful wife and such a cute daughter?
#2
Time flew by in an instant, and the day of the audition finally arrived.
I calmed my racing heart and waited among the other kids. Of course, Mom was waiting at the entrance to the audition hall and Ha-jun was right beside me, so the tension wasn't quite as intense as it might have been.
"Ready, Yena?"
"Yeah. You ready too?"
"Of course."
I chatted with Ha-jun to loosen up my nerves, and after a short while it was his turn.
"I'll go."
"Do your best and come back."
"Got it."
After Ha-jun went into the room, five minutes later he came out. His face was flushed.
"Did you see it?"
"Y-yes! It looked positive!"
I couldn't hide my expression after hearing Ha-jun's answer and had to look down to cover it. I had no choice. I knew the truth.
'The character in Daegu-haeng is a girl.'
Of course the director was probably planning to cast a boy, but if he had really wanted a girl he wouldn't have called Ha-jun.
Still, he had already decided on a girl ninety-nine point nine percent.
'I can't say anything about it.'
I knew the question would come anyway, so I stayed quiet.
A little while later, my name was called.
"Good luck!"
I gave a thumbs-up to show my gratitude and stepped into the room.
When I entered, three judges were already staring at me.
I started with a greeting. I knew how important it was.
"Hello!"
"Oh, hello."
Smiles spread across the judges' faces at my greeting.
In my past life, everyone who received my greeting had looked unhappy. This life was different. When I greeted someone, they all smiled back.
I still couldn't believe it sometimes.
"All right. Shall we begin?"
"Yes!"
I started performing the script I had prepared.
#3
I boarded the train heading to Daegu to meet Mom.
"It's been a while since I've gone to see Mom."
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"Don't say sorry."
Dad always apologized to me.
'I'm really okay.'
I knew exactly what he was thinking.
He felt sorry because Mom had gone to live far away.
That was exactly what he would be thinking.
He was probably carrying guilt for himself.
'Well, I don't think he'd believe me anyway.'
Dad probably thought his words were just the usual comforting lines people say.
Still, I lived every day believing that someday he would hear my true feelings.
"How long until we get to Daegu?"
"About two and a half hours."
"Really? It doesn't take that long."
If it was only two and a half hours, I probably didn't even need to sleep.
We were talking with Dad and eating while the time passed.
A woman was doing something weird.
"Dad, why is that lady acting so strange?"
I pointed at the woman who was twisting her body in a grotesque way.
"I wonder if she's sick somewhere?"
The moment Dad stood up, everything started.
The woman's face began to change into something completely inhuman, and Dad, sensing something wrong, pulled me far away from her.
While we were watching from a distance, the woman suddenly stood up and called for the flight attendant who had come to help her.
The bitten flight attendant suddenly acted strangely, then rushed toward us shouting that a zombie had appeared.
Screams erupted from the passengers as Dad ran down the aisle carrying me.
That was the end of the audition rehearsal.
#4
Director Hong Jun-seok stared with his mouth wide open after watching Yena's performance.
'This is elementary-school acting...?'
I couldn't believe it. Of course, when you took away the fact that she was only a child, her skill was still below that of veteran actors and actresses.
But she was only nine years old. Comparing her to seasoned veterans made her look far too young.
'And she has no acting experience at all?'
Director Hong Jun-seok was about to ask a question when the producer beside him beat him to it.
"The profile says you have no acting experience. Is this really your first time acting?"
"Yes! I'm a brand-new beginner who started acting only a month ago!"
Director Hong Jun-seok was stunned for a moment.
'Only a month? How can someone reach this level in just one month?'
I honestly couldn't believe it, but when I looked at her expression carefully, she didn't seem to be lying.
'Even if she is lying, it doesn't matter.'
Who she started acting for didn't matter. What mattered was how good she was right now.
Based purely on skill, Yena was the most talented among all the kids who had auditioned so far.
'Acting is one thing, but her looks are unbelievable...'
Even if there had been no flaws in her performance, with her skill she would have been cast anyway. With her otherworldly beauty added, there was no reason not to cast her.
The producer and casting director sitting next to me were both nodding in satisfaction. They clearly had the same opinion.
'Good. It's decided.'
I had originally planned to cast a boy, but a monster like this had appeared, so the plan had to change.
Director Hong Jun-seok drew a big circle around Yena's profile.
#5
Two weeks after the audition, I received a call.
"You're accepted?!"
Hearing my mom's voice, I finally understood that I had been accepted.
'Well, it was a given.'
I had expected it. With B-level acting and S+ looks combined, anything less would have been strange.
Above all, I had worked hard.
Feeling the reward of effort, I almost cried.
'All right. I'll do my best.'
Tap.
I clapped my own cheeks and made a firm promise to give everything.
While I was still making that promise, Mom came over and said:
"Yena, let's have a meat party today!"
"Meat party?"
"Yeah!"
"Sounds good."
Meat parties were always the right thing to do.
"Can I order chicken too?"
"Sure! Order everything! Today you can eat anything you want!"
#6
Two weeks after receiving the acceptance notice, Mom and I arrived at the filming location.
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