Stars Secretly Eye the High School Stage
I kept wondering what Han Taekon's KakaoTalk message from yesterday really meant. The moment I saw his reply of "Got it," I asked him over and over exactly what he meant by it.
But his response was always the same.
That was all. I had a bit of intuition myself, so I had a rough idea of what he was getting at.
Does he mean he's coming to audition?
But no matter how I thought about it, that didn't make sense. Why would a national actor with a blockbuster film under his belt show up to audition for a kids' play? It made far more sense that he just wanted to come watch the show.
But still...
Something's off. It didn't feel like he was just coming to spectate casually.
Whatever. I couldn't exactly cancel the auditions because of that. As soon as school ended, I called Bong Jinu right away.
"Yes, yes, Donghu. I'm right here in front of you."
I awkwardly scratched my cheek, staring at Jinu who had popped up right in front of me the second I made the call.
"Oh, uh, I was heading to the drama club for that play audition."
"If you're talking about Sparking... it's already done. No need to go there anymore."
"Huh?"
"No need to be surprised. It's just... we need to get serious now. No time to waste on kids' playtime."
Star and Moon Story has to succeed no matter what, so we focus on that.
Jinu delivered the words without a hint of hesitation, like he truly believed it down to his bones.
"And I posted the audition notice online separately."
"Oh, really? So we don't need to prep together?"
"Yeah, it felt weird to ask for help that far. We've already got a ton of investment..."
A ton of investment? I barely suppressed the urge to ask for the exact amount.
How much did they have to get for him to call it "a ton"?
More importantly, how much did he pour into a kids' show in the first place?
Choi Seokho's comment about investing his entire fortune suddenly bugged me. No way he actually did that, right? How could he risk it without knowing the return?
I know the grade, sure. But if he doesn't, he's just betting everything on my word?
Does he have the heart of a beast, ready to follow in my dad's footsteps?
That thought crossed my mind right then.
"So when's the audition?"
"Uh, well... we don't need a ton of actors, so maybe the week after next? We'll hold it around then."
"Oh, at that theater district spot?"
"Yeah, yeah. The show's gonna be there anyway."
"Got it."
Suddenly, I had a hunch things were about to blow up. Like, on a whole different scale.
"Any actors you're thinking of already?"
"Oh, um... for Rose, I had Kim Sujin in mind. I reached out, and she said yes right away."
"And the rest?"
"Eh, not sure. Honestly, just having Kim Donghu pick my script is an honor... We'll decide the others via auditions."
As we kept chatting like that, I spotted the problem with this conversation.
"Hey, hyung. You're being way too formal... I'm your junior."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I know. I know you're the junior."
"?"
Han Taekon was like this, and now Bong Jinu too—what the hell did they think they "knew"?
To me, it looked like they didn't know jack.
The afternoon after Bong Jinu said he'd posted the audition notice online.
"See? I told you it'd really go up."
"I-It really did?"
Han Taekon's manager's eyes widened at the actual theater audition post.
Can't believe a high schooler made this—such a slick, professional design.
Talent jumped out at you just looking at it. Unfortunately, the views on the post were a measly 8. Even six hours after posting, it hadn't cracked double digits.
"Theater's just hard to drum up interest for."
A lot of people were already in troupes anyway. The manager nodded at Han Taekon's explanation.
Troupes scouted scripts, not the other way around. And even if a playwright formed their own troupe, openly recruiting from the start like this was super rare.
But the poster's account was created yesterday. Profile said high school sophomore, first work?
"Just seeing the new account makes you not wanna click."
Who'd rush in for some unknown's project? The manager shot Han Taekon a weird look at his words.
"You're planning to go for it."
"That's 'cause this post is too righteous. Imagine the crowd if it said Kim Donghu was involved."
But no, he's going pure merit—betting on his own strength. I love directors like that. Real confidence in their work. Those are the ones who make it big.
The manager, who'd been listening quietly, decided he had to speak up. Nine years working together, and he'd never seen Han Taekon this proactive. He'd just figured out why.
"You do get chatty when you really want something."
"Huh?"
"You wanna work with Kim Donghu one more time, right?"
"...That obvious?"
"Obvious from the start. Didn't think it'd be this bad."
Han Taekon paused at the manager's words, lost in thought.
Was it?
Acting had started feeling like a job at some point. The pressure of the "national actor" label hit the second it stuck—he could tumble from one mistake. That weight slowly strangled him.
Then he met Kim Donghu.
Overwhelming presence. Destructive talent. Watching it, Han Taekon thought,
The reason I started is right there.
The awe at someone else's acting, the urge to emulate it, to stand beside it—that rush hit hard.
Han Taekon didn't want a quick shoot like Endless Frontline. He wanted to grind out real chemistry with Kim Donghu.
And now that chance was here? How could he not be thrilled?
"Plus, no one knows. That's the real kick."
"Huh?"
"Right? Who'd guess me and Kim Donghu in some play? No one."
Like being a rookie again? He was buzzing with excitement.
The manager chuckled at his childlike glee.
"Fine, as long as you're happy."
Schedule was open anyway, and a star like Han Taekon could juggle freely. No one would complain about a little theater gig.
Funny part? He didn't even negotiate pay—just auditioning off a public post.
Anyone hearing "Han Taekon auditioning for a no-pay high school play with Kim Donghu" would call bullshit.
That combo alone is huge.
That thought sparked another in the manager's mind.
This'll leak for sure, won't it?
Anyway—National Actor Han Taekon Decides to Audition!
The manager's prediction missed the mark. Or rather, there was no need for rumors—it was already out in the open.
"Should Mom audition too?"
"Huh?"
"With you and Donghu in it—think I should audition?"
"What're you talking about, Mom."
Kim Sujin panicked at her mom, the queen of TV screens—Kim Yuryeon.
"Mom, this is just kids messing around."
"Kids? They're openly recruiting actors. Means outsiders welcome."
"But still..."
Isn't it weird for a mom to crash kids' playtime?
Sujin stopped herself.
It's not exactly kids' play anymore.
The second Kim Donghu showed up, it stopped being a talent show. A 40% ratings lead? No way that's amateur hour.
And besides...
Me too...
It was more serious than expected. Hell, the casting was overkill for a high school scriptwriter.
"After syncing so well in Hide Dream, I've always wanted to act with my future son-in-law again."
"S-Son-in-law?! What son-in-law?! Why would you even say that! It's not like that yet!"
Kim Yuryeon narrowed her eyes sharply at her daughter's outburst.
"Yet? You said yet? So it will happen... Donghu's destined to be my son-in-law, huh?"
"I-I don't know... He doesn't seem interested in that stuff."
Yuryeon smiled softly at her suddenly deflated daughter.
"Seeing you like this just makes me wanna audition more."
The queen of TV, Kim Yuryeon. Audition participation decided!
There are people like that in the world. Human, sure, but with the senses of a well-trained beast.
Their instincts border on prophecy—no one dares ignore them.
Seo Jinu, lead of Geomgeom Baek Dongsu, was one such man.
"Why do you look so damn happy?"
"Huh?"
Seo Jinu, who hung out privately with Han Taekon often, furrowed his brow at the guy's unusually bright vibe.
This hyper-sensitive prick—why's he grinning like that lately?
"You've got something going on."
"What? I don't."
Crunch crunch!
Distracting him with chit-chat, Jinu snatched Han Taekon's phone.
What had him glued to it all evening?
One glance at the screen birthed a new question.
"Actor recruitment? Theater troupe? What the hell?"
He was about to say, You going for this?
Then it flashed in his mind.
"...Kim Donghu's in this, isn't he."
His savage hunch hit dead on.