Second Audition
"Why's Oon Ta acting like that?"
Enbin asked as he walked into the practice room after meeting with the manager. Moo-young was huffing and puffing all by himself, throwing a tantrum like a gorilla whose banana had been snatched away. The dancers exchanged silent glances toward Moo-young.
"I kinda... accidentally pranked him or something."
No, but Moo-young hadn't said a word! He'd just mentioned they were friends.
"Kinda what?"
"...Made him look like a total dinosaur."
"Huh?"
Enbin blinked in confusion. As Moo-young awkwardly explained the situation, Enbin burst out laughing, clutching his stomach and rolling on the floor.
"Crazy! Puhahaha!"
"It's not that funny."
"This is gold! Oon Ta's such an old-school hardass, he's probably freaking out! Hahaha!"
And that was just the start. Once he decided on a relationship dynamic, it never changed, not even if the sky split open. It was both the pro and con of his straight-laced personality.
Enbin patted Moo-young's worried shoulder reassuringly.
"It's fine. Totally fine. These things happen."
"Seeing your reaction just confirms it. It's not fine."
"Nah, whatever. Anyway, you really gonna learn acrobatics?"
"Acrobatics? Not breaking?"
"Kinda different. What hyung just showed you—that's acrobatics. Hand springs and side flips. Basic stuff, but it'll still wreck your body learning it."
Since it was a physical skill, that much was to be expected. Moo-young nodded vigorously, as if steeling his resolve.
"Then practice by yourself over there while we rehearse. Hyung, where'd we put the mattress?"
"Basement level 2 storage. Want me to grab it?"
"Yeah, please."
It worked out perfectly for both sides. Moo-young could drill his killer move, and Enbin had it easier too—no need to sync his third album track practice around Moo-young's schedule.
"Looking forward to working with you. Should I call you teacher?"
"Huh? Haha, no need. Teacher? Nah. I'm not great at teaching anyway. You'll have to figure it out yourself, Moo-young."
The dancer hyung waved it off with an embarrassed grin. This was pro-level stuff—there were even dedicated academies for it. He could give some crash-course basics on the fly, sure.
Screeech—
"Move, move."
"Hold that end."
Moments later, several massive, fluffy mattresses were hauled in.
"Who knew the company had stuff like this. Wild."
"With all the stage prep folks around, it gets used a lot."
Enbin tested the mattresses with a few solid stomps. Nearly 20cm thick—they were plush as hell.
"Wanna test it out?"
"With what?"
"Start with a cartwheel—hands down, flip over."
"Don't kids do this at school all the time?"
"...Do they?"
Moo-young tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. The dancer hyung demonstrated first: hand to the ground, gracefully rolling his legs in an arc, and landing clean!
"Easy, right?"
"Oh... yeah."
"Your turn."
Everyone gathered around the mattress during their break, watching Moo-young. He tucked his shirt into his pants, fully prepped.
"Hooah! Hooah!"
"That's the spirit!"
"Puhahaha!"
Tense, he bounced in place, shaking out his hands and feet. Then, with all his might—udada!
"Uh?"
"Aigoo! Haha!"
Thud—he got the hand plant, but his legs wouldn't follow. He tumbled sideways. The dancer hyung and Enbin tried steadying him, but no dice.
"Practice that for now."
"Yeaaah."
The dancer hyung glanced at his watch and nodded to Enbin—break's over, back to practice. They reformed their positions, and Enbin's third album track blasted from the speakers.
Boom! Boom boom!
"One, two, three! Turn! Again!"
"Let's gooo!"
"Ta ta ta-ta-ta! Spin! Spin again!"
"Perfecto!"
They practiced like it was a show, pouring out energy with pure joy. Footwork that owned the stage.
Moo-young watched blankly before scrambling up.
I've gotta work hard too.
Exactly half a month. He'd master one killer move for the audition, no matter what!
He kept tumbling, body aching. He'd dry-heaved so much, bile rose despite an empty stomach.
Ugh—
As he caught his breath, a memory hit: practicing guitar and singing at Ro Min's dorm.
Right. Back then too...
He didn't get it himself, but they'd said he sang fine when he acted it out.
Moo-young studied the dancer hyung's passionate moves from behind.
Act like I'm him...?
He closed his eyes, letting imagination run wild. World ended, dancer hyung moves into a mysteriously powered building. On a scouting team outside... damn, a crack splits the earth!
Only I can make it. No one else can cross this.
Muttering, Moo-young sank into the emotion, making it vivid: acrid unknown stench, roaring flames, do-or-die stakes.
"Hup!"
Leap! Eyes squeezed shut, he launched with full power. His torso twisted naturally with the spin, head whipping around. He couldn't land upright, but kneeled to finish.
Whump!
"Ow."
Strength gone, he sprawled starfish-style. Not perfect, but halfway there! Hope dawned; he couldn't contain his joy, rolling across the mattress giggling.
"Ehehehe!"
"Hyung! What're you doing?"
The dancer hyung, who'd been watching via mirror, froze mid-hand spring—seeing Moo-young do a front aerial instead.
Skipping what he taught for that? But seeing the half-success, he stopped dancing in disbelief.
"Hyung?"
"Oh, sorry sorry."
"Focus. Again—one, two, three!"
A guy who couldn't even land a cartwheel suddenly flips mid-air? Shocking. He shrugged it off as luck and refocused.
But...
"Rararara! Cha!"
By practice end, seeing Moo-young manage a full awkward spin proved it wasn't luck.
"How'd you do that?"
"Do what? Just like you showed."
Enbin was baffled too. He'd trained acrobatics as a trainee—no way it clicked in one day.
He stroked his chin, muttering seriously.
"...Maybe he moves that well to make up for his singing?"
"I'm not that bad."
"Nah, you really can't sing."
Tsk. Like a scientist probing a mystery, he grumbled on. Moo-young's words fell on deaf ears. Grabbing Enbin's arm, he yanked.
"Let's eat! I'm starving to death!"
* * *
Time flew, and second audition day arrived. Not Netflix HQ, but a studio on Gyeonggi's outskirts.
He'd guessed from the location notice, but...
"It's the real deal."
He hadn't expected this level of detail. Wire rails, camera test gear. Even chroma key screens—clear intent to judge properly.
"Ha Moo-young!"
Kang Ok-kyeong called as she stepped from her foreign car.
"Hello, Team Lead."
"Early bird, huh?"
"Yeah, no traffic."
She greeted Go Kyung-min too, leading them to the waiting room. Just a sofa in an empty space, but whatever.
"Fifteen actors total today."
"Neeeh?"
"Three for the lead Ki Do role. Rest are for female lead and key supporting."
He nearly flipped. Whew, at least only two rivals.
"Big prize on the line—better lots of guests, right? No need for round three."
"Yeah, makes sense."
Moo-young rolled his wrists and ankles casually. Half a month—exaggeration slight, but he'd lived there more than S Network trainees. Up at dawn, out at dusk with Enbin.
"Action prep okay?"
"Mm. Yep! Did my best."
"Good. Looking forward. You'll get action school before shooting if cast, but company wants actors who move well basically."
"Totally get it."
"Just checking basics. Don't stress. Gotta handle something—staff'll guide when ready. Oh right, almost forgot."
She turned back at the door.
"Passed with you: Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae. You know 'em?"
"Ah, yeah."
Cha Seung-on from the company hall; Kim Min-jae, mid-20s actor he knew by name/face.
She clenched a fist pump lightly.
"Fighting."
"Fighting~!"
Go Kyung-min bowed. As she left, he muttered worriedly.
"Cha Seung-on and Kim Min-jae, huh."
Both solid image and acting. Cha Seung-on had enlistment looming, but filmography compensated—action specialist, rumored for Marines.
"Who's Kim Min-jae?"
"Youngest of the three. He's done action in last couple works—one was historical."
War-and-battle daily saguk. Naturally more flexible than baseless Moo-young.
Moo-young flexed confidently.
"It's fine! I didn't slack for half a month!"
"Yeah, we've got this! Hell yeah!"
Bandages wrapped tight on wrists. Ankles and waist protected too. Badges of honor, proof of effort. No regrets, whatever the result.
"Hyung, bathroom quick."
"Sure. I'll grab snacks from the car."
No clue on wait time. Fifteen auditionees total.
Moo-young scanned the warehouse-style studio for the restroom. Weaving through crowds, someone grabbed his arm.
"Ah! Over there?"
"Huh?"
Eh? Kinda familiar? Woman with long hair in a ponytail. Knew her vaguely, but not quite.
Newbie actress passed by? He racked his brain for a match.
Beep—nope.
"We met at Hado Theater."
Hado Theater? Ahh! Got it. The lead from Tiger Thorn Tree.
"I'm Kim Jin-seo."
"Oh. Ha Moo-young."
"Heard tons from Yu-chan. Oh, we're same age. He bragged so much."
"Bragged? He never says a word to my face! Haha!"
"Here for audition? Lead role?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Same. Female lead."
Wrapped Hado Theater troupe, debuted drama bit part. Somehow rocketed to Netflix round two.
"Good luck today."
"You too! Fighting!"
They shook hands, parting. Moo-young thought nothing of it, but Kim Jin-seo shook off her surprise. He'd left an impression back then.
"Ha Moo-young!"
"Yeees."
"Audition starting. Prep and come out in five."
Back from bathroom, Moo-young lounged on the sofa stretching. Standby called—he zipped his tracksuit boldly.
Shhhk—
"Okay. Let's go!"
Shirt tucked firmly into pants.