Chapter 146
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: The Parachute
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After the meeting between Cocoa Entertainment, the ad agency, and Gureum, An Daho contacted Seojun.
“I’ve arranged for you to be paid as Jin Na. There are no script revisions, and they said the child actors will be using their real names for their roles…”
-Then I should go by Jin Na.
An Daho laughed at Seojun's words.
“They said it's fine to use Lee Seojun.”
-I applied as Jin Na, so I'll stick with Jin Na.
“Alright, then. They also asked you to get familiar with the acting before the shoot. The audition will be at the Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center.”
-The Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center?
An Daho explained to the questioning Seojun.
“It's a safety experience center built by the National Fire Agency. You can do earthquake, typhoon, and smoke evacuation simulations there.”
Come to think of it, he remembered going to a place like that with his classmates and homeroom teacher.
The earthquake simulation, shaking violently on a machine; the typhoon simulation, with its powerful winds; and the smoke evacuation drill, walking through a dark corridor filled with acrid smoke towards an emergency exit.
Seojun, on the phone, nodded.
-I went to one with my school in third grade. It had a different name, though.
“This one is newly built. The one you went to must be an older one.”
-I thought I was used to it from the school evacuation drills, but the smoke evacuation room was different, and it really surprised me and the other kids. But they're holding the audition there?
‘Usually, auditions are held in an office… Won't it be hard to act in a dark place full of smoke?’
An Daho answered Seojun's question.
“They're looking at acting skills, of course, but they also want to make sure no one panics on set. So they're testing them here and giving extra points to the child actors who stay calm.”
-That makes sense.
If an actor were to cry in shock at the fake smoke on set, or freeze up thinking they were trapped, it would be difficult to continue filming.
An Daho continued.
“So, I was thinking of going to the Baekho Center when we have time. What do you think?”
-Sounds good. I want to go too.
Seojun nodded repeatedly.
Seeing their son nodding so eagerly at someone who couldn't even see him, Seo Eunhye and Lee Minjun burst into laughter.
* * *
The ad agency 'Gureum' got busy.
Along with Park Jongwoo, the director for this commercial, they finished the auditions at the Baekho Fire Safety Experience Center and sent the scripts to the selected child actors.
The production team started building the set for the commercial, and the planning team arranged for cooperation with a nearby fire station.
Despite the busy schedule, the employees at Gureum couldn't stop smiling. It was because an unexpected actor had been cast.
“Ah, shouldn't we tell the National Fire Agency that Lee Seojun is starring in it?”
“I know, right? Isn't it about time we told them?”
Everyone looked at the team leader. The team leader shook his head.
“We can't.”
“…We can't tell them Lee Seojun is in it? Why not?”
“That's right. The budget would increase immensely, wouldn't it?”
“Because the higher-ups will show up.”
At the team leader's words, the employees nodded unconsciously. They understood.
“I get it.”
“To make everyone understand with just that one sentence. You're great at summarizing, Team Leader.”
“If they knew Lee Seojun was coming, all the bigwigs would mobilize.”
“And it might not just be the National Fire Agency.”
If Seojun appeared, everyone from city council members to national assemblymen might show up for photo ops to boost their recognition and for election campaigns.
For a regular movie or drama shoot, they'd have no excuse to interfere, but a public service announcement? What a perfect justification.
Imagining Seojun being pestered by them, the employees sighed and shook their heads.
“But is it really okay not to tell them?”
“That's the contract we made with Cocoa Entertainment. It's to be kept secret until the PSA's screening for the National Fire Agency. If we tell them and Lee Seojun backs out of the PSA, we'll have to take responsibility. There'd probably even be articles saying we kicked Lee Seojun out of a PSA he could have starred in. We'd be the only ones to get flamed.”
The employees shuddered at the team leader's prediction, which seemed all too likely.
“So everyone keep your mouths shut until filming is over.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let's start informing the actors of the filming dates.”
“Okay!”
“But shouldn't we tell the director? That actor Lee Seojun is starring in it.”
At Kim Jihyun's words, the team leader paused.
“…Haven't we told him yet?”
“…No.”
“Tell him right away.”
“Yes, sir!”
Kim Jihyun quickly sent a BananaTalk message.
* * *
“I… those bastards… I knew they'd do this…”
“Jongwoo hyung. Eat something while you drink. You haven't eaten all day.”
The grumbling Park Jongwoo started to sob. Kim Soohan, who had been drinking with Park Jongwoo since broad daylight, sighed.
There was no way Jongwoo hyung, a heavy drinker, would be drunk on this little alcohol; he was likely using the slight buzz to finally let out his pent-up feelings.
He understood Park Jongwoo's frustrated and resentful heart. Out of many scenarios, Park Jongwoo had bought a good one that seemed like a guaranteed hit, worked his butt off to get investors, and then the production company, which had done nothing, replaced him as director without a word.
They didn't even pretend to listen to Park Jongwoo's protests. All that was left was the money for the script, tossed to him like charity from the production company.
“We did everything… from start to finish, we did it all… those bastards…”
Park Jongwoo, repeating the same words while sobbing, finally quieted down after lying on the floor. *Good thing we're at your place, hyung,* Kim Soohan sighed.
“But what are we really going to do now…”
His stomach churned. Jongwoo hyung had helped him during their college film festival, just because he was a junior from the same school.
In return, Kim Soohan had helped with Park Jongwoo's current project. He had worked hard for months, waiting for the day his name would appear in the end credits, and now it had all come to nothing.
“I thought I'd get one project done before my military enlistment…”
It was a lost cause.
With a bitter feeling in his gut, Kim Soohan took another swig of beer.
*Batok!*
Park Jongwoo's phone buzzed. Kim Soohan shook him.
“Hyung. You got a BananaTalk.”
“Huh?”
“A BananaTalk.”
“Uh… phone…”
Kim Soohan placed the phone in Park Jongwoo's hand, which was flailing in the air. Park Jongwoo read the BananaTalk message with his blurry vision.
>Director. This is the ad agency, Gureum.
>We're writing to inform you that the actor for Role A has been decided.
Ad agency.
Those words sobered Park Jongwoo up.
“Who is it?”
“The ad company.”
“Ah, them.”
Gureum, the ad agency Park Jongwoo and Kim Soohan had signed a contract with to raise funds for their movie.
They had taken on various jobs besides this one to raise investment funds. Now that the movie had been stolen, the funds seemed pointless, but it was difficult to back out of a signed contract, and neither of them was the type to ditch a job without a good reason.
‘I guess I'll just have to work hard on this instead of the movie.’
“Soohan, can I get some cold water?”
“Sure.”
After drinking the cold water Kim Soohan gave him and clearing his head, Park Jongwoo sent a reply.
Park Jongwoo sighed. Kim Soohan, who was chewing on a piece of chicken, tilted his head.
“What's wrong?”
“No, it's just... I was thinking the acting world is just as shady as ours.”
“What do you mean?”
“We're filming a PSA, and there's a parachute.”
“A parachute?”
“Yeah. Didn't even audition. I don't know who it is, but I'm *really* looking forward to their acting.”
In front of the sarcastic Park Jongwoo, Kim Soohan quietly pushed the chicken and beer closer. The director who took Park Jongwoo's project was the production company president's nephew. He understood why Park Jongwoo was grinding his teeth at the word "parachute."
*Batok-*
Park Jongwoo's phone buzzed.
Despite the BananaTalk notification, Park Jongwoo just kept chugging his beer.
“Aren't you going to look?”
“It's probably just telling me which actor was appointed.”
“You should still look. You need to know who it is to prepare.”
“…Fine.”
With a displeased expression, Park Jongwoo checked the message while drinking his beer. As he read the BananaTalk message, his eyes widened, and then—
*Pfft—!*
He spat out his beer.
“Ah, hyung!”
Kim Soohan stood up in disgust. The chicken, showered in beer, was dying a cold death.
“I haven't even had that many pieces yet!”
Kim Soohan quickly removed the top pieces of chicken and checked the ones underneath. Fortunately, the chicken at the bottom was safe.
“Soo, han…”
“The floor's a mess too! Hurry up and wipe it!”
“Kim… Soohan…”
Kim Soohan, who was wiping the floor with a tissue, looked up at the sound of Park Jongwoo's trembling voice. Park Jongwoo, his face pale as a sheet, was holding out his phone with a shaking hand.
“…Yes?”
“Read this. I think my alcohol tolerance has gotten a lot weaker. I'm seeing things.”
“…? Okay.”
Taking Park Jongwoo's phone, Kim Soohan said.
“It does seem like you can't hold your liquor as well. You look really pale, hyung.”
“Just read it.”
Urged on by Park Jongwoo, Kim Soohan shrugged and read the BananaTalk message.
>Director. This is the ad agency, Gureum.
>We're writing to inform you that the actor for Role A has been decided.
>Yes. We apologize for the late notice.
>Role A has been given to actor Jin Na. That is, actor Lee Seojun.
>We will see you on the day of the shoot.
Kim Soohan narrowed his eyes. *I don't think I drank that much, so why am I seeing things?* He rubbed his eyes and checked the BananaTalk message again.
“Hyung, I think I'm seeing things too.”
“Right? Why does the actor's name look like Lee Seojun?”
“…You see it that way too?”
Park Jongwoo and Kim Soohan, both pale as ghosts, stared at each other. Their eyes met, trembling violently.
“W-w-wait a minute.”
Park Jongwoo grabbed the phone with a trembling hand. With that same shaking hand, he called someone. It was the ad agency, Gureum.
Kim Soohan also held his breath at the name of his favorite actor, appearing in such an unexpected place, and stared only at Park Jongwoo.
The ringing tone, where each second felt like ten years, stopped as someone picked up the phone.
“Yes, Team Leader. I saw the BananaTalk message… The actor for Role A is…?”
Park Jongwoo's expression changed rapidly as he held the phone to his ear. From a face full of doubt, to one of shock as he listened, and finally, he hung up with his face flushed red.
Kim Soohan had never seen such an expression on Park Jongwoo's face before. Not when he found this script, nor when he secured the investment, had he looked so happy and moved.
“Jongwoo hyung, really? Is it really Lee Seojun?”
“Yes!”
“Holy crap! For real?”
“They said the contract is already signed! I get to film with Lee Seojun!”
Park Jongwoo's eyes welled up with tears. Kim Soohan, who had been cheering along with him, remembered something and grinned.
“So, 'the acting world is just as shady,' huh?”
“Urk.”
At Kim Soohan's words, Park Jongwoo thought, *What does he mean?* and then froze. Only then did he remember what he'd said while drinking. And he remembered it vividly.
“A parachute? Who's a parachute? Seojun would be disappointed to hear that, hyung.”
“Hey! How was I supposed to know!?”
“You're so looking forward to Seojun's acting, huh? I should tell him that. Oh, right, I'm on the shoot too, aren't I? Maybe I'll just spill the beans.”
“I was wrong!”
Kim Soohan burst out laughing at Park Jongwoo's words.
Kim Soohan demanded two more chickens as a condition for his silence. Park Jongwoo quickly ordered one sweet & spicy and one original fried.
While waiting for the chicken to be delivered, Park Jongwoo and Kim Soohan kept staring at the BananaTalk message.
“This isn't a dream, right?”
No matter how many times they looked, the message didn't change.
While Park Jongwoo was simply overjoyed, Kim Soohan thought of Jin Na. He thought of Lee Seojun.
Acting that transcended the screen. They had to film the performance of that incredible, world-renowned actor. As he realized this, his heart, which had been trembling with joy, began to pound with pressure and fear.
“Jongwoo hyung. Can we do this?”
“Huh?”
“Can we fully capture Lee Seojun's performance?”
At Kim Soohan's trembling voice, Park Jongwoo finally, truly realized that *he* had to film 'Lee Seojun's' acting.