Not an Actor! (3)
Red carpet laid out with chairs. Lee Tae-gyu sat there, bands attached with electrodes clinging to spots all over his body, slowly turning his head to scan the studio once.
"……."
It felt like stepping into a temple. The massive studio, with enormous grayish-white marble pillars holding up the high ceiling on all sides. In the somewhat dim light.
Pin lights dropping straight down from above. Those lights illuminated.
Flutter.
Lee Tae-gyu seated in the chair, and next to him, the MC tilting his head while lightly tapping the cue sheet on his thigh.
"Um. I'm having a bit of trouble wrapping my head around this. Did I hear that right just now?"
"Yes, you did."
And as Tae-gyu turned to look at the MC after a brief silence, he suddenly sensed it.
'Huh.'
Why had he just said that?
It was a variety show he'd agreed to appear on out of gratitude to DK Entertainment in the first place. The chances of it going wrong were slim—he'd analyzed that long ago, even accounting for CEO Do Yoon-seop's ambitions.
In other words.
'What was that just now.'
Not acting?
There was no need to spit out words like that.
━━Thump.
Yes. The words he'd 'spit out' just now came from something faintly wriggling deep in his heart.
'No way, this is…….'
Something stifling if just swallowed down. Something refreshing when exhaled with a breath. The fizzy burst of a long-stuck cork popping free, coursing through his whole body and infusing it with vibrant life force.
In other words.
An emotion━━━fainter than when using dokkaebi fire, but clearer than the occasional glimpses he caught in daily life. Clear enough to make out its shape.
Gulp.
Tae-gyu, feeling something without even using dokkaebi fire, carefully chose his words this time and rephrased what he'd said earlier.
"Honestly, that's how I see it. If you really break it down, I'm not an actor who does real acting."
"Real acting?"
"Yes."
Indeed.
"The acting that the other actors do when matching breaths with me in a project—that's real acting. Compared to that, mine is honestly embarrassing."
It felt like a tangled thread unraveling, something slipping free from his stuffy chest. This 'something' that only brought relief after loosening. This 'something' he only realized existed after speaking it.
Yes.
In this instant, Tae-gyu had ambiguously laid bare to the public a secret he'd carried alone for so long, experiencing a strange unraveling of emotion.
Loneliness.
Fleeting, but certain. A moment of unburdening.
That's how it always was. Carrying a secret alone that others couldn't even imagine—it was bound to etch a faint loneliness somewhere in someone like Tae-gyu.
……No.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
……Maybe because of these?
As he watched the dokkaebi fires flickering like dancing flames from his emotion pocket, something flashed through Tae-gyu's mind.
'Come to think of it, it feels a bit different from before.'
Comparing before and after he started using dokkaebi fire, the frequency of faintly feeling emotions had definitely increased.
But.
That was something to think about after recording. For now, the unburdening……
"………Wait a second."
The MC suddenly spoke up with his signature monologue. Famous for pinpointing just the right hook even in casual chat to fill airtime, he nailed the crux right away.
"So, Tae-gyu-ssi, you're saying you think your acting skills are inferior to other actors'?"
"Yes."
"No one would buy that, though. You could say something like that honestly without issue, haha."
"That's what I'm saying honestly."
"Is that for real? No need to say something you don't mean. These days, confident stars are way more popular anyway."
"It's the truth."
A star actor pretending to be overly humble. That type usually looked down on everyone else, which was why they imposed such strict limits on their own behavior.
"If we're talking pure acting skill, it's not just falling short of other actors…… I wouldn't even dare share the screen with them."
Adding such an extreme explanation without being asked.
The MC was getting a feel for it now, but.
Fwoosh!
To Tae-gyu, it was sincere. No matter how much he studied acting from textbooks on his own or applied acting techniques between dokkaebi fire uses, the core was still dokkaebi fire.
It was just an obvious fact to him.
"Let me ask again. Everything you just said—is it all sincere?"
"Yes, it's the truth."
So the MC couldn't help but be shocked.
"My acting skills are the worst among all actors in Korea."
The star actor currently skyrocketing in fame across Korea spoke with firm resolve.
Glint.
"…………Huh?"
At the same time, main PD Kim Bok-hyeon's jaw dropped as he watched.
***
"What."
"He's serious?"
"No way."
"Isn't he just humble?"
"What kind of person is like that?"
The murmurs from the surrounding staff reached his ears. The guests watching this on monitors inside must be reacting the same way.
'Oho.'
Main PD Kim Bok-hyeon's eyes began to sparkle.
'That guy's a total nutjob.'
From the LA ribs bit, he'd seemed off. Ah, right.
Kim Bok-hyeon swung his arm toward MC Jang Dok-gi, who was about to pivot to a related chat with Tae-gyu, mimicking scooping something from a bowl. The MC immediately followed up.
- Oh, right. In your pre-interview, you said the biggest expense with your first settlement was LA ribs, yeah?
LA ribs, 20kg. Enough to barely fill fridge and freezer.
- Yes.
Pfft—light chuckles erupted.
- LA ribs…… You must really love them.
- Yes, they're delicious.
Most laughs were baffled, but even so, the studio atmosphere, sunken since the critic stormed out earlier, was lightening up.
"He's cute."
"Right?"
"Oh, the guy knows his meat."
Feeling the shifted air, Kim Bok-hyeon tilted his head with a strange expression.
'………What.'
Not mystique?
Not pretending to be a weirdo?
'Then, for real…….'
A grin crept onto Kim Bok-hyeon's lips.
He was a pro. Even in an unbelievable situation, he could instantly adapt the direction for a celebrity's unexpected performance.
'Go sweet.'
'Got it.'
Nodding at the main MC, Kim Bok-hyeon had thought from the start.
Your Heart Echoes shouldn't just be a guillotine for celebrities.
'People love感動 as much as outrage.'
Of course, he'd booked celebs with false accusations or injustices too.
The classic bitter-sweet mix.
'Whose heart is like this~ or that~'—for such judgments to hold weight, the public had to trust the judges.
In other words.
The results shouldn't seem rigged by the 'variety show,' but fair by the 'conscience of the guests'—that perception built the show's authority.
'That's how it becomes the go-to for explanations when scandals hit.'
Simple.
Like when he planned the show, to properly bury the bad guys, the public had to trust it—and for trust, results had to make sense.
Deep valleys need high mountains. Can't bury everyone.
This show guided the public on how to 'consume' celebs showing genuine, harmless sincerity.
'That side.'
'Ready.'
Second and third verification rooms. The experts here could elevate images as easily as they destroyed them.
'Okay, then.'
Their every word and analysis would gain power through Kim Bok-hyeon's editing.
Who to save, kill, boost, or drop—he could tell just by looking at them in the waiting room. Seasoned variety PD.
Nod.
At his signal, the MC started firing questions to pin down what kind of guy Lee Tae-gyu was.
- By the way, Tae-gyu-ssi, why'd you come on our show?
- At my agency's request.
- Ah, DK Entertainment. Mind being honest? Happy with your agency?
- Yes.
- Whoa, feels like I stirred trouble for no reason. Quick answer means you two get along great?
- Yes.
- I heard some weird rumor that you asked your agency to airlift a wild tiger or something, so I thought maybe communication was……
- Ah, that's true.
- Pardon?
- The movie role needed a wild tiger.
- ???
- I…… have no idea what that means, haha. Oh, right, you're famous for super thorough role research. Any fun stories or episodes?
- Oh, come to think of it, a detective scouted me.
- ???
- I'm amazing at undercover work.
- ????
Instant answers, one after another. No sharp changes in the polygraph tracking breaths, pulse, sweat, and micro-metrics.
Not even heavy questions—just light tosses, yet answers no normal person would give kept bursting out for 20 minutes straight.
'………What the.'
By then.
Something finally clicked for Kim Bok-hyeon, sweating to nail Tae-gyu's character.
- Oh, but wait. Earlier, you said what you do isn't acting, right?
- Yes.
- Then…… what is it?
- Y-Yes?!
- Thinking about it now, you're so immersed it's called eccentric, but if you don't see what you do as acting, what do you call it? Suddenly curious.
- …….
Tae-gyu suddenly at a loss for words.
- Do, do……
- Do??
- Ah, never mind.
Seeing him seemingly sweat bullets, color bloomed on Kim Bok-hyeon's face.
'This is it.'
Finally caught it. The weirdo actor's hidden hook.
***
One week later.
Han Joo-hyuk and Seol A-yoon were watching TV in a spacious lounge.
Or more precisely, during an acting study session sharing 'tips for acting with Lee Tae-gyu,' a common ordeal while shooting Model Detective 3 and tentative 108-Month Full Installment.
"He coming on yet?"
"Yeah."
It was a rest day for that reason.
Today was the broadcast of SBC's Your Heart Echoes, featuring Lee Tae-gyu.
- Honestly, I regretted it so much……
- Ah, that's a lie.
Stimulating scenes popped up.
- I, I really think I can't do without fans. What can I do alone, honestly.
- Ooh. That's true.
- Everyone, give him a round of applause!
Touching scenes too. Expert takes interpreting one action every which way, MC's cheeky barbs in between—all watchable.
But Han Joo-hyuk and Seol A-yoon's focus was elsewhere.
Early in the show.
- My acting skills are the worst among all actors in Korea.
- …………Huh?
Truth came out!
Tae-gyu's unexpected humility.
"As expected."
"Different."
They were curious about that. No, what was the real secret?
- Alright, after final third check and cross-verification, let's chat with Tae-gyu-ssi again!
It even went to hypnosis, but honestly, Han Joo-hyuk and Seol A-yoon weren't buying it.
Hypnosis? Sure, it showed up in variety shows abroad and here, but just for buzz, right?
But.
- Honestly, that day I peed on top of my apology letter.
After psychological tests based on specific images from prior questions, analyzed by experts.
"Well, it'll be fun at least."
"Hm."
Seol A-yoon and Han Joo-hyuk waited half-amused, half-hopeful for Tae-gyu's answer.
- Honestly, what I do isn't acting.
- Then, what do you do, Tae-gyu-ssi?
- F-Fire……!
- Calm down, calm. Breathe, one two, breathe, one two, good, just like that. Fire is nothing.
The hypnotist murmured low to Tae-gyu, reclined and eyes closed.
- Now, no more fire. The fire wrapping your shell is out, and you enter your true core. Deep into the core's language, shape, thoughts.
- Hoo…… Hoo……
- Now, inside there—what do you do? Something other than acting?
- Yes.
- Explain slowly, in detail?
Tae-gyu slowly parting his lips.
━━Gulp!
Seol A-yoon and Han Joo-hyuk exchanged glances without a word.
What? No way drugs or something?
- I, I take on the role of that person……
- Movie or drama role, right?
- Yes. That role, that person's emotions in the work I act…… exactly the same……!
- Emotions?
Snip.
Brief silence.
Then Seol A-yoon and Han Joo-hyuk, as Tae-gyu's voice rose pleadingly.
- What I do isn't acting.
- Yeah! It's not acting, then who are you!
- I'm not an actor!
Tense as hell, but at Tae-gyu's relieved shout, they could only gape.
- Just a pathetic copycat bringing 100% that person's emotions for that moment!
That's acting, you idiot……