Chapter 66. It's Hot – A Fierce Blaze Roaring from the Depths of the Heart
“Do you know what I hate the most?”
“·········”
“That they let it slide because I'm a cop, a detective. These fuckers think I'd lose if we stripped off our badges and went at it bare.”
“Detective.”
Tae-gyu was thrilled. This tension right on the edge of explosion.
This precarious moment, like pressing a sharp blade against a tightly drawn thread.
“I hate one phrase too—”
“Shut your trap, you worm. I ain't done talking.”
“Hey, Detective.”
“Hey, Detective?”
“If you're here to check on him without a warrant, let's call it here. No more bullshit between pros.”
“············You.”
The atmosphere built to a fever pitch.
━━━Thump!
Yeah, this was it. The rush of flooring it on the highway in a high-output sports car.
And right now, the only one keeping pace with him in the next lane was Han Joo-hyuk.
“Come out.”
The mood locked in instantly. Like pounding a red-hot hammer on the anvil—each exchange between Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk made the scene snap tauter.
Someone might say it was overkill for a script reading.
But.
“I don't chat more than three lines with worms. Not my style.”
With the full blessing of the script reading room's big boss to dive in like this, Tae-gyu—lost in the zone, blind to everything around him—had ramped up the intensity with Han Joo-hyuk.
That's when.
“······Worm?”
“Where's this retard getting all serious.”
“Our station's detective's crossing lines today, banking on the lump next to him. Come out.”
“The lump······”
The room's heated vibe, amid the rapid-fire lines.
“············Huh?”
Cooled in an instant.
Because Kim Kwang-woo, who should've jumped in seamlessly, had flubbed his line.
Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk whipped their heads around.
The chilled atmosphere━━━the co-lead and main villain stared him down.
Kim Kwang-woo, momentarily speechless, just blankly flipped the page he hadn't turned in time.
Flip.
The script page with his own part, which he'd forgotten, too engrossed in their reading.
Gulp.
He couldn't spit out the usual “We don't go this hard normally.”
Script readings varied by room, sure—but he'd been the one to kick off this intense style in the first place.
Hah━━ Han Joo-hyuk's faint sigh reached him, but Kim Kwang-woo knew the hyper-immersed actor state all too well. He could let this slide as a simple fumble······no.
Truth was, it was mortifying as hell.
······Damn it all.
Sweat beading on his forehead.
Not only was he the lead, but as the senior actor who had to loom like a mountain before these up-and-comers who thought they could act.
Am I······the nuisance?
It wasn't just that he hated admitting.
Phew━━ Letting out a rough breath, Kim Kwang-woo shoved back his chair with a screech and stood.
“·········Sorry, everyone. Bathroom break.”
“Ah, sure, sure. Let's take a quick break!”
Hearing the assistant director behind him as he opened the script reading room door, what he hated admitting even more was the emotion swelling through him right now.
In other words.
━━━Bam.
The 'tension' and 'urgency' sparked by those two junior actors, glimpsed just before the door shut.
What the hell.
Lee Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk. Even with the break called, they glared at each other with lingering hostility.
······Still going?
Kim Kwang-woo clicked his tongue on the way to the bathroom.
His fears were coming true.
The worry from the private audition—that his presence might get overshadowed.
I worried for nothing.
No time to fret over their mistakes.
Like a mouse fretting over the cat.
Instead, he needed to worry about matching the scorching presence of the co-lead and main villain as the lead.
Creak.
Kim Kwang-woo's lips curled up slowly.
······Been a while.
Meeting junior actors who could threaten his natural heavyweight aura just by sitting there—this was a first in years on set.
Thump.
Kim Kwang-woo grinned with a thrill.
How long had it been?
Heading into a shoot with a life-or-death acting showdown, sacrificing each other's presence.
Fine, time to show what a real senior is.
Gripping his fist white-knuckled, lips curling higher, recommitted to the rematch as he headed to the bathroom.
Thud, thud···
Suddenly curious.
Hold on.
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen it yet.
Lee Tae-gyu and Han Joo-hyuk. Third time syncing up.
In other words.
Their chemistry's way better than the drama.
He hadn't watched Sai-bi Church Maknae Son, the short they shot after Monster City.
Todays script reading was one thing.
If they had this chemistry in that short too······
Tomorrow.
Maybe Sai-bi Church Maknae Son would flip the Arena Short Film Festival.
······Gonna be chaos.
An amused smile spread on Kim Kwang-woo's lips, honorary judge of the festival.
***
Click.
“·········Daughter? Daughter?”
No answer.
The other side had hung up.
Did he tease too much?
The Korean film industry's heavyweight reflected too late after toying with his daughter.
Snicker.
But a smile soon bloomed on his lips.
A father's stance—wanting his child to succeed more than anyone.
Not that he doubted her reliability.
Just.
“Hmm.”
Curious.
About what film the guy who'd squandered his talent had joined this time.
“Sai-bi Church Maknae Son.”
Recalling the oddly titled short that made it into 50 screening slots at the Arena Short Film Festival.
“·········Wanna see it.”
He nodded, face lit with interest.
***
May 1st.
In a high-rise office overlooking Yongsan CGV across the way.
Large posters scattered everywhere.
“············Ah, Director Yang said he's shooting his next film, so judging's tough.”
“I see.”
“As you know, he's incredibly busy. You're not heading back to Japan just 'cause Director Yang's out, right? Korea has tons of amazing directors besides him, haha.”
The Japanese director laughed and waved it off at the translated joke from the Arena executive committee chairman.
The chairman, smiling too, scanned the judges at the long round table.
“Alright, any other questions from the rest of you?”
A lineup that swelled the chest just looking at it.
Yoon Chang-ho, Jeon Yong-il, O Chang-il, Seo Jae-tak, Somchai, Wang Zhen, Matsumoto, Nakai, Danuuli directors, and more.
Not just Korea, China, Japan— even Thai and Indian directors hot in Hollywood lately. A packed luxury roster.
“·········Good.”
No questions, so the chairman spoke slowly.
“Just to reconfirm one last time. Awards in your assigned genres will be by vote from you judges.”
Notice on the process—couldn't overdo it.
“Also, genre winners will screen specially the day before closing for grand prize voting. Designated theaters announced again that day—keep that in mind.”
Finished, the chairman nodded with a faint smile.
“Well then.”
Standing, he bowed politely to the newly formed Arena Short Film Festival judging panel.
“Please take care of the festival.”
***
Finally, the festival opening.
Highlight: the red carpet.
Waaaaah━━━!
Hundreds of filmmakers cheered around it.
Pop! Boom boom!
Right by Yongsan CGV.
OO Performance Hall, big enough for a star actor's musical.
Endless flashes from entertainment reporters lining the red carpet to the deepest end.
“Wave!”
“Over here! This side too!”
“As gambler-like as possible!”
Usually, the biggest victims here were popular rookies.
Even big-scale, short film festivals couldn't draw 'real' stars in droves.
“Kyaaaaah!”
“Gambler! The gambler's here!”
“One word!”
“We'll follow you! Fol—!”
“I'm a fan!”
Lee Tae-gyu entered the photo zone amid the roaring crowd.
·········Hmm.
Honestly, weird feeling.
Even with his rising popularity, he'd never faced this many cheers head-on.
But.
Yesterday was more fun.
Still, not as good as yesterday's script reading with Han Joo-hyuk.
Acting with a skilled pro pulled you into the scene on another level, he thought.
Squeeze.
Yang Se-hee yanked his arm.
“·········What're you doing! Smile already!”
More precisely, tough-faced Yang Se-hee, arms crossed stubbornly between trembling O Director and deadpan Tae-gyu.
In other words.
With Arena promo rep Han Joo-hyuk and VIP invitee Cheon Yoo-seong already up front.
Sai-bi Church Maknae Son's director, lead, and sole female main role hit the opening red carpet as a trio.
“Gotta grab attention to blow up! Come on!”
“Pose? Okay!”
“Our film's screening soon—please watch!”
“D-12 theater!”
“Sai-bi Church Maknae Son! Remember it!”
Even in the photo zone, Yang Se-hee bellowed at reporters and crowds.
Her pursed lips screamed determination to make some buzz here.
“No··· don't make more noise······ didn't take my calming pill today······”
“Hey! Director! Promote!”
“Ugh······ first day pressure already······”
“Hurry!”
Reporters flashed nonstop, like they'd spotted prime entertainment.
━━━Bang! Boom boom!
O Director hiding his presence, Yang Se-hee forcing hers.
Caught in their tug-of-war, his body flapped like a paper doll.
···A bit much······
“Tae-gyu oppa! You too······Huh?!”
Tae-gyu, who'd made lurking a habit, slipped away beyond the zone.
“Wh-what! Where'd this oppa go?!”
Arena Short Film Festival, begins━━━!