Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The First News Article
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Why, Daddy? Does my face look weird?
With a pout, I quickly stuck to my fathers side and peered into the laptop.
No, it wasnt. The photo was a natural one taken at the theater troupe.
A picture of me practicing in the rehearsal room with the other actors.
It looked like Kim Sangcheol had picked it out and sent it.
Phew, he had pretty good taste.
Not a bad choice at all.
I grinned happily at the photo I liked, but Dad wouldnt scroll down.
What was this about...?
I hadnt seen anything below yet, so I gazed up at him with pleading eyes.
Daddy, I wanna see below.
Huh? Oh, yeah. Its nothing. You already know all this stuff, Siu.
No way! I wanna see too!
I jabbed my finger into his side.
Eek!
Piece of cake.
Ah, I learned that phrase from a drama too.
Gum was something Id only tried after being reborn, and it was quite the temptress.
Sweet and sticky in your mouthif you chewed it while reading scripts, it even helped you focus.
Of course, Mom rarely allowed it, so I only snuck some at the troupe sometimes.
Tempting things never come easily, past or present.
Anyway, Dad had a real weak spot on his side.
He was super ticklish, so just bringing your hand near it made him freak out, and pressing like this pushed him right away defenselessly.
I plopped down in front of the laptop and scrolled down fast.
Mm, mm.
Photos good.
Contents good.
My lips twitched up at the part saying Jessica Brown had personally chosen me as the child actor.
Id figured she wasnt your average director, and sure enough, she was world-famous.
The article wrapped up by saying the play was highly anticipated.
What was the problem?
I scrolled down once more.
Then...
Gasp.
A sharp cry came from Uncle beside me.
S-Siu.
Mom knew I could read Korean fluently, so she called me in a trembling voice.
The article was over, but below it, you could leave comments.
Like people posting their thoughts on the article.
Some kind of commentary, I guess.
And the contents were all over the place.
I focused and read through each one.
-Cute!
-Whoa, Jessica? Awesome. Cant wait!
These were the kind youd expect after seeing that photo.
I nodded along.
Some folks with good eyes.
-A five-year-old lead? Its doomed. What does a kid know about theater lol
What?
My brows furrowed slightly.
Scroll.
But that lasted only a momentbrows relaxed again as I scrolled further.
Someone whod seen my acting properly had posted.
Id heard good job from people around me, but a total stranger praising me felt strangely nice.
-Ive seen this kid in a play before. Hes good. Pretty famous in Daehangno.
BS no way
Acting like you know theater lol
But then my brows furrowed again at the replies.
What did that even mean?
Chojjune? Whats that mean?
I thought I handled most Korean fluently by now.
Who knew thered still be words like this.
When I hit an unknown word, I couldnt hold back my curiosity.
Mastering language freely was a key skill for an actor, after all.
Deutbojap? Whats that one?
More unknown words than expectedhurt my pride a bit.
I scowled without thinking and turned to Uncle.
Hed know these best.
He always remembered words or phrases I didnt know and explained them well when I asked.
But... the three of them looked weird.
Id just asked what they meant.
Yet they were fumbling around like they were soothing a crying kid, not knowing what to do.
Ah, maybe?
I turned back to look at the replies mocking me.
I didnt know what chojjune or deutbojap meant, but from context, probably not nice.
Fortunately, I was used to people criticizing or mocking me.
Back when I was the Golden Mask, the jeers poured on a masked actor went beyond imagination.
At first, it got me down a little.
I even got mad sometimes.
But with help from the Oscar Theater Troupe actors, I overcame it quick.
Cant handle this much and still wanna act in secret? If thats all your resolve, why not quit now?
Probably one actors words that steeled me.
Even after great shows objectively, some spewed hate.
Not because it was my acting or stage.
Thought the Golden Masks acting would be something special, but nah, nothing much.
Guess hell never show his face till the end? Ah... Felt like watching some flash-in-the-pan actor fizzle out.
Rumor says his face doesnt match his voice and skillugly dude?
Heard hes got a hideous mug with scars too.
People itching to tear others down.
Id overheard that stuff more than once or twice sneaking out after shows.
Even guests at the Duchess Moms salon loved trash-talking street actors.
And the Golden Mask made a perfect target.
A faceless actor who never accepted any noble invites.
What better prey?
Ah, haha. Siu, wanna stop looking now?
Hm? Why?
Uncle tried to take the mouse from me, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I knew there were bad comments about me, but I wanted to check more.
Honestly, I didnt care at all.
Seeing they were like the ones whod trash-talked the Golden Mask back then even made reading them kinda fun.
But,
Whyd you even bring this up to show Siu?
No, I just saw it was his first article in life and thought Id show him...!
Honey, you were gonna scrap it earlierthe article itself is good.
The family didnt feel that way.
Better calm them and reassure first.
Ahem! It doesnt bother Siu at all.
I cleared my throat to draw eyes, then stated firmly.
Huh...?
Caught them off guard all three had the same face.
Eyes wide like they misheard, staring at me.
Bad stuff they say doesnt faze me. They dont know me, havent seen my actingwhy care?
Meant every word.
More comments curious about me than dragging me. Lots seem excited for my show too... I read all those and get happy.
As an actor, public interest brought huge joy.
Unlike before, now I could check it without facing them directly.
What a great system.
Can I read more?
I blinked big on purpose.
Dads mouth flapped like he wanted to say something, then he nodded.
But lets watch with Mommy.
Mom stuck right to my side.
Probably to block any really nasty ones.
Yeah. Love that.
Grateful, I beamed at her.
And so, with Mom, we checked more comments.
Some twisted ones popped up now and then, but definitely more cheers and hype.
My lips twitched without me noticing.
The more I read, the sooner I wanted on stage.
To meet expectations, or prove my skill.
Then an interesting one caught my eye.
-Jessica Brown haters smh
-Dont know her? Shut up. Think shed pick anyone?
Jessicas bestie at least
Yeah, next basement dweller expert
Oh, these folks knew Jessica Brownreal theater fans, huh.
But... basement dweller expert?
Banggu-seok jeonmunga? Whats that?
Hm? Oh... Its for people who sit in their basement acting like total experts in some field, posting comments all know-it-all. Think of it as a term from folks sick of posers.
Uncle explained eagerly this time.
Satisfied, I nodded.
Then,
Th-this one...
Mom flinched and pulled the laptop her way.
Probably a really bad one shed feared.
Good enough.
Im done now.
I closed the laptop myself.
Then hopped to the sofa like no big deal, grabbed the Remote Control.
Turned the TV back on.
Of course, my head was still full of those comments.
Basement poser expert, huh...
No matter how I thought, wasnt that my past life self, Noah Battenberg?
Me locked in the tower for 10 years, studying, writing plays, acting alone.
Heehee.
Yeah, yeah.
Totally qualified as expert.
Even old memories made me smile now.
Feeling oddly proud, I leaned back comfy on the sofa and dove back into the drama proper.
Learned lots of new words today too.
Really, Mommy doesnt need to come?
Uhh! No worries.
I was holding Moms hand, heading to the script reading site.
First week of October, when chilly autumn winds started blowing.
Fiddling with the soft scarf Mom wrapped around me, I looked around the Gwanghwamun Cultural Center hallway.
I can do good. Dont worry.
But... itll just be adults in there.
Hm, maybe because Uncle was always with me at the troupe?
Ever since final casting as lead in RUN, Moms worries hadnt stopped.
I decided to pull out my secret weapon Id shown the past few days.
If somethin happens, I call! With this, quick!
I flashed the tiny black Cellphone hanging on my neck.
Uncle got sulky when he saw it.
You get a Cellphone at five? Lucky brat.
Hed mumbled.
Must be something great.
Id been meh when they said lets buy one.
But hearing Uncle, I felt a bit better.
Then Mom saved Moon Heesungs number, so now I could call anytimemade me love it more.
This things a gem.
Ah, Han Siu. And... his mom?
A staffer standing down the hall spotted us and hurried over.
Hello.
Gotta be polite with future coworkers.
I let go of Moms hand and bowed at the waist.
The staffer grinned, delighted by it.
Hello, please take good care of our Siu.
Yes, no worries. Whenever he comes to the rehearsal room, me or another staffer will be assigned just to him. Any issues, well call the guardian right away.
Uhh! All good!
Beside the staffer reassuring Mom, I puffed my chest: dont worry.
Alright, Siu. Listen to the directors well. Tell me at dinner how practice went?
Yeah!
Mom seemed relieved at my spunky reply, said bye, and turned.
Shall we go, Siu?
Yeah!
My tiny heart thumped.
In People in the Attic House, Id had a small supporting role, not lead.
But this time, the lead!
Like the stages I carried as Golden Mask.
Plus, in People in the Attic House, Id joined mid-rehearsal, so no script reading from start.
This time, script reading with all the cast from the beginning.
Click.
The staffer opened the script reading room door.
Bright light poured out, inner murmurs clear now.
Way different vibe from Emergency Iron 777.
Bigger rehearsal room, more people looking my way.
Felt like my first day practicing with the Oscar Theater Troupe, all the rage in London.
Tons of people.
Scripts in their hands.
Same text Id read till bedtime last night.
Memories of stages as Noah Battenbergthe ones that kept me alive those 10 tower years.
How much longer would these new memories let me live?