Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Protagonist On and Off Stage
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Jihoon! What the hell are you doing right now?
Jessica snapped in English, her voice sharp as a knife.
No interpreter was needed in that moment.
Everyone understood exactly what she meant just from her tone and expression.
Jessica wasnt the type to handle kids with kid gloves.
Her face twisted for a split second, and before her anger could build, she waved Joey over like she wanted this handled now.
Joey, whod been watching the whole thing from nearby, approached Jihoon.
Jihoon-ah. You cant just shove a coworker like that. Apologize right now. Thats not professional at all.
I-I... I didnt mean to...
Even Joey was firm and unrelenting.
Caught red-handed in front of everyone, Jihoon froze, stammered, and finally burst into tears.
Yeah, that figures.
I swallowed a silent sigh, seeing right through Jihoons obvious intentions.
I patted the shoulder of the sniffling boy, embarrassed at being called out.
Its okay.
He was just a kid, after all.
Sure, it needed fixing, but nagging him to apologize here and now didnt feel like the right way.
Sniff. Hic. S-sorry...
Jihoon mumbled his apology through sobs, his voice tiny.
In the end, that mornings rehearsal wrapped up in a total mess.
Thats what happened?
Kim Sangcheols face grew serious as he listened to my story.
Yeah... but honestly, its no big deal.
He wasnt a baby anymore, and the real issue wasnt that hed picked a fight that day.
Rehearsal ended just like that, so I didnt get a chance to talk to Jihoon-hyung. The child actors all bolted with their moms the second we finished.
That part bugged me the most.
When youre sharing a stage, communication between actors is everything.
A newbie might not get it, but after youve been on stage a few timesespecially more than mostyou realize just how crucial it is.
And here we had zero time for that.
Especially with actors who already eyed me with resentment.
Never had I resented this young body more.
I wanted to open up to Jihoon too, but he was just an eight-year-old kid.
The moment rehearsal ended, he vanished to some acting academy or whatever.
Oh, and apparently, hed even started English conversation classes because of me.
Sigh...
Recapping it all for Kim Sangcheol brought out another sigh on its own.
Watching me sigh repeatedly, he crossed his arms and sank into thought.
Hmm... Siu-ya. This might be a bit tough for you to hear.
Uuung? What do you mean?
Siu-ya, being the protagonist... isnt just about being the star on stage.
Huh?
Spotting the setup for a real talk, I leaned in close to Kim Sangcheol, hanging on his every word.
My eagerness seemed to please him, because he put on a grave expression and continued.
Since youre our lead this time, Ill let you in on a little secret.
Uuung!
This isnt something I tell just anyone. Back in the day, I even won Best Supporting Actor at the Cheonsang Arts Festival. Theyd drag me back year after year like a regular...
No! Forget thattell me what a protagonist does!
Kang Yonghwi had warned me once.
Never ask Kim Sangcheol about his past.
Id wondered why back then, but now? Not curious at all.
I just wanted the answer already.
With my eyes sparkling up at him, Kim Sangcheol cleared his throat with an Ahem and went on.
The protagonist isnt just the star on stage. Off stageduring rehearsalstheyre still the protagonist. And age doesnt matter here.
So then?
Showing skills everyone buys into? Sure, thats key. But so is paying close attention to every single person outside of acting. Youve gotta lead the vibe on set too. Thats what they call the qualities of a protagonist.
Qualities?
Tough word.
Kanji origin or something?
Korean had these weird shorthand words sometimes.
I mulled over qualities, deciding Id dig through Moms dictionary again when I got home.
Yeah, like the demeanor a protagonist needs. Without a protagonist in rehearsals, things fall apart. Because the story revolves around them.
The story revolves around the protagonist.
That means their lines dominate absolutely.
I nodded along, drawn right into Kim Sangcheols words.
See, this time its you and No Yeonghui as co-leads. So rehearsals can go on even if you dip early. But what if shes not there either?
Rehearsals would suck!
Exactly. Even if Seonwoo shows up a little late, the whole casts morale tanks. Doesnt matter how busy he is with his popularity these days. If youre too swamped to make rehearsal, thats a problem. Running off to auditions all the time is great and all, but...
Nooo! Not Seonwoo-hyungtalk about me!
Everything he said was spot-on, but Kim Sangcheol had this habit of veering off-topic.
I thumped the table to snap his focus back.
Right, right. Point is, when youre not there, the rehearsal room should feel dead. Make everyone feel the difference between the lead being present or not. Thats what separates true protagonists from the rest.
Ooh, ooh!
Hows that? Helpful?
Finished, Kim Sangcheol gulped down his cooling coffee.
Ah, right.
Before I forgot, I grabbed my chamomile tea and slurped it down.
Nothing beat this places chamomile.
Lately, Id been having tea time here more than at home, and it really settled my mindthe flavor even seemed better.
I set down my cup and pondered deeply.
The protagonist isnt just the star on stage.
They have to show protagonist qualities off stage too.
Hearing Kim Sangcheol out reminded me of my first lead role in the Oscar Theater Troupe.
Back then, I was a nervous wreckmy very first starring gig.
Oscar had shockingly handed the lead to me, a total newbie whod just joined.
Sure, Oscar Pitt approved, but it was also on William Shakespeares recommendationthe guy whod revitalized Londons theater scene with his brilliance.
After landing the role, I asked Oscar for advice.
What? Advice? Ive got just one thing to say.
What is it, Oscar?
Naive me was pumped, expecting some profound wisdom.
Do your best, kid.
That was it. He chuckled, turned, and walked off.
Left standing there, I was utterly dumbfounded.
Looking back, that guy wasnt exactly Mr. Kindness either.
If he hadnt liked my script, he never wouldve helped disguise a nobles kid as an actor.
With zero help from troupe leader Oscar, I turned to my trusty ally, Shakespeare.
What? Lead role? Oh, congrats, Noah. Ill definitely catch your show.
Thats why Im asking, William... any advice?
Ah, sorry, Noah. Ive gotta rush to the Globe Theatre. Lets chat next time.
Sadly, while I prepped my debut lead, Shakespeare was swamped with his own Globe Theatre.
Thinking now, maybe he dodged a direct answer just like Oscar.
Everyones too much. Im only seventeen! Isnt that too much faith in me?
Master, youre not thinking of backing out even a little, right?
Of course not, Oliver. Gotta try, success or failure.
Youre already set on itwhats the problem?
If Im doing it, I wanna do it right.
In the end, failing to get advice anywhere, all I could do was gripe to Oliver.
Sure, I pulled off the show with help from one of the troupe actors.
But had I truly learned how to carry myself as a lead? Always wondered.
After that, it was nonstop roles, endless rehearsals, and dodging family discoveryno time to dwell on lead mindset.
Who knew Id get a chance to reflect like this.
So... ultimately, a perfect lead unites the cast naturally?
What was I thinking, spilling all that to a kid?
As I sorted my thoughts, Kim Sangcheols deflated chuckle came from across the table.
Hed poured his heart out, only to feel empty facing a five-year-old me.
He looked so worn out that I burst into giggles.
Whoa, you looked all gloomy earlier. Feeling better now?
Yeah! Thanks, Theater Owner.
Giggling so hard my shoulders shook, and Kim Sangcheol cracked a grin too.
Talking to you... it doesnt even feel like chatting with a kid. More like with another actor. Weird, huh.
I just smiled quietly.
No need to say something dumb and get called grandpa like with Jessica.
Now, that do your best from Oscar hit different.
Realizing it 400 years later, that one line held so much.
Back then, Id whined about no real advicenow I felt guilty.
It wasnt just shine on stage.
Shine on stage and off.
Finally starting to get it.
Theater Owner! I can do great!
Oh? Found your answer?
Yeah! Thank you, Theater Owner.
I shot up from my seat and bowed deeply from the waist.
As the beaming Kim Sangcheol leaned in with his usual big laugh, I dodged quick.
Id let him pat my cheek earlier no hair-ruffling allowed.
No way!
Ha, getting sharp now that youre a bit bigger, huh?
Knew it!
I cupped my head with both hands, full defense mode.
Kim Sangcheol backed off with a pouty Tch.
Compared to Oscar, this was practically spoon-fed.
Ah, was it because this body was only five?
Well, five was way younger than sixteen.
But having once missed Oscars point made Kim Sangcheols words sink in easier.
Even spoon-fed, without Oscars original, it mightve taken ages to grasp.
Be a protagonist through and through.
Id stand at the center and lead the fixes.
Alright.
Now I had a rough plan.
First up: send invitations.
As politely as possible.