Chapter 55
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: First Shoot
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hi there!
Holding my mothers hand, I squeezed through the bustling staff and entered the rundown shop.
Today was the first shooting day for The Cactus Flower Has Bloomed.
The opening scene was set to be the one where Id meet Ji Hyun-sungplayed by Moon Heesungfor the first time.
This wasnt the scene where my character, Kang Wooju, first appeared in the drama, but for various reasons, theyd told us wed be shooting this one first.
Oh, hey, Sius here.
The head of the set, Chai Il-nam, had started calling me casually now.
Wed seen each other so much over the past month with meetings and script readings that wed gotten pretty close.
My mother, whod been worried about me working around adults, had naturally come along.
And today, there was one more person.
Uncle had tagged along, insisting he knew sets better than anyone.
He said he used to come to drama shoots like this often before joining the theater troupe.
Sometimes as an extra in bit parts, sometimes for any staff gig theyd throw at him.
Kim Sangcheol had originally planned to come along to greet the staff, but with the troupes schedule, hed sent Uncle in his place.
Im Han Sius uncle. Feel free to boss me around if you need anything!
Oh, sure.
Far from being annoyed at being a substitute, Uncle seemed thrilled to be on a drama set.
The staff were even giving him weird looks.
Todays shooting location was an old-looking gukbap restaurant in the Sinchon neighborhood.
Unlike the shabby exterior and sign, the inside was surprisingly clean.
The kitchen and dining area looked newly renovated, completely different from what youd expect from outside.
I hadnt realized it from watching on TV, but drama sets had an insane number of staff.
The crowd inside and outside the shop made the few people Id met at the broadcasting station look like a drop in the bucket.
There were more unfamiliar faces than familiar ones.
In the midst of the chaos, I sat on the folding chair theyd set up as my spot and watched the scene unfold.
People hauling equipment here and there, others directing traffic outside.
The narrow space outside the shop was packed with folks setting up gear and testing it.
It was overwhelming.
Uncle had warned me last night not to be shocked when I saw a drama set, and now I got exactly what he meant.
Good morning.
Hello.
Just then, Moon Heesung and his manager arrived on set.
He greeted the staff I didnt know yet with friendly hellos and headed into the shop where I was.
After saying hi to Chai Il-nam, Moon Heesung came straight over to me.
Hello, maam. Siu, did you sleep well?
Hello.
Yeah!
I stopped by the salon on the way, so Im a bit late. You werent waiting long, right?
Nope. We just got here too.
No wonderhe was radiating even more stunning beauty today, fresh from the salon.
Even my mom, whod gotten used to seeing him lately, turned girlish, clasping her hands at her chest as she admired his face.
Uh, n-nice to meet you! Im...!
Ah, you must be Ji Dongwook, right? Sius told me all about you. Im Moon Heesung.
Gasp, its an honor.
Uncle, meeting Moon Heesung for the first time, wiped his hands frantically on his pants before grabbing the outstretched hand.
Tense from the encounter hed only heard about, Uncle could barely speak.
Here, have one each. Its getting hot out there.
Meanwhile, Moon Heesungs manager was weaving through the staff, handing out chilled drinks.
With June approaching, the heat was picking up, so the staff gladly accepted.
They say the stars manager matches the star.
Moon Heesungs manager had a warm, friendly vibe too.
Wow... awesome. I heard top actors have managers who are just as flashy. That guy seems super nice.
Uncle mustve been thinking the same thing.
I turned to him with interest as he muttered next to me.
Really? Like, total jerks?
Yeah, especially as their actor blows upno, wait. Whered you even learn that?
TV.
I said it proudly.
Uncle gaped at me, dumbfounded.
You little...! Im telling your mom!
Go ahead? Watching TV is my studying now!
Hey, dont pull that crap just in front of me. You think I dont know?
Wow, quicker on the uptake than I thought.
I figured itd take years.
Ever since I started speaking Korean, Id only been casual around Uncle, and hed finally caught on.
I shook my head and gave him a pitiful look.
...Forget it. I shouldnt even talk to you.
Yep. Smart idea.
Ugh, my blood pressure.
We traded little jabs now and then while greeting passing staff.
I thought Id said hi to everyone when we arrived, but every time I turned, there was someone new.
Before I knew it, Id spent about thirty minutes just on hellos.
Howre our actors feeling today?
Good!
Fine.
Okay. Hang tight a bit longer. Standby soon.
My tired body perked up at that.
My first drama shoot was about to start.
I sat in my chair, lightly flipping through the script Id read dozens of times.
Moon Heesung, back from his endless greetings, unfolded a chair next to me and stared right at me.
Hed said he doesnt look at the script on shoot daysguess he meant it.
His intense gaze got to me, and I finally snapped the script shut.
Sigh, whats up, mister?
Nothing. Youre just awfully quiet today.
Huh? I was reading the script fine. What was there to say?
I tilted my head, puzzled, and he explained with a smile.
I mean the shooting schedule. This scene isnt Woojus first appearance, right? Im glad to shoot with you first, Siu, but obviously, its all patchwork! I figured as much.
Oh.
Thats what he meant.
He mustve remembered what Id snapped when I first learned about filmed acting.
Back then, it felt like people in this era treated acting so carelessly.
Shooting scenes out of order, not following the script sequence.
Id zeroed in on that and asked if this was really proper theater.
You okay with it now?
I rolled my eyes thoughtfully, then shot back crisply.
Yeah. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?
...Whered you pick that up?
My answer flowed so naturally it surprised him more, and he stuck out his tongue.
Its a famous saying.
I shrugged like it was no big deal.
Haha, seriously. Looking at you, I cant believe you didnt even know shooting rhythms until recently.
Kids grow fast.
You know youre still a kid, right?
He chuckled and gently fixed my messy hair.
Since I was six, they hadnt done much makeupjust simple clothes and hair fitting Kang Wooju.
Todays outfit was a bright yellow tracksuit top and bottom.
The long wait had tousled my hair a bit.
I just grinned.
No matter what he said, what could I do about the old man inside me?
When I got the drama script and confirmed the role, Id made up my mind.
Id adapt to this era.
For acting, I wouldnt shy from new challenges.
You two! Standby.
Got it!
Standby.
Time to get readyshooting was starting.
Heart pounding like an actor heading to the green roomor backstageI grinned with anticipation.
Following the staffs directions, I sat at a table, waiting.
Moon Heesung went outside to wait.
We got into position, ready to become Kang Wooju and Ji Hyun-sung.
Scene number 6! Ji Hyun-sung and Kang Woojus first meeting. Action!
The slate clapped sharply on Chai Il-nams cue.
......
Wooju stares blankly at two steaming bowls of gukbap.
The fresh earthenware pots are filled with appetizing cheonggukjang.
One bowl sits in front of Wooju.
The other is at the empty seat across from him.
Creak.
The shop door opens, and a tall man steps in.
Boss, one kimchi jjigae here please.
Finishing his order as he enters, the man strides to a corner table.
Wooju mutters softly behind him.
...This place is better for cheonggukjang than kimchi jjigae.
Huh?
The man, catching the faint voice, turns to look at the little kid, Wooju.
Boss! Change that to cheonggukjang!
A Coming right up! echoes from the kitchen, and the man sits one table over from Wooju.
The kid sneaks a glance at the man who listened to him.
Soon, the cheonggukjang arrives quickly, and the two quietly pick up their spoons to eat.
Whewslurp.
Starving, the man blows on and devours the hot stew.
Unlike him, Wooju barely eats, poking at his rice with chopsticks.
Mid-bite, the man senses something off and stares at Wooju.
A tiny shop.
Only two customers.
So whys this kid here alone, ordering two pots in a dump like this?
Curiosity piqued, the man speaks to the child.
You here by yourself?
......With someone.
Wooju curtly replies to the manJi Hyun-sungand keeps eating.
But despite gripping the spoon firmly in his delicate hand, hardly any rice goes in his mouth.
Aigoo, she usually comes with her mom. Hows a little kid supposed to come alone?
The restaurant owner chimes in, bringing over a fried egg he figured the kid would like.
But wheres the mom?
The kids mom is a doctor. She came with him, ordered, then got called away for an emergency. Shes a regular, so Im watching him till she comes back.
After hearing that and watching Wooju for a while, Ji Hyun-sung stands.
He picks up his pot and rice bowl, moving to the kids table.
W-whatre you doing?
This? Mind if I eat it?
Ji Hyun-sung points to the pot meant for the kids mom.
Before the kid can answer, he scoops right in and eats.
Suddenly facing two pots, Ji Hyun-sung digs in.
The kid stares, stunned into silence.
Daddys...
......Divorced, from Mommy.
Oh, got it.
Daddys divorced and gone, Mommys too busy every day to be around.
But today, a strange man sits in Mommys usual spot.
With the sun at his back, a faint halo glows beyond his broad shoulders.
This cheonggukjangs good. You not eating?
I am.
Not wanting to lose for some reason, Wooju scoops a bigger bite than before.
Seeing it, Ji Hyun-sung smiles and picks some side dish onto the kids rice.
Eat up proper. Proper. Whats a kid got to worry about?
You got worries too, mister.
Heh. No friends, huh?
......I do.
Dont lie. From now on, Ill be your eating buddy. Call me if youre eating alone again.
Ji Hyun-sung polishes off both pots in no time, scribbles his number on a napkin from the restaurant.
He hands it to the kid, pays for the kids share too, and leaves.
......
Eating buddy.
The unfamiliar term isnt half bad.
A surprising, pleasant feeling.
Like an unexpected gift, uncontainable emotion plays across the young actors face.
This was the two mens first meeting.