Chapter 83
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Reassuring Mom
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I hurriedly shot a fierce glare at Jo Isu.
If you don't answer straight here, I won't let it slide.
Whether he read my glare or not, Jo Isu seemed much more alert than before and gave a proper response.
"Madam, as you probably know, Siu is really different from other child actors. For starters, he's fluent in English."
"Um, yes...."
Mom nodded slowly in agreement with Jo Isu's words.
One of the biggest reasons for discrimination is that foreigners can't speak their language.
Mom knew this well, and since she knew I spoke English at a native level, she quietly waited for Jo Isu's next words.
Good job, Jo Isu!
Just keep going like that!
I secretly cheered him on while watching Mom's reaction.
"And he has acting skills recognized by Director Kang Yonghwi and Jessica. No matter how much they try to discriminate, they won't be able to say anything bad once they see Siu's brilliant talent. Even the British troupe members recognized his skills in just one day after watching him perform. You know this too, right, Madam?"
"...But will that work in England too?"
"It will. Absolutely. You might have doubts, but trust Jessica Brown's judgment just once. She's someone who's seen only top-tier Broadway actors. You wouldn't deny the skills she recognized, would you, Madam?"
"...."
Mom fell silent, lost in thought.
Well, even in Korea, I got scouted on the spot by Uncle's troupe when he was just visiting, and countless pros have acknowledged me since.
Having watched it all from the sidelines, Mom seemed deep in contemplation.
"And Siu is just made for the stage. The original kid cast as Johnny in England ghosted them, but Siu adapted in less than a week."
Exactly right.
A week? I adapted in a single day!
Maybe because everyone around me were great actors, but far from nervous, I went on stage each time full of excitement.
"And everyone who saw Siu's performance acknowledged him as the lead. These are West End talents with sky-high standards. If the fellow actors can see it, there's no way the British audience won't."
"Really?"
Her worries seemed to ease a lot, and Mom's tone returned to normal as she asked again.
Seeing that, Jo Isu and I both let out sighs of relief.
He grinned brightly and replied.
"Of course. Come sit with me in the audience the day after tomorrow and see for yourself."
"I'm already looking forward to it."
At Jo Isu's mention of the opening night, Uncle shuddered and shook his head.
Of course, the troupe had prepared tickets for our family.
"You can look forward to it. Jessica specifically told them to secure the best seats for you and Uncle. Plus, I'll be personally guiding that day."
"Huh? Isu hyung, then who's doing assistant director duties?"
Guiding?
His highest assistant to Jessica, skipping stage prep for some guide duty?
At my question, Jo Isu scratched his head, thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Ah, Jessica's about to make the announcement, but... that day, important guests are coming from Rainbow Pictures headquarters. So I'll be in the audience welcoming them instead of backstage. It should be fine to tell you in advance, Siu."
"Lucas?"
Hearing about HQ staff, I named the familiar face.
Am I going to see that stylish gentleman again?
Jo Isu burst out laughing at the sudden mention of Rainbow Pictures' executive and ruffled my hair.
Saying probably no other six-year-old calls him Lucas so casually.
"Haha, not sure if he's coming. Who knows, maybe he'll rush over when he hears you're the lead. Oh, and some of Jessica's Hollywood acquaintances are coming to see your show too."
"H-Hollywood?!"
"Yeah, people she met when she broke into Hollywood. They have insane presence."
He joked that he'd seen them once in America from afar, and their aura was no joke even from a distance.
"Wow!"
The word Hollywood made my eyes sparkle too.
Hollywood, the holy land of all my favorite blockbuster American movies!
Of course, I knew about the movie Jessica made.
It was from quite a while back, apparently.
Sadly, I hadn't seen it yet.
When I heard it was a massive box-office hit and promised Jessica I'd watch it, she threw her head back laughing.
When I asked why, it turned out to be rated 19.
Tears welled up at the news.
My inner soul was plenty old enough to watch it, but I'd have to twiddle my thumbs for over ten more years....
Jessica said that after that film, she lost interest in movies and stuck to theater.
Feeling oddly close to her, I asked Jo Isu.
"Who's coming?"
"Haha, Siu, doesn't Hollywood make you nervous at all?"
He shook his head at my urging him to spill.
Uncle, sipping lemonade nearby, let out a 'Huh' and gaped.
"You know... I'm not even the one on stage, but my heart's already pounding. You really have nerves of steel. Nerves of steel. Must be from your mom."
"Not quite to that extent."
Even Mom turned away from me.
No, it's the same audience either waywhat's the difference?
At least Mom seemed completely at ease now.
No point worrying when the kid going on stage isn't tense at all.
She seemed to realize worries weren't needed.
Relieved, I beamed and asked.
"What about Dad? When can he come? I need to show him the England show too."
"Um, Dad arrives the morning after tomorrow."
"Heehee, great. Gotta ask him if he understood all the lines."
"Thanks to you, the whole family's studying English."
"Uung, we're a global family."
Mom laughed at my words and hugged me tight.
Perfect, success.
She was in a great mood now.
Nestled in her arms, I grinned and gave Jo Isu a thumbs-up.
He sneakily returned one.
We exchanged smiles like co-conspirators.
Beside us, the Thames flowed steadily.
All the scenery had changed, but the Thames looked just the same.
A bit southeast from here, and you'd hit the old Battenberg lands.
But right now, sitting cozily by this Thames, I didn't miss it at all.
The November wind that once felt so cold in my past life felt warm today.
"Achoo!"
"Siu must be cold. Shall we head inside now?"
"Sure."
Sniffleno, not that.
The next day, after a final full-dress rehearsal, I headed back to the hotel early and crashed hard.
Then, the next morning. The London sky was clear for once, sunlight bright.
The big day: British premiere of 'RUN'.
Sitting in the large theater dressing room, I stared blankly at the wig being placed on my head.
Wow, how do they make a wig with zero unnatural feel?
Mine was a light brown one with soft waves.
Since it's England, we decided on a wig to capture white Johnny's vibe.
Thanks to my sharp features and pale skin, no other makeupjust the wig.
I'd already changed into costume before the wig.
Way more British than the Korean version.
A floaty white shirt in poplin with puffed sleeves, topped with a maroon knit vest.
Paired with cute beige cargo pants.
"All done. That's Johnny to a T, huh?"
The staff who fitted the wig smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
I totally agreed.
A super cute kid stared back from the mirror.
I'd tried this look a few times in rehearsals, so it wasn't brand new, but it still felt pretty foreign to me.
I'd gone blond with blue contacts before, so brown hair feeling strange?
I'm fully Korean now, fully.
"Ooh, Siu. It's not like snow fell on your cheeks. Is this face really coming out with just that makeup?"
"How are you whiter than someone they call white?"
The actors I'd fully bonded with swarmed over once my look was done, poking my cheeks.
My cheeks did look like soft white glutinous rice cakes.
Ah, Brits wouldn't know what glutinous rice cakes are.
Better not say it.
If I did, I'd be giving a monologue on it until showtime.
Lately, there was a boom in learning Korean culture among the actorsslip up, and I'd be hounded.
"Hey, don't manhandle my kid too much."
"Gordon, you're done quick?"
"Yeah, um, Siu. Sorry again today. I didn't go on about white or Asian this time."
"I know. I was just amazed it finished so fast."
"...Sorry. But I didn't have much to do either."
Gordon fidgeted with his hair, slicked like a tub of wax, looking embarrassed.
The day I first greeted the British troupe, he'd hurled some harsh words at me, and he'd apologized every single day since.
He said "sorry, Siu" so much whenever we met, I thought my name was Sorry-Siu.
Including the two just now, no exaggerationabout a hundred apologies.
"Siu, want some? It's sweet and smooth."
"Thanks."
And since then, Gordon had been looking out for me a ton, knowingly or not.
Not as a kid, but as a fellow actor.
Just like Jessica didn't baby me, the British team was the same.
Must be what comes out away from Korea.
A freer, more horizontal vibe?
Even in a team gathered for the same lines and show, the atmosphere differed by country. Pretty fascinating.
"Twenty minutes to curtain! Group fighting?"
"Sounds good. Gordon, Siuhurry over."
I hopped off the chair at that and headed to where everyone gathered.
"Alright, then... Let's successfully RUN this RUN performance!"
"Woo!"
Gordon, me, and Emily in the center, all the actors circled up and shouted fighting energetically.
We cheered and clapped, pumping each other up.
"Ugh, so nervous. Audience is seating now, they say."
"You said you weren't nervous all talk?"
The actors shared tension while waiting.
Surprisingly, I was pretty keyed up too.
First show back in my past life's hometown.
Honestly, not meaningless, but not overwhelmingly special either.
The jitters were just excitement for debuting this stage with this crew.
Home or away, every stage matters.
Jessica brought me hereI'd deliver perfection.
And move everyone once more with my Johnny.
"Standby!"
At the staff's call, we all headed backstage together.