I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 10

I Will Live as an Actor Episode 10

A signboard for a large pot restaurant showing traces of time Some may describe this place as a product of past history, while for others it may be a space to regain memories of life. However, what was certain was that the sign, stained by the owner’s hands, was shining under the stars and the sea breeze.

“Auntie, here are two bindaetteok for you!”

Old cutlery and savory snacks are lined up on the crudely cut drum table. Makgeolli glistens in a dented nickel silver kettle, and people’s boisterous laughter shows no signs of stopping. This was the place where the filming team of the drama ‘August Man’ gathered together.

Since it was a hectic drama filming site, sometimes we needed a space like this to catch our breath. In field work, which is commonly called broadcasting labor, the sum of the workers (staff) was more important than anything else. What about the actors who are the main characters on set? There was nothing better than alcohol to get the mind together. In a way, doesn’t it truly resemble a grinding game? The dinner held after the first filming was a custom, so most people attended.

“Director Yoo, I saw something today that I couldn’t even pay money for. That smart guy turned the fish stall upside down, stepped on it, and gave a long speech. Everyone saw it, but I’ve never seen someone so talkative. Those tough market merchants. It doesn’t get quiet either. No matter how you look at it, if you were born a long time ago, you would have been a general!”

Cinematographer Kim Deuk-hyung’s nose was already flared. The same was true for the directors of other parts. The main topic of conversation at the drinking party was child actor Jang Young-guk. Even the staff who were supposed to control the scene were embarrassed, and even the famous PD couldn’t open his mouth properly due to the strong protests from the market merchants. It was none other than a young boy who resolved the imminent situation as if walking on thin ice. The boy’s voice was as loud as if he had boiled a train and was even earnest, like the remonstrances of an attractive actor.

“Director Yoo, no matter how I look at it, I feel good, right? That guy is going to be big in England!”

The famous producer put down his glass and nodded. What would have happened if a child actor who was said to be good at acting had been brought from Seoul? He would have been exhausted from the first filming due to his white skin and poor dialect. As the cinematographer said, England’s acting had a charm that drew people in. Can one really be born with such talent? However, there were some people who were not so happy about this situation.

“Director of photography, do you really have to eat here?”

“Actor Park suddenly came and said, ‘That’s it.’”

“As the cinematographer knows, it’s our first company dinner, so what’s the point of a big pot restaurant?”

“It looks like Actor Park was bored sitting in a place where the old people were gathered. But if you look at it, you can see that everyone sitting at the table has arranged their seats in a similar way to their Jjambap. Is that what they are telling you to eat and drink without paying attention? The youngest children have to go to an expensive meat restaurant. The filming is so bad, you have to cook the meat again, and you can’t drink as much as you want! The snacks at the Daepot restaurant are cheap, and who can say anything even if they laugh and talk among themselves like this? When we go up to Seoul, Director Yoo will take care of treating us to an expensive restaurant, so please understand today. Haeju.”

“No, I’m not like that.”

Actress Park Soo-young eventually kept quiet about Kim Deuk-hyung’s words. At that moment, Aunt Daepotjip came to the table holding two Bindaetteok. Kim Deuk-hyung humbly wiped his dry lips and nodded.

“Aunt, let me ask you one thing. What is the sign on the wall with ‘Mother’ written on it? I was curious about it earlier and was going to ask you, but now you’re here.”

“Is that it? A lot of leisure sailors come here and there are a lot of guys who work hard while feeling the sea breeze, but it’s not like that. I put it there because they get into fights and make a fuss when they drink alcohol. Even Aji-ya, who are crazy around alcohol, become quiet when they see the word ‘Mother’. It’s canceled.”

“Hey, I didn’t know there was such a deep meaning! By the way, it would have been nice if England came too, but Director Yoo, I told you not to come. All you have to do is just drink Waga’s carbonated drinks. Gaga is so friendly that she gets along well with minor characters.”

“I couldn’t catch you even though I said I was going to help my mother.”

“mother?”

Park Soo-young, who had just been disowned, intervened. She, too, had already drunk several glasses of makgeolli in a row, and her face was full of intoxication.

“Director Yoo, isn’t that kid like that from the beginning? No, seeing as how this kid who has never studied acting is so good at playing the role of a rebel makes me think he’s always rude to his parents, right?”

It was then.

widely-!

The dented glass of makgeolli was placed loudly. Park Soo-young felt like his drunkenness was running away from the following comments.

“Let’s not take Actor Park’s words lightly.”

* * *

The night at Namhang Market is like cooled charcoal. Just like heated charcoal gradually loses its heat over time. The night of the market was noisy due to the excitement of tourists, but only the warmth of the merchants remained. Some people were organizing their stores, which could be said to be the foundation of their lives, while others were pushing carts.

Their faces showed joy and sorrow. From auctions at direct sales outlets to arguing with tourists and soliciting customers. After an intense day, their faces showed only relief rather than fatigue. I am thankful that I was able to finish my business like this today.

England quickened his pace to help his mother. As I was quickly passing by the stores, the owner of the fruit store appeared as if I knew him.

“Is England a child? Are you filming a movie these days? It’s a child that a great actor is born in Ikada, our South Port!”

“It’s not a movie, it’s a drama. It’s just that he says a few words in front of the camera, but he’s an actor with no skills. What, if I become an actor, he’ll give me free fruit?”

“Of course not! Just sign it and I’ll give it to you in a fresh box! Over there, I’ll give you a whole piece of Jeongguji Jjimgi from the Kim family, Ankana!”

“Oh, thank you for just saying it. I’ll definitely have a hundred signed copies ready when I go home today!”

The market merchants liked the boy. Who wouldn’t like a child who is nice to his mother and even kind to those around him? There were many people who were moved by the extreme filial piety of the kind and upright British man. For this reason, it has already been said several times that the merchant association should at least provide a scholarship in the UK.

“mother!”

My mother is not good at business skills or even cleaning up after herself. Even when organizing the stall, there is a lot of awkward feeling. But my mother’s tired face was filled with only bright smiles. Just because of the fact that I met your son.

“Kook, you must have had a hard time filming today, so why did you come straight home?”

“I came because I wanted to see my mother. I told you last time that it’s easier to start from the back when organizing the stall.”

“The kid is already nagging. Mom knows it too.”

“Didn’t you have a hard time doing business without me today?”

“It must have given me a lot of strength. Don’t you know that Mom is doing well in business? Ms. Yang, the owner of the stall next door, helped me a lot, so I was very happy. Now, even if my Kook doesn’t help, Mom will do well.”

Even though she said that, my mother’s face was full of sweat. The sea water on my skinny pants and top told me about the day’s hardships.

“Kook-ah, come on, Irano. I’ll put on some clothes for you.”

“Because I like it.”

The mother looked surprised yet happy when her son suddenly hugged her. No matter what luxury goods you bring in the world, is there anything as beautiful and noble as your mother’s clothes? Because it was proof that I worked hard to maintain the driving force of my life.

“By the way, today, the PD gave me pork belly to stay at home.”

“Oh my gosh, you give me so much of this precious thing. Mom, there’s nothing I can do for PD, but I’m sorry.”

“I received it because my son did everything well, so don’t worry and go home and sleep today.”

The son almost snatched the wheelchair out of his mother’s hands. In her hand, she only had a bag containing a pound of pork belly that her son had given her. You want to help, but your son, who has already walked away, looks back and shouts.

“Let’s go! Wait for your son!”

* * *

Sizzling.

It was a cramped space that would have been full if two people lay down. The yellow wallpaper was covered with mold here and there, and the sound of a mother and son’s laughter was coming out from a small window containing a full moon. The son hands his mother a ssam filled with thick pork belly, and the mother regains her virginal smile as if in response.

“Thank you so much, PD. How could you have thought of taking care of something like this? What is your name?”

“This is a famous PD.”

“His personality is as good as his name. How could he know that our Kook’s favorite thing is pork belly and prepare it for him like this? When you go to the Kook-ah filming set, be sure to tell the producer that he enjoyed it so much.”

Pork belly may be a common food to some. But not to my mother. You can only live by paying out all your wages for a day at a fish stall. Even though I want to feed my son who is in his prime of growth, I am full of regrets because I cannot feed him as much as I want. The mother’s expression was brighter than ever, but the son’s heart as he looked at it was somehow bitter.

What a bastard.

Isn’t it natural? In my past life, I only cared about making a living for myself and couldn’t think about the food on the table for my mother who was alone. I won’t live like that anymore. However, with her small body, there was not as much she could do for her mother as she thought. That point made my heart ache so much.

“Isn’t it hard for your mother to work?”

“What could be difficult? Are you worried about your mom?”

“Of course. My mother wasn’t originally a business person. I know how difficult it is to sell fish.”

“This is how my mom eats meat with my son, and all his fatigue melts away like cotton candy. Aren’t all the market merchants jealous of how good my son is? And after working in the business for a while, he’s now getting the hang of it. Don’t worry.”

Even though she said that, my mother’s hands were covered in wounds. My fingers, which had been white and soft when I was young, were now covered in calluses like blisters from handling fish and moving fish boxes.

Although it was a difficult task for the woman alone, she may have felt like giving up, but her mother did not show any sign of difficulty. I didn’t know that it was all because of that one name, Mother. To hide my rising emotions, I took the tongs and turned over the hot meat on the rusty frying pan. The mother seemed happy as she accepted her son’s ssam and elaborated.

“What can’t you do in business? My mother is saving money until my son goes to college and gets married. I don’t know who will take the seat next to my good son, but until then, shouldn’t he take care of me? No matter what anyone says, “Isn’t he my only son?”

In her past life, even when she was lying in a hospital bed and losing strength, her mother only cared about her son. He even hid the bankbook containing the small money in an old closet, fearing that it would be a burden to his son. Even though you were thin, I still can’t forget the wrinkled hands you used to caress your ugly son’s face.

“Are you crying?”

I excused myself while looking at the smoke escaping through the small window.

“No. The smoke is spicy today.”