I Will Live As An Actor - Chapter 77

I will live as an actor Episode 77

“Everyone stop.”

While rehearsing, leader Lee Chang-hoon raises his hand. His eyes are focused on just one person. This is Ji Dong-yeon. Even while spitting out lines on stage, he looks uneasy in the way he looks, as if he can’t shake off an uncomfortable look.

‘How many times has it been already?’

The faces of the other actors are full of dissatisfaction. For some reason, Ji Dong-yeon repeated mistakes so many times that it was impossible to count them all during the rehearsal that had already started in the morning. Yeon-soo, who is called a beginner in theater, was not at that level. Moreover, wasn’t Ji Dong-yeon an actor who was worn out in theater?

‘I thought my senses came back to life.’

England wipes his dry lips. Ji Dong-yeon’s acting was obviously quite outstanding after 15 days. It could be said that he had regained his form from his prime, but for some reason, his acting skills suddenly deteriorated.

The biggest reason may be that his concentration was disturbed. It still is. Director Lee Chang-hoon calls actor Ji Dong-yeon aside and tells her what to do, but Ji Dong-yeon looks detached from something rather than being scolded.

‘Come to think of it.’

England recalls memories of her past life. There are many actors in Korea. Not only are there stars who suddenly appear like comets and then rise and fall, but there are also actors whose careers last for decades. Ji Dong-yeon did not fit into either of those two categories.

He clearly made a name for himself as a theater actor and frequently appeared in dramas, so he was also highly recognized by the public. However, after suddenly disappearing from the drama version a few years ago, it reappeared in the theater version.

‘What happened next?’

Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough interest in Ji Dong-yeon to know about his future. Even when I look back on my memories of my past life as an actor, I don’t see the name Ji Dong-yeon, so I guess I quit my life as an actor midway. At that moment, Park Sang-ah speaks so that the other actors can hear, as if expressing dissatisfaction with the constantly interrupted rehearsals.

“Why on earth is Senior Ji acting like that? How many days has he been acting like a man in a daze? Aren’t he ruining the whole play by doing this?”

It’s not wrong. It’s clear that there’s a big problem since he can’t clearly explain why he can’t concentrate, but since he’s suffering alone, I can’t help him. If we continue like this, we may make the same mistake at the Korean Theater Festival. but.

“Oh, look at me. The leader is talking, but you don’t even listen. That’s what a senior does.”

I crossed the line. Considering her usual fiery temperament, these words and actions are completely understandable, but they are still not extreme. This is something he said while implicitly looking down on Ji Dong-yeon, who is less popular and recognized than him. Remarks like this are harmful to the organization. England looks at actress Park Sang-ah and speaks firmly.

“If you can’t say it in front of senior Park, let’s not say it behind his back either.”

* * *

Just a week before the Korean Theater Festival.

“Where is Ji Dong-yeon!”

An uninvited guest suddenly arrives at the theater company. The face is flushed and the eyebrows are raised, which is unusual. Director Lee Chang-hoon steps forward while exhaling heavily and searching through the theater company.

“What are you doing this for? This is private property and actors are acting. Please leave immediately!”

“I came to know that you were hiding Ji Dong-yeon, so don’t talk nonsense and bring Ji Dong-yeon to me. Until you do that, I can’t take one step from here.”

“If you keep doing this, I will call the police.”

“The police are good. Call the police right away! Do you know how much money that bastard took from me!”

A person with whom you cannot communicate. As he huffs and puffs as if he is about to take off his top and lie down on his back, director Lee Chang-hoon looks at the stage with narrowed eyes. However, the appearance of actor Ji Dong-yeon, who had performed a run-through on stage just moments ago, had completely disappeared. Although Lee Chang-hoon personally comes forward to stop the uninvited guest, the actors on stage show signs of anxiety.

‘how.’

England swallows dry saliva and heads straight to the waiting room behind the stage. The place was already a mess. Ji Dong-yeon must have changed her clothes in a hurry and ran away, but her clothes were lying around, and she was so desperate that she didn’t even think to take her wallet, which was on the table. England leaves the waiting room with his wallet and heads to the audience.

‘still.’

An uninvited guest and leader Lee Chang-hoon are arguing. Several managers cling to him, but an uninvited guest is shouting Ji Dong-yeon’s name for the troupe to leave. No matter how much social life you have experienced, it is not enough to stop such an angry bull. England, who was no better than him, placed his hand on the uninvited guest’s shoulder and spoke.

“How much?”

The unexpected guest turns his head at the sudden sound of England’s voice. England shouts out once again at that sight.

“How much money did Senior Ji borrow from you?”

Everyone flinches at the angry voice that sounds like a boiled train barrel. The same goes for uninvited guests. England was more angry about actor Ji Dong-yeon, who ran away without saying a word, than about the run-through being stopped. The uninvited guest quickly narrows his eyes and replies back.

“One hundred million! Why would you even pay for me?”

Everyone looks astonished at the amount, which sounds like hundreds of millions. But England nodded briefly as if he knew that would happen and then elaborated.

“Are you going to pay me back that big money because I’m crazy? Stop talking nonsense and get the hell out of here. I know you’re angry because I took the money, but if you scream at Ji Dong-yeon, who isn’t even here, to come out, he’ll fall from the sky. Your eyes. “Don’t you see other people here? They have sinned or owed you money.”

An uninvited guest raises his eyes at England’s shout. But I can’t run anymore. That’s right, England was born and raised among sailors. I didn’t know anything else, but I was confident that I wouldn’t lose at least one fight. England once again shouts at the uninvited guest.

“Go find Ji Dong-yeon and grab her by the collar or throw her down, whatever you want, and get out of here!”

* * *

Telephone poles are intricately intertwined in the sky, and the winding stairs are as steep as the hiking trail. The outer walls of the huts, which are close together, all have cracks, as if there was a drought. England walks along, following the address on the resident registration card he saw in Ji Dong-yeon’s wallet.

The place we finally arrived at was a shack that seemed shabby considering the actor’s former reputation. The rusty green gate has lost its shine and even the lock does not work properly. As soon as the door is opened, the rusty gate emits a groaning sound.

‘It smells really bad.’

The foul smell that stings the tip of one’s nose makes one wonder whether this is indeed Ji Dong-yeon’s home. This is because it is not easy to match when you see them dressed up neatly when they appear in a theater company. The first thing you see when you enter the house are soju bottles rolling around on the floor.

‘Are you sure you’re here?’

The few pieces of furniture that are worn down to the point where you might think it’s an abandoned house are covered in dust. When I search the dark room and turn on the light, the light without a bulb on one side emits a faint light. Only then can the scenery in the room come into view.

‘under.’

There are soju bottles strewn about in the messy room, and Ji Dong-yeon is lying curled up in a corner of the room, as if asleep. I don’t know if the city gas is not coming in at all or if it was cut off because I didn’t pay my utility bills on time. A cold feeling rises from the floor. England looks down at Ji Dong-yeon, who is drunk, and thinks about his past life.

‘I was like this too.’

In his past life, after leaving his mother, didn’t he also become addicted to alcohol? At the time, it was said that no one came to look for him, perhaps because he had a bad personality. With my work cut off, my wallet was not in good shape, and I faced the end looking at the dim light. England goes to the kitchen and pours tap water into a pot full of dust. And then.

Trudging.

He approaches Ji Dong-yeon’s lying face. Ji Dong-yeon, who is sleeping with his whole body curled up like a shrimp, is sleeping soundly even in this cold room, perhaps because he is dependent on alcohol. England couldn’t look at that, so he splashed cold water from the pot he was holding on his face.

Sigh.

Ji Dong-yeon, suddenly hit by cold water, opens her eyes wide and stands up in a huff. When he meets England’s gaze under an urgent and absurd expression, he even rubs his eyes with his sleeve, wondering if it’s a dream. OK.

“Why do you live like this?”

England asks quietly. Only then did Ji Dong-yeon realize that all of this was not a dream but reality, and shame clearly appeared on Ji Dong-yeon’s face. He sits down on his butt in a room full of dust and speaks self-deprecatingly.

“Why do you live like this? I don’t know. This is what I looked like when I opened my eyes. I know how pathetic I look in your eyes. I can’t even say I’m sorry to you or the members. But how did you find out about this place?”

“You must have been in a hurry, so you left your wallet in the waiting room. But what happened? You’ve done quite a bit of work so far, and if you’re a senior, you probably won’t have a hard time with money. Did you gamble at all?”

“It’s not that, it’s actually because of my father…”

Ji Dong-yeon confesses as if she has nothing to hide anymore. This was the reason Ji Dong-yeon, who was not even married, borrowed a huge sum of 100 million won. He said that he supported his father because he was trying too hard to run a business. However, it is said that his father’s business failed and due to the shock, his chronic illness worsened and he passed away.

Perhaps because of that, his mind became so weak that he could not survive without relying on alcohol, and he suffered the humiliation of having his contract terminated by his agency in the end.

“No one is looking for me in broadcasting or in Chungmuro anymore. Then writer Jeong came to see me. He said he would write an actor like me who was a slob, so what was the point of considering it?”

Looking at him, England felt like a reflection of himself from his past life. The reason Ji Dong-yeon reveals his true feelings in front of a junior who is so much younger than him is probably because there has been no one to listen to his story.

At that time, England also wanted to confide in someone about their inner feelings, but there was no one around. When you feel weak like this, just having someone by your side is a great comfort.

“What are you going to do next?”

“uh?”

“Are you going to keep running away like that? It looks like the creditor will soon stop by the theater company again or even show up at the Korean Theater Festival. Are you going to keep giving trouble to the people at the theater company like this? What about Writer Jeong and Director Seong? Those two have been working on theater productions for several years. “I’m trying to make a comeback after leaving, but are you going to let me ruin it all because of you?”

Ji Dong-yeon cannot raise his head due to England’s yelling.

“If you just stare at the floor like that, will you get the right answer? Come back to the theater company tomorrow, and tell your creditors that you will somehow repay the debt after the Korean Theater Festival ends. I will help you.”

“What do you mean? How can I be shameless towards my junior?”

“Do your age and experience help you? I’m not saying I’ll just give you money, but I’ll use an IOU and lend you it at a fair interest. I’m acting again. This isn’t me lending, but I’m the same person who used to get drunk and waste every day as if my life was going to be ruined. “This week is like your last chance.”

Ji Dong-yeon doesn’t understand what England is saying. However, he still seems unable to give a hasty answer, perhaps because he cannot open his hands as much as he would to his junior. England sighs at that sight. In some ways, isn’t it similar to your past life? Moreover, Ji Dong-yeon is much younger than when she decided to die in her last life. At that look.

“Regardless of age or experience, let’s just say one thing out loud.”

England says while glaring at Ji Dong-yeon’s shabby face.

“Come to your senses, Ji Dong-yeon.”