“Swinging your fist without thinking wouldn’t make an action scene. You need to know how to set up a composition. If you digest only the things I tell you, you will just stop there, but if you study more by watching your seniors, you will experience growth. Bear in mind that what I’m teaching you here is, in the end, the basics.”

Choongho said those words as he finished the class. They started relocating the mats back into their original positions and put away the tools. They also did some cleaning.

“Thank you for your work!”

They left the building after thanking him loudly.

“I’m dying.”

Kang Sooyoung and Choi Joon-gi, who took classes together, massaged their shoulders as they spoke. Maru also stretched his arms out. The intensity of the classes was rising. The time they spent on learning theory was reduced by the day, and they started moving around more physically.

“How many times did we fall over today?”

“I don’t know. But it’s over 100 for sure.”

“Maru, are you okay? There was a big sound when you fell last time.”

Maru twisted his body to stretch as he spoke.

“It was loud, but it didn’t hurt that much.”

“I almost thought you broke a bone or something. I mean, the sound was quite loud, and deep too.”

There was a fight scene where Maru was shoulder-thrown, and due to a mistake, he ended up falling on his shoulder. If he fell properly, the area of contact would be wide, the sound would be a popping sound rather than a thud, which would distribute the shock over a wide area, but at that time, he fell on his shoulder which made a deep sound. Thankfully, the mattress was thick and he did not get injured.

“So even instructors can make a mistake.”

“That’s why the director called him, right? He probably got shouted at. Did you see how he looked at Maru awkwardly after that? He always boasted about himself and that felt like sweet karma.”

“Yeah, it did.”

Sooyoung and Joon-gi walked away after saying their goodbyes. Maru nodded his head and waited for Bangjoo outside the building.

“Did you find your phone?” He asked Bangjoo who came out.

Bangjoo showed him his phone and smiled.

“It was next to the wire practice area. Looks like I forgot about it after I took a picture.”

“Don’t leave things everywhere. It’s all money you know?”

“Okay.”

Bangjoo walked next to him with his bag in hand. But he was a little too close. Maru looked at Bangjoo since he looked like he had something to say.

“I heard something while I was finding my phone.”

“What did you hear?”

“I overheard the names of the actors appearing in the movie we’re doing.”

“Really? Who?”

“I started listening from halfway so I don’t know about anyone else, but I heard one name loud and clear. Kwon Dayoon from Blue.”

Bangjoo clenched his hands and shouted hooray.

“I heard that clearly. The idol Kwon Dayoon. I’m a fan of hers.”

“You like idols?”

“Just her. She’s really good at sports. I saw her on TV before and she’s really good at learning. I became her fan back then.”

“You became her fan because she’s good at sports?”

“She’s pretty too. I saw her photo without makeup and she looked really pretty. You know her as well, right?”

“No, I don’t.”

“Hm, I guess it’s reasonable that you don’t know since you don’t watch TV that much.”

Bangjoo smiled pleasantly.

Blue, huh. Maru was reminded of Chaerim for a brief moment. Now that he thought about it, she said that she hung out with her last time. It looked like they had gotten close.

‘A movie with an idol in it huh. Director Joongjin should have picked her as well right.’

Joongjin even picked the minor actors. There was no way he would’ve not met an actor that was lead~support-level actors. Since he, who was called a genius, picked her, there must be a reason for it. Perhaps she was a hidden pearl or something.

“When do you think we’ll start shooting the movie?”

“They said it was at the end of August, so we don’t have to wait that long.”

“I hope we can start shooting soon.”

“Why? To see that Dayoon girl?”

“There’s that too, but I’m curious about what shooting a movie is like. As for plays, I’m doing one right now, so I don’t feel lacking in that part.”

“If it’s anything like what I’ve experienced before, then it will be very hard. No, it will be awfully hard.”

“Awfully hard?”

“Think about it. There are at least a dozen people watching your lips. On top of that, there are people much more popular, much better at acting than you waiting. Every mistake you make is another glare in your direction, and you’ll be sworn at with a high chance. Do that multiple times, and you might see a script flying in your face. It’s a harsh place for sure.”

Hearing his words, Bangjoo looked even more expectant. Maru smiled faintly. He liked how Bangjoo did not lose his spirit.

“Seonbae-nim, why don’t we get some toasted sandwiches on the way home? I’ll treat you.”

“Hey, I think you’re looking for ways to get me to treat you all the time.”

“I’m really buying this time. I got some pocket money from my sister.”

“Then I guess I’ll eat something from you this time?”

“Of course. You can add extra fillings as well. My sister gave me a lot of pocket money.”

Bangjoo said ‘let’s go’ in a loud voice. Maru smiled as he followed.

* * *

“I’m seeing you quite frequently.”

“That is true.”

“I wanted to have a drink with you when I saw you a few days ago, but I couldn’t since I had a lot of appointments.”

“It’s fine. We’re not close enough to drink together.”

“I guess that’s true.”

Junmin looked at Joongjin who sat in front of him. There was a mysterious smile on his face. Junmin also replied with a smile since he was given a series of slightly different smiles.

“Looks like the conversation we had last time wasn’t enough since you’re here again.”

“Back then, we only talked about the past, not about business.”

“Business, huh. Oh, should I give you some tea?”

“No, I’m good. As I said before, I’m a busy man.”

“Alright. Then let’s get to the point. It will be rude of me to keep holding a busy person here.”

Junmin leaned forward a little. Why was this man, Park Joongjin, here?

“I’ll get straight to the point then. I wish to borrow Miss Yang Miso for a little.”

“Miso, you say?”

“Yes. I'm shooting a movie soon, but I haven’t seen a suitable person to supervise acting at the scene. The people I’m acquainted with all had schedules. So I looked into other people, and she came onto my radar. My acquaintances recommended her as well.”

“I see.”

“On top of that, I found out that you were taking care of her, so I saw no reason to hesitate. That’s why I came here immediately.”

“It looks like the rumors have already spread that I’m taking care of her.”

“It’s not to the point of being a rumor, but I just heard some stories. Ever since I came back to Korea, I’ve been hearing a lot of things. I can’t be sure about anyone else, but I trust your eyes at least.”

“Yes. I do have a good eye for people. But unfortunately, Miso is currently occupied with something else.”

“What is she occupied with?”

Junmin stopped leaning forward and rested his back against the backrest. He now understood the reason behind Joongjin’s visit. He was in a better position here.

“She’s an instructor at an academy.”

“An academy instructor, huh.”

He saw Joongjin stroking his chin.

“President.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“May I go and meet this person called Yang Miso?”

“Well, you don’t need my permission for that. She’s in Film right now.”

“Film? You mean the one in Gangnam?”

“Yes.”

“An instructor there huh. It looks like you have multiple talents below your wings. The one called Geunsoo last time was very good as well.”

“He’s one of my valuable assets. He’s an important guy.”

“Oh, my. Everything I wanted since before seems to go into your hands. Haha, that’s right. It was like that back then too, with Haejoo.”

The smile on Joongjin’s lips started turning faint. Junmin also put away his business smile.

“I hear that name from you a lot, director Park. I don’t really feel that pleasant about it.”

“Me too. I don’t want to keep mentioning her either, but looking at you keeps reminding me of her. Oh, I had a drink with the people that shot ‘Spring Calendar’ a few days ago. Miss Joohyun was there too. She’s matured a lot since the last time I saw her.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Ah! Mr. Han Maru was there as well. What a coincidence. Mr. Maru is also under you, right?”

“You’re probably right.”

“Again, just why are the people I like always related to you? It’s quite ironic. Just how good is your character that all the good people go under your wing?”

“I only give some support to those with talent. Somehow, people gathered under my wing like that. It’s not that I have a good character.”

“How humble of you.”

Joongjin put on his fedora, which he put on his lap, and stood up.

“Anyway, I’ll go meet Miss Miso. Who knows? She might have enough free time to help me out.”

“If Miso says okay, then you can use her as you like. She’s skilled in that regard.”

“Thank you.”

Joongjin turned around. Junmin no longer looked at him and looked at his desk. He saw a pile of documents he had to look over.

“President.”

Junmin raised his head. He saw Joongjin standing in front of the door.

“Fifteen years ago, I made a lot of regrets. It was back then that I realized that humility and refusal might be poisonous. What if I had grabbed Haejoo before that? What if I interfered between you and her? I keep thinking about it even now.”

“If you want to swear at me, then go ahead. If you want to hit me, you can do that as well. However, you will not get me to say sorry. Even if I go back to back then, I will grab Haejoo. I will help her become the greatest actor in South Korea.”

“What if Haejoo dies again as a result of that?”

Joongjin turned around. He had scary eyes. It wasn’t the eyes of someone that was smiling. They were the eyes of pain that could only be expressed by people that possessed a wound that had started to rot.

Junmin returned the gaze. When Joongjin writhed in pain back then, he was right next to him. Pain wasn’t something unique to Joongjin.

After looking at each other for a while, Joongjin took off his fedora and smiled again.

“Please excuse me. I apologize.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’ll bring a bottle of whisky next time. Let’s talk again at that time.”

“Alright.”

Joongjin nodded slightly before leaving. Junmin sighed deeply before leaning back into the chair. He felt very tired.

* * *

“Emotions aren’t something that you bring out. It is something that is brought out because of your opponent. Of course, you can bring it out as well, but emotions brought out like that are less sympathizable. Even a monologue is bringing out the emotion by looking at one’s inner self.”

When Miso finished her words, she looked at the man sitting in the corner of the room. She was going to pause the class after seeing the man come into the class mid-way, but the man told her to keep going without minding him. When she asked him who he was, he only replied that he came here upon Mr. Lee Junmin’s recommendation. She wasn’t the type that would become nervous just because someone was watching, so she ignored him and continued the class.

“Let’s take a break,” she told the three applicants before walking towards the man.

“Are you Miss Yang Miso?”

“Yes. I am Yang Miso.”

“Nice to meet you. Please excuse me for coming here all of a sudden. My name is Park Joongjin, and right now, I’m shooting a movie,” Joongjin said as he put out his hand.

Miso grabbed his hand back for now. She thought that he would shake gently, but Joongjin vigorously shook his hand up and down as though he was playing a prank. Miso did not get flustered and shook her hand even more vigorously. Joongjin declared defeat and pulled out his hand first.

“You really are out of the ordinary. I like you.”

“Just what are you?”

“A director. I think I just told you that.”

“Are you really a director? I really don’t like scams. I don’t usually get scammed either.”

“I also dislike scams.”

Joongjin took out his phone and called someone before having a short conversation. A moment later, Miso saw a text on her phone.

-He’s director Park Joongjin who shot Spring Calendar. If you have time, talk to him.

It was from Junmin.