After Story 225

“And that was when I first saw you,” Youngsun said as he picked up the can.

He thought he had some beer left, but it was an empty can.

When he looked for more to drink, Maru handed him a canned beer.

“You saw me during my audition? Why don’t I remember?” Maru asked.

“I just saw you talking to the director inside the room while I was passing by. Of course you didn’t see me. And to tell you the truth, my first impression of you wasn’t that great.”

“I was so bad that just a glimpse of me left you a bad impression?” Maru ripped some dried squid.

“It was an inferiority complex. Everyone was tense waiting for the audition, so what would they think if they saw an actor on close terms with the director? Oh! I don’t have any connections so I won’t make it this time either! That actor is going to get cast because of his or her good connections.”

“Youngsun, this guy. He’s actually quite petty despite his looks,” Sungmin said with a laugh.

“Yes, I was quite petty back then. But don’t you all have a similar experience? Joonhyuk, what about you?”

Joonhyuk spoke as he picked up a squid leg,

“Who doesn’t? There have been plenty of times when I’ve thought that someone was worse than me but was doing better just because he belonged to a good agency. I thought many times that I would’ve done several times better.”

He smiled bitterly before sighing.

“Of course, that was when I just started working as an actor. I know that the world isn’t so easy. I learned that the reason I didn’t get the role is that I was insufficient and that there is no guarantee that I would be able to do better even if I was playing that role. Once you start blaming someone, there’s no end to it. It leaves a bad aftertaste too.”

“Once you start looking for reasons apart from yourself, you can’t even quit easily,” Sungmin said.

Youngsun took a couple sips before looking at Maru.

“Anyway, I really didn’t like you back then, but now I know that you’re a man of great character.”

“Feeding people is the best way to get to a person’s heart alright. I hear so many pleasant things just because I buy you food,” Maru said as he picked up an almond.

Youngsun opened his mouth wide. The almond that Maru tossed went right into his mouth.

“The shoot is hard, but we’re having an easier time thanks to you,” Sungmin said.

Maru waved his hand in denial.

“I didn’t do anything much.”

“Of course you did a lot of things. The production staff doesn’t say things to us because they know that you’re looking out for us. Had it been anywhere else, an NG from a minor actor would turn the atmosphere stiff.”

“That’s thanks to director Kwon. You know he looks out for the action actors a lot. Director Nam looks out for the production staff as well.”

“That’s true, but from what I see, you play a bigger role.”

Youngsun nodded. At the shoot, Maru was like salt. The shooting team, the production team, the lighting team, the arts team… he was close to everyone. Whenever a problem occurred and people started raising their voices, Maru appeared without fail. He had never seen a mediator more perfect than him before.

Not only that, but Hong Geunsoo would also show up as well whenever Maru made a move. With the support of someone who can basically go head-to-head with the director, most troublesome matters were resolved in no time.

The first thing that was improved was the waiting place for the extras. They originally had to wait under the sun due to ease of control, but thanks to Geunsoo and Maru speaking out, they were moved to the shade. That alone stopped the background actors from frowning during the shoot.

“How much do you want from me to keep praising me like that? My wallet is pretty tight these days, you know?”

“Really? Then I’ll stop!”

Everyone laughed at Sungmin’s words.

“But it really is curious whenever we meet up like this. Honestly, I thought I’d never get to talk to the main actors at the shoot,” Youngsun said.

“That’s because Maru-hyung is special. The other actors are all in the hotel right now.”

Joonhyuk raised his thumb. Maru shrugged.

“I’m also going to go to the hotel to sleep comfortably once I’m done drinking here.”

“Don’t say that and sleep here like shrimps with us.”

“I like comfy beds.”

“You’re so ruthless, turning down this little brother’s request.”

They talked about the lunchbox that they had for dinner. Most of it was about how the side dishes were lacking and them theorizing if someone had taken some of the money midway.

“How was the shoot today?” Maru said as he put down the glass. Youngsun also put down his glass.

Wherever Maru talked about the shoot, everyone focused. Even the relaxed atmosphere would contain a hint of tension.

“I think the sync was not as good when we were shooting the last scene,” Joonhyuk spoke first.

“I felt that too. You’re talking about when we were up against the Gaya people, right?”

“Yes. I think people are running out of stamina. The past few days have been hot even at night.”

“Maybe it’s because of that.”

“I feel like my body can’t keep up even though I want to increase the pace.”

“Maru, the director didn’t say anything much when he said okay, did he?”

Joonhyuk, Sungmin, and Maru exchanged opinions. Youngsun also joined in the middle and said what he felt. The others did the same.

Ever since the shoot began, they had a session like this nearly every day. They would sometimes realize what they didn’t know if they exchanged their experiences and thus would be able to fix their mistakes.

The sync between team members was more important than an individual’s acting skills, so they needed some time to talk, and thanks to their drinking sessions, that was resolved naturally.

Thinking about it now, even this occasion was created thanks to Maru’s suggestion.

Youngsun looked at Maru talking about acting with a serious expression. He didn’t look like he was here to teach or preach, just that he wanted to make up for each other’s insufficiencies.

What a great fortune was it that he managed to meet this person? — Youngsun thought as he listened to Maru’s words.

* * *

“Go back inside. I’ll get going as well.”

“Watch out on your way back!”

It became noisy in front of the building. He looked, wondering what was happening. Han Maru and some minor actors were saying goodbye to each other. This wasn’t the first or second time it happened, so there was nothing surprising about that.

“I think they’re meeting up practically every single day.”

“The Red Tiger Troops get their own meetings. Don’t we get anything?”

“I’m envious. Actor Han will pay for all their drinks, wouldn’t he? I wish I was in team 4 too.”

Gyungho looked at his teammate who spoke. Everyone was envious, but they were forgetting the important thing. Why was actor Han Maru keeping a good relationship with the minor actors? He had to find the answer to this question.

“It seems like Han Maru has a good character. He looks out for a lot of people.”

“It just shows his nature. From how he’s not boasting just because he rose to stardom while young, he is just destined to do well,” his team members said.

Gyungho looked at Han Maru walking away and spoke,

“You think he’s doing that because he has a good nature?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, think about it. How many actors look out for minor actors like that in the movie scene? He’s a young actor who must have his hands full looking out for himself.”

“I’m saying that he has a good character for helping others even in his situation.”

“No, no. The fact that he seems like a good person is a result. What’s important is the process.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that we can’t tell for sure whether he’s splitting his time meeting insignificant actors because he’s kind or because he wants everyone to see him as a kind person. The result of both of them is that he’s kind, but the nature of it is very different.”

“Whether he’s pretentious or genuine, what matters is that he is looking out for minor actors. What does his thoughts have anything to do with it? What’s important is what we can see. I mean, even pretentiously, it’d be better if he treats us well.”

Gyungho nodded. “You’re right. I’m not insulting him for being a hypocrite. I just thought that I could benefit as well.”

“Benefit? How?”

“Just wait a little. If what I’m thinking is right, we might get something out of this too.”

“Don’t do it by yourself and let us in too. What do you mean by that?”

“I told you to wait. If things go well, I’ll suck out the sweet juice from him and give everyone a share.”

Gyungho spoke to the team member that tilted his head in confusion,

“Do you know what Nice Guy Syndrome is?”

“What’s that?”

“You’ve probably come across some of them in your life. Someone who helps others even at the cost of their own possessions. We sometimes call them gullible, but apparently, it’s not because they’re idiots that are helping others out and acting kind. They enjoy people praising them. And they get uneasy if they don’t get that treatment.”

“There was a guy like that when I went to school. Whenever there was something bothersome, people would go to him. Then he would smile and listen to all of them. I once asked him because I was curious: Are you being bullied? Why can’t you refuse? Then he told me that it wasn’t anything much and that it was a good thing that he could help them out and make them happy.”

Gyungho clapped and pointed at the person that just spoke.

“That’s exactly it. They’re bound by the stereotype that they have to be kind. They have to refuse what they don’t want to do, but they can’t because they’re afraid that the image they have in the minds of others would shatter.”

He lowered his voice a little.

“Now think again. How is Han Maru acting? Don’t you think he’s being uselessly kind? Look at how he treats team 4.”

“Really? I’m not really sure. Isn’t he helping them out because he’s working with them?”

“That’s possible, but I feel like he’s managing his image.”

“I get what you’re saying. So you want to ask actor Han a favor?”

“Yes. We ask him something trivial to benefit, and Han Maru gains satisfaction from his ego.”

“There’s nothing to lose. Should we ask him to buy us drinks?” said someone from the team with a smile.

The next day.

He was resting after his morning shoot, looking around for someone. He found the person he was looking for.

“Mr. Maru.”

Gyungho smiled and approached Han Maru. He may not know his name, but he should know his face as they had clashed multiple times.

“Yes.”

“You know me, right? I’m from team 1 and I get beaten up by you all the time.”

“I do. You were really good at acting.”

“So you remember me. Have you had lunch?” he asked while looking at Maru’s empty hand.

“No, I was just about to.”

“Are you going with the director and the other actors?”

“They told me there’s a good sashimi cold noodles restaurant nearby.”

“That’s a pity. I wanted to talk to you over some food if you had some time.”

“Talk?”

“Nothing much. I just wanted to ask a few things. You hang around with the members of team 4 a lot, don’t you? I’m envious, seeing actors around the same age being so close.”

Maru did not say anything.

Was his estimation wrong? — just as he thought so,

“There’s nothing to be envious about. We just meet up and talk about acting or trivial stuff.”

“That’s what I’m envious about.”

Gyungho took a glance at Maru. A moment of silence later, Maru spoke,

“Then let’s have lunch together today. I also like hanging around actors around the same age.”

Good, he fell for it — Gyungho smiled brightly before speaking,

“Then let’s go over to where my team is.”

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