Chapter 16 – If I Appeared on TV (2)
[You’re really the real deal!]
[Have you been living in deception all this time? But wow, your body’s in great shape! Your limbs move well!]
[Hey, hey! Usually, homeless people don’t manage their body fat, but diligent full-time ex-hobos like me can keep it in check!]
Wow… this was… something I’d felt even back when it was Grandma, but it was still amazing.
Unlike the elder I filmed a mukbang with recently, this time seeing my own body move naturally felt completely different.
How should I put it…
It felt like those AV things you wear a blindfold for… no, it’s VR.
If I ever tried that, it’d probably feel something like this.
More than that, I could even feel his emotions.
Excitement, thrill, anticipation.
The emotional surge gave a sense of exhilaration.
It was a kind of vicarious experience.
You… really liked this, huh.
“Hey, what’s this! You’re good at it! Director Hwang, was this a surprise show?”
“W-wait. How did this happen?”
The martial arts instructor asked the actor he was helping after seeing him surprised.
“Oh, he asked me to help with practice. But he seemed to be doing well, so I went along with him… He’s no beginner, really.”
“He was stumbling just now, though.”
“But suddenly it changed. Later, he said he might even be able to do the original plan.”
“Suhan, did you trick me?”
“I… I originally—HAAAH!”
Gasp! Gasp! Gasp! That was close!
[Tongue, bro. Sorry! I didn’t mean to…]
If I’d left it like that, he might have combined aikido, judo, taekwondo, and kendo into an 18th-degree combo.
I only have the taekwondo certificate I got in the military.
“What’s wrong?”
“Ahh! With the kiai, it worked! Once the director left and I focused, I could do it. Ah! By remembering the precious advice the director gave, somehow, this action scene should be fine!”
At that moment, Director Kim stepped in with a bright expression.
Sir, please don’t…
“No! From what I saw earlier, you could do it even without a double! It really changes the scene! Choi would love this, you know?”
“Ah… hahaha! Well, that’s a bit…”
See? Side effects are already showing.
If this continues, what will happen… ugh…
But for now, as long as I got paid even a little, a hobo’s professional pride demands finishing the job.
“I’ll do my best!”
After rehearsal, before the main shoot, I asked, tinged with slight unease:
[You can handle lines, right?]
[Even so, I was about to debut in a speaking role.]
[Good, I trust you.]
Then the cue for action came.
At the same time, my body began to move.
I vaulted over a wall and faced the enemies waiting in front of me.
Now, for the line:
“Seems a lot have gathered!”
Damn it, that actor.
“Cut!”
Hey, you little… you said this was your speaking-role debut!
“Why all of a sudden?”
“Sorry… my pronunciation…”
Resetting again in front of the wall, I asked him:
[Was that a mistake?]
[Y-Yeah, it’s been a while since I did lines.]
[If you mess up this time, both of us are screwed.]
[Trust me!]
“Go!”
At the sound of action, I launched myself, delivering the line.
“Seems a lot have gathered!”
“Cut!”
Damn it, that actor.
“Sorry! Sorry!”
Wow… I think I bowed lower today than I ever did as a hobo.
“Focus properly!”
“Yes!”
Third take.
There was no need to go this far; two failed attempts were enough.
“Go!”
“Seems a lot have gathered.”
Why can’t I do this?
Why can’t I?
[Sorry.]
[Shut up and switch!]
Lines are mine, action is his.
That was the lesson learned from two failures. Although the line was off, the action was different.
He had learned.
Quickly dodging incoming blades, spinning and drawing the sword, one enemy fell after another.
It’s easy to say, but executing this in one flow—honestly, even with my skills, it wouldn’t have been easy.
And I could still feel his emotions from the rehearsal earlier.
Then, he frantically called for me:
[Line! Lines!]
It was my turn.
“Is this all you’ve got to stop me?”
“Shut up!”
Once my line finished, he took over again.
Exhilaration returned.
Enemies swarmed from all sides.
I blocked blades flying toward my head, drew a dagger with my other hand, slashed the neck of the enemy holding the sword, and threw the dagger.
Leaping over the enemy who screamed from the dagger strike, I swung the sword again.
Once, twice.
Finally, I stepped back and executed a half-turn while extending the sword.
“Gah!”
Clang.
The last enemy fell, dropping the sword in hand.
“Cut! Good job!”
The action scene was over.
It was… different from what it looked like with just eyes.
Every single move in this combination was so beautiful.
[Bro…]
[Yeah.]
Voices praising came from everywhere, but I barely heard them.
[Thank you.]
[Yeah, take care.]
The actor wielding the sword just moments ago was gradually turning into light.
It was the same image I saw after Grandma had set the table.
He seemed relieved.
I felt unexpectedly proud.
Watching him ascend in light, I smiled.
Goodbye.
Thank you too.
“…Damn!”
“Uh!”
“Suhan!”
“Ah, yes!”
Reality came back through Assistant Director Jo.
“Anything else?”
“No. A friend here left, so we sent him off properly.”
“Wait… he can do stuff like this too?”
“Even a hobo can have skills.”
“Uh… anyway, let’s get ready again.”
“Huh?”
“We need a few more shots from another angle…”
“Huh? What?”
Wait a second.
Hey! Come back! You’re not supposed to ascend yet!
…The one who left did not return.
And the cue was given.
“Seems a lot have gathered…”
“Cut! Why again!”
Damn.
He’s gone, leaving only a mistake.
But luckily, in the resumed filming, the lines came out correctly.
And not only that.
“Good job!”
“How did this work?”
“Huh? What?”
“Ah, never mind!”
I… can do action?
“Hmmm.”
I needed to clear my thoughts.
After fulfilling Grandma Gamdong’s wish, I gained the ability to make food I’d never tried before.
Sure, it was home-cooked level, but Gamdong always said my meals reminded him of Grandma’s cooking.
And now, after fulfilling his second wish, I gained another skill: action.
The martial arts ability he was so confident in remained.
I’m not sure if it fully amounts to eighteen degrees, but what’s confirmed is that the stunt training for acting had been ingrained in my body.
Of course, the lines popping out incorrectly were a side effect.
Luckily, that was fixable in time.
“This isn’t bad at all.”
Was it like a fair trade, lending and borrowing skills from the body?
“Phew. One more drink.”
“Why do you keep refilling the oden broth?”
“It’s too delicious.”
Today was a snack day.
I’d eaten three bowls of tteokbokki and ten pieces of oden.
Even on a snack day, eating properly draws attention.
Maybe because it was from the fan club, some of the members kept watching closely.
Not the way one behaves at a feast.
When I was about to leave with the last refill of oden broth:
“Cut it out. You’re not a beggar.”
“…”
Why the quarrel?
Lately, one of the supporting actors started giving me a sour look.
“Why? Am I wrong?”
“It’s because you don’t eat this often.”
“Whatever…”
“Juhwan! Next shot!”
“Yes, PD!”
That kid.
Smiling as if nothing happened while running off.
Eat more insults today, why don’t you!
“Cut! Oh Juhwan, let’s go again.”
“Sorry!”
Oh Juhwan was a third-year actor.
Mostly supporting roles, but his agency had high hopes for him.
He had received praise for his acting, but recently, he started feeling uneasy.
“That kid’s not bad.”
“Which agency is he from?”
“Apparently, he was an extra.”
“Wow! That’s amazing! Better than most supporting actors.”
Here, “most supporting actors” didn’t include me, but I was often the one messing up during scenes.
So naturally, he became the comparison.
Plus, his slightly reduced screen time irritated him.
Also, his agency didn’t strongly support him in this matter, which annoyed him further.
It was because he was sort of an add-on to the lead actors.
After a few NGs, Juhwan finally got the OK sign, then complained to his manager:
“Bro, do I really have to be compared to that guy?”
“Why are you so sensitive? That guy doesn’t even have many scenes or lines.”
“Then why the glares?”
“It’s nothing. These things happen.”
“But why am I the one constantly getting NGs?”
“Well, the difference in lines is big. Saying one or two lines vs. four to six is different. And they just want to get better shots, so don’t worry too much.”
The manager tried to soothe him, but Juhwan was still displeased.
Then the manager added:
“And you can do action. That guy uses a stunt double. How can you compare?”
“True.”
At that moment, Assistant Director Jo approached.
“There’s been a change due to a problem in the morning shoot.”
Hearing this, Juhwan’s manager cautiously asked:
“A change? If it’s hard to handle, that’s a problem… Is it serious?”
“The stunt double for the action scene got injured.”
“Has someone replaced them?”
“Suhan will perform it himself.”
“Who?”
At the name Suhan, Juhwan’s expression tensed slightly.
“Excellent guy.”
“He can do action?”
“Yes. We tested him in the morning, and he handled it well. Following the pre-set choreography won’t be a problem. The rehearsal has already been checked instead of you, Juhwan. You can just sync in the final rehearsal.”
Juhwan replied curtly:
“Why can’t someone from the action school do it?”
“Juhwan.”
His manager stepped in, noticing his discomfort.
Of course, Juhwan came up with a plausible response:
“Just… I’m uneasy. It’s fine he got the role from being an extra, but can he really do action? Someone could get hurt.”
“If you coordinate well, action is fine. You’re good at it.”
“Okay… fine. PD, let’s coordinate.”
At that moment, Juhwan changed his mind.
He realized what he said earlier had merit.
“Let’s make sure no one gets hurt.”
Juhwan smiled and said it again.
