The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 39



Only Krnovel

Episode 39

[Lee Dong-geuri]

Hyunsoo’s expression when he checked the caller’s name on the smartphone screen was somewhat subtle.

‘Lee Dong-geun? Why is this guy suddenly… …?’

Dong-geun is Hyun-soo’s friend from middle school and high school.

They were such close friends that they were always together even after graduating from high school and into their early twenties.

The saying that they were ‘close friends’ also meant that they are not like that now.

In his early 20s, after a fight over something, Hyun-soo had not been in contact with Dong-geun since.

—Are you busy these days? I just… … suddenly thought of you and called. If you have time, let’s meet up and have a drink.

To be honest, it was a bit of a sudden call.

After not hearing from him for years, he suddenly called and asked if I wanted to have a drink.

“Brother, in my opinion, it’s 100%, 100%.”

Hyunsoo tilted his head after hearing Gogun’s words.

“100 percent?”

“Based on my experience, it’s 100% a phone call asking for a loan, that is.”

“… … .”

“Originally, when you appear on TV, you get a lot of calls like that. You’ll get more calls in the future, so be prepared. Calls asking to borrow money can actually shake people’s mentality more than you think.”

In fact, Gogun’s words were not entirely unreasonable.

Looking at the examples of successful senior actors, it is common for them to have conflicts with their families, and there are many who have cut ties with old acquaintances because they could not withstand excessive financial demands.

The funny thing is, whether you lend money or not, the one who ends up feeling stressed is the one who receives the request.

“But he’s not the kind of person who would do that.”

“Hey, it’s been almost ten years since we last met. Who knows how much you’ve changed, brother?”

As soon as Go Geon finished speaking, Woo Ji-yoon, who had been sitting next to him with her eyes closed, opened her mouth.

He looks more tired than usual due to his busy year-end schedule.

“It’s a bit much to talk about someone I don’t even know well, but… … .”

“… … ?”

“People don’t change easily, Manager Ko.”

“Yes, that is true, but… … .”

“Instead.”

“… … ?”

“Reality changes.”

Woo Ji-yoon, who said that, had a somewhat bitter expression on his face.

“That friend, as you get busier in the future, it will become harder to meet him.”

Woo Ji-yoon, who said that, closed his eyes again.

Ultimately, it is up to Hyun-soo whether he meets his old connections or not.

It was advice worthy of Woo Ji-yoon.

“But aren’t you very busy right now?”

“Yes. I think it’s probably the busiest time of the year.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, this is also my job.”

There is no other reason why Woo Ji-yoon is riding in the carnival driven by Go Geon.

Before the full-scale year-end awards ceremony began, Woo Ji-yoon suggested that they go for a meal together, as she was talking about going to her parents’ house for a while.

Of course, inviting Woo Ji-yoon to my parents’ house wasn’t difficult.

“But you’re busy at the end of the year… … .”

“Rather, I’m going because it’s the end of the year.”

“… … ?”

“Visiting and greeting the families of our actors is one of the important events we have to do at the end of the year. Of course, we don’t meet all of our actors’ families every time, but actor Kim became our first family member this year, right? I was always worried that I hadn’t been able to visit him… … It just so happened that my schedule was perfect, so there was no reason not to go, right?”

It goes without saying that Hyunsoo had no ability to deal with Woo Jiyoon with words.

Anyway, it was the weekend, and the three of them were on their way to Hyunsoo’s house to have lunch together.

“But I guess you were really close, hyung.”

“huh?”

“No, that’s right. If you’re uncomfortable meeting each other, you could just ignore me whether I contact you or not. But seeing you pouring out your heart in front of us like this… … .”

Hyun-soo’s gaze turned out the car window as he listened to Go-geon’s words.

A view of the Gyeongin Expressway from Seoul to Incheon.

Even though I’ve seen it so many times that I’m used to it, it feels unfamiliar every time I see it, as if I’m seeing it for the first time.

Hyunsoo’s mind was like that now.

Every time he headed to the neighborhood, Hyunsoo felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.

Before I knew it, my hometown had become a distant place.

“That kid, when he was in middle school, got scolded by his parents and even skipped school… … .”

“We used to hang out together?”

“He is the one who guarded our father’s path for three days and nights.”

“Ah, we were such close friends, but how did it happen… … .”

“I couldn’t do it.”

“… … .”

“When that guy’s mother passed away, I was drinking somewhere else.”

“Huh?! That’s totally… … .”

“Right.”

While his best friend walked on the four legs attached to his mother’s coffin, Hyunsoo had been drinking and had become a dog that crawled on all fours.

On the way to the neighborhood.

Hyunsoo was lost in old memories for the first time in a long time.

It was also an uncomfortable memory that I didn’t really want to bring up.

* * *

Hyunsoo began to pursue a career as an actor in earnest when he was almost in his third year of high school.

“Hey, Imma, Kim Hyun-soo. What kind of crazy talk are you talking about, suddenly going to an art school? Don’t you know this is a humanities school? And it’s liberal arts!”

As you might expect, it wasn’t an easy road.

“You’re suddenly becoming an actor? Hey Hyunsoo, don’t you think all that time you spent studying is a waste?”

At school, they said Hyun-soo’s decision was foolish.

“Actor? With that face? No, isn’t it too late to begin with?”

Some of his friends laughed at him when he talked about his dream of becoming an actor with a serious face.

But since it has come to this, I thought I should do it until I can do it.

Hyunsoo didn’t let go of his script or textbook.

I think it was from that time.

It is said that I gradually became distant from my friends during middle and high school.

There wasn’t really any big reason.

All I did was underline my textbook and read my script during the time I was supposed to be meeting my friends.

‘Hyunsoo, you’re awesome. I’m really rooting for you.’

Except for one person, Dong-geun, Hyun-soo hardly ever talked to his other friends.

Dong-geun was the only friend who still supported Hyun-soo.

That alone was enough.

A heartfelt message of support from just one friend.

That alone was a great comfort to me during my lonely time.

Is it because we went through such intense times?

Thanks to his good academic performance and his never-ending passion for acting, Hyunsoo was able to advance to a theater department in the countryside after only one year of repeating a year.

“Hey, Imma, Hyunsoo. I’m really worried. Just because you’re going to a media university in a remote area doesn’t mean you’re going to suddenly appear on TV and stuff. If you had those grades, you could probably get into a decent business school near Seoul. It’s not too late… … .”

A drinking party I had with one of my neighborhood friends by chance after entering college.

The guy was wearing Seoul National University’s pajamas and spoke worriedly to Hyun-soo.

An arrogant tone as if one knew everything about the world.

It seemed like he was worried, but in reality, most of the conversation was just bragging about himself… … .

In fact, the content was not wrong.

Since it was realistically impossible to beat those who had been preparing for art school entrance exams throughout high school, I had to be content with going to a private media arts college in the countryside.

So, perhaps the real time to live fiercely is from now on.

but.

That alone was good.

Just being able to act was enough for me.

The path we took was different and the places we looked at were different.

After that, Hyunsoo never set foot in the neighborhood again.

‘Hyunsoo, I heard you went to an art school? This kid really did it! Then when can I see you on TV? I want to see you soon, Inma.’

However, I occasionally talked to Dong-geun on the phone or had a drink with him in the neighborhood.

Hyunsoo’s determination to enter an art college despite everyone’s dissuasion was extraordinary.

I always had to work part-time to pay my considerable tuition, and in the meantime, I studied acting like crazy.

At that time, there was only one thought in Hyun-soo’s head.

I have to succeed as an actor and fill my father’s empty spot, my mother’s happiness, and Yumi’s future… … I have to do it.

Of course, this world was not that easy for a college student in his early 20s to fill.

Hyunsoo didn’t fill anything.

Even the funeral of my best… no, my only friend’s mother.

‘Mother, I sent you off well. Yumi and your mother came and went too.’

‘Hey, Hyunsoo, have you… been drinking?’

‘I don’t know about the other guys… … but I knew you’d come.’

Hyunsoo, who was very drunk, couldn’t respond to his friend’s disappointment.

That was the last time I saw Dong-geun.

That was the reason why the neighborhood scenery became unfamiliar.

* * *

While he was lost in thought, a carnival carrying three people arrived in front of Hyun-soo’s house.

In front of the apartment complex’s common entrance, Yumi, who had received a phone call in advance, was waiting to greet us.

“Brother!”

Yumi waves her hand with an overly bright(?) face.

Of course, it goes without saying that I rarely make that kind of expression in real life.

It seems like there is something else they are aiming for.

As I got out of the car, Gogun came up to me quietly and opened his mouth.

It’s a rather serious face, different from usual.

“older brother.”

“huh?”

“Are you by any chance your younger sister… or rather, you?”

“however?”

“From now on, I will treat you as a true older brother.”

“……suddenly?”

He nodded with a more determined expression than usual.

Hyunsoo ignored him and asked Yumi.

“What about Mom?”

“What about the gift?”

When Hyunsoo handed over the paper bag he was holding, only then did the siblings have a real conversation(?).

“Mom? Don’t be ridiculous. It would be better to go up and see for yourself.”

“Huh? What do you mean by nonsense?”

“What are you talking about… … Oh, hello. My name is Kim Yu-mi, Hyun-soo’s younger sister!”

Jiyoon bows her head politely in response to Yumi’s greeting.

“Nice to meet you, I am Woo Ji-yoon, working with actor Kim Hyun-soo.”

“I am Go Gun, Hyun Soo’s soulmate and manager! I ask for your continued support, Yumi!”

“Please take good care of me from now on, you little brat.”

Go Geon immediately steps back with a look of disgust at Hyun-soo’s nagging.

Woo Ji-yoon opened her mouth to say something to Go Geon.

“Manager Ko, why don’t you go and get a gift?”

Go Geon answered “yes” to Woo Ji-yoon’s words and opened the trunk behind the car.

“gift?”

Hyunsoo, who approached the trunk, soon made a surprised expression.

Large and small paper bags and boxes were constantly popping out of the trunk.

“What is this… … all this?”

Jiyoon answered Hyunsoo’s embarrassed question with a natural and innocent face.

“What is it? It’s a gift?”

“Yes, I know that… … but is this all here… … ?”

I knew on the way here that the Carnival’s trunk and even the back seat were full of gift sets.

Of course, I thought that gifts from other actors were included as well, besides my own… … .

“Isn’t this too much?”

Woo Ji-yoon’s actions always went beyond Hyun-soo’s expectations.

Continued in the next episode