How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 113

Chapter 113

 

“Cut! Let’s do that one more time!”

While looking up all kinds of kissing scenes yesterday, I found myself wondering something.

‘Can two adult men and women really do something like that and not develop feelings?’

And if they didn’t, I wondered how that was possible.

“Cut! Let’s take a short break and shoot again!”

“Haa…”

“…I’m exhausted.”

After filming a kiss scene for three hours, I’d concluded.

‘It’s possible.’

The moment Director Baek called for a break, Bae Dain and I let out sighs simultaneously.

We were so close that our ticklish breaths brushed each other’s cheeks, yet neither of us felt anything.

‘So this is what it’s like.’

After experiencing a kiss scene firsthand, I realized it wasn’t easy to develop feelings.

Instead of confirming each other’s hearts through touching lips, it felt more like acting necessary for the scene.

‘Maybe it’d be different if the camera were farther away.’

But with the camera practically shoved in our faces for close-ups, it was impossible to feel nervous.

From my eyes to my lips… even the breath coming out of my mouth no longer felt entirely like mine.

‘There seem to be more and more people too.’

As the sun began setting, the staff moved busily to adjust the lighting.

With people crowding around everywhere, I couldn’t even think anymore.

Honestly, showing my abs during the horror movie shoot had been more nerve-wracking.

“Seulho, Dain.”

“Yes.”

“How about trying this angle this time?”

Even then, our perfectionist Director Baek enthusiastically continued directing.

He stepped between Bae Dain and me to adjust our positions with meticulous care, so close that it felt like our lips would touch his instead.

Suppressing the chills running down my body, I focused on his directions.

‘If movie kiss scenes are like this…’

How intense are drama kiss scenes?

When Director Baek said he wanted a “natural kiss scene,” it wasn’t about how naturally Bae Dain and I acted.

If we truly ignored everything and just moved according to our feelings, that would be the most natural thing.

But it wouldn’t necessarily be the prettiest.

“Hmm, the angle of the sunlight falling on your face is a little disappointing. Shall we do one more?”

After checking the footage, Director Baek muttered with greedy eyes.

Exactly.

He didn’t just want a ‘natural kiss scene’.

He wanted a ‘natural and beautiful kiss scene’.

Realizing the truth belatedly, I felt a little despair.

‘So acting well doesn’t mean I get to leave early.’

I wanted to send Bae Dain to the hospital as soon as possible.

But things didn’t go my way, and it wasn’t like I could throw a tantrum because I couldn’t do any better.

‘Nothing’s easy.’

The most important thing about Dogeon and Yeonhee’s kiss scene was making the audience feel purity.

To do that, it wasn’t just the actors’ movements that mattered. The scenery, lighting, atmosphere… all sorts of factors had to come together.

No matter how well we acted, it wasn’t something that could easily earn an “okay.”

Which was why Bae Dain and I had been kissing for three straight hours.

“Seulho, I think it’d be better if you held my chin at the end.”

“Like this?”

“No, closer, like this… Ih eh ah oung oi. Oei? (Then you change it suddenly here. Okay?)”

“Oei. (Okay.)”

Eventually, Bae Dain and I reached the point where we could casually talk with our lips touching.

Each time, I was bothered by the heat coming off her body.

‘She’s not going to collapse, is she?’

Watching a girl ten years younger than me grit her teeth and endure despite burning with fever wasn’t easy.

I was just about to yell that we should stop, even if Director Baek got mad…

“I think that’s enough. Let’s wrap it up!”

At last, filming ended.

Completely drained, I collapsed right there.

“Noona, are you okay?”

“…No.”

Bae Dain answered weakly, half out of it.

Neither of us said it out loud, but we were thinking the same thing.

‘Director Baek, you ruthless bastard…’

He only called it because we had permission to use this location for one day.

If we had access tomorrow too, he would’ve definitely filmed tomorrow as well.

Perhaps realizing we were cursing him inwardly, Director Baek approached awkwardly with a smile.

“You two worked really hard. It was tough today, wasn’t it? You didn’t even get to eat dinner properly while filming. Sorry.”

“No, Director.”

Bae Dain laughed and asked why he was apologizing.

But anyone could tell it was a forced smile, so I couldn’t hold back anymore and pressed my hand against her forehead.

“…Noona, where’s your manager?”

“Hm?”

“Tell your manager we’re going straight to the emergency room.”

The warmth against my palm was alarming.

Bae Dain waved her hands, insisting there was no need for an emergency room.

“I’ll just take medicine and sleep. I’ll get an IV tomorrow morning.”

“No. You need to go now.”

Despite my firm tone, she shook her head.

Then she staggered, dizzy.

At this rate, she could’ve gone already instead of wasting time arguing.

“Stand up first–no, noona, properly–Manager!”

Even after helping her up, she couldn’t walk or even stand straight.

Seeing that, I quickly called her manager.

“Ah! Dain!”

The manager’s face turned pale.

She rushed over to support her, but there was no way another woman could support the weight of a fully limp adult.

In the end, I carried Bae Dain on my back to the emergency room.

“Thank you, Seulho.”

After checking her in, Bae Dain’s manager repeatedly bowed.

“I’ll take care of things from here. Hurry home and rest.”

“Yes.”

Once I safely handed her over, I finally relaxed.

There wasn’t blood pouring everywhere, and we’d made it to the hospital in time.

She should be fine now.

Only after leaving the emergency room with a sigh of relief did I realize I had no way home.

‘…My phone.’

Wait, I came all the way here without my phone?

Whether I called Seomok or took a taxi, I needed my phone.

I couldn’t believe I’d made such a mistake.

Then…

“Shall we head home now?”

I flinched at the voice behind me.

“What the hell? When did you get here?”

Choo Seomok stood there holding my phone.

He wrinkled his nose.

“Don’t you remember? I said I’d follow behind with the car.”

Did he?

I’d been so busy earlier that I hadn’t paid attention to anything.

‘Come to think of it, I didn’t even say goodbye to everyone.’

You really experience all kinds of things while filming.

With a sigh, I said we should head home.

“You must be exhausted.”

“Yeah. Today was rough.”

“We still have an hour before we get home, so try to sleep.”

Seomok turned on the heater.

After wrapping myself in the blanket he’d prepared beforehand, my body loosened pleasantly.

“Just in case, take some cold medicine when we get home.”

I snorted.

“Taking cold medicine beforehand doesn’t prevent colds. It’s pointless.”

Cold medicine only relieves symptoms.

It doesn’t kill viruses or block them.

Why take medicine when there aren’t any symptoms yet?

“Then at least take some vitamin C.”

“Fine. Just let me sleep.”

I wasn’t joking.

I was really exhausted.

Maybe because I’d just come from filming the horror movie, Director Baek’s perfectionism felt especially brutal today.

‘Still, the kiss scene is done.’

Finishing the most troublesome scene eased my mind.

Perhaps because the tension had disappeared, I fell asleep immediately.

When we got home, Seomok shook me awake, but even that annoyed me.

Half irritated, I staggered into my room.

“You should wash before sleeping. And take your vitamin C.”

“Please just let me live…”

Even Seomok, who never backed down, finally sighed and closed the door when he saw I was completely out of it.

 

***

 

The next day, I woke up to bright sunlight.

‘Wow.’

I’d really passed out helplessly.

At this point, it felt less like sleeping and more like fainting.

Fortunately, I felt fine despite not taking vitamin C or doing anything special.

First, feeling uncomfortable from having slept without showering, I headed straight to the bathroom.

“Ahhh.”

After washing up, I felt even lighter.

No body aches, and thanks to sleeping well, I actually felt refreshed.

‘It’s been a while since I had a day with no schedule.’

Bae Dain had texted to thank me for yesterday.

I sent a casual reply, grabbed my blanket and pillow covers, and headed out.

After starting the laundry, I went to the kitchen.

Normally, Seomok would already be awake, shoveling down eggs and rice.

“…?”

But the kitchen was empty.

Since he always lived by a strict routine, it felt strange, though I figured it could happen.

“Protein shake… no. I’ll just eat.”

I was about to eat something light, but remembering how little I’d eaten yesterday, I changed my mind.

There wasn’t much food at home anyway, so I put on a cap, thinking I’d go out for some gukbap.

Knock knock.

I knocked on Seomok’s door.

“Hey, I’m going to eat gukbap. Want to come?”

No answer.

Thinking he was asleep, I almost left him alone.

But something felt off.

“I’m coming in.”

So I flung the door open.

And the moment I saw what was inside, only one thing came out of my mouth.

“…Seomok.”

“Kh… cough.”

“Why the hell are ‘you’ the one who caught a cold…?”

Lying in bed, Choo Seomok could barely open his eyes, delirious with fever.

I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even laugh.

Seriously, am I filming a sitcom or something?