How a Loan Shark Survives as an Actor Chapter 65

Chapter 65

 

Today was the third day of the commercial shoot.

The day before yesterday, we’d successfully filmed the “Company” version. Yesterday, we’d wrapped up the “Friends” version. And today, we’d be shooting the final series… the “Lovers” version.

Since it was the last day, I arrived a bit earlier to get ready.

“Ugh…”

The moment I sat down in my chair, a groan escaped my lips.

But at that exact moment, Choo Seomok bolted outside like someone who’d just been stung by a bee.

What the hell?

‘What’s with him now?’

Seriously, everyone around me is weird.

I decided to ignore it and continue getting ready, but the guy who’d run out came back in the blink of an eye.

“Mr. Seulho, is there anything you’d like to drink?”

And he returned with his arms full of every kind of beverage imaginable.

“Uh… thanks.”

“If you need anything else, please let me know. I’ll be back right away.”

I take back everything bad I said. My manager is the best.

“It’s fine. This is enough.”

I immediately gave Choo Seomok a thumbs-up and downed the energy drink he’d handed me in one gulp.

Even then, the fatigue wouldn’t go away, and I kept opening and closing my eyes.

‘I thought being twenty-five would make this easy.’

Apparently, even a twenty-five-year-old couldn’t withstand three consecutive days of nonstop shooting.

‘Whew.’

More than anything, this was my first commercial shoot, so I was a little nervous.

It wasn’t as simple as holding a product and looking cool. Since it was story-driven, it felt like filming an incredibly short drama.

‘We have to condense a three-minute full version into fifteen seconds, so immersion matters too.’

It was almost as hectic as shooting a drama, and I was completely exhausted.

‘Still, today’s the last day.’

Unlike the previous shoots, my acting partner today was a woman.

Since the actors I’d worked with over the last two days had all been good, I wasn’t particularly worried.

‘They were all solid.’

People often assume unknown actors fail because they lack skill, but that wasn’t true at all.

It had been my first time acting with people other than Woo Junseo and Choi Ran, and I’d adjusted to their stable performances much faster than I’d expected.

‘Especially the guy from the first day. He was pretty good.’

Kang Hyunggu, was it?

I’d actually exchanged a few messages with the actor who resembled Hwang Taejun, the youngest member of my old crew.

At first, I’d only planned to send him the pictures Choo Seomok had taken.

But his replies were ridiculously long.

He’d sent messages so lengthy they could rival an epic novel, and ignoring them didn’t seem right.

‘What if I get involved in a personality scandal later?’

So I made sure to reply sincerely, only for his next message to be several times longer.

After repeating that two or three times, I figured it’d be easier to just meet in person, so we’d agreed to see each other later.

[‘Oh! Really? I’d love that. Thank you for being so kind despite your busy schedule. See you next time! Mr. Seulho, thank you again for thinking of me. I’ll be cheering for the rest of your shoot too. ^^’]

After briefly checking his latest message, I turned back to the script.

I’d already read it hundreds of times, and as I was going through it again…

“Hello, Senior Yoo Seulho!”

I turned toward the cheerful voice and saw a smiling young woman.

Introducing herself as Bae Dain, she kept smiling brightly.

“It’s an honor to work with you today. Please take care of me!”

“Likewise.”

She bowed politely to me before immediately moving around to greet each member of the staff.

The crew members, busy hauling equipment around, gave casual greetings and moved on.

“Hello! I’m Bae Dain!”

Despite that, she kept greeting everyone enthusiastically.

Her bright personality was refreshing.

‘She’s different from Choi Ran.’

Maybe it was old-fashioned to describe it this way, but Choi Ran embodied the image that came to mind when people heard “actress.”

Once you got to know her, she’d joke around and laugh, making you realize she was just an ordinary person. But before that, she definitely had an air that made her difficult to approach.

Bae Dain, on the other hand, felt much friendlier and more approachable.

“We’ll start filming soon! Last day, everyone! Let’s do our best!”

“Yes!”

The staff answered loudly.

I answered loudly too, and several staff members laughed before bringing me coffee.

“Let’s do our best today too, Mr. Seulho.”

“Thank you.”

After spending three days together from morning until dawn, maybe we’d developed some camaraderie.

I chatted briefly with the staff, who approached me much more casually than on the first day, then glanced to the side.

‘She looks awkward.’

Unlike everyone else, this was Bae Dain’s first day.

She sat off to the side like an abandoned sack of barley.

Seeing her sitting there alone without even a manager, I considered talking to her, then thought better of it.

‘Girls are difficult.’

If I acted too friendly, I might end up being criticized, so staying quiet was probably best.

“Please come this way.”

Following the staff, Bae Dain and I moved over.

Today’s set had been decorated like a café.

“Mr. Seulho, please sit here. Yes, Miss, please sit across from him. Perfect.”

With the table between us, Bae Dain and I sat facing each other like a couple on a date.

While the staff arranged coffee cups and various props, I discussed the scene with the director.

“Okay. I like your suggestion too, Seulho. Let’s shoot it and talk again.”

“Yes.”

“Alright, let’s start!”

The director quickly stepped away.

Unlike the previous shoots set in bars, today’s café setting was noticeably quiet.

There were extras sitting at nearby tables, but they spoke very softly.

As a result, all the attention was focused on Bae Dain and me.

‘Whew.’

After taking a deep breath and raising my head, I noticed Bae Dain looked pale.

Seeing how nervous she looked, I quietly mouthed:

“Fighting.”

“…!”

Her eyes widened, and she forced a smile.

“Y-Yes… fighting…”

Her voice trembled as she repeated it.

She looked like she might collapse at any moment, which worried me, but there wasn’t much I could do.

I just hoped she’d adjust before her solo scenes and started filming.

“Ready… cue!”

The moment the director finished speaking, I switched gears.

Today, I was playing the villain boyfriend.

“Sohyun.”

“Hm?”

“Didn’t I tell you that outfit doesn’t suit you?”

I spoke slowly, softly, and in a low voice.

There was still a smile on my lips, but it didn’t reach my eyes.

“Ah…”

Watching her blink in confusion, I smiled gently.

“I’m not criticizing you. I’m just disappointed. I want to see pretty Sohyun.”

“B-But this is comfortable…”

“Comfort’s good, sure. But this is a date. What if I showed up wearing sweatpants because I felt comfortable? You wouldn’t like that, right?”

I tilted my head slightly.

Pretending to be considerate while acting like I was always right.

“That’s not it, but…”

She fell silent, unable to find the words.

It wasn’t like she’d come in sweatpants. She was wearing a normal blouse and jeans.

‘Why am I being told this?’

Was this kind of interference normal between couples?

Confusion showed clearly on her face.

Watching her, I acted cute.

“My ex couldn’t take comments like this, but I think you’re different.”

“……”

“You know I’m always grateful, right? I don’t know how lucky I am to be with you.”

I gently reached for her hand on the table.

Flinch.

Her entire body trembled.

“Cut!”

The director raised his voice.

Turning my head, I saw his brows furrowed deeply.

Hmm.

I had a bad feeling.

“Hey… what’s your name again? Dain, right? You need to relax your expression a little more.”

“Ah, yes! I’m sorry!”

“The confused reaction is good. It’s good that you’re thrown off by his garbage comments. But you’re too stiff. This isn’t a thriller. You look too scared.”

In short, she looked like she was dealing with a complete stranger, not her boyfriend.

Bae Dain apologized repeatedly, and the director told us to try again.

“Cut! Let’s do that again.”

“Cut! One more time!”

“Again!”

But once something irritated the director, it didn’t disappear easily.

‘That take was actually pretty good.’

Her first attempt had definitely been awkward, but she’d grown more natural with each take.

Still, the director’s furrowed brow never relaxed.

As the delays dragged on, even Bae Dain, who had been improving, finally broke.

“That’s not… no, ah… sorry.”

“Whew. Cut! Let’s take a break. That’s better.”

After Bae Dain flubbed her line, the director announced a break while suppressing his anger.

Perhaps he didn’t want to yell at someone who was already nervous, because he left the area.

I looked beside me.

Bae Dain looked completely shattered.

‘Poor thing.’

The story was simple.

After enduring her boyfriend’s unsettling remarks, the woman finally decides she’d had enough.

She gets up, walks into a convenience store nearby, buys a can of beer, and drinks it down on the street.

Feeling refreshed, she then pours beer over the face of the boyfriend who’d followed her and proudly walks home.

‘Would never happen in real life.’

If you broke up with a lunatic like that, even if it was frustrating, a safe breakup was always the best option.

Still, this was fiction.

A satisfying fantasy that people could enjoy through media.

Since the main point was a strong woman who dumped her creepy boyfriend instead of putting up with him, Bae Dain couldn’t keep trembling with fear.

‘Is she going to throw up at this rate?’

Left alone, she had gone so pale she looked ready to faint.

‘Hmm.’

After a brief moment of consideration, I reached out my hand.