Debuting by Riding the Returnee’s Bus Chapter 167

Lee Unha

 

I realized too late that I completely forgot I was supposed to deliver my line.

 

‘Wait, where was I? Where are we in the script?’

 

I shifted my gaze back to the script, but I still couldn’t see where my line was,

 

‘Did it already pass? Did we move to the next scene? Where is it? Where was the first meeting scene with Choi Seonghan?’

 

I frantically scanned the pages.

 

‘What… what am I doing right now? Dammit….’

 

Even though my eyes were chasing the letters, I still couldn’t find where my dialogue started. The attention of everyone at the table gradually turned toward me. Cold sweat naturally began to run down my back. Even if this wasn’t an actual shoot, I knew how big of a mistake it was to let the silence stretch this long and break the flow.

 

‘F*ck… seriously. That Lee Unha bastard.’

 

It was a scene I had read and practiced countless times since receiving the script, but now I couldn’t remember a thing. It felt as if my head had been hollowed out. And for good reason.

 

‘What was that just now?’

 

For a split second, Lee Unha actually looked like [Choi Seonghan].

 

His vocal projection changed; his breathing changed. It wasn’t an exaggeration—it truly felt as though the very air had shifted. No, everything had transformed in an instant. He looked like he had suddenly become a different person.

 

It was unbelievable, but the person before my eyes wasn’t Lee Unha.

 

“…….”

 

“…….”

 

Standing there was Choi Seonghan, the character who lost his family immediately after the zombie virus outbreak and survived fiercely on his own.

 

‘His eyes… his gaze….’

 

Can a look change that much?

 

‘How can someone’s eyes… transform like that?’

 

Could that even be called acting?

 

He truly had the eyes of someone who had survived alone in a zombie apocalypse for years. He possessed the pupils that only someone who had lived through a similar experience could have. I knew it was nonsense, but that was exactly what was reflected in my eyes. He had only muttered a few lines, but a different person had literally leaped out of the script.

 

‘Why the hell is someone like him wasting his time as an idol?’

 

“…….”

 

‘A guy who could just quit everything and live as a top-tier actor… why the hell is he an idol? Why did he come here… to make me feel so f*cking miserable?’

 

It couldn’t be explained with clichés like good projection, great emotional expression, or natural talent.

 

While I stood there paralyzed….

 

“Ah… um… shall we take a short break?”

 

The director’s voice rang out.

 

“It’s a little early, but let’s take a moment to regroup. Mr. Dongkwon, you seem pretty nervous…”

 

“A-ah, no… I… sorry… I’m sorry.”

 

“Take a break. Let’s take a break. Everyone looks like they could use one. And Mr. Dongkwon, don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s your first script reading. Your first project… and everyone understands how you feel. Don’t blame yourself… Alright, those who want to smoke, go smoke; those who need the restroom, go ahead. Let’s gather back in a bit and continue.”

 

“I’m… sorry.”

 

Murmurs rose throughout the room. Whether it was my imagination or not, I felt like I could hear people clicking their tongues.

 

“Tsk… man… it was getting really good….”

 

“It’s a shame, but what can you do? Anyone would’ve been shaken. Unha must’ve prepared like crazy…”

 

“Pardon? Me?”

 

“Yeah. What, did you sharpen your knives before coming here? You seriously caught me off guard.”

 

“There you go exaggerating again. Don’t do that, hyung! You’re making me feel pressured. Seriously.”

 

“I’m not exaggerating. I got chills from your very first line. Seriously, are you sure you’ve never acted before?”

 

“It’s not my first time ever. I did a lot on Ten-Million Actor Diner. And I acted a lot when filming our music video. We did so many takes.”

 

“No, that’s… I guess that’s acting too, but… wait, instead of that, let me ask you something. How did you interpret the character of Choi Seonghan?”

 

“I interpreted him exactly as written in the script. His personality and everything was right there.”

 

“No, I mean in more detail. You must’ve had your own interpretation. Let’s hear it.”

 

“Um, Actor Lee Unha. Could I borrow you for a moment too…?”

 

“Ah! Actress Yoo Aran. I’m a fan!”

 

“Oh dear! Really? Have you seen my work?! Truly?! Let’s drop the formalities and just talk casually, shall we?!”

 

“Pardon? Ah….”

 

“Actor Lee!”

 

“Ah! Yes! Writer-nim!”

 

“Apologies, but I’m going to borrow Unha for a moment. I have something I want to ask.”

 

“Ah, yes….”

 

“Director Choi, are we having a team dinner today? We are, right?”

 

“Ah, of course we have to! I can already see the signs of a massive hit….”

 

“Hahahaha!”

 

It felt like the room was moving forward without me. Of course, a few actors came over to say things like, ‘Oh, don’t worry about it. I missed my lines too’, but most of those approaching me were just nobodies who would live and die as minor supporting roles.

 

Naturally, I realized that fulfilling the ridiculous plan I had previously envisioned was now impossible.

 

‘Do I have to approach him first?’

 

“…….”

 

‘I have to join that group somehow… build connections… and then… then what?’

 

We were both former idols. Striking up a conversation shouldn’t be hard. In fact, I was his senior. Since he seemed to be maintaining good relationships with everyone, it shouldn’t be hard to stay close on the surface.

 

And it would undoubtedly be beneficial. With the director, the writer, and so many famous actors involved, and with my scenes clashing and exchanging lines with Lee Unha being quite frequent, I had to sync up with him in advance or get used to him. I couldn’t allow a repeat of what just happened on an actual filming set instead of a reading. I was already almost certain to have received negative marks from everyone; I couldn’t let my reputation hit rock bottom again.

 

‘He hasn’t greeted me yet?’

 

“…….”

 

‘He’ll probably come over soon, right?’

 

“…….”

 

‘Wait? That brat… why isn’t he….’

 

“…….”

 

‘F*ck, do I have to go greet him first? Huh?’

 

“…….”

 

‘I’m… I’m the senior… F*ck, do I have to go that far? Shouldn’t he be the one coming to greet me? Arrogant bastard, seriously….’

 

At that moment, while I was hesitating, unable to decide what to do. Suddenly, I noticed Lee Unha standing alone for a moment. By chance, our eyes met.

 

My pride was wounded, but I had to move regardless. This might be my only chance. Though it hurt my pride, I had to move my feet. Fortunately, as soon as I started walking, I saw him looking this way. He even opened his mouth first.

 

“I’m sorry, sunbaenim.”

 

“Huh? Oh….”

 

“My greeting is very late, isn’t it? I arrived so late that I was busy greeting the other actors! I kept thinking I should say hi during the break, but I was caught by everyone else as soon as the break started….”

 

“Oh? No, it’s fine. Yeah. No… things like that happen… I was going to say hi too, but there were so many people… it was hard to approach. Since you’re alone now… glad to meet you. I’ve been keeping an eye on <Fantasia>. I’ve heard a lot at the company.”

 

“Ahhh. You did, sunbaenim? Me too. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

 

Through the smiling face, a pair of unfamiliar eyes entered my vision.

 

In an instant, I felt goosebumps all over my body.

 

 ***

 

A face that triggered an instinctive sense of revulsion entered my sight.

 

‘I had a feeling, but did he really come to greet me first?’

 

If I were him, I would never have been able to do that. If I were Beta of [TOP9], I would have been too anxious and terrified to approach Lee Unha because of JH. He hadn’t been as active as the leader in wanting to kill JH, but he was still one of the people in the perpetrator position. I had even seen his face in JH’s memories.

 

In fact, it was meaningless to distinguish who did what or who was responsible for what. Aside from Kim Haejun, every member of TOP9 had skeletons in their closet. The only difference was how guilty each of them was.

 

“Well then, I look forward to working with you, sunbaenim.”

 

Yet none of that showed on Dongkwon’s face. There wasn’t even the slightest sign that he felt guilty about Kim Haejun, or that he was keeping his head down because of what had happened to JH.

 

‘This bastard… does he seriously think he bears no responsibility? What the hell?’

 

The thought struck me that it might actually be the case. Maybe he viewed himself as just a bystander, thinking that he had taken decent care of JH in his own way, and believed JH and Kim Haejun’s contract termination had nothing to do with him.

 

I wondered if such a person could exist in this world—not a living hell environment where various groups created a hierarchy of misery—but….

 

“Wait… hold on, Unha.”

 

The moment he called out to stop me, I realized his capacity for self-justification was even greater than I’d imagined.

 

‘Seriously? Is he for real?’

 

“Yes?”

 

‘No… does he really not know anything?’

 

“So… is Haejun doing well?”

 

‘He actually starts by asking about Kim Haejun? The Kim Haejun you all bullied?’

 

“Huh? Yeah, he’s doing well.”

 

“I’ve been meaning to grab a meal with him… but work is so busy that I can’t get in touch often… It’s such a shame.”

 

“Oh, you can just see each other later.”

 

“Yeah… you’re right. You never know where life will lead you. Who would’ve thought we’d end up connected like this again? Let’s work well together from here on.”

 

“Yes. Let’s have good chemistry.”

 

“Ye—yeah… right. Thanks, Unha.”

 

“No. I’m the one who’s more thankful.”

 

“Right.”

 

Formally, it was our first meeting. Because Lee Unha wasn’t the type to make enemies openly, and because there were eyes on us, I couldn’t greet him with hostility… but I kept thinking he was a human for whom there was zero reason to like—no, a human more insane than I could have imagined.

 

‘Wow… seriously… isn’t he crazy?’