Life, Once Again!

The hot pack he had shaken beforehand as he got off the train started releasing heat. Maru pressed the heated pack against his cheek and left Tanhyeon station.

Not even 10 minutes away by foot, a production set for RBS was located. There was a giant RBS logo on a big building that seemed like a warehouse.

He checked the time. It was 8:30 a.m. The first call would be at 9, so he arrived at just the right time.

“Let’s hurry up.”

The words that could be heard the most frequently on sets could be heard this time as well.

Maru looked at the completed set from a distance. There was a metal cabinet next to a pair of desks that faced each other.

Under the round clock that had the word ‘POLICE’ embedded on it was a calendar.

“Put that file to the side and make it look messy.”

A staff member slightly hit the pile of files to make them look crooked. The slippers on the floor were worn once before taken off, and the neatly lined up desks were also pushed to make them look used.

Maru looked at the scene that was near completion before walking to the waiting room. Inside the waiting room was a TV that projected the scene outside. The minor actors were gathered in front of it.

“Hello,” Maru greeted as he walked over.

The actors, who were doing their own things, smiled and responded to him. No one looked down on him. Everyone here knew that they would have to see each other for hours here.

“Everyone here must have their first call at nine, huh?” said a woman that looked around 30. The minor actors all nodded.

“I’m ‘woman causing a ruckus,’ what is everyone else playing?”

“Drunk man causing a disturbance over here.”

“I don’t know mine yet.”

Everyone said a word each. After they got a turn, people’s eyes gathered on Maru.

“Rookie investigator.”

“Wow, we had an investigator among us, huh? You might get to act with actor Park Sinseo if you’re lucky, huh?”

“Yes, I do share a few words with him.”

“How do you know that? Did you get your script?”

“I participated in the first read-through, so I found out a little back then.”

“I’m envious. I wouldn’t have another wish if I had a role that could participate in the read-through.” The woman sighed.

“How’s the atmosphere at the set? Does anyone know?” said the man who said he didn’t know his role. The answer came from the woman.

“It’s good. Everyone’s encouraging each other. There doesn’t seem to be anyone picky either. The only downside is that there are delays. Originally, I was supposed to finish my scenes yesterday, but I had to come today. I waited from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. doing nothing.”

“That must be hard.”

“That’s just normal. It was less boring since they shot crowd reactions every once in a while. Oh yeah, the coffee here is nice.” The woman pointed outside the waiting room. On the other side was the cafeteria store.

“Why don’t we go get a drink?”

Drunk man causing a disturbance stood up. Everyone got black coffee from the cafeteria store and returned to the waiting room.

Maru smiled after taking a sip. It was better than most coffee shops.

A staff member came in when they were about to finish charging their caffeine.

“We’re going to start the scene explanation in a little bit. Those of you who have prepared clothing should get changed now.”

Some of the minor actors left. They seemed to have gone to change their clothes.

Drunk man causing a disturbance came back wearing a suit. He didn’t have his necktie on.

“Are there many people in the bathroom?” Maru asked the man.

“No, there’s no one.”

He headed to the bathroom after hearing that answer. He checked on his clothing in front of the mirror.

He was wearing activity clothes due to the text he received two days ago from the production team.

He did not have any accessories on, and he only used hair wax to press down his hair where it was raised. It didn’t look like he had any flaws.

He returned to the waiting room. Now, waiting was his work.

“Hello everyone.”

A man in his early thirties came into the waiting room about 20 minutes later. He seemed to be the FD.

The minor actors also stood up and greeted him.

“Please come this way. We’ll start explaining the scene.”

They went to the set following the FD. Maru felt glad to see the lighting equipment and the camera again.

He saw director Cha standing next to the camera with a script in his hand.

“Hello. Oh, Maru’s here too, huh?”

Director Cha smiled and patted his shoulder.

“Hello! The weather’s really good, isn’t it?”

The one who appeared with a cheerful greeting was Lee Haena.

Director Cha turned around to greet Haena. The other staff members also turned around to look at her.

“Her face is really small. It might be less than half the size of mine,” said the drunk man causing a disturbance.

Everyone seemed to be thinking the same as they were nodding.

Following that, Park Sinseo and Yoo Jichan appeared. After a short greeting, the production explanation began.

“Haena will come this way and grab this.”

“Should I do it like this?”

“Yes. Sinseo and Jichan, you two come in from that way so that your movement lines don’t overlap.”

The movement lines for the main actors seemed to have been decided, as director Cha then called for the minor actors.

“Shall I try struggling? Sinseo, grab his arms for a minute.”

Drunk man causing a disturbance shook his arms violently to shake Sinseo off. Due to the difference in physique, Sinseo was shaken off quite easily.

“Enough. Go with just that, but tone down your strength a little. Sinseo will restrain you and then suppress you into the chair.”

The two of them tried acting according to the director’s words. Sinseo grabbed the man’s arm and kept asking if it didn’t hurt.

“I think you can do it with a little more force.”

“Then I’ll put more strength into it. If you feel uncomfortable please tell me immediately.”

“It’s okay.” The man laughed heartily.

After they tried a few more times, it looked rather decent. Sinseo said that he would do it properly and subdued the man with a serious expression. He seemed to have practiced the action by himself a lot, as there were no wasted movements in his actions.

“Please just do this much during the real shoot.”

“Yes, okay.”

Director Cha smiled and had the other minor actors try acting with the lead actors as well. Everyone quickly caught onto the intention behind the way it was produced and reflected it in their acts.

It was at the investigation scene that the smooth rehearsal started being delayed.

“You aren’t frustrated. You should be enraged,” director Cha said once again.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

“You’re too nervous. Relax. You look like you’ll do well, but you’re too tense and aren’t bringing your skills out.”

“I’ll do well.”

A man in his early twenties, who was supposed to be investigated, kept bowing his head. He seemed to be a student preparing to become an actor. As pitiful as he was, Maru had nothing to say to him. No, he had numerous words that might help him out, but this was not a situation where he should step in.

Even if he did step in and give some advice, it didn’t look like that man was in a state to listen to anything.

What was necessary was the words of an actor acting with him. Sinseo also seemed to know that and approached that man first.

“You should shout. I’ll receive it no matter what you do. Also, if you try, you’ll be used to it, so don’t worry.”

Director Cha just told him that he should try before turning quiet. He probably judged that it was better for the actors to sort it out among themselves.

The young actor quickly recovered to tip-top condition under Sinseo’s guidance.

As the woman said in the waiting room, the atmosphere at the shoot was pretty good.

“Han Maru, how have you been?” director Cha spoke to him comfortably.

“I’ve been doing well.”

“Do your best today. The writer liked your acting to the point that she changed the script after seeing your act.”

“I must answer her expectations then.”

He walked over to Sinseo and Jichan who were sitting by their desks with the script.

“Jichan, I think you can do it while looking toward me.”

“Towards you, senior? Like this?”

“Yeah. How is it, director?”

Director Cha looked at the two before saying that it was good. Maru watched for a bit before stepping forward.

“Hello. I’m Han Maru, a new actor. Please take good care of me.”

“I remember. You were so good during the read-through. Your name is rather unique too.”

He lightly shook hands with Sinseo. Jichan, who was sitting next to him, came over.

“Let us both do our best as new actors.”

“Please take care of me too.”

Director Cha stepped in.

“You’ll be seeing each other for a while still, so get along. Then we’ll start from scene 18.”

Maru sat at the desk next to Jichan.

Sinseo, who was on the other side, got into the mood as he looked at the script.

Maru had a look before and saw that the script was clean. There were no creases or any traces of something being written on it.

“Rookie,” Sinseo said his line. It was a rather sudden beginning.

Maru slid his script underneath the desk and spoke,

“Yes, senior.”

“Have you met the witness for the violent crime in Gangwol-dong?”

“I met him yesterday. The culprit was very malicious. The witness told me that the culprit started hitting without any rhyme or reason. I also got the CCTV footage from a nearby shop. He did indeed hit first.”

Sinseo stroked his chin and leaned forward.

“Seok-oh, summon the culprit and get a testimony. Rookie, you go with Seok-oh and see how things roll. There are loads of work in the crime investigation department. You should quickly grow up and do your own worth.”

“Don’t worry. I was born a big baby. I’ll grow up quickly and support you all from the back, so please wait just a little.”

“You really have your way with words.”

After finishing his line there, Sinseo took his eyes off the script.

“Director, was that good?”

“There aren’t any directions I can give. The three of you look quite good together. Also, Jichan, I think you can stop being worried now. You’re doing well without looking tense at all.”

Jichan smiled awkwardly.

“Okay then, let’s begin,” director Cha said as he waved the rolled-up script above his head.

Maru sat down on his chair. The other minor actors moved to their respective positions as well.

“Uhm, Maru, right?”

Jichan spoke to him before the camera started rolling.

“Yes.”

“You see, I’m still a little awkward. So I think I’ll make a lot of mistakes.”

“You were doing perfectly fine though just now.”

“I’m better off when there is no light on the camera, but I’m someone that gets really nervous when I start doing it for real. So let me apologize to you in advance. I think we’re going to get delayed because of me.”

“I saw you doing a performance on stage. I could see that you were enjoying the camera being pointed at you. Don’t you think it’s the same here as on stage? I’m sure you’ll do well.”

“I feel reassured after you told me that. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

This person was quite polite. He had a good attitude as though to show that not just anyone could become a top idol.

One of Maru’s core principles was that celebrities with a lot of controversies might last a long time, but they would never reach the top.

Since Jichan was an idol who had once reached the top, he should know well that there would be a lot to lose if he made a mistake.

“Don’t you two get close all by yourself and let me in as well,” Sinseo said from the other side with a smile.

“You’re always welcome, hyung-nim.”

Jichan showed Sinseo a heart made with both of his hands. These two people got along.

“Maru. How old are you?” Sinseo asked.

“I’m twenty-two.”

“A college student, huh. I’m envious of you lot because everyone’s so good these days.”

“If I hear that, I’ll be embarrassed and want to hide. I still have a lot of things I lack, so please tell me whenever you think my acting isn’t up to par. I still have a lot to learn.”

“I have quite a vile mouth though. Are you okay with that? I might say something that might hurt you. I’m sure Jichan hates me too because of it.”

“That hyung-nim’s teasing me again.”

Sinseo faintly smiled.

“Standby.”

A voice could be heard from the production team. Maru relaxed his expression and looked at the desk. He now had to put aside laughing and chatting and become a crime investigator.