Chapter 83

* * *“Are you really okay with not going?”“I’m on break for today,” Miso said, looking between Ganghwan and Geunsoo.She told the kids that she brought experienced critics, but there really was no way that she could call on people like that. So she just dragged in two of her friends, with a bit of threat mixed in. “How are the kids?”“Perfect.”“Well, that’s good to hear.”Ganghwan leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed. “The chair’s nice and comfy. I think I’ll sleep well on this.”“You’re gonna sleep?”“I mean, you said they were perfect. There’s nothing more boring than a perfect play.”Geunsoo nodded in agreement and prepared to sleep. Miso pouted and pinched the cheeks of her friends.“Watch, you bastards, watch.”“Ouch ouch! I get it, I get it! Let go!”“It hurts.”Geunsoo and Ganghwan returned to a sitting position in a hurry. They were both actors carrying big expectations in their respective fields. Geunsoo was slowly getting popular through an independent film, and Ganghwan often got good reviews through his plays. They were both very good friends, and also the perfect critics for this play. ‘They’ll help for sure.’Before the play started, Miso asked the two of them to review the play, along with some technical advice as well. Miso thought of herself as a critic, but she knew she was clouded by bias from their time spent together. Plus, she knew better than anyone that the club didn’t need compliments right now.“Aren’t you expecting too much out of a high school play?”Ganghwan said, rubbing his sleepy eyes.“They were burned hard once already. They’re going to get first place this time, just you watch. I won’t let it happen again.”“Isn’t that just for your pride?”“Do you really have to state the obvious?”“Well, that was an obvious lie.”Miso stared at Ganghwan, who was smiling at her, before turning to Geunsoo.“Did you call your brother?”“Yeah. He still sounded pretty edgy, but not sad anymore. I think the trauma from the last play’s gone… Is it because of that mentor Junmin introduced him to?”“Probably. She seemed pretty talented. She said she’d start off by complimenting him.”“Complimenting...”Geunsoo didn’t seem to like the word.“Well, just watch for now. Try to come up with something you can tell them.”Miso sighed and turned back to look at the stage. Finally, the play was beginning.‘It’s his first play, too.’Maru’s first play. The boy hadn’t shown anything special so far. He was good at progressing through the play, but he lacked the ability to attract empathy from the audience. ‘Man, I’m expecting way too much out of the boy.’Miso changed her thoughts. She shouldn’t expect too much here. Talent didn’t just bloom out of nowhere. Today, she just needed to focus on seeing what Han Maru, the amateur, was capable of. But… on one side, she couldn’t help but get a little excited.Miso thought back to the first day she took Maru to the Blue Sky theater. When she watched the boy read a script calmly on the stage, she realized she needed to put him on the stage. After several months, she finally managed to get him there.‘I know I shouldn’t expect much, but I just can’t help it.’

* * *“There are so many people, gosh. I think all 600 seats are filled,” Soyeon said nervously.“They’re not here to see us. They’re just here because of the event that takes place afterward.”Taejoon tried to respond calmly, but his voice was trembling a bit. The boy was right, though. There was a regional talent competition that took place after the acting event. That was probably what filled all 686 seats here. “Alright, get ready. We just need to do as well as practice. Got it?” Yoonjung said.The president’s words made everyone nod.“Good luck, Maru.”“Yup.”The play would begin with Maru’s appearance. The ‘teenager’ character barely interacted with other actors. Instead, conversing with the audience. He would talk to the audience to engage them with the story.

* * *“A character who breaks down the wall between the stage and the seats.”“The teenager is the critical factor in getting the audience engaged.”Geunsoo and Ganghwan were talking.“Miso chose this play of all things?” Geunsoo whispered so that Miso wouldn’t be able to hear.“I hear everything, Geunsoo.”Geunsoo shrugged and leaned back.“He’s not wrong. If the teenager does badly, the entire play will go askew.”“Yup, that’s exactly the issue.”Geunsoo nodded at Ganghwan’s insight. He didn’t know much about Maru, only that Maru was a bit odd. But that didn’t make the boy automatically good at acting. As far as he was aware, the boy was just an oddly mature kid who liked to worry a lot.Acting, through someone like that kid…He knew Miso liked to compliment Maru a lot. Would the boy live up to her words?“It’s beginning.”Ganghwan gestured towards the stage with his chin. The curtains of the stage lifted, and the lights slowly dimmed.