The Genius Actor Who Brings Misfortune

Chapter 178

“Our Ha-ram is now 8 years old~. Isn’t there about a 6-year age gap with actor Yeon-jae?”

“Seven years. Feel free to speak casually.”

“Oh my, how could I speak casually? I heard you have a good personality, and it’s true.”

The woman’s artificially curved eyes quivered slightly.

‘Why is she smiling like that?’

It was an unnatural smile.

Well, it was still a well-made expression.

‘She could actually act.’

With that thought, I stood up.

As soon as I got up abruptly, the woman looked at me nervously.

“Where are you going? Do you have something urgent to do…?”

“No. I was going to see my manager.”

“Ah~ if you aren’t too busy, could I ask you a favor?”

The woman smiled naturally.

At the same time, she pushed the timid-looking boy towards me.

“Could you watch our Ha-ram act just once? He’s going to be filming soon, but he’s so lacking~.”

“Mom….”

“Ha-ram, what did mom tell you about how to behave outside?”

“…….”

The boy’s small mumble vanished immediately at the sharp words.

I looked at the boy standing stiffly with a hardened face and nodded.

“Yes, I’ll do it.”

I had plenty of time anyway.

At my words, the woman’s face brightened.

“Oh my! You’re so kind. Thank you so much. Ha-ram, remember what we practiced with mom yesterday—”

“Excuse me, but can it just be Ha-ram and me?”

I interrupted her as politely as possible.

With a soft smile, I said, “I’m a bit shy,” and the woman, who seemed flustered for a moment, laughed.

“Of course. Do it however you’re comfortable. Ha-ram, listen to the actor well~. Mom will be over there talking to uncle.”

“Yes….”

Even after the woman left, Ha-ram stayed frozen for a while.

Watching him silently, I sat back down on the floor.

“…….”

As I remained silent, the boy began to look at me.

“Aren’t your feet hurting?”

“Huh?”

“You can sit. Like before.”

When I casually spoke, Ha-ram hesitated but then sat next to me.

Seeing him gather his legs and sit quietly, he truly looked like a child.

‘I wonder if I was this small when I was 8.’

Sitting side by side, Ha-ram’s crown barely reached my shoulder. He was really small.

“……What are you doing?”

“Oh, sorry.”

I was unconsciously patting his head.

Having seen Mist in child form so often, my hand moved without thinking.

“Sorry. Did that bother you?”

As I withdrew my hand and apologized, Ha-ram awkwardly shook his head.

“It’s okay. You can do it….”

“No, I touched you without permission.”

“……It’s really okay.”

Ha-ram rolled his eyes, watching my reaction.

I had a rough idea of what he was thinking, but I waited silently.

Unable to bear the silence, Ha-ram spoke first.

“I really don’t mind….”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Say exactly what you don’t mind. And use a clearer expression than just saying it’s okay.”

“…….”

At my calm words, Ha-ram clamped his mouth shut.

I wondered if Korean was difficult for him, so I said he could speak in whatever language he wanted.

Ha-ram’s eyes widened, surprised by my unexpected words.

“(Really? Can I speak in English?)”

“(Yes. I was learning English anyway. It’s a relief.)”

“(But… mom told me not to speak English here….)”

His eyes moved quickly, trying to see where his mom was.

Watching him, I replied indifferently.

“(Do what you want. It’s just the two of us here anyway.)”

“(…….)”

After a moment of watching me, Ha-ram slowly opened his mouth.

Although his speech was somewhat slow, the meaning of his words was clear.

“(You can touch my head. It feels good when you do.)”

“(Okay.)”

As soon as Ha-ram finished speaking, I touched his head again.

His hair was so soft it felt like flowing water, whether it was naturally so or well cared for.

“(Good job. Speak clearly like that from now on. That way, the other person understands.)”

“(……Okay.)”

Ha-ram nodded awkwardly.

Though he seemed shy, I continued to stroke his head undeterred.

‘Studying paid off.’

It had been more than half a year since I started learning English.

I could tell my speaking skills had improved since the Cannes Film Festival.

Feeling somewhat proud and enjoying the soft touch, I quietly continued.

“…….”

It was Ha-ram who broke the long silence.

“Hey… your name is Yeon-jae, right?”

“Yes.”

“Can I call you Yeon-jae?”

Well, I didn’t mind.

“I’m okay with it. But your mom might not like it.”

“Really? Why?”

“In Korea, we usually don’t call older people by their names. Instead, you should call me hyung.”

“Oh, right. Hyung. Got it.”

Ha-ram nodded eagerly as if he understood.

“So, can I call you hyung? Is that okay?”

“Sure. When it’s just the two of us, call me whatever you want.”

Ha-ram seemed to have a very bright personality.

He kept smiling like that after every word.

“You’re really nice…. Earlier, you seemed like a star, but now you’re like the moon!”

I didn’t know exactly what he meant, but it seemed like a compliment, so I thanked him.

As we exchanged a few words, the conversation shifted to today’s filming.

Today’s scene involved a conversation between Jung-hyun hyung, playing Kang Seok, and young Horn in a flashback.

In other words, Ha-ram was going to act as young Horn.

“So, is this your first time acting?”

“(Yes. I’ve done a few small photoshoots, but it’s my first time on such a big set. I’m really nervous! What if I make a mistake? Mom will be so mad.)”

Ha-ram’s words in English were as fast as a jet.

I barely understood and responded.

“It’s my first time on such a big set too. You’re not the only one, so don’t be nervous.”

“…….”

If you’ve practiced enough, there’s no reason to be nervous.

Though that was my intent, it seemed Ha-ram understood well, his face brightening with confidence.

“(Yes! I’ll do my best!)”

“Okay. Now switch to Korean. Your mom is coming.”

“Oh, okay!”

Soon after, the woman arrived and thanked me for ‘talking to her son.’

I thought it was nonsense, but I pretended not to hear it.

Even while holding his mother’s hand and greeting the staff, Ha-ram kept glancing at me whenever he had the chance.

I barely managed to ignore his young gaze.

* * *

“Was his name Ha-ram? That kid looks a lot like you.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. His eyes look just like yours.”

Jung-hyun hyung laughed as he touched my eye area.

“I wonder if you looked just like that at 8 years old… I’m curious.”

“When I was 8?”

“Yes. I wish I had known you back then.”

I stared at him, hearing the sincere regret in his voice.

In the past, I would have wondered ‘Why is he curious?’ but now I understood.

‘Jung-hyun hyung likes me.’

I liked Jung-hyun hyung.

I was curious about why he started acting, what he liked when he was my age, and the journey that led him to have such a kind smile.

With every breath, I grew more curious.

‘Hyung must feel the same way.’

I nodded slightly, understanding his words.

At the same time, I wanted to satisfy his curiosity.

So I tried to recall memories from when I was 8.

“…….”

At the same time, I found it hard to breathe.

‘No.’

I clenched my teeth. No.

‘Not here, at least.’

I couldn’t afford to panic in front of someone who was about to start filming in 5 minutes.

It was okay. I just needed to breathe slowly.

I gathered all my strength and clenched my fists tightly.

I felt my body trembling.

Fortunately, after what seemed like seconds or minutes, though it felt like an eternity to me, time passed.

‘Hoo.’

I slowly opened my fist.

As I lowered my gaze, I saw the red marks from my fingernails on my palm.

‘Thank goodness.’

I was really relieved.

I managed to recover my breath without anyone noticing.

If the staff hadn’t talked to Jung-hyun hyung, or if Jin-bae hyung hadn’t left to buy lemonade, I would have been found out immediately.

‘Why did I think about the past?’

I was foolish.

I shook my head firmly.

I tried to shake off the memories clinging to me like leeches.

“Yeon-jae, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“I got something in my eye.”

“……Really? Are you okay now?”

I avoided his gentle touch, offering to help, with a smile.

‘It’s a shame.’

He had even said he was curious, but I had no good memories to share.

Wanting to tell him something, I barely managed to speak.

“But saying Ha-ram resembles me is a bit of a stretch. He’s quite different from me.”

“Hmm, how so?”

“The kid is too gentle.”

“…?”

Jung-hyun hyung looked puzzled for a moment, then laughed heartily.

“What are you talking about? There’s no one gentler than you.”

But I meant it.

If I ignored

those around me out of indifference, Ha-ram was different.

He wasn’t ignoring but being overwhelmed by his surroundings. It bothered me.

It felt like watching someone getting crushed by a building in real-time.

‘Living with someone like that must be tough.’

I watched the woman gripping Ha-ram’s shoulder and whispering something.

Judging by his face, it didn’t seem like a good conversation.

‘It’s worrying.’

It was frustrating to know I couldn’t do anything about it even though I was concerned.

There was no way I could take him in, so what could I do?

I tried to ignore it, telling myself, ‘He’s just a kid I’ll see today.’

But still, it didn’t feel right.

“CUT!!”

The PD’s irritated voice stopped the filming.

Immediately, the large set fell into silence.

“Ha, this is driving me crazy.”

The PD sighed deeply, his face filled with annoyance, as Ha-ram’s mom hurried over.

“Our Ha-ram must be too nervous.”

“I get it, but please step back.”

“He did well yesterday? Let’s try it one more time—”

“Ah, step back!”

The PD snapped at her in frustration.

Though she looked insulted for a moment, she quickly softened her expression and tried to calm him down.

“Uncle, don’t be so harsh. You’re scaring Ha-ram.” Judging by her words, it seemed Ha-ram was the PD’s nephew.

“…….”

In the midst of the frustrated adults, Ha-ram stood frozen stiff.

Jung-hyun hyung kindly spoke to him, but Ha-ram seemed too paralyzed to hear anything.

‘This is troublesome.’

Even I could see that the PD’s frustration was justified.

Ha-ram’s acting was really the worst.

It was shockingly bad despite my low expectations.

‘It’s almost impossible to use that.’

Sure enough, the PD, with a shadowed face, shouted, “Let’s take a 10-minute break and try again!”

As he left in a huff, presumably to smoke, the woman followed.

Ha-ram was left alone.

“…….”

What should I do?

I hesitated strongly.

I felt like I would get deeply involved in something troublesome if I intervened here.

It felt like something irreversible.

‘If you can’t take responsibility, don’t interfere.’

It wasn’t hard to understand.

Could I take responsibility for him?

No. So I should stay out of it.

I was sure of that, but….

“Ha-ram!”

Damn it.

‘Have I gone mad?’

I regretted calling out immediately.

But I couldn’t take back the words that had already left my mouth.

And I couldn’t ignore the kid staring at me with wide eyes.

Suppressing a sigh, I waved him over.

“Come here.”

“…….”

Ha-ram hesitated for a moment, then ran over to me.

“Ugh.”

I barely managed to lift Ha-ram, who charged at me like a missile.

Having lifted Mist a few times when he was in child form, I had a stable posture.

Holding the kid who clung to me like a cicada, I supported him with one hand and patted his back with the other, maintaining a calm expression.

But I was breaking into a cold sweat.

‘……He’s heavy.’

The kid was heavier than I expected.

Really, much heavier.