After Story 209
“You look like you’re in high school. Don’t you have a boyfriend to meet?”
“Whoa, that hurt. How could you tease me like that?” said a girl who had neatly cut bangs while twitching her nose.
Her friends beside her explained to him that she got rejected after confessing.
Maru acted surprised. “You confessed but got rejected?”
“Why are you doing that? It’s embarrassing.”
“Why is it embarrassing? Those who dare to take action are the coolest. I’ll give you two balloons as a present. What would you like?”
“A duck hat like that one and a rabbit,” said the girl as she pointed at a child who received a balloon just now.
“Okay. Wait a sec.”
Maru pumped air into a long balloon. The girl, who was watching, asked,
“Also, is this some kind of shoot?”
“No. Look around and see if you spot any cameras.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“As a street performance to promote a play.”
Maru flicked his flank forward to the girls.
“Do you see the discount tickets in my pocket?”
“Yes.”
“Take one each. But you are in high school, right? The play is for high schoolers and above.”
“We are in high school.”
“You girls look way too young. How can you be so cute and pretty?”
“Whoa, I thought you were my style when I saw you in the drama, but….”
“How am I in real life?”
“A little distasteful.”
Maru handed the giggling girls the duck hat. Then, when one of them tried to grab the balloon hat with both hands, he quickly snatched it away into the air. The girl’s hands swept across empty space.
“Really distasteful,” said the girl.
Maru smiled and put the duck hat on the girl’s head.
“The theater is small, so there shouldn’t be many seats. If you want to watch, go watch early, and if it’s full, you can wait until the next showing. If that doesn’t work, then you should come and watch next week.”
“Do we have to watch it?”
“I can guarantee that it’ll be fun, so you should put aside your cram schools for once.”
“If the cram school teacher makes a call, can I say that you told me to do it? If I can use Han Maru’s name, then I’ll really go watch.”
“Of course not. You take responsibility for your own actions.”
Maru gave her the rabbit balloon before taking a photo.
Just two hours ago, there was not a single person here, but nearly thirty people had gathered right now.
A pair of lovers heading towards the restaurant alley in Daehak-ro turned around and came over.
“Mr. Han Maru, right?” the woman asked in uncertainty.
Maru responded with a smile. “Do I look like him?”
“Are you not? You resemble him.”
“I hear that I look like that actor a lot, this Mr. Han Maru. Apparently, he’s very handsome and has a good nature. His fellow actors praise him a lot.”
The woman, who had been listening for a while, started laughing.
“It is you!”
Maru nodded with a smile. He asked the woman who looked at him in curiosity, “Where are you two going?”
“We’re going to get lunch.”
The woman grabbed her boyfriend and kept telling him that the man in front of them was the actor Han Maru. The man also frowned and looked at him before taking out a name.
“Ahn Changsik!”
“Yes, I’m that Ahn Changsik. Changsik is more familiar than Han Maru, isn’t he?”
“I really enjoyed the drama.”
He shook hands with the man. He looked overjoyed saying that he was a fan, and his voice was loud enough to be heard by everyone around.
The people passing by stopped when they heard the man erupt into cheers. Maru placed his index finger on his lips.
“There are people quietly taking a walk, so don’t make too much noise.”
“Ah, okay.”
“That aside, you’re here in Daehak-ro. Why don’t you watch a play?”
“A play?”
“You don’t like them?”
The man and the woman exchanged looks. They said they liked coming to Daehak-ro to play around, but they didn’t have much interest in plays. They also added that they liked movies more than plays.
“Then how about you try watching a play instead of a movie this time? Coincidentally, I know of a great play that’s happening. If you take this, then they’ll even give you a discount.”
Maru gave them a balloon each and put his flank forward. Just like the people before, the couple took the discount tickets.
“Watch it if you have the time. It’ll be playing for a month, so if you can’t make it today, then you can come back next time.”
“Are you in it as well?”
“I won’t be on stage directly, but it’s being done by many good friends of mine. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it, so do come over.”
“We’ll try visiting after lunch.”
It was as he was about to talk to the next bunch of students after sending off the couple that he saw two people coming over from the direction of Hyehwa station. They were president Lee Junmin and his wife Jung Haejoo.
“You’re here.”
Maru approached president Lee first and greeted him. The people around took hints and gave way. He gave the husband and wife holding hands a balloon that he had made.
“You’re giving it to me?” Haejoo received the balloon after thanking him.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Han Maru.”
“My husband talks a lot about you. You look better in real life.”
“That I do. Would you like one too, president?” he asked as he took out a long balloon.
“I’m long past the age where I should be holding one of those.” He waved his hand in denial. “I thought you’d be waiting at the theater, but you’re promoting it here. Also, where did you learn that balloon trick?”
“I practiced it from time to time. I was planning to try out many things if I found it difficult to make a living off of acting.”
“For that to be the case, you look way too proficient,” president Lee said as he looked around. The various animal balloons seemed to pique his interest.
“Why don’t you take this too, president? It’s a ticket that will give you a 4,000 won discount. It also gives you a discount on other plays, so it’s quite useful.”
Maru held out his flank again. President Lee chuckled before pulling out a pair of tickets.
“Is this your way of resting?”
“I guess it’s closer to doing labor than resting. Still though, it’s quite fun. It helps out my juniors as well.”
“It’s good as long as you enjoy it. But you do know that you have a lot of work piled up, right? There are a few good scenarios. You should continue working on a piece before you start losing your grip.”
“I will.”
Maru told them to wait a little before giving a child staring at him a crown made with a balloon. The snotty-nosed child ran over to his mother as soon as he got the balloon.
“Is Miss Haneul preparing well?” president Lee asked.
“She prepares everything she does perfectly, so you do not have to worry about that.”
“I have high expectations because her camera acting was good. I’m worried that I’ll be disappointed after seeing her on stage. From what I know, she should have no experience standing on a stage.”
“She’s well-rounded in many areas.”
President Lee smiled. He seemed like he was going to go to the theater next.
“Come and see me after the play ends.”
“Okay. Also, it looks really good that the two of you are holding hands.”
Hearing that, president Lee raised his hand that was grabbing Jung Haejoo’s hand slightly.
“See you again after the play,” Jung Haejoo left after waving.
Some of the people around watched president Lee before starting to follow him.
“The person in military uniform. Are you on your holiday?”
Maru started talking to the people on this small stage again. Meanwhile, even more people started flocking, this time with phones in their hands.
* * *
“It’s full. We might as well accept standing seats now,” Joowhan said as he looked at the audience seats that had the lights still on.
The small theater had a total of 70 seats and every single one was full.
“What was our biggest record again?”
“Forty-two.”
“Why did it increase so much?”
Some other people who were chatting behind them suddenly made a ruckus.
“Hey, hey. I was wondering where senior Maru went, and it seems he was doing this,” said one of them while holding out a phone.
Photos of Han Maru were popping up on Twitter and Instagram. The tags were Daehak-ro and Han Maru.
“So this is why it’s full.”
“This senior, he’s so caring. Is he going so far for our sake?”
“I don’t think so.”
When Joohwan said those words, everyone looked at him.
“You’re really good at doubting others. Just take it for what it is,” Sinhye said as she bumped Joohwan’s arm with a fist.
Joohwan rubbed his arm. Sinhye did not seem to know how fierce her fists were. No, maybe she knew it too well.
“Hey, holy shit! He’s really there,” Sinhye said while stomping her feet.
Joohwan saw a middle-aged husband and wife coming down the stairs and sitting in front of the stage. Joohwan looked at Lee Junmin who sat down as he took off his flat cap.
“There’s no better place than JA if you want to join an agency, right?” Joohwan said.
“Duh! It’s a place where the top class of the industry is gathered. Senior Maru is there too.”
“Then I guess I should go to JA too then.”
“You’re delusional. Who says they’ll take you?”
“I’m confident. My acting isn’t that bad.”
“Putting acting aside, you don’t have any other qualities of a star. Maybe I’m better.”
Sinhye tiptoed and looked at the audience seats.
“But why do you think Lee Junmin came to see our stage?”
“Senior Maru probably called him.”
“But why?”
“Is there a reason behind everything? They’re obviously a good husband and wife who came out on a date. I’m sure senior Maru told them to watch this play while at it.”
“Do you think it’s just something like that?”
“Or… there might be someone he has his eyes on among us,” Jungah said.
At once, everyone’s gazes looked towards one side. They saw Han Haneul stretching her arms and legs in the short corridor between the stage and the waiting room.
“If there is, it must be senior Haneul.”
“Do you think senior Maru recommended senior Haneul to him?”
“We’ll never know that. What’s important is that a big shot has come to watch our stage. If we get chosen here, it might change our lives.”
“Chosen? Well, I guess if you think about JA giving you support, I guess it’ll be like becoming a king’s vassal.”
“I know it’s just a what-if, but what if they want to sign a contract with me? Do I have to quit my job?”
It was Sinhye who made everyone quiet again.
“Na Baekhoon is here as well. This is crazy.”
Following Lee Junmin, there was Na Baekhoon.
Joohwan leaned against the wall and opened the script. His excited friends also started doing stretches or reciting their lines.
The backstage, which was as loud as the audience seats, became quiet.
“What’s this atmosphere? Why does everyone look nervous?” Haneul said.
Nervous — everyone smiled awkwardly at that word.
“Just do it like normal. It’s the stage. It’s fun!”
Haneul pushed Jungah by the waist. Joohwan also closed the script. It was time to put on a performance. Jungah calmed her breathing and stepped on stage.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming to watch us today. My name is Moon Jungah, and before we begin, I’ll tell you a few things.”
* * *
“I’ll come to Daehak-ro again to talk to you and make you balloons like this, so give this street lots of love. And watch a lot of plays too!”
“Yes!”
The audience replied in unison. Maru cleaned up and started walking toward the theater. When he shook his head with a crying face to the fans that followed him, the fans laughed and walked away.
Maru checked the time and went inside the theater.
He lifted the rope barrier and went inside. When he pushed the masking curtains to the side, he saw the stage and the audience seats.
In the center of the stage was his wife.
“So what do you want me to do!”
He fell into the world of the play just from that line alone.
It was a ridiculously good immersion.
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