小火星

[“‘A: Han In-ho’s’ reading is over.”]

With the familiar robotic female voice marking the end, Kang Woojin, who had just finished the ‘reading’ (experience) of ‘Male Friend,’ returned to reality. Actors and staff were bustling around in the reading room, going through the revised script.

Kang Woojin looked around the entire reading room.

-Swish.

Starting from Hwalin, who was checking the newly received script while brushing through her long hair, Director Shin Dong-chun having a conversation with writer Choi Na-na, the tense actors, murmuring staff, and the handful of reporters allowed entry, all were busy.

“……”

No one could imagine that Woojin had just lived a life as Han In-ho. It was only a few seconds for them, but Kang Woojin had indeed lived in Han In-ho’s world, everything about him imprinted in his memory.

‘It’s definitely different, what’s this feeling?’

Although it wasn’t his first time reading as Han In-ho, Kang Woojin could feel it again. The state after reading was certainly different from other works. For example, he had to constantly remind himself of reality while playing the role of Park Dae-ri from ‘Hanryang.’

The fact that his concept and misunderstandings helped his psyche was also clear.

But Han In-ho was somewhat fluffy. There was no particular discomfort. On the contrary, it warmed his heart. The vivid world of Han In-ho was enjoyable. The school days or college life everyone wants to go back to.

Was it because the vibrant energy of youth had permeated through?

‘I can’t always do works like this, but it’s definitely good to do something sweet in between.’

He needed to balance with refreshing works, both psychologically and mentally. There might not be any significant issues now, but it was uncertain whether this solid mentality would continue. He had to always keep in mind the possibility of becoming mentally damaged when using the void space.

In this way, Kang Woojin grew once again.

In the meantime,

“Alright- If everyone has read the revised script, shall we start soon?”

Director Shin Dong-chun, with his square jaw, seated at the head of the table, signaled the beginning of the reading. Consequently, promotional reporters raised their cameras, and the concentration among dozens of staff surrounding the actors increased. Especially personnel from the production company and Netflix.

Among them, plump Executive Director Kim So-hyang whispered to her team leaders sitting next to her.

“I’m looking forward to Woojin’s first rom-com performance, even though it’s just a reading.”

“Right. I wonder if that calm face will change in an instant, just like when he played Park Dae-ri?”

Responding to the question, Kim So-hyang stroked her chin, looking at Kang Woojin at his cynical best.

“‘Han In-ho’ is definitely a character who will sweep the female audience off their feet, and it’s not just about acting, but the sync rate with Woojin is perfect. With this, Woojin’s image will become 100% more diversified.”

“Absolutely. He debuted with a villainous aura as Park Dae-ri, but with Han In-ho, he’ll be the ultimate boyfriend material.”

“We should send a few more scripts his way before Woojin gets too busy. Do we have any good rom-com scripts or scenarios?”

“I’ll check tomorrow.”

Around this time, the introduction of the key characters of ‘Male Friend’ began. It started with Director Shin Dong-chun introducing himself, followed by writer Choi Na-na. Then Kang Woojin was called.

“Our leading male actor.”

Getting up impassively, Woojin greeted the actors and staff.

“Hello, I’m Kang Woojin, playing the role of Han In-ho. I will do my best.”

-Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap!

Hwalin takes the baton.

“I’m Hwalin, playing the role of Lee Bo-min— It’s a bit awkward as it’s our first meeting, but I hope we can have fun shooting. Thank you.”

Again, more applause. A baptism of flashes from the reporters. Then, the introduction of the actors continued in turn. At this moment, the closed doors of the reading room opened slightly, and a man with a ponytail entered.

It was Choi Sung-gun, who had been missing until now.

-Swish.

He, who had been looking around cautiously, quietly sat down with someone he was accompanying in a chair near the entrance. The person with him was a middle-aged woman wearing a white mask. Her long permed hair tied back was familiar. Fortunately, the ongoing introductions were in full swing and they didn’t draw much attention. Soon, Choi Sung-gun spoke to the woman beside him.

“It seems we’re not late, Writer Park.”

“I’m sorry. The traffic was terrible.”

“It’s alright.”

The middle-aged woman was Park Eun-mi, a star writer who was taking a break after finishing ‘Hanryang.’ Her worth had skyrocketed thanks to ‘Hanryang.’ The reason for her quiet appearance at the ‘Male Friend’ reading was simple.

“She seems a bit nervous, but Na-na is doing well. I’m impressed.”

She had come to support Choi Na-na, her assistant writer. Of course, Park Eun-mi’s intentions were not just that. Park Eun-mi, looking at Kang Woojin, who was seated first to the left of Choi Na-na at the head of the table.

‘Totem… no, I must see Woojin’s first rom-com acting. I must.’

It was to see Kang Woojin’s actual form in person, not through edited videos. She had to vividly capture his first romantic comedy performance. It was a habit of the writer Park Eun-mi.

“You have to see a lot of the actor if you’re going to write a character around them.”

It wasn’t about creating a character and then attaching an actor; it was about writing a character tailored to the actor. After all, Kang Woojin had been the top choice for Park Eun-mi’s next work. It was a given, as she believed in him.

She then whispered to Choi Sung-gun sitting next to her.

“CEO Choi, does Woojin have any schedules set for the end of this year or early next year?”

Choi Sung-gun, who had been smiling faintly, responded leisurely.

“I’ll check and get back to you, ma’am. Are you considering him for your next work?”

“Of course. Please make sure to contact me before PD Song does.”

“I guess you’re not going to work with him next time.”

“People would be comparing it with ‘Hanryang’ if we work together again.”

Although in Hanryang both writer Park Eun-mi and PD Song Man-woo had been a comrades, but now they were to become competitors. Probably. No, almost certainly, because both were aiming to cast Kang Woojin in their next works.

At this point, Choi Sung-gun was certain.

‘The big shots, I can handle them.’

The notion of having grand figures within his grasp.

A little later.

The sound of pages turning spread throughout the reading room. All actors, including Kang Woojin and Hwalin, had flipped their scripts. The scene was now described by Director Shin Dong-chun.

“S#1. Cherry blossom trees lined up. Han In-ho and Lee Bo-min are mixed in with the large crowd.”

While Director Shin Dong-chun was reading the scene, the slender and delicate writer Choi Na-na’s gaze was fixed on the nearby Kang Woojin.

‘I’m nervous, what kind of performance will he show?’

It was because of the anticipation. The actor who responded to her script, which others wouldn’t even care to look at, had presented a performance so compelling that even her mentor, writer Park Eun-mi, was awestruck.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one watching Kang Woojin at this moment. The surrounding actors were also busy sneaking peeks at the calm Woojin.

‘He seems ordinary so far. Maybe he’s taking it easy today. It’s his first time doing romantic comedy, maybe he’s a bit nervous.’

‘There’s no change? Why isn’t he preparing at all?’

‘He’s not bringing up any emotions, rather he looks a bit indifferent. What’s with him? Is he not feeling well?’

They were eager to experience the impact of his monstrous acting that had turned the nation upside down. The opportunity to see that destructive power up close. Executive Director Kim So-hyang, Choi Sung-gun, writer Park Eun-mi, the production company, and the reporters all felt the same. Naturally, those experiencing him for the first time had even greater expectations.

A hot seat. Woojin was also aware of these concentrated gazes.

‘Ugh, it’s making me queasy. Being the lead is so damn uncomfortable. These people make it so obvious that they’re peeking.’

The tension increases sharply. But he can’t show it. He may not understand the weight of being the lead, but he decided to maintain his solemnity while focusing solely on Han In-ho. As always, Kang Woojin reminded himself of just two things: his concept and acting.

A straightforward course.

An ordinary yet special, nonchalant yet distinguished Han In-ho. Woojin instantly conjures the ingrained image of Han In-ho. His feelings, emotions, thoughts, and expressions—they all flip. Soon, the scenery Woojin sees gradually transforms.

The reading room turns into a line of cherry blossom trees, the dozens of actors into a crowd of people enjoying the flower viewing, the warm indoor temperature into a cozy emotion.

Then, faintly heard, is Director Shin Dong-chun’s scene description.

“Han In-ho looks oddly at Lee Bo-min, who is hopping around a few steps ahead. It’s a look that seems affectionate yet not.”

-Swish.

Woojin, who had been looking down at his script, raised his gaze. He saw Hwalin across from him. No, in Woojin’s eyes, it’s not Hwalin but Lee Bo-min hopping around in front of him.

Then he slightly tilted his head.

“…”

Watching or staring. Up until now, Kang Woojin’s once-dull gaze instantly changes temperature. The color of emotion in his eyes is profound and subtle.

At that moment.

“!!!”

Several actors gasped in astonishment.

‘Wow- what’s with that speed of bringing up emotion.’

‘That vivacity… It’s just a glance, but why does it seem like I can see Han In-ho right there?’

‘It’s hard to express- there’s so much emotion in his eyes. Honestly, it’s crazy, oh, so this is why the big shots are captivated.’

It was all about the direction of the gaze. With a single, brief act, Kang Woojin overturned the atmosphere in the reading room. The characteristic indifference that was unique to him, which he had been exuding since his first appearance, disappeared, and soon, Woojin wore Han In-ho’s rough yet strangely warm expression.

He felt like a cantankerous cat.

It’s aggressive, but you can’t hate it. Lines for Hwalin and scene directions from Director Shin Dong-chun are thrown one after another to this version of Kang Woojin.

“Hey! Han In-ho!”

“Lee Bo-min, who turned to look at Han In-ho, quickly runs up to him. Lee Bo-min with hands full of cherry blossom petals, shows them off to Han In-ho.”

Woojin, making eye contact with Hwalin, coughs lightly and avoids her gaze. The strange emotion that was floating on his face until a moment ago suddenly disappears. Only annoyance is massively prevalent.

“What?”

“Ah! Smell the fragrance, the fragrance!”

A brief exchange of dialogue follows between Kang Woojin and Hwalin. Then the baton is passed to Director Shin Dong-chun.

“Han In-ho sighs. But Lee Bo-min pushes the cherry blossom petals in her hand closer to him. Han In-ho, with no choice left, smells them. The distance between them is as close as a fist. At this moment, Han In-ho’s gaze lands on Lee Bo-min’s lips.”

As the stage direction ends, Kang Woojin lifts his gaze again that had been lowered. The final stop for his gaze, of course, is Hwalin across from him. However, he doesn’t maintain the eye contact. He looks at her briefly, then looks away, repeating the process.

And then.

“……”

In the end, Kang Woojin stares intently at Hwalin. Swimming in the flow of his gaze are emotions similar yet distinctly different. Contemplation, agony, reality, relationships, worries about the future. He emits these intense myriad of emotions passionately. Then, suddenly, Woojin smiled faintly. It’s not pronounced. An ambiguity between a straight face and a smile.

The emotions become certain.

The worries that were swirling until a moment ago disappear, and he simply admires Hwalin. No, Lee Bo-min. Because he’s intoxicated. On this warm atmosphere, the mood, the situation. Soon, deep affection, not ambivalence, filled Kang Woojin’s eyes. It was because his genuine feelings, which he had firmly sealed away, exploded in an instant.

At this point.

‘Woojin is freaking amazing! Shit! He’s exactly the Han In-ho I envisioned! Crazy, crazy, crazy!’

Choi Na-na, the writer of ‘Male Friend’, clenched her teeth, , internally screaming. She really wanted to hug Kang Woojin tightly in excitement, if she could. It was a scream of emotion beyond being impressed.

On the other hand.

‘……He’s good. He does romance well. Who could resist that, seeing it up close.’

Writer Park Eun-mi, covering her mouth with one hand, felt goosebumps.

‘I don’t see any trace of Park Dae-ri. Or rather, is he really the same person? How can he have such different acting in each role?’

She had expected it, but seeing it right before her eyes, she thought it was monstrous. The Woojin she was seeing now was just a man about to awkwardly start dating or Han In-ho.

‘Hiding his feelings and expressing them shabbily is just… unbelievable.’

Director Shin Dong-chun, who had experienced Kim Ryu-jin of ‘Exorcism’, felt the same.

‘That’s it. Woojin, even without many lines, portrays emotions with just facial muscles and eyes alone. It’s because the emotion is so dense and clear that you can’t take your eyes off him. Anyone can see he’s just a man in love with Hwalin right now.’

Executive Director Kim So-hyang’s eyes were sparkling.

‘……Honestly, this is my first time seeing Woojin’s acting in person. Ah, now I see why the big shots are enamored by him. That’s it, this Han In-ho is definitely going to be a hit.’

Kang Woojin’s uncanny transformation in acting gave goosebumps to many people. In the meantime, the eye contact between Woojin and Hwalin continued. At this moment, Kang Woojin, who had been sending a warm gaze, glanced at Hwalin’s lips.

Then he looks at Hwalin again. Of course, it was in the script.

At this moment.

“Wait a minute.”

Suddenly, Hwalin avoided Woojin’s gaze and raised her hand, stopping the reading. Consequently, all eyes were focused on her as she smoothly stood up.

“I’m really, really sorry. I need to go to the restroom really quick, it’s kind of urgent.”

Director Shin Dong-chun, slightly surprised, gestured that it was okay.

“Uh-uh, go ahead, quickly.”

Soon, Hwalin crossed the reading room with quick steps. Kang Woojin, who had been watching her retreating figure nonchalantly, soon erased all traces of Han In-ho.

‘Must’ve been really urgent?’

He murmured lightly to himself.

‘Well, drinking iced Americano does make you want to go often, huh. Sigh, I feel like I need to go too.’

Hwalin, having left the reading room, exhaled deeply in front of the closed door and recalled Kang Woojin, with whom she had just shared a scene.

“Ha- It’s just acting, right? But his gaze was so intense… No, it’s definitely acting.”

Then, Hwalin bit her lower lip gently.

“It’s insanely realistic. Damn, I should tell him to take it easy, but even asking to take it easy would be an overreaction.”

For her, this reading room was like a torture chamber. Hwalin was the only one suffering. Soon, Hwalin ‘a true fan’ placed her hand on her chest. Her heart was beating crazily.

To the point where it was hard to calm down.

“I’m going crazy… It’s tough even though it’s enjoyable, it’s intense.”

It was an unexpected affliction.

***