༺ Requesting Cloud Support from a Shooting Star – 14 ༻
“Audition.”
The voice was considerably lower than the one just heard. Hee-wook flinched at the heavy, oppressive aura that seemed to bear down from above.
“…If you’re here to watch, you should move quickly.”
Surely, even when he had seen the photo, an age-inappropriate charisma had been felt. Thick eyebrows, deep and long eyes, three-dimensional facial features, and dark skin tone alone were far from ordinary. Plus, his physique was very large.
All the elements that made him up captured the attention and possessed an overpowering force. It was so just by looking at the photo, but the real thing was even more so.
He was a giant, easily surpassing an average adult man in height and had broad shoulders. The mere size of him involuntarily intimidated me. He seemed to be at least 2 meters tall. Hee-wook, looking up at Kyung Seo with his mouth wide open, suddenly came to his senses and put strength into his eyes.
“I’m not here for the audition…”
He refrained from adding that he had already been eliminated in the first round and subtly lowered his gaze. It would be nice if he knew that I wasn’t here for the audition and quickly went on his way, but Kyung Seo’s voice fell once again above Hee-wook’s head.
“Not for the audition?”
“Yes.”
“Then for what?”
“Pardon?”
Hee-wook suddenly lifted his head. Kyung Seo was looking at him with narrowed brows. Hee-wook, who had been standing dumbfounded, blushed. Was he being mistaken for entering an off-limits area?
“I’m not sure what you’re asking. I have an entry pass.”
“……”
He answered in a daze, but no reply came. Seeing Kyung Seo stand still while staring at Hee-wook, his manager couldn’t take it anymore and intervened.
“What are you doing? It’s time to hurry and move on.”
At the manager’s words, Kyung Seo’s gaze finally left Hee-wook. Then, he seemed to slowly turn around but abruptly overtook his manager and swiftly left his place.
“Kyung Seo!”
The manager hurriedly followed Kyung Seo, who was striding away as if he were angry.
“…What was that?”
Hee-wook, who had been blankly watching the receding backs of the two, belatedly threw an empty can into the trash can. He stared at the trash can in a daze, then clutched at his throat. He was embarrassed by the heated response he gave, insisting that he had a broadcasting company entrance pass.
While waiting for Eun-sung, Hee-wook aimlessly wandered around the broadcasting station, including the smoking area, but to no avail.
He had come here with hope, perhaps someone would recognize him, ask about his recent activities, or even offer him some work, but it was a vain hope.
He didn’t even encounter any of the people he had worked with during the broadcasts or any familiar employees. And it was out of character for Hee-wook to suddenly start talking to strangers.
“Ha……”
Eventually, a worn-out Hee-wook returned to his original spot and collapsed into a chair. He stared at the bulletin board hanging on the corridor wall, then took out his cell phone. Quite some time had passed.
[Is it your turn yet?]
He sent a message to Eun-sung. Surprisingly, the reply came right away.
[Eun-sung Lee: It’s my turn now]
[Eun-sung Lee: I’m the last one]
“The last one……”
Considering he was the last one for the final audition, Hee-wook wondered if Eun-sung might be a strong casting candidate. Hee-wook got up from the chair and slowly moved towards the opposite side of the corridor. Just then, he saw an official coming out of the studio, moving towards the waiting room where the audition participants were.
The waiting room door opened, and Eun-sung appeared, looking nervous. Sensing someone’s presence, he turned towards Hee-wook.
“Hey.”
As Hee-wook raised his hand from afar, Eun-sung nodded his head gravely. Eun-sung went into the studio with the staff. Assuming that the audition time wouldn’t be long, Hee-wook moved closer and leaned against the wall next to the studio door.
A humming sound could be heard from inside. Despite his careful listening, he couldn’t make out the exact content of the conversation, maybe because the soundproofing was quite effective.
There was no one in the corridor, and no voices of people could be heard. Tapping the broadcasting station floor with the tip of his shoe, he was engulfed in the feeling of being cut off from the world.
Then, he suddenly remembered the trendy young actor he had met earlier.
“What else could it be?”
His question, accompanied by a cold gaze.
It felt as if he was asking why Hee-wook had come all the way here. No longer a celebrity, even having failed the audition. Although Kyung Seo didn’t go as far as to scorn him, in Hee-wook’s mind, desolate-colored question marks rose, his confidence at rock bottom.
“Really, why did I come here.”
Hee-wook mumbled along with a hollow laugh. He had come to the broadcasting station without any real expectations, and he logically knew that he wouldn’t gain anything.
Even though there wasn’t a big reason to be greatly disappointed, the question thrown by the young and successful actor made him acutely aware of his current predicament.
Hee-wook let out a deep sigh and raised his arm. He roughly rubbed his face with his bare hands, devoid of any makeup. At that moment, the studio door suddenly opened. A weary-looking Eun-sung appeared. He seemed surprised to see Hee-wook right in front of the door.
“Hyung.”
“…Did it end? Let’s go.”
“Ah, okay.”
Eun-sung opened the door a little wider and came out. Hee-wook stole a quick glance inside the studio.
Four people were seated directly in front. Even in the fleeting moment of the door opening and closing, his gaze halted on the two people in the middle.
A middle-aged man with a nameplate clearly reading ‘Director Cha Myunghwan’ was seated in front, and next to him was the lead actor with an even more intense impression, sitting without his mask on.
Kyung Seo was glaring at Hee-wook with his eyes wide open.
‘What?’
It was not a misperception. Kyung Seo was indeed looking at Hee-wook. His intense gaze was piercing. Caught in surprise, Hee-wook couldn’t even think to avoid his gaze, he was frozen in place. It was just a few seconds, but it felt like he was trapped in an eternity.
Behind Eun-sung, the heavy door slowly moved. Hee-wook swallowed his dry saliva.
“That guy……”
At the same time, the director’s short voice was heard. The door closed with a thud, the last thing Hee-wook saw was Kyung Seo turning his head towards the director.
“Hyung, what’s wrong?”
Eun-sung asked Hee-wook, scratching the back of his head. It was as if he had been released from a seal, Hee-wook turned and looked at Eun-sung abruptly.
“It’s nothing. Did the audition go well?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t make any mistakes. I think it wasn’t bad. But I think there were a lot of good performers among those who went before me……”
Walking towards the elevator together, Eun-sung spoke with a headache-like expression. Listening to his story with a furrowed brow, they were about to move on when they heard the sound of the door opening loudly from behind.
“Excuse me, wait a moment!”
At the crisp voice, Hee-wook and Eun-sung both turned their heads at the same time. It was the staff member who had been leading the audition participants from the waiting room to the studio. As their eyes met, she gestured with her hand.
“Could you come in for a moment?”
“Are you talking to me?”
Eun-sung pointed at himself with wide-open eyes. Thinking that Eun-sung might have been confirmed for the casting, Hee-wook also tensely looked at the staff, but her gaze shifted to the side.
“And the person next to you too!”
Hee-wook felt his back stiffen. His jaw dropped as all tension left his face.
“…Me?”
Eun-sung also turned to look at Hee-wook. Stunned, they stared at each other for a moment before rushing towards the studio.
＊＊＊
Hee-wook stood stiffly in the middle of the studio. He felt like he was going to go crazy.
The director, after calling someone to stand, was just touching his chin with an unreadable expression. The incredibly handsome male lead, Cheon Kyung Seo, was glaring at him with sharp eyes. It was a mystery why he kept staring.
“Hmm, it’s fine……”
Hee-wook, who was looking at the director, who seemed to be about to say something but was silent, stole a glance at Eun-sung. He suddenly felt that Eun-sung was amazing for having shown his prepared performance under such tension. He repeatedly licked his dry lips when the director tapped the table with his fingers.
“The person with the red hair.”
“Oh, yes!”
“You clearly don’t look like an ordinary person. Did you happen to be in the same idol group with Eun-sung?”
Eun-sung’s eyes pierced his cheek. Hee-wook hastily nodded his head.
“Yes. I was a member of Two Planet.”
“Aha, why didn’t you apply for the audition together?”
“I did… but I was eliminated in the first round.”
“I see. I’m sorry.”
The director chuckled and scratched his ear with the end of his pen. Hee-wook glanced at Kyung Seo. He had asked if he came to audition, wondering if he was being ridiculed.
But Kyung Seo was just staring at Hee-wook with a stern face. His gaze made him more nervous than the director’s. After a moment of contemplation, the director put his pen down.
“The role of the idol member you originally applied for may be difficult, but would you be willing to take on a different role?”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s because your mask is fine. It’s the role of the protagonist’s friend.”
Did he hear that correctly? His vision swayed dizzily.
“Although there aren’t many appearances, there are some impactful lines. Wouldn’t it be nice to appear with a close member for the experience?”
The director looked at Hee-wook with anticipation. It was a proposal to appear in a drama. Wondering if this was a dream, Hee-wook slowly blinked his eyes. Seeing no response, the director who had been waiting with a furrowed brow reached out his hand.
“If you don’t want to, then nevermind.”
“What? No…!”
Surprised, Hee-wook unknowingly glanced again at Kyung Seo. Kyung Seo, with his hands clasped and resting his chin on them, was intently staring at him.
It was a subtle expression. Whether he was skeptical or asking if he would really pass up such a good opportunity. The sharp gaze that he shot at him with a slightly furrowed brow felt like a wave washing over his back. Hee-wook hastily opened his mouth.
“I’ll do it.”
He didn’t understand what was happening to him, but he couldn’t miss this opportunity.
“I’ll do my best.”
He said, bowing 90 degrees. The dark question marks that had filled his head instantly transformed into fluffy white clouds.
“Sigh…”
He perked up at the faint sigh and lifted his head. Kyung Seo, with a deeply furrowed face, bowed his head. Anyone could see that he looked troubled, and his heart sank.
‘Isn’t he going to question the director about why he chose me?’
His mouth suddenly dried up. Hee-wook stared at the director with a desperate wish for him not to retract what he just said. Fortunately, the director was writing something on a piece of paper and then spoke calmly.
“Eun-sung, good work on the audition. I’ll see both of you at the shooting.”
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