Aura of a Genius Actor

Chapter 76: Can I Come Over?

Chapter 76: Can I Come Over?

Can I Come Over?

His house?

As if to make amends for the past few days, Miho spoke up.

Rookie actor, what do you think? Do you have any ideas on what I should do?

Um I can see where youre coming from, but I dont have a solution yet Ill think about it, but do you mind if I go to the restroom for a minute?

Oh, sure. Go ahead.

Yoomyeong stepped out and went to the bathroom.

The restroom, designed as a private space, had a lockable door.

As he closed the door and turned towards the mirror, he saw a fluffy silver furball on the shelf, Miho.

What do you mean, go to his house?

{That friends acting energy flows more in one side of his body.}

Really? Is it because hes been overusing one particular emotion?

{It looks like hes been practicing spreading his energy evenly instead of trying to fix it. There are clear signs of effort. It should have been fixed by now.}

But?

{The fact that it keeps reverting suggests theres a mechanism causing it. I suspect theres something about where he lives.}

The casually dropped hints carried significant meaning.

They couldnt be ignored.

When it came to acting, Miho was more perceptive than anyone else. Hadnt the spirit foxs insights and advice proven effective every time Yoomyeong faced a dilemma?

How could you be sure that theres something wrong with where he lives?

{Matters outside of acting are not my area of expertise I guess well only know for sure if we visit his house.}

Alright, I understand. Thanks.

Yoomyeong contacted Ho-chul.

Hochul, I dont think Ill be able to return to my place tonight.

{Oh? Hyung, is something wrong?}

Im practicing acting with Senior Actor Yoon Hansung, and we might have a few drinks at his place after we finish.

{Actor Yoon Hansung? Wow.}

Yeah, so dont worry if I dont get in touch.

{Sure. If anything comes up, no matter how small, please let me know.}

Alright.

Then, he returned to the practice room where Hansung was.

Senior, please share your thoughts with me if any comes to mind while we practice together.

Sure, please.

They continued their practice.

They analyzed various monologues for practice and worked on developing the characters tone and habits together.

When they acted the same character they had chosen together, observing each others colors that differed slightly was a useful exercise.

After finishing the practice that day, Yoomyeong made a request to Hansung.

Senior, can you buy me a drink?

*

Sure, where should we go?

Well where do you live, Senior? Can I come over?

Ah My place is a bit far, and I dont usually bring people over How about the place we went to last time?

Once again, Hansung evaded the question.

Was there a reason he didnt want to show his house to others?

Yoomyeong couldnt insist on going if Hansung was against it. There was only one other strategy that might work.

They arrived at the same bar as last time. Against the backdrop of a sprawling night view, they had steamed clams and soju before them.

Are you good at drinking, Actor Shin?

Well Im not sure.

He couldnt remember how much he used to drink when he was twenty-five during his previous life.

Yoomyeong used to drink a lot. However, he had refrained from drinking in this life.

The shock of being diagnosed with liver cancer was one reason, but this life also hadnt been so suffocating that he needed to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

While there was pressure from acting, it was both stressful and exhilarating for him.

Clink!

Their soju glasses clinked.

Yoomyeong intended to get drunk tonight. Hoping that Hansung would take him home if he was drunk was the last strategy he could try.

As he downed a glass, he quickly began to feel the effects of the alcohol. Concerned, Hansung asked.

Take it slow. It seems youre not good with alcohol.

No, its not that.

Last time we drank together, you hardly touched your drink.

Hansung filled Yoomyeongs glass halfway and poured a full one for himself.

Yoomyeong couldnt hold back his tears at Hansungs kind expression.

*

Clatter

At the dining table where they sat facing each other, two glasses of whiskey were placed.

Hansung, initially puzzled by Yoomyeongs inexplicable tears, seemed to realize the reason after following his gaze.

It was a landscape of sorrow that was all too familiar for him.

Hansungs considerate expression caused Yoomyeong to shed more tears, and it seemed that Hansungs own eyes were reddening as well.

It wasnt that he couldnt bear to clean it up, nor did he intentionally evoke sadness in himself

Its just its hard for me to clean it up with my own hands. And after seeing it for so long, it doesnt affect me anymore.

But that couldnt be true.

How long has it been?

Since Bo-eun passed away? Its been seven years now. I started living alone about six years ago

Living with sad people either divided or multiplied their sorrow.

It seemed that Hansung and his wife belonged to the latter category.

Hansung and Yoomyeong silently drank their alcoholit was a night when they needed it. Hansungs eyes gradually became dark, and he spoke about himself for the first time.

Bo-eun was so beautiful.

Yes. She looked a lot like you, Senior.

She was a daddys girl. She even said Dad before Mom. The first word she ever spoke was when I was on TV. She said Dad-da. My wife just called it babbling, but I heard her clearly.

You must have been very happy.

Hansungs lifted the corners of his mouth in a fleeting smile.

I grew up without parents.

Yoomyeong, who already knew about Hansungs past from the media, simply nodded quietly.

The scariest thing for me was having a child. I didnt know what a dad should be like, so I had to learn step by step to become a good dad

Unlike acting, this is real life. I had to become the best dad for Bo-eun, but I had no way to practice. I was scared because I didnt know anything about raising a little child. What if I hurt her because I didnt know?

His voice, heavy with the weight of alcohol, was tinged with poignant sadness.

The real sadness that the actor, known for conveying grief so well that he had earned the title of The King of tragic acting, revealed was painful.

Yoomyeong listened patiently, allowing Hansung to express the pain that seemed inseparable from him.

Then, after a while, Yoomyeong cautiously offered a suggestion.

Senior, I think I might know a solution for the acting block youre facing right now

Oh? What is it?

True to his actor instincts, Hansungs alcohol-induced drowsiness was immediately dispelled.

He looked at Yoomyeong with anticipation, and Yoomyeong struggled to continue speaking.

He knew without needing confirmation from Miho.

Have you considered moving?

Hansung tilted his head, puzzled.

Moving? You mean, the house is affecting me? I dont think so

After initially reacting defensively, Hansung decided to be more honest about the reason when he saw Yoomyeongs silent gaze.

The truth is yeah, Ive thought about it

But I feel guilty towards Bo-eun The Childrens Grand Park was nearby, and she really loved that she could ride her bicycle in the yard.

The sorrow seemed to swell instantly in the space that held so many memories.

The gaps that Hansung diligently patched up during acting practice would,

like a poorly constructed dam under pressure, burst open every time he returned home.

Im not saying you should forget the memories. But a wound needs to heal, even if a scar remains I think the place keeps reopening the wound

Wont Bo-eun be sad if she thinks Im forgetting her?

Even though it was something Hansung knew intellectually, being able to accept it emotionally was difficult.

Im sorry for being presumptuous but would you be happy if you were in a bad place and Bo-eun had to dwell in sorrow for seven years, knowing that she hasnt forgotten and is constantly reminiscing about her father?

Yoomyeong understood that it could be uncomfortable to hear, but it was necessary to voice this perspective to someone drowning in the inertia of grief.

As expected, Hansungs face, which had briefly contorted, slowly relaxed as he sighed.

Thats true its not right. But you wouldnt understand the heart of a parent, Actor Shin.

Im sorry.

But as an actor, your advice isnt wrong. I asked for your opinion, after all. Thank you for being willing to discuss something so difficult.

Feeling sympathetic for Hansung, Yoomyeong came up with an idea.

Um Hyung.

Yes?

Hansung blinked at the sudden change in address.

How about staying at my place for about a week? We could have an acting camp.

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