I’m an Unknown Actress, But Everyone Knows Me - Chapter 118

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Watching Han Yeoreum struggle over the past few days, Geum Bitkang found herself increasingly drawn to this fledgling.

 

She became more and more curious about Han Yeoreum’s acting, and wondered about the direction Han Yeoreum would take.

 

‘Whether she can fill those remaining 10 points or not.’

 

Geum Bitkang opened her mouth again toward Han Yeoreum, who was standing a few steps away.

 

“So, did you find Seoryeong?”

 

“Not yet.”

 

“Well. That’s understandable.”

 

During this time, Han Yeoreum had endlessly shown sides of herself that hadn’t been visible during class.

 

‘Even in a state where she can’t properly get her bearings…’

 

How many different expressions had been layered over that twenty-year-old innocent face. Geum Bitkang chuckled and walked over to Han Yeoreum’s side.

 

“Where did you learn theater? I’m sure you said you only had six months of acting experience.”

 

“…I never learned it separately.”

 

“Don’t even think about lying. I can tell just from your voice projection.”

 

As Han Yeoreum turned her head to look at Geum Bitkang, deep shadows fell across one side of her face. Han Yeoreum eventually answered with a playful smile.

 

“I’m pretty good, aren’t I? I guess it’s because I’m a fan of Professor Geum. Is it obvious that the moment I decided to act was when I saw your play?”

 

“You should save flattery for someone it works on.”

 

“It’s not flattery, it’s real. I’m just taking advantage of this dawn atmosphere to say what I couldn’t say before.”

 

“I’ll give you that. Then when did you see that play?”

 

“Third year of middle school, in December. Our school went to see a play as a group.”

 

Yeoreum’s gaze met heavily with Geum Bitkang’s. It was a transparent light without a trace of falsehood.

 

“Everyone was like, ‘Why a play when we could go see a movie?’ I felt the same way too.”

 

Han Yeoreum spoke as if delivering a monologue.

 

“But as soon as the lights went out in the theater, the pin point lighting brightly illuminated the center, and the sound of the actor’s footsteps began echoing, the stage pulled me in like crazy.”

 

It was a work that Geum Bitkang remembered too.

 

Let’s stop here. Let’s just stop here. It was a stage she had stepped onto after making that resolution countless times.

 

“Watching you act, Professor, my heart was beating like it would die. It was an angry scene… That’s when I knew. I have to act.”

 

was a play that realistically depicted the harsh lives of fishermen living on a small island.

 

It was a work that portrayed the tragedy of a common family who had worked hard their whole lives against fierce waves catching fish, but lived in hardship, suffering from the boat owner’s abuse of power because they didn’t own their own boat.

 

‘It’s not a play that middle schoolers would find entertaining…’

 

She thought at least the climax scene might have stayed in memory. It was a work with experimental direction that hadn’t been done before.

 

‘About 5 liters of water poured onto the stage.’

 

To realistically show the lives of poor fishing families, they had used wind machines and water.

 

Was it because it brought back old memories? Geum Bitkang’s heart grew strangely hot. Even as the cold winter wind filled the space between the two of them.

 

Her heated heart pounded wildly. Geum Bitkang asked a question.

 

“Do you still remember ?”

 

“Of course. Naturally.”

 

Worried that her heartbeat might be audible, Geum Bitkang crossed her arms tightly. Then she spoke to her much younger junior.

 

“Then try doing it here. I’ll decide whether to believe you or not after seeing it. That flattery about starting to act because of me.”

 

Then her junior turned around without hesitation and walked a few steps forward. Small footprints were imprinted directly on the wet dirt road.

 

Han Yeoreum roughly tousled her hair that was casually tied up with one hand.

 

In an instant, she looked like a fisherman’s wife who had tied her hair tightly, exhausted by life.

 

“Oh my, you know too.”

 

The that Geum Bitkang had performed was newly adapted. Set in Mokpo Port, all the cast members’ dialogue was delivered entirely in dialect.

 

And Han Yeoreum naturally executed that dialect.

 

“Where is rice common? In times like these, we should just be grateful for what we have and eat it!”

 

The voice of a resilient mother going out to meet the small fishing boats of Mokpo Port could be heard.

 

“Stop talking! Those words, words, words coming out of your mouth…! Ah. There’s not a day that goes by without turning people’s stomachs!”

 

Han Yeoreum walked away limping. As if trying to distance herself from her son who had just habitually complained about poverty.

 

‘…Is she limping on one leg right now?’

 

Geum Bitkang noticed that Han Yeoreum’s entire body was subtly tilted to the right. As if she had suffered from hard labor her whole life.

 

Because she was turned around, her bent back and neck were even more visible.

 

Thump-. Thump-.

 

Geum Bitkang’s heartbeat grew as if she could vividly hear it in her ears. Her lungs, which had been breathing in cold winter air and exhaling cool breath, seemed to grow hot.

 

“What did you do? What did you do? I’m the one who worked my bones off my whole life, to keep your belly from going hungry, I worked until my hands were all swollen until sunset!”

 

Han Yeoreum stood under the tree and took a breath for a moment. That single breath was tinged with sorrow.

 

Heat spread through Geum Bitkang’s heart.

 

“But you, you bastard… you went around talking as if this family’s sorry state was all my fault…!”

 

She had struggled her whole life not wanting to pass on poverty, but despite that, poverty wouldn’t die and dominated their lives.

 

“Do I look like nothing to you…? Do I not even seem human to you…?”

 

With a sobbing voice, Han Yeoreum screamed desperately.

 

“Those long, long years I lived for you…!”

 

Bang-!

 

Han Yeoreum kicked the tree trunk as if venting her anger. Because of that, rainwater that had pooled overnight poured down over Han Yeoreum.

 

Just like on that stage back then.

 

The back of the poor person struggling to survive even one more day in the rough, fierce waves was utterly pitiful.

 

“Everything! All of it! Was it all just nothing!”

 

Her life would have been as futile as water spray, and every day salty seawater would have flowed down her eyes. Sons who had drowned trying to fill fishing boats with fish would have always crashed into her heart like low tide.

 

Because that was the image wanted to portray.

 

‘…Han Yeoreum…’

 

Han Yeoreum slowly turned around.

 

Her face, soaked as if she had just gotten off a fishing boat, resembled poverty itself.

 

“….”

 

Facing that face, Geum Bitkang momentarily forgot her words.

 

She had the illusion of being drawn onto the stage of that Geum Bitkang had performed that day.

 

The acting was over. Yet Geum Bitkang couldn’t escape from the lingering impression.

 

“…Answer one question for me.”

 

Geum Bitkang spoke to Han Yeoreum, trying to control her trembling. It was quite an impulsive question, but she really wanted to hear the answer.

 

“What is acting to you?”

 

To that, Han Yeoreum opened her mouth without hesitation.

 

“Survival.”

 

“Survival… Why?”

 

“Watching the stage… I realized I could explode with all those emotions like that. That I didn’t have to just endure. From the moment I realized that, I felt like I would die if I didn’t act.”

 

Han Yeoreum spoke again as if making a vow, pressing down on each word.

 

“So to me, acting is survival.”

 

Behind Han Yeoreum’s back, the sky was slowly brightening.

 

Before they knew it, dawn was passing and morning was approaching.

 

“So will you believe me now?”

 

Where had that face from just before gone? Han Yeoreum returned to her original appearance and smiled.

 

The sun was rising.

 

“…Yes.”

 

“Then I’ll go in first! Ugh, it’s cold-.”

 

Han Yeoreum shook her wet hair and ran inside as if rushing. Left alone, Geum Bitkang still felt like the ground she stood on was a stage.

 

Meanwhile, a bright sun that seemed to illuminate the entire world settled above Geum Bitkang.

 

Like pin point lighting on a stage.

 

“That kid….”

 

And Geum Bitkang realized. Why she kept becoming curious about Han Yeoreum, why her gaze kept going to her, why she wanted to see more of her.

 

It was almost laughable that she was only realizing this now.

 

“A rough diamond.”

 

Anyone other than Geum Bitkang would have thought the same.

 

Despite the harsh winter weather, Geum Bitkang’s heart grew madly hot. Like summer.

 

Like Han Yeoreum.

 

 

 

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Click-. Click-.

 

This place where the hard mechanical sounds never stopped was the editing room for . Today too, Director Gong was plucking petals in anxiety.

 

“They like it… they don’t like it… they like i… Kyaaah! They don’t!”

 

The editor familiarly turned up the volume on his headset. Fortunately, since the genre was action, the sound was loud enough to drown out Director Gong’s screams.

 

“Is this some kind of revelation? Right? Huh? Right?”

 

“Before you get hit, please leave….”

 

The editor lifted one side of his headset up and glanced sharply at the anxious Director Gong. Director Gong stared at the editor with pitiful eyes.

 

“What should I do. I can already see them… I can see the comments, I can see them….”

 

“Then let’s just look at the comments!”

 

“Kyaaah! Anything but that!”

 

“Just do it!!!”

 

Finally, the editor, unable to overcome his annoyance, immediately went on the internet. Director Gong covered his face with both hands. The editor quickly typed in a search term.

 

 

 

[Search: Faster Than Law]

 

 

 

Today was the day the teaser trailer was released.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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