Chapter 2

True Actor's Obsession. Episode 2

"Woojin! Aren't you going to get up soon? Did you stay up all night playing games again?"

A familiar voice rang out. Finally, I'm meeting Mom. Mom, whom I missed so much.

"Open your eyes quickly. You're already late."

Wait, why does Mom's bright voice sound so vivid? Did she regain her strength in heaven?

Slap!

Ouch!

"You're still lying there! Woojin!"

Mom's palm hit my back properly.

The sharp pain made my eyes snap open.

'That... That's the Titanic poster.'

Leo and Kate were standing at the bow of the ship, arms spread wide.

'This is my high school room.'

And there was my beautiful young mother looking down at me.

"Why are you like this in the morning? Get up and go to school."

Oh! I saw my face in the mirror. There was a young, handsome boy.

Did my wish to the moon come true?

"Wow, is this real? Wow, this is amazing."

I jumped up and hugged Mom, lifting her up.

"No, why is my child acting so weird? Did you have a strange dream?"

"Mom, Mom. This time, I'll do better. I really, really will."

I screamed and ran around the house like a madman.

'This time, I won't make any mistakes. I'll live properly.'

"Wow~~ Ah!!!!!"

Dad, who was in the bathroom, jumped out in surprise.

"What? What is it? What happened?"

"A... Dad!"

Tears welled up in my eyes when I saw Dad.

"Dad!"

I hugged Dad tightly.

"What? This kid. Did you go crazy this morning?"

I had returned to my third year of high school in 1998.

***

The bus was crowded with passengers. I sat at the back and thought deeply about what to do next.

The path is clear. This time, I will become a proper actor. Not one who relies on looks, but one who is recognized for his acting skills.

For that, I need a meticulous plan and thorough self-management. It's natural that I need to put in a lot of effort.

First, I need to find my acting teacher, Min Sang-gi. A skilled teacher who was specially assigned to me by the agency's president.

There was a time when my acting skills improved rapidly under his guidance, until I was cast as the lead in my first movie.

'I should have continued to receive calm and steady guidance from the teacher instead of getting carried away by my popularity...'

He was unique in his teaching. He pointed out what to do and what not to do accurately. He was a true acting mentor who didn't compromise on acting.

'The teacher must be teaching a select few students in Yeoksudong now.'

Fortunately, I knew where the teacher was and what he was doing. I had heard about his whereabouts from the president, just before he was to teach me 10 months later.

"Hey, isn't that Woojin?"

"Can't you tell? He just radiates."

"That's true. The rumors aren't exaggerated."

"Oh, he must be planning to do well today."

I heard the girls whispering.

A familiar situation.

'The same situation is repeating in my second life.'

In my school days, I was popular among girls. Foolishly, I enjoyed it as if it were my privilege. That's where the tragedy of my previous life began.

I felt footsteps approaching.

"Hey, you're Woojin, right? Let's date."

I looked up.

Park Eun-ha.

The top beauty at Eun-gwang Girls' High School.

My first girlfriend in my previous life.

A self-luminous goddess with fair skin and a neat bob.

'I've returned to the day Eun-ha first spoke to me.'

Eun-ha was as straightforward then as she is now.

Without a moment's hesitation, I got up from my seat and got off the bus, not looking back, even though there were still two stops to go.

This time, I won't be swayed by popularity. I need to maintain my balance and go my own way.

"Hey, what's wrong with him?"

"He dissed our Eun-ha."

The girls' voices hit the back of my head, but I ignored them and ran to school.

One minute before being late. I sprinted up the hill with all my might. My best friend was running hard in front of me. I ran alongside him. We only exchanged glances, focusing on running.

The summit was in sight. I could see the student council members preparing to close the school gates. I barely made it through the gates.

We collapsed on the spot. My heart was pounding.

"Move quickly, you guys!"

The student council member, disappointed at losing his prey, hit our heads with his baton.

My best friend got up and dusted off his uniform. Then he quickly pulled me up.

He has always been there for me, in my previous life and now. The only person who stayed by my side until the end of my chaotic past life. Oh Hae-il. Seeing him, I felt a surge of gratitude.

"Hey! Oh Hae-il."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Thanks."

"... What are you talking about?"

"Just, thanks."

"Are you sick?"

"I'll repay your kindness, with interest."

"Did you eat your food through the wrong hole? Why are you acting like this? It's scary."

The school was as lively as ever, full of energy. In the past, it was just a place I came and went like a pendulum, but this time it's different. I will be a model student. I have no time to waste on laziness.

I kept Min Sang-gi's teachings in mind.

Every action and tone of my friends were important acting assets, and even classes weren't boring. There was nothing useless for an actor to learn.

Even during the Chinese class with the human sleeping pill, I survived firmly and listened diligently. The bald Chinese teacher had a habit of wiping his head with a handkerchief every ten minutes.

'I should use that action in my next performance.'

After finishing all the regular classes, I went to the teacher's office to see my homeroom teacher.

"What? You want to skip the after-school study session?"

"Yes, teacher. My dream is to be an actor. I need to go to acting classes."

"Acting classes? What? You want to be an actor. Being an actor isn't for just anyone..."

The teacher looked at my face and swallowed his words.

"No. There are no exceptions to the after-school study session. If you want to learn acting, go on the weekends."

"It's not enough to do it only on the weekends. Please, I beg you."

"If not, then no. If one by one starts leaving the after-school study session, the atmosphere will get worse."

"Teacher, if I become a famous actor, I'll appear on 'TV is Loaded with Love' and find you. Yes, teacher."

I looked at the teacher with sparkling, affectionate eyes.

"Ah... You. Then make one promise."

"What kind?"

"Your grades can't drop. If your grades drop, you'll go straight back to the after-school study session."

"Yes, I understand. I'll take responsibility for improving my grades."

"Alright. Go ahead."

"Thank you, teacher."

***

I found the acting school run by Min Sang-gi.

I easily found 'Dream Acting School' in Yeoksudong. It was just a shabby warehouse building with a small sign.

I slowly opened the door and went inside.

In the middle of the hall, two people were standing. Among them, I saw the familiar face of Min Sang-gi. His trademark lion's mane was still there.

It seemed like a class was in session, so I just watched quietly.

"I'm leaving. I have no more attachments here..."

"Again!"

'Oh, it's Kim Do-han.'

Kim Do-han was a versatile supporting actor. He was like a versatile player, with a gentle appearance and a stable performance.

"I'm leaving. I have no more attachments here... I'm leaving everything behind, do you understand... Here we go again. Please, don't cry out of habit. It doesn't work anymore. Stop it."

"Stop, stop! What are you doing? I'm kindly telling you that I'm acting. Can't you change that annoying, fake voice? Your tongue is blocking your throat, so your voice isn't coming out properly. Breathe, breathe. Take a breath!"

The same harsh criticism. Min Sang-gi's passion was truly remarkable.

"Hello, teacher."

I quickly greeted him during the break. His piercing gaze was still the same.

"What are you? If you're here to sell something, I won't buy it."

"I'm here to learn acting."

"Acting? What kind of acting?"

His calm voice had a commanding presence.

"Acting is acting."

I stood my ground.

Once you've died, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Min Sang-gi looked at me even more fiercely, as if to say, "Look at this guy."

"There are people who can be actors and people who can't. You're not the type to be an actor. So, don't waste your time and go home and do what you want."

"Why can't I be an actor?"

"From what I see, you don't have much talent. In short, you're not cut out to be an actor. You have less talent than anyone here."

Min Sang-gi's harsh words continued. I stood my ground and faced them.

"I've only been here for less than five minutes. I haven't shown anything yet."

"You may not have shown anything, but I've seen a lot."

"What have you seen?"

"What's your name?"

"Jin Woo."

"Good, Jin Woo. I'll only say this once, so listen carefully. You're much better looking than the others here. Not just good-looking, but you have a magnetic and charming face that people won't forget once they see it. Your good looks will be imprinted in people's minds. When you appear on TV or in movies, people will only see you, not the character. You might get away with it a few times, but eventually, your acting will be overshadowed by your looks. And when people get used to your face, you'll have nothing left."

Accurate.

The teacher saw through the things I experienced in my previous life. But I'm here to avoid repeating that life.

"Please, teach me."

I knelt down.

"Hey! Get up. What are you, making a movie? Just go to another school. There are plenty of schools that welcome people like you."

"No, I will learn from you, even if it means dying."

"Even to the point of risking your life..."

My firm resolve gradually softened the teacher's stance.

"Alright. I understand your determination. Let's see... Look into my eyes."

I lifted my head and looked into the teacher's eyes.

"Make me cry in one minute."

"What?"

Isn't that too difficult from the start?

────────────────────────────────────

────────────────────────────────────