Chapter 2

Life Reversal (1)

"Hey, Kang Dojun, congratulations!"

"I always knew you'd make it, bastard."

"What did you know, Kang Dojun? Who said you'd make it if you did well? Auntie, give me some palm lines!"

"It was all a joke, a joke. Can't you tell the difference between a joke and a serious matter? That's why you're no good, kid. Anyway, Dojun, you're buying drinks today, right?"

In a bustling alley near the university, at a folk bar called 'Heungbu's Place.'

The old, shabby bar, where your arm would stick to the cheap table surface, was still bustling with people well into the evening.

Not long ago, it was rumored that this place might go out of business, losing its competitiveness among the flood of franchise bars. However, with its low prices, generous portions, and excellent taste, it managed to survive. For those with light wallets, it was a stroke of luck.

This was true for the three friends gathered today: Dojun, Kangsan, and Hocheol.

The three had been high school classmates, meeting at seventeen and continuing their friendship for over ten years, all the way to their twenty-ninth birthdays. They were all in similar situations, understanding each other's circumstances, and all had light wallets.

"Yeah, if not today, when else would I buy drinks?"

"Alright, alright. Since Kang Dojun is buying, let's go all the way today! Here, give us some honey makgeolli and a seafood pancake!"

"Anyway, this guy only thinks about eating his friends. Auntie, give us some acorn jelly too!"

At Kangsan and Hocheol's calls, Auntie, who had known the three for a long time, nodded with a warm smile.

She used to only show her slumped shoulders during tough times, but it was good to see her smiling again.

'She even opened a second branch recently, so she must be happier now.'

Life was unpredictable. If you didn't give up and kept going, there would be a day when the light would shine on you.

'Even for me... Well, I'm just starting now.'

Last night, Dojun received a call from the film production company where he had auditioned. He had passed the audition.

Dojun had been to hundreds of auditions. He had failed ninety-nine out of a hundred times and barely passed once. But even when he passed, it wasn't much of a role.

The roles he got were things like a homeless man covered in trash or an extra who only screamed before jumping in front of a subway train. On average, his screen time was 14 seconds, shorter than a passing advertisement.

But this time was different. He had a role that appeared in over ten scenes and was a key supporting character, holding the key to the plot.

Of course, it was a role as a henchman in a criminal organization, one who had suffered severe torture and had a large scar on his face. They said it would require special makeup.

That didn't matter. As long as it was a role where he could act properly. It was also a film by a director he had always wanted to work with.

"Director Park Chan-jong's film. It seems all your hard work was for today, Dojun."

At Hocheol's words, Dojun nodded while tilting his glass.

"Hey, if you need extras on set, call me."

Kangsan poked Dojun's side, and Hocheol clicked his tongue.

"Can just anyone be an extra?"

"Can't I at least be a passerby? I want to meet Director Park Chan-jong. He must be different, right? I can feel something special about him."

Dojun recalled meeting Director Park Chan-jong at the audition. He had a very ordinary appearance. Or rather, that was what made him special. All the directors he had met before had been quite unique.

"Anyway, since it's Director Park Chan-jong, it seems he finally recognized you, Dojun. Right?"

"Right. Dojun, this guy looks like this, but—!"

Hocheol glared at Kangsan, who was making unnecessary comments. However, Dojun smiled gently and nodded. It was true. Dojun's face was hard to describe, even among close friends. The best way to describe it was just "like this."

It was a mess.

Dojun's face was a mess. Even if he had been a bit ugly, it would have been endearing. But he was ugly in a way that was off-putting. It was the kind of face that made people frown the moment they saw it.

In kindergarten, some children cried, saying he looked like a monster. In elementary school, some kids openly pretended to vomit in front of him and bullied him.

In middle and high school, his situation improved slightly, and his nickname was "Bad Potato." His face was bumpy, and his skin was dark and covered in acne.

Even after puberty, his skin improved, but when he looked in the mirror, he thought the nickname "Bad Potato" fit him perfectly.

There weren't many friends who wanted to hang out with such a Dojun. So, Kangsan and Hocheol were really good friends.

They didn't laugh or mock him when he said he wanted to act, whether from the front, the side, while walking, or running.

"Hey, Dojun's face... It's a bit... But if you keep looking, it becomes endearing..."

"Endearing? Are you serious? Even as a friend, that's a bit much..."

"No, look closely."

"Hey, I'm right here. The drinks are here, so let's cheers."

Even so, it wasn't right to talk about someone's face in front of them. Dojun cut off their conversation and raised his glass. Hocheol seemed to be either trying to stop or encourage Kangsan.

"Alright, cheers! Let's cheers!"

Kangsan raised his voice excitedly. When the glasses clinked, the milky makgeolli inside rippled like Dojun's mood.

***

"More drinks! More, Auntie! Another honey makgeolli! More!"

"Two, two!"

The atmosphere at the table had warmed up, and they had already finished more than five jugs of makgeolli. The once noisy bar had quieted down, and the remaining tables were also preparing to leave.

Drunk office workers were even more enthusiastic than fish in water. Kangsan, who had recently landed a contract job, and Hocheol, who had entered the workforce early after graduating from a technical college, had clearly missed such gatherings.

Dojun, who had been working part-time as a delivery driver and splitting his time between extra jobs and auditions, was no exception.

Given the occasion, Dojun wanted to get even more drunk, but he needed to start sobering up.

"Auntie, no. We're leaving. Can we have the bill, please?"

"What?! We said we'd go all the way! We said we'd die trying!"

"We didn't say we'd die."

"Kang Dojun, you... Are you already getting star syndrome?"

"What? I have to go sign a contract tomorrow. I need to go home now."

Ignoring Kangsan's insistence, Dojun happily took out his wallet and paid the bill. Hocheol, nodding at the mention of the contract, started gathering his things. Kangsan, with a pout, also stood up.

"Good drinking today. Good luck with the contract tomorrow. Keep in touch!"

"Right, man. Don't get star syndrome!"

Dojun laughed at their absurdity and parted ways with them. It was almost midnight in January, and a cold wind blew, but he didn't feel it much, perhaps because of the alcohol.

'After signing the contract tomorrow, I'll really be in a film by Director Park Chan-jong... It still feels unbelievable...'

Dojun thought, recalling his struggles.

'Student, I'm sorry. The university you're aiming for... Well, they have a certain type of face they want. Why don't you consider other places...? They value acting skills, and they've produced many comedians...'

'What are you talking about? Even if you pay, who would want to see a face like that on TV? It's too much. It's too much. It would lower the reputation of our academy.'

'Teacher Kim... There's nothing he can't say to a student.'

From the audition prep school where he first pursued his dream of becoming an actor, he was completely ignored. But he didn't give up, and Dojun managed to get into an arts university in a different region.

It was thanks to a professor who recognized his acting skills. He was confident in his acting. Those who saw Dojun act, even if they initially shook their heads at his face, would praise his acting endlessly.

The problem was that they always added, "If only your face was a bit better..."

He had considered plastic surgery. Around the time he graduated from university, he seriously thought about it. There were character actors, but they didn't have a face as off-putting as Dojun's.

However, just as he was about to decide on surgery, his mother was hit by a hit-and-run driver. She was his only family, a single mother who had raised him alone.

All the money he had saved went to her surgery. Fortunately, there was insurance, but the money he earned was spent on hospital bills and living expenses. During this time, he gave up on the idea of plastic surgery.

'Someone will recognize me eventually.'

It was a vague hope and a belief in his acting skills.

In fact, the roles he was given, even if they were minor, were because people recognized his acting skills and passion. They just couldn't give him a role that would be seen on camera because his face was too off-putting.

Beep, beep, beep—

As he approached his home, his phone rang in his pocket.

'At this hour? Who could be calling...?'

The number on his phone screen started with 02, a regular landline number.

"Hello? Yes, speaking."

—Are you the guardian of Ms. Kang Young-soon? This is First Hospital.

"Ah... Yes, that's me...?"

Dojun's hand holding the phone trembled slightly. A bad feeling never lied.

***

"......So, you need to receive the death certificate... and then..."

"......"

"Guardian! Did you hear me?!"

"Yes......"

Dojun managed to respond. He was in a daze and didn't hear properly, but it seemed to be about funeral procedures. He figured they would explain it again at the funeral home.

After the nurse left, Dojun entered the room and looked at the empty bed where his mother had been lying just yesterday. He thought he had prepared himself, but it seemed he hadn't.

"Mom......"

He had already cried out in the morgue. His throat was tight, and his voice barely came out.

It had been two years since the accident. When she regained consciousness, it was a miracle. But that was all. Not only were her limbs impaired, but her organs were also severely damaged. Recently, the doctor had said she might not be able to hold on much longer.

"I finally got a proper... movie... role..."

Dojun held back his breath. Tears streamed down his face again. He felt like an orphan at twenty-nine. With only his mother and himself in the world, he was truly alone. Wiping his tears with the back of his hand, Dojun began to sort through his mother's belongings.

When he opened the drawer by the bed, he found a letter from his mother that would change his life.

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