Chapter 673

I dont see you in the drama these days. Did you get fired? A classmate sitting next to him asked.

They had switched seats ever since the second semester started, and Maru got someone he had never talked to as his neighbor.

I guess my appearances did decrease. I wasnt fired. You know how the story is all about the love relationships of the main characters, right? Just that takes up all the time.

That sounds unfortunate.

I guess, I do get paid by the episode.

You dont get a contract fee or something? Like in the tens of millions.

Those that sign a contract are the amazing people. In my case, Im similar to a part timer. I get paid according to how many times I show up on TV.

Is your face all that needs to appear? Then do you still get paid if you dont shoot but still show up in the episode?

If I dont participate in the shoot, but my face shows up through someones memories or through a photo, I do get paid, though, not as much as shooting a full episode.

That sounds good, but itd be better to get proper treatment by raising your value, right?

Obviously.

His classmate nodded. Maru remembered this guy as one of the quiet kids in class, but it seemed that he was no different from a chatterbox. Did he not know because they werent close?

Uhm, can I ask, is it hard to become an actor?

For the first time, his classmate asked after a bit of hesitation. He looked rather embarrassed.

Why? You wanna become a celebrity too?

No! I hate standing in front of people. I dont have the confidence either.

Wait - his classmate added before taking out his phone and showing him a photo. There was a girl who looked to be in elementary school. His classmate was in the photo as well, and the girl was smiling brightly while grabbing onto his pants.

Who?

My sister.

You two look like you are far apart in age.

Shes ten. Shes a late child. Shes really energetic, and she always sings and stuff whenever our whole family has a meeting, right? She doesnt do that well, but my relatives always tell her that she should be a singer since she sings without getting embarrassed, and it looks like she took it seriously.

10? Isnt she only in her 2nd year of elementary school then?

Yep.

I dont think you should take it so seriously then. I mean, we were like that when we were young. Youd dream of becoming the president, a scientist, or a fireman. We just said whatever looks cool. Maybe kids these days find idols and celebrities cool, so thats why theyre saying that its their dream?

I think so too, but the problem is mom. The mother and daughter duo have set their minds on it. Moms fanning the flames every single day, so my sisters always talking about how shell become a celebrity.

Maru could draw the whole picture now. To a parents eyes, babies doing cute things might look like talent to them. They would wonder if their child might have talent in music just by seeing their child blow into the recorder, or they might think that their child had talent in soccer when they just kicked a ball around. Even a hedgehog would find their offspring pretty, so how proud would a parent be if their child did a little better in some field than other children? As the parents would have seen the downsides of the competitive society every single day from the news, it was natural for them to worry about the future of their children. As a parent, any talent that might guarantee their childrens future, on top of studying, would look like a tasty fruit. With minds like that, they would think their child was a superstar even if their child just acted a little cute in front of relatives.

Just then, Maru realized that he deeply sympathized with parents. As though he had first-hand experience, that is. Did something he read from a novel overlap? Maru stopped thinking about it and looked at his classmate for now.

From the way you sound, youre opposed to it, huh.

Honestly, I am neither for nor against the idea. But I am a little worried. My mom is - well, how should I put it - a little reckless at times. Thats why my dad is in charge of the accounting at our house.

You know stuff like that too?

Our family is a little close. Anyway, my mom keeps asking my sister if she wants to become a celebrity, and my sister says she wants to do it, so shes looking into entertainment agencies, child acting schools, and stuff like that, so Im a little worried about her.

Talent is something you need to polish to be sure of, so I dont think its a bad idea to try it out once. From how youre talking about acting schools, it sounds like youre pretty well-off.

I guess we are. From the way moms putting so much hope in my sister though, Im reminded of when I was young, so it does make me feel a little off.

His classmate stroked up his hair. It seemed that he was feeling complicated.

Actually, my mom dragged me around to places when I was young, saying that I had talent in playing the piano.

Hearing the word piano, Maru had a look at his hands. He had short and blunt fingers, like a typical boy of his age. It seemed far-fetched from the stereotypical image of a pianists hands, which were thin and long.

Having short fingers doesnt affect playing piano that much. Of course, the ones with long fingers do play better.

You seemed to have learned quite a lot, huh?

When I was young, yeah. I spent more time playing piano than playing around with friends. That gives you a rough estimate, right?

You were quite studious. Do you still play now?

As a hobby. The grand piano we bought when I was young is still at the house.

Oh, a grand piano.

It seemed that he wasnt pretty well-off but very well-off. He could understand his classmates mothers feelings. If the household was financially well-off, it would allow them to do more things than just study. After all, learning something couldnt escape the bounds of time and money. Maru looked at his friend, who was smiling awkwardly. If he was tied to the piano his whole youth because of his parents saying that he had talent in the piano, it would be natural for him to worry about his sister.

What a good brother.

Huh?

Nothing, just talking to myself. So the conclusion is, you want to help your sister not take the same path as you?

If its possible, I want to make my mom think about it more deeply. Right now, my sister is excited and saying that shes going to do her best, but if she ever starts thinking that it isnt right for her, she would want to stop. But it would be too late by then. My mom will tell her to try just a little more after all. My sister might be quite hot-headed, but she actually has a lot of patience. One time, she fell off a slide midway, which made her knees bleed, but she came home by herself without crying and washed it. She said that mom would worry if she cried. Thats the kind of girl she is, so I think shell endure even if she doesnt want to do it. I dont want to see that.

If its like that, you should first talk to your mother about it. Like about how you heard from a friend of yours that being a celebrity is no easy task and that preparing from an early age does not guarantee that she would blossom and stuff like that.

Would mom hesitate after just that? I think she will start looking for institutes starting tomorrow.

Then let her be for now. Perhaps your sister might really have the talent. You said she will look for institutes, right? Then try persuading her to send your sister to Film Academy in Gangnam. That place doesnt have any college test classes since it specializes in nurturing professional actors.

Film Academy? Is that place good?

It is good, but it doesnt accept just anyone. If youre going to register here, you need to have her take the test. Also, there are numerous people going there to take the tests.

Theres a test to register for an academy?

Their intention is to filter their entrants for the pride of their name. Youll see when you get there. Once you go there, youll see photos of current professional actors in the lounge. If you do go there, youll probably see what you can do for your sister. Also, she probably wont pass in one go. Most of the time, people train for it before going there.

If shes going to fail anyway, doesnt that have nothing to do with talent?

She needs to slip up once. Only people who cling to their dreams even after hearing that they have no talent will make their talent blossom. Talent isnt like an ATM where you can pull things out at will. In the end, you have to polish it through effort and hard work. Once you start doing that, youll eventually start to see the limits of your talent. Only then can you discern whether you have the talent or not. The important thing here is that she needs to do all that willingly. Being pushed to do it by someone else is meaningless. After all, even if she has the talent, it would be the same as not having it if she doesnt have any intentions of using it.

After listening, his classmate nodded.

I feel much better after talking to you about it. Youre right. Its not the talent thats important but her will to do it. Maybe I would have played the piano more seriously if my mom didnt bother me so much about it.

His classmate looked down at his hands. He looked like he was thinking of something old.

Uhm, Maru.

Yeah?

Can I ask you questions next time as well?

Maru replied anytime to his friend, who seemed quite cautious. Maru told his friend to give him his phone.

You dont know my number, do you?

Huh? I dont.

Ill type it in for you, so call me or text me once something comes up. Im no one great and I cant tell you much, but Ill tell you the things I know.

Really? Thank you so much.

If youre so grateful, treat me to a meal. Meat should be good.

Okay. Ill definitely treat you next time.

His friend smiled and controlled his phone. Soon, Maru got a text. Thank you - it said.

I did so good talking to you about it. Actually, it was kinda hard to talk to you.

To me? Why?

Uhm, you look a little cold. I also wondered if its okay to ask questions like this. I mean, youre an actor after all.

Youre needlessly worried about it. Were in the same class.

Maru chuckled and looked at the clock. There were about 10 minutes until the next class.

Im going to sleep. Wake me up when the teacher comes.

Oh, go on. Ill wake you up as soon as the teacher comes, his friend made a big deal as he said that.

Maru fell on the desk and closed his eyes. Just as his mind was becoming hazy due to the sleepiness, his vision suddenly brightened up before darkening again, unfurling a completely different scene in front of him. It was the stage he had gotten used to seeing now. The owner of the stage was sitting on the chair today as well.

These days, I can come here just like that, huh.

-True. Perhaps its because the firmly locked door has opened up a little?

Youre going on about that door again.

Maru looked at the masked man. Ever since the summer holidays began, he had been able to talk naturally with this man. If he wanted, he could move his consciousness to this place. The stage, which was sunken in darkness, had the effect of calming the mind, so Maru visited this place pretty often.

-You are giving your friend consultation about his worries, giving him directions, and you even told him your number. Your social skills are splendid.

Normal people do this much.

-Really? Someone I know was the king of drawing the line between himself and other people until just a few years ago. He also didnt interfere with other peoples matters that much.

There you go again. Thats because when I just came back to life, I couldnt make out the things around me, so I was really scared. If I think about it now, it feels rather weird. What was I so scared of that stopped me from taking challenges and made me look for safe routes? If I dont taste failure at this age, when will I?

-So youre trying your hand at everything?

No, thats not it. I do have to seek things that are beneficial for me. Its just that I am thinking that I should look around myself a little more. Theyre all good people after all.

-Arent people fundamentally evil?

They might be, but dont you think theyre generally good? At least the people I came across were like that. Even in my previous life, that is.

-Previous life. What a magical word. I asked you last time, and you said you died as a salaryman, correct?

Yes. That was when I was trying my hardest. I, with a couple of colleagues, was doing my best to get promoted. Back then, some lacking kid came under my wing, and I gave him a bad memory. I made him witness a corpse.

-You said that the new member was the son of an associate company, right?

Yes. He did use his connections to join.

-Its a little funny to think about this after you died, but it wouldve been pretty bad if that person decided to betray you. He had the connections while you didnt after all.

He was my direct junior. He was a little picky, but hes not the type of person to betray people.

-You never know, he might have embezzled some funds.

Why do you talk so bad about him? Do you have a bad memory related to that or something?

-No, its nothing.

That was bland.

-I guess I am a little bland.

Maru looked at the masked man who just laughed.

KTLChamber's Thoughts

He's laughing, but he's not laughing....

Editor's Note:

I'll be honest. I did not think the author would revisit the masked Maru so soon. He's determined to open old wounds huh.