After Story 257

“I’m good with everything else, but when I think about how I have to get on a plane tomorrow, I feel dizzy again. I’m sleepy yet I can’t sleep.”

“I’m like that too,” Yoonseok said to director Yoon who was sitting next to him.

Director Yoon, someone they met in Brussels, was someone who he got along with very well, whether it came to character or preferences.

“Mr. Yoonseok, can I try holding the trophy?”

“Oh, please, go ahead.”

Yoonseok lifted the case and handed it over to director Yoon. Inside the case was the trophy that was in the shape of a chick that raised its head up high.

“I think it looks cute up close,” said director Yoon.

“But why do you think it is a chick? There are many other animals.”

“I know the answer to that. You see, the Brussels Film Festival began in 1984. Back then, the film festival was not held by the city, but by a small group of locals. The members of that group gathered funds for the film festival, and apparently, someone who was running a chick farm contributed the most to the funds.”

“That’s how the film festival’s symbol became a chick?”

“Supposedly. It also symbolizes potential, but then again, the meaning isn’t that important. Being cute is the best.”

Yoonseok received director Yoon’s camera and took a photo. The other Korean film directors nearby also gathered around and not long later, there was a commemorative photo shoot session.

“Where is Mr. Maru? I thought he would be here since it’s the film night event.”

“He should be here soon. He said he had something to buy and left for a bit with the guide,” Yoonseok said as he looked at the entrance of the venue.

Just then, Maru came in.

“There he is.”

Yoonseok raised his hand and waved it. Maru, who was wearing casual clothes instead of a suit, walked over to the table.

Some foreign film directors smiled in Maru’s direction.

“Where did you go when you are the main character?” Yoonseok said to Maru, who sat down.

“The main character is you, who got the prize. Hello, there are a lot of new faces here.”

Maru introduced himself to the nearby film directors.

“Congratulations Mr. Han. I heard the head judge mention your name during the closing ceremony. He said that you very delicately expressed depression.”

“The director was good.”

Maru smiled and grabbed a glass. Yoonseok gave the case with the trophy in it over to Maru.

“Try holding it. I’ll take a photo.”

Maru smiled brightly while holding the trophy. For some reason, Yoonseok felt more proud than when he received the award during the award ceremony.

“I didn’t tell you properly because I was so out of it when I received the award at the closing ceremony, but I got this prize thanks to you, hyung. Thank you.”

“If you’re thankful, can I take this home? I think it’ll look really good.”

“Being grateful is one thing, but that’s not happening.”

Maru smiled and returned the case back to him. Yoonseok recalled back to the moment when his film was called out during the award ceremony. The words of the interpreter tickled his ears, and he floundered a little thinking that he had heard wrong, but eventually, he stood up while shouting hurray.

He did hear beforehand in the middle of the film festival that he should stay until the closing ceremony. Although he had a lot of anticipation, he really did not know that he would receive the award for best picture.

He gave Maru, who was sitting next to him, a big hug before going up to the stage. He received the trophy with shaky hands and had to say his commentary in front of numerous film directors. It was dizzying and blissful at the same time.

When he came down from the stage, he rushed over to Maru and lifted him up. Although his form looked terrible due to the difference in height, in his heart at least, he lifted Maru all the way up to the sky.

This is the actor in that film, the actor I trust the most: he barely held himself back from shouting those words

“Mr. Han, you should work with me next time. I heard that you already worked twice with director Lee.”

“Shall I?”

“Can I do one after that?”

The film directors at the table all spoke. Although they were semi-joking, there was a portion of seriousness in all of their words.

Yoonseok coughed awkwardly before speaking,

“I’m sorry, but can you go through me? Mr. Han Maru is such a busy man, you see. He decided to work with me for his next work. Isn’t that right?”

“Did I?” Maru replied in puzzlement.

Yoonseok rubbed his eyes and grinned.

“Director Lee Yoonseok, I think they’re looking for you.”

Someone was looking for him on the small stage next to the main venue. An interpreter came over and explained to him that it was just a small session to talk about the film. He also added that there was no need to be nervous because it was not a formal place.

“I’m not good at stuff like this.”

“Take things easy and go.”

Maru pushed his back. Yoonseok made an awkward smile and walked over to the stage. The film directors and actors who participated applauded him.

When he got on the stage, he finally got to see the man in his forties who was sitting on a long bench. He wondered who that was before making him out to be the film director Shadley. He was a Belgian director whom he liked. They sat down after greeting each other.

Just as the interpreter said, it was an informal place. As it was an event held by members of the film industry after the closing ceremony, the atmosphere was very liberal when they talked. Yoonseok also relaxed soon enough and said what he wanted.

“What surprised me the most was the atmosphere at the screening. It was refreshing and interesting to see so many people actively talking about the film without watching it quietly. I was rather taken aback at first, but eventually, I found myself shouting just like everyone else.”

“That’s the good point about this film festival. You’ll never know how many times your film made me exclaim, director Lee. That was especially the case when I watched Mr. Han’s acting. I’m sure the majority of us here felt something along those lines. The acting was very impressive, and so was the directing.”

He was on cloud nine when a director he liked praised the actor he admired and his own work.

Yoonseok stood up and pointed at the table where Maru was sitting.

“Mr. Han Maru over there is the actor I really admire and like. I learned a lot of things over the course of the shoot. I really like him to the point that I want to give him a public marriage proposal.”

He said random things out of excitement. Maru, who heard him from a distance, raised his hands above his head to create an X.

Seemingly having just heard the interpreter’s words, director Shadley laughed out loud.

“Let’s call Mr. Han over and listen to him talk as well. We have a lot we want to hear from director Lee’s film.”

Maru came on stage amidst the applause of the people around.

* * *

“I wanna eat rice,” Yoonseok said as he left Incheon international airport.

“You were totally fine with the food over there though,” Maru said.

Throughout the entire festival, Yoonseok was not picky with food at all. He would say that it was salty and whatnot, but his plates were always clean.

As they talked, they entered the airport bus.

“I feel like the past few days were a dream. Especially yesterday. I couldn’t believe I could talk about film to so many people.”

“A good experience, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. It’s amazing how we can talk about a common topic in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. But hey, you were totally on a roll there. How could you speak like you were on a talk show? I was never able to speak properly because I was in front of foreigners even after I shook off my nervousness.”

“Are foreigners not people? They just look slightly different and speak a different language. They mostly prefer the same stuff as us. Didn’t you see their eyes all sparkling when you talked about some of your scenes?”

“That I did. Everyone listened carefully to me. Thanks to that, I had a lot of fun. But do you think I got my meaning across properly?”

“Sometimes, the difficulty of communication can be helpful. Only the people who really want to focus and listen to you are left by your side. Those people focus on your gestures as well, so I’m sure they understood most of it.”

“That’s true.”

Maru called Haneul on his phone.

“I just arrived.”

-Good work getting on a plane. Did you finish up the schedule well?

“There were no problems. How about you?”

-Rolling around in bed all day. Maybe because I just finished the shoot, but I’m really tired these days.

He imagined his wife rolling around with the two cats at home. One big cat and two small cats. He inadvertently smiled.

“Noona, I’m here too,” Yoonseo said.

-Tell Yoonseok good work as well. Watch out on your way here. See you later.

Okay: he replied before finishing up the call.

“I should report to Jiseon too.”

While Yoonseok made a call, the bus departed. Yoonseok, who had been awake throughout the entire plane ride, soon fell asleep as though fatigue swept over him.

Maru looked at the news articles of what happened in the past week in Korea. There didn’t seem to be anything he had to be particularly aware of.

Following that, he checked his schedule. He then combined the schedule sent to him by his manager and his own schedule to calculate which days he could rest on.

A global film festival in Yeosu, a few events, and a few shoots for commercials. Other than that, he should have around ten days to rest.

His wife was also resting after shooting a movie, so it should be okay to plan for a trip.

Just as he was moving his sore neck left and right, he got a call from head manager Choi.

“Yes, head manager.”

-You arrived in Korea, right?

“Just now.”

-I’m sorry to talk about work as soon as you arrived, but I think you two need to clear up your relationship.

“Clear up what?”

Head manager Choi calmly spoke,

-We were contacted. They sent over photos of you and Haneul going grocery shopping and even walking to the apartment complex together. Quite meticulous, I must say.

“Really?”

-I told them to wait for a while, but we can’t delay it forever. We have to decide whether you clear up your relationship for the public and allow them to release the photos or prevent them.

“Can I talk to you about this after talking to Haneul about it?”

-Go ahead. Regardless of your choice, the president plans to take care of this, so don’t worry too much. It’s not a big flaw for actors around your age to be dating anyway.

“I’m really glad I’m not an idol.”

-I wouldn’t be this calm if you were an idol. Also, congratulations on the award.

“You got the news already?”

-It’s a film festival that one of our actors is participating in, so we should keep an ear open at least. We added that to your actor’s profile, so you can check it later. Good work.

He looked down at his phone after the call. They had been living together for years now, and they had finally been caught. Maybe it was luck or maybe it could be attributed to his rise in fame. He did talk about this with Haneul a while ago too, about how they would respond when it was exposed.

“Alright, goodbye.”

“I’ll call you on the weekend. I’m going to call everyone and have a drink. You can come too, right?”

“I’ll try to make the time.”

“Okay. Bye!”

After parting from Yoonseok in Seoul, he headed home. He entered the pin code on the door and went inside. He saw his wife curled up and sleeping on the sofa. She woke up due to his presence and put aside the blanket that covered her.

“You’re here?” Haneul welcomed him with a sunken voice.

Maru sat down on the sofa and told her about what he heard from the head manager.

His wife yawned before falling back down again. He looked at Haneul who lay on his lap.

“Either we’re in a good relationship or we will get married soon. We should choose one of these two.”

Haneul licked her lips before closing her eyes. It seemed that she couldn’t be bothered about anything.

He shrugged before leaning against the sofa. He had experienced this thousands of times, so he was actually rather calm about it.

“How long are you going to sleep?”

“Shh.”

He smiled as he looked down at his wife, who had closed his eyes. It seemed that he would have to stay still for a while.

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