LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 141
Chapter 141
[Jeonju International Film Festival Vlog] Experience Acting with Actor Lee Yeon-jae
―Lee Yeon-jae Theatre Segment 04:32 (73,000 likes)
└Thanks for the coordinates!
―But is that really Lee Yeon-jae? The voice tone is completely different??
└No, the tone is different but the voice is definitely Lee Yeon-jae’s. He’s seriously a great actor;;;
└Even knowing, I can’t tellㅋㅋㅋ Just wearing a mask makes him seem like a completely different person.
―Oh, this is the original video. I couldn’t skip it whenever it popped up on Shortsㄷㄷ;;
―My favorite part 05:22 “The world is truly on my side!” (120,000 likes)
└I keep replaying the same partㅋㅋ How can he have such a strong voice
└For real, solid X strong O ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
└It’s even an ad-lib, that’s amazing h…. I hope everyone in the world knows that the actor I stan is a genius….
└Where did you hear it was an ad-lib?ㅎ
└The actor playing Heungbu says it himself at the end of the video. Please watch till the end;
[Title: When Will Our Bambi Movie Be Released?]
Forget about Cannes Film Festival, I just want it to release in Korea soonㅠㅠ
Just looking at the poster… haㅠㅠㅠㅠ I’m going to watch it first thing in the morning on the release day.
―Director Yoon Kang-yeon’s films always have a dark atmosphere! Bambi’s roles have usually been bright, so I’m really looking forward to this.
└I became a fan of Bambi because of Mission Clear Kim Su-ho…ㅠㅠ The poster gives a similar vibe, and I’m already feeling faint;;
[Title: But It Seems Like We Won’t Win the Palme d’Or Again]
Is it common for the same director to win twice?
The news all day says ‘Raising Korea’s Status,’ ‘Great Achievement’ and so on.
If we come back without any award, how embarrassed will Lee Yeon-jae’s fans beㅋㅋ
―Yes~ there are cases where the same director wins twice^^ Do your research before you speak.
―And sorry, but the Palme d’Or is awarded to the director…. Even if Director Yoon wins, it’s not Lee Yeon-jae receiving the award, right? Why would we be embarrassed if we don’t win?
└Just ignore the nonsense.
└Yeah, don’t feed the trolls. It’s already a great achievement to go to Cannes with a debut filmㅋㅋㅋㅋ
* * *
“Lee Yeon-jae.”
Ha. Got caught.
“……Hello, Bi-hyuk.”
I greeted him awkwardly from my hiding position behind the flower bed.
No Bi-hyuk, with a sullen expression, crouched down in front of me.
“Why do you keep avoiding me?”
Because you keep bringing up soccer.
Turning you down politely only works a couple of times, I’m tired of it.
I pondered how to explain this to him.
“Did I do something wrong to you?”
I had only thought for a moment.
Questions poured out as if he couldn’t wait.
“Is it because of Seo Ji-o?”
“Why is Seo Ji-o even mentioned?”
“I saw you went to the film festival with him over the weekend. I saw it all in the video.”
So what does that have to do with this?
I sighed, wondering where this had gone wrong.
“Bi-hyuk, calm down first. People might misunderstand and think you’re jealous of Seo Ji-o.”
“…….”
He looked at me with a face that seemed to ask if I was serious. I knew it sounded ridiculous too.
“The reason I’ve been avoiding you has nothing to do with Seo Ji-o.”
“So, are you going to stop hanging out with him?”
“That’s not it. I mean, why do you keep bringing up Seo Ji-o?”
“Because you’ve been avoiding me since he transferred.”
Was he seriously saying this?
I stared at him in disbelief, but No Bi-hyuk’s face showed no sign of joking. Unbelievable. He was serious.
“Bi-hyuk. It hasn’t even been two weeks since I said you’re my closest friend.”
“…….”
“It’s true that I went to the film festival with Seo Ji-o, and I’ll keep hanging out with him. But that has nothing to do with you, right?”
I’ve already told you that you hold the ‘closest friend’ title.
Then what’s the problem? I frowned unconsciously, not understanding.
But No Bi-hyuk’s expression hardened too, as if he was upset about something.
“……You say I’m your closest friend, yet you claim who you hang out with has nothing to do with me? Do you think that makes sense?”
“Hah.”
I ended up sighing heavily, unable to hold back. My head ached.
‘It’s tough trying to beat around the bush.’
But No Bi-hyuk wasn’t Seo Ji-o.
If I bluntly said, “There’s no problem with you achieving your goal, so don’t worry,” he’d definitely be shocked.
If he heard that phrased like that, he’d avoid me out of pride. I knew that, so I couldn’t take that risk.
‘I need to start with explaining about soccer.’
I had to get to the core issue, not trivial matters like Seo Ji-o.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked up, but he was already standing.
“I have to go now. We’re having a practice game with your class.”
“…….”
“Of course, you wouldn’t know. You’re not on the soccer player list.”
No Bi-hyuk’s gaze as he looked down at me felt unfamiliar.
It was the first time I’d received such a look. What was that emotion?
“Hey. I know I’m being childish, okay? I wasn’t going to say anything, but… have I ever seriously asked you for a favor before?”
“…….”
“I really looked forward to it. Last year, the year before, you couldn’t play soccer with me because you were busy filming. I didn’t know when I’d get another chance, so that’s why. But you kept avoiding me with an annoyed face.”
Playing soccer with me is annoying but going to the film festival with Seo Ji-o isn’t?
I didn’t even have a chance to respond to his softly spoken words.
Because he immediately snapped.
“Ah, this is so childish. Seriously.”
“…….”
“Forget it. Let’s talk later. Sorry for getting mad.”
After saying that, No Bi-hyuk quickly disappeared.
I stared blankly at the now empty flower bed where he had stood, as if no one had ever been there.
‘I’ve never received such a look from anyone before.’
I finally realized.
No Bi-hyuk had been looking at me with ‘hurt’ in his eyes.
* * *
But I still didn’t understand.
Why was he hurt?
‘So, it’s because I didn’t play soccer with him.’
I didn’t know it would hurt him that much.
I hadn’t realized soccer was that important to No Bi-hyuk.
If I had known, I would’ve just played with him, regardless of past issues. It wasn’t even that difficult.
“Hah.”
I kept sighing at the situation that wasn’t going my way.
“……Yeon-jae. Is something wrong?”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
What a rude thing to do at a meal.
I immediately shut my mouth and straightened my posture.
Jung-hyun hyung waved his hand as if to say that wasn’t his intention.
“You seem to be zoning out a lot. Do you have something on your mind?”
“…….”
I hesitated, unsure if it was okay to talk about something unrelated to acting, but Jin-bae hyung suddenly stood up.
“I need to take a call for a moment. Feel free to talk―.”
“Where are you going? Please sit down.”
Jin-bae hyung, who was trying to discreetly leave, was really tactless.
He probably thought it was a continuation of the concern I couldn’t share last time.
‘Have I been rude or said anything hurtful to you lately?’
That was purely my issue.
The cause and the solution were all within me.
But the argument with No Bi-hyuk wasn’t something I could solve by thinking alone, which made it more frustrating.
‘Still, the hyungs are more experienced in relationships than me.’
I decided to ask and apologize if it seemed like an unnecessary question.
“I have something to ask you both.”
“Sure. Feel free.”
I chose my words carefully and explained what had happened today.
As I spoke, their expressions gradually became blank.
“Should I ask if I can switch with someone playing soccer tomorrow… why are you looking at me like that?”
“…….”
They stayed silent for a moment, then reached out simultaneously.
Jung-hyun hyung’s hand landed on my head, and Jin-bae hyung’s hand on my shoulder.
“Yeon-jae. I don’t think Bi-hyuk is hurt just because you didn’t play soccer with him.”
“Then why?”
“Before that, I think we need to hear your definition of ‘friend’.”
Jin-bae hyung asked, patting my shoulder.
“A friend… is a friend. Someone who hangs out with you.”
“Well, that’s not wrong. So, your closest friend is the one who hangs out with you the most?”
Was there another meaning?
I felt like I had suddenly crashed on an alien planet.
I felt like I had made a big mistake.
Jung-hyun hyung’s gentle voice returned then.
“Yeon-jae. No matter what you think a friend is, it’s not your fault. There’s no law defining it.”
“That’s true….”
Then why was No Bi-hyuk hurt?
As I rolled my eyes, Jin-bae hyung answered.
“I
told you before that the meaning of ‘fan’ can differ for everyone, right?”
“Yes.”
“I think it’s the same in this case. The criteria for ‘friend’ might be different, causing a miscommunication.”
“So, what’s Bi-hyuk’s standard for a friend?”
“That―.”
Jin-bae hyung, who was about to explain, suddenly closed his mouth.
Then he smiled at me.
“Isn’t it better to ask the person directly?”
“…….”
I immediately glared at Jung-hyun hyung.
“Uh, why are you looking at me?”
“You taught Jin-bae hyung something weird.”
“Puhak, why suddenly blame me. Kheup.”
He wasn’t originally such a sly person.
Who did he learn this from, I wondered, but the culprit was right here.
Regardless of my glare, Jung-hyun hyung was busy laughing.
Jin-bae hyung was smiling softly, watching us.
‘Hah, I guess I have to ask directly.’
It felt like an unhelpful yet helpful conversation.
As soon as I got home, I planned to call and ask.
‘First, I’ll explain why I didn’t want to play soccer. Then I’ll see where the conversation goes.’
Since the sports day was tomorrow, I thought I had to resolve it today.
But when I called No Bi-hyuk, all I got was a message saying he couldn’t answer.
I tried five more times, but No Bi-hyuk never picked up.
* * *
“Yeon-jae. Good morning.”
“Mm.”
“……You look really tired.”
I briefly rubbed my face at Seo Ji-o’s words.
“Sorry. That was too insincere. Good morning.”
“It’s fine. I’m not a kid. You don’t have to be sweet to me. You can even get annoyed if you’re tired.”
I watched him drag a chair next to me and sit down.
For a moment, I almost asked if I could really get annoyed at him.
‘Somehow, I let my guard down around him.’
What if he recorded it? Get a grip.
“So, what’s wrong? Is someone bothering you?”
“No.”
“Then did you fight? Who would you fight with… Bi-hyuk?”
His quick perception made him more annoying.
I affirmed by staying silent.
Seo Ji-o, who had been lazily smiling, subtly nodded sideways.
‘What?’
I turned to see No Bi-hyuk.
He also turned his head just then, so our eyes met.
“……Ha!”
No Bi-hyuk awkwardly looked away.
Not only did he ignore my calls, but now he avoided eye contact?
Anger surged in my head. I stood up immediately.
I heard someone calling from behind, but I ignored it and charged straight at my target.
‘What are you going to do if you avoid me?’
I could go to him.