After Story 187

The screen froze into a monotone still shot and the ending soundtrack started playing.

“I really like this song,” said his wife as she took her head off his knees.

Maru cautiously stretched his legs out. He asked as he massaged his sore legs,

“How was it?”

“It feels like it’s deviated from the story that it’s led until now. It’s not to the point of being not understandable, but I still think that Changsik’s change was a little too drastic. Of course, the end is approaching, and I’m sure you needed some kind of new conflict. It wasn’t to the point that made me think ‘this isn’t right,’ so I think the responses should be okay?”

“So it’s on a level the viewers will be able to accept?”

“There has been plenty of foreshadowing in the previous episodes, whether it was through Daecheol’s speech or through Changsik’s monologue. An unstable ego rushing to end the case is something that’s plausible, but the way it happened leaves some room to be desired. But considering that there are only 2 episodes left, I guess this was for the best. It’ll be too sudden if that happened in episode 9 and then episode 10 concluded everything.”

“Do you think it would’ve been better if we removed some of the episodes and focused more time on describing the main character’s psychology?”

“If you did that, you might get the plausibility down, but you would lose speed in the process. I think the director gave up on what they should give up on for the sake of a fast-paced story. Also, the acting is good, so the awkwardness in the storyline doesn’t really stand out. To the people who are absorbed in it, it shouldn’t have been a flaw at all. Especially with the majority of the audience, who can sympathize with Changsik. They might have even felt a sense of pleasure.”

He nodded as he listened to his wife’s words.

“I guess I shouldn’t worry about it then.”

“My words aren’t absolute, and the assessment of the public might be different. Aren’t you being too relieved here?”

“The critic I trust the most said that it was good, so I should be relieved.”

Maru looked up ‘Case Number 0’ on his phone.

As soon as episode 8 was over, there were various discussions all over the internet. He set aside the news articles and had a look at the posts written by ordinary viewers.

Someone willing to write a long post on the internet meant that he or she was an avid watcher, and the opinions of such people were precious, whether it was a good comment or a bad one.

“There are a few people with the same opinion as you. It feels a little rushed, but it was still good. It was a good direction to burst out with what was necessary.”

He flipped the screen around to show his wife. Haneul shrugged and stood up.

“You’re going to meet Mr. Daemyung tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“I set the appointment for 11. I’ll see how things go, and we’ll have lunch together.”

“Looks like I’ll get to see him after all this while. What feeling does he give off this time? A cute piglet? Or a burly bear?”

“He gained some weight ever since he quit working. He’s somewhere between an agile bear and a thin pig.”

“Looks like he still has a good physique, huh.”

His wife went to the bathroom first, saying that she was going to get washed. He sent Daemyung a text message telling him not to forget the appointment tomorrow.

* * *

There were a few times when Maru introduced him to his girlfriend before. He would have a girl sitting next to him when they went to drink, or he would show him photos of his girlfriend and notify him that way.

“I’m almost there.”

Daemyung hung up and climbed the stairs. He was told that he would see him immediately if he left through the 8th exit.

“Park Daemyung.”

Maru was standing at the end of the staircase. He smiled joyfully and approached Maru.

“Is it okay for a celebrity to be walking around like this?”

“That’s why I’m wearing a hat.”

Daemyung scanned Maru from top to bottom. This was something he would never have imagined just 4 years ago.

Han Maru, an actor? A successful one to boot?

“We should’ve met more often, but I was way too busy.”

“We can meet up every once in a while. Rather than that, where’s your girlfriend?”

“She’s waiting at a cafe on the other side of the road.”

He stood at the traffic crossing next to Maru.

“Rather than that, this is rather surprising. You never introduced me to anyone like this.”

“Due to our circumstances, we’re only introducing each other to the people close to us.”

“Well, I guess celebrities can’t be free when it comes to dating. But hey, is there really a clause forbidding you from having a relationship in the contract?”

“I’m not an idol, so do you think I would have something like that? We’re watching out just in case, for the sake of both parties.”

“It’s been a long time since we’ve known each other, but somehow, you feel unfamiliar to me today. As expected of a celebrity.”

“How long are you going to keep going on about that celebrity stuff?”

“I’m calling a celebrity a celebrity. What’s so wrong with that? Oh yeah, what’s Kim Suyeon’s real figure like? Is she really pretty?”

“I was wondering why you weren’t asking that.”

While they had talked to each other frequently on the phone, it had been eight months since they last met.

Maru was busy with his shoots, and Daemyung too had a hard time making any time because of part-time jobs and his own writing.

If they set an appointment, it wouldn’t be that hard to meet, but like all close friends, they always said that they should meet up whenever there was enough time.

“The end-of-year meeting has become a beginning-of-year meeting.”

“Right.”

“It feels like 2010 started just yesterday, but it’s 2011 already. At this rate, I’ll be thirty before I know it and forty if I blink, right?”

“Sure.”

“It was good when I could mindlessly kick balls and play games. Now, I’m always worried about money.”

The light changed. He started walking as he looked at the green light.

“How’s work?” Maru asked.

“It’s definitely a lot easier than making footholds in a construction site, or washing dishes, or driving. But it definitely doesn’t earn as much as manual labor. Still, I have a lot of free time, so I can get some writing done. That’s one good thing about it.”

“What are you writing these days?”

“I’ve been trying out a scenario since a few months ago. The format is completely different from a novel. A scenario is more like an instruction manual, so I have to mainly write things that sound like complete actions. Recreating what’s in your head perfectly into writing is really not an easy job, it turns out.”

“Writing is definitely hard.”

“Still not as bad as you have it, I think? I saw the drama yesterday. Your acting was pretty scary, you know? I was briefly worried that the blood vessels in your eyes might burst.”

Daemyung tried imitating the last scene in the drama, where Ahn Changsik discovered the trophies and went semi-crazy.

He clenched his molars and frowned.

“How is it? Look similar?”

“Hey, don’t you ever do acting.”

Daemyung relaxed his expression.

“I have no plans to.”

He entered the cafe following Maru. It was rather crowded because this was located downtown. They saw two men approaching with coffees in their hands. When passing by, he heard the two talk about how the girl upstairs was their style.

“Let’s go up. She’s waiting upstairs.”

They went upstairs. Among the people in groups of threes to fives, there was one woman who was looking outside the window in a daze. She was wearing thick glasses and a hoodie, so she couldn’t be seen properly, but even that was enough for Daemyung to tell that she was pretty.

Her figure was something else. She was the practical definition of a ‘fair lady.’

Maru walked towards the woman with large strides.

“Oh, you’re here," said the woman.

Daemyung stood next to Maru stiffly. He could swear that this was the first time he came across such a beauty. Even with light makeup, her facial features were very distinct. Anyone watching would exclaim without knowing.

“Mr. Daemyung. I heard a lot from Maru.”

“Ah, yes.”

Daemyung sat down in a daze, still taken aback. It was just as shocking as the fact that Maru had become an actor.

“I’m quite the looker, I know," said the woman.

It might have been an attempt to freshen the mood, but Daemyung nodded with a dazed face.

“You were supposed to laugh there so that I could feel less pressured.”

“Ah, that’s true.”

“I’m Han Haneul.”

“And I’m Park Daemyung.”

“Why do you look like you’re so nervous?”

“R-right.”

Haneul looked at him as though she was intrigued by him.

Daemyung had averted his gaze and turned his head around. He was as nervous as when he was shown obviously seductive moves during drinking sessions.

“The two of you are the same age. Drop the honorifics and just relax around each other. Daemyung, what do you want to drink?”

“Me? I’ll go with anything.”

“Let’s switch places after we talk for a bit. We need to eat.”

Maru stood up, saying that he was going to order. Daemyung also stood up.

“Why are you standing up?” Maru asked as he stared at him. Daemyung looked at Haneul from the corner of his eyes.

“Haneul, Daemyung finds you uncomfortable.”

“Really?”

Haneul smiled and looked at Daemyung. Daemyung shook his head.

“When did I say that? I don’t find her uncomfortable at all.”

“Then sit down. It was Haneul who wanted to see you more than me.”

Maru pushed down on his shoulder. Daemyung smiled awkwardly and looked at Haneul.

“It’s not that I feel awkward, I was just going to help Maru order.”

“Do you really need to help when I’m just ordering?”

“No, not really.”

Haneul took off her hoodie. Her messily tied hair draped down her back. Her hair was more glistening than any other girl he knew of. That was a shampoo commercial.

“We’ll talk about the details over lunch, but there is something I’d like to ask beforehand.”

“Something to ask?”

“I heard from Maru that you’re writing. Is it a novel? Or maybe a scenario for a drama or a movie?"

"I’m trying out various things. I’m currently practicing writing a scenario.”

“Really now?” Haneul took off her glasses. “Can you have a look at what I’ve written?”

* * *

"That’s not it. The story needs to progress like this for the flow to be okay.”

“Listen to me. Even if we remove this whole event from the story, it doesn’t sound off at all. If that’s the case, the right thing to do is remove it.”

“There is a foreshadow left by the event. It’s these kinds of events that keep piling up and decorate the ending, but if you remove this, the whole frame of the story will be shaken.”

“People can imagine it even if it is omitted, you know?”

“Like you said, you don’t need to show everything. But this one’s necessary. Gosh, this is frustrating.”

“What? Frustrating? Park Daemyung, I’m frustrating?”

“No, I mean… you know.”

Maru crossed his arms and looked at the two people. Just two hours ago, Haneul was on the teasing side and Daemyung was on the bullied side.

This structure had not changed even when they left the cafe and went to the restaurant to eat.

However, as they talked about writing, the situation changed. Having seen the scenario that Haneul wrote, Daemyung voiced his opinion without holding back.

As Haneul was the one who told him not to hold back, she was obediently listening at first, but as things progressed, both of their voices became louder.

And now, they were at a point where their words had become swords and spears.

“You’re going to cook all the sushi with all that passion. Eat first.”

Maru put some food on the plates in front of the two people. He did expect the conversation to heat up, but not to this extent.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Both of them had great pride. For his wife, it wasn’t surprising that she held up her pride because she had experience being successful as a director and a writer.

Daemyung, on the other hand, was rather unexpected. Maru originally thought that Daemyung would listen for a bit and bend his opinion, but he didn’t take a single step back. It meant that he just had that much faith in his style of writing.

His wife, who had been eating without a word for a while, spoke,

“You said you’re doing three part-time jobs right now, right?”

“Why bring that up all of a sudden?”

Daemyung stared at his wife.

“I’ll pay double what you’re getting now, so polish this scenario with me.”

Daemyung kept blinking at the sudden words.

Maru looked at his wife and smiled. So the harsh battle of words was a way for her to measure his skill, huh?

“I’ll pay you that way while we polish the scenario, and if I shoot a movie with this, I’ll give you royalties as well. Don’t try to refuse. I am only proposing this once.”

His wife let out a deep breath. The scenario she wrote was badly scrutinized, so she must be feeling quite bad.

He stared at his wife huffing and puffing because she was cute.

“Hey, Maru. What does all this mean?” Daemyung asked.

Maru replied with a smile.

“What do you mean? Madam president over there is hiring you. I wouldn’t miss this contract if I were you.”

Haneul raised a bottle of soju and said ‘glass.’

Daemyung let out a puzzled expression and grabbed his glass for now, politely with both of his hands.

“Writer Park. Please take good care of me, okay?”

Hearing Haneul's words, Daemyung could only say yes.