After finishing his cram school, he would come home and do his homework and study sheets. Daeho would come over and hand him a script. He would read it, shake his head, and Daeho would leave.
After Daeho left, Seojun pouted and said to his father, Lee Minjun, who had turned down the TV volume.
"When can I do it? Acting!"
"It's okay to take it slow. You're still young, Seojun."
"I know, but I feel disappointed that there might be roles I could play right now!"
"Really? Then how about you try to create a play you like yourself, Seojun?"
"Create it myself?"
Seojun's eyes widened. Create it myself?
Lee Minjun had said it half-jokingly, but it resonated deeply with Seojun.
Seojun had the funds, the famous actors, and the excellent directors. All he needed was a good story.
Seojun blinked.
Huh? Maybe I really can do it...
"That's the play Seojun saw, right?"
"Huh?"
Seojun's thoughts halted at his father's words. As Seojun's gaze turned to the TV, Lee Minjun raised his voice.
A short video appeared on a program broadcasting entertainment news. The stage was larger than the small theater Seojun had seen, and the director of the Wind Theater, Kim Seungon, appeared on screen.
[How is the new theater?]
-Everyone is a bit awkward with such a large stage, but we will adapt soon.
[Can you tell us about the play, Our Neighborhood?]
-Our Neighborhood is a human comedy created through people's misunderstandings and misconceptions.
[What is your next work?]
The short interview about the play continued, and there was talk about Seojun and Lee Jiseok.
Unlike the questions about the play, many questions followed, and the smile on Kim Seungon's face, who was shown on screen, briefly darkened.
Seojun, who had been watching the TV in silence, quickly took out his phone and called Lee Jiseok after Kim Seungon's image disappeared.
After a few rings, Lee Jiseok answered the call.
-Seojun? What's up?
"Brother. Did you see the TV?"
-TV? No. Why?
"There was an interview with the Wind Theater, and the director's face didn't look good."
The couple, who had been listening, quietly left the living room. It was better to leave this to the veteran actor, Lee Jiseok.
Lee Jiseok, following Seojun's words, put on his earphones and searched on his laptop. If the theater was to appear, it would be in entertainment news. After searching, he thought he understood.
"Seojun."
-Yes?
"Don't worry."
-But his expression wasn't good.
No one is as sensitive to others' expressions as actors who express themselves through their faces.
Seojun noticed the fatigue and weariness in Kim Seungon's expression.
-Remember what I said before? If we promote using our names, bad things will follow.
"Yes."
-This is one of those bad things. Kim Seungon loves acting and also loves the works of his theater.
Seojun sat on the sofa and listened to Lee Jiseok.
-We saw the play in April, and now it's June. For almost two months, they've been asked more about us than about their works. Even if the audience thinks it's the first time they're asking, the people listening have been doing so for two months. And it's not even about the works.
"Yes."
-And this time, it's a choice Kim Seungon and the Wind Theater made.
"Choice?"
-Yes. They wanted to succeed by using our names rather than having their works be the main focus. They need money to continue acting, even though they love it. It's a dilemma between the works and success, and they chose success.
"Then how long will it be difficult?"
Seojun's gentle words made Lee Jiseok smile.
-Don't worry. People's attention changes quickly, so it won't last long.
Lee Jiseok scrolled through the comments. Unlike the first day when tickets sold out in 30 minutes, there were now occasional mentions of tickets being available.
It seems the audience is decreasing, which is why Kim Seungon appeared in the interview.
He didn't miss the opportunity and the timing of the interview was good.
Perhaps the general public, after seeing the broadcast, would go to see the play, and the questions about Seojun and Lee Jiseok would pour in again, which is why the darkened expression appeared.
Seeing no comments on the entertainment news board, it seems only Seojun noticed.
'Good eyes.'
Lee Jiseok chuckled and continued.
-It's fine. From the looks of it, they still have the energy to put on Our Neighborhood. If it was really difficult, they would have put on a new play. The attention is on the play we saw.
Seojun thanked Lee Jiseok and ended the call.
"Main character..."
The word lingered in Seojun's mind.
He had always received attention, but he knew the feeling of not being the main character. It was a slightly tiring feeling, unrelated to his love for acting.
No, it wasn't unrelated. Not being the main character slowly eroded his love for acting.
How could anyone focus on acting when they can't receive attention and are overshadowed by others? Could they still love acting?
Blaming their talent and themselves, they eventually quit acting.
Perhaps those who truly love acting are the ones who continue to act even in such situations.
Suddenly, he had this thought.
* * *
Seojun's search for his next work continued.
"This one has no lines at all. What do you think?"
At Daeho's question, Seojun tilted his head. Although there was no significant role for a young actor, it was a play that had been quite successful last year. They said it would be staged this year with different actors.
"Hmm. Is there nothing else?"
"Let's keep looking."
At Seojun's words, Daeho immediately put down the script. Daeho sighed inwardly.
There aren't many plays with young actors, and among those, will there be one that Seojun likes? I should ask the company to find more.
Seojun and Daeho leaned in and carefully examined the scripts.
Then, the doorbell rang.
Seojun, who was about to get up, was stopped, and Daeho went to the intercom. After a brief conversation, the front door opened.
"Uncle Heesang!"
Kim Heesang had come to visit. Seojun greeted him with a smile. After hugging Seojun, Kim Heesang extended his hand to Daeho, who was standing awkwardly.
"Hello. I'm Kim Heesang, Seojun's uncle. You're Seojun's manager, right?"
"Yes. I'm Seojun Lee's manager, Daeho. Nice to meet you!"
"Our Seojun, please take care of him."
They met without any introduction from Seun-chan. After exchanging greetings, Kim Heesang sat on the living room floor, and Seojun and Daeho also returned to their seats.
"But what's up?"
"Thought there might be a new design."
"Sure! I'll get my sketchbook!"
Seojun gave Kim Heesang his sketchbook, filled with monster drawings he had made while playing. As Kim Heesang slowly looked through the sketchbook, Seojun and Daeho resumed reading the scripts.
No, no, possible.
Seojun's drawing skills were improving day by day. Many of the drawings were too realistic to be used as product designs.
After looking at the simplified drawings again, he raised his head to see the two of them deeply engrossed in the script.
Indeed, drawings can be quickly reviewed, so the pace was fast. After finishing his work, Kim Heesang picked up one of the stacked scripts.
"What's this? A drama? A movie?"
"No, a play script!"
"A play?"
Kim Heesang tilted his head and read the script. On the white paper, black text was written.
Flipping through a few pages, he saw lines underlined with a pen. Reading a script, it might be ten lines or so.
"Is this the young actor's part? It's very short."
"The length doesn't matter. There's nothing interesting."
Seojun slumped on the table, his hands and eyes still on the script.
Ah, what should I do? Should I find the best one here? Then, this one. This one.
Kim Heesang, who had been reading the script, shrugged and picked up his phone.
"Is there nothing on the internet?"
"Yeah. I looked with my mom, but there are age restrictions. Daeho hyung picked out plays without age restrictions."
"Really?"
"Yes. Team 2 selected plays that could be as successful as possible with the team members."
At Daeho's words, Seojun, who was slumped, and Kim Heesang, who was searching on his phone, turned to look at him.
Surprised, Daeho was flustered.
"What, is there something you don't like?"
"Success?"
"Success?"
At Seojun and Kim Heesang's words, Daeho, without realizing it, knelt and sat down. Cold sweat trickled down his back. He stammered.
"Yes. For Seojun Lee's filmography, I gathered plays with the highest potential for success. Considering good actors, famous directors, and renowned writers..."
Seeing the worsening expressions of the two, Daeho trailed off. Something was wrong.
"I see."
Seojun, with a tired look, looked at the script he had read three times. He noticed that many of the plays were remakes of previous works or translations of famous foreign plays.
Seeing Seojun slumped and Daeho flustered, Kim Heesang laughed. He still didn't understand Seojun.
"Mr. Daeho, what did the CEO say?"
"The CEO? He just said to find an appropriate script for Seojun's play."
It wasn't a lie, but the explanation was lacking.
It seemed that Team 2, dedicated to actor Seojun Lee, wanted a hit play to follow Shadowman 1, Ghost, and Shadowman 2. Even Kim Heesang wouldn't suggest a play that seemed destined to fail.
"I don't care about success, Daeho hyung."
Daeho was surprised and looked at Seojun.
"I want to do plays I want to do. So, next time, give me all the scripts I can do."
Hearing Seojun's words, Daeho slumped and replied.
"Got it. Sorry."
"No! There's no need to apologize! I just want to play various roles, regardless of success. Of course, exclude scripts that are really going to fail!"
"Then how about this?"
Kim Heesang, seeing the two apologizing to each other, interjected. On the screen of the phone he held out, a colorful announcement was visible. Daeho's expression turned skeptical.
"It's a play for children and teenagers. No adult actors, and it's only during the summer break. There are no age restrictions."