Chapter 13: The Heart Behind the Smile

Originally would not care and keep calling you.  

But last incident and something emotion she herself not know yet blocked Jung Inha’s mouth.  

She neither called Myungwoo oppa nor you, mouth mumbling.  

At suddenly quiet Jung Inha, Myungwoo inwardly question mark.  

Seemed had something to say, why suddenly quiet?  

Anyway talking with kid really hard.  

Chattering hard alone, telling worry, suddenly quiet.  

People with kids say kids unpredictable, really true.  

“If attended set right after elementary entrance, couldn’t see friends often.”  

Various thoughts, eventually Myungwoo chose continue earlier conversation.  

At Myungwoo’s words, Jung Inha nodded vigorously.  

“R-Right! So friends all close already, I still not many close friends.”  

“Yeah? No friends?”  

“Not many! Not none!”  

“Y-Yeah. Got it.”  

Suddenly angry look, Myungwoo thought indeed kids unknown, accepted her temper.  

Shouting Jung Inha again drooped voice said.  

“Actually at school teachers kids all see me favorably. Many want close too.”  

“Yeah? Then no problem?”  

“But…… not really want close with me.”  

“Huh?”  

“They want close with famous child actor Jung Inha. Not me.”  

Heavier than thought Jung Inha’s worry, Myungwoo’s mouth blocked.  

“Th-That what mean? How you know?”  

Barely opened mouth threw question.  

“Last time…… heard.”  

More dejected Jung Inha’s expression.  

At her reaction, Myungwoo hardened face.  

“Heard?”  

“Yeah. Coming from teacher talk passed the classroom, kids said like that.”  

How is it?”  

“Someone asking kid pretending close why hang with me, said Jung Inha no manners bad personality but famous child actor so hang close.”  

||  

At Jung Inha’s words, Myungwoo bit lip.  

Soon tears welled in Jung Inha’s eyes.  

“Still, not very close, but thought friend, hearing that…….”  

“Felt really bad.”  

How not bad.  

9 years old, mere this age kids think that hang close.  

Myungwoo experienced too.  

Well, much older than Jung Inha.  

When said act with ugly face ignored or mocked front back, after few drama movie appearances completely changed attitude pretended close old acquaintances.  

But 20s, some social life, not hurt that much, naturally distanced such people.  

Shock Jung Inha experienced whose friends whole world indescribable.  

People not unconditionally pure close, far more see profit make friends, Myungwoo knows too well.  

But even so, 9 year old kid experience that absolutely oppose.  

Prime age purely like people, friends.  

Myungwoo quietly clenched fist.  

“Bad, that kid.”  

“Huh?”  

Myungwoo’s sudden words, Jung Inha looked up at Myungwoo.  

“Such good kid, backstabbing like that, purposely pretending close.”  

*** 

Myungwoo said with hardened face.  

Anyone sees sincerely angry look, Jung Inha’s heart momentarily wavered.  

“Inha ya.”  

“Yeah?”  

“Such, not friend.”  

“Not friend?”  

Repeating Jung Inha’s voice trembled.  

As if vaguely knew but wanted confirmation.  

Myungwoo answered firmly.  

“Yeah, not friend.”   

“Pretending close front, backstabbing you such kids, not your friend.”  

“Such kids not worth your worry.”  

Myungwoo said smiling.  

And stroked Jung Inha’s head.  

“Don’t sad because such kids. Your time waste.”  

At Myungwoo’s words, tears increasingly welled in Jung Inha’s eyes,  

TRICKLE-  

Soon flowed.  

“Such……?”  

“Such.”  

Don’t know soothing kids, giving words kid wants.  

But one thing know.  

What human relation good, bad.  

Lived over 50 years previous life, actor from bottom up experienced most human relations Myungwoo.  

“Sniff, snifff……!  

Of course, Jung Inha bursting cry again flustered Myungwoo.  

“WAAAAH……!”  

This time too Myungwoo clumsily raised hand patted Jung Inha’s back.  

“WAAAAAH……!”  

Different from before, Myungwoo soothing her, Jung Inha clung to him.  

And sobbed sadly.  

“WEEEE……!”  

Myungwoo still clumsy touch patted her.  

This young kid, already such worry…….  

Really angry.  

World all like that, but no need 9 year old know.  

Myungwoo thought clenched eyes.  

“Sniff, sniff…..  

Long after Jung Inha stopped tears.  

She embarrassed cried front Myungwoo again, head down sniffling kicking innocent ground.  

“Better?”  

“……”  

Jung Inha mosquito voice answered small nod.  

Reminds old times.  

Self had such times.  

Myungwoo reflected previous life.  

Hurt by fake people like Jung Inha, cried many times.  

Disillusioned at attitudes clearly changing climbing up.  

Yes, experienced many, times closed heart door.  

But hoped Jung Inha not.  

So Myungwoo opened mouth again.  

“Not all such kids.”  

.Huh?”  

“Even such kids, not all.”  

“Purely like you kids, purely want close with you kids will be.”  

At Myungwoo’s words, Jung Inha blinked several times.  

And hesitated opened mouth.  

Oppa…….  

“?”  

“What kind person oppa?”  

Suddenly pure eyes asking, Myungwoo momentarily speechless.  

Uh, here must protect kid’s pure heart……?  

Inside worn old man, but.  

Anyway peer appearance.  

If say friend would like.  

“Of course I purely like Inha, want close with you.”  

At Myungwoo’s words,  

“Ehehe.”  

Jung Inha grinned widely.  

Very relieved expression.  

Roughly success.  

Myungwoo inwardly cold sweat, outwardly smiled back at Jung Inha.  

Me too.  

“Huh?”  

“I like oppa too. Want close with oppa.”  

“Honor.”  

And Jung Inha clung to Myungwoo again.  

Myungwoo this time clumsily hugged back patted.  

Whew, somehow soothed without closing heart door…… success?  

Inwardly still sweating profusely.  

“Huh…….”  

And watching people all stuck tongues out.  

“Kid suddenly cry, thought what……. ”  

“What kid talks that well?”  

People again exchanged glances.  

Various evaluations about Myungwoo mixed gazes.  

“Well, Inha likes that much fine.”  

“Yes. Myungwoo seems good too.”  

“We prepare shooting.”  

Not our business.  

Last words omitted, but all as if heard turned gazes busily moved.  

Smiles on their mouths.  

“Good work~”  

“Everyone hard work!”  

“Who go dinner!”  

*** 

Last shooting ended late night, today ended around evening.  

One assistant director went around recruiting dinner goers.  

“I go too.”  

“Ah, Myungwoo you want go?”  

“Yes. Never properly ate together, want try.”  

“Yeah. Time still fine.”  

Myungwoo expressed to manager want go, manager nodded called assistant.  

“Here Myungwoo and I go!”  

“Ah, yes! Got it!”  

“Ya! Myungwoo gun, going together this time?”  

Myungwoo expressed participation, director grinning came to Myungwoo.  

“Yes. Want try once.”  

“Uhaha, good good. Today Myungwoo gun last shooting must come!”  

Yes.  

Today Myungwoo’s <Black and White Mask> last shooting day.  

Drama portion little left, but his portion ended.  

“Haha, of course.”  

That’s why wanted go too.  

Last.  

Thus people gathered, all laughing chatting moved to restaurant.  

“No, Myungwoo gun! Why act so well?”  

“Ahaha, thank you.”  

And before food out, Myungwoo baptized praise everywhere.  

“Really. Not good for child actor just good?”  

“I almost cried real when Myungwoo gun crying acting.”  

“Know first shooting, act too well?”  

“Thank you all see favorably.”  

Afterparty usual, people gather to active in shooting.  

Well, not aimed this today but…….  

Feels good.  

Myungwoo heard praises around excited mood started meal.  

“Right.”  

Then familiar voice one side.  

Turned head, Yang Seunghyun sitting beside Myungwoo slightly smiling looking at Myungwoo.  

“Acting really good.”  

Pure senior(?) pure praise, Myungwoo brightly smiled answered.  

“Thank you, sunbaenim!”  

“Sunbaenim…….”  

Likes sunbae call Yang Seunghyun, called sunbaenim cheeks red.  

His pure look, Myungwoo mood good too.  

“By the way, sunbaenim, watched your previous work…….”  

No topic better open water than actor saying watched previous work.  

Myungwoo brightly smiling said Yang Seunghyun’s previous, Yang Seunghyun happier expression accepted Myungwoo’s words.  

All.  

Good, closer.  

Myungwoo sees Yang Seunghyun soon high chance first-class actor.  

Such person sees self favorably, can’t miss chance Myungwoo.  

Meanwhile continuing praises around.  

Each time Myungwoo smiling answered instead.  

Promising future actor closer, acting praises tremendous happy time.  

Time flows, drama <Black and White Mask> air day.  

Myungwoo and mom No Yeonhee sat front TV early waiting broadcast.  

“Really from episode 1 our Myungwoo face?”  

“Yes, mom. Said shot last time from 1 right away!”  

Precisely episode 1 only Yoo Dongha falling love Nam Younghyun appearance.  

But appears.  

Long time own face on TV thought, Myungwoo’s heart pounding.  

First debut sort of.  

Previous life first debut memory even fuzzy now.  

Experiencing first debut again, heart bound pound.  

“Oh oh, starting!”  

At No Yeonhee’s words, Myungwoo stared TV.  

Start sunset road scene.  

Jung Inha shot with Yang Seunghyun that scene.  

Chattering Jung Inha, naturally pulling her to alley Yang Seunghyun.  

Following murder scene.  

Teddy doll drop from her hand roll inside alley.  

Impactful start, No Yeonhee mouth open.  

“Oh my, killed kid now?”  

“Yes. That’s start all incidents.”  

Scene changed police station inside.  

“Sunbae nim, new case.”  

Rookie detective briskly stood.  

“Yeah? This time what?”  

Male lead veteran detective role head hold casually asked.  

“Child missing case……..”  

Two conversation continue, end scene standing for investigation.  

And scene changed daytime walking street Yoo Dongha appearance reflected.