Hyunjoo fished out a piece of tofu from the stew, ate it, and, after a pause, replied,
“It’s nothing big. My sister called me earlier today.”
“Heejoo noona?”
Dojin referred to her as “noona” since he had known her from the theater since his early twenties, long before he went to the military.
Even though “sister-in-law” would have been more appropriate, he just kept calling her what he always had.
It was Heejoo who introduced Hyunjoo to Dojin.
“Yes. She said they need a baby about six months old for the ending scene of their drama. She asked if they could use our Siwoo.”
“Mr. Moonlight? She wants Siwoo for the ending?”
Heejoo was an assistant writer on ‘Mr. Moonlight’, a drama spanning from the Japanese colonial period to the Korean War and the Third Republic. The show, now nearing its conclusion, boasted viewership ratings over 40%.
“Yes. She asked us to call her by 8 o’clock if we’re okay with it. But it’s fine if you don’t want to.”
The current time is 7:20.
They still had some time.
“It’s not that I don’t want to… It’s just that I’m worried Siwoo might get stressed or, I don’t know, what if he wants to be an actor when he grows up?”
Hyunjoo held back a laugh
“Because of one scene when he was six months old?”
Dojin replied meekly,
“No, I mean, acting… If you’ve had a taste of it, even just a little, it feels like you could do it, you know?”
Dojin worried that Siwoo might grow up to discover he had been in a drama and then declare, “I want to act!”
This was because Dojin himself had been like that.
After appearing as an extra on a movie set he visited with friends to earn some pocket money during his childhood, he spent over ten years wandering in the theater world as if possessed.
His heart kept telling him he could do it too, but reality harshly reminded him he couldn’t.
The gap between his dreams and reality was excruciating.
Hyunjoo understood Dojin’s feelings.
Hyunjoo placed her hand over Dojin’s.
“Okay. I’ll tell my sister no. You’re the most important to me, and I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
The warmth in Hyunjoo’s voice snapped Dojin back to reality.
‘What am I even thinking about the future of a six-month-old who can’t even walk yet?’
Dojin was overreacting, projecting his past fears onto Siwoo’s future.
“No… I was just being overly sensitive. As you said, it’s just one scene in a drama that Siwoo won’t even remember. Call Heejoo and say we’ll go. It’ll be a nice change of pace.”
“Are you sure?”
“As long as you don’t mind.”
“I think it’ll be fun. I want to see some celebrities. I’ve heard Lee Soojin is stunning in person.”
“Haha, is that your real motive?”
Hyunjoo stuck out her tongue and smiled bashfully.
While his parents were discussing something, Siwoo, who had woken up, was tumbling around in his crib. He slid his tiny hand under the bumper guard installed to keep him safe and peered out.
Mom and Dad were in the kitchen and out of sight.
Boksil, the dog, was sniffing around the corner of the living room, marking territory. Sensing someone’s gaze, Boksil turned his head.
Their eyes met.
“….”
– ….
Siwoo moved his fingers back and forth as if calling for Boksil.
Boksil trotted over to the crib.
Siwoo patted Boksil’s head.
Boksil stayed still, letting Siwoo pet him.
Siwoo cooed softly to Boksil.
“Pee on the pad. Mom’s thinking about getting you neutered.”
It wasn’t just baby talk.
– Whimper.
Boksil, dejected, left the crib and ran away.
Boksil looked back at Siwoo from the pee pad next to the sofa.
– Pant pant.
Wagging his tail as if seeking praise, Boksil watched as Siwoo gave a thumbs-up… or tried to, until the sound of his Mom and Dad finishing their meal was heard.
Siwoo quickly restored the bumper guard and lay back down, sucking his hand naturally.
“Achoo! Achoo!”
It was the hand he had petted Boksil with.
Spitting out Boksil’s fur, Siwoo brought the other hand to his mouth as if nothing had happened.
“Our Siwoo woke up? Sucking on your hand?”
Hyunjoo checked Siwoo’s diaper and picked him up, carrying him to Dojin.
“Here’s Daddy! Want to go to Daddy?”
Dojin took Siwoo from Hyunjoo and asked,
“When do you think our baby will start walking?”
As Hyunjoo went to the bedroom to call her sister, she said,
“He can’t even stand yet. You’re so ambitious. Poor Siwoo. I’ll be back after making the call.”
“Okay. Say hi to Heejoo noona for me.”
In the bedroom, Hyunjoo called her sister.
[Hi, Hyunjoo. Did you talk to Dojin? If he’s against it, let me talk to him. I can convince him.]
“He said we could go, as long as Siwoo doesn’t get stressed…”
[Wow, thank you! Good decision! Don’t worry. Have you ever seen Siwoo shy away from anyone? He rarely cries or fusses, and he’s so cute! He’s an angel! He just needs to not cry while being held by Lee Soojin for a moment.]
“Okay. When’s the shoot?”
[The day after tomorrow.]
“The day after tomorrow?!”
[I told you it was urgent. I’ll let the writer and director know. No backing out now! I’ll be in big trouble.]
“Alright.”
***
Six Months Old
The debut of Yoon Siwoo, who will rise to the top of global stardom, has been decided.
Thanks