Chapter 24: Beautiful Hands – (5)

First, the background color of the screen is a neutral, ultra-marine and Van Dyke brown. Since it’s going to be filled with objects anyway, I just roughly apply oil paint to set the mood.

Huh? 

You’re asking if I forgot to apply gesso (a preparatory layer of white solution on the canvas before painting)?

“It’s not a mistake, it’s just a fun chinpah moment.”

I quoted Bob Ross’ famous line.

I can already feel him smiling approvingly.

“Anyway, there’s no time to wait for that to dry.”

I dip a little white oil paint onto the knife and spread it broadly over the background.

 As I continue, the sensation of it spreading out in a wide, fan shape gradually becomes more pronounced…

Ta-da!

Before I know it, a white snow-capped mountain with a blue sky in the background is complete.

Huh?

You think the mountaintop looks too bare?

“This is also a delightful chinpah moment.”

Grateful for Bob Ross, I lightly scrape a bit of gray paint on the edge of the knife and drag it down. The rough, craggy gray blends naturally with the white paint.

Ta-da!

Now there’s a rocky cliff next to the mountain range. The natural gradient of the shadows is impressive, and the roughness gives it a nice three-dimensional feel. It looks pretty good, right?

How’s that?

Pretty easy, right?

Huh?

You think it’s hard?

“Well, you’re worse than an elementary school kid at drawing.”

“…..”

“…Just kidding”

Before I learned oil painting for almost two years at an art store, I couldn’t do this technique either.

“It’s easy to say, but this is a highly formalized technique.”

Bob Ross’ method is the essence of “speed painting.” It’s too time-consuming to learn the classic approach of observing and painting, so instead, it’s about memorizing how to paint and doing it that way.

It’s like reverse magic.

A dark magic that uses cursed mana.

A terrifying swordplay wielded by a little elementary school girl.

“…..”

Sssk!

Details? Who cares about details? In reality, the objects look nothing like they’re supposed to…..this is a simplification so fast it’s almost an optical illusion.

With every flash of light from my hand, objects that could exist in the world appear on the canvas.

Imagined mountains that could exist.

Sssk!

Imagined lakes that could exist.

Sssk!

Imagined deer that could exist.

Sssk!
By arranging these schematic images on the screen “believably,” amazingly, a “believable landscape painting” is completed in an instant.

“…Phew.”

Just like…

What I did just now.

It gives the shock of watching a show.

I refine the details of the painting and then set the knife down.

Thud!

“… 15 minutes flat.”

The finished result fools people.

‘How could someone draw this fast…?’

‘Is this how landscape paintings are done so quickly…?’

“If someone knows a bit about art, they’ll catch the trick. I used it when I was pretending to be a street artist at a festival.”

What matters here isn’t honest technique. It’s a quick piece of entertainment that can instantly make people’s eyes happy.

“…”

With that thought in mind, I turned around.

“Just as I thought.”

By now, the staff and actors behind me were staring with their mouths open. Some of them kept alternating between looking at the painting and my face.

“Why are they looking at my face like that?”

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

The camera kept rolling. The director and the others were all blankly staring.

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

…They’re not picking up on the situation…

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

“…..”

“Well, are you still thinking it’s not over?”

I fidgeted nervously.

Since I’d just seen someone throw a cup and cause a scene earlier because of external voices being recorded during filming, I couldn’t bring myself to make a sound.

“Even if it’s speed painting, I’d still get frustrated if I had to start from scratch.”

To signal that I was done, I awkwardly clapped my hands together, mimicking the gesture they make in movies when they say “Take!”

“…..!”

At that hand gesture, the people pulled back into reality and started reacting

“…Ah, that’s amazing.”

“It’s incredible.”

“This isn’t some magic show.”

“Wow, you guys were all just staring like that?”

“I’m reminded of Bob Ross.”

“I tried to follow his style when I was a kid and ended up throwing away all the expensive paints.”

“So it really can be done like that…”

Do you see?

This is all thanks to Uncle Bob.

I looked over at the director.

“…..”

The director, who had been causing a scene earlier, watched the video for a moment, then nodded. 

Surprisingly, he didn’t nitpick and just said, “Good job,” and smoothly wrapped up the filming.
“Guess he’s only using a few scenes, after all.”

With that, my role ended rather uneventfully.

… The bigger the expectation, the bigger the disappointment. This wasn’t really a place to learn anything.

 I had forgotten that this was an era where violence and barbarism were still alive, under the guise of romance.

Sigh…

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

“Oh, wait. Before you go…”

“…?”

I tried to politely say goodbye, but…

“Take this!”

“Huh…?”

A few people from the staff suddenly popped out and handed me business cards. They gave them so quickly that I only had time to read them after accepting them.

“What’s this…?”

I glanced over and couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

“Heh…”

Some modeling agency.

Some entertainment production company.

Some voluntary enlistment broadcasting.

Once I saw those words, I knew to give up hope.
Etc., etc…

Before I knew it, I was holding a stack of business cards in my hand, all with names and contact info of people who specialize in casting for TV.

“Are they looking for child actors…? Well, I guess with the Hallyu drama boom, it’s the season for shooting tons of dramas. These middle-aged actors are probably debuting around this time.”

I thought about it as I read through the cards, and those who thought I was interested lit up, bombarding me with words.

“Oh! Are you interested in TV? You can appear on TV!”

“Magazines are also looking for models through TV stations these days. Are you interested?”
“Would you be interested in auditioning next year?”

They seemed like they were ready to throw me into a car right then and there. I waved my hands in refusal and backed off.

“I just read it. Sorry, I’m not interested.”

No… Just,

“Hey, hey, wait a minute…!”

“You mean to say, Uncle?”

“Sorry, I really have to go. It’s getting close to lunchtime.”

“Well, come have lunch with us!”

“Oh, no, the restaurant here is better.”

I started running away from them like I was escaping from a trap. As I slowly made my way down the hallway, I ran into a familiar face.

“…..!”

There, at the corner of the hallway, was Juri, who had been watching me.
She stared at me with wide eyes.

“Ah…”

“Uh…?”

Hmm.

Now that I look at her,

Her face… really isn’t that bad.

“If she just had a more natural expression, she’d look really pretty.”

It was a pity that with this look, all she did was show silly dances and end up being forgotten. So I gave a bow to the protagonist who helped me finish a chapter of my memories….

“I watched your sitcom. It was really fun until the very end.”

“….?!”

“People who are good at playing fools are actually really smart. I think that’s true. The lines were long in every scene, and you memorized all of them. That’s impressive. Did you study on your own?”

“…..?”

“Wow, that’s really impressive… People can’t do that, even if they study.”
“Oh… it’s nothing. I’m just used to fooling around.”

“Really?”

Juri looked a bit embarrassed but somehow happy.

“And that’s why they put you in that teen drama. …It’s still fooling around, though.”

“That’s truly the kind of acting you’d expect from Juri.”

“Huh? Is that so…?”

“I’ll cheer you on always. Well then, goodbye…”.

“…….”

Juri tilted her head with an awkward expression.

“…….”

Juri soon saw the figure of Hana, who had already run far away. She hadn’t asked her to dance the fool’s dance, nor had she put on a disinterested expression.

She simply…

…acknowledged Juri, purely, as an actress.

-It was really fun until the end.

That brilliant genius said, “Amazing.”

-Amazing.

“……”

I’d never heard such words before.

“…Thank you.”

Though I belatedly offered my thanks, the words didn’t reach her.

*

After dinner, I was finishing up my last task of the day.

I had bought an ice cream and was sitting on a bench, sucking on it. I was also reading the script for Our Spring, Wind that I’d somehow managed to get my hands on.

‘This place is quiet, hardly anyone comes, so it’s a perfect spot.’

Sitting alone on a secluded bench in front of the dormitory, I could see people from the broadcasting station walking by in the distance, down by the C building.

“……..”

In the visible landscape, I even spotted someone sleeping on the street with a newspaper spread beneath them.

‘So they’re pushing through an all-nighter for filming after all.’

There were even minors among the crew.

‘Wasn’t it still legal to work minors overnight before 2014? Feels like ages ago, but not really that long…’

Ah, the romantic 2004.

-Cut! Cut! You idiots, get it together!

Wow, the shout was piercing.

Now they’re even bringing out a loudspeaker to yell.

‘But, if I can hear this from here, isn’t it practically noise pollution…?’

Something… something was off.

This was supposed to be a prestigious school. Isn’t this the kind of behavior that ruins the reputation of Hanul Foundation, which sponsored the location, and the professors?

“………”

A chilling feeling crept over me.

‘Now that I think about it, when did Hanul stop intervening?’

It was strange.

Usually, the security guards would intervene immediately if students were disturbing the filming, but at some point, they stopped patrolling around the C building.

“..…..?”

“……..”

I glanced at the main building, where the staff offices were located.

It could have been just my imagination, but after dinner, the lights in the main building were still on, even though the staff should have already left. 

I could see their shadows moving busily through the windows.

The faces of the always kind-natured janitors and guards looked grim.

-Do you think it’s serious, Manager?

-Hah, this fence is so sticky, it needs to be replaced entirely. After a little while, dust and grime stick to it… Don’t we need to stop those people?

-Just take photos of the important parts.

-This was so tough to set up in the summer…

I lingered near the C building, taking photos of the scene with a digital camera I had in my pocket. 

Even as the filming crew engaged in acts of vandalism, no one stopped them.

“…………”

I looked back at the main building.

‘Now that I pay attention, it seems like the teachers or professors are all watching the filming from their offices in the main building…’

It wasn’t just a feeling. All of the staff were quietly observing the crew from the building.

It was like the watchers of the Panopticon…

“………..”

‘Could it be… they’re just going to leave everything as is, then all file lawsuits at once…?’

“………..”

Ah.

I felt a shiver run through me.

A storm was coming.

–Tremble…

I ignored the adult troubles.

‘Hoh, the little one doesn’t know about that…’

So I tried to focus on something else.

Right.

Like…

‘…Juri.’

The last time I saw Juri, she was just a sincere girl. Not a fool, nor someone who acted like a big-shot actress.

‘How did someone like that end up never appearing in another Korean program after Hwangdang Daegajok…? Huh?’

I tilted my head.

“……..”

Hmm…?

‘Then what is this teen drama they’re filming now…?’

I tried to recall the words from the Find the Actor from Your Memories program.

[Aside from Hwangdang Daegajok, Juri has not appeared in any other dramas…]

If it had aired at all, they would have mentioned it. There was no mention of her future in any teen drama programs.

“…!”

‘No way…’

I looked around again.

The staff were moving busily around the main building, their eyes fiery, preparing lawsuit materials.

And the tension of the calm before the storm.

“……”

Ah…

I understood.

‘…She’s being blacklisted due to a lawsuit and is getting completely cut from the drama. That’s why there’s no record of her at all.’

“……..”

I quietly placed a hand to my head.

“………”

In the end, even her last efforts were being denied.

It was all because of the irrational dealings of the adults.

I realized that.

‘Damn…’

At that moment, a bright voice rang out.

-Juri! Over here!

“…?!”

I perked up at the sound of Senior Yujin’s voice.

‘Why is Yujin talking to Juri…?’

“Haha, what’s that?”

“I’m serious. Do you think this cousin is lying to Oh Juri?”

“Aha, it’s been so long since anyone called me Oh Juri till the end…”

“Hehe…”

“……..”

“……..”

“Juri.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you still feel the pressure?”

“…Do you really have to push like this right now…?”

“Just film the drama, then if you appear on TV a few more times, Director Kim said he’ll take you to America. If not now, then never.”

“Do you think that’s true?”

“…What do you mean?”

“………”

Yujin hesitated for a moment.

“You could still study acting more here in Korea. You could learn and try again. Why do you have to carry the image of ‘fool Juri’ right now…?”

“No. It’ll be too late.”

“…Too late for what?”

“…When people remember me.”

Juri took the bag off her back. Inside it was a tattered script, full of notes written in blue pen.

Yujin read it aloud.

-How does a fool laugh?

-How does a fool cry?

-How does a fool get angry?

-Fool…

“…..”

“…I’m going to throw this away now.”

“Why?”

“I think it’s time to stop studying the ‘fool’ act.”

“…….”

“I’ll never measure up to the geniuses. So I’ll stop acting study and just grab any opportunities that come my way.”

“…….”

Juri sighed and threw the whole bag into the trash bin in front of the dormitory.

-Thud!

The bag, filled with a year’s worth of effort, was so easily discarded. It looked strangely like Juri herself at that moment.

“……….”

“………..”

Juri quietly spoke.

“I’ll film the next scene tomorrow morning.”

“Can I… come watch?”

Juri shook her head quietly.

“At the filming site, I really look like a fool. And the next scene is the one where I look the most foolish…”

“…Okay. Good luck.”

“…Yeah.”

And with that, Juri left quietly.

“………..”

Yujin watched her cousin’s back for a moment, then turned and left.

And once again, silence settled in.

Soon after.

There was a small noise as a hand reached for the trash can.

Clunk!