Chapter 3: The Unscripted Opportunity

“Then, if you don’t mind… I’ll go ahead and have a quick bite.”

[Interest]

As Taehun declined, the paramedic sitting nearby quickly devoured two triangle kimbaps.

“Wow, you’re really good-looking. Let’s introduce ourselves. I’m Park Jungho. I’ve been working as an extra for five years.”

Park Jungho returned with a confident smile, a red grain of rice stuck to his lip.

“Five years. That’s impressive. I’m Lee Jaejun—”

“Lee?”

[Beep – I’m Ki Taehun.]

“Ah, right. I’m Ki Taehun now.”

Jungho smiled and said, “Looks like this is your first time as an extra? Acting is really hard to give up. The pay sucks, but just being on set makes me feel alive.”

‘That part… I can relate to.’

Thinking about how he only felt alive while acting, Taehun nodded slowly.

“My family keeps telling me to get my act together. But I really love acti—ugh…”

“You don’t look well. Are you okay?”

“Taehun, I’m sorry, but can you hold this uniform for a sec? I think… ugh.”

Jungho clutched his stomach.

His face was pale.

A strange sound erupted from him—

Grrruuugghh brrrppp pfffft

It sounded like something was being sprayed.

[Odor analysis: 73% Jeonju bibimbap, 27% tuna mayo]

‘Don’t analyze that.’

Taehun almost winced, but kept a calm expression like the top-tier actor he was.

“Are you okay? Do you feel sick?”

Jungho appreciated Taehun’s concern but, worried something might erupt any second, he shoved the paramedic uniform into Taehun’s arms and ran to the bathroom.

Then—

“Scene 29, paramedic! Patient, over here please!”

The assistant director called out with a megaphone.

Taehun looked toward the restroom.

“…Huh?”

“Hurry up! What are you doing? Why are you alone again? Come over here, quickly!”

Spotting Taehun from afar, the assistant director ran over and grabbed his wrist in frustration.

“That guy who had the bibimbap just now—”

“What are you talking about? Hurry up!”

Just like that, Ki Taehun was promoted from Patient 1 to Paramedic.

‘Uh… what?’

He was dragged along helplessly by the assistant director’s brute strength.

“What are you doing? Get changed! Why are you just holding the uniform?”

Taehun still had the 119 paramedic uniform in hand.

“Actually, I’m supposed to be the patie—”

“No time to be sick right now. The director is furious because of delays. You’ve memorized your lines, right?”

She wasn’t even listening.

Luckily, Taehun had already reviewed the paramedic’s lines—they were fairly short.

Before he could answer, she shoved him into the dressing tent.

Once he came out dressed, they immediately put him in the ambulance.

Even though the cast had waited over three hours, things were now moving at lightning speed.

The assistant director wiped sweat from her forehead.

“Where’s the patient again?” she muttered, before heading off to find another extra.

The inside of the ambulance was well-dressed with medical props by the set crew.

‘Looks like we’re about to start.’

About 30 seconds later—

A harsh voice boomed from the speaker.

“Where the hell is the patient for Scene 29?! Assistant director!”

“Y-Yes! Here he is, Director!”

Someone had returned in costume.

But it wasn’t Park Jungho from before.

“We’ll begin in one minute. Wait for the signal.”

The assistant director exited.

The new patient looked embarrassed.

“I just got thrown in. I haven’t even read the script—what do I do?”

[This is bad.]

‘No, it’s not.’

“Just don’t say any lines. Grimace, cough a bit, and clutch your ribs. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“Really? Thank you.”

Taehun reassured the new patient who had suddenly been pushed into the scene.

[Activating Spectator Mode!!]

‘Can’t I uninstall that mode? Fine, just stay quiet and watch.’

The shoot began.

“Scene 29, ready… action!”

“Sir, can you hear me?”

The patient grimaced and held his ribs.

“You’re feeling pain in the right side of your ribs, right?”

The patient coughed.

“You might be experiencing rib pain and difficulty breathing. But don’t worry—I’ll stay with you until we get to the hospital.”

Taehun spoke slowly and clearly, giving each word weight so the barely-conscious patient could understand and feel reassured.

His tone was calm and precise, just like a real paramedic.

Facing the driver’s seat, Taehun continued, “The patient’s awake. How long until we reach Shinyang Hospital’s emergency room? Five minutes? Got it. Drive safe.”

Then, turning back to the patient with warm eyes, he said, “The hospital’s just five minutes away. It’s the biggest one nearby, so we’ll be there soon. I’ve already contacted them, so they’ll be ready for you. Just take slow, deep breaths, and if you have to cough, do it gently.”

His lines were soft but firm.

“Yes, this is Shinyang Hospital’s ER, right? We have a patient with a suspected costal fracture from a fall. ETA is five minutes. The patient is conscious, thankfully.

Ah, you’re preparing for us? Thank you very much.”

He left small pauses in between.

Even though he wasn’t really on a call, it felt like a genuine conversation with someone on the other end.

When saying “costal fracture,” a difficult medical term, he lowered his voice slightly in case the patient might get anxious.

Director Jung Youngje was shocked.

‘What the hell? What kind of extra is this? Is he actually treating the scene as if it’s a real emergency?’

But what really stunned Director Jung Youngje wasn’t just that.

‘The patient didn’t say a single line? And I didn’t even notice until the scene ended?’

Jung Youngje, known for his perfectionism, felt his lips go dry.

He was a director who loathed delays in filming—almost to the point of obsession.

He liked everything to be under his strict control.

That’s why the staff was always on edge around him.

And now an extra was going off-script?

He quickly flipped through the script to find scene 29.

Originally, the scene was supposed to involve a back-and-forth dialogue with the patient.

But for some reason, the paramedic was carrying the entire scene on his own.

‘This is basically a one-man show!’

It wasn’t according to the script, yet it was so realistic that it was hard to tell.

“Cut!”

It was a slightly delayed cut signal.

Director Jung called over the assistant director.

“Did you call in a real paramedic?”

“Huh? I don’t think so. Hold on a second.”

The assistant director flipped through his papers and said, “This guy’s name is Park Jungho. He’s a professional extra.”

“What? So he’s just an extra actor?”

Even though the paramedic’s face was half-covered by a mask, Jung Youngje could still tell.

‘How is he this good-looking? And with that acting? It’s a waste to leave him as just a minor role.’

A small face, sharp eyes, thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge.

Jung Youngje couldn’t stop thinking about it.

The filming crew was already busy moving on to the next set.

Part of him wanted to scrap the current plan and cast this guy in a different role.

‘He’s wearing a mask anyway. Maybe we can reuse him for a new part and no one would notice?’

After some hesitation, Jung shook his head.

‘No, no. The internet investigators these days are too thorough. And with that face… Tch. What a shame. Really a shame.’

“Assistant director. Bring that guy over here.”

The assistant director, busy running around, came over.

“Which one do you mean?”

“Are you kidding me? With observational skills like that, how do you even have this job? The paramedic, obviously.”

Getting scolded, the assistant director ran off again.

***

When Ki Taehun stood in front of the director, Jung asked, “Where are you from?”

Not catching the real intent of the question, Taehun replied, “I came from home. Took the car.”

“No, I mean your agency.”

[Gamga Entertainment—]

“Gamga Entertainment…”

“I left the company just a few days ago.”

“Oh, I see. So you’re a freelancer now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“That’s too bad. If I’d known earlier, I could’ve offered you a better role…”

The assistant director came back and said, “Director, everything’s ready now.”

Jung answered irritably, “Yeah, I know. Just wait a second. Hey, listen—our network KBC has an upcoming drama. How about appearing in that one? No, actually, hang on a moment.”

Director Jung pulled out his phone and made a call.

“Hey, PD Choi. It’s me. Yeah. Quick question—do you have any spots left for your lead or supporting cast?
What? You’ve already filled them all? What about significant minor roles?”

“Auditions? Why bother with auditions? I’m trying to recommend someone here. Come on! Alright, fine. Just send me the address and time then. Yeah. Hang in there.”

You could tell what the call was about just from listening.

“What’s your name again?”

“I’m Ki Taehun.”

“Okay, leave your number with me. I’ll text you the audition schedule later.”

It wasn’t quite formal speech, but not exactly casual either.

Still, it was the kind of praise that felt really good.

After all, he was being considered for a role.

“Director, we really have to go now…”

“I said I’m going! Assistant director, pay this guy double.”

“Got it! I’ll give him 200,000 won.”

For a moment, Taehun’s heart fluttered— but when he heard the amount, it instantly fell flat.

‘200,000 won… Is that just for gas money? Wow, this industry is rough.’

[You have cleared the “Final Chance” mission. Reward: You will continue living as Ki Taehun.]

So, he had survived.

It had been a long, exhausting day filled with events.

Taehun left the filming site.

***

He had arrived at 9 a.m., but now the sun was setting—it was already 5 p.m.

That’s when he heard a car honk.

Honk—

“Hey, Ki Taehun! Get in already!”

It was Yoon Sungwoo.

“I thought you said you were going to move to the countryside?”

“Well, you must be tired from all that yelling today. I figured I’d at least drive you home.”

Sungwoo assumed Taehun had been chewed out on set.

He must’ve waited over 8 hours.

Inside the car, the empty burger wrappers and soda bottles made Taehun feel grateful.

Sungwoo dropped him off in front of his place.

“So where are you headed now?”

“Back to my hometown. Gonna start farming for real this time. Oh, and that 50,000 won I gave you earlier for cab fare—hand it over.”

Sungwoo took back the 50,000 won like it was nothing, then pulled out a 10,000 won bill, thought about it, and gave him 12,000 won instead.

“Still hungover, huh? Use this for some hangover soup—get the special. Take care. And hey, start calling me ‘hyung’ from now on.”

“Yeah. See you later, hyung.”

“Say that again, punk.”

Sungwoo laughed as he drove away.

Taehun returned to his rooftop room.

***

After a shower, “Ding-dong”

A message arrived.

[Butter Campus Audition Schedule]

[Date: March 10, 10:00 AM]

[What to bring: 1-minute monologue and self-introduction]

[Location: 3388, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu]

[Please download and study the script at the link below.]

[https://ddd.ddd.dd.dd]

Taehun, despite his exhaustion, immediately downloaded the audition script without hesitation.