Everyone was holding their breath as they waited for Yoon Se-ri's stage to mark the finale of the inauguration ceremony.
But guess what, the one who came up on stage was a male student who didn't even know he was in a large theater. An unknown student with bushy hair slowly stood in the center of the stage. Some people were curious about Han Do-jae's stage, where his face was not even visible due to his long bangs, while others hoped that he would quickly finish the stage and leave. Their interest was in the stage of Yoon Se-ri, who was at the peak of her popularity as an idol.
"How long has it been since I last stood on stage?"
Han Do-jae blankly breathed in the air that only the stage had, under the gazes that had mixed meanings. After an accident left half of her face scarred, her chances on stage were cut short. It's been a long time since I stood on stage after my sudden return. That alone made my heart race.
"Han Do-jae. What kind of monologue are you going to give?"
Kim Jeong-su, the second-grade class president, asked into the microphone. It was a voice without any sense of expectation.
"This is a monologue by Kim Seok-hwan from the movie Poison. I'll do the scene underground."
Since I returned yesterday, there was no way I could have prepared an inauguration ceremony. Because I just heard and realized that I have to do a free monologue. However, the worries did not last long. As soon as I heard the topic of 'free monologue', only one monologue came to mind.
"I know that scene, but... can you do it?"
Kim Jeong-su asked with narrowed eyes.
"Yes, it is possible."
There was another reason why Han Do-jae was so confident. This monologue was the very scene that led him to pass the first drama audition he passed before his return. I've acted hundreds, thousands of times to prepare for auditions. Even though I had been out of acting for a year due to an accident, I can still remember every line vividly, without missing a single word.
There's always one kid like this.
Meanwhile, although Han Do-jae couldn't see it, Kim Jeong-su's expression wasn't very good. It was natural for him to ask this. Children who enter Sky High School are familiar with the school's entrance exam and reporting ceremonies, so they receive special training at cram schools or private tutoring.
"Really? So you're saying the other scenes aren't ready?"
"Okay, I'll try."
However, the scene presented by the freshman, whose face was not even visible due to her bangs growing down to her eyes, was not a scene usually mentioned at initiation ceremonies. As a result, not only seniors but also teachers began to show interest in Han Do-jae's tenacity.
"Okay. Let's start when you're ready."
Kim Jeong-su wiggled his eyebrows and put the microphone down.
I thought I was trying to attract some attention since it was my first stage... but I'm just going to end up embarrassing myself.
The scene that Han Do-jae just mentioned was a famous scene from the movie Poison. Anyone who has seen the masterpiece Poison will remember the main character's intense denunciation scene. It was also a scene famous for the great acting of actor Lee Tae-jung, who played the film's main character, Kim Seok-hwan. Because the original work's expressive power was so strong, there was a high possibility that even if you tried to copy it, you wouldn't be able to get your money's worth.
But it's a limit.
It was a name I heard for the first time.
It's not like she's flying around like some kind of kid.
I heard rumors that today's freshmen are very competitive, so I thought they were trying to show off.
Meanwhile, Han Do-jae, who had taken a deep breath, spoke his first line.
[Dialogue from the monologue begins]
"What the hell do you want me to do...."
The first line spoken after returning. The moment he said those words, Han Do-jae knew.
I can't even speak or breathe as I want.
Is it because I suddenly returned to the body I had ten years ago? Moving my body right now just felt strange. It's clearly Han Do-jae's body, but strangely enough, it doesn't feel like it's his.
"Why do I have to keep making these choices?"
I couldn't stop acting in the middle just because my body wasn't in the condition I was used to. Still, it was Han Do-jae who had been in the entertainment industry for many years. Even though he took a year off from acting after the accident, he was able to cover up these variables.
Let's just focus on emotions.
Han Do-jae made a quick decision.
Vocalization? Enunciation? Breathing? If you focus on the parts that are difficult to control right now, the overall performance will fall apart. It wasn't a scene where acting was stopped because of a small mistake. Han Do-jae put everything aside and focused solely on conveying his emotions.
"If you just run away this time... then you'll be really pathetic."
A line recited while looking down at one's own two hands.
Is it because I've turned off my nerves from everything but my emotions? Even though it was my first time acting in a year, I was able to become very immersed in the moment.
"If not now... there's no guarantee that I'll get another chance. I promised myself that I wouldn't be miserable again. I wouldn't run away like I did back then. Okay. This time, I'll give it my all."
Han Do-jae raised his head, clenching his fists tightly, and took a deep breath through his nose. And then, as if he had made up his mind, he slowly but surely nodded his head several times.
This is followed by a long and fast dialogue that can be said to be the highlight of this monologue. Kim Seok-hwan, who has finished his worries, calls someone and tells them about the current urgent situation and his determination.
"This opportunity will never come again! I know that best. How can I run away when I know that best? Even if I bet everything here... No, I have to bet it, that's how. I won't regret it. Don't even think about stopping me. It's already been decided. I'm just telling you because I have to. If I fail this time...! Then... I'll die. This is my first and... last will and testament."
The body, still weak, screamed. I finished my lines by pausing for a few moments to avoid running out of breath. And then he blurted out the last line of his monologue.
"There is no next time."
Han Do-jae's first-year student monologue has ended.
When he finished his monologue, the theater was as quiet as a mouse. Everyone was looking at Han Do-jae on stage. It was completely different from when Han Do-jae first went up on stage.
"...what?"
In the quiet audience, one of the students spoke quietly. From that point on, everyone started to glance at Han Do-jae on stage and whisper.
Among the teachers sitting in the back row, there was one who clicked his tongue.
"What did that guy say his name was?"
"It's called Han Do-jae..."
"Hmm. I guess I'm not that good."
The teachers looked through the documents containing the freshman profiles and found Han Do-jae's name.
"It's strange. Your breathing, your vocalization, your pronunciation... they're all very lacking."
Then, one of the video major teachers tilted his head and muttered.
Jo Won-ho, the acting major teacher with the only bright expression, straightened his posture and blurted out a word.
"You know how to touch my heart, my heart."
"Yes?"
"Didn't you feel it? My heart was just reacting in unison."
"Oh, yes...."
I don't think it's that bad, but since it was Jo Won-ho's words, I nodded awkwardly.
Han Do-jae returns to his seat after safely completing his monologue.
I think I got pretty immersed in it. I also expressed my emotions.
As soon as he sat down, he replayed his performance that had just ended. I was able to instantly immerse myself in the story thanks to the lines that seemed to resonate with my own situation. However, there were more parts that I didn't like.
The bass is too thick.
Even before his return, he was lacking in basic skills compared to those who were called great actors. Things that are considered the basic skills of an actor, such as voice, pronunciation, and breathing. Of course, I have improved a lot since I first debuted, thanks to my hard work. However, the one-year hiatus after the accident had a big impact.
Han Do-jae gently stroked his flat, soft stomach. With a body like this, it was difficult to freely add emphasis to one's lines. Even though my body was unfamiliar and weak, I had no intention of making excuses.
Today, in my opinion, my performance on stage was barely above the worst.
Let's think positively. We can grow more.
But now I'm back to being seventeen again. You are given the time and opportunity to build your fundamentals properly without developing bad habits. Besides, where am I now? Isn't it the prestigious Haneul Academy that produced many successful actors in Korea? Wherever you go, it's hard to find a place where the teachers are as skilled as this place.
You can do it. It is time for sure.
There is probably no actor who is as thirsty for growth as Han Do-jae. Because I wanted to get away from the comment that "my acting skills aren't that great compared to my looks." No matter how popular it became, it was empty. He was not even given the opportunity to show gradual growth because he was tied to the term face genius.
I can act again.
Han Do-jae's head was filled with only this thought. If only I could grow more, I would gladly do any exercise that I had previously found boring.
At that time, Han Do-jae was alone, drawing a picture of the future and filled with hope.
"Do you know who that is?"
"I don't know. Where did you go to school?"
"What does it matter? The acting was terrible."
"Right. But there's something strange about it."
The kids around were glancing at Han Do-jae. Everyone had expressions like, "Who the hell is this?" However, Han Do-jae, who was expressionlessly chewing over the smoke just now, was difficult to examine because half of his face was not visible due to his bushy hair.
Swish—
In the midst of the commotion, the last freshman stood up. Then, all the kids who had just gathered around Han Do-jae turned their gazes to a student who had just gotten up. Tall with a thin and slender body. She sat up, calmly sweeping her long hair back. It was obviously the same uniform as everyone else, but strangely, her uniform looked different. A skirt that is beautifully tailored to fit perfectly. She moved with an upright posture, as if she were wearing a stage costume.
Yoon Se-ri.
After Han Do-jae's stage ended, the last person left was Yoon Se-ri. She walked up to the stage naturally.
"I'm Yoon Se-ri, a first-year student majoring in theater and acting. This is Hye-jin's monologue from the play Betrayal."
Yoon Se-ri greets people with her characteristically haughty speech and attitude. The kids' concentration on stage was the best it's ever been.
Of all the new students this year, she was definitely the star who created the most buzz. There may be a simple curiosity about the star Yoon Se-ri, but there were also occasional looks of disapproval, like, "She's a former idol? Let's see if she does well."
However, Han Do-jae's gaze was a little different.
Seventeen-year-old Yoon Se-ri's acting...
His eyes, hidden by his long bangs, were clearly shining with anticipation.
"I told you it was me this time! Me! How can you betray me like this again?"
Soon, Yoon Se-ri's free monologue stage began. It was the acting that Han Do-jae had expected.
He clearly remembered.
As expected. Yoon Se-ri.
That Yoon Se-ri had incredible skills since her first year of high school. I remembered it clearly because it was none other than Yoon Se-ri. Throughout my time at school before returning, I was amazed by her acting more than once.
Your concentration is really good.
Yoon Se-ri's greatest strength was her naturalness. There was no sign of forced tempo. It's a feeling of being able to stay immersed without struggling for even a moment. The audience became boisterous and noisy as she displayed her unexpected skills.
What kind of talent does she have?
Meanwhile, Han Do-jae was purely amazed. She had also risen to a high position as an idol. Her acting skills are also the best—except for Kang Ee-shin. Kang Ee-shin and Yoon Se-ri were so talented that I was just envious of their natural talents.
It was something I couldn't even dream of in my last life, but this time I really wanted to act with them.
With everyone's admiration, Yoon Se-ri's performance ended, and the large theater became quiet. Kim Jeong-su, the second-year class president, came back on stage with a different expression than before.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
The class president was looking around at the kids sitting at the front of the theater and talking, and his eyes met with Han Do-jae's. Han Do-jae didn't avoid looking at the class president who had been talking while looking this way for a while.
"Now everyone, let's all go back to the classroom and do the rest of the schedule...."
Kim Jeong-su, who had briefly avoided eye contact, glanced at Han Do-jae, who had half of his face covered by his bangs and looked gloomy, several times.
This year, there were many strong new students, including Kang Ee-shin and Yoon Se-ri. But, for some reason, the smoke that was lingering in his head right now was not that of those two people.
A long line from one person that was closer to a scream than acting.
Limited time...
I didn't know who he was or where he was from.
The acting of the new student he had never heard of before was confusing him.