I remember a conversation I once had with my mother.
Back then, we weren't even a middle-class family in terms of economy. Even as a little kid, I knew about it. Every day, we cut corners and ate only when starving.
I didn't want to burden my parents further and tried my best not to act out. We had no money, and weren't happy, either. I wish I had asked for a little more love back then, but what's done is done. Everything came at me without being asked to, and I just stood and accepted it all.
That's right. That's how my acting career started, too.
It all begun when I was walking home from running an errand. I saw a group of people in simple clothes carrying heavy cameras and tools. In the middle of them all stood a person in expensive clothing.
They were having issues with a person, at least I heard that far until a person with glasses approached me, calling himself a famed movie director. I knew stranger danger, but the man offered me money to say I was lost and camera; I'd be dumb to say no.
And that was how I made my debut.
I can still hear the director's words even now, saying how well I did and that I was talented. I never knew this type of praise existed:
"You act out the words perfectly! This is natural talent, kid," said the director at that time. "What's your name?"
"... Chan."
.
"Chan. Chan!!"
I watched the whole shift from the dull memories of my childhood to Kim Dojun's face up close. He was bending down slightly, head turned to me to make eye contact.
"Oh, that was quick," a familiar voice added. It was Mahesha who sat on my right. Next to him, Han Daniel peeked his head at me, looking sleepy.
I looked around the bus that was starting to get empty.
"I fell asleep..." I concluded, blinking myself awake. The two guys sandwiching me were half-laughing and half-teasing at my tardiness.
Wait, that's means I skipped the whole bus activity!
"We tried to wake you up earlier when the game started, but you were sleeping like a log then," Mahesha explained while helping Han Daniel up.
"Daniel here actually fell asleep in the middle of playing, so, different from you."
I brushed my hair and sighed lightly, also standing up off my seat. It was definitely a bad idea to sleep late last night then wake up at 3 AM. Even Kim Dojun was late.
"What game was it? And for what?"
Kim Dojun started walking first and explained as he did so.
"Everyone had to count sheeps in a language other than English! The last one to remain counting gets to have two plates and got to decide on our breakfast."
In other words, Han Daniel fell asleep while counting sheep in, I'm guessing, French.
What an amusing person.
I figured it didn't really matter to have screen time in a bonus episode, which is why I remained calm when I basically skipped a whole mini arc of the show.
"And then? Who won?"
Kim Dojun smirked, now running down and out of the bus. I was on my first step down when the former spun around and proudly pointed at himself with his thumb.
"Who else, of course?"
Right.
He seemed proud, and I felt kind of bad that he had to farm for screen time this way, so I praised Kim Dojun a lot despite it not being on camera.
"Good job. What number did you count up to?"
"I counted until 5.000!"
"That's great, Jun."
"You see, it was actually a really heated battle between me and the last guy. I think it was...someone named Tobi? He was seriously not giving up without a fight! He actually stopped counting at like, 4.900-something, but I wanted to show a real victory and continued to count sheep until there was clearly much more of them."
"I see. No one can doubt you won."
"Exactly! Everyone was all clapping when I finished, well, except for you and Daniel—Tobi accepted his loss and we even shook hands! Aren't you proud of me? Anyways, it was such a hard time figuring out what to choose. Mash told me about your kimbap, but I didn't think you'd have many left. Can't you believe it; the money we got was $50! That's like W70.000 for twenty people!"
"That's it? Now I'm curious about what you chose."
"You should be! I promise it's one heck of a feast. You see, Chan, I..."
Let's just say Kim Dojun spoke just as much, if not more than he does over the phone.
Mahesha saw this and smiled sympathetically, saying, "You don't even sound talkative near him."
I shrugged, still listening to Kim Dojun's blabber.
"Guess I still have a long way to go, huh?"
We all grabbed our luggages and followed the crowd of people ahead.
I figured that the other busses had already arrived and finished recording this part. The twenty of us in the blue bus were welcomed by a dining room with four round tables at a height below our knees.
There were also people setting up cameras and the sound of plastic bags and cups from afar.
We were told to gather our luggage again, lining them up with the luggage of other participants from the red and black busses. For some reason, most of the guys brought a small bag when we returned to the dining room. I commented on it since the cameras were rolling, and Kim Dojun snickered at me.
"Ah... You all decided on the seats after the challenge?"
Mahesha answered my question as we sat on the mat in a circle, "Yes, haha. We just counted one to five from the back of the bus, so the five of us are in the same table."
I nodded and glanced at everyone. On my right was Kim Dojun, then Mahesha, Han Daniel, and...
"Wait a minute. Aren't you Tobi?"
My right hand was up for a handshake. The guy nodded and took my hand. His cheeks grew red and his eyes were darted to the side. Tobi has always been the quiet type.
I smiled and cheerily said, "It's been a good while! I can't believe we'd both meet in a situation farthest away from last time."
"Ah—yes... Nice to see you again."
It seems that Kim Dojun thinks I know everyone in the show already and got interested.
"You guys know each other?"
"We do. We worked at the same bookstore during high school. Right, Tobi?"
"That's right."
Tobi reminds me of myself when Kim Dojun starts speaking; this time, I'm the talkative one while he listens and nods. He reacts more than I do with my expressions, and keeps listening and watching me constantly.
I'm definitely sticking to you, Tobi!