Zeno was delighted.
He thought he would have to wait until everyone finished their scene before he could act. He even packed some snacks in case the shooting would go until the night. However, the timing worked in his favor.
He was out of frame as Daniel did his part—walking around the sunny park, kicking stones before settling on a bench. He looked disheveled, and it appeared like he hadn’t slept in days.
Beom Kang, who vowed to become a changed man, went back to his old ways after learning his entire family had died on the day he was released. He teamed up with Hyunbin, a detective who was famous for catching notorious criminals like Beom, to find the killer.
However, they had been running around in circles, and when they thought they had a lead, it would quickly burn to the ground. This was the scene that showed his frustration and resignation, contemplating if everything he had done was worth it.
As Daniel continued with his part, Man-shik and Ari couldn’t help but talk about the changed ending.
“What happened?” Man-shik asked. “You suddenly messaged me that we should change the ending.”
Ari leaned against her seat. “Why? Do you find the new ending unpleasant?”
“Not at all,” Man-shik quickly said. “I actually think the opposite. It’s much better than the previous one.”
“Then, you’ve answered your question,” she said. “Honestly, you know I was having a hard time writing this series.”
Man-shik silently nodded.
“It was signed before it was even completed, so the pressure was immense,” she added. “I couldn’t write a satisfying ending, so I settled with them finding a random killer.”
“But it has a lot of plot holes,” Man-shik said.
“Yup,” Ari agreed. “As I reviewed the script, I realized there was only one way this series could end—and it’s unlike the predictions that most critics have created. With this ending, they wouldn’t be able to call it a predictable mess anymore.”
“What inspired you, though?” Man-shik asked. At this point, Daniel was starting to show tears, but the two of them were still engrossed in their conversation.
Ari’s eyes strayed to Zeno, who was behind the cameras, unable to answer Man-shik’s question.
“Just… memories,” she muttered.
As Zeno walked toward the bench, Man-shik’s and Ari’s conversation came to a halt. The extras and staff members paid more attention, too. Of course, they were curious about the man who had captured the country with his drunk acting.
Meanwhile, Zeno recalled the book he had read at the shop. The first step was a single word—’Dont.’
It said there that the best actors were those who didn’t act but those who truly channeled the feelings of the character they had. However, that was pretty hard for Zeno, who wasn’t as empathetic as humans. However, since he had experienced being a drunkard before, it was much easier.
Then, he went to the second step straight away—’Practice.’ He had plenty of that last night when he practiced his lines with Maxie. In fact, he had such a difficult time trying to convince her to cooperate with him. However, because of that, he was able to understand his lines better.
And now, he was onto the third step—’Tune Out.’ With that, Zeno tuned everyone out on the set and sat next to Daniel. He combined this with the fourth step—’Relax.’ But then again, Zeno wasn’t one to become nervous. Having lived more than twenty lives had made his face as thick as the Earth’s mantle.
Then, he began channeling his character, Jinro, a drunkard who stumbled upon the man he had once robbed.
“Pretty scenery, huh?” Jinro said.
Ari’s brows furrowed. It was only one line, but the look in his eyes had captured her. He appeared tired but at the same time, full of life.
Beom glanced at the stranger next to him, about to respond when he recognized who he was. “Aren’t you—”
Jinro chuckled, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “I didn’t think you would remember.”
Beom scoffed, turning to the side. “Of course, I would. I’m surprised you remember. You were drunk out of your ass that day.”
Jinro shrugged, leaning against the bench. “Once you get used to the feeling of getting drunk, you don’t even forget the details of what happens when you’re in that state,” he muttered.
Everyone on set was quiet, mesmerized by the conversation of the two men. Paired with the peaceful scenery, it felt strangely melancholic.
“So what are you doing here?” Beom asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be drunk by now?”
“Hey, you’re not the only one trying to change,” Jinro said, catching Beom off guard.
Then, he chuckled. “Beom Kang. Murderer. You were involved in that club case a couple of years back, right?”
Beom pursed his lips and didn’t respond.
“Anyway, to answer your question, my daughter said she wanted to play. She’s right there,” Jinro said, pointing at the playground.
“So, you’re trying to be a good dad now,” Beom chuckled in disbelief.
“Nah,” Jinro said, shaking his head. “It’s too late for that, isn’t it? I’m not a good person nor a good dad,” he muttered.
He then turned to Beom, showing an ambiguous expression.
Still, it took Daniel’s breath away. He felt it again—the feeling of defeat.
The camera captured his expression perfectly. Ari’s breath hitched as she stared at the monitor.
He definitely looked ordinary just a few moments ago.
Why did he look so handsome now?