The Haunted Monster Actor - Chapter 80



Only Noblemtl

Episode 80

The second half of the play begins and the drama returns to the 90s again.

Twenty-year-old from Rising Dive.

School days in the prologue.

Time goes back further than that.

Nineties Dive Episode 5.

S#1. Hospital (Night)

The VIP ward corridor is shrouded in darkness.

S#2. VIP Ward (Night)

White ceiling, white walls, white nurse.

Inside a large, square hospital room with blackout curtains drawn.

A fifteen-year-old boy is flipping through the channels on the TV with listless eyes.

Chained to transparent tubes and cold metal devices, unable to step outside his hospital room, the boy’s only pleasure is watching TV.

S#8.

A boy watching a scene from a ‘film noir’ on TV with a blank expression.

Thug 1 picks up the extension cord and speaks to the boss.

―Brother, wouldn’t it be better for several people to play together rather than alone?

S#9.

A boy watching a scene from a historical drama on TV with a blank expression.

A minister with an old-fashioned white beard speaks to his other ministers.

―Haha, even a blank sheet of paper cannot be easily pierced if held up! If we all pray together, even His Majesty will not be able to do anything carelessly!

S#10.

A boy watching a scene from a ‘romance drama’ on TV with a blank expression.

The heroine speaks to her lover.

―I’m glad I’m with you…

Everyone on TV is with someone.

I was always alone.

S#13.

The light pouring out from the TV screen dizzily illuminated the boy’s dazed face.

The boy is constantly mumbling something while changing channels on the TV.

S#15.

A boy watching a live performance by a musician on TV with a blank expression.

―I am so happy to be here with you all!

The boy’s eyes begin to shine as he looks at the glittering stage.

“mom.”

“Yeah, baby.”

“Are all the people around that person… … their friends?”

Mom looked puzzled for a moment, but soon nodded and answered.

“Then, we are all friends.”

The musician on TV was the most brilliant person the boy had ever seen in his life.

The boy made up his mind.

“Hello everyone, this is Jiyuhan… …!”

He said that he would become someone who shines more than anyone else in the world, just like the musician on TV.

I’m going to make a lot of friends who shine like stars.

S#16.

Yuhan closes his eyes under the bright lights shining from the operating room ceiling.

S#19.

23 hours after the start of the surgery, the professor’s voice is urgent and the nurses are moving urgently.

S#20.

Yoo Han-mo is anxious outside the operating room, unable to even catch a wink of sleep.

S#21.

A doctor leaves the operating room with a gloomy face.

S#24.

Yoo-han opens his eyes in the hospital bed and speaks to his mother.

“Hello… … This is Jiyuhan… … !”

Yoo Han-mo bursts into tears with a very surprised face.

S#25. Examination room. 6 months later.

Yuhan Mo. Waiting for the professor’s next words with trembling eyes.

“Based on the results of the detailed examination over the past six months… … Yes, I think it’s time to start preparing yourself mentally.”

The professor’s face brightened as he uttered the words ‘mental preparation’.

The reason was simple.

Because the professor was now sentencing ‘life’, not death.

“This is a miracle.”

Indeed, it is not an exaggeration to call it a miracle.

“Your maternal grandfather has become the first successful case of a heart transplant in Korea.”

So preparation is nothing else.

Jiyuhan, who has been locked in a white cage for 15 years, is talking about preparing to go out into the world.

However, Yoo Han’s mother still couldn’t erase her dark expression after hearing the professor’s words.

“Really… Is this okay?”

The professor shook his head, as if to say there was nothing to worry about.

“As this was the first surgery attempted in Korea, it was only a minor side effect.”

“How can you call that a minor side effect… …!”

“Compared to being able to live a normal life like other children, isn’t that a minor side effect?”

“… … .”

“I’ll tell you again, there is nothing wrong with the patient’s condition. If you just follow the recommendations I gave you, you will be fine in the future.”

The professor said that and handed me a piece of paper.

“Oh, this is nothing special. It’s a consent form for the publication of a successful heart transplant case study in an academic journal. It’s absolutely necessary for the future development of medical care in Korea. There will be media coverage in the future, so I hope you’ll come with me for an interview, as it can give hope to countless parents of children with heart disease. Oh, and if possible, bring your child with you.”

In this way, Yoohan ended his long stay in the hospital, becoming everyone’s hope.

I was able to go to school with my normal peers.

The problem was that Yoo-han, who had never left the white hospital room, was no ordinary boy.

On his first day of school, Yoo-han looked at the dozens of ‘friends’ in front of him and introduced himself with a happy face.

“Hello! My name is Jiyuhan! I’m glad to be with you guys! I’m… …really really happy right now—! Hee.”

Yuhan was a boy as clear and transparent as the sap and tube that supported his breath.

First, transparency has the property of making darkness appear clearer.

The price paid for expressing one’s pure, happy heart was too great.

To them, the transparency of the finite seemed like the glass of a window that could be broken at any time.

‘Pfft, puhahahahaha—!’

‘What’s that? Is there a flower garden on his head?’

‘Hey, from now on your name is not Jiyuhan but Jikkotbat. Hey, Jikkotbat!’

‘Hey, hey, get out of the way. Don’t you think that flower garden needs fertilizer to grow well?’

Smelly sewage pours down over Yuhan’s head.

Yuhan was a person who swallowed dozens of pills a day without vomiting even once.

Whenever he felt like vomiting, Yoohan would somehow smile to reassure his mother.

It was a child as clear as the sky beyond the window.

‘Mom said that to make friends, you have to approach them first.’

Yuhan approached his friends with a smile.

“I, I want to be friends with you guys! How do I do that?”

“Really? Then should I be your friend?”

“I, really… … ?!”

“It’s not that hard. Okay, how much do you have now?”

“Hey, look at this kid’s wallet. He’s so fucking rich!”

“Now I see that it wasn’t a flower field, but a money field!”

“Really? Then I guess I’ll have to fertilize it more often from now on, hehe.”

They never once showed us on TV that there’s a price to pay for making friends.

Throughout his school days, Yoohan never lost his smile.

S#41. University campus, in front of the student union building (daytime)

“……whatever?”

“Huh? That, that’s why… … I want to be friends… … .”

“Huh, this kid is funny. I want to be your friend, but why are you suddenly offering me money? Am I the one? Hey, Junghyuk, come here for a second.”

“Hey, Wooram. Why.”

“Do you know this guy? He suddenly gave me money and asked me to be his friend.”

“… … I have money, but I’m a little hungry.”

“What kind of restaurant son are you? Are you hungry on that day? Anyway, what’s your name?”

Woo-ram soon put his arm around Yoo-han’s shoulder and started dragging him along.

“Uh, yeah? I, I’m Jiyuhan… …!”

“Yes, Yoohan. I’m a picky eater, so I don’t eat at school cafeterias. Then, to celebrate becoming friends, you’re going to buy me the pork cutlet today?”

And then, O-Yul appears and snatches the bills that Yoo-Han was holding in his hand.

“I’ll be your friend too, so lend me some money. I don’t have enough money to buy my textbooks. Oh, I’ll pay you back next week when I get my part-time job. Well, I have class, so let’s go now. Let’s eat later.”

“uh……?”

In an instant, Yoo-han, who was left empty-handed, looked at Oh-yul’s back with a blank expression.

“Friend… …you’ll do it?”

A tingling sensation as if you are holding onto something even though you are empty-handed.

“Ah, that guy, his name is Oh Yul. He may be a bit of a rascal, but he’s not a bad guy. He’s a guy who calculates accurately, so he won’t steal your money… … Huh? You… … Are you crying?”

Junghyuk said with a serious face.

“For our first meeting, pork cutlet was too much. Let’s just eat the cafeteria food.”

“Hey, don’t cry! People will look at you weird! B-b-b, I’ll buy you some food, okay? Stop!!!”

This is the first meeting with Woo-ram, Jung-hyuk, and Oh-yul.

He was my first friend.

* * *

Nineties Dive Episode 5 viewership ratings 21.2%.

Ratings are no longer the issue.

The production team has been producing the highest quality broadcast version even in a filming environment that is close to live, and the actors are doing a great job of portraying their roles, receiving praise for having the best chemistry in 2024.

So now there is only one thing that Choi Ui-jeong must do.

It is to completely complete ‘Nineties Dive’, which has started to receive much more love than expected.

Choi Ui-jeong’s daily routine was simple.

Sleep, script writing, and checking audience reaction.

—Yuhan isn’t sick now, is he?

-So does the fact that Yuhan has been gone for 15 years have something to do with your heartache?

—Wow.. I thought the character was a bit fantastical until now. So, was it because he imitated the main character I saw on TV at the hospital?

—Yoohan… … I see, sob, sobㅠㅠ

—Thump~ Auntie, I’ll buy you some pork cutlet~^^,,

—Erased line… Ah no, Yoo Han oppaㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

—I cried because you said you were my friendㅠ Because you were that kind of friend, the members still can’t forget you even after 15 yearsㅠ

-I’ll be your friend, Aunt~

—I wish I had a friend like Jiyuhan in real life. He could be a really good friend.

—Kim Hyun-soo Originally, he just had a plain face, so he wasn’t my style. Now, I feel like I’m falling for him just by making eye contact. Oh, and by the way, I’m a guy.

—… … Honestly, what’s so sad about this? I honestly don’t understand people who cried after watching episode 5. So now I don’t understand myself.

—ㅋㅋ Why is everyone so exaggerated? ㅋ. I still think Choi Ui-jeong’s work is a bit of a bubble. After watching episode 5, it’s definitely a bubble. Unbelievable.

As Ji Yu-han’s hidden story was revealed, Yu-han’s popularity also exploded.

One thing is that the other members were no pushovers either.

After the scene of Ji Yu-han’s past ends, the play returns to the present.

Jiyuhan and Ohyul join hands and Rising Dive reunites after 15 years.

The moment of joy at being resurrected was short-lived.

The group soon ran into a practical problem.

“But… … It’s great that we formed a band, but where are we going to perform?”

“How about busking on the street? It seems like young people these days just spread out mats on the street and do it.”

“… … You only spread out a mat on the Han River. At this age, why would you end up in the hospital if you play on the street?”

It was then that Oryul opened his mouth.

“Age doesn’t matter in music.”

“That’s right. Wooram, listen to what Yul said… … .”

“But skill is not the problem.”

“… … ?”

“Junghyuk, how long has it been since you last played the drums?”

“Ah, that’s… … .”

“Keyboard?”

“… … .”

“etc?”

“I, I just told you! My awesome guitar playing! Hehe.”

O-Yul nodded at Yu-Han’s words.

“Yeah, it was a total mess.”

“……too bad.”

“I haven’t sung for a long time, let alone playing bass. Besides, isn’t there something else to think about besides the venue?”

At O-Yul’s words, Yoo-Han raised his hand and answered.

“No matter what, it’s the audience! There has to be an audience!”

O-Yul nodded and continued speaking.

“If you think about it calmly, do you think there will be an audience that will come to hear our performance when we have zero recognition and are only amateurs? Our current level is… … probably much lower than that of a high school club. No, it’s definitely lower.”

The members have become dumbfounded by Oh Yul’s words that speak of reality.

But the reactions of the real ‘real’ people who heard that were 180 degrees different from the members.

—ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Here’s one more audience member who will go see a performance that’s worse than that high school club’s.

—Kim Hyun-soo, Song Ah-jin, Kang Ji-hoon, and Jeong Yi-shin are busking on the street? I’m confident I’ll go see it even if it’s the North Pole.

—I am confident that I can be the mat that will lie underneath it.

—Looking for tickets to the Rising Dive solo concert. Please present standing seats as well.

—No, don’t you all look in the mirror? If it were those members, they could appear on Music Bank right now, right?

Yes, Rising Dive

Choi Ui-jeong was checking the explosive reaction from the members.

A look of interest begins to appear in her eyes.

—But in that musical instrument practice scene, are the actors really playing the instruments?

—Yeah, that’s what they said.

—The main theme song is really good, but are you going to play it yourself? If you keep doing this, you won’t be able to do a real performance or something after the drama ends.

-why?

—Because I’m having a heart attack.

“… … So what I’m saying is, do you have any intention of actually doing it?”

The four actors sitting in the waiting room tilted their heads at Choi Ui-jeong’s sudden remark, who had appeared on set for the first time in a while.

Ajin, who was not paying attention to Choi Ui-jeong’s words because she was reading the script, asked with a blank expression without thinking.

“What?”

“Have you ever thought about doing a real live performance?”

“yes?”

Soon, the faces of the members who realized what Choi Ui-jeong meant began to slowly turn into shock and fear.

“There’s about a month and a half left until the final episode of the drama airs. From what I can see, it seems like it’s possible.”

It was the moment when the schedule for the band Rising Dive’s ‘first and last stage’ was set.

Continued in the next episode ▶