OATCG 07

chapter – 07

Acting felt like being drunk.

You forget who you are, where you are, and what you’re doing.

There’s only one thing left in your head—

The color of the person who swallows you whole.

Only after exhaling a long breath of smoke did Seonwoo finally come back to his senses.

Oh, right.

He was acting in front of people.

He had even forgotten that this was his first time performing in front of such a large audience.

Because Hakjun’s color truly swallowed him whole.

Maybe the stage suited him more than he expected.

After the performance, a hint of worry crept in.

Was his acting… even good?

‘I guess it wasn’t bad.’

But the moment he saw Seo Jin-wook’s face, he felt sure.

Lips pressed into a straight line, throat constantly swallowing.

His acting must have been better than expected.

“Good work.”

“……”

Even when Seonwoo greeted him, there was no reply.

From the twisted expression on Seo Jin-wook’s face, it was obvious he didn’t like something.

But Seonwoo lost interest right away.

There was no need to think about that guy’s feelings.

“…What’s with that acting? Are you sure this is really your first time?”

“He’s good. Not inferior to Senior Jin-wook at all.”

“The director didn’t bring him here for nothing.”

People whispered all around.

It had been a compelling performance.

Hard to believe he’d just started acting.

Ji-hwan spoke with a satisfied smile.

“So — is everyone convinced now? Anyone still unhappy that I brought him in?”

Of course, no one raised a hand.

Ji-hwan turned to Seo Jin-wook and smiled.

“Jin-wook, what about you?”

“…Well, he seems fine.”

Seo Jin-wook forced out a smile.

Seonwoo laughed to himself. His displeasure couldn’t be more obvious.

Well, in any case—

He’d cleared the first hurdle.

At the very least, that “parachute recruit” stigma was gone.

Parachute. Genius.

After Seonwoo’s “initiation,” those rumors spread through Cheongsong.

The captain brought in a secret weapon.

It went far beyond simply clearing his name.

Being called a genius and a secret weapon felt burdensome.

‘I really look like that to them?’

The power of the color-drops was incredible.

Like he’d borrowed a character’s soul. When he acted, he truly felt like someone else.

And everyone else felt it too.

So—

“Why didn’t you start acting sooner?”

“I was busy studying… and I never even imagined becoming an actor.”

“That’s such a waste. If you’d started a bit earlier, you’d already be amazing.”

This chatterbox was saying that right now.

The kid’s name was Ye-chan, the youngest in Cheongsong in both age and tenure.

In many ways, Seonwoo owed him a lot.

He had been awkward with everyone, but Ye-chan had approached first and became his guide.

He taught him everything — the troupe’s daily routine, and…

“That guy is our best actor.”

“His name is… Senior Cha Do-young?”

“Yep! Isn’t he crazy handsome? He even has a fan club!”

He also explained who really held influence in the troupe.

Cha Do-young.

Seonwoo looked up at him.

The most successful actor in Cheongsong. Twenty-nine — three years older than Seonwoo. Same age as Seonjun.

He’d stood out from the very beginning.

Even among all the attractive people here, he looked different — like a leading actor straight out of a film.

But what truly stood out was his acting.

“It’s unfair.”

“Right? Haha.”

Ye-chan puffed up with pride, which made Seonwoo laugh.

“That’s why people get jealous. Senior Jin-wook included.”

“Senior Jin-wook… the one who acted with me?”

“Yeah. I know it’s early to say this, but… be careful around him.”

Ye-chan lowered his voice.

“He’s exhausting to deal with.”

“…I get that.”

Seonwoo hadn’t liked his first impression either.

He had no intention of getting close, especially after sensing that urge to dominate him from the start.

Parachute or not — there are lines you don’t cross.

Then—

“Sorry, hyung.”

“What?”

“At first, I thought you were a parachute recruit. I doubted you.”

“Well… that’s fair. In a way, I am.”

“Hey — where do you find a parachute who acts like that? No one thinks that anymore.”

Ye-chan shook his head firmly.

Seonwoo almost laughed at how sincere he looked.

“That’s good then.”

“But, hyung… do you want to become a movie actor someday?”

“If I get the chance, I wouldn’t refuse.”

“Right? Most people here feel that way. But try not to say it out loud too much.”

“…Is it a sensitive topic?”

“Yeah.”

Everyone hates when theater is treated as just training for film.

“Especially around Do-young hyung. He turns down every film director who calls. His pride in theater is enormous.”

“…He turned down films?”

“Yep. Isn’t it amazing?”

“It’s really… amazing.”

Seonwoo was shocked.

He thought every actor eventually dreamed of film or TV.

Which only made him wonder—

If directors were calling him first without auditions…

Just how good was he?

While he stared, Ye-chan added anxiously:

“By the way, you joined at a weird time. There aren’t any auditions till next quarter.”

“…Guess I’ll wait.”

It was strange.

He’d come in labeled a genius, a secret weapon —

And yet he had nothing to do.

Normally, new recruits would audition right away. But not him.

So for now, all he did was chores.

Cleaning, moving equipment, managing entrances.

And when free — he watched plays.

Like now.

He looked at the stage.

The play was Cheongsong’s oldest classic.

Confession.

An omnibus piece about people visiting a priest, each confessing their sins.

He assigns punishment suited to each sin.

And the most captivating part—

“Please, speak.”

—was the priest himself.

His otherworldly beauty, that transcendent aura — it defined the show.

Which meant the casting was everything.

Thankfully, Cheongsong had no problem there.

“What sin have you committed?”

A blinding light made Seonwoo squint.

It wasn’t the stage lights —

It was the golden waves pouring from Do-young onstage.

Brilliant. Dazzling.

Gold, like sunlight across ripened wheat fields, spread from his body.

It colored the entire stage — the entire audience.

Even those who couldn’t see color would feel it through his performance.

Overwhelming.

It wasn’t just his face.

His acting had depth — a charisma that seized the audience with a glance, a word.

You only had to watch for a moment to understand:

Why he was Cheongsong’s mascot.

Why everyone said he could be a top star.

The audience looked enchanted.

Seonwoo remembered what Kim Seon-jun had said:

Extremes are full of hidden monsters.

Yes. He was one of them.

‘…What must it feel like to act like that?’

Thirst filled him.

He wanted to stand on that same stage — maybe not as him, but at least beside him.

But it was too soon.

He calmed himself.

No need to rush. If he practiced steadily, he’d get there eventually.

He only hoped that day would come faster.

…It came far faster than expected.

A few days after that performance—

A notice appeared in the troupe group chat.

(Urgent Audition Notice)
This is Park Ji-hwan, director of Cheongsong Theater.

Due to special circumstances, the actor playing Seung-do has stepped down.
We are urgently recruiting a new actor to play Seung-do in Confession.

Time: Tomorrow, 7 p.m.
Requirement: 30 seconds of designated acting (material to be announced)
Participants: 1 person

It was an opportunity.