Ch.91Stars and Moon’s Tale

Rose, Kim Sujin had no idea how red her face had become.

‘Really, how can he look like that.’

To be honest, she thought she’d already gotten her preventative shot when she saw him at rehearsal. Even though they said he hadn’t been styled yet, she hadn’t expected him to look so different.

‘He was already incredibly handsome, I didn’t know he could get even more handsome!’

Where in the world could you find such a handsome little prince? A god-given appearance that killed all fancy decorations.

He immediately dispelled any worries about children crying or making noise right before the performance started. Well, even educated adults were dazed looking at Kim Donghu’s face. How could children be any different?

‘Kim Donghu with blonde hair is absolutely insane?!’

The blonde little prince from the illustrations had appeared before her eyes. White skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes filled with ennui. It was as if the blonde, blue-eyed prince from her imagination had jumped out into reality.

‘I’m so fortunate to have known him since childhood.’

Kim Sujin felt truly grateful that she and Kim Donghu were childhood friends. Otherwise, she might have forgotten her lines while staring at his face.

“You’re leaving? This place? You’re leaving here? Then what about me?”

Delivering her lines, Kim Sujin, or rather Rose, slowly appeared on stage.

The first thing she saw was thousands of eyes watching her. That’s when Kim Sujin truly felt the difference between theater and regular filming.

‘Wow, what is this.’

The sheer volume of gazes was something she’d never experienced before. From the front, to the sides, and even above. The attention pouring in from all directions made her body feel heavy.

For a moment, she thought she might make a mistake. But seeing Kim Donghu performing normally, her tension suddenly dissolved.

‘You’re more focused on your role than anyone else.’

A face completely free of distracting thoughts. Kim Sujin looked at Kim Donghu, who was perfectly embodying the Little Prince.

To the point where it seemed almost disrespectful to call him Kim Donghu anymore. The Little Prince looked at Kim Sujin, or rather Rose, and delivered his lines.

“You? You have to stay here. No, you have no choice but to stay.”

“What are you saying! You’re leaving me behind?”

“Yes, I’m leaving you behind. When I said I was sick of everything, that included you.”

Rose was shocked by the Little Prince’s words. Her expression showed she hadn’t expected to hear such things.

The children sympathized with her sad face. But none of them burst into tears.

That’s because the Little Prince gently brushed his hair back.

With each new movement, his fresh handsomeness drew smiles on the children’s faces.

“I’m sick of seeing the stupid tree and the volcano that’s always angry.”

The Little Prince continued his lines.

“What?! Are you talking about me?! You’re sick of seeing me?!”

As soon as those words were spoken, a woman in a red dress reminiscent of a volcano suddenly appeared on stage.

“Look, you’re getting angry again.”

“Huh! You’re making me angry! What did I do wrong? Everything I say is for your own good!”

Every time Kim Yuryeon, or rather the Volcano, spoke, dark red powder scattered around her. A sign that she might erupt at any moment. Seeing this, the Foolish Tree and Rose quickly fled to a corner.

“Right, what could you have done wrong? It’s not like you can leave this place anyway.”

“What?! What are you saying, leave? Are you thinking of leaving this place?”

“Do we need to talk more? I’m going.”

The Little Prince turned his back with an expression of disgust.

From the Foolish Tree to Rose and the Volcano. Beings who had no choice but to remain on this small asteroid. Looking at them, the Little Prince sensed it was time to escape.

As the Little Prince turned and walked away, the stage slowly shifted.

As if he was truly moving to a different space. The background changed naturally, the music transformed, and all the original characters except the Little Prince exited the stage.

The Little Prince who left the asteroid. What awaited him was…

“How impudent! Not greeting the king when you see him!”

It was a king wearing a long crown. Jang Geonho, playing the arrogant king, shouted at the Little Prince.

“Kneel before me! Everything is under my rule!”

“Everything? This is the first I’m hearing of this.”

But the Little Prince looked puzzled. Living on the asteroid, he had never had to follow anyone’s orders.

“Yes! Everything! Can’t you see all this vast land of mine!”

At the king’s words, the Little Prince looked around.

It was true there was a lot of land, but no one lived there, and the land was so small that not even a single rose could be planted.

The king wanted to control everything and could control it. Yet he couldn’t actually rule over anyone.

Because he was the only king in a place where no one lived.

“I will have everything! So you too, who has entered my land! Must obey me!”

“You remind me of the Foolish Tree.”

“Foolish Tree? What’s that? Are you mocking me?”

“No… There was a tree where I lived with exactly the same personality as you, and its name was the Foolish Tree.”

But you and that Foolish Tree are similar yet somehow different. I’m not sure what’s different, though.

“What could be different?”

The Little Prince’s question was directed not at the king but at the audience. As if this difference was extremely important. With a gesture asking them to remember this, the Little Prince left the king’s planet.

And the stage changed once again. A smooth background transition made possible by the cooperation of many people.

As the king slowly retreated, what gradually appeared was…

“Ah, I’m so wonderful, I have everything! I’m the best!”

A handsome man standing on a mountain of treasures. Though he claimed to be the best, his expression was somehow angry. The children were intimidated by Han Taegeon’s furious face.

“You think so too, right? You think I’m the most handsome! Right!”

“…Who are you?”

“Me? I’m the Dandy! The Dandy!”

“Are Dandies usually this angry?”

“What? When did I get angry!”

“You’re angry right now.”

The Little Prince felt this Dandy person was similar to the Volcano on his star.

But…

“You resemble the volcano on my star, but you’re subtly different.”

Just like the king, there was some subtle difference. The problem was that he couldn’t identify what that difference was.

“Is that volcano more handsome than me? I don’t think so! I have to be the best! For myself alone! You think so too, right?”

“Pardon?”

“You think I should be the best too!”

“I’m not sure. I don’t know enough about others to call anyone the best yet.”

This time too, the Little Prince spoke while looking at the audience.

The king and the Foolish Tree,

The Dandy and the Volcano,

Why did they remind him of the people he left behind on his star? And why did they feel similar yet somehow different?

He couldn’t understand. The Little Prince couldn’t understand, but some of the children noticed the difference.

Children who were quick-witted, who had learned about the world in orphanages. Because they were more sensitive than anyone, they knew that subtle difference.

But at the same time, they wondered.

Is what I’m thinking really correct? That kind of doubt, amid which the Dandy’s anger began.

“What! Come here! I’m not the best?! Come here right now! I’m getting angry!”

“You’re already angry.”

Why was he so angry? The Little Prince couldn’t understand why the Volcano and this Dandy person were so angry.

“No, somehow I feel like I understand why the Volcano gets angry.”

But since he couldn’t reach a conclusion right now, the Little Prince hurriedly left. Because he felt he might get burned by that hot anger if he stayed.

And so the Little Prince passed by all the small planets, and finally found himself facing a blue star.

A place where numerous living beings seemed to frolic, where boredom seemed not to exist.

As the Little Prince stepped onto that place, the curtain on the stage slowly came down.

Since it was a long play, there was naturally a short break, an intermission.

The lights in the theater came back on, and the children who had briefly traveled with the Little Prince returned to reality.

“Anyone who needs to use the bathroom! Go quickly now!”

“Me!”

“Me too!”

“I want to go too!”

When they returned to reality, it wasn’t the Little Prince who took care of the children, but their guardians.

++++++

Backstage.

I exhaled deeply as I heard the children’s laughter.

“Whew…”

It was fortunate that I exercised regularly. Carrying a play alone for an hour and a half was no easy task.

On stage, where not even a single mistake was acceptable. Performing while enduring thousands of eyes was truly an incredible experience.

“Really, really wonderful! It’s like the Little Prince I’ve dreamed of has come to life!”

“Donghu, drink some water first. And how’s your throat? Should I get you something warm?”

“We have about 30 minutes, do you want to take off your clothes and lie down for a bit? We can do the styling quickly.”

As soon as I came out, compliments poured in.

“Thank you. But I’m fine, this outfit is really comfortable, so I think I’ll just stay like this and go back in.”

We’ve come exactly halfway. All that remains is to show why this play is titled “Story of the Moon and the Stars.”

“Jinwoo hyung.”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for letting me be the lead in a story like this.”

“W-why are you suddenly saying such embarrassing things?”

Senior Bong Jinwoo hurriedly covered his face as if he’d heard something unexpected. His innocent reaction made me smile.

‘I can do this.’

I make a brief resolution. The Little Prince must move forward, clumsy but straightforward.

Because we are flames.

‘Flames that ignite children’s dreams and hopes.’

As I think about various things, I feel time passing quickly. The children are sitting quietly again, and I glimpse the theater darkening. I hear the narration and the pilot’s lines beginning.

‘Just as I grew up never giving up thanks to my parents when I was young.’

To create memories that will help them rise again no matter what hardships they face.

“Actor Kim Donghu, you need to get ready soon!”

I will become the Little Prince again and again.

As my trembling legs gain strength, my body rises on its own. I clench my shaking fingertips, and strength flows into my body.

“Yes, I understand.”

Now, let’s move forward.

To the final chapter for telling the story of the stars and moon, for the children’s sparkle.