Superstar From Age 0

Chapter 346

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na looked at each other in disbelief at the unexpected reviews. 

Their eyes were tense with anxiety. 

Especially the two short but powerful words, ‘the worst’, that were written on the screen.

“…Can we watch it?”

“…Maybe it’s not that bad, there are some good reviews too.”

Im Ye-na nodded and Song Yujung clicked the play button with a trembling hand. 

The logo of Bearound appeared in the center of the television screen. 

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na hugged cushions and pillows and held their breath.

Contrary to their nervousness,

[California]

[LA]

The director’s cut started with the same captions as the theatrical version.

The sky showed the peaceful scenery of LA and the stylish Galleria Mall appeared on the screen. 

Then the camera moved around and showed Lee Hyunwoo’s family. 

Ian Weaver, who had lost his mother, and Cynthia Lindberg, a guide, appeared and the bomb exploded.

Lee Hyunwoo, who had fainted, and Jackson Miller, who was kind, met a group of survivors led by Raymond Wish, a former soldier. Ian Weaver clung to Lee Hyunwoo, who looked like his mother.

A little later.

The floor collapsed with an explosion and five people fell underground.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na, who were familiar with the plot, relaxed and immersed themselves in the movie.

‘Ah, here.’

It was natural for them to think of the next story before the movie. 

Since they knew what was going to happen next, they neglected the current screen. 

That’s why they didn’t notice the subtle changes in the music and the color of the screen.

***

A silence that seemed to last forever settled underground.

The survivors followed the needle of the compass that Ian Weaver had given them and moved slowly northward.

Raymond Wish, who found and made the way, was at the front and Cynthia Lindberg, Jackson Miller, Ian Weaver, and Lee Hyunwoo followed him.

“…You have a family outside.”

Jackson Miller said that and looked back at the boy who had gone to the most dangerous position at the back.

Jackson Miller’s hand, which was holding Ian Weaver’s hand tightly, also kept looking back. 

He wanted to walk with Lee Hyunwoo, but he obediently held Jackson Miller’s hand.

Lee Hyunwoo followed behind the survivors as if he was going to leave them.

That’s when it happened.

There was a big shake.

There was no sound of explosion, but it seemed that the shock had reached here. 

The walls around them shook as if they were going to collapse.

Especially.

The back of Lee Hyunwoo was not good.

“Forward!”

At Raymond Wish’s voice, Cynthia Lindberg and Jackson Miller headed straight ahead.

Ian Weaver, who was looking back, tripped over something and fell. Jackson Miller, who was holding his hand, also lost his balance for a moment. 

The hands that they were holding together came apart.

“…!”

At the same time, a pillar collapsed between Jackson Miller and Ian Weaver.

Bang!

Boom! Bang!

A wall appeared behind Jackson Miller, who fell because of the falling rocks. Jackson Miller turned his head with a surprised look and looked at the wall that was piling up. 

Cynthia Lindberg and Raymond Wish also looked desperate.

‘…Huh?’

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na realized that the point of view had changed.

In [Survivors-Theatrical Version], the camera that showed Ian Weaver and Lee Hyunwoo on the other side of the wall now showed three adults.

At that change, Song Yujung and Im Ye-na came to their senses.

The screen became clearer and they heard [Survivors]’s music that had been stretched out. 

The gloomy melody turned over the shell of familiarity and penetrated into Song Yujung and Im Ye-na’s ears, making their hearts beat faster.

A dark dread gripped their hearts.

“…Aaaah! Ian!”

Halfway blocked passage.

Lee Hyunwoo bent his waist quickly and looked down.

Lee Hyunwoo’s desperate scream sounded. 

It was a rough scream that seemed unbelievable. 

It was a sharp scream that made goosebumps rise, but also a sad scream that seemed to make tears come out.

“Ian… Ian!!!”

Lee Hyunwoo’s voice was heard but the screen showed three adults standing with blank faces.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na curled up their bodies.

A dread rose from their toes.

Jackson Miller spat out words with difficulty with a pale face. 

Jackson Miller’s hand, which had been holding Ian Weaver’s small and warm hand until a moment ago, trembled.

“H-Hyunwoo! What happened?! Ian! Ian is okay, right?!”

Aaaah!!

Instead of an answer, a scream full of despair sounded. 

Cynthia Lindberg covered her ears with a white face. 

It seemed like she smelled blood from somewhere.

Boom!

The surroundings collapsed.

The wall that separated Lee Hyunwoo and the survivors was already high.

Boom.

The sound that came was not good.

“No… No…”

Lee Hyunwoo’s sobbing sounded. 

It was a sound that scratched his throat. But that painful sound still showed that Lee Hyunwoo was alive.

Cynthia Lindberg and Jackson Miller didn’t move at that time.

Raymond Wish, who was used to losing someone, frowned and stuck to the wall that blocked them.

For the first time, the camera crossed the wall with Raymond Wish.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na unconsciously stopped breathing.

On the other side of the wall, Lee Hyunwoo was standing awkwardly and looking down. 

He was in a state where he couldn’t sit or stand, as if he couldn’t believe the situation. He didn’t even sob anymore.

Lee Hyunwoo was looking down, but it didn’t show on the screen.

But Song Yujung and Im Ye-na felt like they knew what was there.

“What are you doing?!”

At Raymond Wish’s voice, Lee Hyunwoo slowly lifted his head. L

ee Hyunwoo, who saw the big hand stretched out, had no light in his eyes. 

Raymond Wish, who was annoyed by the empty eyes that he had seen a lot, shouted angrily.

“Come here!”

Lee Hyunwoo reflexively reached out and grabbed Raymond Wish’s hand.

…Huh.

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na’s eyes widened as they took a deep breath.

Lee Hyunwoo’s hand, which was holding Raymond Wish’s hand, was soaked with red liquid. 

The bright red liquid that had been inside someone’s body until a moment ago stained Raymond Wish’s hand.

“…Crazy…”

Our Ian…!

Song Yujung and Im Ye-na covered their mouths. 

They had a lot to say, but the movie was still going on.

Raymond Wish didn’t care about the blood on his hand and dragged Lee Hyunwoo. 

Lee Hyunwoo, who was forced to cross the stone wall, collapsed on the floor.

‘In this scene, Ian hugs Hyunwoo tightly…!’

Of course, that scene didn’t come out.

Tears welled up in the eyes of Song Yoo-jung and Lim Ye-na.

…It was strange.

They couldn’t feel the small and warm presence that always approached them when they sat down, the one that stuck to their side even when they pushed it away and dropped it.

Lee Hyun-woo looked around with a unfamiliar face.

In his sight, he saw Jackson Miller, who couldn’t take his eyes off the stone wall, Cynthia Lindberg, who looked at him with anxious eyes, and Raymond Wish, who was wiping off blood with his dirty clothes.

…Blood.

Bright red blood.

Lee Hyun-woo looked down at his own hands.

The bright red blood that seemed to still have some warmth filled his vision. 

He remembered the situation from a few moments ago. 

The smell of blood that pierced his nose and the cooling warmth of Ian Weaver.

“…Ugh…!”

Cynthia Lindberg, who was startled by Lee Hyun-woo’s vomiting, ran over to him quickly.

 Jackson Miller, who had a pale face, flinched and looked at Lee Hyun-woo. Raymond Wish’s eyes were fierce as he let out a sigh.

The vibration had subsided, but the atmosphere of the survivors was miserable.

Lee Hyun-woo only stared at his hands, which seemed to still be stained red even after he wiped them off. 

Jackson Miller was tormented by the warmth that he had missed a few moments ago. 

Cynthia Lindberg held Ian Weaver’s bag tightly and looked at the people.

“Let’s go.”

Raymond Wish said in a cold voice as he got up with Ian Weaver’s compass.

“We have to survive first, don’t we?”

…You shouldn’t say that…!

Song Yoo-jung and Lim Ye-na felt betrayed by Raymond Wish’s words, which were cold enough to drop icicles.

Cynthia Lindberg and Jackson Miller thought of their families waiting outside and got up from their seats without a word.

The only one who didn’t move was Lee Hyun-woo.

“Are you not going?”

“…”

Lee Hyun-woo remained silent, looking at his hands that still had traces of blood on them, even after Raymond Wish’s words.

It was dark without a flashlight, and in that place where nothing could be heard except for their footsteps, he wondered how much shock he had received in those few seconds. 

Lee Hyun-woo’s face, which was already pale, looked like he would faint at any moment.

He seemed to have completely lost his mind.

Raymond Wish clicked his tongue and took Ian Weaver’s bag from Cynthia Lindberg. 

Then he handed it to Lee Hyun-woo.

Lee Hyun-woo’s gaze moved from his palms to the yellow bag.

The former soldier Raymond Wish knew a good way to make him snap out of it in this situation.

“You take responsibility and deliver that bag to Ian’s family. Ian Weaver’s family must be waiting for even a shoe or a piece of clothing from Ian.”

Family.

Jackson Miller, who had been standing still with guilt, lifted his head at that word. 

It was Lee Hyun-woo’s trigger. 

It could have made the situation worse if he did it wrong.

“It’s better than having nothing.”

But fortunately, Lee Hyun-woo’s eyes regained some light at Raymond Wish’s words.

Lee Hyun-woo carefully hugged the yellow bag in his arms.

‘Brother. Do you want this?’

He saw a snack bag that Ian Weaver used to give him inside the slightly open bag.

Tears welled up in Lee Hyun-woo’s eyes. He felt like he could feel Ian Weaver’s warmth somehow.

Lee Hyun-woo got up from his seat with tears in his eyes and hugged the bag. 

Raymond Wish and the two people who were watching Lee Hyun-woo breathed a sigh of relief.

Their hearts were heavy. But as sad as it was that Ian Weaver had died, they had to move on to survive as Raymond Wish said. 

Cynthia Lindberg and Jackson Miller pushed their guilt aside and moved their feet.

The survivors walked along the narrow path. 

The atmosphere was silent without a word exchanged.

The one who broke the heavy silence was an unexpected person.

“Sister…”

“Huh? Yeah?”

Cynthia Lindberg was surprised by Lee Hyun-woo’s call and answered. 

Lee Hyun-woo’s voice also caught the attention of Raymond Wish and Jackson Miller.

“Do you know anything about Ian…’s family?”

Lee Hyun-woo asked in a faint voice, holding Ian Weaver’s bag preciously in his arms. 

It was so quiet that only their footsteps could be heard, so Cynthia Lindberg didn’t miss it.

“Oh, no. I work here… I was going to take Ian to the missing center because he was alone. This place is big and there is always at least one missing person every day. I was going to broadcast it, but…”

Ian was missing.

Jackson Miller’s face also darkened at Cynthia Lindberg’s story. 

He had a daughter. 

He unconsciously rubbed his hands on his pants, feeling Ian Weaver’s warmth still on them.

He felt like throwing up.

“…I see.”

Lee Hyun-woo nodded.

He had been in pain after losing his parents, but how scared Ian must have been.

And how desperately his parents, who had lost Ian, must have been looking for him… How sad they would be when they heard this news… Lee Hyun-woo felt a pain in his chest.

“…Then Ian’s family must be waiting for him to come back…”

Lee Hyun-woo’s gesture of holding the yellow bag became more careful.

He thought of the family of the child who was waiting for Ian Weaver and moved his feet. It was a heavy step mixed with responsibility and guilt.

***

“…Sigh…”

A sigh filled with meaning echoed in the small studio apartment of the two people.

It was the sigh that all the viewers who watched [Survivors-Director’s Cut] let out.