I've Become A Genius Actor

1

It wasn’t a particularly lucky day.

In fact, Han Yooil’s life had always followed that trend. Not that he was complaining—he had long accepted that fortune didn’t favor him.

Today, in retrospect, wasn’t even that bad.

Yooil reassured himself as he glanced down at his shirt, now thoroughly soaked in coffee.

“Oh no, what should we do? I’m so sorry! It’s a white shirt, too. I’ll cover the cleaning costs,” the woman stammered.

“No, it’s alright,” Yooil replied.

The pungent smell of coffee seeping from his damp shirt should have been unpleasant, but he managed a faint smile. His clear eyes made the smile seem all the more melancholy.

The woman, still flustered, suddenly stopped moving and stared at his face, as though frozen in place.

“I live nearby. Don’t worry about it,” he said.

“Ah, yes… Wait, what?”

Yooil bowed his head slightly and walked out of the café, realizing that studying there today had been a mistake.

*I’ll sign up for a study room tomorrow. Maybe look into some online courses too*, he thought, sighing as he stepped outside.

The world seemed to demand money for every little thing, even breathing.

People were gathered under the blooming cherry blossoms, snapping photos of the pink petals that fluttered like snowflakes. The sight stirred something within Yooil, making his heart flutter faintly.

Having recently completed his mandatory military service, Yooil found himself facing a reality different from many of his peers. He had no parents, no siblings, and no money. Envy was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

Just then, someone collided with his chest, knocking him off balance.

Instinctively, Yooil bowed and apologized. But as he lifted his head, he felt an odd chill.

*Is it windy all of a sudden?* Yooil thought, pulling his shoulders in.

“Excuse me, are you Han Yooil?” came an unfamiliar voice.

He looked up to see a pair of sparkling eyes—only the eyes, as the rest of the person’s face was concealed by a unique white hood and a thin mask over his mouth. Cautiously, Yooil studied the man.

“Yes, that’s me. Who are you?”

“Whoa! Wow! This is amazing!”

The man leaped up, then abruptly grabbed Yooil’s hand.

Startled, Yooil flinched, unable to evade the grasp. The man’s hand was cold—unnervingly so. Despite it being mid-April, the man radiated a chill, as though he had been wandering outside in the dead of winter.

“Can I… Can I try it just once?” the man asked excitedly.

“What?”

“A handshake! Oh, this is a handshake, right?”

“Uh…”

Yooil’s hand was already being shaken up and down—though awkwardly, it still qualified as a handshake.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” the man exclaimed, his eyes practically glowing with excitement.

Before Yooil could utter another word, the strange man vanished—literally disappeared into the crowd in an instant. One blink, and he was gone.

“What… was that?” Yooil muttered, looking down at his hand.

*Life has its fair share of weird moments*, he thought, slipping his tingling fingers into his pocket.