Life is Easier If You’re Handsome

Lee Jinseok, an orphan like Bong Jinwoo, was initially indifferent in tone.

“Ah, thank goodness!”

As soon as the intermission started, he quickly dashed to the bathroom and came back.

The break was supposed to be about 20 minutes.

He thought about the possibility of a long line and how he might be late for the performance.

Rustle rustle.

Inside the bustling theater, sounds of something moving could be heard behind the concealed stage curtain.

Perhaps it was time to set up the stage?

I couldn’t wait to see what kind of performance would unfold.

And he vaguely understood the differences between the King, the Foolish Tree, the Volcano, and the stylish one.

After all this is over, he thought he’d have to explain it to the kids if they didn’t understand.

Filled with excitement, Lee Jinseok’s gaze darkened again.

He confirmed that all the kids were seated and prepared for the next stage to begin.

The curtain slowly rose.

The first thing that caught his eye was a background reminiscent of the desert.

“I hope this doesn’t end in collapse.”

A pilot dressed in tattered clothes gazed quietly at the swirling sandstorm.

There was nothing else he could do.

His body felt utterly weak,

And all he could do was lean against the half-destroyed airplane.

He had run out of food and water, and now he truly had no strength left.

“If I had known I would die like this, I should have tried harder back then.”

Regrets from his past flooded back.

“Why couldn’t I just apologize back then? I didn’t have to say it that way.”

Despite being able to rephrase and say nice things, he regretted being harsh simply because they were close and familiar.

“If someone could just give me one more chance….”

But such fortunate things didn’t exist.

Everything has an ending, and most of those endings are not chosen by oneself.

Thus, the pilot slowly closed his eyes.

No, he tried to.

“Why are you lying down?”

At the pure question, his eyes flew open.

The pilot immediately indulged his desires.

“Water, please… If only I had water….”

“Why do you need water?”

A metallic sound came from his dry throat, but the pilot did not stop answering.

He didn’t even have the energy to wonder why someone would ask that.

As if ready to grant anything the other wanted,

The pilot reached out with desperate hands.

“Ah, I haven’t been able to drink or eat anything… It’s been three whole days… Please, water….”

“If I give you water, what will you give me in return?”

At that statement, he couldn’t respond at all.

He had no strength left to speak.

And seeing that, the Young Prince poured water over the pilot’s head.

Splash splash splash!

How much did he pour?

The pilot’s cracked face began to regain life.

Cough cough.

With the moisture replenished, his cough turned livelier than before.

“…If it’s what my benefactor desires, I’ll do anything.”

As soon as the pilot regained his senses, he immediately promised to repay.

“Why do you regret living on such a beautiful star?”

The Young Prince blurted out the question he had been holding in.

“Regret? What do you mean by regret?”

“You said earlier you would have done better back then; isn’t that regret?”

“Yeah, you’re right. That’s regret.”

“I’m just curious about the reason.”

“Is that all?”

“Huh?”

“Are you saying that is all as repayment for the water?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The pilot looked up at the Young Prince with a surprised expression.

When he thought about it, his attire was indeed out of place for a desert.

Both his appearance and clothing seemed like something out of another star’s world.

‘Is this a dream?’

The pilot quickly slapped his cheeks.

It couldn’t possibly be a dream.

“I received an overwhelming amount of love when I was young. But I took it for granted.”

In fact, it didn’t matter whether it was a dream or not.

Since he had received a favor, he had to repay it, that fact remained unchanged.

So the pilot began to tell his story.

“So, I just left home. I thought I was someone who would be welcomed anywhere; I thought everyone would be kind to me.”

“But weren’t they?”

“No, they weren’t. Just look at me. I was alone, collapsed in this desolate desert.”

“

The pilot felt that this might be his last moment.

So he regaled his long life story.

From his childhood tales to becoming an adult and a pilot.

All these moments were portrayed on stage through the performances of supporting characters.

And during each instance, the pilot mentioned his regrettable moments one by one.

“Why did you say such things back then?”

The Young Prince pried into those uncomfortable moments.

For instance, when he fought with his girlfriend and she suddenly burst into tears.

When the pilot admitted to regretting his inaction during that moment, it was like the Young Prince was asking why he let her cry.

“At that time, I thought that was the right thing to do. If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have said it that way.”

“Listening to you, I also recall some things I left behind.”

“The things you left behind?”

“But I don’t know why.”

The pilot shrugged at the Young Prince’s words.

“So you have some regrets too.”

“Regrets? Me? What regrets could I possibly have?”

“Well, that’s something you have to figure out for yourself. But could I ask if you have any food?”

“I do. I have some fruits that might suit my taste, but I don’t know if others will like them.”

“You have water, food, and even a knife? You’re quite well-prepared.”

“I know. I noticed it when I was leaving.”

“Someone must be looking out for you; there are people who care about you very much.”

“….”

Upon hearing that, the Young Prince felt a tickling sensation inside him.

What could it be?

The Young Prince handed the pilot some food and hastily left that place.

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to leave this strange blue star.

But that didn’t mean he left right away.

Before leaving, the Young Prince one last time went to see the roses bloom in all their glory.

As Jang Geonho’s narration gradually changed.

Amidst the colorful blossoming roses, the pilot had vanished.

What replaced him were the fox and countless roses hiding their faces.

As soon as the fox saw the Young Prince, it immediately began to threaten him.

Because beside the fox were many little ones.

“Get away! If you come closer, I’ll bite!”

Reacting instinctively to the threat, the Young Prince drew his sword.

The sword, adorned with a volcano’s image, pointed straight at the fox.

“Why are you so angry? I haven’t done anything yet.”

“If I get angry, it’ll be too late! This is a warning!”

Upon hearing that, the Young Prince suddenly realized why the volcano was angry.

He also understood that the reason he possessed food was because of the Foolish Tree.

And at the same time, he heard the chatter of the countless roses.

“Look at me, look at me, am I not the most beautiful?”

“No, you should look at me. Hurry up and take care of me, don’t leave me lonely.”

They spoke the same words as the roses on his own star.

But there was one clear difference.

“…You’re not beautiful at all.”

Why did the roses back on his own star seem so beautiful?

Why did he come so far, leaving that beauty behind?

In hindsight, the Young Prince finally understood what he regretted,

What the pilot meant when he said time could not be reversed.

He clearly understood.

“Why is it that we don’t realize the value of things when they are close?”

The difference between the King and the Foolish Tree was clear.

The King cared for himself, while the Foolish Tree had to grow for the Young Prince.

And the difference between the Stylish One and the Volcano was also distinct.

The Stylish One got angry for himself, but the volcano’s rage was to protect the Young Prince.

Just like how the fox growled to protect its young ones.

It had to always be attuned to avoid the worst situations.

“I have to go.”

The Young Prince said that while looking up at the sky.

The small star shining brightly and the moon appeared infinitely small when viewed from Earth.

He realized his story resided on that little star.

Though it seemed small, it was filled with things that were high, distant, and precious.

It was something he could only know by being far away from what was dear to him—

The story of his star and its moon.

Suddenly, the Young Prince longed for everyone who had been on his star.

The Young Prince sheathed his sword and slowly passed by the fox.

He moved past the fox, through the rose garden.

Because he realized what was important.

In the blink of an eye, the Young Prince returned to his planet.

As the Young Prince walked, the stage rotated, instantly changing the background and structure.

To the place he first saw.

Where the Foolish Tree, the ever-angry volcano, and the roses were.

“Look! It’s the Young Prince! You’re back! How was your journey?”

Despite his harsh words, the Foolish Tree was still thinking of him.

“Did you get hurt? You went off so suddenly; it worried me! Tell me if you got hurt!”

The volcano was angry, worrying about its own safety.

And then.

“You’ve come back; thank you for returning. I was worried about how I would handle it if I couldn’t see you.”

Even with that exhausting statement, he still saw the rose looking at him.

Even after speaking so coldly, you still treated me warmly.

The Young Prince embraced the rose with a warm smile.

Suppressing the tears that were welling up,

Even as tears flowed freely, he left them be.

“Rose, my beloved, my one and only rose.”

Amidst the many roses that wouldn’t mind what he said,

He held tightly to the most beautiful rose that was his.

The Young Prince slowly apologized.

“I really… I’m so sorry for being so cruel to you.”

Hearing that, the Foolish Tree and the volcano slowly approached and embraced the Young Prince tightly.

With a grip that felt like it might crush him,

He held the rose tightly in his arms, and the Young Prince stayed like that for a while.

Though they appeared to have nothing in common,

They were a family united in heart.

With the narration concluded, the stage lights slowly dimmed.

As the stage fell into darkness, the curtain descended slowly.

And simultaneously.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

The sound of applause erupted immediately.

Moments later, curtain call began.

The actors stood at the front of the stage sporting bright smiles, all of them surprised.

The theater’s lights revealed the children’s eyes glimmering red, as if they might burst into tears at any moment.

“…They’re smiling brightly.”

They were clapping with clear smiles on their faces.

“This is just the beginning.”

“Eh?”

“Now that the first performance is done, the real thing starts from here.”

Upon hearing Kim Donghu’s words, Bong Jinwoo snapped to attention.

‘Come to think of it, that’s true.’

He had just followed along with the curtain call greeting.

But realized he hadn’t performed for the general public yet.

‘If this is enough for kids, how well will it resonate with adults?’

With that curiosity, the first performance of [The Tale of Stars and Moons] came to a successful close.

++++++

Thus began the second week of general admissions.

ㄴㅋㅋ If you don’t watch [The Tale of Stars and Moons], you’re missing out on life!

ㄴThis is true ㅇㅇ

ㄴMaybe a work that hits over a million in the theater will come out again after a long time;;

Korea was swept up in the [The Tale of Stars and Moons] craze.

ㄴIf you have the money and time, go to the Arts Center right away.

ㄴBecause the Young Prince is there, looking gorgeous.

ㄴEven if he’s not, go!

ㄴBecause it’ll be an amazing experience, for sure ㅇㅇ