Chapter 110: First Awards Ceremony

“Wow~ It’s totally packed?”

Hyunjae’s eyes widened at his first awards show.

“This is on the small side. Domes are no joke. Really pretty.”

“I wanna go there next time.”

“But those are mostly singer awards; actors don’t do them.”

“Really? Too bad.”

Having attended awards every year since debut, Taewoon casually explained.

“Huh? Your first awards?”

Jibin asked, seeing Hyunjae’s wonder.

“Yes, my first!”

“Why first?”

“I debuted this year?”

Of course first since debuting this year. Hyunjae spoke as if obvious, dumbfounded at Jibin.

“Ah, right. You’re a rookie? Wow~ Totally forgot.”

“Hyung!”

“You don’t look rookie at all.”

“How do I not look rookie?”

Totally fresh and new.

“Not at all?”

“No way.”

“Rookies are like…….”

“Hello! Sunbaenim. TMK!”

As Taewoon opened his mouth, men in white suits swarmed, bowing 90 degrees. Naturally toward Taewoon.

“Ah~ Hello. Nice to meet.”

Taewoon naturally stood, extending handshakes; they cautiously grasped with stiff faces.

“I dreamed of being an idol watching you…… Honor.”

“Oh? My fan?”

“Yes! Really…… My idol.”

“Haha, thanks.”

After light greetings, the idol group moved to their seats.

“See? That’s proper rookie vibe.”

“Hmm…….”

Didn’t seem much different from me—what’s the diff?

“Never mind.”

Taewoon gave up explaining at Hyunjae’s blinking confusion.

“But super close.”

Front row faces fully visible, audience and waiting seats so near.

“Yeah. Front sees everything…… Huh! My fan there!”

Jibin spotted a placard with his face.

“Foreign fan maybe?”

“Totally touched!”

Moved, Jibin smiled brightly, waving at the fan.

Hmm~ Wonder if I have fans?

Mostly idol lightsticks, but Hyunjae scanned diligently for fans.

“Huh?”

Then spotted the owner’s fan from the airport.

Unsure at airport, but seeing face again, 100% certain.

It’s her!

Like airport, with big camera.

Good to see you! Friend!

Wanted to greet missed at airport, kept looking at her; noticing, she took eyes off camera, looked up at him.

Doing well?

Mouthed if lips readable, asking how she’d been; she looked at him startled.

Knew she wouldn’t recognize me, but can at least greet?

Celeb perk: Greeting strangers, they think fan mistake, no weirdness.

“What? Found your fan?”

“No. Not fan, old friend I knew.”

“Friend?”

Taewoon turned head hard but couldn’t find her, obviously.

“Hyunjae, your fan there.”

“Huh? Where?”

“There.”

Jibin’s fingertip: Fan with English Hyunjae name placard.

“Wow! My fan~”

Spotting fan, raised hand—that moment lights out, grand music played. Glam dress/suit MCs appeared; finally awards began.

***

“Yes~ Shin Euna-ssi, congrats again.”

“Next…….”

Shin Euna received People’s Choice, descended stage.

“Wow~ When does this end?”

Singers alone long; with actors, inevitably longer.

“Where we at now?”

Heeyeon whispered, wary of sound in fancam.

“Just half-ish.”

“Already?”

“Yes? Unnie, already?”

Bored to death from uninteresting stages/speeches, unlike her; Heeyeon unaware how time flew.

“Mmm~ This song good? Hyung?”

“Summer all this song—you never heard?”

“No, first time? Good~”

Watching Hyunjae. How he enjoyed boring stages so much. Alone laughing, surprised, serious, myriad expressions focused on stage—he was fun.

“Yeah? Unnie, who shooting…… Unnie!”

Dongsaeng called; Heeyeon turned why.

“This unnie crazy. What doing~ Who shooting.”

Heeyeon’s camera captured not Seunghoon, but Hyunjae.

“Just caught eye, few shots.”

“Few shots…… Focus already there!”

Seunghoon background long ago, what talking.

“No.”

“Really deok-tong accident quitting?”

Heeyeon knew herself best.

Ah~ Gonna like him.

Felt since he smiled at her earlier. Confirmed watching speech.

“Anyway gonna stan, better fast as possible.”

“Now dreaming.”

“Me too.”

All this situation dreamlike.

“Startled. Thought you’d cry during speech.”

“Me too.”

Awards ended safely; hot topic undoubtedly my speech. Jibin and Taewoon started teasing right in waiting room.

“Probably only you almost crying at their award.”

“First award ever—emotional.”

“Thanks to that, camera on you lots.”

Me?

“Really?”

“Hosts giving award, celeb almost crying first time—how thrilled.”

“You should’ve cried too, hyung.”

“If rookie award like you, maybe consider, but seen celeb cry for Discovery of the Year?”

“Ah…… No such people?”

Discovery of the Year seems proud-worthy, but no criers apparently.

“Regrettably, that name award only here.”

“You guys to hotel?”

“Yes. Hyung not to hotel?”

“I gotta catch flight right away.”

“Huh? This late straight?”

Awards just ended, Taewoon said flight immediately.

“Yeah, comeback next Monday.”

“Huh? MV shot not long ago already out?”

Barely a week passed, that MV already?

“That’s why rushed you.”

“Ah, that’s why?”

“MV probably Wednesday release.”

“Got it. Listen song out, buy album too.”

Song good, planned listen anyway not just Taewoon.

“Taewoon-ah, flight time soon.”

“Yeah, going first. See in Seoul.”

Taewoon hurried with manager vanished; Jibin went greet Shin Euna from same project.

“Hyunjae, congrats.”

“Thanks…… Ack!”

Seeing Hayoon’s face, remembered. Omitted key people in speech.

“Aack! Hyung, sorry!”

“Huh? Why?”

“Should’ve mentioned hyung in speech—idiot forgot.”

“I’m fine.”

Not fine…… Ah! Uncle too! CEO too! Jiwoon’d say something sulky…….

Doomed.

Too kind this person fine-faced, but I not fine.

Numerous eyes on me thrilled. Standing where owner stood felt following owner’s footsteps.

So no time think speech, just spoke what came.

Exactly what owner said every acceptance speech.

“They’ll all understand.”

“Will they?”

Dunno…… Probably not. Already pictured their sulky faces.

“Hyunjae-ssi~ Meet here. Congrats on award today!”

“Ah, hello. Thank you.”

Taesoo, DreamN team lead who’d given business card, approached greeting. Many actors today, DreamN affiliated inevitable.

“Shocked seeing article—body okay?”

“Fine. Just IV after shoot, article exaggerated.”

“Anyway reporters problem, blow up nothing.”

“Ah…… Well…….”

“But agency job prevent such articles…….”

No response from me, he revealed intentions more blatantly; I realized.<|control12|>Chapter 109: Familiar Face

Looking down from above, one familiar face caught my eye.

Huh! That person!

And at the sight of the welcome face after so long, my expression brightened without me realizing, and my hand went up.

How long has it been? To meet here of all places! Good to see you!

She was holding a camera and slightly covering her face with a mask, but I could clearly recognize her face.

“Know someone?”

Seeing me greet so happily, Hayoon also looked where I was and asked.

“Ah? Over there! A fan.”

“A fan?”

“Ahaha, a fan-like person was waving, so I got excited without thinking.”

“Ah~ Then wave more.”

Hayoon encouraged more active fan service, and in the brief moment I looked away, she had disappeared somewhere.

The owner’s fan…… Why is she here?

She was the owner’s fan. A fan from his debut days, attending most official schedules, actively supporting, so even the manager knew her name and face—a die-hard fan.

*To meet in a place like this…….

A fan the owner loved so much, and who was kind to me too, so I wanted to at least greet her and ask how she’d been, but it was regrettable I couldn’t.

“Whoa? Careful.”

Descending the escalator toward the departure hall, a few people followed with phone cameras raised.

“It’s dangerous…… There’ll be time for photos before boarding later. Watch where you’re going.”

“It’s fine~”

“It’s okay!”

“I-I’m not okay…….”

I said photos later, but they didn’t lower their phones until the end.

“Hyunjae, are you feeling okay?”

“Ah~ I was fine from the start, no idea why the article came out like that. Really okay, so no worries.”

“Don’t get sick~”

“Of course. With everyone worrying like this, how could I?”

This incident taught me properly that if I got sick, it’d cause trouble everywhere.

“When does ‘Love Some’ filming end?”

“Not much left~ The drama’s really fun, so watch it when it airs!”

Didn’t miss the chance for drama promo in between, entered the departure hall, and boarded the plane.

“Here.”

“Yes!”

Perhaps because it was an awards show hosted by media, all celebrity and manager seats were booked in business class.

“Hyunjae~”

“Huh? Hyung?”

From the front seat, Jibin poked his head out and greeted.

“You’re going today too?”

“Where were you?”

“I didn’t see you either. So many celebrities, hard to spot.”

Even in this business section alone, half celebrities, half regular people.

“See you later~”

With many people around and a quiet atmosphere, we decided to chat later and sat down; I closed my eyes briefly.

“Hyunjae, we’ve arrived.”

“Mmm~ Yeees……!”

Not long after, Hayoon shook me awake, and we arrived in Thailand, where KAA was held.

***

“Wow~ Today was total hell! Reporters, pros, hommas…… Plus civilians mixed in, thought I’d die.”

“On days like today, better to just zoom from far away.”

Heeyeon had come to Thailand for proxy shooting work, and upon arriving at the hotel with her dongsaeng, they checked the photos taken.

“Unnie, this came out really well?”

“Expensive one, right?”

“Yes!”

She took previews of the decent photos and sent them to the hommas who’d requested proxy shooting.

“Unnie, fully booked again this time?”

“Yeah.”

Heeyeon hadn’t been active long, but in a short time, she’d gained fame as a golden hand, making a name in proxy shooting.

“Jealous, jealous. When will I get fully booked…….”

“You too, all but a few booked.”

“Nah~ They fell to me ’cause unnie books early.”

At her dongsaeng’s words, she smiled and kept flipping through photos.

“But unnie, who’s your fave?”

“Huh?”

“Female shooters’ roots are 100% stanning…… But unnie doesn’t seem to have a fave celeb.”

To the innocent question, Heeyeon just smiled.

“Who? NS? BVS? Or…… A-Teen?”

She listed names of famous male idols once so popular that not liking them made you a spy.

“All no.”

“Ahh~ Or discovered talent while shooting to promote a nugu idol?”

“Not that either.”

“What then? Who were you a fan of really?”

To her dongsaeng’s question, Heeyeon couldn’t answer. Jung Jaehyun. Three letters—most reacted with pity or said step in shit and cursed.

“Secret.”

Debut days follower Heeyeon knew. He absolutely wasn’t the type to do that.

“Ah~ Why~ So curious~”

“Dunno. Who you following tomorrow?”

For performances, assigned per team member, but for award show waiting seats, one person total.

“Taewoon! And a homma switching to big rookie scouting dumped on me.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah, unnie?”

“TwoX Seunghoon.”

“Hmm~ That one’s visual decent.”

“Hope he’s seated front.”

If behind, front celebs block, making shots usually hard.

“They won’t line actors front just to pamper?”

Sometimes neglected singers favoring actors, so slightly worried.

“M’s like that, but KAA no. I came last year—actors don’t sit long, come and go.”

“Really? Good then.”

“Ah~ Tomorrow snag legend pics and rake in cash.”

They planned to sell data for a solid haul.

“To snag legend pics, memorize some choreo paths at least.”

“I’m already pro. As long as no special stages just for awards…….”

“Q sheet not out yet?”

***

“Probably tomorrow morning?”

“Okay.”

The two resolved to snag legend pics tomorrow.

Next day, they entered the venue early.

“Wow~ View insane. Seat jackpot?”

Paid premium for seat, quite close to waiting area, front row.

“Closer than thought, gotta adjust well.”

“Lips visible? Perf for fancam.”

“Not bad.”

Such awards fun not just stages, but celebs flirting in waiting seats.

“Front row all cannons.”

Not just proxy shooters like them, but major idol group hommas heavily positioned.

“Well, not first or second time. Don’t get pushed mid. Foreign kids shove in.”

“They can’t beat me. How many tteokbokki plates I ate.”

“Haha, yeah. Then till start…… long wait.”

First in, they had to wait ages till awards start; after boring wait, celebs entered waiting seats.

“JL outfit today god-tier? Oh! Shin Euna!”

“Wow~ Actors def different. Really pretty.”

Dongsaeng admired recent high-teen historical drama actress.

“Now idols pretty like actors too, depends on styling.”

“I still…… Oh! Taewoon!”

At her target Taewoon’s appearance, dongsaeng raised camera immediately.

“Next to…….”

“Park Jibin.”

“Ah! Right! Park Jibin! ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ good response, probably came together.”

Taewoon sat with Jibin, camera captured the two.

“I like Jung Hyunjae best there…… Lately he’s the handsomest to me.”

“Handsome yeah.”

Heeyeon raised camera shooting JL, agreeing.

“Right? ‘Country Three Meals’ barefaced total hottie. Fell watching that. Kid’s cute.”

“Jung Hyunjae coming today I think?”

“Really?”

“Saw at airport yesterday.”

Waiting to shoot her idol’s departure, saw Hyunjae boarding from afar.

“Hul! Excited for irl, hope not cam eater…….”

“Not cam eater.”

“Really?”

“Saw from far, handsome.”

Not intending to look, but tall small face, celeb aura even distant.

And vividly remembered brightly smiling, greeting following fans.

“Mmm~ Anticipating!”

“But why TwoX not out?”

Cast emerged one by one filling empty waiting seats, now hardly any left.

“There six seats empty there?”

“Ah…… Why give such spot.”

Second row side. Not great for photos.

“Gonna be hell erasing front people.”

Heeyeon already annoyed thinking nukki front blockers.

“Even better than TwoX this year. Honestly Even ate it all this year.”

Her mentioned Even already front row, busy fan servicing front fans.

“Sigh but good not all blocked…… Hope short actress.”

Three-four seats empty front of TwoX spot, soon owners appeared.

“Huh! Jung Hyunjae!”

“Wow~ Handsome.”

“Who? Looking like that?”

At Hyunjae’s entrance, front people all looked, venue slightly buzzed.

“Damn, eye-opener feel.”

Dongsaeng expecting Hyunjae turned camera from Taewoon toward Hyunjae direction.

Handsome yeah.

Eyes high from Jaehyun, hadn’t thought anyone handsome while shooting, but acknowledged Hyunjae.

“Seunghoon shooting might catch together. Unnie if catch don’t toss, give me. For bias.”

“See.”

Handsome, but to Heeyeon shooting reason solely money, no need shoot Hyunjae.

“Taewoon moving there. Yes! Yeah, same drama, no way separate.”

Timely Taewoon and Jibin moved next to Hyunjae, ‘Today’s Fruit Shop’ three friends sat side by side.

“That drama lots otaku attached…… Snap pics boost followers maybe…….”

“Drama otaku lots?”

“Unnie didn’t know? V total chaos! Tons shipping those four relations.”

“Really?”

Whatever, Heeyeon quickly turned fancam on, snapping Seunghoon photos with camera.

That that, work work.

They not change shop? Hair what mess.

Randomly chopped hair bothering, coincidentally camera caught Hyunjae and eyes met.

What, looking at me now?

Could think just one of many cameras, but he clearly looked at her. Quite long too.

Over a minute looking at her, she took eyes off camera, lifted head looked at him; eyes met, he smiled brightly greeting.

Doing well?

Sparkling eyes, broad smile reminded…… of someone she’d loved.