Chapter 34: Red Carpet to Destiny

As Myungwoo’s words ended, silence fell in the director’s office.

“…What? Year-end awards?”

It lasted briefly; Park Hyoyeon asked with a trembling voice.

“Yes. The agency president said an invitation came for me.”

Myungwoo smiled brightly at Park Hyoyeon, who reacted first.

Then turned his head to Lee Yoohee.

-But unfortunately, instead of surprise, Lee Yoohee smiled brightly.

“Hmm, so that’s it. As expected.”

“As expected?”

“Yes, I somewhat anticipated. That you’d get formally invited to the year-end awards.”

“How……?”

This time, Myungwoo widened his eyes in surprise. Lee Yoohee winked playfully.

“This kid, what do you think I am? Top actor Lee Yoohee can’t predict that much? How many years in the acting world?”

…..Want to leak that outside now.

“What? You punk!”

At Myungwoo’s joke, Lee Yoohee pressed his head kkuk. Myungwoo laughed haha and thought.

‘Well, thinking about it, true.’

Lee Yoohee rolled in the acting world over 10 years. 

That much experience.

So predicting this not surprising.

He too, after some fame, roughly estimated who gets invited or wins by reviewing year’s works.

Seemed excitement from invitation blinded him to that. 

Myungwoo felt somewhat embarrassed.

“Fufu, sorry but that’s not enough to surprise me, Myungwoo-ya.”

“Saying that makes me want to surprise you more.”

“Oh my, challenge? Might not work?”

At Lee Yoohee’s playful provocation, Myungwoo grinned and faced her.

“Good. If I surprise Yoohee sunbae, grant one wish.”

“Hohoho, anytime!”

“Director teacher, you’re witness.”

Myungwoo turned to Park Hyoyeon. 

She alternated looking at them, then held her head with one hand.

“Yoohee-ya, you again…….”

“Ahaha! Why, Hyoyeon-ah. Fun!”

“Aigoo, do as you like. Yes, witness for you, Myungwoo-ya.”

“Promise.”

“Sure. Ah, I’ll cheer for Myungwoo. Want to see Yoohee lose once.”

“Whaat? Hyoyeon-ah! Cheer for me!”

“You always win, no fun.”

“What, means I’m that good?”

“Yes yes, great, top actor Lee Yoohee-nim.”

Park Hyoyeon and Lee Yoohee bickered in comedy routine.

Myungwoo stared brightly at smiling Lee Yoohee.

‘Really no different from old times.’

Loves pranks, teasing, bets like this.

In past life, close with Lee Yoohee, did such bets occasionally. She often bet with close ones.

And always Lee Yoohee won.

At this point, wonder if she only picks winnable fights, but no.

At least before results, winning chance visible.

Anyway, winning this bet for Myungwoo was pride matter.

‘Couldn’t win in past life, but this life…….’

Win. Will win.

Myungwoo burned with fighting spirit, grinned.

“Hey, Myungwoo really serious? Expression no joke.”

“Ahaha, rather good! Needs that for bet fun!”

Seeing such Myungwoo, Park Hyoyeon flustered; Lee Yoohee beamed.

“You too…….”

Park Hyoyeon looked at Lee Yoohee, shook head jeolle jeolle.

As always, peaceful days.

Time flowed more, to awards day.

***

Myungwoo early in manager’s car heading to venue.

Wore JB custom suit, face and hair more effort than usual.

‘Th-this…… my life’s masterpiece……..

Choo Siyoung who styled Myungwoo couldn’t close agape mouth at result.

‘First impression really different person.’

Last reaction too, but this much change rare.

“Huu, Myungwoo-ya, don’t tremble, can do well?”

“You seem more trembling than me, hyung.”

“Of course! First time even near awards venue!”

Myungwoo joked smiling at manager.

Manager really tense, face stiff.

“Don’t tense too much. Might come every year later.”

“What? Ev-every year?”

At Myungwoo’s casual words, manager’s eyes widened.

‘Ha, true, debut year invited, really every year possible……..

But Myungwoo’s words didn’t feel empty.

Manager glanced anew at Myungwoo.

‘At first, thought why assign handsome kid to me.

Turns out not just handsome kid, but lucky charm. Thought face alone would succeed, but acting that good too.

‘Keuheuk, thank you, president! Thanks, Myungwoo-ya!’

Manager inwardly infinite thanks to Kang Changsu and Myungwoo.

‘Long time here too.’

Venue nearing, manager’s heart beat faster; Myungwoo grew calm.

Natural. 

First in this life, but attended awards not once or twice.

‘Still the same.’

Before alighting, scanned around seuuk, red carpet laid as before, reporters camped around, actors strutting on red carpet.

Familiar scenery to Myungwoo.

Thinking that, he got out.

“Uh, Kang Myungwoo!”

“What?!”

Myungwoo alighting, stepping red carpet, reporters recognizing shouted here and there.

Chalkak chalkak chalkak chalkak-

Then, flash baptism after 10+ years greeted Myungwoo.

‘Ah’

Chalkak chalkak chalkak-

‘Feels good.’

Camera sounds grazed ears. In center, Myungwoo stepped red carpet confidently.

“Wow, really handsome…….”

“Child actor that handsome okay……?”

“Insane really.”

Amid ringing camera sounds, admirations from everywhere. 

Couldn’t close mouths seeing suited, stylish Myungwoo.

Thus Myungwoo walked red carpet, stood photoline. 

He smiled wide, raised hand, flashes poured fiercer than before.

Chalkak chalkak chalkak chalkak-

Blinding lights, but not first time.

Myungwoo blinked not once, posed skillfully, then down photoline.

“Oppa!”

“Came?”

“Ah, Inha-ya, Seungha hyung.”

Down photoline, heading to <Alley Childhood Friends> members gather, Jung Inha and Jo Seungha greeted first.

“Wow, oppa super cool today!”

“Haha, thanks, Inha-ya. You pretty too.”

“Hehe, really? Thanks!”

Not lie, cute mini dress full set Jung Inha fairy-like pretty cute.

Myungwoo smiled brightly, stroked her set hair carefully not to ruin.

“Hm, me, how, Myungwoo-ya?”

“Hyung cool too.”

Jo Seungha same. Rascal but famous for face. Full set, handsome obvious.

“Right? Haha, hm, you you cool too.”

“Thanks.”

Myungwoo smiled brightly at Jo Seungha’s praise.

‘Wow, oppa really handsome..’

‘Tch, I get called handsome a lot too, why he handsomer than me?’

Seeing Myungwoo’s smile, Jung Inha and Jo Seungha’s thoughts crossed.

“Oh my, Myungwoo! Long time!”

Next greeting Yoo Chaeyoung’s.

“Ah, Chaeyoung sunbae, hello.”

“Oh my oh my, Myungwoo, noticed even without makeup, but with, really no joke? Make many girls cry~”

“Haha, what, thanks for praise.”

“Ahaha, that attitude same too!”

Yoo Chaeyoung smiled wide, patted Myungwoo’s shoulder tuk tuk. 

Myungwoo smiled back at lively her.

“Myungwoo-ya, hi.”

“Long time, Myungwoo-ya.”

“Ah, hello. Sunbaes.”

Brief greetings with adult role actors, his and Jo Seungha’s, Myungwoo sat among kids.

“Oppa, <Alley Childhood Friends> reaction really no joke? Saw viewer board?”

“Ah, yes, saw. Really amazing.”

“Especially oppa, people said tons about. Really shocked seeing?”

“Haha, yeah?”

“Yes! Obvious? Debut child actor this year that influence? Doesn’t make sense?”

“Haha, true, just grateful.”

At Jung Inha’s fuss, Myungwoo awkward smile.

‘Well, amazing.’

Famed in <Black and White Mask>, then next <Alley Childhood Friends> debut, this attention.

With past life face and initial acting, unimaginable start.

“Oppa, really get rookie award here?”

“What? Haha, so many great actors, how me?”

Not wrong. KBC dramas including miniseries not one or two, debut rookies plenty.

“No matter, no rookie rising like oppa! Oppa level really deserve?”

“Thanks for thinking good, Inha-ya.”

“True though…….”

At Myungwoo’s lukewarm, Jung Inha pouted burutung.

But Myungwoo not rash even at her hype.

‘Expect then disappoint enough in past life.’

How many awards expected then disappointed in past.

Many works, invited every year, but not win every year.

Thus repeated expect-disappoint, already numb.

No, more accurately, don’t want to expect anymore.

Tired of such emotions.

“Oh my, Myungwoo, why think so lukewarm?”

“Yes?”

Overhearing, Yoo Chaeyoung butted in.

“Inha fussing though not her business, Myungwoo’s attitude too tepid. Seems not pretending for image.”

“Haha, many better than me, how sure.”

“Hmm, really?”

Yoo Chaeyoung’s eyes curved interestedly seeing sincerely thinking no, smiling Myungwoo.

“Well, we’ll see.”

-Yes! Then starting 20XX KBC Acting Awards now!

And finally, first year-end awards as Kang Myungwoo raised curtain.