An Actor Who Has Lived For 10,000 Years [EN]: Chapter 147

147. #27 – The Temperature of the Year-End (5)

“Long time no see!”

Before the awards ceremony began, the actors and staff who had worked together on ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’—including the director and writer—arrived. We greeted each other with joy, happy to reunite after so long.

“Both Hee-sung and Min-young from our team are nominated for the Best New Actor award. I’ve already achieved my dream. Haha,” Director Song Dong-gyu said, looking at Shin Min-young and me with a proud expression.

I replied, “It’s all thanks to you, Director.”

“I don’t know who will receive it, but if the Best New Actor award is going to be given, I hope it stays within our team. Let’s all congratulate whoever gets it.”

“Of course,” I said.

Director Song looked between Shin Min-young and me, smiling. “It would be perfect if Hee-sung wins Best New Actor and Min-young wins Best New Actress. I’ll pray hard.”

As we talked, the lights in the venue began to dim one by one.

“Looks like the awards ceremony is about to start,” someone said.

Soon, a staff member’s voice confirmed it, and everyone took their seats. All the lights were turned off, and the screen displayed the live TV broadcast, currently showing commercials.

Everyone on set held their breath, staring at the screen.

“Okay, here we go. 3, 2… 1!”

Pop-!

The screen switched, and the opening video began to play. Then, the stage lights shone brightly.

♪♪.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

The sound of fast BPM [beats per minute] music made my whole body tingle. Five idols stood under the stage lights, beginning their dance.

“Kyaa!”

Behind our seats, dozens—no, hundreds—of audience members cheered for the idols. The music and cheers made my heart beat faster. We clapped along, watching the stage.

I was here as a nominee for the Best New Actor award. Even if I didn’t win, just being here was a joyful and new experience. So many actors and familiar faces I hadn’t seen in a long time… and the fact that I was in this place I had only ever seen on TV was quite pleasant and thrilling.

This was the festival of actors that I had always dreamed of, and participating in it made me smile.

Seo In-woo reached out and nudged me. “Sunbae [senior colleague], you know I really like that group, right?”

Seo In-woo’s eyes seemed filled with emotion. I looked at his face and burst out laughing. Before I knew it, Seo In-woo’s face—holding both hands tightly and watching the stage—and my face, laughing at him, were caught on camera.

That scene made all the actors and the audience burst into laughter.

I had always thought the year-end acting awards, as seen on TV, had a slightly solemn atmosphere with added weight, quite different from the entertainment awards. But being here in person felt quite different from what I had imagined.

When someone received an award and gave their acceptance speech, everyone naturally focused and congratulated each other without any chatter or distractions. But during commercials or video segments, there were plenty of opportunities to chat with other actors and build friendships.

Actors usually don’t have many chances to get close to one another. Of course, those with outgoing personalities can create opportunities to become friends even if they don’t have them. But for someone like me, who goes from set to home and back again, it’s not easy to even find a place to meet unless we’re working on the same project.

But here, there were actors I was seeing for the first time, and so many actors I admired were gathered in one place. I exchanged greetings and even exchanged numbers with them, expanding my network. This opportunity felt so precious to me.

In addition, during the congratulatory performances in between awards, the actors didn’t just watch with serious expressions. They enjoyed the stage together, clapping, cheering, and creating a festive atmosphere.

As the awards ceremony continued, I felt like I was inside the TV. I couldn’t stop smiling at the dreamlike feeling.

***

Among the award ceremony sequence, the Best New Actor award is presented relatively early. So, after the acting awards started, it didn’t take long for the Best New Actor award to be presented.

Looking to the side, I saw Shin Min-young drinking bottled water with a nervous face. There were already two empty water bottles piled up in front of her. In contrast, I didn’t feel nervous at all. Of course, I would be happy if I received the award, but apart from that, I was already thrilled and felt like I was in a dream just by being here. I couldn’t ask for more.

I thought it didn’t make sense to attend my first acting awards and even win an award. This year, I decided to focus on the significance of having grown one step just by being able to be here.

The male and female hosts in charge of the proceedings stood side by side, smiling. They looked at the camera.

“Next, we will meet the nominees for the Best New Actor award. And here are the people who will help with the awards.”

“Yes, we will invite the actors who received the Best New Actor award last year to present the awards. Please welcome them with a big round of applause.”

At their introduction, two actors who had won the Best New Actor award the previous year walked to the center of the stage.

“Waaaaah!”

Cheers erupted as they walked. The male and female actors exchanged lines from the prepared script and led the conversation. After talking for a bit, they said,

“Then let’s meet the Best New Actress nominees first this year. Please show the nominee videos!”

With that comment, the videos of this year’s Best New Actress nominees were played on the big screen. There were a total of four nominees: the rookie actress from the drama that recorded the highest viewership ratings among the dramas from MBS [a fictional broadcasting station], Shin Min-young, who worked with me, and two other nominees.

Shin Min-young, who was sitting next to me, was smiling at the camera. But unlike her relaxed smile on screen, when I glanced at her, she seemed extremely nervous. Her eyelashes were fluttering, and she twitched her constantly drying lips. She took a deep breath and exhaled audibly.

Before long, the Best New Actress award was announced.

“Okay, I’ll announce it without dragging it out.”

“Yes, it’s the Best New Actress award.”

The scene became as quiet as a mouse at their words on stage. I fixed my gaze on their mouths.

“Congratulations. Actress Park So-ra, who played Kim Hyun-hee in the drama ‘After the Festival’!”

Another actress was named for the Best New Actress award, not Shin Min-young. Shin Min-young’s face unknowingly contorted. However, seeing herself being filmed, she quickly straightened her brow and smiled. Park So-ra went on stage and gave her acceptance speech.

Shin Min-young, next to me, sighed as if the ground was sinking beneath her and drank the remaining bottled water in succession.

A moment later, Park So-ra’s acceptance speech ended.

“Next, we should meet the Best New Actor nominees, right?”

“Yes, shall we first meet the Best New Actor nominees with a VCR [videocassette recorder, referring to a video clip]?”

Pop-!

The Best New Actor nominee video started on the screen. There were a total of five nominees, including me. There were so many strong candidates. Moreover, since there was one more candidate than the female candidates, the competition was even fiercer.

‘Temptation of the Other Woman’ received a lot of love, but with the fact that Shin Min-young didn’t win an award, I calmed my mind a little more. It wasn’t that she didn’t receive it, so I had hope that I could receive it. The thought that someone else from another drama might win this year dominated my mind, especially since actors who were already popular were nominated.

I smiled at the camera, thinking I should congratulate whoever it was. The faces of the five actors, including me, were displayed on the screen.

“I will announce it. Best New Actor….”

“Yes, it’s the Best New Actor award. Only one person will receive the award this time. That is…!”

The scene exclaimed at their drawn-out announcement.

“Ah ah!”

The presenters smiled at the sound that burst from the audience.

“I’ll really announce it. Best New Actor, the person who received a lot of love: Jin Hee-sung from ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’!”

“Congratulations!”

At that moment, my mind went blank, and I froze in my seat. No way.

My surprised face, with my mouth wide open, was caught on the screen.

“Kyaa!”

“Jin Hee-sung!”

At the cheers that erupted from the audience and the calls of my name, I shook my head and got up from my seat. Our drama team, including Seo In-woo, screamed and clapped their hands. As I bowed my head and approached the stage, the fellow actors around me applauded and offered congratulations.

“Congratulations.”

“Wow, Hee-sung. Congratulations.”

I bowed my head and hurried up the stairs. I received a trophy and a bouquet of flowers. Standing in front of the microphone, I looked at the many actors and the audience. I don’t think my heart has ever beat this fast in my life.

After taking a long breath, I took a step toward the microphone. And after swallowing and clearing my throat, I said, “Ah, hello. This is Jin Hee-sung from ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’.”

Applause and cheers erupted at my greeting, but the view in front of me was only blurry and bright. Not everyone’s face came into clear view. I was so nervous that I couldn’t remember any of the acceptance speeches I had practiced. At that moment, I started blurting out whatever came to mind.

“I really didn’t think I would receive an award… I can’t think of anything to say right now. Haha, first of all, I would like to say that I am grateful and honored to be invited to the MBS Acting Awards and to receive the Best New Actor award.”

I moved one step to the side of the microphone and bowed deeply. Then I approached the microphone again and continued my speech.

“After I became an actor, this is the first time I’ve been invited to such an awards ceremony, so I waited for today with a trembling and nervous heart every day, because the acting awards have always been a broadcast that I only watched on TV at home at the end of the year.”

Some actors looked at me with a satisfied smile at my words. Those faces were caught on the screen.

“I envied it every year while watching the broadcast, and I strengthened my will as an actor, wondering when I would be able to go to such a place. I tried to act while burning with that desire. Eventually, I am standing in this place today, holding this valuable Best New Actor trophy.”

Applause poured out again. I took a breath and said, “I think this year was a particularly special year for me. I want to thank Director Song Dong-gyu and writer Kim Han-na, who let me be a part of ‘Temptation of the Other Woman’….”

.

.

.

“The Best New Actor award is an award that can only be received once in a lifetime, so I think it is even more valuable and precious. As much as it is a valuable award, I will try and try again to become an actor who is crazy about acting and the best actor, so that I don’t become a disgrace to this award in the future.”

I quickly spat out the words and looked around. The host in the progress seat held the microphone and said to me, “Actor Jin Hee-sung, you can take your time to say your impressions.” Since it was still early, he told me to tell everything calmly and informed me of the time.

I nodded and continued. “I would like to say thank you to my parents, who cherish, support, and love me more than anyone else, and my manager, Ji-hoon hyung [older brother or close male friend].”

I looked up at the fans in the audience and smiled. “Lastly, to the ‘Jin Hee-sung Peak Season’ fans who are always there for me!”

When I mentioned the fans, cheers erupted from my fans in the audience.

“Kyaa!”

“Oppa [term used by females to address older male figures]!”

I raised the corners of my mouth and opened my mouth while fixing my gaze on them. “I will always work hard to become a proud actor, not an embarrassing actor, for my fans. Thank you so much, and I love you so much.”

Then I came to the side and shouted again while bending over, “Thank you!”

I went down behind the stage and walked back to my seat. The camera moved to the next award nominees, not me. But one person was staring at me as I walked to my seat: Shin Min-young. She was biting one side of her lip and looking at me with intensity in her eyes. Jealousy was dripping from her eyes.

At that moment, her eyes and mine met in the air. I responded with a smile to her frown. As I raised the corners of my mouth, Shin Min-young glared at me and quickly averted her gaze.