Chapter 100: New Year (3)

Kang Ra-Eun received the honor of earning the Top Excellence in Acting Award, but all that was in her mind was figuring out what to say. She stood in front of the mic with the trophy and a bouquet of flowers in hand.

“Uhh... Mm...” she stalled while recalling what the other actors had said in their speeches after winning their awards. “First... I’d like to thank Program Director Hwang Yun-Seong, Screenwriter Yeo Yu-Min, and all the staff members who made the production of Waitress?possible. Also, I’d like to share this honor with Ji Han-Seok sunbae, Yeo Song-Won sunbae, and all the actors who I’d worked alongside.”

There were more people that Ra-Eun couldn’t forget to mention.

“I’d also like to express my love to my family who I’m sure are watching this from home. Thank you very much once again for giving me such a huge award. I will do my best to become an actress who doesn’t disappoint my fans.”

She thought she had done rather well for something she had prepared on the spot. Director Hwang and Han-Seok congratulated Ra-Eun once she came down from the stage.

Ra-Eun smiled and looked toward Han-Seok. “I hope you also get an award, sunbae.”

It was weird that Han-Seok’s name had not been called yet despite playing a lead role in the most popular drama of the year. However, Director Hwang told Han-Seok not to fret.

“From what I can see, I think you’ll be a nominee for the Grand Prize, Han-Seok,” he expressed.

“Me?”

“I think so, judging from the flow of things. Don’t you agree?”

The Grand Prize of the Drama Awards was the greatest honor for an actor. Han-Seok had never once won the Grand Prize; the most he had won in his career was an Excellence in Acting Award. Not even he himself could believe that he was qualified for the Grand Prize.

“Come on. There are so many more outstanding actors than me,” Han-Seok remarked.

The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. Hence, Han-Seok cleared his mind. However, his name and performance playing in the video cassette recording of the Grand Prize nominees shook him greatly.

Director Hwang exclaimed, “Han-Seok! You’re a nominee for the Grand Prize!”

“No way...”

Not even Han-Seok himself could believe what he was seeing. He had never expected himself to become a Grand Prize nominee so early in his acting career. On the other hand, Ra-Eun went to go get a bouquet of flowers before the winner was announced, as if she already knew who would earn the honor.

“The honorable Grand Prize goes to... Mr. Ji Han-Seok! Congratulations!”

Burst—! Crack!

Fireworks cracked from all around to congratulate Han-Seok winning the Grand Prize. Han-Seok walked up to the stage in complete bafflement. Ra-Eun, Director Hwang and the other Waitress?production staff members followed to congratulate him on stage.

Han-Seok was extraordinarily happy because he had not even expected it a little. He walked up to the mic like Ra-Eun did for her award. He articulated his thoughts of winning the Grand Prize while holding back his emotions.

“Thank you very much for this honorable award. I will continue to do my best to grow into an even better actor!”

Ra-Eun clapped. She felt weird seeing her partner who had acted alongside her winning the Grand Prize.

Director Hwang then whispered to her, “Why don’t you aim for the Grand Prize next year, Ra-Eun?”

“Sure, if I come across a good production.”

Only by encountering a good production could she hope for awards, just like this moment.

***

After the awards ceremony, actors and those closely connected to the video content industry gathered at the afterparty venue. Ra-Eun had also attended the event last year. Although she had met Kim Chi-Yeol last year...

‘I don’t see him this year.’

Chi-Yeol had been swept by several scandals thanks to Ra-Eun, so he was nowhere to be seen. However, she could see someone else.

‘Noona’s here too.’

Now that Park Hee-Woo had been newly inaugurated as the vice president of TP Entertainment, she was walking throughout the venue to meet people. She then waved at Ra-Eun.

“Congratulations on your Top Excellence in Acting Award. But it’s a pity.”

Ra-Eun’s eyebrows slightly flinched. Was she trying to criticize her speech? No, nothing of the sort. Hee-Woo suddenly leaned right up to Ra-Eun with a wide smile and then whispered into her ear so that no one else could hear.

“I was actually hoping you’d win the Grand Prize.”

An actress winning the Top Excellence in Acting Award in her third year of acting was already a remarkable feat, but Hee-Woo had been evaluating Ra-Eun much higher.

‘Noona must have an extremely good impression of me.’

The same couldn’t be said for Hee-Woo’s little brother, but Ra-Eun decided not to mind it much. It was not like the relationship between Hee-Woo and Park Geon-Woo needed to improve for Ra-Eun’s revenge plan to be perfected.

“I hope you’ll work with us next year,” Hee-Woo expressed.

“Are you talking about a movie?”

“Yes. We decided to invest in Director Yoon Tae-Yoon’s next work. The director happens to be here; do you mind if I introduce you to him?”

Director Yoon Tae-Yoon was one of the most famous directors in the Korean film industry. He was known to have a strong personality. He did not follow the trends; he simply inserted his own unique ideas into his films, so there were many criticisms that his films were far too manic. However, as a result of the obstinate pursuit for his own path, he had proven that his unique tastes possessed commercial value.

‘At this time, I believe Director Yoon still hasn’t made a name for himself.’

Ra-Eun decided to accept Hee-Woo’s offer.

“I’d be honored.”

“Perfect. Just a second.”

Hee-Woo went somewhere. Ra-Eun sighed as Hee-Woo walked further and further away from her. Although Hee-Woo used to be her older sister, Ra-Eun still felt uncomfortable around her.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever spoken with Noona for this long.’

But like an actress should, Ra-Eun did not let her discomfort show. She was skilled enough to maintain a perfect poker face in front of Kim Chi-Yeol, and Hee-Woo was nothing compared to him.

“Ra-Eun!”

Like Hee-Woo had said, she had come with Director Yoon Tae-Yoon. The director first congratulated Ra-Eun for her Top Excellence in Acting Award. She had been congratulated so many times today that her ears were starting to hurt.

Hee-Woo’s chauffeur walked up to her as they were introducing themselves.

“Vice President, the chairman is asking for you.”

“Father is?”

.

“Yes. He asked for you to call him as soon as possible.”

Hee-Woo asked for Ra-Eun and Director Yoon’s understanding because something urgent seemed to have come up in the company.

“I’m sorry. It looks like I’ll have to leave first.”

The two people said it was okay. Rather, Ra-Eun was thankful that the person she was uncomfortable around was leaving of her own accord.

Director Yoon awkwardly spoke first after Hee-Woo left, “I’m not sure if the vice president had told you, but I’ve been coming up with my next work. The project proposal hasn’t been officially approved yet, but it’s highly likely that you will receive a casting offer.”

He was beating around the bush to say that he was hoping for Ra-Eun to take on the female lead role. There were tons of drama program directors and film directors hoping to cast her; she could tell from the enormous number of synopses that were sent to her right after Waitress?came to an end.

However, Ra-Eun was not planning on starring in just any drama or film. She would pick only productions that were foreseen to succeed.

‘There’s no need to walk down the hard path when I know the future.’

Considering that, she needed to abstain from starring in Director Yoon’s productions at this point in time. There was no need to star in his works until he started becoming a household name. She would just aim for his productions down the road.

‘I’ll just be satisfied with acquainting myself with him for now.’

Director Yoon politely requested Ra-Eun while having no idea of what she was thinking, “May I contact your agency as soon as the synopsis is complete?”

Ra-Eun smiled radiantly. “Yes, of course.”

Although, she would refuse as soon as she took a look at it.

***

After the Drama Awards ceremony, Ra-Eun spent the end of the year at home without going anywhere else. It was December 31st, 11:59 PM. The TV displayed numbers counting down.

- 10! 9! 8! 7!

“Let’s raise our glasses too, Ra-Eun,” Seo Yi-Seo said.

“Okay.”

The two girls decided to set the mood with soft drinks instead of alcohol since Ra-Eun couldn’t drink alcohol.

- 3! 2! 1! Happy New Year!

The people on the TV screen exclaimed celebrations for the new year. Ra-Eun and Yi-Seo also wished each other a happy new year.

‘And there goes another year.’

Ra-Eun realized as she was staring at the TV that four years of her life as a woman had gone by in a flash.

‘I remember being stumped on what to do at first.’

However, she was getting accustomed to it in her own right. She sincerely hoped for this year to go by without any problems like the previous three years had.

***

On January 1st, the monumental first day of the year, she received a call from Chief Jung.

- Ra-Eun. I received a call this morning from someone who wanted to send you a script. It’s from...

“Director Yoon Tae-Yoon, right?”

- Huh? You already knew?

“Yes. He told me about it during the Drama Awards afterparty.”

Ra-Eun was already aware that Director Yoon had been working on his next work and that he was hoping for Ra-Eun to star in it.

- That makes things quick, then. I still haven’t received the script yet; I was just told the general synopsis. But... sigh, I personally think it’ll be hard to make this movie a hit. It’s too difficult a genre.

“What is it about?”

Ra-Eun was quite curious about what sort of work that Director Yoon, who possessed unorthodox preferences, had brought to the table. She was extremely shocked by Chief Jung’s answer.

- Do you know what TS Fiction is?

Transsexual Fiction. Also known as gender bender, it was a genre of media where one’s gender was changed, either from a man to a woman, or vice versa. It was a fiction like the name suggested, but the problem was that from Ra-Eun’s perspective, it was a non-fiction.