SDM 67
by Sorai“You can stay longer.”
“What for? It’s an empty house.”
“Make sure to watch the awards ceremony today.”
“…”
In truth, Seong-woon rarely watched award ceremonies. To avoid feeling petty jealousy over what wasn’t his, it was easier to pretend such events didn’t exist.
“…You don’t have to watch if you don’t want to.”
“No, I’ll watch. You’ll win an award, right? Have you prepared an acceptance speech?”
He tried to hide his deep scars with forced calmness and playfulness. It seemed pointless, but still… if it could ease Baek Sang-hyun’s mind, old wounds were nothing.
“It’s the same every year, so there’s not much to prepare.”
“Really?”
“But this year…”
Baek Sang-hyun, who had put on his shoes, quietly looked down at Seong-woon who had come to the entrance. Knowing what would come next without even looking, Seong-woon closed his eyes, and Baek Sang-hyun captured his lower lip.
As if his lips were fruit jelly, Baek Sang-hyun sweetly sucked on them, alternating between top and bottom. But that alone was now a bit… frustrating and not enough, so Seong-woon wrapped his arms around Baek Sang-hyun’s neck and pulled him closer.
When Seong-woon pushed his tongue between Baek Sang-hyun’s slightly awkwardly bent lips, the arms around his waist pulled him in almost painfully tight.
“Hah…”
He really doesn’t seem to know his limits. The tongue exploring his mouth made it hard to breathe. Just as his back gently hit the shoe rack, Baek Sang-hyun’s phone started ringing loudly.
“It’s from the manager…”
“Is that important right now?”
With a face pretending to be all kinds of cute, Baek Sang-hyun complained and endlessly kissed Seong-woon’s mouth and cheeks.
“It tickles.”
With eyes dripping with lingering affection, Baek Sang-hyun opened the door to leave but came back to give a quick kiss on the cheek. Even after finally going outside, he kept staring until the door closed completely. It was hard to tell if he was doing this because he liked it or if he was keeping watch.
Only after hearing the sound of the door locking did Seong-woon sit down, holding his head. It’s really not good for the heart. He definitely couldn’t have dreamed of dating before his body recovered. Thinking of the smartwatch that used to beep warnings with just one kiss made him even more embarrassed.
“…Let’s go home.”
Seong-woon’s eyes widened more than usual as he picked up his phone, which had been neglected since coming here, and was about to call his manager from the call log.
A late night call from “Dad”, but there was a trace of it being answered rather than missed. It was a short call of about 1 minute… Could Baek Sang-hyun have answered it? That must be it, right?
Though he was dying to know what conversation took place, Seong-woon couldn’t ask unnecessary questions to someone who was going to attend the awards ceremony. Deciding to check later, this topic that he temporarily set aside evaporated from Seong-woon’s mind, pushed aside by bigger matters.
* * *
After having a huge dinner that didn’t even need to be a feast, Seong-woon sat around in the living room with his family. Perhaps because he was now aware that this was his family, such times were not particularly uncomfortable.
After eating a few strawberries, his father smiled contentedly and kept offering one after another, so he must have eaten almost 1kg.
Is even the fruit different in a chaebol household? He didn’t know strawberries could be this sweet, but they were as sweet as if sprinkled with sugar, and the aroma was so good that he kept eating them.
“Have some tangerines too.”
Last time, his father peeled the small tangerines with his large hands, but this time it was his eldest brother. Seong-woon received the bright yellow tangerine from Haeyun and put it in his mouth piece by piece.
“Are we watching the Acting Grand Prize?”
Ho-yoon, who had just gotten off work from his studio, sat down next to Seong-woon and quickly peeled and ate three tangerines, and Ha-yoon glared at Ho-yoon who had taken his seat.
Ignoring the commotion, Chang-yoon once again offered Seong-woon a strawberry, stabbing it with a fork.
“I’m full.”
“Are you only not eating what I’m giving you?”
“That’s not it… I really ate a lot.”
“Just one more.”
Though he shook his head, it wasn’t enough to break Chang-yoon’s stubbornness. I’m going to die from bursting after being loved so much. Complaining about being full, Seong-woon just opened his mouth to eat the strawberry Chang-yoon offered.
“Sweetie, is it okay if you don’t go to bed early today?”
At his mother’s affectionate concern, Seong-woon smiled lightly and nodded.
“Yes, let’s listen to the New Year’s Eve bell with mom and dad today before going to sleep.”
“Okay.”
“I’m glad you’ve become much healthier.”
Her words, spoken while holding his hand tightly, were full of relief. Seong-woon just watched TV while letting his mother hold his hand without any complaint.
After the Best Couple, Popularity Award, and Excellence Award, it seemed the Top Excellence Award announcement would be soon. This year, the KBC weekend drama unexpectedly did poorly, so Baek Sang-hyun’s chances of winning the Grand Prize seemed higher than expected.
“But why are we watching this…”
“It’s because of Baek Sang-hyun, right?”
“Be quiet and watch. Our youngest wants to see it.”
What’s the point of lowering your voices, I can still hear everything. With his brothers’ bickering in the background, Seong-woon smiled a bit shyly and quietly watched Baek Sang-hyun being interviewed.
He said he doesn’t swell up, and it seems to be true. Even this morning his eyelids were swollen and red, but now there was no trace of it. Baek Sang-hyun, smiling sweetly with lowered eyes, seemed like he would smell of sunlight rather than moonlight.
“…Baek Sang-hyun is handsome too.”
“Hey.”
Ho-yoon bristled at Ha-yoon’s comment that popped out.
“Of course our Chae-yoon is the most handsome.”
“That’s true.”
“Isn’t Chae-yoon pretty?”
“These days they call that handsome-pretty.”
“Handsome-pretty.”
Don’t teach such words to the company president! But if he intervened here, he would have to receive a lot of praise disguised as compliments again, so Seong-woon decided not to get involved.
“But isn’t Chae-yoon attending the awards ceremony?”
“Why would I go to an awards ceremony…”
“You acted in a drama and did commercials and a movie!”
At Ho-yoon’s question, all the family members’ gazes focused on him. Seong-woon was rendered speechless with his family’s reasoning. The movie hasn’t even been released yet, the drama was just a minor role, and what does the commercial have to do with anything?
“I already had Chae-yoon’s tuxedo fitted.”
“Hyung, I told you not to get ahead of yourself!”
“In a bright navy color.”
“Then I’ll have a black one made for him!”
“No… I won’t have any occasion to go to an awards ceremony in the first place…”
Maybe next year in late spring….
“Won’t our youngest go to the Baekryong Arts Awards?”
“…How do you know about that?”
“Is there anything I don’t know when it comes to Chae-yoon?”
Unless the movie really flops terribly, he’ll probably be nominated for the Baekryong New Actor Award, right? Being nominated for a New Actor Award after 30 years of acting experience seems like fraud, but since only one person knows about this fraudulent act, he decided to keep quiet.
“Oh, they’re announcing the Top Excellence Award.”
They won’t. Though he hasn’t watched many awards ceremonies, usually KBC…
“Then we’ll announce the Male Top Excellence Award after hearing the New Year’s Eve bell!”
They always do this. Since they announced the Female Top Excellence Award first, it seems a male actor will receive the Grand Prize. …Then is it really very likely that Baek Sang-hyun will win the Grand Prize?
This KBC weekend drama was about a mother’s life, so of course the female actress playing the mother role was nominated for the Top Excellence Award.
“Is Baek Sang-hyun really going to win?”
“Baek Sang-hyun is the only actor I know by face.”
“Hyung, you don’t usually know celebrities well. You wouldn’t have known Baek Sang-hyun either if it weren’t for our youngest.”
The broadcast switched to Bosingak, and a countdown with large numbers began on the screen.
…It truly was an eventful year. Recalling the half year spent under constant threat to his life, he didn’t feel angry… just a bit dumbfounded.
Thinking of those Yun Gwan-wi bastards who blamed all their mistakes on the victim made his anger rise… but as time passed, even that became laughable to argue about.
A painful life, but one he absolutely couldn’t let go of, so is now better? …The feeling that his previous life wasn’t only painful probably comes from having escaped it, right?
Dong, the bell sound flowing from the huge 120-inch TV. Only after it rang more than ten times did Seong-woon notice his family’s gazes all focused on him.
“…Happy New Year.”
He suddenly stood up and bowed deeply as if bowing in formal greeting, but the room remained silent.
Did I… do something wrong? As he raised his head, he saw Ha-yoon half in tears and Ho-yoon already wiping away tears. Why… I just gave New Year’s greetings.
But Jin Seong-woon who is Ryu Chae-yoon, and Ryu Chae-yoon who is Jin Seong-woon, understands. The pain that those around him must have felt watching year after year as a candle that had already burned out its lifespan continued to flicker, extending its life without fully going out.
He could understand why they were now showing the sadness and relief they probably couldn’t express before. They must have cried behind his back. On the way home after seeing their youngest son and brother who spent more time in the hospital than at home, or while watching him sleep. Because in front of him, they just smiled like fools.
Seong-woon took the hands of his parents sitting on either side of him, unable to speak, and offered words full of sincerity.
“Stay healthy this year too.”
“…Chae-yoon.”
“I’ll be healthy too.”
The voice of the rather cheerful Acting Grand Prize MC rang out amidst the emotional living room atmosphere.
“Now, we only have the Male Top Excellence Award and Grand Prize left to present. Let’s meet the nominees right away.”
It was a bit embarrassing, but rather fortunate. Seong-woon sat down heavily, lowering his head as if to hide his reddened cheeks. His father’s large hand patted his thigh. He decided to pretend not to notice his mother wiping away tears with the edge of her sleeve.
“How do you feel, Baek Sang-hyun-ssi? Do you expect to win the Top Excellence Award?”
“I’m always grateful just to attend, but…”
“But…?”
“Today, I really want to win. I’ve prepared an acceptance speech.”
“Then you must take the stage.”
“Of course, I could tell you privately, but a big stage would be better.”
He’s probably not talking about me… Though he tried to ignore it, he was more worried because it seemed likely. Seong-woon rested his chin on his hand, trying to hide his heated cheeks.
“Chae-yoon, what do you think? Do you think Baek Sang-hyun will win the Grand Prize?”
“…I’m not sure.”
“You’re a fan.”
“…I don’t remember.”
“Even recently, you were always in the fan chat room… mph!”
“Be quiet, hyung.”
Baek Sang-hyun’s name wasn’t called for the Top Excellence Award. Then really…
The KBC president came out and dragged on for a while before finally announcing the Grand Prize winner’s name.
“The winner of the 202x Acting Grand Prize is…”
“Geez, they’re really dragging this out.”
Fully agreeing with Chang-yoon’s words, Seong-woon wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on his thighs. He probably hadn’t been this nervous even when receiving his New Actor Award or Child Actor Award.
It really feels like I’ve become a fan, he thought with a wry smile. But he kept his eyes glued to the TV screen, waiting for the KBC president’s trembling lips to open, unsure if he wanted to speak or not.
“Baek Sang-hyun! Congratulations!”
The actors who appeared in “Cooperation” all rose and presented Baek Sang-hyun with bouquets. Even Choi Chihun, who had fought like dogs and cats with him, was called up and handed over a bouquet with a smile. If Seong-woon had been alive, since he had one of the bigger supporting roles, wouldn’t he have been sitting at that table too? …Though the chances of not being invited were probably higher.
…I could give him a bouquet too. I should have prepared one in advance. Seong-woon swallowed his regret and decided to prepare one to give tomorrow. Baek Sang-hyun had won Top Excellence Awards several times before, but this was his first Grand Prize, so he really wanted to congratulate him.
“Yes… thank you.”
Of course, this feeling completely changed after hearing Baek Sang-hyun’s acceptance speech. How on earth should that mouth be kept in check? Instead of a bouquet, he should give him a knock on the head.
[Live Chat] 202X KBC Acting Awards Ceremony
What does it mean to thank someone for coming back? Does it imply they retired and then returned?
➥Were there any actors like that this year?
➥➥Don’t actors rarely announce their retirement in the first place?
Who on earth could it be? I don’t usually care about this stuff, but I’m curious about the “that person” in Baek Sang-hyun’s acceptance speech, probably because it’s his lover
➥I’m also very curious, not just because I like him, but because he talked about them like they were his savior…
➥22222222222
Comparing to last year’s speech:
‘I thank the person who became the source of my acting, who allowed me to start my acting career, and who made Baek Sang-hyun exist.’
‘I express infinite gratitude to the person who is the source of my acting and the driving force of my growth, who has kept Baek Sang-hyun alive until now. And thank you for coming back when I thought I had lost everything.’
➥What… Does Baek Sang-hyun have a religion?
➥➥Hahahahahahaha seriously, who is it? Please tell us!
➥➥➥What if it’s just his parents? Hahahahaha
➥➥➥➥It’d be better if it were the creator lol