Chapter 105: Yuna’s Tears
The break time had ended, and Part 2 was about to begin.
Unlike Muyoung, who sat with a light heart, the others still had tense expressions. Yuna, Hijun, and Director Jingyeongmun were yet to receive their awards.
“Yuna, don’t be too nervous. Ah—”
“Ahh—”
Muyoung placed a chocolate in the child’s mouth, just like that time. Like Jaeni and Louis, the two smiled at each other.
“Mr. Muyoung, Miss Yuna, could you come this way?”
At that moment, a staff member approached and whispered to them. It was time to go on stage for the Icon Awards. Muyoung took Yuna’s hand and headed backstage.
“Director! Camera 3 is rolling!”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“There’s a 10-second gap due to the ad!”
“10 seconds? We can ask the MC to cover it!”
Backstage was absolute chaos.
Since it was a live broadcast, there was a lot to take care of and check. Muyoung and Yuna entered the waiting room to change their outfits.
Yuna asked, holding her dress.
“Um, unnie.”
“Yes?”
The staff member, who had been checking the time, turned around.
“What happens to the dress if I win later? Do I come back down to change?”
It was a reasonable question, as the dress for the Icon Awards and the Best Actress Award shouldn’t be the same.
But the staff member smirked and replied,
“Well, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Go ahead and change. I’m too busy right now.”
It was a sarcastic, roundabout way of saying she wouldn’t win the Best Actress Award. After saying that, the staff member was called away and disappeared.
Yuna, holding the paper bag, looked up at Muyoung.
“Oppa, do you think so too?”
“No, the staff member doesn’t know either.”
No one knows the results.
That’s why all those tables are filled with nominees, just in case they win.
Except for the scriptwriters, judges, and a few on-site staff, the results are kept strictly confidential.
If the information leaks, it’ll be a problem.
If they knew they wouldn’t win, there’d be no reason to attend. Low attendance would diminish the prestige of the awards.
For these reasons, no one knows the results until just before the announcement, especially not the junior staff.
“Oppa, I’m definitely going to win this time.”
Yuna muttered to herself, as if hypnotizing herself. Muyoung smiled and patted the child on the back, her burning ambition palpable.
How admirable it is to believe in oneself when everyone else doubts you. Regardless of her age, Yuna’s dedication to her career seemed to shine brightly.
“I’ll be cheering for you, truly. But—”
However, there’s always the possibility of the opposite happening.
“If you don’t win, I hope you won’t be too disappointed. No matter the outcome, Yuna, you’re the best actress, no matter what anyone says.”
Leading a film like The Plague, which is restricted to young audiences, was a huge deal for a nine-year-old—well, now ten. Muyoung knew how significant it was.
Even adults would find it challenging, but Yuna had pulled it off.
“And it’s not just the dozen judges who evaluate the work, but the four million audience members who watched our film. If they laughed, cried, and felt a small resonance in their lives, that’s more than enough.”
At Muyoung’s words, Yuna hugged him tightly.
Amid the pressure to always be the best, the child found a moment of peace.
A child acting genius, or a genius child actor.
While being young certainly had its advantages, it also came with its own burdens. Yuna smiled and picked up the paper bag.
“I’ll be right out after changing.”
“Okay.”
Muyoung watched the child go in and headed to the waiting room as well. Since he only needed to change his top, it was a quick change.
Another staff member approached him with a luxurious purple envelope.
“Mr. Muyoung, here’s the envelope with the winner’s name.”
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be on stage in five minutes. Please get ready.”
Time was tight.
Yuna, now changed, came out, and the two followed the staff member to wait in front of the stage entrance.
The employee, checking the time, signaled with a sweeping arm.
“Here we go! One, two, three!”
Whoosh!
With a special effects wind, the doors opened to both sides, revealing the stage. Yuna, in a cute yellow dress, held Muyoung’s hand and walked briskly.
“Hello.”
They greeted the audience simultaneously in the middle of the stage. Yuna’s microphone was positioned low, near Muyoung’s waist.
“Yuna—”
“Ha Muyoung here.”
“It’s such a big stage, and we’re presenting the Icon Awards together with Louis. I’m so nervous. How about you, oppa?”
“I feel the same. I wish I’d cried a little less when I won Best New Actor earlier. It’s quite embarrassing to be back with a normal face.”
“You did cry a lot, didn’t you?”
A brief banter.
Yuna, uncharacteristically for a child, skillfully led the atmosphere with her fluent speech. Her clear voice resonated pleasantly through the microphone.
Given the popularity of The Plague, the two were receiving a warm response.
“Hahaha, so cute.”
“They’re here because they’re Louis and Jaeni, right?”
“Aww, so pretty.”
The actors’ smiles on the screen proved it. Even the senior actors, who rarely smiled, were grinning widely.
“Now, let’s announce the Star Icon Award of the Year.”
“The winner is Park Su-jin. Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
Whoosh! Bang!
The two presented the award without a hitch.
Since it was live, they couldn’t even remember what they’d said.
They worried they might have stumbled, but the reaction seemed positive, so it was a relief.
“Whew.”
Before they knew it, they were back at their table.
“Who accepted the Screenplay Award?”
“The production company’s CEO.”
“Oh, I see.”
“I wonder why the writer doesn’t want to come to such a great event.”
The Best Screenplay Award also went to The Plague. Unfortunately, Yuna missed it as she was changing her dress backstage.
“Everyone has their reasons.”
“Ugh, whew! Next up is Best Actor.”
Full of anticipation, Hijun’s Best Actor award was a miss. Soon, it was time for the Best Director Award. Director Jingyeongmun appeared on screen, smiling and waving.
“And the Best Director Award goes to Director Jingyeongmun for The Plague!”
“Congratulations!”
Everyone stood and applauded.
As a master of cinema, the fresh approach shown in The Plague was rare in Korean film, so everyone seemed to congratulate him without hesitation.
Looks like the Best Actress Award won’t go to Yuna.
And simultaneously, a thought arose.
Since The Plague had already swept the Best New Actor, Best Screenplay, and Best Director Awards, the Best Actress Award seemed out of reach.
As the reality sank in, Yuna’s expression hardened.
“And now, the nominees for Best Actress.”
[Yuna from The Plague]
[Lee Garum from Putting Son in the Fridge]
[Park Huyoun from Love is a Sin]
[Kim Seyoun from Stoner’s Life]
Even the names of the star actresses were familiar. Among them, the young Yuna stood out. She smiled and clasped her hands together.
“The youngest Best Actress nominee?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Look at those eyes. Wow, so bright.”
Hijun whispered into Muyoung’s ear, laughing. As the music built anticipation—
Dum-dum-dum—
The presenter opened the envelope with a slight smile. Then, with all their might, they shouted,
“Kim Seyoun from Stoner’s Life! Congratulations!”
Whoosh! Bang!
Confetti burst everywhere, and the camera sought out the winner’s smile. Yuna hesitated for a moment, then clapped and turned toward Kim Seyoun.
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you so much, Yuna.”
Kim Seyoun, a top actress for nearly 30 years, spotted Yuna as she ascended the stage. She briefly kissed Yuna’s hand and gracefully lifted the front of her dress to climb the stairs.
“Yuna, are you okay?”
Yuna held that hand close, watching her retreat. At Muyoung’s question, the child smiled, her eyes welling up, and her expression soon crumbled.
Muyoung urgently pressed his forehead and said,
“Here, you should smile, not cry. You know that, right?”
There were many cameras.
And as a nominee, the chance of being caught on screen was high. Muyoung pulled the child into a hug and whispered,
“Even if you want to cry, a true professional knows how to smile. Our Yuna is a real pro, so you can do it. Look.”
And he placed a small chocolate on his front tooth, making a silly face just for Yuna.
The seriously teary child burst out laughing, throwing her head back.
“What? You’re so silly!”
“When Yuna is Kim Seyoun’s age, I can’t even imagine how great of an actress she’ll be.”
“…Really?”
“Of course. Don’t think about now, think about the future. Yuna, you’re already amazing.”
Comforted by Muyoung’s words, Yuna gradually swallowed her tears.
She wiped her eyes and looked straight at the stage. At that moment, Yuna’s face appeared on the screen, clear and lovely. Kim Seyoun, watching gracefully, mentioned Yuna.
“At such a young age, Yuna showed such great acting. I want to thank her. Regardless of age, Yuna’s acting gave me a lot of inspiration. Many actors’ performances have shaped me, always pushing me to do better.”
At those words, praise also poured in for Yuna.
Yuna smiled bashfully and waved. Beside her, Muyoung kept his mouth shut, melting the chocolate. He couldn’t risk looking silly with black teeth on camera.
“Thank you!”
And so, the midnight celebration came to a close. The awards for Best Actor and Grand Prize were presented, and the winners gathered for a commemorative photo.
Song-a, Romin, and Muyoung stood side by side.
“Sunbae-nim, hello. Ha Muyoung here.”
“Oh, hi. I know, I know.”
Naturally, standing with other actors led to networking opportunities.
They exchanged congratulations and greetings, ending the conversation with hopes of working together someday.
“Say cheese!”
“One, two, three!”
Click!
The first awards ceremony and the first trophy.
For some, it was a reward, and for others, a stepping stone for growth. Muyoung waved to Yuna, who was waiting in the distance.
“Yuna, be careful going home.”
“You too, oppa. Congratulations today, and thank you.”
Without him, her tears might have been caught on camera. Muyoung smiled and patted Yuna’s head.
“See you later.”
“Yeah, see you.”
Yuna answered, holding her mother’s hand as they left the building. Muyoung did the same.
After finishing greetings with others, he got into the car with his manager.
“Whew! That was tough!”
“Good job, Best New Actor Muyoung!”
“Ah, Best New Actor Muyoung to you, manager!”
“Shall we go for a team dinner?”
“Of course!”
They laughed, delighted with each other.
Since Yuna was a child, the The Plague team planned a separate daytime celebration. They were headed to the You Are a Star, I Am a Star gathering.
“To our Song-a, Romin, and Muyoung’s Best New Actor wins!”
“And to Director Yujin’s Best Production Award!”
“Whoooo! Congratulations!”
“All your hard work paid off!”
The after-party and celebration were held at a barbecue restaurant. Everyone enjoyed soju mixed with beer and meat.
As they ate and drank, an unexpected remark was heard.
“Huh? A bonus vacation?”
“No, it’s a sponsorship!”