Rowdy Awards Ceremony (3)
Actors often came to awards shows with prepared acceptance speeches in hand.
Rarely, some even rehearsed them repeatedly. Being accustomed to acting didn't quite prepare you for standing at a podium, after all—it was a different realm entirely.
But naturally, that only happened when they were confident they'd win, or at least had some subtle hint of it.
Hmm...
Kang Min accepted the trophy in a daze instead. It was some ambiguous thing—a winged woman holding what might've been an atom or a globe.
Applause and cheers erupted from all directions at once.
"Looking sharp!"
"See you in Hollywood!"
"Well done!"
"Give King even more reason to strut!"
The older crowd clapped encouragement for the young, promising actor who'd pulled off a massive upset, while those who'd watched the whole saga cheered the clever(?) way he'd handled Benjamin King's malice-filled schemes.
Lloyd Gonzalez and Stefan Geisler waved handkerchiefs with their gaunt faces.
The massive two-tiered audience hall was packed with top-tier actors and producers, all applauding Kang Min on stage.
Even unflappable Kang Min slowly regained his sense of reality.
...I see.
He'd made it.
An Emmy, no less.
Just a year ago, he was a third-rate aspiring actor toiling over whether to quit acting.
It's not exactly a 'proper' win—more like riding the wave of the times...
But that didn't diminish the value of today's award.
Looking back, the past year hadn't been about effort so much as frantic pursuit. He couldn't see even an inch ahead, let alone the future, amid horrific screams—"Why! Why did this happen?!" "Why do my comments only get dislikes?!"
But today, for the first time, Kang Min felt true conviction.
I was right all along...!
The path he'd walked was correct.
So the path ahead would be too.
Endlessly chased, he'd arrived here.
What more did he need for the Emmy series category, Actor of the Year, and even the Oscars?
The answer was obvious...!
"Ahem, congratulations. Care to say a few words?"
"Yes."
Become the King of Death Acting.
That would be his sanctuary—and the perfect means to seize glory.
Reaffirming the conclusion that would make some scream, Kang Min lifted his head.
He gladly shared his swelling emotions with the crowd.
"Thank you. Thanks to everyone. I pondered what to say, but I guess I have to start from here."
"?"
"It was back when I first arrived in LA..."
The FD winced with an "oh no."
The audience in Kang Min's "influence zone" paled instantly.
And so the Emmy short film category ceremony ended in remarkably peaceful silence.
#
Regrettably for the Grand Prize winners, by the ceremony's close, reporters' attention wasn't on them.
Unable to spot Kang Min even with eagle eyes, they swarmed the actor who'd won nothing—like they'd planned it.
Benjamin King, needless to say.
He tried to play it cool, but it wasn't easy. The man who'd guarded his image fiercely had never faced reporters brimming with malice.
"Ahem, I, uh, just exchanged some opinions with a rookie actor."
"Provocation? Who provoked who? Don't speculate."
"Pitiful? Who's the one spouting that crap?!"
"Who's embarrassed?! You nobodies gathering..."
"Come out, you liar! Get out here!!"
This live meltdown shattered Emmy viewership and streaming records once more.
Of course, Korea caught wind of it while Benjamin King torched his acting career.
Most couldn't hide their joy at the unimaginable result.
But those who'd watched the related videos often fell into stunned silence.
Even the comments turned eerily subdued, almost dazed.
Amid the joyful frenzy, confusion slowly spread, with some focusing elsewhere.
On the people beside Kang Min in the video.
As always, the prophets were ignored.
And just as that prophet said, Kang Min had finally searched online and swallowed a groan.
"Th-that's... a lot of kind words..."
"Oh yeah! The man himself had no idea about all those nice things, huh!"
"Hmm..."
"Not that I'm upset! Not bitter at all about you shoving the reporters my way! Even though my article mentioning Mr. Kang made USA Today's page 2!"
"......."
Amid photo ops, closing shows, and afterparty invites, Kang Min and Aislinn's surroundings stayed eerily quiet.
The actors who'd come to invite Kang Min sensed the vibe and turned away professionally. Lloyd and Stefan made excuses and bolted.
Isolated, Kang Min rarely felt a twinge of embarrassment.
But he wasn't one to read the room and tiptoe. If he had that much tact, Seo Bom would've suffered less.
"Well, honestly."
"Yes!"
"I'm grateful for the interest, but I don't get it. Ms. Lewis, don't you have a far more illustrious career than me? What about me could impress you?"
"That's..."
Aislinn fell silent at the direct question.
She pondered, lips twitching, then sighed and ruffled her hair. Fine, no point hiding from this guy.
She blurted it out.
"I don't have parents either."
"Hmm...?"
"And I had a brother who became a firefighter. Died a year ago."
"?"
"That's it."
#
It was a bit sparse for "all of it."
Like how she'd clawed desperately for success as an actress.
Or how she'd ruthlessly cut anything unhelpful to her popularity.
Or how she couldn't understand her only family choosing firefighting to help others, despite sharing trauma.
Or the rare day he'd advised her, leading to a huge fight.
Or how a week later, he perished in a blaze.
And then—
She'd found a late plea amid discarded papers: siblings requesting promo for firefighter welfare.
"Maybe it meant nothing. He might've died anyway."
"······."
"But you know? The 'what if'—that I could've changed it—torments worse than you think."
If she'd seen it first, would things differ?
Aislinn told herself no. She had no time for "unhelpful" causes then.
Of course. She'd struggled so hard. She deserved rewards.
Anyone in her shoes would think the same...
"But it wasn't."
"Pardon?"
"Ray Goldmary ambassador."
Aislinn bit her lip.
"Mr. Kang, if you'd done that, you'd have blown up sooner. Maybe bigger opportunities now. I'd have jumped at it, bowing repeatedly."
"Hmm···"
"But you didn't. You spent that time elsewhere."
Kang Min had rejected an offer anyone would accept.
Instead, choosing unpaid, obvious time-wasters: PSAs.
Including, of all things, fire prevention.
"Heard fire incidents dropped significantly in Korea after that ad."
"···Just temporary. Didn't last."
"Still, it worked. Probably still does."
If it worked, she could've too.
That gnawed deeper.
Sleepless, she'd gritted teeth researching Kang Min. Rich kid from good parents, easy sacrifice.
Wrong.
Aislinn stared blankly at articles, too stunned to scroll. Kang Min had lost parents and siblings young, raised in an orphanage.
Self-loathing hit harder...
"You even convinced stubborn Marie-Joseph Luarecoline Ray for new PSAs. Shook the world, won that trophy."
"Hmm..."
"I thought I had no choice, but I did. Just like you. I was the pathetic, lowly one."
The actress lowered her eyes.
Kang Min felt a massive pang—he had to clear this misunderstanding.
"Sorry. No reason you should admire me. Just my greed."
"Well, actually···"
"It was self-satisfaction anyway, don't worry. I was rude."
"···No, there's a huge misunderstanding here."
Of course it stung. He hadn't done it for grand causes(?).
The praise belonged to the "kebab" director who'd taken the PSAs. Ray Goldmary had circumstances too.
Impossible to explain, so Kang Min fell back on principles.
"All coincidence. Opportunities just happened along the way."
"Along the way... opportunities..."
"Yes. No intent, but you end up somewhere. Most of mine were like that."
"Somehow..."
"Yes."
"I suppose so."
Kang Min clutched his head at her hollow laugh. This ain't it—
What now.
How to continue.
Pick a relatable topic!
He cleared his throat.
"Everyone wrestles with it. Until recently, I dreamed weekly of beating myself up."
"Pardon?"
"Like, 'skip vacation, what's it hurt?' Unlike uncertain you, I had a sure fix. Even my fault."
"······."
Aislinn was speechless.
Kang Min's nightmares had modernized a bit, but anyway. He shrugged.
"Sleepless week staring at ceiling: obvious, like anyone. I wouldn't want my sister hanging herself in guilt if she survived. Parents, no brainer."
"···Yes."
"Can't stop doubts. Human nature. But obsessing or self-debasing in guilt? Wrong."
And knowing it's wrong solves many things—
Kang Min gave a wry smile, then met her eyes seriously.
"Ms. Lewis. Your worries are wrong."
"······."
"You're not bad, not responsible. Regrettable, but guilt is misplaced."
"B-but···"
"Especially if you think your life wrong, mine right. Very wrong. Actor-to-actor respect."
"······."
"Want positive impact? Do it. No excuses. That's enough."
First seeing Seo Bom at the orphanage, Kang Min hesitated. Deeply, unbelievably. Trauma survivors often overfear harming others.
But stepping forward was right.
The kid once doubting a real life now thrived without him.
That sufficed.
"Again, the me you saw is exaggerated. I'm not that great."
"···Not great?"
"Yes."
"I see."
I see—Aislinn burst laughing, tears flowing. Mood lightened.
Wiping tears, she said,
"Min, you're definitely not what I thought."
"If you think so."
Kang Min smiled warmly.
His orphanage pal nagged, "You talk well but attract misunderstandings—cut it!" But see? Truth unspoken, yet connecting.
Han Ye-an was wrong...
Kang Min brimmed confident; Aislinn eyed his deep, unknowable blue gaze closely.
After a while, she murmured,
"...One last question."
"Ask away."
"Plans after? Like a date?"
"?"
#
Ten-plus hours later, Korea.
"Congratulations!"
Seo Bom scanned below from the podium.
Flowers and trophy in arms, applause and cheers everywhere.
But her eyes held something else.
Sunbae, you were awesome.
Kang Min at the Emmys was poised as ever. His speech always stole her soul.
Audience entranced too.
Seeing that, she couldn't stay still.
Yeah, can't delay more.
Seo Bom closed, then opened eyes.
Her resolute face made distant manager Chu Yeon-ji blink, then pale. Long acquaintance, she knew the pre-chaos signs.
Too late to stop.
"Ms. Seo Bom, a word?"
"...Before that, something to say."
"Pardon?"
"Specifically, apologize to someone."
"?"
MC faltered.
Murmurs rose; manager rushed forward horrified.
Too late. None could stop her now.
She opened her mouth slowly.
"I···"
But—
Sometimes even iron will hits exceptions.
It was that sudden, no warning.
No room for it.
Gasps beyond murmurs reached her ears.
"See it?"
"What?"
"Kang Min scandal dropped!!"
"What? Kang Min?! With who!!"
"Lewis, Aislinn Lewis!"
"No way!!"
"What the hell?!"
Thud.
Seo Bom dropped the flowers unwittingly.