Epilogue 7: again
Translator: RaidenTL
Epilogue 7:
again
Even though he knew it was a dream, the scene replayed with the vividness of reality, as if he were under hypnosis.
He was standing in America in the middle of the day. As the scenery from ten years ago unfolded before him, Eun-seong looked around, a mix of disbelief and nostalgia washing over him.
Back then, he was just an ordinary college student who dreamed of becoming an actor, and this world was a deluge of unfamiliar experiences. Excessive attention and hospitality followed him everywhere, and by the end of each day, he would be left with a stack of hundreds of business cards.
He was only a nominee, yet every day felt like he was the center of the universe. A twelve-person team was assembled just to manage his flood of schedules. Tae-gon was at the heart of it all, and when counting interpreters and general staff, more than twenty people were stationed there solely for Eun-seong.
The managers' phones, ringing nonstop, had given him a throbbing headache. Hearing those long-outdated ringtones echo in his dream, Eun-seong let out a soft chuckle. Ah, to think I’d remember this so clearly.
He looked down at himself, sitting in a waiting room larger than an average house. The tuxedo and black dress shoes he had grown so sick of wearing caught his eye. Looking up, he saw the reflection of a young, inexperienced college student in the mirror: Im Eun-seong.
It was a time when he knew nothing. There wasn’t much he could do back then but let himself be swept along by the current of events. It was hard to keep his wits about him amidst the whirlwind schedule, and his value skyrocketed daily—a fact so surreal it felt completely detached from reality.
Right. There was a time like this. This was the starting point for actor Im Eun-seong. A time when everyone else cheered that he had hit the jackpot, while he himself couldn't feel a thing.
Since he was reliving the past anyway, he might as well fix the frequent mistakes he’d inevitably made. He would combine all the experience of the man he was ten years later to erase the dark history of his younger self.
Feeling like he was having a rather pleasant dream, Eun-seong chuckled again. A moment later, his laughter died as he fumbled through his pockets. Ah, my phone.
…Yeon-ju.
Suddenly, a cold sweat trickled down his spine. What time was it? Was this before or after he won the Best Actor Award?
He searched his pockets and scanned his surroundings, but his phone was nowhere to be found. Just as he was wondering where he might have left it, the waiting room door opened and Tae-gon walked in.
"Eun-seong, are you ready? It starts in ten minutes."
Eun-seong watched Tae-gon’s reflection in the mirror. Now that he knew the whole truth, he felt no joy at the sight of him.
"What's wrong? Is something the matter?" Tae-gon asked, reacting quickly to Eun-seong's silent stare.
Eun-seong continued to gaze at him, his expression carefully guarded.
Tae-gon was a man who had already dedicated his life to Eun-seong. He had folded all his entertainment businesses in Korea to focus solely on him. Since neither of them had experience in such a massive market, Tae-gon had even recruited seasoned industry veterans, paying them exorbitant salaries to handle the work.
Eun-seong was his future, his only hope. Even as he marveled at how Eun-seong's value became whatever price they demanded, Tae-gon had become a man who forgot sleep, consumed by the singular goal of placing Eun-seong at the very top.
"Are you tired? Want an energy drink?"
"CEO Min," Eun-seong said as Tae-gon handed him the can.
Tae-gon, who was kindly popping the tab for him, raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? Go ahead."
"I can't find my phone."
Tae-gon's fingertips twitched. He lowered the can as if nothing was wrong and replied nonchalantly.
"Like I said, I have no idea how your number got out, but calls were flooding in from all over. I had the line suspended for now."
"So, where is it?"
"Oh, it's not here. Why would I carry something like that around when I'm this busy? Did I leave it at the hotel? Where was it again?" Tae-gon’s words began to speed up. He looked at Eun-seong, as if trying to settle the matter once and for all. "Let's just change your number while we're at it. The privacy leak is serious. I'll take care of it, so don't you worry. It'll be a headache if we reactivate that number. I'm telling you, dozens of calls are coming in every minute."
…Right. I remember now.
"If you need a phone, I'll get you one under my name for now. Use that. All the stars do it. You have to change your number once a month, and it's a real hassle. I'll give you mine to use for the time being. Okay?"
Tae-gon had changed his number.
"Don't worry about your parents calling, either. I'm taking care of them. It's not like you have anyone else to contact, anyway. Seriously, we need to nip this in the bud. These people are just trying to ride your coattails now that you're successful. You don't need to answer them, and you certainly don't need to contact them. A star has to manage his network from the very beginning. You never know who might try to drag you through the mud, Eun-seong."
"..."
"Besides, it's not like Yeon-ju would contact you at this point. Let's just make a clean break and change the number. I'll sort it all out."
Tae-gon glanced at his watch and patted Eun-seong on the shoulder.
"Time's up. Hang in there, even if you're tired. It's all for your own good. Let's go."
As Tae-gon nodded for him to get up, Eun-seong held out his open palm. Tae-gon stopped on his way out and looked down at it.
"My phone."
Eun-seong's voice was cold.
"Bring it to me. My phone."
"..."
"Right now."
* * *
He attended the Independent Spirit Awards with his phone number still active. Everywhere he looked, he saw prominent actors.
Ten years from now, Eun-seong would be friends with many of them, but at this moment, he was just a lucky young man from a small country called Korea.
Eun-seong sat comfortably and enjoyed the awards ceremony—something that would have been impossible in the past. Back then, he had been so nervous he couldn't hear or see anything properly. He clapped when others clapped and stared blankly when videos played. He couldn't react to the host's American humor, only managing a mechanical smile when the crowd laughed. That was all.
Now, as an actor who knew how to enjoy an awards ceremony better than anyone, he could sincerely congratulate his peers on their wins. As he relaxed, the time finally came for the announcement of the Best Actor Award.
Yeon-ju said she found out she was pregnant… around this time.
Eun-seong quietly exhaled, recalling her words. A moment later, his name was called.
"Congratulations. The winner is Im Eun-seong of Sweet Amusement Park."
Eun-seong calmly stood. Amidst the applause, he walked to the stage. Holding the bouquet and trophy, he stepped up to the microphone.
The dizzying memory of how he had babbled nonsense out of sheer nervousness flashed through his mind. Ah, I'm so glad I can change this dark past.
As the applause quieted, Eun-seong looked around the hall with his signature smile. His gaze radiated a composure unbelievable for a rookie.
"Hello. I am Im Eun-seong."
He delivered his opening line—a clean, simple introduction that completely erased the trembling, clumsy start of his past self.
A thunderous round of applause erupted. Eun-seong took a deep breath, savoring the moment. As the noise died down, he looked at the trophy and flawlessly delivered the speech he had prepared.
He didn't miss a single person he needed to thank, continuing in a calm, steady voice. His eye contact was perfect.
Soon, his speech neared its end. Even as he spoke, he mentally checked for anything he might have missed. Realizing it was perfect, he concluded his prepared remarks.
Tae-gon, who had been listening with sweaty palms, finally lowered the speech draft and sighed in relief. Now, all Eun-seong had to do was exit amid a shower of congratulations.
"Lastly, there is one more person I would like to thank."
Ah. It wasn't the end?
Tae-gon hurriedly lifted the draft to check it again. There were no more lines they had agreed upon.
"To be honest, I dragged things out a bit just so I could say this. After all, the most important words always come at the very end," Eun-seong said with a grin.
The audience laughed. Tae-gon was the only one who couldn't smile, his expression frozen. He had already mentioned Tae-gon's name and everyone else he was supposed to. Who on earth was he talking about?
Who?
"I have a girlfriend. She is someone I could call my beloved, my everything."
As Eun-seong continued with a gentle smile, Tae-gon's face contorted.
"What is that crazy bastard doing…"
"As if she knew I would win this award, she told me we should break up before I came here. She's a kind person, a good person. It seems she had already decided to give up so much for my future."
Gasps rippled through the audience, followed by a wave of applause. Tae-gon felt an urge to run onto the stage and cover Eun-seong's mouth.
"We will share everything that comes our way, and we will overcome any hardship together. If she's watching this right now, there’s something I really want to tell her."
Eun-seong cleared his throat, stood straight, and stared directly into the camera with the glowing red light.
"Yeon-ju. Are you watching? Oppa won."
By now, you must be watching this, holding a pregnancy test with two clear lines.
"I received a lot of flowers, too. I don't know if I can bring them all back, but they're all for you."
Are you crying? Or are you holding your breath?
"I'll be there soon, so please wait for me. Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Yes. Back then, these are the words I should have said. This is what I should have told you.
Eun-seong raised an eyebrow with his signature smile. Then, lifting the trophy high, he concluded his speech.
While everyone rose to their feet to applaud, Tae-gon violently crumpled the speech draft. It was the moment a new global star was born.
It was a day the entire world was plastered with his name: Im Eun-seong.