The Unprepared Acceptance Speech

"Wow, you clean up good. You should wear a suit every day."

Actor Kim Seokjun strolled in and thumped me on the shoulder. He didn't even pause to acknowledge my thanks before asking how it felt to attend an awards ceremony for the first time.

My answer was this:

"I want to go home."

One hundred percent pure, unfiltered sincerity.

Kim Seokjun took one look at my face—already thoroughly exhausted before the night had even begun—and doubled over laughing.

"PWAHAHA! Kid, I want to go home so bad I could scream. Hardly anyone's even watching this thing—what are we all doing here, seriously?"

There were too many watching eyes for me to openly agree, so I just smiled. But God, did I relate.

What was all this, exactly?

For an awards ceremony starting at nine in the evening, I'd been up and moving since seven that morning.

Acting practice had already robbed me of my sleep, and then the place the car pulled up to was so unexpected I could only stand there blinking.

Hyung, this is a….

Actor-nim. Please save your questions for inside.

The place Manager Ahn Jinbae hurried me into was a skincare clinic. The course proceeded without giving me a single chance to object—and it ran a full two hours.

After that, I was shuttled briskly from the makeup salon to the hair salon, my skin now unnervingly smooth. Once I'd put on the suit we'd picked out days in advance, we arrived at the broadcasting station hosting the ceremony at three o'clock.

Six hours until showtime. I wondered what we were supposed to do until then, but it turned out to be a truly pointless worry—the time vanished in a flash as we were dragged all over the station, greeting people left and right.

I at least managed to grab something to eat along the way, but it bothered me that all Manager Ahn Jinbae had was a single roll of gimbap.

Aren't we all working to make a living, though…?

I was in the middle of mulling over that absurdity—working to survive, yet too busy working to eat—when Actor Kim Seokjun came over.

Before long, the cast of The Butterfly Flower on the Zelkova Tree began arriving one by one. Faces I hadn't seen in a while. Answering repeated questions about whether my health was holding up took up the entire waiting period.

Just before we lined up on the red carpet, while I was talking with Seong Ijun, Han Seyeong came over.

"Hey, you two. They're letting the three of us go in together—so how are we entering?"

"……On foot?"

Was there some other way?

At my blank response, Han Seyeong faltered for a second before bursting out laughing, the crisp corners of her eyes sweeping upward.

"Of course we walk, are we going to sprint? I was asking what we'd do with our poses. Do we walk separately? Or should I take the middle and link arms?"

Oh, that. Embarrassed, I rubbed at my ear. When I told them to do whatever they wanted, Han Seyeong and Seong Ijun launched into an impassioned debate.

And so, exactly as the two of them had decided, we walked the red carpet—and just as we reached the MC standing there with his microphone, he turned to us in a hurry, mid-banter for the live broadcast.

"Now this is a first! Isn't the woman usually supposed to stand in the middle?"

"We reached an agreement, Ijun and I. We decided to share nicely, one arm each."

"My goodness! Did the male lead and the female lead fight over Lee Yeonjae? That's nothing like the drama!"

Playing off Han Seyeong's line, the MC performed some exaggerated theatrics with practiced smoothness. Seong Ijun, who had been laughing silently, was handed the mic and said his piece while I just stood there.

No—had to stand there. Both my arms had been commandeered by the people on either side of me.

"Actor Lee Yeonjae, you're nominated for Best New Actor tonight. How are you feeling?"

When the MC addressed me, Seong Ijun helpfully pressed the microphone up under my chin. Or you could just let go of my arm….

Left with no choice, I delivered the answer we'd prepared in advance: "It's something I never even imagined, so I'm still in a daze. Simply being nominated is a tremendous honor."

After a few more questions and answers traded back and forth, we filed into the hall where the ceremony would be held. Round tables and chairs were arranged throughout the room, and Actors Kim Seokjun, Lee Seonghye, and Jang Inho were already seated. I sat down beside them and waited again—though thankfully, this wait didn't last long.

"We're live in five, four—!"

The hall, which had been as noisy as a market, fell into perfect silence at a single cue. The cameras gliding slowly past us now glowed with little red lights.

"Good evening, everyone! I'm Kang Jinwoo, your MC for tonight's MBN Acting Awards—"

"And I'm Lee Yujin! It's an honor to host alongside you."

A man and a woman, immaculately dressed in tuxedo and gown, took hold of their microphones. The program flowed along like water.

Only moments ago the day had felt so endless I thought time itself had stopped, and somehow we were already at the final award of the first half.

"Best New Actor! First, let's meet the nominees through a video."

As the MC finished speaking, the hall went dark. The video that appeared on screen… was my face.

In sequence came the scene of me smiling at Nabi, the scene conversing with Lady Yi, the scene of me clutching desperately at Nabi's sleeve. Even the one where I lay in the flower ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠field and wept.

I was watching without much thought when I suddenly felt stares converging on me from every direction.

Why was everyone looking at me like that?

"Yeonjae-yah. Your ears are turning really red…."

Then quiet down.

I answered Seong Ijun with a look and turned my attention to the remaining nominees. All familiar faces—there was even someone from a drama I'd watched just yesterday. It struck me anew how strange it was that I was in this lineup at all.

"What a formidable list of nominees. Yujin-ssi will announce the winner."

"Yes. I'll announce it now."

The woman lifted the microphone away from her lips and opened the envelope ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠she held. Somber, resolute music swelled beneath her.

"The winner is…."

So this is what they use this grim music for.

I was quietly watching her draw out the slip of paper when Han Seyeong abruptly grabbed my hand.

"Noona?"

"Lee Yeonjae-nim! Congratulations!"

I turned to her in confusion—and in that instant, a thunderous roar erupted from behind me. I looked up, and the actors around me were gleefully pounding my shoulders.

"Woo-hoo, Lee Yeonjae~!"

"Yeonjae-yah. Congrats…!"

"…Huh?"

I still hadn't processed the situation. I scrambled to my feet, and only then did I see it—my own face filling the entire screen.

……I won?

"What are you doing? Go get your award."

I stood there in a daze for a moment, and Han Seyeong smiled, giving our clasped hands a little shake before letting go.

Doing my best to compose my expression, I climbed the stairs, and the MC handed me a bouquet and a clear acrylic plaque with a grin. Following the stage directions, I stepped up to the microphone as the applause gradually died down.

The camera in front of me glinted.

My head was foggy.

"……Hello. I'm Lee Yeonjae."

I figured I had to say something, anything, and opened my mouth. As I straightened my back as properly as I could, the bouquet in my arms rustled softly. Maybe it was that, but my chest felt ticklish.

"Um, ah… I'm sorry. I didn't prepare a separate acceptance speech."

I blinked a few times, then remembered this was live television and snapped back to my senses. There was no time to stand around looking foolish, and I couldn't drag this out rudely either.

So, following what the other actors had done, I offered my thanks to the PD and the writer, the staff, and my fellow cast members.

"I believe I was able to receive this far-too-generous award thanks to the many people who helped me. ……Yes. Thank you so much."

I wanted to bow at the waist, but with my hands full, I settled for dipping my head as courteously as I could manage. I turned to leave the stage—

—and the MC, who had been lounging at the side waiting, jolted in alarm and scrambled for his microphone.

"Just a moment!"

"Yes?"

"Wait, wait, don't go down yet—goodness, isn't that speech a little short?"

With an expression of utter fluster, the MC asked whether there was anyone else he wanted to thank—anyone he was usually grateful to—that I'd like to say more about.

His words said you may continue. His face said please, I'm begging you, continue.

Dazed, I shuffled back in front of the microphone.

"Yes. First, I'd like to thank Jinbae-hyung—our manager hyung. And also my senior, Lee Jeonghyeon, who's always helped me so much. Truly, thank you."

Anyone else I'm usually grateful to.

There had to be. There definitely were. But my mind had gone white. I could feel the presence of the countless people staring at me. My thoughts spun fast. Who else—come on.

……Ah.

How could I possibly forget her?

"And Director Yu Eunhee of Morin Orphanage—thank you so much. Thanks to you… I was able to hold on. My thanks also to Teacher Lee Sihyun, Teacher Jang Boram, Teacher Kim Minhee, and Teacher Yoon Jiseon—all of you, thank you."

Without the director and those teachers, forget standing on this stage—I might have starved to death long ago.

What a relief. If I'd failed to thank them simply because I hadn't prepared, I knew I would have regretted it deeply.

I looked at the MC with grateful eyes for blocking my escape… but his expression was odd.

Don't tell me that's still not enough.

"And I want to say thank you to my classmates, Bihyeok and Haeun."

"……"

"And…."

That really has to be everything now.

As I glanced sideways and trailed off, the MC nodded as if to say that would do fine. The moment I saw it, I bowed my head in thanks one last time and hurried down the stairs.

When I returned to my seat, everyone was staring at me, eyes brimming with laughter. The next award was already underway, so for now they held their tongues.

Sure enough, the instant the first half ended, they all came crowding over, cackling.

"What was that! I've never seen you flustered before! You genuinely didn't expect it at all?"

"Be honest. You must have guessed a little."

"I honestly didn't."

How was anyone supposed to expect that?

I thought back over the actors who'd been nominated alongside me.

I really won?

……Was that even allowed?

"What's with the face? Anyone would think you'd lost."

"No, I was just thinking about something… Ah, noona. Why did you grab my hand earlier?"

When I looked at Han Seyeong, puzzled by the question that had resurfaced, she gave a sly, knowing smile and said she had her reasons.

And what reasons would those be?

I wanted to press further, but the chime announcing the start of the second half rang out.

And so, in a strange blend of vague guilt, buoyant excitement, and sheer bewilderment, the second half began.

"Next, let's first meet the nominees for Best Couple."

The moment the MC finished speaking, what appeared on screen was… me. Again.

"…?"

I was so startled my head tipped forward.

Why am I up there?

The Best Couple Award was, as the name suggested, given to the drama couple of the year with the best audience response. Which meant the recipients were supposed to be a couple.

And then the caption slammed into the lower right corner of the screen.

'Yu Hyeon and Nabi—not Hyowon and Nabi?'

Wasn't that going a bit far from how the story actually ended?

I stared at the screen, vaguely dissatisfied, and stole a glance at Seong Ijun. He turned his head and mouthed 'What?' at me, so I just shrugged. As long as I didn't overthink it, fine.

"The winners of the Best Couple Award are… the couple of Lee Yeonjae and Han Seyeong from The Butterfly Flower on the Zelkova Tree, for their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠delicate portrayal of first love! Congratulations!"

Wow. They actually picked us.

Bewildered as I was, I smoothed out my expression ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠quickly and rose from my seat. Seong Ijun stepped over to Han Seyeong, gave her a light hug, and then—smiling—offered me her hand.

He looked exactly like a father handing his daughter off to the groom at a wedding.

I bowed deeply to Seong Ijun and played along with appropriate solemnity, and I could feel the people around us cracking up.

So he can even pull off something like this.

His manner of speaking was so excessively gentle you'd never guess he was a teenager. Watching him work the room with such effortless showmanship, I found myself thinking, ah—he really is an entertainer.