Chapter 388
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 388
“Hey, toss me a tangerine.”
“You gonna catch it?”
“Yeah.”
My younger sister, her hair tied up in a topknot, tossed me a single cold tangerine from the batch we’d kept out on the veranda. She sat down heavily beside me, clutching the entire basket for herself.
We were sisters born a year apart, both in our early twenties, but our tastes in idols couldn't be more different. I stanned The Dawn, while she was all about High Five.
“Has Part 2 of the GMA started? When are our boys coming on?”
“Dunno. In about an hour?”
“Why do you always say ‘I don’t know’ before giving the actual answer?”
The GMA (Green Music Awards) we were watching today had a total of eight Grand Prizes, including three in the acting categories. Perhaps because it covered so many different fields, it carried slightly less prestige than other ceremonies, but a win was still a win.
I popped a peeled tangerine wedge into my mouth and reached into the basket she was hugging. She tried to block me with her body, but when she failed, she let out a resigned sigh.
“Whatever. How about this: if the group you stan wins a Grand Prize today, you buy chicken?”
“Hmm. What if they both win?”
“Then we get two chickens. Obviously.”
“Deal. At least that way, we avoid the worst-case scenario.”
“We’re all just doing this to survive, right?”
“Look at you. You’ve been working that part-time job for a while now, and suddenly you’re a philosopher?”
I think our boys are near the end.
I’d already seen the leaked cue sheet on a community board, so I knew roughly when to tune in for High Five and The Dawn.
Just then, an interview was being conducted at the artist waiting area.
【—Yes, hello! I’m Seong Ji-won from The Dawn.】
“Holy—! Seong Ji-won!!”
The moment his fair, beautiful face filled the screen, I nearly spat out my tangerine. I grabbed my lightstick and started shaking it like a madwoman. My sister recoiled in horror, shrieking at me not to touch her official High Five lightstick with my "dirty hands."
【It’s snowing heavily today, so I want to say a huge thank you to the fans who came out to see us. I also want to tell the Noeuls watching from home that I miss them very much.】
“Hey, hey, isn’t he seriously handsome?”
“That kind of pretty-boy face isn't my type. Kang Yeon-hu in the back is a hundred times better.”
“Yeah, whatever~.”
Kang Yeon-hu was decent, I guess.
But a true man should have a delicate face paired with a fierce body, and a gentle tone backed by a resolute demeanor.
I shook my head, thinking my sister was still too young to understand, when I heard her grumbling beside me.
“If you’re going for the ‘desperate pick,’ you should like Kang Yeon-hu. Where else are you going to find a guy who was a trainee for that long, has that many years under his belt, and still works that hard and stays that hungry?”
“Please. Has he ever been from a tiny ‘nugu’ agency? Has he ever been practically kicked out by his label? Seong Ji-won is the GOAT.”
“Wait, what?! So it’s true that Seong Ji-won left D.go on his own?”
“It’s basically official.”
That was a bit of behind-the-scenes info leaked on an anonymous board by a fan who had followed Seong Ji-won since his trainee days. Most of The Dawn’s fans knew it.
I didn’t know much about the Seong Ji-won from the D.go Entertainment days, but at the very least, the current Seong Ji-won always looked happy. That made me want to cheer for him even more.
I can see why he loves and treasures his members so much…
I tossed the lightstick at my sister and scratched my stomach as I popped the tangerine I’d dropped back into my mouth. Then, the camera panned to Seo Ho-yun.
For a split second, I found myself holding my breath.
I could feel the stir in the awards hall even through the TV screen.
【Hello, I’m Seo Ho-yun from The Dawn.】
Seo Ho-yun is truly fascinating.
When he was with actors, he definitely looked like an idol, but when he was among idols, he exuded the aura of an actor.
Perhaps because he possessed such a distinct, contrasting vibe, he commanded everyone's attention.
My sister, who had been letting out exclamations while peeling a tangerine, tilted her head and asked, “Why didn't you pick him for his visuals? If I stanned The Dawn, I would’ve gone for Seo Ho-yun. His smile is so pretty.”
“No, well… I like everything about him, but sometimes he’s scary….”
“Scary?”
“It’s like… sometimes I feel like I’m facing the supervisor at my part-time job….”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
She clicked her tongue and gave me a sharp look.
Even though they were rivals, my sister was quite generous toward Seo Ho-yun because he got along well with Kang Yeon-hu and often brought out a different side of him.
While Seo Ho-yun answered questions from the MC, Yoo Ji-ah, the camera occasionally cut to Min Ji-heon. It seemed the directors were conscious of the friendship between the two.
Min Ji-heon, who usually had a somewhat cold impression, crinkled his eyes into a smile and waved the moment he caught the camera’s eye. As if in response, Seo Ho-yun gave a bashful smile and a polite bow.
“By the way, are Min Ji-heon and Seo Ho-yun still close?”
“Rather than being close… they’re probably just acquaintances who know each other well?”
“Isn’t that what being close means?”
My sister snorted, then suddenly let out a gasp as if she’d remembered something.
“Oh, did you know? Seo Ho-yun’s nickname is ‘Star Catnip.’ They say even the most arrogant top-tier celebrities follow him around because they like him so much.”
“Catnip…?”
Somehow, that sounded like a nickname made up by the small faction of fans who insisted Seo Ho-yun was a cat.
He’s a rabbit, for God’s sake.
I soothed my disgruntled feelings by stealing a tangerine my sister had meticulously peeled—even removing the white pith—just as the MC spoke.
【…—And now, let’s look at the nominees for Actor of the Year!】
The final Grand Prize for the acting category began.
【The competition is truly fierce! Now, I will announce the Actor of the Year!】
Since it was the most prestigious award, everyone assumed Min Ji-heon would obviously take it.
【——Ha Seo-yeon! Congratulations!】
However, the name that came out of Yoo Ji-ah’s mouth was someone else.
“What?! Ha Seo-yeon? Not Min Ji-heon?!”
I shrieked, not even realizing that orange juice was spraying everywhere from my mouth in my excitement.
“I mean, sure, the weekend drama Ha Seo-yeon was in was insanely good. And she’s a great actress. But if they were going to do this, they should’ve at least given Min Ji-heon something earlier! Honestly, isn’t Min Ji-heon in a league of his own?!”
“Exactly! It should’ve been Min Ji-heon, no questions asked! Even when he shows up at a traditional market, people of all ages come running out to welcome him!”
“You think it’s just there?! He can just take a stroll anywhere, and the whole neighborhood comes out to give him food because they love him!”
Min Ji-heon, who worked tirelessly on project after project, swept numerous awards every year. Yet, no one ever complained.
The reason was simple.
“Wow! This is total bullshit! They snubbed Min Ji-heon?!”
It was because the person in question was the Min Ji-heon.
This year, not only The Day the Daffodils Bloom but also Before the Moon Wanes, which was still airing on cable, were massive hits. Even critics who were usually harsh on him wrote things like, “It feels as though I have witnessed a sacred moment where an actor, who seemed fixed in his ways, broke his own mold and was born anew,” expressing high expectations for his future.
And yet, he didn't receive a single award at the GMA.
Even though I wasn't a die-hard Min Ji-heon fan, I felt a surge of indignation at the sheer unfairness of it.
【Yes, hello… I’m Ha Seo-yeon. This award feels far too great for me, so it hasn’t quite sunk in yet… I’m a bit… dazed….】
“Is it because her drama hasn’t finished yet?!”
“Even besides that, she has other dramas and movies. They could’ve given it to him for those!”
Ha Seo-yeon’s expression was stiff as she gave a brief acceptance speech and stepped down. Even though she was more than qualified to receive it, the atmosphere was awkward.
As if to taunt the audience, the camera caught Min Ji-heon again. He was smiling broadly, looking as though he was sincerely congratulating Ha Seo-yeon.
But my annoyance didn't change reality.
I pouted and went back to rummaging through the tangerine basket when an unfamiliar male idol group came out to perform.
“Who are these guys?”
“No idea.”
If even I didn't know them, it meant their public recognition was practically non-existent.
Wondering who they were to be performing so late in Part 2, I scrolled through the cue sheet I’d screenshotted earlier.
“Ah, they’re from the same agency as White Cherry and Lia Purple. They’ve actually been around for quite a few years.”
“Whoa, they’re under LV? I guess they really are famous for throwing money around.”
Since I had no interest in the group, I barely watched the TV, only half-listening to my sister.
Album of the Year, Performance of the Year, Global Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Artist of the Year.
Surely, The Dawn would take at least one of these many Grand Prizes.
I hoped it would be Artist of the Year.
【Album of the Year! Lia Purple’s ‘Like too’!】
The first Grand Prize in the music category went to Lia Purple, who had recently achieved excellent results. The moment they were called, Lia Purple’s Yeon-ri burst into tears.
“Aw, good for them.”
“Seeing her cry like that makes me feel for her. Not that I should be worrying about celebrities.”
Everyone who followed K-pop knew how much Lia Purple had struggled since their debut, so both my sister and I clapped from our spots in the living room.
Two more awards were announced in quick succession.
Performance of the Year went to TEW, and Global Artist went to Verci.
And right before the biggest awards—Song of the Year and Artist of the Year—High Five took the stage.
My sister went wild, swinging her lightstick frantically as they performed a rock version of "Reels."
I’d been acting all cool, saying it was fine if they didn't win because the awards season was just starting, but now that there were only a few left, my legs were shaking with anxiety.
They’ll get something, right? I mean, High Five is good, but…
As Kang Yeon-hu smiled effortlessly under the glittering lights, the unease spread through my chest even faster.
“…Is it our boys’ turn to get an award now?”
“Yeah, only two awards left.”
“Damn it. This is the crossroads between buying chicken in a good mood or gnawing on a free drumstick in misery….”
My sister, who had opened a delivery app to pre-order the chicken, seemed strangely calm.
Yoo Ji-ah returned to the MC spot and took the mic.
【—Next, let’s look at the nominees for Song of the Year.】
“Ah, please, please!!!”
I squeezed my eyes shut and clasped my hands together.
Our boys worked so hard this time. They should start the awards season with a Grand Prize…
But my expectations were brutally crushed.
【…—Song of the Year is! White Cherry’s ‘Bossy’!】
“Huh?!”
“What?!”
The baffling part was that White Cherry wasn't even attending the GMA.
An announcement followed: “Unfortunately, White Cherry is unable to attend this ceremony due to their overseas schedule.”
“Wait, does this even make sense?”
“No, what the hell? There’s only one Grand Prize left now?!”
I had been certain that The Dawn and High Five would split the Grand Prizes amicably during this year’s awards season.
Just as I was staring at the screen with eyes burning with rage, wondering if WH had decided to only push one of them, the winner of the final Grand Prize was revealed.
【—Artist of the Year is…! Congratulations, Lavish!】
“…….”
“…….”
Grand BGM swelled through the speakers.
The members of Lavish, who had been sitting in the artist area, let out cheers and rushed onto the stage.
But the brief glimpse of the audience was the real highlight. Everyone looked utterly bewildered.
“…Who?”
My sister and I were the same.
“Do you know them?”
“No, I don’t… Oh! Wait! They’re the ones who just performed. The boy group from White Cherry’s agency you mentioned earlier.”
“What?! Are you kidding me?!”
Whether it was High Five or The Dawn.
If either of them had won, I might have been annoyed, but I would’ve acknowledged it as a good fight, prepared to be petty until the next awards show, and bought the chicken.
But Lavish?
It felt like getting smacked in the back of the head by someone I hadn't even noticed.
As I slumped onto the floor in despair, I saw The Dawn, who had been assigned the final slot, taking the stage.
【I send my heart upon a flower
Like a rainbow floating high】
The Dawn performed "Yeondeunghoe" from their full-length album Wish and the B-side track "Dive."
In a set where blue lights rippled like waves, Seong Ji-won’s pure voice overwhelmed the audience. He looked almost divine.
【Let us dive till the end
Until we rise to the ocean’s surface to breathe
For we cannot remain trapped in loneliness forever】
Moreover, it was incredibly beautiful. It was beautiful, but….
Fuuuuuuck….
Maybe that was why.
My heart felt like it was being burned to a crisp.
*
After the GMA ended, I logged onto SNS to find the search trends filled with exactly what I expected.
‘Grand Prize Artist’
‘What is this’
‘Hidden Camera’
‘What the fuck’
‘The Dawn Awards’
‘High Five’
‘Who is Lavish’
‘What kind of nugu’
And so on.
“……Unless LV paid them off, is there any other explanation for this?”
“None.”
The atmosphere in the house had turned icy; it was no longer a situation where we could enjoy chicken.
I stood up with a curse and tilted my head toward the door. My sister immediately stood up and grabbed her coat.
“Ugh! Fucking LV!”
“Did they have a falling out with WH?!”
The two of us moved to a local bar and spent a long time pouring out curses toward LV Entertainment and Lavish.
The lamentation that started with “I had a bad feeling since Min Ji-heon didn't get any awards” lasted for five hours before finally reaching the conclusion: “Well, the GMA isn't that important of an awards show anyway….”
And the next day.
[But does Lavish hate Kang Yi-chae?]
One more controversy was added to the pile.