Chapter 50: Projection (8)

Translator: Dreamscribe

Actually, Kang Woojin, who was somewhat adapting to the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’, had clearly started to get flustered.

It started when Hong Hye-yeon returned to her seat.

“Aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

“···Congratulations.”

Woojin, who found it strange that she received the Best Actor Award in the first place, congratulated her. He definitely thought she would win the grand prize. Not only her acting, but also her experience and reputation couldn’t be ignored. But Hong Hye-yeon received the Best Actor Award.

“Thank you. Although I would have accepted even a bow.”

“But why are you congratulating me in advance?”

“Why are you pretending not to know? If I got the best actor, the answer is out, isn’t it? Don’t pretend to be modest.”

“······”

“Well, I wanted to be the first to congratulate you. I don’t feel bad at all even though I got the best actor award. Because I acknowledge it.”

Meanwhile.

-Swoosh.

Due to his schedule, the latecomer, Choi Sung-gun, arrived. As it was during the ceremony, he bowed and slid next to Director Shin Dong-chun and Hong Hye-yeon.

Choi Sung-gun, dressed in a suit, immediately gave a thumbs up to Hong Hye-yeon.

“Sorry, Director. I’m a bit late. Wow- Hye-yeon, you got an award? What did you get?”

“Best Actor.”

“Well done, well done. I need to prepare some hype.”

When Hong Hye-yeon said she got the Best Actor Award, the head of the agency’s boss didn’t seem to find it strange at all. Watching the two, Kang Woojin got up from his seat for now. He maintained courtesy even in the midst of confusion.

‘It’s a bit narrow in the front.’

Since Choi Sung-gun would sit in the empty seat to Woojin’s right, he was making room to pass by. Thanks to that, both Choi Sung-gun and Hong Hye-yeon turned their attention to Kang Woojin, who suddenly stood up.

At that moment.

“Acting Grand Prize… Congratulations, Actor Kang Woojin of ‘Exorcism’!”

Suddenly, Kang Woojin’s name echoed from the stage, and Woojin momentarily spaced out looking in the direction of the main stage.

At this point, Hong Hye-yeon next to him snickered.

“Look at this. He got up even before his name was called. He was sure the Grand Prize was his.”

Choi Sung-gun also smiled and patted Kang Woojin’s shoulder.

“I like that kind of confidence. Congratulations, and go get your award first.”

Director Shin Dong-chun, seated to the left of Hong Hye-yeon, also offered congratulations. There was a slight misunderstanding at this moment, but Woojin didn’t have a chance to react.

“….”

He was too busy organizing his breathing and thoughts. Somehow, the air in the hall felt different. It felt sticky yet drifting. A bit like being drunk. He felt like he would faint if he lost his focus for even a moment. It was an emotion close to thrill, but Kang Woojin didn’t have the time to realize it.

-Thud, thud, thud.

Because he had to walk to the stage with all his might.

He didn’t hear the reactions of dozens of people murmuring, nor did he feel the sound of applause. Kang Woojin, who had only won a silver medal in elementary school for throwing a paper air glider the farthest, was now the grand prize winner, beating top actors.

It wasn’t strange that Kang Woojin’s spirit was drained.

Regardless of his abilities, the overwhelming sensation of his first experience. From here on, Woojin’s rationality faded, and instinct took over his body. In other words, the concept that would maintain his ego became strong. By now, Kang Woojin was on the stage. His mind was still numb, but his expression was clear.

And then he heard Japanese.

“Congratulations. Your work was really great.”

It was Director Kyotaro. However, the Japanese he had just heard didn’t feel foreign to Woojin. It felt like Korean. So, his response came out naturally, as if in Korean.

“ありがとうございます, 監督. (Thank you, Director.)”

It wasn’t intended, but it was produced as if it was.

“It’s an honor that you appreciated ‘Exorcism’.”

At the same time, the audience seats near the stage began to cheer. Director Kyotaro’s eyes also widened a little. Of course, so did the interpreter standing next to him.

So the interpreter asked Woojin. This time it was in Korean.

“You speak Japanese well?”

The surprised interpreter asked reflexively. Only then did Kang Woojin’s floating rationality slowly return.

‘… Ah. Huh? Japanese? Did I just answer in Japanese?’

Kang Woojin’s narrow field of vision began to widen slowly. Thanks to that, the tension that had wrapped around his whole body began to fade a little.

“No, I can only speak a little.”

By the time Kang Woojin answered the interpreter, he had fully regained his composure. It was a moment watched by many heavyweights. A single mistake in this potential debut could not be afforded. The next thing Director Kyotaro said was this.

Of course, it was in Japanese.

“Have you lived in Japan? Because your pronunciation doesn’t sound like it’s from studying.”

Kang Woojin, holding a trophy and a bouquet in his hands, met eyes with Director Kyotaro. His eyes were twinkling. Was it because of the lighting? Whatever it was, should he try speaking a little Japanese? Kang Woojin modestly replied in Japanese.

“Thank you for the compliment, but my skills are not that noteworthy. Just enough for communication.”

“Haha, come on. With that level of Japanese, you’re at the native speaker level. I was, how should I say, a bit surprised.”

“About what?”

“…Having mastered a foreign language to that extent, and possessing incredible acting skills, why are you only stuck in short films? Are there many actors like you in Korea?”

Stuck in short films? What does he mean? Kang Woojin paused for a moment. Meanwhile, the interpreter was in a dilemma. Should he interpret this conversation?

It’s understandable why.

“What’s with him? Is he Japanese?”

“I don’t think so. He spoke Korean well too.”

“Or did he prepare it in advance?”

At that moment, about a hundred people in the audience were tilting their heads in confusion. It was strange enough that an unknown actor won the acting grand prize, but on top of that, the unknown actor was casually conversing with a master director from Japan on stage.

“Was his name Kang Woojin? He’s fluent in Japanese? Ah- he must have worked in Japan.”

“Maybe he is a Zainichi Korean (Korean resident in Japan)? So, he is acquainted with Director Kyotaro?”

“Is he quite famous in Japan? Zainichi Koreans usually have a separate Japanese name.”

“He’s a peculiar guy.”

Anyone would have found it strange. If people who didn’t know Kang Woojin found it this strange, what about those who did know him?

Especially.

“…Japanese?”

Director Kwon Ki-taek, who was in the judges’ seat.

‘What’s going on? I thought he only worked overseas in English-speaking countries. Did he also go to Japan? Did he accumulate acting skills from both places?’

Hong Hye-yeon, Choi Sung-gun, and Director Shin Dong-chun with their mouths slightly open.

‘He speaks Japanese too? And he’s fluent in Japanese? What the hell, is this his second life or something?! It doesn’t make sense. Why is he still a mystery after all this digging?!’

‘…So, he can speak Japanese after all. What kind of past has that guy lived?’

‘Oh wow- Woojin must have lived in Japan.’

Of course, including Writer Park Eun-mi. She was so surprised that she covered her mouth with both hands.

‘Incredible acting skills, totem, English, Japanese… Maybe I should start a religion.’

Although the hall with about a hundred people was relatively quiet, there was a whirlwind of confusion and misunderstandings. However, Kang Woojin, the eye of that storm, was completely unaware of the situation.

He was just solemnly looking at Director Kyotaro.

At that moment.

– Whoosh.

A staff member from the ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ under the stage spun their finger at Kang Woojin. It was a sign to proceed with the acceptance speech. Indeed, the casual conversation on stage had been going on for quite a while. The interpreter, realizing this, stopped interpreting and gestured to Woojin.

“Please start with your acceptance speech.”

Realizing the atmosphere, Director Kyotaro also apologized to Woojin in Japanese.

“Ah, sorry. I guess I got in the way.”

Soon, Kang Woojin stood in front of the standing microphone. The sight of about a hundred big shots was visible at once. Although it wasn’t enough to fill all 300 seats, for Woojin, who was experiencing this situation for the first time, it was overwhelming enough.

“…….”

Woojin swallowed his saliva unnoticed. It was the moment of truth.  Acceptance speech? What should he say? It had to be serious yet courteous. Around that time, the reporters positioned around the stage hesitantly raised their cameras towards Kang Woojin.

“I don’t know who he is, but we have to take pictures, right?”

“I came to take pictures of Hong Hye-yeon or Park Jung-hyuk”

“What was his name?”

“Kang Woojin, Kang Woojin.”

Quite a dazzling flash baptism was poured on the nonchalant Kang Woojin on the stage. Because of this, Kang Woojin had to narrow his eyes. It was like lightning was striking right in front of him.

‘Ah, shit. I don’t know. Let’s just get it over with.’

Whether it’s because his thoughts were scattered, Kang Woojin decided to just say the words that came to his mind. Of course, he would keep his voice steady.

“Thank you. It has been a long and difficult time, but now I have many good people around me. I won’t make a long speech. I will think of this glorious award as a whip and strive harder than now without stopping. Thank you.”

When Kang Woojin’s speech ended, applause erupted moderately. In the meantime, Director Kwon Ki-taek smirked.

“Do your best more than now without stopping? That’s scary.”

Kang Woojin, who kept a solid poker face more than ever, came down from the stage. In the meantime, the baptism of the reporters’ flashes did not stop, and the gaze of about a hundred people followed Kang Woojin.

As soon as Kang Woojin arrived at his seat, the ‘Exorcism’ team threw congratulations.

However, Kang Woojin, who was still in a dazed, politely thanked them and sat down. Then he looked down at the trophy in his hand. As expected, the sense of accomplishment was unbelievably high.

‘Ah- The corners of my mouth keep going up. Hold on, hold on.’

It was for a short film, but it was an award that recognized him for his acting at the film festival. Kang Woojin was thinking about where to put this award in his house.

At that moment.

“Best Work Award! It’s out this year! Congratulations! ‘Exorcism’!!”

Suddenly, ‘Exorcism’ was called out from the stage. At the same time, Director Shin Dong-chun, with his eyes reddening, stood up.

In other words, as a triple winner at the ‘Mise-en-scène Short Film Festival’,

“Thank you, thank you everyone!”

‘Exorcism’ had swept the festival.

About an hour later, in a large cafe in Seoul.

It was a very spacious franchise cafe at a glance. Around the counter, cups and bags with the cafe logo were on display, and the tables around were so crowded with customers that there were no empty seats.

Everyone was busy doing something frantically.

Someone was chatting, someone was studying, someone was on their mobile phone. Many customers were busy doing their own things in the noisy noise. Among those customers, three familiar women were sitting at a table by the window where drinks were served.

In their early 20s?

Typical college student faces. There was no particular conversation because they had been chatting for quite a while. One was working on something on the laptop she brought, and the remaining two were looking at their mobile phones.

Then.

“Huh?”

The woman in the white shirt tilted her head as she was looking at something on her mobile phone.

“Uh- I’ve heard this name a lot somewhere?”

At her words, the friends around her responded.

“What is it? Who?”

“It’s a guy again.”

“No! It’s not!”

The slightly grumbling shirt-wearing woman quickly showed her mobile phone to her friends. An article was being displayed on the phone.

“Look! This name! Doesn’t it seem familiar?”

The friends quickly turned their eyes to the phone.

“Um- Yeah? It seems familiar, but it’s a pretty common name. It’s not one of the guys you were seeing, right?”

“No, it’s not!”

“But this guy, he’s an actor? He filmed with Hong Hye-yeon? Was there an awards ceremony?”

“I don’t know. I just saw it while scrolling through entertainment news.”

“Kang Woojin, Kang Woojin. Uhmmm. Where have I heard it?”

“But he was pretty handsome. He seems to be a rookie.”

That was when.

“What are you all looking at?”

A woman with medium-length brown hair and a hat appeared behind the three women. It seemed like she just came back from the bathroom because her hands were wet. The question was immediately passed on to her.

“Hyun-ah! Do you remember the name Kang Woojin?”

The woman wearing the hat in response to the question shrugged as if it was only natural to know. The reason was simple.

“Remember, didn’t I tell you that he’s my older brother?”

Because she was Kang Woojin’s sister, Kang Hyun-ah. Therefore, the three women sitting here were her friends. Then, one friend clapped her hands.

“Ah!! That’s right! Hyun-ah’s brother… huh? Brother? Brother?”

“Yes.”

“Wow, awesome.”

“Wow, Hyun-ah, didn’t you say your brother wasn’t an actor?”

Kang Hyun-ah, who was sitting down, furrowed her brow.

“What? Why are you suddenly acting like this? Why were you talking about my brother?”

“No! Wow! Hyun-ah, your brother is in the news right now?”

“…What are you talking about? He announced that he was going to be an actor two months ago.”

“It’s true!”

One of the friends pushed her phone towards Kang Hyun-ah.

“He even appeared with Hong Hye-yeon! He must have won an award! Wow! Your brother is really handsome!”

“???”

Kang Hyun-ah scanned her excited friends and then lowered her gaze to the cell phone.

At the same time.

“…Huh?”

Her eyes widened in surprise. After all, her blood relative was pictured in the article, even alongside top actress Hong Hye-yeon.

“Huh???”

Meanwhile, in Jinju, South Gyeongnam.

Near Jinju Bus Terminal. The street, where many buses are still coming and going, is bustling with people. People getting on the bus, or just getting off. Because of these crowds, there are many stores around the bus terminal.

Among them was a porridge shop.

It looked less busy than convenience stores or kimbap restaurants. The interior was calm as befits a porridge shop, and the owners appeared to be a couple. The husband was looking at a monitor at the counter, and the wife was sighing in a makeshift chair next to the counter.

Both of them looked young.

The husband was quite tall with a strong impression, and the wife was of average height with good skin. The problem was.

“Ha-”

The wife seemed to have worries as she sighed deeply.

“I’m worried, really worried.”

At this, the husband, who had been clicking the mouse, asked without taking his eyes off the monitor.

“Why.”

“Aren’t you worried? You don’t care about our son.”

“Hyun-mi, you worry too much. He’ll take care of himself, let’s wait and see.”

At her husband’s response, the wife grumbled quietly. Around this time, a customer entered, and the wife naturally greeted the customers. Then she took the order and returned to the counter.

“Vegetable porridge, pumpkin porridge.”

“……….”

But there was no response from her husband. Feeling something was off, the wife tapped the husband’s shoulder.

“What are you doing.”

Only then did the husband, who seemed to snap back to reality, turn the monitor he was looking at towards his wife.

“…Hyun-mi. I clicked because the name caught my eye, but why did our son take a picture with this person?”

With a slightly knitted brow, the wife muttered something like ‘what are you talking about’ and glued her eyes to the monitor. But she too quickly gasped.

Naturally.

“Huh? Our… Woojin?”

“Yes, Woojin. But why is our son in the news?”

For the couple. No, as Kang Woojin’s parents.

『[Film Festival] ‘Mise-en-scène Film Festival’ Snapshots of award-winning actors! Hong Hye-yeon wins ‘Best Actor Award’, newcomer Kang Woojin wins ‘Grand Prize’/ Photo』

It was a huge shock.