Chapter 31
Chapter 31 – Is he asking for a battle
The commentator sent Jaegun who was climbing up the stairs a smile and continued his statement .
“The Digital Literary Contest started to find amazing pieces, not caring if they are by new writers or not . Therefore, it’s possible that you can enter multiple with a pen name . So it’s possible that one person could get more than two awards . ”
Jaegun stood there next to the commentator with his two hands together .
Looking at front, over hundreds of stairs were pointing towards him
His heart felt like it was going to burst .
A electrical current went through his lower body and came up .
“There was a writer during the 2nd contest 4 years ago that won both the runner up award and the participation prize . After that, there wasn’t another multiple awards for one person .
The commentator hesitated slightly, making the crowd more pulled in to his commentating . He smiled, wasting time . His two eyes were toward the embarrassedly standing Jaegun .
“Writer Se Gunwoo here won the grand prize with “A Dumb Woman . ” However, ladies and gentlemen, Se Gunwoo also won the runner up prize . ”
“How could this be…!”
Jongjin gasped .
Jaegun’s family, Suhee, and Hyojin were all sitting mouths gaping open, looking forward . The hall became a notch louder .
Myunghoon was the one who got the most shock out of this hall .
He was completely out of it, not even knowing that he was crumpling his speech in his hand .
“The name is ‘Child of the 90s,’ writer Ha Jaegun . Which one is your real name, sir?”
The commentator, even though he knew it, asked .
Jaegun coughed slightly and took the mic that the commentator gave him .
“Ha Jaegun is my real name . ”
“Yes, Writer Ha Jaegun . Thank you for entering with such a great work . The judges said that it was hard to compare between the two on the grand prize . It could be said that your two works were fighting for the grand prize . What do you have to say?”
Jaegun got the mic again .
Jaegun opened his mouth, thinking of what to say . He finally said something .
“I honestly have no idea . My hair’s all white and I don’t have any thoughts right now so it’s hard to say . I’m sorry . ”
“Haha, yes, it feels like you’re really nervous unlike how you look . Now, at this point, I’ll introduce you to the person that will be giving out the award . It’s the company that looked only for books for 30 years . Introducing Korea’s major bookstore with over 25 places over the country, come out please Mr . Han Jungdo of Gyojimungo . ”
One man who was sitting on a reserved seat stood up . He was Representative Han Jungdo of Gyojimungo . To give the award, he went up and took the mic .
“This is the work that has been picked by the judges to win the grand prize, “A Dumb Woman . ” It was a work that describes a woman as part of a family, a daughter, and an older sister in her 20s . It describes her very emotionally with creative and fresh writing was the review . ”
Jaeyn who was part of the crowd opened her eyes .
She didn’t know that it was by her brother so it was obvious that she didn’t know the meaning of the story .
Myungja beside her was already tearing up . She held her daughter’s hand .
“The main character, Jaehee, of “A Dumb Woman,” is truly like the title, dumb . She doesn’t want love as a daughter and she sacrificed as a daughter . For her brother’s future, she gladly gives up her future, her beautiful and lovely young days, all for her family . But Jaehee never says it’s sacrifice . She had never thought it was sacrifice, The talk that people talk about Jaehee’s sacrifice, to her, this is only a deed and love that must be given to her family . ”
Jaeyn put her head down and covered up her mouth .
From her teary eyes, tears were falling down .
She told herself that she wasn’t to cry in such a happy day, but no matter how hard she tried to stop her tears, her warm tears didn’t know to stop .
“Jaeyun… . ”
Myungja took out a handkerchief and gave it to her .
Jaeyn took it and put it to her face but it was impossible . With one small handkerchief, she couldn’t remove all the tears that were coming with her long youthful days .
With applause, Jaegun was given the award .
Jaegun stood proudly over hundreds of people . It was time for him to give his speech .
“I did make a speech … . but to say it, it feels like everything was pointless . First I want to thank my family, my colleagues who broke their busy life to come here… . Jongjin, Hyojin, Suhee, thanks . And to the people of the Digital Literary Contest, thank you again . And finally, to my master and teacher who I cannot give the name of for personal reasons, thank you . ”
“That guy really has power making people surprised . You’re dead when you come back . ”
Jongjin looked at Jaegun and said jokingly . His finger was holding on to his tingling nose . Suhee and Hoyin had a little smile with their eyes a bit red .
“I warned my cry baby sister before I came here . Please don’t cry because I’ll be embarrassed . She laughed at that and was sure that she wouldn’t but look over there . That beautiful girl who’s crying out waterfalls is my sister . ”
Jaegun pointed to Jaeyn with a joke .
Many stares went over to Jaeyn and many laughters erupted . But Jaeyn still couldn’t laugh at her brother’s jokes .
“I’ll probably get scolded when I get home . Because of the title . There’s a lot of good titles but why did you name is ‘A Dumb Woman, it’s obviously a story made because of me, why am I so dumb, she’s probably gonna scold me for so many things . But… I had no choice . My sister is dumb .
Jaegun stopped speaking and closed his eyes .
The hall became quiet . In the silence, Jaegun was looking at the times that he lived with her sister’s love . There wasn’t a day that wasn’t important .
“27 years…”
Jaegun opened his eyes and spoke .
In his blurry eyes, he could clearly see the figure of her sister crying .
“27 years without change… she was a dumb sister who lived life for her brother without a care for her life . Giving up her transportation fees so that her brother wouldn’t feel ignored or not confident . Eating rice with water with no side dishes at all for her meals …while always giving up meat for her brother . Quietly taking her brother’s wallet, giving money, and being ignorant about it…”
Unlike what he prepared, the speech was slow and choppy .
Many people in the crowd were moved by Jaegun’s shaking voice filled with sincerity
“I offer this book to the dumb woman in my sister . Mother, Father, thank you . For making such an amazing sister . And caring for my sister and I this well . ”
“Uhkhkhkhkhkhhkhhhkkkk . . !”(Better laughing notations ever)
Jaeyn couldn’t hold it in anymore and let out a cry .
Her makeup was completely messed up but she didn’t care . Myungja put her face down to her back and silently teared .
Jongjin stood up and clapped . Hyojin and Suhee followed . From there, the entire hall started to clap loudly .
Only one person who didn’t clap,
‘Uhhhhhk?!’
Myunghoon was holding his chest and was shivering . His glance was staring into his own shiny shoes .
Could these shoes walk all the way to that podium .
Could I say my speech without caring about Jaegun’s achievements .
All of this seemed impossible .
All the figures in his eyes were blurry . His head shook and the world was blurry . It was so loud that his ears were going to fall off .
‘No…! If I back down here, I’ll be a bigger laughingstock . I’m me! I shouldn’t be concerned with something like this! Those idiot judges! Do you think I’ll back off here?! I’m Oh Myunghoon!’
Myunghoon, with shaky hands, straightened his speech .
He wanted a supplement to calm his heart right now . He usually was good at being in front of people and enjoyed it, but today was different . There was no one who could bring him confidence anywhere near him .
‘Ha Jaegun…! Are you this happy to get an grand prize in a contest like this? You’re bringing your family and filming a drama . Yes, have fun right now! This will be the climax of your life!’
Myunghoon stared at Jaegun cursing at him and went back to his speech . Thinking about how should he change it to make more of the focus on Jaegun turn more to him
Just then
The commentator was continuing .
“Because of time restraints, We will remove the speeches for the other awards . All the winners please come up to the podium . ”
Myunghoon shot his head up surprised .
He didn’t mishear it . The winners were getting up and walking to the podium .
‘No time… Remove… speeches?!’
It meant that he had to be one person mixed in with the other winners .
No sentence of speech could be given
Understanding the reality, Myunghoon’s body completely broke . In his two unglazed eyes were the shiny bright hall’s light .
… .
“Representative, do you want some tea?”
“No need, just go . ”
Oh Tejin said on the chair .
He passed 50 years ago but he was still healthy . He was a person who cared for his health because of his family and his company .
Tejin was discomforted . Because of his youngest son .
What could be something important that he would miss his mother’s birthday .
An answer couldn’t come even though he thought hard . It was his son, very far away from constructive life . Never the reliable one .
The phone rang on the desk .
Tejin was tired so he ignored it . But as the vibrations kept coming, he sighed and picked up the phone .
“Yes, Oh Tejin . ”
“Hello, representative, I’m Director Park Jungbe . ”
“Ahah, yes, Director Park, Have you been well?”
Tejin answered in a light voice compared to his bad mood .
Gyojimungo was first domestic company to have a on off place . It was a big company so from his point of view, it was obvious that he needed a good relationship with everyone .
“Yes, I’ve been well . Ah, I just wanted to say congratulations so I called you . ”
“Congratulations? Haha, do I need to be congratulated?”
“Of course, your son has won a Literary Award so that’s good enough for congratulations . As a representative of a publishing company and a writer yourself, isn’t is such a good thing . Congratulations . ”
Tejin’s face lost its laughter . With a serious face, he stood up and went by the window .
“My son got a literary award?”
“Did you not know? Today was the ceremony . ”
“No I haven’t heard of it . What is it?”
“It’s the Digital Literary Contest that we’re sponsoring every year . Your son won the runner up . As it was a contest that could be enterd with a pen name, and I’m not the chief from over there, I just found out now . The pen name was Ah Sungwoo and the name was ‘Lonely Man of Seoul . ’
“Director, thank you for calling . I’ll check and I’ll call later”
“Yes, sir . Have a nice day . ”
Tejin went straight to the computer after he cut off .
He searched up Digital Literary Contest and many news came out .
‘Myunghoon is the runner up…!’
Tejin rubbed his two hands together and checked the winner’s news .
]It was as Park said . Ah Sungwoo wrote the ‘Lonely Man of Seoul’ and got the runner up .
‘That idiot! If this was happening, he should have told me earlier…!’
With the rushing regret, Tejin slapped his forehead .
He knew Myunghoon’s personality of hating losing because he was his father . Worried that Myunghoon would be like him when he was younger, he was very strict against him .
Tejin sighed and scrolled up .
Just then,
‘Hm…?!’
Tejin looked at the monitor and froze .
The name of the winner was held in his two eyes .