CRANK 4

“Actually, I wanted to receive the Rising Star Award more than any other award. So I was excited even when I was nominated, and I’m really happy that I received it.”

It wasn’t because he was the same gender, or because he had exceptionally tall stature, or because he caught up in a short time to something I had achieved over several years. — Well, that was partly true. —

It was just annoying that he took out the 1st album of ‘Sunset Beach Angel’ while wearing a bright, innocent smile as if he didn’t know anything, and that he demanded my phone number so confidently.

It was an attitude only someone who had never been rejected once in their life, someone who had always been loved whenever and wherever they went and had never experienced failure, could have.

“The word ‘happy’… is not enough to express how overwhelmed I am. This was a goal I had dreamed of for a year, perhaps. Some might think it’s ridiculous, but I was more desperate for this award than anything else.”

I knew it. That it was a stupid, inferior feeling. But what was I supposed to do? I had failed, and I had barely managed to climb up this far. ‘Sunset Beach Angel,’ which might seem like a joke to him, was a painful time for me.

It was a full six years. Living a life where I couldn’t say anything when others asked me what I did for a living—being an ‘entertainer’ in name only but living a life worse than an ordinary citizen. I couldn’t earn a single penny, yet due to the company’s policy, I couldn’t even work a part-time job. There were more haters than the handful of fans I had, and even more people who didn’t even know we existed. It was a tedious, grueling time.

“I am truly grateful to our manager who first suggested I try acting, to the director who gave me a dream-like opportunity, to the staff members who suffered alongside me, and to our fans whom I always thank and love. I am sincerely grateful to everyone.”

But what do you know about me? Debuting as a model and immediately sweeping overseas collections with your natural physicality, and landing a lead role from your very first drama. Even the movies you starred in as a supporting actor hit the jackpot in one go.

How could Woo Dobin, who seems to have had no curves in life and even seems to have come from a ‘gold spoon’ background, like me when he doesn’t know anything about me?

It was definitely just some cheap curiosity. The flushed expression as if he were excited, the reddened neck, and the face smiling as if he were truly happy—it was all hypocritical.

“And above all, thank you to Park Hoyoon Sunbae for presenting this award.”

“What the, fuck…”

I muttered a low profanity. Woo Dobin had even gone so far as to finish his acceptance speech by mentioning my name at the end.

Finally, Woo Dobin came down from the stage, holding the trophy in one hand and the bouquet in the other.

“Sunbae!”

Seeing Woo Dobin running toward me with a bright smile, it felt so much like he was confessing his love for me rather than me having just told him he was in the way. What kind of person is this?

“Did you wait for me?”

As if that would ever happen.

“Thank you for the award.”

“…I didn’t even give it to you.”

“Still.”

“The bouquet is really pretty, too.”

“It’s the same one you got when you won the Best Couple Award.”

“Still.”

Does he only know how to say “still”? I absolutely couldn’t keep up with his tension. At first, he seemed like a predator with a hidden story, but the more I look at him, the more he seems like a country dog wagging its tail at anyone.

“So Sunbae, what about the number?”

“I never said I’d give it to you.”

“Why are you using formal language again?”

“…”

A staff member signaled to us. I hurried away from behind the stage. Woo Dobin followed behind me, babbling incessantly.

“I liked that we seemed to get closer because you used casual speech with me.”

“…”

“I hope you use casual speech with me again next time we meet. Ah, I’ll try my best not to get in your way.”

Woo Dobin even followed me right up to my table. Shin Yuhye looked at me and Woo Dobin in turn with a puzzled expression. It must look strange that we came down together after I told her earlier that we didn’t know each other.

“Please go now. To your table.”

“There seems to be an empty seat here…”

Woo Dobin plopped down into the seat next to me.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I guess we came down too late.”

The next presenter was in the middle of going up on stage.

“It seems too late to move now. I’ll just sit here for this award and then go, is that okay?”

You’re already sitting down, and now you’re asking if it’s okay?

“Oh my, of course it’s okay. You’re Woo Dobin, right? Nice to meet you. I’m Shin Yuhye.”

I tried to argue, but Shin Yuhye was faster in reaching out her hand.

“Nice to meet you. You must be close with Hoyoon Sunbae.”

“We met on a drama set last time.”

They chatted happily with me in the middle.

“I’m envious. It’s my wish to work on a project with Sunbae, too.”

“Are you close with Hoyoon?”

Shin Yuhye glanced at me with a questioning look. Didn’t you say you weren’t close? That was the look she was giving. I shook my head.

“We aren’t close, but I want to get close.”

“I see…”

“I like him a lot. I’m a fan.”

“I see. You must be happy to meet him like this.”

“Yes, I’m really happy.”

Shin Yuhye, perhaps sensing something strange, pulled her body back slightly. Even so, Woo Dobin didn’t stop rambling.

“You even gave me the award like this.”

Like I said, I didn’t give it to you.

“And you gave me a pretty bouquet.”

Anyone would think I picked out the design myself.

“And you congratulated me…”

Could he really be attaching meaning to a formal greeting?

“Now, I would have no regrets if you just gave me your number.”

He crinkled his eyes softly. I knew I had to control my expression. I knew it, but… I couldn’t help it as my face scrunched up uncontrollably.

“Yes, Sunbae?”

Woo Dobin smiled. It was a smile that shone as the #1 actor with beautiful eye-smiles.

🍋🍁

“What the hell is this?”

“What is?”

“That, fuck.”

“Hyung! Watch your mouth, your mouth!”

The manager sitting in the driver’s seat right in front, Youngjun, shouted in a flustered tone. The awards ceremony barely ended near 1:00 AM. I was on my way home, exhausted.

“There’s no one around, so what’s the big deal?”

“Still. It’s not good if it becomes a habit. Don’t even curse in your head.”

I do it every day in my head.

“That’s not the point.”

“Yes, why?”

“Didn’t you see it?”

“What?”

“SAW!”

“Of course I saw it. Do you think I wouldn’t watch it when you’re on it?”

“Then why are you saying nothing?”

“What am I supposed to say?”

I shut my mouth tight. Is it possible that it really didn’t become an issue at all? The fact that that jerk hugged me and spun me around once? Or that his brain had spun around?

“Actor Woo Dobin?”

Of course it would be an issue.

“What did the articles say?”

“Why? Aren’t they all heartwarming articles?”

“Heartwarming?”

Youngjun, while looking ahead, passed his phone to me in the back. There were a few articles on the phone I took.

[Photo] Woo Dobin, hugging Park Hoyoon… ‘Thank you, Sunbae!’

[Photo] The Rising Star passing the torch. Heartwarming for 2 consecutive years.

Fuck… It was exactly as I thought. The photo of Woo Dobin holding me up and spinning me around was clearly captured. My expression, with my eyes wide open and mouth agape, was horrific.

“Do you think this is heartwarming?”

“The reactions are good. Check the comments.”

I scrolled down to check the comments.

183 comments

Who wrote the comments?: Male 7%, Female 93%

Sorted by most liked

dmf*** — Whoa, big deal. Are Woo Dobin and Park Hoyoon close? I don’t know how they know each other, but I support this friendship.

ooo*** — The two of them should shoot a drama together.

Epo*** — Just having handsome guys together is already like a movie. Maybe because they’re wearing suits, it feels like a noir film.

└laq*** — The Woo Dobin fan girls have marked their territory lol

└kah*** — Yup, welcome 7 percent~

Occasionally a hateful comment appeared, but most were just nice words. I stared at the phone with my face firmly crinkled.

“How is it, isn’t it okay?”

“…What do you mean okay, what is okay about this?”

“Why? Anyway, since when have you and actor Woo Dobin known each other?”

“We don’t know each other.”

“You don’t? Then what was that?”

“How would I know?”

“If Hyung doesn’t know, who would?”

“That’s exactly why, fuck. That’s why I’m saying it’s bullshit.”

“Hyung, watch your mouth!”