Chapter 29 (1/2)

Chapter 29 – Is he asking for a battle

[The Runner Ups]

The Lonely Man of Seoul – Ahn Sungwoo

Child of the 90s – Ha Jaegun

The Day of Summer – Sin Jungok

‘Ha… Jaeee…. Gunn….?!’

Myunghoon couldn’t shut his mouth at one of the runner up’s name. Ha Jaegun wasn’t a very common name. At least in his life, it wasn’t.

But Myunghoon knew the name of ‘Child of the 90s’

It was the short story that Jaegun was writing since college.

From Myunghoon remembered, Jaegun couldn’t finish the book in college. So he was more baffled. A story like this that should have been buried is seen at a Digital Literary Award like this. And in the same place as a person like me.

‘This guy…!’

Myunghoon remembered the face that Jaegun made in the writer’s meeting and s.h.i.+vered.

It was a different JAegun then he remembered. He sent multiple insults that him, but he didn’t respond. Even more, Jaegun countered and got Myunghoon himself got shamed because of a word mistake.

The memory didn’t stop there.

He could remember every word that he said to Jaegun that day.

As a writer, I am recently writing a work that has quality to not shame the name of a writer.

Just, at this time there is a Literary Contest. I saw the other awards so I feel like I’m going to win it pretty simply. Probably have one more one on my career.

‘Dang it….! I said something stupid.

Just thinking about him made him feel embarra.s.sed. The embarra.s.sment completely pressed on his entire body.

Myunghoon covered his head with his two hand. And then he repeated slammed his forehead against the desk. In a same literary contest, especially the same award, he had no idea at all.

Myunghoon checked the award list many times.

The winner was was called ‘A dumb woman; but he didn’t even care about that. His entire attention was on Jaegun who got the same runner up award as him.

‘It doesn’t matter! His is a one that he written in 3 months. Ha Jaegun, that guy, written that for 7 years. 3 months and 7 years can’t be compared. I’m better. I write so much better!!!’

Myunghoon kept thinking that to himself.

He was already thinking what to say in his award speech.

‘I need to appeal that I’ve written this in 3 months. If I had more time, I could have won it, but I was busy. I’m gonna mix my regret with some humor and end it cooly.’’

Myunghoon rolled his head while keep knocking his fingers on the desk. He was trying to show himself off.

‘Dang it, Jaegun has to say his speech before mine. Then I have time to counter his speech. I can add some more stuff in. I’m wis.h.i.+ng he says it took him 7 years. At least it might show mine off better.

Myunghoon opened word furiously.

His ten enraged fingers typed out words and sentences at a fast pace.

His speech filled with justifications of himself. It was a comfort from getting the same award as someone like Ha Jaegun. .

Tap!

At a moment, Myunghoon stopped and put his head up.

Jaegun probably knew the results by now. It was fate that they were going to see each other at the ceremony.

‘Let me greet him first.’

It was a fate that he had to go through

It felt better to tell him that Ahn Sungwoo who made ‘The Lonely Man of Seoul’ was Myunghoon.

It was a thought because at least he wouldn’t hear insults about how he was too afraid that he would lose so he used a pen name.

-Jaegun, I heard you won the runner up prize at the Digital Award Contest. Good job.

He sent a message. Myunghoon was waiting nervously biting his finger. He chose message because he thought his voice would be shaking.

Jaegun’s reply came faster than he expected.

-How did you know? Thanks.

-But you have to congratulate me too. You know ‘The Lonely Man of Seoul’ in the runner up? That’s written by me. Heh. In 3 months.

-Ah, that Ahn Sungwoo was yours. The contest that you were entering, it was this. Yeah, good job to you, too.

-I was just saying, guy. It’s only getting a runner up for a measly small award so no need for a good job. I’m sort of shocked that I won because it was just a writing that I just wrote down easily. I was randomly writing for about 3 months and I threw it in. And I won apparently

-Yeah you do write well.

Jaegun’s praise felt more like banter to Myunghoon

With a crumbled face, Myunghoon furiously pounded the touchscreen.

-At least your work paid off. Man, I still remember the ‘Child of the 90s’ Wasn’t that a project that you were holding for 7 years? Hehehehe at least you finally found the light, isn’t that good? Now you finally have at least one line in your career. Hehehe

-Yeah I’m feeling good

Nothing else came after that short message.

Myunghoon’s anger didn’t fall easily. It felt to him that Jaegun was laughing at him right now. Thinking about how to end the conversation, Myunghoon finally sent the last message.

-I’ll see you at the award. Wear something clean. Don’t live showing off that you’re a writer in a room. Today’s world is a world where even writer’s wear something nice.

-OK, thanks, good work to ou.