Chapter 31 (1/2)

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 partic.i.p.ation 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 embarra.s.sedly 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 t.i.tle, 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 embarra.s.sed. 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 t.i.tle. There’s a lot of good t.i.tles 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,