Big Life

Chapter 30: Is This A Competition? (3)

[Runner-Up Category]

Solitude in Seoul — Ahn Sung-Woo

A 90’s Kid — Ha Jae-Gun

A Summer Day — Shin Jung-Ok

‘Ha… Jae… Gun…?!’

Aside from his own name, Oh Myung-Hoon was stupefied to see a familiar name on the runner-up list. The name Ha Jae-Gun wasn’t common, at least among the people in his life. Moreover, the title A 90’s Kid was familiar to him as well.

If his memory was serving him right, then A 90’s Kid had to be the long-form novel that Ha Jae-Gun had been working on since his university days. He could still remember that Ha Jae-Gun didn’t manage to complete it, even after they graduated.

Therefore, he found it a bit unbelievable. How did that novel make it on the Digital Literature Award list when it should have been buried long ago? Even more astonishing was that it was on the list of runner-ups, along with his own work.

‘That crafty fellow…!’

Oh Myung-Hoon quivered in anger as he recalled Ha Jae-Gun’s face at the authors’ meet. Ha Jae-Gun looked totally different from before. Oh Myung-Hoon had tried shaking him up multiple times during the meet, but Ha Jae-Gun didn’t fall into his trap. He was actually the one who got agitated when Ha Jae-Gun counterattacked.

In addition, the words he had said to Ha Jae-Gun during the authors’ meet echoed in his mind.

“I don’t want my title as a writer to go to waste, so I have been working on a somewhat classy piece.”

“And it’s also a coincidence that the Literature Award contest is being held right now… I’ve been looking at the past awarded works, and I think I can win and add that accolade to my portfolio.”

‘Damn it…! Why did I say such things?!’

Oh Myung-Hoon was overwhelmed with shame upon recalling those words. He messed up his hair in frustration and banged his head on the table. He had never dreamed that Ha Jae-Gun would receive the same category award as him.

Oh Myung-Hoon looked over the awarded list repeatedly. The grand prize went to a novel titled Foolish Woman, but Oh Myung-Hoon didn’t even pay attention to that.

Oh Myung-Hoon was focused on Ha Jae-Gun.

‘It doesn’t matter! The novel I submitted was completed in three months, and Ha Jae-Gun took seven years to complete his work. I’m faster than him, so I’m better than him! My writing is better, too!’

Oh Myung-Hoon convinced himself repeatedly, and then he started focusing on how he should write his acceptance speech.

‘I should put the focus on how I had completed this novel in three months. Then, I can add a line jokingly on how I could have gotten the grand prize if I had more time, but I’m so busy that I had to settle for a runner-up prize, which is a shame.’

Oh Myung-Hoon constantly tapped his fingertips on the desk while trying to find a way to stand out in his acceptance speech.

‘Damn it, Ha Jae-Gun should do his acceptance speech before mine, so I can edit my speech according to his speech. I hope he mentions that it took him seven years to complete his work because that would make my acceptance speech stand out even more and create a more distinct contrast with him.’

Oh Myung-Hoon opened the Word program while breathing heavily. He started typing rapidly to create the draft for his acceptance speech. His speech was mostly about defending and consoling himself, who had gotten the same prize as Ha Jae-Gun.

Tap!

Just then, Oh Myung-Hoon stopped typing and looked up. He realized that Ha Jae-Gun would have known about the results as well since he had participated in the contest. Ha Jae-Gun would also appear at the award ceremony, and they wouldn’t be able to avoid each other.

‘I should say my introductions first.’

Their meeting was inevitable, so he decided that it was better to reveal that he was the author Ahn Sung-Woo, who wrote Solitude in Seoul.

He thought that it was necessary to make his stance known right from the start so that he wouldn’t hear any criticisms about how he used a pen name as a safety net in case his novel ended up not being good enough to earn a prize.

— Ha Jae-Gun, I saw that you won the runner-up prize for the Digital Literature Award. Congratulations.

Oh Myung-Hoon sent Ha Jae-Gun a message because he was afraid that his voice would give his true feelings away if he were to call. Oh Myung-Hoon bit his thumb anxiously while waiting for a reply.

A reply came sooner than he expected, and Oh Myung-Hoon opened it almost immediately.

— Oh, how did you know? Thank you.

— You should congratulate me as well. Have you seen Solitude in Seoul on the list? I actually wrote that myself. Keke. It only took me three months to write it.

— Ah, you’re Ahn Sung-Woo? So this was the Literature Award contest you mentioned. Congratulations.

— I just mentioned it in passing. It’s not a large-scale contest, anyway, so it doesn’t really matter. I also didn’t put much effort into writing it, anyway, so I was actually shocked that it got chosen as a runner-up.

— Yeah, you’re good at writing, anyway.

Ha Jae-Gun’s latest message sounded sarcastic in Oh Myung-Hoon’s ears, so he replied with a frown.

— Well, it’s great that you finally got rewarded for your hard work. I still remember that you started on A 90’s Kid almost over seven years ago, right? Kekekekeke. You must be feeling great that it has finally seen the light of day after so long. Plus, you finally have an accolade in your career. Kekeke.

— Yeah, I’m actually feeling great.

There were no more messages afterward.

However, Oh Myung-Hoon wasn’t satisfied at all. He felt that Ha Jae-Gun could be chuckling hollowly in self-loathing right now. After contemplating how he should wrap the conversation up, Oh Myung-Hoon sent his last message.

— I’ll see you at the award ceremony then. Remember to dress up nicely. Don’t make it too obvious that you’ve been living as an ink slinger. I mean, even writers like us have to dress our part to live up to our accolades.

— I got it. Thanks for your advice. Keep up the good work.

Oh Myung-Hoon shifted his glare into the empty space and huffed. He repeatedly reminded himself that he was a much better writer than Ha Jae-Gun to calm himself down.

‘I’m superior in every way. I’ve already won a contest before this. It took him seven years to complete his submission, but I took three months to complete mine. The value of our awards is essentially different!’

All of a sudden, Lee Soo-Hee’s face appeared in his mind.

It was true that his achievement deserved praise. Setting aside his anger at Ha Jae-Gun, he also felt happy about becoming a runner-up in the Digital Literature Award.

Oh Myung-Hoon opened his contact list. Out of everyone in his contacts, there was only one person whom he wished would praise him. The dial tone started ringing as he waited anxiously for an answer.

***

“What’s wrong? Did you get too excited because of the prize money?” Ha Jae-Gun asked Ha Jae-In with a grin.

Ha Jae-In looked like she was possessed as she sat there in a daze.

“Say something. Why are you like this?”

Ha Jae-Gun returned to his parents’ house in Suwon after seeing the results of the Digital Literature Award. He wanted to share the good news with his family before sharing it with anyone else.

“Your younger brother has finally won an award, and it’s an award in a contest hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism at that. It’s not a large-scale contest, nor is it a prestigious contest, but it’s still fairly recognized.”

Ha Jae-In covered her face with her hands. Her nose turned red as tears welled up in her eyes. It didn’t really matter whether the contest was a large one or a small one, she was upset.

She should be congratulating her own brother, but she couldn’t say anything because her emotions were overwhelming her.

“I’m going to be successful, and I will keep walking on a flowery road. Similar to those running in a marathon, I’m just getting started. I just passed the hundred-meter mark, you know.”

“Jae-Gun…”

All of a sudden, the sound of the door being unlocked could be heard. The door opened, and their mother, who went to fetch their father, finally returned with their father in tow.

“Son! What are you doing here without calling back first!” their mother exclaimed the moment she stepped into the house. She then saw the teary-eyed Ha Jae-In, who still trying to compose herself.

“Jae-In, why are you crying? What happened?”

“Mom, Jae-Gun he…”

“Jae-Gun? What’s wrong with Jae-Gun? Tell me.”

“Jae-Gun… said that he won the Digital Literature Award,” Ha Jae-In said in a barely audible voice. Their mother looked up at Ha Jae-Gun blankly for a while upon hearing the shocking news.

Then, she hugged Ha Jae-Gun tightly and exclaimed in joy, “Aigoo! Our dear son! My cute son! My awesome son! I knew you would make it one day! I knew you’d do great! It’s not because you’re my son; I really believe that you would make it big!”

His mother showered him with kisses on both of his cheeks while shouting. He had already become an adult, but his mother was still looking at him as her cute, soft, and precious son.

Ha Jae-Gun had no idea when, but his mother started crying as well.

His father was finally done arranging the shoes, and he walked into the living room.

However, there wasn’t even a hint of a smile on his lips. His father looked around the living room with a disapproving look, and then he headed for his room without a word.

“Honey! Jae-Gun’s award ceremony is next Saturday!” His mother shouted in the direction of their room as she wiped away the tears on her face. However, no reply came from the room—only the sound of his father changing clothes could be heard.

“Honey, I said Jae-Gun’s award ceremony is on next Saturday!”

“I’m on morning duty that day.”

“What?”

“You should just go with Jae-In.”

“You’re really…!” His mother stood up and went into the bedroom. Afterward, the door was shut, and only his mother’s loud voice could be heard from the room.

Ha Jae-Gun smiled bitterly as he waited to hear his father’s reply. Ha Jae-In held Ha Jae-Gun’s hand in hers and gently patted the back of his hand.

***

The award ceremony was held at the Auditorium of the National Science Museum located at Hyehwa-dong in Seoul.

Oh Myung-Hoon drove and arrived early at the venue.

He didn’t share the news with his family, colleagues, friends, or other acquaintances because he was offended by the fact that he would receive the same award as Ha Jae-Gun.

He also didn’t want to see anyone giving Ha Jae-Gun even the tiniest amount of interest.

The weather was pretty cold these days, as it was already autumn. After parking his car, Oh Myung-Hoon grabbed his coat and alighted.

He spotted a familiar-looking white car entering the parking lot opposite him.

The door of the car opened, and Lee Soo-Hee emerged from it.

“Soo-Hee?!” Oh Myung-Hoon called out her name before he could stop himself. Why was Soo-Hee here when she had rejected his invitation to come to the award ceremony, saying that she was busy with work?

However, it didn’t take Oh Myung-Hoon long to realize why, and the answer to his question made his face turn red in anger despite the cold weather.