Chapter 45: You Need a Dress for the Awards
Moments later, the secretary returned with two cups of tea and placed a stack of photos in front of Si-woo before returning to her desk.
“Pick three photos you like,”
The elderly woman said.
Si-woo flipped through the images, each showcasing models in different outfits.
“You said it’s a game… is there a prize if I win?”
He asked, half-joking.
“Ho ho ho… you’re more interesting than I thought. That glint in your eyes—it’s like a gem. A prize, hmm… anything you want?”
She replied, amused.
Si-woo pondered, then held up one finger.
“One favor.”
“A finger? You mean a big favor?” she teased.
“No, no. Just one reasonable favor, later,” Si-woo clarified.
“Deal. Go ahead and choose,” she said.
Si-woo dove into the photos with gusto. After sifting through 50, his brow furrowed.
‘These are all… kind of tacky.’
To his untrained eye, the flashy outfits seemed gaudy and impractical.
“Um… ma’am?” he ventured.
“Yes?” The woman smiled warmly.
“Can I get a hint?”
“A hint… alright. Anna.”
She called to her secretary.
“Yes, Madam President.” Anna replied.
“Bring last year’s photos.”
Anna returned with five photos, which the woman handed to Si-woo.
“Here’s your hint.”
“Thanks,”
Si-woo said, studying the new images. They were still cryptic to him, but he relied on his knack for pattern recognition. Comparing the vibe and similarities, he quickly selected three and presented them.
“These. Done.”
The woman’s expression froze.
“You’re not changing your mind?”
“Nope. No penalty for losing, right? Besides, I’m stubborn.”
Si-woo said with a grin.
“Interesting. An artist needs that kind of conviction.”
She said, her face brightening. She began peppering him with questions—his height, relationship status, his connection to Shim Ji-young, when he started writing. Si-woo answered reflexively, caught off guard.
Just then, Shim Ji-young burst in.
“Sorry, Signorina. Traffic was a nightmare…”
[TL Note: Signorina → Italian for “Miss” / “Ms.” (used to address a woman politely)]
“Long time no see, Ji-young. You’ve been well?”
The woman replied, exchanging a warm hug.
“You brought an interesting young man,” the woman added.
“Right?”
Ji-young grinned, and the two shared a knowing smile, glancing at Si-woo.
“Noona, who is she?” Si-woo whispered.
“What? You haven’t introduced yourselves?” Ji-young exclaimed.
Before Si-woo could ask further, the woman spoke.
“My apologies, I must be getting senile. I’m Daisy Prava.”
‘Prava? As in the Prava?’
Si-woo’s eyes widened, looking between them. Ji-young explained that Daisy was the daughter of Prava’s founder.
“Oh… but why am I here?” Si-woo asked.
“I’ll explain.” Daisy said.
“Ji-young is our brand ambassador, so it’s only natural we design her dress for the awards. At her request, we’re also making your outfit, Signore.”
[TL Note: Signore → Italian for “Sir” / “Mr.” (used to address a man politely)]
“What?” Si-woo blinked.
“Let’s measure you. Anna, guide them downstairs.” Daisy instructed.
“Yes, ma’am,” Anna replied.
Daisy sent Si-woo and Ji-young to the lower floor, then studied the three photos Si-woo chose.
“Remarkable… he seemed clueless about fashion.”
Unbeknownst to her, Si-woo had picked the exact outfits slated for this season’s launch, not out of fashion sense but by intuitively matching the vibe of her hint photos.
Downstairs, Si-woo was swarmed by staff wielding measuring tapes, some brushing dangerously close to sensitive areas.
“Whoa, hold on!” he yelped, startled.
They paid no mind, continuing their work.
‘What is this?!’ Si-woo thought, flustered.
After 30 minutes, measurements done, Si-woo and Ji-young returned upstairs. Daisy announced,
“This season’s code is red and black.”
Don’t Forget centered on revenge, with dark, brutal scenes, so the colors symbolized blood and vengeance. Si-woo, unwittingly, was now set to wear a matching couple’s look with Ji-young.
They were told to pick up their outfits three days before the awards. As they reached the first floor to part ways, Daisy called out,
“You won the game, Writer-nim. Call me when you want that favor.” She handed him her business card.
“Oh… I don’t have my card, but I’ll call you now. Save my number.”
Si-woo said, dialing her on the spot.
Daisy burst into laughter, surprised.
“Haha, that’s the biggest laugh I’ve had in a while. Alright, I’ll save it.”
Si-woo, clueless about her amusement, gave a sheepish smile and said goodbye. After he and Ji-young left, Daisy turned to Anna.
“Anna.”
“Yes, Madam President?”
“He reminds me of my father’s old neighborhood friends before he founded the company.”
“Does he?”
“It’s like… he knows who I am but doesn’t care. I’d love to talk more next time.”
***
A day after meeting Daisy Prava, Si-woo prepared to meet Kim Ji-hyun. Beyond discussing the awards’ dress code, he knew the drama would come up. There was no avoiding It, so he resolved to address it head-on.
At the meeting spot, a figure unmistakably a celebrity dashed toward him.
“Writer-nim!” Ji-hyun called.
“Ji-hyun-ssi…” Si-woo replied.
“I never expected you’d call me for the drama. Thank you!”
As expected, the topic he dreaded surfaced immediately.
“Actually…”
Si-woo clarified that the PDs, not he, had cast her.
To his surprise, Ji-hyun’s face didn’t fall.
“That’s okay. I’m just thrilled to be in your drama. And you said we’d go to the awards together, right?”
Among the Revenger team, aside from Shim Ji-young, Ji-hyun was his closest ally.
“Just to be clear, what I said back then still stands. No misunderstandings.” Si-woo added.
“Of course!” Ji-hyun beamed.
They visited her sponsoring brand to measure for her dress, similar to his Prava experience, then parted ways. Jung Se-yeon, having heard the concept from Ji-young, said she’d handle her outfit independently, earning Si-woo’s gratitude for sparing him another meeting.
***
Time flew to the day of the Phoenix Film Awards. In the limousine sat Shim Ji-young, Jung Se-yeon, and Si-woo.
“Ready?” Ji-young asked.
“What’s there to prepare?”
Se-yeon said.
“Right, Writer-nim?”
“Uh… yeah,” Si-woo mumbled.
“Congrats on your awards debut. Let’s go—they’re waiting,” Ji-young said.
Stepping out, Si-woo was assaulted by flashing cameras and shutter clicks.
“Ugh…” he sighed, squinting.
“Smile, quick.”
Ji-young nudged his side.
“Smile!”
Se-yeon echoed, prodding him.
“Haha…”
Si-woo forced a grin, navigating the red carpet to the stage.
“Strike a pose!”
A reporter called. Ji-young and Se-yeon posed effortlessly, while Si-woo stood awkwardly, flashing a peace sign.
After a flurry of photos, questions poured in. The MC, a comedian, picked out a few. It started lightly with the dress concept but soon zeroed in on Si-woo.
“We have a man standing between two stunning actresses. Who might he be? Please introduce yourself,” the MC said, thrusting the mic forward.
Si-woo leaned in.
“Hello, I’m screenwriter Kim Si-woo.”
At his name, cameras flashed again. “The writer of ‘Revenger’ and ‘Don’t Forget’?” the MC asked.
“Uh… yes,” Si-woo confirmed.
“Goodness, so young!”
The MC exclaimed, echoed by shocked reporters.
“Can we head inside now?”
Si-woo asked, sensing endless questions.
“Of course. That was actors Shim Ji-young, Jung Se-yeon, and writer Kim Si-woo!” the MC announced.
As Si-woo escaped, faint questions about his relationship with the actresses trailed him. Inside, the venue buzzed with actors and film industry figures. Revenger and Don’t Forget were the night’s stars, securing front-row seats.
“Here!”
Park Woong-deok waved, dressed in a suit.
“You’re early,” Si-woo noted.
“Gotta be when you’re old. It’s my night to win.”
Woong-deok said confidently. Don’t Forget had hit 16 million viewers, the second-highest in Korean film history.
“Go greet the others,” Woong-deok urged.
Si-woo made the rounds, greeting the Revenger team. Ji-hyun clung to him, excited for the next awards, while Kim Min-ho didn’t even glance his way.
‘Fair enough.’
Si-woo thought, shrugging it off.
Returning, he found himself seated between Ji-young and Se-yeon.
“What is this…” he muttered.
Walking the red carpet with two top actresses was bad enough, but sitting between them? He could already imagine the online hate from jealous fans.
As he fretted, the lights dimmed.
“It’s starting,” Ji-young whispered.
A highlight reel of the year’s films played to grand music. When it ended, the lights returned, and two hosts appeared on stage, bantering smoothly.
Amid the tension, only two people looked unbothered: Park Woong-deok, certain of his win, and Si-woo, who found the whole ordeal tedious.
The Best New Actor award went to a ‘Don’t Forget’ actor. So far, so good.
But trouble brewed with the Best New Actress award.
“And the winner is… Kim Ji-hyun! Congratulations!”