Minjeong, an award-winning scriptwriter, has a secret. What does it have to do with the Daesang-winning actor Yu Jimin? And why is a six-year-old girl, a carbon copy of Jimin, calling Minjeong mommy? This is a story about misunderstanding and making it right, especially when you finally find the missing piece of your heart. Follow Minjeong and Jimin as they navigate their way into finding happiness in the midst of the chaotic world of show business.
The night was young, and the air was cool, its breeze a welcome touch to the overheated skins of the inebriated guests mingling in the courtyard. People dressed to the nines, men in their best tux, hair groomed, all wearing their most expensive watches. The ladies all looked beautiful with their designer dresses wrapped around their bodices and hints of their seductive perfumes as they walked by. Jewels adorned their necks and ears, competing to shine with their shimmering eyes. Some with defeat, while others with tears of joy.
Typical award afterparties.
Conversations revolved around congratulatory greetings or dissecting every winner of the Baeksang Arts Awards. To this day, it remained the most prestigious and most coveted award for film, television, and theater in all of South Korea. Even a nobody became somebody by simply being nominated. The winner, however, was usually propelled to mega stardom.
A faint chuckle escaped Minjeong as she sipped her champagne, feeling out of place and ridiculous in her five-inch stilettos and very fitted red Calvin Klein dress. Dressed as if on a mission to attract attention, but at the same time trying her best to be invisible and not engage in the pretentious talk surrounding her.
Unfortunately, the spotlight was on her.
“Oh my, congratulations! I knew from the opening scene you would win.”
“Who are you wearing?”
“I heard of a new project brewing with the production company.”
“That guy was disgusting, good riddance, hopefully he won’t step back in the industry!”
Her replies were short, fake smiles, and a hint of sharp comebacks. She didn’t even know half of the people who approached her this evening.
She hated these types of events; if possible, she wanted to hole up at home with the scripts and fall asleep in front of the television watching her favorite movies. Now that is a Friday night!
But alas, she had to attend. Being one of the award recipients and the youngest to even win in her category, she literally had no choice. Plus, she wouldn’t hear the end of it from Aeri, her producer/best friend, if she skipped the awards show.
It was also an opportunity to talk to him. She was nervous, thinking he didn’t remember her. For sure, she was just another notch to his bedpost. But she at least owed it to herself to try to approach him and tell him the truth.
*Earlier that day
Minjeong and Aeri were on their way to COEX, where the Baeksang awards were held this year. The traffic was atrocious as they passed by the Gangnam district, though somehow it gave them time to talk about Minjeong’s predicament.
Minjeong was fidgeting with her fingers, a nervous habit she had since she was a kid. Her head turned outside the car window, watching people, in particular a family of three, with the kid carried by her father, while the mother held the father’s free hand, full of smiles and laughter.
Aeri spoke softly. “You’ll ruin your nails.”
Minjeong looked at her friend, a vision in a black dress, her hair down, with side-swept bangs. “I’m just thinking”
“You always are, but what about this time?” Aeri’s inquisitive gaze never left her friend’s face.
“I think tonight is the night I’ll confront him. I felt like everything aligned all of a sudden. We being in the same vicinity, that is.”
Aeri sighed. “Trust that you’ll worry about that instead of your nomination.” She drummed her manicured fingers on her lap. “I don’t know, I felt like his image is so different from the man you described you met years ago.”
“I was 21, and he was what? 23 at that time? We were so young.” Minjeong’s eyes were looking straight ahead, but her mind reminisced about sweet smiles, warm hands, and false affections. “And I know it’s been years. I don’t even know if he remembers me the way I remembered him.”
Aeri, the voice of reason. “Tread carefully, and for once please enjoy your achievements.”
“I’ll try. But if the chance presents itself, I might have to grab it.” Minjeong was determined, but fear and uncertainty never left her tone.
They arrived at the venue. Paparazzi and reporters alike all crowded the celebrities. They threw the usual questions, smooching and inflating the already ballooned egos of actors and actresses.
Minjeong and Aeri were relatively unscathed, except for the occasional leers and envious head-to-toe glances of the other attendees.