The Crest of Waves [Korean Adaptation]

End. 3

Winter 2022

K.T.P

"I'm proud of you son, didn't expect you to be that emotional on stage." My father hugged me as the rest of my family made their way towards us. 

"It had to be done, appa. I mean, I felt like it was the perfect time to get it off my chest. Maybe a chance to somehow let down those walls, right?" 

"What if she watches it?" My mother asked, 

"Omma, that's not important anymore. If she does then, I guess that'll be fine.  I'm sure she's having the time of her life as I am having my own too. You're the ones who are important to celebrate this with." 

"Hyung, chukhaeo."  my brother said and hugged me. 

-- 

Realizations started to wash over me. 

This is my life now, a Golden Globe Best Actor Awardee. Amazing, isn't it?  One moment, life will hit you like a freaking truck and then the next thing you know; you're feeling like you're on top of the world. I guess, not all goodbyes are bad. Some are good. And maybe that's the essence of each downfall, so we learn how to pick ourselves up and surrender everything to the universe. 

After that night when she left me, I decided to take over everything. Not that I didn't get to do that before but... for a change. I felt like everywhere I go, wherever I look all I could see was her. It was crazy, I was about to lose my mind. That's why I decided to take on a new environment, new life; far from what I used to. Far from the world I lived in when I was with her. 

 A new beginning for Hyun Bin--That guy's gone, I may have always taken risky roles but let's just say that I shifted to more serious genres; documentaries, historical roles, biographical or heavy drama. The press did approach me numerous times (countless), and you know how korean press can be quite straight forward; they asked--

"Since it's no secret that you're close friends with Son Ye Jin, do you have any updates on her whereabouts? Did she really quit the industry?" 

I couldn't answer for her. I would joke around and tell them why they don't ask about me and involve other people instead, it was harsh but hey.. aren't they more harsh to me? Asking about a person who's not even related to the project?

"Are the rumors true about your relationship before she left? Since your movie together and the hit series, there were a lot of talks about you two; what's the truth behind all of it?"

I thought about changing the topic again, but I have all the right to answer and I want it all to end. 

"You have always known me as someone who would admit to dating rumors." I started, I took a deep breath and continued, 

"But I respect her and she was very special to me. It was her decision to keep things in private that time. And it didn't really matter to me for as long as we were together." I waited for their response, 

"was? so are you saying to two were together but you broke up?" 

"Are you admitting that you dated Son Ye Jin before?" 

"Are you at least friends now? Are you still talking?" 

"That's all I can say, I'm sorry. I hope you respect us and the project as well. Can we focus more on that please?" I requested as I opened a bottle of water and started drinking it. 

That wasn't so bad right? Let them decide on how they'll take that statement. 

But eventually it all died down, thankfully. I mean, imagine how I got to face all that crap? I'm just glad that now, everything's just calm and peaceful. I love what I'm doing; I love where I am now. I no longer belong to the mainstream leading men type of actors where Hyun Bin used to belong to