Chapter 76: Nah, I'd Win

Chapter 76

Meg Ryan stepped onto the stage with a dramatic flair, her hands clutching her chest as if overcome with emotion. "Oh my God, this is so amazing," she exclaimed. "Let me take a breath and slow down." The crowd responded with a mix of violent catcalls and laughter.

"Yes, it's Meg Ryan trying to sell the show," she quipped, the remark having nothing to do with the film's creator but drawing more laughter.

Despite the playful boos, Meg Ryan grinned. "Okay, okay, it seems you all can't wait any longer. He is the one—" she paused for effect, drawing the tension out.

The audience held its breath, anticipating the winner. But Meg Ryan, in true comedic fashion, swerved.

"The person who will take home this prestigious award gave a godlike performance last year. Honestly, I was shocked by him, so I'm surprised, but not too surprised that he won. He truly deserves an Oscar statuette…"

The crowd began to boo loudly, their patience running thin. Meg Ryan, unbothered, lowered her gaze with a mischievous grin. "Sorry, sorry. Did I say too much?" she teased, her playful tone no less defiant.

The boos continued, but with a chuckle, Meg Ryan complied. "Okay, okay, stop urging me," she said, exaggerating the dramatic pause before announcing, "The winner of this year's Oscar for Best Supporting Actor is... The Sixth Sense's Martin Meyers!!!"

The applause erupted. Martin, the young actor with immense talent, stood from his seat with a composed smile. No longer the innocent, vulnerable boy from The Sixth Sense, his tall, well-proportioned frame radiated confidence. As he made his way to the stage, the crowd's admiration for him intensified, particularly from the young women in the audience, who screamed at the sight of him. His sunny smile and confident demeanor were magnetic.

Bruce Willis, ever the supportive co-star, gave him a tight hug. "Congratulations, little genius," Bruce whispered, his tone laced with genuine admiration. "Honestly, I'm a little jealous."

Martin laughed softly. "Sorry, Bruce!"

As he climbed the stairs to the stage, Martin felt the weight of the moment but remained composed. His expression, which had once been that of a timid boy, was now filled with charm and charisma. It was clear he had transformed before their eyes, from a rising star into a poised actor ready for the world stage.

Meg Ryan, still smiling mischievously, wrapped him in a tight hug, squeezing him a little too hard. The crowd responded with more boos, but this time, the jeers were directed at her rather than Martin.

"I know you're all jealous, but I just had to hold him a little longer. Make you all even more jealous!" Meg Ryan teased into the microphone, her voice dripping with playful defiance.

After a brief, exaggerated pause, she finally let go, flashing a radiant smile. "Congratulations, handsome boy!"

"Thank you, ma'am, for not suffocating me!" Martin replied with a grin, causing the audience to burst into laughter.

With the statuette in hand, Meg Ryan looked at it with mock seriousness. "Honestly, I didn't want to give this to you," she joked, referring to her own long-running obsession with the Oscars. Having been in the industry for nearly 20 years and never winning an Oscar herself, her words carried a trace of bitter humor.

Martin, ever the charmer, responded smoothly, "Madam, if you're looking to rob someone, I suggest you go for the Best Actress statuette later. Best Supporting Actor just doesn't suit you. Even if you put on a suit and tie, you'd still win Best Radiant Beauty!"

The crowd laughed, and Meg Ryan's smile widened, clearly pleased with the compliment. She may have been used to playing games with the media, but Martin's words felt sincere. She pretended to ponder, her expression mock-serious. "Alright, alright. Since you're so good at talking, I'll let you have this golden man back."

Martin took the statuette from her hands, wiping an imaginary bead of sweat from his brow in mock relief. He then leaned into the microphone and, with perfect timing, added, "I didn't expect it to be so hard to get this statuette. Besides acting skills, it looks like I also had to please a beautiful woman. It's so tough for me!"

Meg Ryan made a move to respond, but the audience was already laughing.

"Fortunately," Martin continued with a grin, "I succeeded, and now I can proudly hold this statuette. Now, it's time to say goodbye, everyone!" He hugged the statuette tightly, waving to the crowd.

For a moment, the audience thought he was truly leaving, but Martin suddenly paused near the edge of the stage. He turned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You've all been lied to! It seems my acting skills really aren't too bad, huh? I deserve this award."

The realization hit the audience, and another round of laughter erupted, as they understood it had all been part of the act.

Then, with his playful demeanor fading slightly, Martin straightened up and began his formal speech:

"Thank you, judges. This award means the world to me—it's the greatest recognition and praise I could ask for."

"Thank you to Harvey for believing in me."

"To Director Shyamalan and Mr. Bruce, who taught me so much on set—thank you."

"Thank you to everyone on the cast of The Sixth Sense—you're the best team I could ever have worked with."

"To Mr. Jeff, my best agent—thank you."

"To my father, Grant, and my mother, Linda—your love has helped me grow, and I thank you for protecting me through thick and thin."

"Thank you to everyone who loves me and my family. You are the greatest source of motivation for me to keep moving forward."

"I'll keep working hard, because I've just started. Thank you, everyone. And thank you for listening to a child's nonsense. Goodbye!"

"And now, for real, this time. Goodbye!" he added with a wink.

The audience burst into laughter once more, appreciating Martin's humility and wit. His acceptance speech had been filled with sincerity and humor, striking the perfect balance for a young actor who was just getting started.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.