Overseas Reality Filming Trip (5)
“Yaaawn~”
“Didn't you go to bed early last night? Why do you look so tired?”
“Must be the jet lag. I slept, but the fatigue won't go away. Am I getting old already?”
“Hey.”
Kyungtae hyung flipped out at my words. How young is 21, and he's already losing it over talk of getting old? Tsk tsk tsk! Kids in their twenties are still babies. They'll get it once they hit their thirties—that's when you really start feeling age creep up on you.
“Last night was too short. Let's have some real fun today!”
“Wooo!”
“I heard the PD's taking us to some super tasty spot.”
The restaurant was Jupeno, a Michelin three-star place. The members had picked up somewhere that it was famous and started singing its praises, so the PD scouted it out and snagged us a table. Restaurants deal with no-shows—reservations that don't show up—and the production team called ahead just in case. Lucky for us, a no-show group bailed right then.
They probably figured filling the spot with a film crew was good promo anyway.
“The no-show slot's at 3 p.m. You can sightsee till then.”
Free time until 3. With so many members, everyone had different spots they wanted to hit. Time was short, so we split into groups of three: tour around, meet at the restaurant at 3. Security split too, but with the extras from last night, it was no issue.
A Group: Uyeon, Jeki, Eungyu.
B Group: Kyungtae, Jun, me.
A was hitting the tourist hotspots hard. My B Group was taking it easy at Fladipen Museum and nearby Wordpalton Park, soaking in Marenchino vibes.
“They say the ceiling at Fladipen Museum is legendary—gotta get pics!”
“Got it.”
“Ughhh~ I really wanna go too, though…”
Uyeon whined and nagged us to take tons of photos. We finally escaped the whiner and cheered inwardly.
“Jeki'll keep Uyeon in check, right?”
Kyungtae hyung worried he should've gone instead. As the oldest, he felt like he should handle the troublemakers.
“Uyeon's weirdly scared of Jeki. He'll manage better than you.”
“Still, an amusement park might be tough.”
Jun hates rides, and I'd rather sip coffee and chill than bother with one. Kyungtae hyung matched my vibe as the group's oldest.
'Even if he's just a 21-year-old kid.'
“Let's leisurely enjoy Marenchino's warm sun!!”
And so the trip began. We wandered the streets like normal tourists. Women's stares stung our faces again, but extra security kept them at bay. Lost in sightseeing, we forgot the cameras and went full tourist mode.
The museum was worth it—tons to see. By the time we snapped out of it, it was nearly 3.
“Were we too wrapped up in our own fun…? Got enough footage?”
The VJ nodded vigorously, camera in hand. He'd been snapping scenery earlier; that'd fill the screen.
'Should've taken charge first. Might get all cut.'
Good thing it's in-house production. The crew seemed pleased—more than pleased, thrilled.
“For real? We got footage? Feels like we did nothing.”
“Don't worry, just keep being yourselves. Looks great.”
“……”
Fishy, but if the crew's happy, whatever.
“Wonder how the kids are doing.”
“Getting hungry—head to the restaurant?”
“Yeah.”
We'd toured the museum and park, then nearby spots, arriving early. No room outside with the no-show grab, so we sat first.
Problem hit past 3:30—no A Group.
“Why aren't they here?”
“Something wrong?”
“Call 'em?”
Worrying, the PD approached, looking troubled. I knew instantly: trouble.
“A Group's okay, right?”
PD sighed deeply.
“A bit of an issue with A Group.”
“Bad?”
Food was already ordered for everyone—awkward.
“Pickpocketed, looks like.”
“Whoa. Who?”
“Gasp!”
“What happened? Anyone hurt? Uyeon?”
“He's hyper, prime target.”
Was Jeki not enough to rein him in?
“Not Uyeon, actually.”
“That's the shocking part.”
I treat members like nephews—body first.
“Eungyu got pickpocketed. Uyeon got a scrape chasing. Not bad, just knee from falling.”
“Gasp!”
“?!”
“Kid's nuts.”
Uyeon caused a real mess.
“Security grabbed him quick. Fell in the chase. Better than losing stuff—chasing's kidnap bait.”
“Whoa, security saved him. Dodged a bullet—chills.”
“He has no fear. How'd he even think to chase?”
Security should've prevented it, but split-second tourist spot theft? Impossible. Stopping Uyeon was job well done.
“Not eating now? Should we go?”
“Nah, they're heading from hospital. Just contacted—shaken, so feed 'em and calm down.”
Food was killer. True to word, kids arrived minutes later. Limited crew inside, so just members and VJs sat.
Top concern: Uyeon's knee, Eungyu's loss.
Jun asked Eungyu right away.
“You good?”
“Yeah.”
“What'd they take? Anything big?”
“Some cash and all the souvenirs. Phone safe, lucky.”
“Uyeon really chased?”
“Yeah. Scared me shitless. If Jeki hyung hadn't yelled to grab him, disaster.”
“…Sorry.”
Uyeon looked drenched-puppy pathetic—roasted hard already.
“What were you thinking chasing?”
“Snapped. Just had to catch 'em.”
“Sigh, knee?”
“Fine~ Just a lil blood.”
Uyeon rolled eyes, bracing for lectures. I chuckled, set a plate down.
“Eat this. Gotta be starving.”
“…That's it? No yelling?”
“You got plenty already. Can't crush you more.”
Our member, our kid—mistake or not.
“Waaah~!”
Uyeon teared up, touched.
'Gotta scold a bit, though.'
I handed a fresh fork and water.
“Still wrong, though. Scary after, right?”
“Totally. What was I thinking!?”
“You know now it's scary with a brain. Won't do it again to avoid bad stuff.”
“Never ever ever.”
“Plus, tons more to scold you ahead. No need for me.”
“…Huh?”
Parents, manager chief, road manager, PD, crew—all Uyeon's adults. I'd pat the deflated kid later.
“Jeki, good work.”
“Lost 10 years lifespan on that punk.”
“No Jeki, who knows. You earned this meal.”
“Hyung, me?”
“Eungyu, be more careful! How spaced out to get pickpocketed? That mindset, you'd deserve a bo ssam.”
“Ugh, mean. Just me?”
“Uyeon's done and due more—pass. You're ours.”
“Anti-pickpocket tips first—lecture time.”
Members eyed Eungyu hungrily. Amid munching Jeki and Uyeon, Eungyu got stripped bare.
“This place is sooo good.”
Uyeon devoured happily. Back at dorm, parent call barrage swelled his eyes next day—but oblivious, living the moment.