Areummon Evolves!
“Here, eat this and cool off...” Before the bowl even hit the ground, Maximus buried his nose in it. Chomp chomp chomp chomp. He inhaled the meat with cheerful sounds. Where had that fierce look from moments ago gone? He was back to his adorable self.
“Haha, looks like Maximus was starving,” Kim Seontae said with a laugh.
“Yeah... He’s still young, but man, he’s got quite the appetite.” I wouldn’t name names, but there was one person around me who’d feel second to none in the gluttony department. Thanks to Maximus’s charm reversal, the mood heated up even more.
We chatted away while polishing off the remaining meat and skewers. Gripes about running YouTube channels, stories about raising kids, the joys of camping—the conversation flowed endlessly. Before we knew it, the table was cleared.
Our bellies were full, a nice buzz from the booze had set in, and drowsiness crept over us. Out of habit, I looked up at the night sky.
“...Ah.” A gasp slipped out unbidden.
Gapyeong’s night sky. It wasn’t the pitch-black darkness of some remote Gangwon-do backwoods with a full-on Milky Way display, of course. But away from the city lights, this sky was studded with stars spilling over like diamonds dusted on black paper.
...Hasn’t anyone noticed yet? I glanced around—Kim Seontae’s family was caught up talking to each other and watching Maximus. I couldn’t hog this view all to myself. As host of this spot, I had to share.
I shot to my feet and cleared my throat loudly. “Ahem!”
All three pairs of eyes turned to me.
“Alright, everyone. Listen up from now on.”
“Huh...?” Choi Miyeon blinked in confusion.
“First, fix your eyes downward. Do not look up.”
“Downward?”
“Yes. Eyes on the ground only. Grab your beer cans and snack plates. Little Areum, get your soda and chicken skewer.”
At my firm tone, the family blinked in bewilderment but started gathering their stuff.
...Feels like I’m some kind of instructor.
“Okay, got everything? Keep eyes down and follow me. We’re heading inside the pension.”
“...Inside,” Kim Seontae echoed, following suit. Heads down, we filed into the pension, through the living room, up the stairs. Second floor, then third.
“Keep going up. No peeking yet.”
At the end of the third-floor hall, a small door. The one to the rooftop. I opened it, and cool night air rushed in. I stepped out to the terrace first and took position. The family clustered beside me, eyes still glued to the floor. Little Areum tried to sneak a peek out of curiosity, but I stopped her quick.
“Areum, not yet. Eyes down till sis says so.”
“Okaay...”
Everything was set. I took a deep breath and started the countdown.
“Ready... On three, we all look up together.”
Tension hung in the air.
“One.”
“Two.”
“Three!”
At my shout, all four of us lifted our heads in unison.
And...
“......”
Little Areum’s tiny voice broke the silence.
“Whoa...”
The night sky filled our vision with clusters of stars. From the rooftop with no tall buildings blocking the view, they hit different from the yard below. It felt like floating right in the middle of the universe.
“Oh my god...” The couple covered their mouths, staring in awe. Even Maximus, nestled in my arms, seemed to sense the mood and quietly gazed up at the twinkles.
Nailed it. This was the expression I’d dragged them up here for.
After a long stretch of silent stargazing, Kim Seontae slowly turned to me.
“Wow... Haven’t seen a sky like this in ages...”
“It’s so beautiful...” Choi Miyeon’s eyes glistened.
“Eh, no big deal. Just... one of camping’s little perks.”
We gathered around the table on the rooftop terrace. Stars pouring overhead, great people in front. Was this what it meant to be swept up in the vibe?
“Beer?” Kim Seontae offered from the cooler.
I’d been laying off booze lately, but not tonight.
“Thanks.”
Pssht, clink. The can’s crisp sound rang out. Cool beer slid down my throat, a pleasant buzz rising.
We laughed and chatted about this and that, time flying by unnoticed.
Mmm... nice. The booze, maybe? The stars seemed extra sparkly, like they were talking to me.
I felt my smartphone in my pocket.
Photo... just one? The urge to capture the moment bubbled up.
Reason faintly warned me. You drank. Don’t touch the phone. Last time you...
But the stars were too pretty. And my inner sensitivity whispered, It’s fine. Just a pic. No writing, right?
Yeah, no writing. I slyly pulled out the phone. Through the lens, the sky looked even more dreamlike.
Click.
Staring at the stars on the screen, my chest swelled inexplicably. This feeling... this overwhelming awe... I needed to record it somewhere. My finger auto-launched the SNS app.
Just one line. Something like “Pretty night sky.”
Deep inside, my dormant poet Han Areum was stretching awake.
And so, Gapyeong’s night deepened.
The next morning, birdsong woke me. No hangover—in fact, the fresh air had left my head clear and refreshed. After a quick wash-up, I headed to the living room. Kim Seontae’s family was already up, packing.
“Sleep well?”
“Yeah, you too, Areum?”
Breakfast was camping staple: ramen. Even if it wasn’t exactly camping.
We ate, packed, and stepped outside. Time to say goodbye. As I loaded the trunk, someone tugged my clothes.
Little Areum. She looked up with teary eyes.
“Sis... already going?”
“Yeah, gotta head home.”
“Nooo... wanna play more...”
She hugged my leg tight, tiny body clinging like glue.
“Areum, sis is busy. Let go now,” Choi Miyeon coaxed awkwardly, but the kid shook her head fiercely.
“Can I come live at sis’s house? With Maximus?”
“Pfft...” Laughter burst out at her suggestion.
“That’d be tricky. Sis’s place is too small—no room for you.”
“I’ll shrink...” Her voice dripped with longing. Seeing her tugged at me with strange pride.
Kids don’t lie, huh. My channel comments and communities teased me as a boomer or old dude, but to this pure kid, I was clearly the kind, gentle big sis.
Yeah. Viewers are the weird ones. My true self is this sweet healing camper girl. Bolstered, I patted her head.
“Let’s camp again sometime. I’ll make it even more fun.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Pinky swear sealed it, and she finally let go. I bid the couple farewell too.
“Drive safe. We had a blast thanks to you.”
“Us too. See you next time.”
I climbed into the Galloper, started the engine. In the rearview, the waving family. I waved back out the window and pulled away from the pension.
On the drive back to Seoul, I drummed rhythms on the wheel, humming tunes. What a trip. Great spot, great people. Pure healing. Memories with Maximus stacked up too. That’s happiness, nothing fancy.
Home sweet home—I dumped bags by the door and dove into bed.
“Ahh... bliss.”
My familiar room scent. Maximus knew it was home too, hopping up and plopping on my belly.
...Can’t see him. Fluffball on my stomach, invisible. I rolled sideways, rubbing my face in his belly.
After a while, routine kicked in. Phone out, YouTube app.
“Whoa...” 500k was right around the corner. Sub channel over 90k too. That collab with actor O Seokgyun must’ve hit the algorithm jackpot. Growth was scary even to me.
Am I really heading to a million? Kim Manho’s bold claim might not be bluff after all.
Grinning, I skimmed comments, then habitually opened SNS.
Oh right, posted that pic last night? Booze-fueled, memory fuzzy if it turned out okay.
Checked my feed’s latest post. Stars cascading over Gapyeong night sky, artsy filter. Pic was solid. The caption? Not so much.
“...Yup. Did it again.”
Meant to be one line. No wonder battery was dying this morning. Three beers, but I was lucid, no blackout. Heck, I vividly recalled smirking smugly at my “genius” prose while typing.
Yet oddly... no usual freakout, no kicking blankets or screaming.
Reading them, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Whatever. Too late to delete anyway—folks have seen it. Plus, the pic slays. Subscribers seemed to eat it up as concept or meme now.
No matter how loud I yelled “I’m a healing camper!”, the public had me pegged as “sentimental boomer dude.”
Why fight it? Just roll with it. Honestly... watching reactions post-cringe was kinda fun.
I set the phone down, hugged Maximus again.
“Sigh, whatever happens, happens.”
I was evolving into a true attention-seeker... er, influencer.