Uninhabited Island Luxury Camping
"Don't hold back—say it. Uninhabited island luxury camping. Honestly, I do want to try it. Stock up on ingredients, eat delicious food. For booze... I'll compromise with just some beer. Imagine the staff all huddled together, enjoying the romance. How fun would that be?"
But there was a problem. All that gear crammed into the trunk. 'When am I supposed to move all this and pack it back up?'
Getting there? Sure, everyone's hyped right now, so we'd manage somehow. The real issue is packing up at the end. After filming wraps and we're all wiped out, I'd have to Tetris every last piece back into the trunk solo. One wrong angle and the door won't shut—that delicate operation, all on me.
Just imagining it made my back ache and my spine tingle. 'No way. My back is precious.'
But... Ha Bong-seok PD's eyes had been so desperate. No, more like greedy. The guy's blinded by the footage goldmine my gear would produce.
So, time to leverage that. I crossed my arms and let the silence hang.
"Hmmm... Sounds good, but..."
"Right? Perfect, isn't it? The visuals will be spot-on!"
"One condition, though."
Ha Bong-seok PD's eyebrow twitched. "A condition?"
"When we pack up, you and your staff handle loading and Tetris-ing it all. To the very end."
Hmm, did that come off too cocky? After a full shoot, they'd be exhausted too. What if they hated the extra manual labor outside their jobs?
But against my expectations, Ha Bong-seok PD didn't hesitate for a second.
"Pfft! Of course! It's for the show—what's that between friends? Our junior directors are beasts when it comes to heavy lifting. Don't you worry!"
Oh... That easy? Then let's push for one more.
"And ingredients too."
"Ingredients?"
"Yeah. Best gear in the world means nothing without good stuff to cook. Might as well do it right and eat properly."
Ha Bong-seok PD grinned and pulled out his wallet. He flashed a gleaming corporate card.
"Company card's yours."
"...!"
"There's a seafood market right by the pier, and a big grocery mart nearby. Buy whatever, as much as you want. My treat!"
Corporate card. Is there a sweeter phrase for anyone with a desk job? No limits, just swipe away.
Irresistible. I flashed a triumphant smile and grabbed his hand.
"Deal."
Solid transaction.
Vroooom—thrum-thrum. The speedboat's engine roared to life.
The deck was pure chaos. Gear from the trunk piled mountain-high in the center. We'd grabbed even the stuff I might not use—hell, some I'd forgotten I even packed.
Staff squeezed in among it all, crouched low. Winter sea wind whipping fierce, but sweat beaded on their foreheads anyway.
'...Kinda feel bad.'
Even for a shoot, watching them haul all this gear tugged at my conscience. Especially the junior writer Youngji in the corner, clutching the cooler like a lifeline. Her face was pure enlightenment—mouth agape, soul half-gone. Nah, probably just seeing things.
'Gotta cook something killer for them once we're there.'
I shoved the guilt aside and gazed fondly at the ingredient boxes by my side. Oh, you beauties. Glimpses of glistening meat through the gaps. Fresh seafood straight from the market.
'Came for deserted island survival camping, but...'
Turns out, I'm eating better than usual. Yesterday: wild-caught snapper sashimi and raw abalone. Lunch and dinner today... gulp.
Saliva flooded my mouth unbidden. Just dreaming up dishes from these made me happy. This is healing right here.
Moments later, the boat bumped the island shore.
"We're here! Unloading gear!"
Staff moved like clockwork. Bags piled on the rocky beach one by one.
Then O Seokgyun, guarding the tent, came sprinting over, eyes wide.
"Areum? What's all this?"
His gaze swept the towering pile: table, fire pit, burners... A luxury feast far from "survival."
"PD? What's this? Weren't we surviving out here?"
O Seokgyun grabbed Ha Bong-seok PD.
"Ahem. Slight plan tweak."
"Tweak?"
"Yeah. From uninhabited island survival... to 'camping guide' concept."
"...Pardon?"
Deflation washed over O Seokgyun's face. Makes sense—he'd burned survival mode all yesterday, only for the plug to get pulled overnight.
"C'mon, bro, be straight with me."
"W-Well..."
"You really changing it? What about yesterday's footage?"
"...You see all that shiny gear loaded in Areum's car and just leave it? Gotta milk it all!"
...That was seriously the reason? I thought there was some master plan.
"So... food?"
"Areum's doing camping cuisine."
O Seokgyun's expression shifted oddly. Yeah, mid-contract, this switch-up feels iffy...
"Shall we move this first?"
...He digs it. Who knew that uncle could look so sunny? Total puppy eyes.
O Seokgyun hauled faster than anyone, steps light as feathers. Food powers people, indeed.
Full setup mode engaged. With staff and O Seokgyun's help, my gear found its place. Huge table first, then cookware, powerhouse burners. Prized cast-iron skillet and BBQ grill. Stacked firewood artfully in the pit, recliners out—boom, proper campsite.
"Whoa... Looks like a real campground."
Prep done. But...
'Hmm. Feels off.'
"PD."
"Yes, Areum?"
"...We just... start like this?"
My question got a casual nod. "Duh! You're the star—whenever you're comfy."
"...Me?"
Star? Since when? Yesterday felt weird too—missions, focus, all on me. Wasn't I just O Seokgyun's sidekick Friend A?
Wanted to argue, but O Seokgyun was chill, and I wasn't in a position to complain now.
'Ah... Whatever.'
Arguing would just hurt my mouth. Board's set. Hesitating wastes time.
Fine. Bring it. My gear, my cooking—my wheelhouse.
"Hmm. Time's tricky, so less full camping tutorial, more outdoor cooking demo... Cool?"
11 AM-ish. Early for lunch, but prepping and eating would time it perfect. No room for tent pitches or gear deep-dives.
Ha Bong-seok PD's eyes lit up. "Even better! Outdoor + mukbang combo's a proven hit!"
...What? When did this guy turn yes-man? Yesterday it was all "nope" and "confiscated." Expected pushback, but total greenlight? Sketchy.
'Trap waiting?'
I double-checked, suspicion lingering. "So... like my YouTube vids? No edit points, just freestyle?"
"Absolutely! Your style, we follow."
Ha Bong-seok PD threw an OK sign. Camera director locked lens—ready.
Screw it. Sink or swim. Natural, like my channel.
"...Lunch this fancy's a stretch right now. So, simple: pasta, sausages, corn on the cob."
O Seokgyun clapped beside me. Good vibe. Menu drop got a mini cheer from staff.
Pasta. Some might go 'Pasta again?' But for camping, nothing beats it.
"Top priority in camping food? Ease." I held up index finger.
"Tastes amazing but takes three hours with a sinkful of dishes? That's work, not cooking. We come to relax, right?"
O Seokgyun nodded fiercely.
"Priority two: Guaranteed flavor." Middle finger up.
"Bust your ass for a dud? Misery. Low fail-rate recipes matter."
Not that I'd know. Ahem.
"Pasta nails both, yeah?"
Grilled meats or fancy stuff? Great, but third tier. For 'cooking joy.' When starving and speedy? Pasta wins.
My ranking, subjective AF.
"So today's menu: my fave, aglio e olio pasta."
Pulled ingredients: olive oil, salt, garlic bag, peperoncino, pasta noodles.
"Super simple, but that garlicky bite, spicy kick... oil pasta's clean finish. Never gets old."
Surveyed staff. "Anyone... not into aglio e olio?"
Silence. Heads shook, eyes hungry.
Hmm, as expected. Koreans rarely hate garlic dishes. Creamy or tomato pasta divides, but aglio e olio? Universal win.
'Unanimous. Nice.'
Turning satisfied—then corner of my eye caught a fidget.
Junior writer Youngji. In the shadows, hand creeping up. Barely shoulder-high, timid. Glanced around.
Other staff cheering "Yes!", "Hurry!" She startled, yanked it down. Played it off awkward, like nothing happened.
'...'
...Did she just read the room? Doesn't like it? Hmm.