Campervan Day! The Moment Has Arrived
Campervan! The day had finally come. Weekend morning. My eyes popped open naturally five minutes before the alarm—perfect wake-up! The world outside the window was still the dim predawn, but my mind was already basking on the lush southern coast.
"Finally...!"
To shake off the lingering sleepiness, I chugged a glass of water and stretched my body out long. Crack. Ahh, refreshing. Maybe because I'd been in such a frenzy these past few days, I'd worried last night, What if I'm too excited to sleep? But apparently fatigue had built up without me realizing, because the moment my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.
Kim Manho had said he'd pick up the campervan for me, so first things first—quick shower and final checks. I grabbed my clothes in swift motions and headed to the bathroom. I'd woken up early to account for washing time, but I still needed to hustle a bit. Blasted through the shower at top speed, then finished up the skincare routine that's become familiar after a few tries. Moving so fast since waking up had my adrenaline pumping non-stop.
Calm down, calm down. If I'm this hyped from the morning, I'll crash from exhaustion by evening. I took a deep breath and stood in front of the mirror. For the long drive ahead, comfy clothes I'd picked out yesterday. "Hmm, am I wearing hoodies too much for camping lately?" But in early winter, nothing beats a hoodie for comfort—what can you do? Pants were fleece-lined training ones. Nights would be chilly, so a jersey set and an emergency puffy jacket. Finally, I inspected the gear lined up by the front door.
Camera, chargers, cookware, tent... all there. I'd checked once, but excitement had me double- and triple-checking. I sat on the bed, staring blankly at my smartphone screen from the nerves. About twenty minutes until pickup time. Whew, time's crawling.
Then, not long after, my phone buzzed. The caller ID popped up, and I hit accept instantly.
"Hello?!"
"Good morning, Areum. Campervan pickup complete. I'm at the above-ground parking lot at the address you gave me. Couldn't get into the underground—too tall for the clearance."
"Got it, heading out now!"
Han Areum, launch! Making a fool of my "perfect prep" claim, I fumbled out the front door in a fluster. Normally, I'd be grunting and struggling with the heavy camping gear, but today's load was on a hand cart! No more hauling hell. Tools are key for humans, huh... Actually, it'd been shoved in some corner of the balcony—I'd just forgotten about it till now, torturing my body in vain.
I dragged the much lighter cart down to the first floor. Even in that short elevator ride, my heart pounded. Gripping the cart with both hands, I shouldered open the lobby door and stepped out. That's when it hit my view—an overwhelming presence that made every other car around look like toys.
"Whoa..."
The real thing dwarfed the photos. A beige-white body with a subtle sheen. Sleek decals hugging the streamlined frame. A massive motorhome starting from the body—like something out of Hollywood.
This is... Coachmen...
"...Insane."
The exclamation slipped out. Forgetting the cart's weight entirely, I wandered toward it like a moth to flame. Up close, its sheer size hit me again. Gotta be over three meters tall... I ran my hand along it, tapped the huge tires with my foot. Like when I first bought my own gear, I circled it in a daze, gawking.
As I ogled for a good while, a familiar voice came from behind.
"Like what you see?"
"Eek!"
I jumped and spun at Kim Manho's voice. Thought he'd left already—how long had he been watching? Embarrassed, I cleared my throat.
"Ahem. Y-yeah. Bigger than I thought... Pretty cool."
"Haha, the real deal's way cooler, right? Even I felt intimidated at first. Come on, let's check inside."
Following his lead, I stepped on the side runner and climbed in. The moment I opened the door, a cozy space welcomed me, worlds away from the chilly outside air. Luxe wood-tone interior, soft recessed ceiling lights.
"Oh..."
First up: the D-shaped sofa setup around a huge table. Perfect for a casual beer inside. Next, the kitchen—dual induction burners, big sink, fridge way larger than expected.
"Main bedroom's in the back. The bunk over the driver's seat fits an adult fine too."
Heading aft, a hotel-like serene bedroom appeared. Blinds and covers on the windows—you could crack 'em for fresh air anytime.
"The rental boss bragged nonstop. Went early to pick it up and got an hour-long rundown. Haha."
"With this, I'd brag too..."
"And here's the bathroom and shower. No wonder they call it a motorhome."
Dry-separated, spotless toilet and shower stall.
"Standard water tank's about 120 liters, but he added extra—250 liters now."
"Enough for two showers..."
Kim Manho briskly covered essentials: awning setup, must-have FF heater for cold weather, and the critical electricals.
"Well then, Areum, have a great trip. Call if anything comes up."
"Thanks so much."
"Oh, and from when you came out till I spoke—I got some smartphone footage. Okay to use in editing? Apartment exterior'll be mosaiced, of course."
"Huh? When did you...? Fine by me, but won't it look too hick? The whole 'whoa' shock at first sight..."
"Hahaha! No worries. Sure, it might seem corny if acted poorly, but your pure, dazed awe? That's the perfect seasoning."
"...Kinda embarrassing. Was I that spaced out?"
Ugh, mortifying. If even the watcher was entranced, how lost was I?
"Did you bring your car, sir? How're you getting back...?"
"Hahaha, came with Park PD—no sweat. She just went for coffee. Ah, here she comes."
...Why Park PD? There she was, coffee holder in hand, crossing the crosswalk from the complex entrance. As I stared blankly, she reached me and bowed.
"Oh, hello, Areum... Here... It's cold—have this on the way..."
"Ah, th-thanks."
I took the cup she offered in a daze. Park PD, what even are you...? Why drag an editor out here? How deep does this company's darkness run? At least her dark circles looked faded. Those don't fade without ditching all-nighters.
"Oops, we've delayed you a bit. Enjoy the trip, Areum."
"S-safe travels..."
"...Y-yeah. Drive safe."
Kim Manho left with a warm smile in another car. Park PD looked dragged off somewhere again. But... don't Kim Manho and Park PD kinda resemble each other? Nah, different surnames. Imagination.
"Alright, finally alone."
Couldn't before with eyes on, but now... no one's here. No hesitation—I hopped back inside. Then straight to the rear bedroom.
...And dove in.
Poof.
The mattress swallowed me plushly, no resistance.
"Eheheh! Campervan! Campervan! Uhahahaha!"
I rolled side to side, reveling in the bed. No shake even with my thrashing! Worth every penny!
"Haa... too good."
Enjoy it while I can. Won't get the chance soon. Truth is, Kim Manho and I had pre-agreed: one of the two nights, try a 24-hour live stream. Wanted solo camper bliss, but as a YouTuber, couldn't refuse. Felt like testing live again anyway... Subs at 100k? Live peaks at a few hundred viewers—no biggie. Last time's thousands were the anomaly. A bit tense, sure, but nothing next to camper hype.
I got up and resumed exploring. Fiddled with gadgets, checked the battery that charges on the go... Lost in it all, departure slipped 30 minutes past estimate.
"Time to roll."
Shifted from the motorhome lounge to the driver's seat. Hoo, nerves. Right—start broadcast after moving to avoid home exposure. Hmm, fire it up before highway to get comfy.
Here we go. Geoje-do! Seafood! Gonna devour it all!