I Remember the Start and Finish, But the Middle's a Blur
“Cut! Let's take a break!”
With Yu PD's call, the filming paused. Only then did I let out a long-held breath.
I'm going crazy, for real.
O Seokgyun the actor was plenty skilled as a camping newbie. He picked up everything I explained like a pro and internalized it quickly based on his experiences. His passion for camping was off the charts too... When I said to dig the ground deep, tie knots tight, keep quiet at night—he was just seriously pondering my quizzes and giving the most textbook answers.
But me...
I was seriously losing it. Why couldn't I focus? Self-loathing washed over me. I'd promised myself a million times not to judge people by their looks.
“Areum, you okay? You look a bit pale.”
“Oh, no! I'm fine. Just gonna check the tent real quick.”
I bolted from the spot like a coward. I needed to cool my head.
I circled the tent, kicking the pegs lightly to check if they were secure, confirming the position was good. Repeating these simple tasks calmed my racing heart a bit.
That's when I heard O Seokgyun's voice from behind the tent, in the secluded corner backed by the woods.
“Hey, honey! It's me~”
Oh crap... was he on a call? I tried to slip away to avoid eavesdropping, but the tone caught me off guard—it was different from usual.
“Yeah, the air here's amazing. I've been to Oji a few times for shoots, but it doesn't even compare.”
Curiosity won out, so I peeked from behind the tent. O Seokgyun was video-calling on his smartphone, gazing at the screen with his wife.
His expression...
“Was he always like that...?”
Same face, but it was like a different person. They said he was a total family man...
His profile showed a happy smile tugging at his lips.
“The instructor's super kind too. I fumbled pitching the tent since it was my first time, but she never got mad—just taught me step by step.”
Instructor? Was that me?
“Yeah, for real. Let's come back with our little girl. I'll master tent pitching this time and head home. Gotta show her how cool Dad is.”
I stared blankly as he waved at the screen, grinning like a kid.
...Yeah. It was all me. No matter how strong the first impression, how could I stay stuck on that? Was I just too tired lately? My head was finally clearing.
A guy who could smile so warmly thinking of his family couldn't be scary.
“Alright, resuming filming!”
Yu PD's voice rang out. I exhaled. Time to focus for real.
Back at my spot, we resumed shooting.
“Now that the tent's up, time to bring in the furniture, right?”
“Furniture?”
“Yeah. Table and chairs, and since we're prepping dinner, gotta unpack the grill too.”
I pointed to the gear we'd unloaded from the car earlier. Not hard stuff, but newbies fumble it. And most importantly, it was PPL.
Mentioning it like this should make them happy.
“This is my first PPL gig.”
“Congrats. Mind introducing the product?”
Oh. Actor through and through. No rehearsal, but the convo flowed naturally.
“Ahem... So, I once slipped up during a live stream.”
“Slipped up how...?”
“I singled out one brand's product and said it had no business in camping. I really thought so at the time. But... I officially retract that statement. It's from Rakgurakgu.”
I meant it. After handling it at the expo and testing the pre-sent samples—unfolding, tapping them—I realized I'd been too narrow-minded. Camping gear lasts years once you kit out. I'd gotten complacent with my setup, ignoring new brands.
O Seokgyun unfolded a chair, sat, and let out an impressed grunt.
“Whoa... this thing's sturdy! Doesn't budge under me. Frame's rock-solid.”
Nice assist. He bounced his butt to demo its toughness.
“Setup's done—now for the main event: dinner prep?”
“Sounds good! What's on the menu?”
O Seokgyun's eyes sparkled with anticipation. First camp, first camp meal. Gotta deliver.
My reliable camp staple: meat. Specifically...
“Tonight's main dish is this.”
I pulled out a massive hunk the size of my face. Thick meat clinging to a long rib bone—a tomahawk steak.
“Whoa...”
His jaw dropped. Good choice.
“Tomahawk steak. Not common in Korea, so it's pricey. And...”
I unpacked other ingredients.
“Meat alone can be heavy, so we'll boil some spicy, refreshing bean sprout soup too.”
“B-bean sprout soup...?”
“...?”
Weird reaction—not from O Seokgyun next to me. I glanced back; Yu PD behind the camera was covering her mouth, busted for blurting it out.
“...You like bean sprout soup?”
“Uh, well... had a drink last night... haha...”
Ah, gotcha. Still craving it means more than one shot... a full bowl, probably.
“Haha! PD and director, join us!”
“Right. Got two big cuts of meat on purpose. And if you're camping, you gotta eat camp food.”
O Seokgyun chuckled, inviting them heartily.
Yeah. Fill the belly proper. Work or not.
“So, PD and manager—time for the camp meal you can't miss. Gotta cook it yourselves. Actor, wanna grill the meat?”
“M-me? Never touched a cut like this...”
“Easier than you think—don't worry.”
Planned this from the start, so I handed him a prepped apron. Suits him weirdly well? Like a yakuza housewife from a manga?
He brushed olive oil on the thawed tomahawk, seasoned with salt and pepper—fit right in.
Meat hit the hot grill with a sizzle and white smoke billowed up.
“Whoa... that sound...”
“Mind-blowing, right?”
“...Yeah. Literally.”
While he was mesmerized, time to cover the lid. Then, bean sprout soup.
Super simple: kelp stock and water, sprouts in, boil till bubbling. Minced garlic, splash of soy, pinch of salt. Top with green chili before eating. Done.
“Really straightforward.”
“Not all cooking's hard. This is a 10-minute job.”
“Makes sense. I'm no cook—first time, basically.”
“You did great for a newbie. Total noobs can't even follow directions.”
True story. I'd seen it. “One spoon salt” becomes Everest mound; “one tablespoon soy” defies surface tension. That was me. Camping forced me to learn recipes properly—no weird “my recipe” twists. Just bad at measuring back then.
“Man... smells amazing.”
Sniff sniff. Time's up. Meat needs more, but anju's ready—grab it?
Excuse myself, rummage in the tent for a bottle.
Hmm. Bought it on impulse 'cause I love it—hope they dig it.
“Actor, you into booze?”
“Hoo boy, yeah. Name it, I'll drink it.”
“Phew, good.”
I revealed: Yamazaki 12-year. Sweet single malt, my jam. Non-duty-free? 300-400k won. Unforgettable first sip; occasional treat. Skipped lately for cash crunch... but now?
“Th-this... I figured soju at most...”
“Heh. Camping needs romance, right?”
“Romance... yeah, great word. Haha!”
Theme: newbie's romantic camp. Booze too.
“Good anju deserves good liquor. Straight's fine, but highballs tonight.”
Ice-filled glasses, whiskey pour, soda top, lemon slice—bubbles rose crisp.
Two ready. Look at that gulp.
Assumes me and actor, huh?
“PD, manager—what're you doing? Sit.”
“Huh? We gotta film... we'll snag some meat later.”
“Cameras barely move at meals. Saw you not touching 'em. Eat solo and it'll haunt your dreams.”
“Exactly. Sharing makes it tastier. Come on.”
Kim Seokho hesitated—“is this okay?”—but Yu Minji PD strode over and plopped down.
“Seokho, what? Sit. Refusing's rude.”
“...Y-yes. Th-thanks—I mean, got it.”
Whoa... Yu Minji PD's got charisma, but that commanding? Hot.
While they settled, our highballs finished. Four of us side by side—feels like a real group camp. My first with this many; buzzed already, booze or not.
“Cheers? To O Seokgyun's first camp~!”
“...Cheers!”
Lead cheer, echo follows. Funner than expected? The company?
Booze tasty. Nice.
Ah, damn. Should've gone easy.