In the Mood for Takoyaki
When making plans, it's only natural to prepare a backup. I, too, was paying far more attention to the second plan than the first, which had relied so heavily on luck. If the first failed, I could simply switch to the second. But recovering from the collapse of one's hopes was never that simple.
What guarantee is there that the second plan will succeed when the first one I never expected to fail has already crumbled like this?
Or will I have to come up with a third?
Am I fated never to leave this orphanage?
If fate exists, then receiving a terminal diagnosis at twenty-two must also be predetermined.
One question gave birth to another. Uncertainty spread into territory that could never be answered, breeding endless anguish. And when people encounter an unsolvable problem, they easily fall into helplessness and despair.
This won't do.
Smack—!
I slapped my cheek with all my strength. Though it was only a child's weak blow, my equally fragile skin throbbed with pain. The sting jolted life back into my body and pulled my mind out of that deep pit.
For now, think of only one thing. Don't fear a tomorrow that hasn't come, and don't deny the today you've already lived. Only those who have prepared for today can worry about tomorrow. So I must live for today.
First, I need to talk to the director about the video. If I convince him together with Uncle, it should work out somehow. Seeing how he even considered adoption, he'll probably help. And—
The next few days, every single moment was spent drowning in worry. While eating, during activity time, even when getting beaten by the delinquents, and right before falling asleep. Then one day, the director broke my concentration and handed me a phone that was already connected.
The person on the other end spoke.
"Kid, you got any interest in appearing on TV?"
"No."
"……Huh?"
"I don't."
Of course I didn't.
***
There's a saying: TPO. It means there are clothes appropriate for the Time, Place, and Occasion. Just as wearing a black suit or neat attire is expected at a funeral, and a swimsuit at a swimming pool, these things have become common sense for modern people. And when something out of place appears among the ordinary, people feel not just strangeness, but fear.
That was exactly how the employees at the company reacted when they saw Lee Seongbeom carrying a mountain of camping gear in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts on his way to work.
New hires who'd only heard rumors of his eccentricities stared at him with fascination, while those who witnessed it firsthand immediately called their superiors. The calls miraculously connected, reaching Director Choi Jintae just before Lee Seongbeom could pitch his tent in front of the director's office.
"Ah, Jintae hyung. Long time no see!"
"Aaaagh! Take that tent down, you crazy bastard!!!"
*
After Director Choi Jintae's fierce opposition, Lee Seongbeom reluctantly packed up the tent with his lips jutting out in a pout. Dragged into the office and forced into a seat, Choi Jintae ground his teeth and demanded,
"What the hell is it this time that you don't like…. I always look at your proposals first. I throw a ton of budget your way. I assign you plenty of staff. Damn it, I've given you everything!"
"Whoa now, why're you getting so worked up? At this rate you'll lose what little hair you have left."
"I only became director because of you!"
A few strands of hair on his head, flushed red with anger, trembled as if swayed by the heat. Lee Seongbeom looked at Choi Jintae's head and briefly thought of takoyaki and bonito flakes, but wisely kept it to himself.
"Hyung, wanna go eat takoyaki later?"
"…What the hell are you talking about."
Still, he was the kind of man who said what needed to be said. That was Lee Seongbeom.
"Anyway, if you want something, at least submit it properly like a professional and protest through the right channels. How long are you gonna keep throwing tantrums like a kid…."
"I only act like this because it's you, hyung. I didn't do this back when I was at KBZ."
"…You were the same back then. How many written warnings did we get because of you…."
Maybe that was true, but Lee Seongbeom decided not to dwell on it. It was all in the past anyway. He wanted to tease Choi Jintae a little more—his short temper made it fun—but he steered the conversation back to the main point. It was a rare display of consideration for his hyung's age and newly developed hypertension.
"I want to make a program targeting kids this time. Can you set up a department for it?"
"No."
"Want me to pull out that chamber pot again?"
"Go sell it to a scrapyard, you bastard…. Anyway, that's not happening. We've already got too many departments as it is. Adding another one would put us deep in the red. No more new departments."
Choi Jintae spoke firmly. Knowing him well, Lee Seongbeom could tell the company really was short on budget this time. He let out a sigh, disappointment heavy in his voice.
"If it's not possible, it's not possible. But at least tell me why. What exactly are you trying to do this time?"
"You know I like collecting people. That's how all my programs became hits so far."
"True. Did you find someone new?"
"Yeah. An elementary school kid."
"?"
"From an orphanage, no less."
Even after hearing that much, Choi Jintae still didn't understand, so Lee Seongbeom explained everything in detail—what had happened, the discovery of someone exceptional, her true identity, the adoption, and his own mistake. Choi Jintae was visibly shocked.
Even so, for this guy to seriously consider adoption?
Lee Seongbeom was impulsive, but he wasn't a thoughtless fool. His quick decisions only looked impulsive to others because he arrived at the optimal conclusion in an instant. Choi Jintae, who had watched him for a long time, knew that these were conclusions reached after careful consideration. That was how he immediately recognized the importance of what he'd just heard.
"Still, you told her way too soon, you idiot."
"Enough with the nagging. I've already heard plenty from Writer Song."
"Aigoo, what sin did Writer Song commit to get stuck with you…."
"Isn't it my problem that Writer Song followed me…?"
"Most of your problems are because of you."
Lee Seongbeom laughed lightly, but both men kept thinking about how to resolve the situation. No matter how pitiful the child was, there was no reason for the company to take care of her at a loss. After mulling it over, Choi Jintae offered a suggestion.
"What about debuting her?"
"As what?"
"Anything works. You said she's pretty and mature for her age. She could be a child actress, or we could just show off her talent with a short appearance."
"Hmm…. I guess I could ask."
Lee Seongbeom didn't think she'd be particularly thrilled about appearing on TV, but he called the orphanage anyway and spoke with Seo Sua.
"Kid, you got any interest in appearing on TV?"
—No.
"……Huh?"
—I don't.
The call cut off abruptly. She still seemed down.
"You heard her?"
"She's really just a kid."
"Told you."
Hearing her actual voice made it feel suddenly real. Thanks to that, Choi Jintae had no choice but to sink even deeper into thought. Then something occurred to him.
"You said you first found this kid because of a video she uploaded to YouTube, right?"
"Yeah."
"Hey, Seongbeom. What do you think the future of broadcasting looks like?"
"Where's this coming from all of a sudden."
"Internet broadcasts are on the rise compared to TV these days, aren't they? Even trendy phrases are being created online and then used on TV, and TV is copying internet broadcast styles. And if you look at what kids these days want to be when they grow up, YouTubers are ranked number one, right?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"You. Make a YouTube channel."
"What?"
The era was no longer going to welcome TV. The days of sitting in the living room on weekends laughing at the TV were over. Everyone had their own personal screen and could watch countless videos on it. That meant we had to keep up with the flow of the times, didn't we?
"I'll give you some support, so make a personal YouTube channel. You could upload edited clips from your KBZ days or outtakes and NG scenes. I bet they'd get good reactions."
"No, hyung. I've already got a lot on my plate. How am I supposed to run a personal YouTube channel? Even with support, I'd have to do everything myself…."
As Lee Seongbeom grumbled, Choi Jintae sighed and smirked.
"You've still got a long way to go, kid."
"Why are you picking a fight now."
"Didn't you just say with your own mouth that you have an excellent editor?"
"…Ah?"
"If you want to steal the director's seat, go study some more, rookie."
"…Even if you gave me that seat, I wouldn't take it."
Lee Seongbeom still wanted to keep his thick head of hair.
***
"So, I'll be counting on you from now on, Editor-nim."
"Huh?"
He said those words on the day he visited the orphanage with Director Choi Jintae, contract in hand. Seeing the director standing beside him with a benevolent smile suddenly made me hungry. A breeze stirred, making his hair sway gently….
"Uncle."
"What."
"Want to talk while we eat something? I'd really like some takoyaki, if possible."
"Sounds good. I was in the mood for some too."