Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Busan Summer Sea Festival (2)
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The movie unfortunately wasn't that great.
Awkward acting from the actors, clunky CG, half-baked zombies, and a story that was way too predictable.
It was instantly clear why it hadn't done well at the box office.
By the time the credits were rolling, five out of the seven members were fast asleep.
The only ones still awake were me and Han Tae-hee.
I turned to Han Tae-hee, who was sitting in the seat in front of me, surprisingly focused on the screen.
"Tae-hee hyung."
"Yeah, Jae? What's up."
"Not sleepy?"
"Nope. It's fun."
"......Fun? Which part?"
I asked out of genuine confusion.
Han Tae-hee just tilted his head toward me with a sly grin.
"Finding the flaws. It's hilarious spotting how sloppy the acting and direction are in certain spots. You should try it, Jae."
"......I'm not in the theater department like you, hyung."
He burst out laughing at my response.
"Anyway, I found something perfect for a report in the most unexpected place."
"A report? What report?"
Memories came flooding back of college, where every class—from majors to electives—assigned a report, leaving me buried in them all semester.
And coincidentally, Han Tae-hee and I went to the same school.
Did the theater department drown in reports too?
He continued at my question.
"There's this class where you compare two movies for a report. You know, the good example and the bad one. Analyze the acting and direction, then compare them......"
"So you're using this as the bad example."
"Obviously. Can't pass it off as the good one."
Now it made sense why he'd been watching more intently than anyone.
He was scouting material for his report reference.
If it were me, I'd have paid attention too.
I'd pored over dense academic papers just as diligently; no reason to slack on a movie like this.
A moment later, the end credits rolled on the film that would serve as Han Tae-hee's report fodder.
Manager hyung popped out the DVD and hit the accelerator, speeding off. He seemed in a real rush.
Then, shortly after, the van veered off the highway.
I glanced out the window and spotted a big gray rock etched with letters.
[Geumgang Rest Area]
"Quick stop at the rest area."
"Yeah."
"Got it."
Looks like Manager hyung really had to hit the bathroom.
As soon as we parked, the sleeping guys jolted awake like nothing had happened.
They bolted out of the van, noses leading them toward the food smells.
"Whoa, jackpot. So much food."
"Look at that, Su-rim hyung! Yellow eel!"
"They still sell those? It's been forever."
I trailed behind the group, climbing out of the van a bit later.
The rest area's food aromas assaulted my senses.
Some of the guys were buzzing with excitement at the thought of grabbing snacks.
"Su-rim hyung! I wanna eat that yellow eel."
"Okay. Hyung'll get it for you. You trust me, right, Teddy?"
"Totally! I trust you!"
Teddy, hooked on the yellow eel grab, was beaming and pledging his faith at Park Su-rim's bold claim.
Just then, Manager hyung stepped out from the driver's seat after killing the engine and walked over to us. He checked his watch and said,
"We gotta beat the traffic, so grab what you want quick while I hit the bathroom."
"Yeah, hyung."
With that, he dashed toward the rest area building in urgent strides.
Left behind, we followed Park Su-rim's grin as he pointed to the nearby stalls.
"No point splitting up and regrouping. Let's stick close."
"Sure."
"Okay."
"Then Teddy and I will hit the eel grab over there. Get your snacks and meet us!"
"Oh, me too."
"Got it, Tae-hee hyung."
Teddy, Park Su-rim, and Han Tae-hee headed to the eel grab stall, while the remaining four of us went to the nearby ones.
Lee Jae-oh scanned the menu board first and spoke up.
"I'm getting a hot dog. You guys?"
"It's hot, so I'm going for a slushie."
"Churros for me."
"Jae?"
Let's see... What to get. Hotteok, hot bar, butter-grilled squid, tteokbokki, walnut pastries... Too many options; it was tough choosing.
As I hesitated, Kim Kwang-myeong nudged my side with his elbow.
"Pick fast."
"Hmm... Tornado potato, then."
It was spinning right in front of me, and it just looked irresistible.
Led by Lee Jae-oh, we placed our orders, and soon the food was ready.
We grabbed our snacks and headed to the ongoing grab stall.
Park Su-rim was there, eyeing the lots with hawk-like focus, carefully drawing one.
But his face fell the instant he opened it.
"Su-rim got skunked again?"
"Yeah...... Not even once."
Park Su-rim was already clutching three mini consolation eel candies for losers.
Meanwhile, Han Tae-hee and Teddy...
"Heh heh. Lucky day today, huh."
"Tell me about it. Never done this before, but luck's on my side."
Somehow, both had scored pretty big grab prizes, cradling them proudly.
Teddy was munching happily on his tiger-shaped one, grinning ear to ear. Looking content.
That's when Manager hyung came running back from the bathroom.
"Oh, nice! Teddy and Tae-hee hit the big ones?"
"Eh, this size."
"Large size jackpot! Lucky!"
"Good job. Everyone got theirs?"
At Manager hyung's question, Go Eun-young nodded.
"Yeah, hyung. We eating these on the road?"
"Pretty much."
"I'll grab a trash bag, then."
Smart idea. Trash in the car is a hassle.
After Go Eun-young fetched the bag, we piled back into the van.
The engine roared to life, pulling out of the rest area toward Busan once more.
The guys, now fully awake from snacks, chatted away to pass the time.
Amid the lively banter, I leaned back fully into my seat.
Probably the high-calorie tornado potato hitting me with food coma.
'Gonna nap......'
Plenty of time till arrival anyway. I figured I'd kill it sleeping. I settled into the plush seat and closed my eyes comfortably.
* * *
How much time had passed?
"Ugh......"
The van hit a massive bump, jolting me awake. I opened my eyes.
Go Eun-young, sharing my row, noticed and asked,
"Jae hyung, you up?"
"Yeah...... Took a quick nap."
"Figured."
"Sleep well?"
"Yeah."
Deep sleep, no dreams. I smiled contentedly, stretching my arms with a big yawn.
My stamina and passion stats, not fully recovered from late-night composing the night before, were topped off.
Anyway, how far? I peered out the window.
A green sign whizzed by: Busan tollgate just ahead.
'Almost there.'
I cracked the window, gazing up at the clear summer sky.
The breeze brushing my cheek felt like cool sea air—nice vibe.
Soon after passing the tollgate, the napping members stirred, peering out too.
Kim Kwang-myeong, who'd kept his eyes shut from motion sickness during the movie and beyond, gawked out the window in surprise.
"Whoa. Closed my eyes and boom, Busan."
"Busan! First time here."
"Teddy's hyped."
"We're hitting the beach?"
Teddy, unable to hide his excitement, alternated glances between Park Su-rim and Manager hyung.
Manager hyung eyed Park Su-rim in the rearview and replied,
"Probably. Boss said shoot a vlog at the beach, right, Su-rim?"
"Yeah, exactly. We're going to the sea, Teddy."
"Yippee!"
Teddy whooped with a perfect English exclamation, throwing his arms up.
Right on cue, the radio played folk singer Kim Young-sik's "The Sea Is Calling Us."
'This'll be fun.'
Busan Summer Sea Festival.
Felt like it was gonna be an awesome time.
Moments later, we entered Busan city proper.
True to its rep for rough driving, the van started bouncing around.
My stomach, already queasy from building motion sickness, flipped hard.
'Shouldn't have eaten that tornado potato at the rest stop.'
Felt even heavier now.
I deep-breathed through the open window crack.
Kim Kwang-myeong watched me for a sec and asked,
"Hey, carsick?"
"Yeah."
"You good?"
"Nope."
"Hang in there. Want me to pat your back or something?"
"Nah. Not that bad."
"Cool."
Then, Go Eun-young in the seat ahead let out a sudden "Ah" like something clicked.
"Oh yeah, where we crashing?"
"Probably booked a hotel or something."
"Huh? You guys didn't hear? Jae-oh didn't tell you?"
"Huh? What?"
As Kim Kwang-myeong asked curiously, all eyes turned to Lee Jae-oh.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"Truth is, it's just one night... My parents said crash at our place."
"Oh~ Your parents said just stay at your hou— What?"
"Gasp. At Jae-oh hyung's house?"
Everyone, me included, froze stiff at his words.
I'd even braced for a guesthouse. We're rookies, after all.
But his actual family home? Never crossed my mind.
Sure, way comfier physically, but staying in a space with Lee Jae-oh's parents...
'Kinda awkward?'
Not that his parents creeped me out, but crashing at strangers'—well, acquaintances'—place for the night felt heavy.
And I wasn't the only one feeling the weight.
"Why didn't you say sooner, hyung?"
As Kim Kwang-myeong sighed and muttered, the others chimed in.
"Yeah! Jae-oh hyung, big stuff like that, you gotta spill early!"
"Right? Any siblings home?"
"Nah, he's at the athlete dorm."
"That's a relief at least...... Still embarrassed from that screw-up last time; can't face him yet."
"He seemed chill about it."
From the chatter, Park Su-rim had apparently met Lee Jae-oh's family before.
"What happened? Su-rim hyung, what'd you do to Jae-oh hyung's sibling?"
Go Eun-young tilted her head curiously at their exchange, and Park Su-rim scratched his cheek sheepishly.
"Nothing big. Just... Went to the company once to see Jae-oh, mistook his brother for our new manager and handed him the car keys."
"No way. How?"
"That day, our new manager was supposed to show up, so I mixed it up. Jae-oh's bro's an athlete too."
"That must've been wild."
I checked my phone while listening.
Noon already. Fast trip from our 8 AM start.
Then Park Su-rim, suddenly curious, asked Manager hyung,
"But hyung, you crashing at Jae-oh hyung's too?"
"Nah, got a buddy in Busan. Haven't seen him in ages; gonna impose a bit."
"Ah, gotcha."
Park Su-rim nodded, convinced.
"Anyway, it's decided, so whatever. But showing up empty-handed feels off. Pick up something?"
"Fruit."
Yeah. Done deal, so accept it.
On Han Tae-hee's suggestion, we stocked up on fruit from a nearby mart and headed to Lee Jae-oh's family home.
It was a new apartment, clean and spacious inside.
Lee Jae-oh punched in the code and opened the door to his parents greeting us.
"We're heeere."
"Hey, kids."
"Come on inna."
Whoa. First sight of them both, and I couldn't help widening my eyes in shock.