Chapter 40
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: #bridge Second Loading
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Even so, blood ties were blood ties, and every now and then, U Dayoung's ditzy side would peek through.
"......"
That was one thing, but the thought of dragging her around for a whole week and handling all the filming myself was already giving me a headache.
For starters, I'd squeezed myself dry until my balls were empty up until yesterday, so sex wasn't even on my mind right now.
The sage time had hit harder than expected.
"......Though by tomorrow, I'll probably be fine again."
"Pardon?"
Won Yuchan, who was editing next to me, tilted his head.
I placed a hand on his shoulder and said,
"I'm just dreading the idea of shooting solo already. It's gonna be tough."
"Yeah...... doing all the gear by yourself......"
"Gotta minimize the equipment."
Won Yuchan looked a bit worried as he replied to me.
"But we got paid so much......"
"Government money's blind money. Everyone takes it and works like this."
I said it, but this was actually my first time working with government funds, so I was a little conflicted.
"Nah, the pay I got in the military was government money too, right?"
"Well, yeah?"
"So think of it as finally getting that minimum wage they owed me back then. Makes me feel better."
"......I did public service."
I shrugged at his words.
"Doesn't matter. Point is, we didn't drag you here by force."
"True enough."
For some reason, Won Yuchan and I clicked in conversation.
He didn't have any rough edges, and he handled his tasks without complaint.
Since I could trust him with anything without worry, there wasn't much room for conflict—which probably made us get along even better.
"Anyway, let's just keep crushing it."
Meanwhile, the three of them finished talking and headed out.
"What, clocking out already?"
Kim Woohyun, standing at the end, gave an awkward smile and said,
"Just gonna grab coffee at the cafe up front and come back."
"Nah~, just head home. I'm wrapping up and going too."
"Haha, I'll be quick."
He said that and left, only returning when it was quitting time.
"Sorry......"
"Why'd you come back alone?"
"No..., it's just......"
I had a pretty good idea why, so instead of prying, I just pointed to his seat.
"Check your email. You weren't back by five, so me and Yuchan finished yours too."
"Ah...... hey, I was gonna pull an all-nighter."
"All-nighter my ass. With Dayoung not coming in, you must have dinner plans, right? Go on. We're heading out too."
Knowing Kim Woohyun's personality, he really would've stayed and worked, so with some spare time, me and Won Yuchan handled it for him.
As we packed up, I told the grateful Kim Woohyun,
"Get me some overtime pay later or buy me a meal."
"Haha, sorry for real."
"Always 'sorry' with you~. Whatever, you've already hooked me up plenty."
He might not get the tail end of that, but it didn't matter.
Won Yuchan and I bummed a smoke and said,
"Not up for a drink tonight?"
"Oh, you buying?"
"Yeah, let's pound some soju for old times' sake."
Won Yuchan and I headed to a nearby barbecue spot.
Sizzle.
We knocked back light shots of soju and chatted.
"What went down at your old job to pack on all this weight?"
I remembered him having some meat on him before, but not this pudgy.
He gave an awkward laugh and said,
"I drowned my stress in food. After work, soju and takeout every night...... and yeah, as you can see......"
He spread his arms wide to show off his frame.
"I see. Tsk, still, you should lose it. Gotta get yourself a girlfriend sometime."
"Nah~, who'd go for a guy like me."
He waved it off and downed his soju, but his smile looked kinda bitter.
"You'll find someone good."
Since it wasn't something I could fix for him, it was just empty words of comfort—but sincere ones.
Won Yuchan knew that too, so he just laughed it off.
"Anyway, no girlfriend for you, hyung?"
"Girlfriend? Not interested right now."
"Come on~, you're good-looking."
"......Wow. First time hearing that outside my mom. Exes called me trash."
As Won Yuchan poured me another shot, he asked,
"What'd they say?"
"Huh? Cheated on 'em."
"Trash for real then, hyung?"
"......I know, man. Hit me with a shot."
By the third bottle, we were nicely buzzed.
"Yo~, any more and I won't make it home. Let's call it."
"Ugh~. Yeah, finish this and bounce."
"Sure, sure."
Won Yuchan had only been a year at his old gig, but now he totally gave off career man vibes.
Back in college, he was fresh-faced and just plain nice, but now he had this easygoing, sly charm.
His bulked-up size helped with that too.
"I'll cover the bill."
"No, hyung. I said I'd treat......"
"......Then why're you behind me? You punk."
I paid and stepped out, immediately lighting up.
"Thanks for the grub, hyung."
"Pay me back when you make bank."
"You got it."
"Always got the words, huh."
After finishing the smoke and shoving him into a taxi, I hopped into the next one.
Maybe the booze, but I showered at home, hit the bed, and passed out quick.
Weekend.
On the visiting weekend, I grabbed my stinky blankets and pillows and headed to the laundromat nearby.
Shoved 'em in a big drum washer, ran it, and killed time at the cafe next door with some coffee.
"Whew, hot......"
Once the rainy season ended, somehow it felt even hotter.
Up here alone from the provinces, my only acquaintances were college buddies, most in Seoul.
Bus ride wasn't bad, but prepping to go was a hassle.
Thud.
The fully dried blankets were scorching when I picked them up.
"......"
Walking home like that, sweat beaded on my back instantly.
Back home, I spread out the blankets, cracked the windows for air, and ran the vacuum.
Vroooom!
After blasting the ear-splitting vacuum, I wrapped a cleaning cloth on a mop pole from No Brand and gave the place a full wipe-down. I was drenched in sweat.
Cold shower, shut the door, cranked the AC, and flopped on the sofa.
"......"
Lying there still, boredom hit hard.
Too lazy to go out, too lazy to call anyone.
TV on mute, scrolling YouTube on my phone, ended up ordering delivery.
U Dayoung.
The weekend date was pure bliss.
Even in the sweltering summer, holding hands tight while strolling and snapping satisfying pics for the first time in ages.
Grabbed wine, beef, sides, and headed to a glamping site with sea views.
"This one's the cleanest."
"Good work, Woohyun. Heh."
With her darling boyfriend by her side, nothing more was needed.
He whipped up aglio e olio on the camper's induction cooker and brought wine too.
U Dayoung raised her glass, sitting across, sharing small talk and sips.
"Let's take pics together~."
Outside, mood lights glowed, setting a perfect vibe—even random shots came out gorgeous.
"Dishes tomorrow~."
U Dayoung drawled as she sprawled on the bed.
What a perfectly satisfying day.
Seven years together, but seeing Kim Woohyun always made love swell up.
Swish.
Her loving gaze on Kim Woohyun lying beside her.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
"I love you" always made her heart flutter.
Heart pounding, she leaned in slow for a kiss. It raced faster than ever.
Rustle.
In the dark, clothes came off.
The moment skin met skin, Nam Siu flashed in her mind.
She shook her head to banish the stray thought, reaching out by habit built over a week to grope his body.
Arms around his neck, lips nibbling his earlobe—Kim Woohyun spoke.
"Chup......"
"Eut......"
Vaguely recalling, U Dayoung felt him up to find his sensitive spots.
"Dayoung...... you don't have to push yourself......"
"Huh...? Uh......"
Unthinkingly, her hand gripped his thing, mouth gearing up to suck.
'Ah...... right......'
Remembering her old moves, she flinched.
Crumple.
Condom wrapper sound. Fully prepped, Kim Woohyun embraced her plump body, slowly pushing in.
"Doesn't hurt?"
U Dayoung cupped his cheek and said,
"Nuh-uh~, not at all."
Squelch.
The foreign intrusion inside. But no spine-tingling pleasure.
Just the rational sensation of her beloved boyfriend's thing moving within.
Squelch, squelch.
Anxiety crept into U Dayoung. Because Nam Siu's words resurfaced.
That after experiencing him, she'd never be satisfied with another man.
She tried not to think it, but once it surfaced, it wouldn't settle.
"Dayoung...... I love you......"
Kim Woohyun's tender, heartfelt words.
U Dayoung, unable to focus on her worries, finally felt her heart warm and a sense of fullness.
"Yeah, Woohyun~, I love you too, so so much."
As if shaking off the nagging thought, she kissed him.
But in one corner, unease slowly put down thick roots.
'I absolutely...... can't do it with Siu anymore......'
The scenario had ended, but unbeknownst to her, the work's influence was spreading like ink on hanji paper.
After scarfing delivery and belching, a thought struck me.
"Feels like a total NEET. For real. Wow...... unemployed vibes. Digging it?"
After grinding weekdays, I deserved this break.
Bzzz.
My phone on the table buzzed.
"......?"
Picked it up—an unfamiliar number on the screen.
"Hello."
[Hi there~.]
Unfamiliar woman's voice; I tilted my head.
"Who's this?"
[Oh~, hi. It's U Dahee, shooting with you starting next Monday.]
We'd never really talked up close at length, so her voice was new to me.
"Ah, yeah yeah. Hi. What's up......?"
[Wanted to meet before shooting, go over the storyboard and all. Sorry, should've done it then.]
"......Sure...... yeah, no problem. When?"
[You free now? Come to Seoul?]
Sofa edge, one foot hooked, checked the time.
[PM 06:18]
Even rushing, sun would set, last bus might miss.
"Uh...... tomorrow work? It's getting late......"
[Or I can come your way. Whereabouts?]
"I'm...... uh, lemme check the address."
I rattled it off; she chuckled softly.
[Heehee, got it. About 30 minutes.]
Hung up, tossed for three minutes, then jumped up to prep.
"Ah, crap. All my stuff's at the office."
Fired up the computer, copied everything to my laptop.
Spotted unfiled U Dayoung pics and vids on the wallpaper, dumped 'em in her folder, grabbed sneakers, and bolted out.