episode_0013

After a long time, while talking about things that could only be discussed at a dinner with subordinates, it was already around the end of lunchtime. So, I quickly sent Kim Tae-hyun away, took care of the aftermath of lunch, and lay down on the sofa, turning on the TV.

And lying down, I stretched and shouted.

“Ah! Comfortable.”

Originally, I should have worked right away.

“Now that the new product development has stabilized, and I feel sorry for continuously using someone who is on leave, we will take care of the rest. So please rest well until you return. You must be busy adapting, so I’m sorry if we seem to be pushing you too much. Manager. Please rest well. Just looking at you, you seem addicted to work.”

When Kim Tae-hyun conveyed that he would eat here and leave, this is what he said to Deputy Director Kwon over the phone.

Thinking back, since the first contact from Deputy Director Kwon about a month ago, I had been working almost remotely without any leisure time.

No, it’s divorce. It’s TS syndrome. Before living hectic days, there was no one telling me to rest like this.

What is rest? Simply physical rest? Or going on a trip with loved ones? Healing? What is that exactly?

It’s a story from an area I can’t understand. How can a person not work and rest for weeks?

The unreasonable demand for new product development by the director seems far less daunting.

To me, rest was just sleeping on weekends, engaging in outdoor activities with family like going to the slaughterhouse on weekends. That was the extent of it.

But that’s not rest, they say.

Then what is rest?

Lost in thought while watching TV, I started planning even my rest, as there are still three weeks left before returning to work next month.

I decided to visit my hometown in the countryside, which should be done on weekends when the kids are not in school. The coming weekend, Da-bin’s friend Seung-yoon is coming over, so it should be postponed to the next week or the week after. I also need to check the kids’ schedules, so I’ll pass for now.

I wanted to spend time with the kids, but couldn’t find suitable activities, so I brought my laptop and started searching. A family trip? That sounds good. Since it’s summer, going to a cool place like the beach or a valley would be nice. Then three weekends are fully booked.

So, what should I do on weekdays? As I pondered and found myself making a schedule, I just accepted that I’d live like this rather than trying to plan everything.

“I should probably stop exercising, right? And I need to get my car serviced before going to work, hmm… What else should I do with the remaining time….”

While searching and browsing YouTube and other things, something came to mind.

“Let’s do YouTube!”

Recently… no, there were several cases of bloggers who were once called power bloggers, based on their posting fields, starting successful YouTube channels and transitioning from blogs to YouTube. This trend caught on among bloggers, and many people were now moving to YouTube instead of blogging. I never had the courage because of my busy schedule, but with this opportunity and free time, it seemed like a good idea to try.

However, I am a novice at this kind of thing, so it’s difficult…. I don’t know much about videos, so I’ll just think about it for now and ask Dayoung later, who seems to be more knowledgeable about media.

It seems like younger kids are more adept at media, right?

“Oh! And come to think of it….”

I got up from my seat and cautiously entered Dayoung’s room. Being a girl and also a dad, I really didn’t like Dayoung inviting me into her room. So, in a way, there was this sense of guilt for trespassing into forbidden territory.

“Oh, there it is.”

As I opened Dayoung’s door, what caught my eye right away was the computer, the webcam perched on top of the monitor, and the microphone she had begged for to try internet broadcasting since middle school. Eventually, I caved in and got her that microphone, paying around 200,000 won for it, if I remember correctly.

Anyway, since broadcasting and YouTube seemed somewhat similar, I decided to ask Dayoung about it and make a decision.

If I upload cooking videos, maybe I can earn some extra money for the kids’ side dishes.

I started jotting down which recipes and videos I wanted to make, how many episodes to produce, and what angles would be best to shoot from.

I wrote for a while and before I knew it, the sun was setting.

“Ugh, time flies so fast already…”

Since it was almost time for the kids to come home from school, I hurriedly went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

And dinner time. Sitting around the table with the kids, we discussed many things I had thought about during the day.

“Before Dad goes back to work, how about we all go on a family trip together? Anywhere you’d like to go?”

At that, Dayoung raised her hand eagerly.

“Me, me!”

“Yes! Student Dayoung. Please speak!”

Playing along as if I were a teacher, I teased Dayoung, who chuckled in response.

“I want to go on a staycation.”

A stay… what?

“Staycation! Dad, don’t you know what that is?”

“Sorry, Dad doesn’t know about that.”

Watching from the side, Dabin cautiously explained what a staycation was.

“It’s playing and eating at a hotel. It’s a combination of hotel and vacation, Dad.”

“Oh, I see.”

Oh, embarrassing. At almost forty, I’ve lived so cluelessly in that regard that I seem more like an old man than someone who’s just turned 49.

“But Dad wanted to go somewhere with water activities or a cool place. Busan sounds good too.”

Dayoung nodded in agreement.

“Then we can go to a hotel in Busan. Nowadays, people swim in hotel pools.”

She took out her phone and showed us pictures.

“Wow, great view. But is this a hotel pool? It looks fancy.”

“It’s called an infinity pool, a trendy style these days. It’s great for taking photos. You swim in the hotel pool, and at the beach, you just take a short walk at night or dip your feet in the water. That’s the trend.”

They sure play differently from my time. It made me realize how much the concept of relaxation has changed from our era.

“Anyway, Dabin, are you okay with this? Busan, Gwangalli. Staycation.”

When I asked Dabin, he just smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, sure. I’m fine with it. I could meet my friends there while we’re in Busan.”

Huh? Wait. This guy who has never been to Busan is talking about meeting friends?

Surprised, I asked, and Dabin replied.

“Oh, they’re gaming friends. Some of them live in Busan. Guildmates.”

Ah, so now even friendships are made online?

Of course, when I was young… No! When I was a kid, there was even a couple who got married through gaming, and I did have some experience with guild activities while playing games… but that was in my twenties. It was a bit surprising to see teenagers getting so close like that.

“Dad, don’t say stuff like that wherever we go. Getting treated like an old man. Well, she probably just thinks girls who don’t like games are not worth it based on looks alone!”

Ah, is this why it’s sad to get old? I wonder how much I’ve lived without knowing. I felt like I should start studying about trends little by little in the future.

“But Dad, are you okay?”

Suddenly Dayoung asked.

“Huh? Well, actually, Dad doesn’t know much about these things. He doesn’t really know what to do or how to relax, so it’s easier for you to decide.”

Upon hearing that, Dayoung tilted her head as if to say otherwise.

“No, if we’re going to the hotel pool, shouldn’t Dad wear a swimsuit too? Since it’s a hotel pool, he shouldn’t wear rash guards, so he should wear a women’s swimsuit, right?”

“Eh?”

That was truly an unexpected variable.

Is this travel plan really okay?

“Well, that might be a bit difficult…”

At that moment, Dayoung made a mischievous expression that somehow seemed a bit wicked.

“Come on~ Dad has to adapt now. It’s not like he’s never going to swim in his life, so someday he’ll have to wear one anyway. It’s better to try it on sooner rather than later. Besides, I’m curious to see how a bikini would look on that muscular body. Hehehe.”

What’s that? Scary. How can my daughter make such a wicked expression?!

As if seeking help, I quickly turned to Dabin.

“Ahem….”

The boy blushed quietly, turning his head away and avoiding my gaze.

Oh, this is not good. I raised these children in vain.

This is why raising sons is useless.

“Alright, then let’s decide to go on a vacation to Busan! This week?”

Dayoung shouted enthusiastically before asking.

“Dabin’s friend is coming over this week. And I also have plans for the weekend.”

This Saturday, there was a gathering with the writer Lee Young-woo and the drama club. Since I had just finished watching the recommended drama, I needed to discuss it and get recommendations for the next work, so I was really looking forward to it.

“Well, how about next week then?”

“Um… I wanted to ask about that a bit, but when I called Grandma today, she said she wants to see you guys and asked us to come down. So, instead of going on a trip before returning to work, how about going on a trip next week and then visiting Grandma’s house the following week? What do you think?”

I asked, while Dayoung pondered. Dabin seemed fine with whatever decision was made.

“Um… I do want to eat Grandma’s home-cooked meals. Um… Next week for the trip, and the week after that to Grandma’s house. How does that sound?”

“Can I ask why you decided that way?”

“Well, I mean… Coming back tired from Busan and going to work the next day is worse than going to Grandma’s house, which is closer. Wouldn’t that be more convenient for Dad?”

Oh, cancel the statement about raising children in vain. Our daughter…is a filial daughter.

“Don’t make that moved expression! I just thought that route would be more convenient!”

Embarrassed, Dayoung shouted at me, while Dabin quietly muttered,

“Tsundere.”

*Thud!*