episode_0142

– Crunch!

“Ah, as expected, the lunch eaten on the boat tastes good.”

“That’s right. Eating lunch while feeling the sea breeze. It’s charming and nice.”

Somehow, it would be even better without the middle-aged men’s comments like “Ah, this is good” or “Ah, this is the life.”

The unrealistically clear sky without a single cloud and the unusually strong sun, cooled by the sea breeze, made it a pleasant day.

The pre-prepared lunch had cooled down, but after catching a few fish and making sashimi, that too had its own charm.

Well, on a day like this with such a view, wouldn’t even military-issue seafood sauce taste good?

No?

Then you must be a military veteran.

Anyway, with the beautiful scenery of the mountains, catching fish, having a full boat, and the gentle breeze blowing, I felt like it would be nice to just relax and take a nap.

The other executives and managers were busy chatting and smoking in a corner, while the director was staring blankly at the calm sea, his eyes showing a deep sense of contemplation.

Somehow, the gaze of an old man felt profound, as if filled with a sense of resignation…

Watching the director gaze at the sea, I approached him, shaking my head vigorously to clear my thoughts, and asked, “What are you doing?”

The director replied softly, “Just staring at the water.”

– Splash!

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Why, can’t I use the slang that young people use?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that you can’t, but… haha, I was just surprised. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. If you get all serious and apologize for throwing a joke, then I’ll feel awkward. Anyway, want to sit down?”

I sat down opposite the director in a suitable spot.

– Plop

“Phew, Director, don’t you smoke?”

“I told you earlier. I had lung cancer surgery.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Even in Tarulla, there’s no Tarulla like this. Not smoking in someone who had lung cancer surgery. It’s like telling them to die outright.

“Don’t you smoke? I thought you used to.”

“Well… that’s true. But after the change, I don’t really crave it, and I tried, but my body just doesn’t accept it. It’s hard to explain in words, but my body feels strange even though I remember that hazy feeling in my head. It’s really difficult to express.”

“It’s okay. Well, it’s a good thing. You’re better off that way. I envy you for that, even if I don’t know about anything else.”

“Haha! Director, if you were to become younger and healthier, but change genders, would you accept it?”

I asked jokingly.

“Well… at this age, youth is very nostalgic, but starting over again wouldn’t be too burdensome… Wait, why am I thinking about this? You, this guy. Making fun of an old man.”

Well, it’s not an easy decision to make, even if it’s just a joke. Even if it was something that could have been easily answered when I was younger, now, going through the twilight of life, I’ve experienced and gained too much to casually respond, even in jest.

“By the way, I heard you were approached for a shoot related to the filming?”

“Yes… for a men’s magazine.”

“What, Men’s?”

It’s a traditional and historical magazine. Its illustrious history began when soldiers on leave started reading it…

“Well, why is a talented person like you still in our company?”

“Oh no! It’s not like that…”

Anyway, I should report back on the conversation that took place over there, so it wouldn’t hurt to share the story first. If the director accepts it in a friendly manner, there won’t be a need to persuade further.

I repeated the contents of the morning conversation with the director to the director once again.

“Well, from the company’s perspective, as long as the money is secure and a more skilled filming team is helping, it’s definitely okay. What reason is there to refuse?”

– Click!

Yes!

I clenched my fist tightly, out of sight from the director.

“By the way, you’re quite something. Well, you’re the company’s promotional model, and this time the company’s not staking its life on it, so it’s a problem that can be approached as an adventure, but I never expected a magazine model proposal.”

Then he glanced up and down at me.

“Well, it doesn’t seem completely unreasonable.”

It was at that moment, under his uneasy gaze, that I was sweating profusely inside.

– Thump! Thump! Thump!

I turned around at the regular sound resonating from the deck, only to see the director approaching this way.

“Director, do you have a moment?”

“Kkk, it seems like today is not the day. It’s unusually quiet.”

Even though only two hours had passed, including lunchtime. Of course, compared to other people who had caught a lot in the meantime, I was not catching enough.

“Then, how about we switch places? My spot seems to have quite a bit of luck.”

The director, who was close to catching a 70cm fish, also easily caught smaller fish like rockfish or flatfish. The percentage of the fish he caught at lunch was probably over 50%, if not more.

“Alright. Enjoy it while you can since you rarely come out to fish like this. I come out to fish like this a couple of times a month, so there will be days when I catch something.”

“Still…”

“Kk, this guy! Do you think I don’t know you? Just because she’s a beauty, don’t be too eager. You’re not in the mood for fishing right now, are you?”

“Oh no, I’m not. I just wanted you to have some fun because you’re not very good at fishing…”

“Alright, this guy. Well, I’m having plenty of fun with you by my side. You go back and try your hand at fishing.”

With a playful jab from the director, the director scratched his head awkwardly and returned to his spot.

“Ah, really. Junhyuk, that guy has always been weak when it comes to women. Of course, he doesn’t exercise much restraint, but still, having that kind of image ingrained in him won’t do him any good.”

“Well… where can you find a man who doesn’t like women? Haha. But people are kind, aren’t they?”

“That’s true, but…”

“But is it fun being with me?”

Honestly, I don’t think I’m particularly fun, so where did he find the fun?

“Well, when would I ever spend time alone with a beauty like you, let alone become a magazine model.”

The director’s face was full of mischief as he said that.

“Oh, Director…”

“Hahaha! And… this may be a bit rude to say, but naturally, when you see something beautiful, your heart softens. Kkk.”

“What? Oh…”

Well, that’s how it is. Even if you don’t have a close relationship with someone, your heart tends to be drawn to pretty or handsome people, right? There’s something like that.

Honestly, you can’t deny that exceptional looks are a form of wealth in themselves. The saying “beauty is only skin deep” didn’t come out of nowhere.

“Well, I’m aware that it’s an easily misunderstood statement. It’s not like that. By my age, I can’t even stand up straight. Kkk!”

– Thud!

“Oh, Director, please…”

Around the mid-60s, it’s not uncommon for that to happen, but seeing him coolly admit it in front of his subordinates made me feel like he had thick skin.

“Alright, let’s stop the chit-chat and start again.”

The director stood up and took the fishing rod once again.

“Hmm… It seems like there’s been no bite at all since earlier, so maybe the bait was taken while I was having lunch. Let’s do some maintenance.”

With that, he lightly reeled in the fishing rod a few times, and soon the hook was attached.

As he expected, the bait he had put on earlier was missing from the hook. Skillfully, he took out a krill shrimp from the bait box and threaded it onto the fishing hook.

And before casting.

“Oh, could you go get some bait from the captain for me?”

He asked me to go get some bait and a ladle, probably planning to cast again. Following his instructions, I went to the captain, got the bait and ladle, and scattered them into the sea.

“You need to spread it out evenly, so it feels like you’re spreading it out widely.”

After spreading the bait, he told me to reel in my fishing hook so he could change the bait for me.

So, as the captain had instructed earlier, I reeled in the reel a few times while winding the fishing rod.

Suddenly, a big wave rocked the boat, causing me to stumble and lose my balance.

-Splash!

“Ah!”

In the end, I couldn’t regain my balance and fell over.

-Swish! Thud!

“Oops, are you okay?”

The captain approached me, looking concerned.

“Ah, yeah. My butt hurts a bit, but I think I’m okay…”

“Uh-oh! Th-there!”

Suddenly, the captain’s face turned red, and he started pointing at something on me. I followed his gaze.

There, there was…

-Squirm, squirm!

“A squid.”

“A squid?”

“Ahhhh!”

A black, slippery, and moist something, like a tentacle, was wriggling between my chest. Without even realizing what it was, I just screamed in shock, but the captain quickly reached out and grabbed it.

“It’s just a squid, calm down.”

“Ah… Oh, okay…”

Feeling embarrassed for overreacting, I blushed and rolled my eyes.

And then I saw it.

“Hmm. It seems like the creature that was hooked on your fishing hook bounced up.”

The captain held up the sea squirt in one hand, explaining the situation while his pants were bulging.

Ah, I see. The captain’s “big catch” was not the sea but always something with him.

As the sea dragon rose up, perhaps showing off its presence without me realizing, the captain was getting heated up explaining the situation.

Oh dear, it’s dead. Stand up. Stand up tall.