episode_0060

“The Promotion Committee will make an official request. I called in advance because I was afraid they would reject me, so tell them you will do it even if it means seeing my face. If there is one director on the jury, the level of the film festival will change, right?”

He says goodbye and hangs up the phone.

I’ve been indebted to you several times, so it’s hard for me to refuse your request.

‘Come to think of it, Sora said something about a youth film festival.’

The rascal who stole my daughter’s heart said he was making a movie.

They say it’s an entry for a youth film festival, and they’re already bragging that it’s worthy of the grand prize.

I thought I would forget him when I came to America, but I’ve been waiting for him for 10 years.

‘I should go and take a look. It’s so well-photographed.’

*****

“The beach scene is done, I’ll do some backgrounds in the afternoon. I can go in the evening, but do you want to go up today?”

Minji said as she packed her equipment.

“I can’t move today. I’ll go up tomorrow. Grill some meat for dinner. Byeon-ha-jin, are you listening to me?”

Eugene’s motto is ‘When things get tough, eat meat.’

I only look for grilled meat.

It’s not because I’m good at grilling meat.

When we all go to a meat restaurant, Eugene always sits next to me.

So naturally, I end up eating grilled meat.

After doing this for a few years, I got used to my baking.

I eat it even if it’s undercooked, and I eat it even if it’s burnt.

“I’m always the only one who gets roasted. This time, you get to roast me.”

I once told him to grill it because I was annoyed at him just eating it right next to me.

“You’ve never grilled meat before?”

As expected, she’s a rich girl.

“Okay, tongs. Use these to pick up the meat and place it on the grill. Flip it over once so that the juices don’t leak out, and move it to the edge when it turns brown.”

“Okay.”

Eugene obediently accepted the tongs.

He grilled the meat as I told him and placed it on a plate.

“Try it.”

It melts in your mouth.

I think you bake better than me.

“Good job. Keep grilling.”

“When should I eat?”

“You can eat it while I’m grilling it. You want me to eat it all?”

“You have to cook it for me to eat it.”

“No, what is that… .”

“I want to eat what you cooked for me.”

He was so stubborn that I ended up roasting him.

I can order Eugene, but the only thing that changes is the baking order. I don’t have the option of not baking it.

‘If it was going to be like this, then why did you make Eugene do it?’

Even now, Eugene eats meat well next to me.

It was cute how he would wriggle around like a hamster and then smile at me.

That smile is enough to buy grilled meat.

*

“If we go to Seoul and just film the school scene, we can start post-production.”

Minji said while pouring a drink.

It’s a short scene where Eugene enters the classroom while holding back tears.

The photoshoot for the contest is practically over.

“The contest is like that, but what about the video that will be shown at the art festival and the exposure video? Are you going to make it like that?”

“You have to make it like that so that Yeongcheol Senior doesn’t steal it.”

We need some bait to reassure them that they know what we’re doing.

“Don’t put too much effort into it since you’re not really going to use it. Just focus on the independent film festival entries.”

“The entries are good, I guess they’ll be chosen quickly… but I feel bad because they won’t receive an award. It’s a shame.”

From Minji’s perspective, it’s understandable for her to say something like that.

“You know I took a break for 10 years, right? So this is my comeback. I worked really hard while thinking about that. I think Eugene is the same, right?”

Eugene nods from the side.

His expression is serious, as if he read my emotions.

“Make me and Eugene shine the brightest on the screen. Then, even if I don’t win an award, people will recognize me. You know, what kind of genius made this video?”

Minji chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“Kekekeke, finally Jonjalping recognizes my genius. Don’t worry. I’ll make you shine brighter than anyone else.”

Then he laughs with his chest puffed out, saying that he has delivered another cool line.

It was still a big deal, but I was less impressed after talking to Sora.

Once your eyes are raised high, they will never come down again.

Eugene also seemed to know that my gaze had cooled and slowly lowered his fist.

“Let’s say you pass the bait to the CEO, but what about the real exposure video? Shouldn’t you film it?”

“Let’s make it after we let you know that we went to the Independent Film Festival. The chairman will definitely do something if he finds out that he was fooled. I think it would be better to decide what to make after seeing that.”

We do need a ‘real’ expose video that will destroy the chairman’s group.

But I didn’t want any disturbance until the independent film festival came out.

If you just throw out the bait and sit still, even the chairman won’t be able to make a move.

‘Even if it’s not a prize, I want to be properly evaluated.’

I feel sorry for Eugene who had a hard time, but the acting was so much fun.

It’s so good that I wonder how I endured it for 10 years.

I was curious about how the judges viewed my performance on screen.

I don’t know who it is this year, but last year’s lineup of judges was pretty spectacular.

Even if it was taken by a high school student, since it is a contest entry, I will give it a look.

‘I hope people don’t just pass it over just because it was made by kids.’

*****

Back in Seoul, Minji and Beomjun locked themselves in the editing room, saying they were doing post-production work.

Eugene and I decided to meet up to record the narration and went back home.

When I met my mother after two weeks, she hugged me tightly and said, “You’ve gotten better.”

“You said that, but it got darker. You didn’t apply sunscreen diligently, did you?”

“I put on a lot. The sunlight was so strong that I couldn’t help it.”

It’s been a while since Sora and I were on the phone.

Unfortunately, today is just plain casual attire.

He came up to the screen with a smile, as if he had read my thoughts.

“Do you regret wearing these clothes? Should I wear them again?”

“Oh, no. What… .”

“There are even raunchier pajamas.”

“I said no!”

I still get goosebumps because it’s fun to tease.

“I’ll talk to Eugene. I want to see Eugene’s expression when she notices me.”

“Please don’t do that when Eugene is around. My back won’t be spared.”

“I sent it to Eugene, so he’ll show it to me soon, right?”

“What?”

“I was jealous at the time, so I bought a few and sent them to you. I sent you cute ones, so look forward to them.”

ah.

When I first met you, you were a puppy, but now you’ve become a fox.

That’s a special fox with nine tails.

“Oh, Dad, I’m going to be in October, so I might contact you.”

“To me?”

“Yeah. When they asked me what I was doing, I said I was making movies.”

Ten years have passed, but one director still feels burdened.

I don’t really have anything to contact you for, so what’s going on?

“What happened to exposing the school corruption? You said you changed your plans because there was a traitor.”

I told him the truth because he said he wanted to come here when he returned to Korea.

I asked him to kick out the chairman before he came back, but I don’t know if that’s possible.

“I have to change it. I can’t use the video I was making. I’ll make it again after the film festival is over.”

From traitor stories to bait videos to independent film festivals, we talk about Plan B.

Soraya is a reliable ally, so there is no reason to hide it.

“I don’t want to upload it on your channel. I’m enjoying your surfing videos and vlogs, but I’m going to get dizzy.”

Sora is a regular listener of our channel.

“Please wait, it may not be a video.”

Sora’s eyes narrowed.

“You… are trying to do something.”

It was just a passing remark, but it was sharp as always.

Even though he’s off-screen, Eugene always sticks with me and reads my thoughts better than I do.

“An internal whistleblowing doesn’t have to be a video. You can read a statement and protest alone, write a long message on a bulletin board, or do an interview while reporting… There are many ways.”

“That’s not the problem. Your expression right now is just… like you’re trying to do something by yourself.”

You guessed it right.

“But you know what? If you think about taking the blame for something on your own while leaving Eugene and I alone… I don’t think either of us will forgive you. Especially me.”

For a moment, Sora’s eyes lit up bright red.

I thought there was some kind of filter effect on the screen.

I blinked a few times and looked again, and my eyes had returned to their original color.

It was a bonus that my whole body was creeped out.

What the hell was it?

“Don’t even think about doing it secretly. If something happens to you… I’ll really, really die. Got it?”

The area under my eyes is already moist.

I guess it’s hard to even think about shaking your shoulders.

An indescribable feeling grips me.

I can’t resist those eyes.

“I’ll definitely tell you first if I think of a way. Don’t worry, I’ll tell Eugene too. I’ll never make a decision alone.”

“Okay then. I’ll believe you.”

Only then does a faint smile spread across his face.

*****

[Seorim Genius Club]

— Video editing is finished.

— All three? (roughly a surprised emoticon)

— Not yet about the contest. That will take some time.

— The exposure video is finally over.

— I told you to do that first. (roughly an angry emoticon)

— Good job. Let’s gather like we’re having a screening, since we have to show it to Senior Youngcheol too.

—Shall we do it at my house?

– Let’s do it at the hideout. I’ll set up the projector.

-Okay. When?

– You have to decide. You have to do it on the day that Minhee-sunbaenim becomes yours too.

— Okay. I’ll ask and get back to you.

I just got a text from Minji.

Senior Minhee said it would be possible tomorrow.

I replied that I should definitely bring Senior Youngcheol too.

Senior Youngcheol knows that we participated in the youth film festival.

You can say that the contest entry has already been submitted, and the important thing is the exposure video that we will see tomorrow.

After showing it to him, he should manage it as carelessly as possible so that Yeongcheol can take it away.

‘I’ll make a deal with the chairman while having a good time.’

Once you get there, everything will be fine until the end of the film festival.

If we stay still, there’s nothing they can do about it.