episode_0143

After working hard, I come home from work, wash up, eat, and lie down.

It’s our everyday life, a hamster wheel easily encountered anywhere.

Even I, who am trying to finish the day now, have a similar routine.

However, it’s not the kind of work that generates profit.

And quite a few family members welcome me.

What should I say?

Though it looks very different on the surface, it feels like coming home to a family waiting.

In the common dining hall, there are people waiting for me.

They sit before a large table laden with well-prepared food.

‘It’s warm.’

Just a few hours ago, I was wrestling with the cold that touched my skin and covered in blood. Deeply suppressed and agitated emotions were an added burden.

But this scene in a warm space now gently melts away my uncomfortable and difficult emotions.

Especially seeing the lavish table, too grand for breakfast, and the neatly arranged liquor bottles, it was enough to clear my mind of any unnecessary thoughts.

Seeing the steam rising from the food, I quickly took a seat.

“I apologize for being late.”

“Not at all. Come on, come on~”

At the invitation of the grandparents, who welcomed me with generous smiles like kind restaurant owners, I picked up my spoon.

As it had been hard to resist the delicious smell, I didn’t decline.

Taking a large spoonful of glossy white rice…

“Ahmm!”

The texture of the warm, fluffy rice as I chewed it, along with its subtle sweetness and savory richness, spread throughout my mouth.

‘Oh….’

Though it was just plain rice, it clung pleasantly to my palate and tasted delicious.

It was completely different from the ramyeon I had wolfed down last night without even tasting it.

Not just a nutrient supply for survival, but a proper meal.

The rice seemed to be perfectly cooked, as it went down smoothly with every gulp.

Without any special side dishes, I instantly emptied one bowl.

“How is it? Does it suit your taste?”

“Yes. The rice is perfectly cooked. It’s so delicious. Another bowl, please…”

“Of course, of course. A man needs to eat well to have strength.”

The grandmother, seemingly pleased with my reaction, wore a delighted expression and gave me a heaping bowl of rice.

A wide grin spread across their faces.

People stopped eating and looked at me, smiling broadly.

“? Why isn’t everyone eating?”

“It just makes me feel good to see you eat so well. Here! Have a drink~”

“Ah. Thank you. Grandpa, you too.”

Clink-

Glug glug~

Though it was morning, no one refused alcohol.

Everyone, except for Miri, began to lightly enjoy their meal and drinks.

Mealtime drinks are often easily perceived as merely a habit of older people.

But having experienced it myself, I found that wasn’t the case.

The leisurely moment of a drink that lets you catch your breath, a light mood changer while resting.

After downing a glass of alcohol, with exclamations bursting forth, the atmosphere at the table, which became a little noisy, was lively and joyful.

I had been secretly worried the atmosphere would be a mess, but it was an unfounded fear.

Everyone was simply enjoying their meal without showing any discomfort.

Miri, whom I had been watching, also seemed to be eating well now.

Seeing her neatly munching with her small mouth, it seemed I didn’t need to worry.

Thanks to that, I was able to comfortably enjoy my meal with alcohol and finish it.

“Thank you for the meal.”

Only after consuming a considerable amount of food could I feel satisfied.

Everyone seemed to have adapted to my almost gluttonous meal portions now, as they no longer seemed surprised.

After the meal with everyone ended, from my seat, I called Kim Daesik.

Kim Daesik, who had somewhat hesitantly stood up, sat back down.

The mealtime drinks that began during the meal naturally continued into a drinking session.

I offered a drink to Kim Daesik, who was seated nearby.

And I quietly told him the reason I had suddenly flared up. After my somewhat lengthy reminiscing, I added that I didn’t bear any ill will towards Kim Daesik.

“…That’s why I reacted a bit sensitively. I apologize.”

It’s my subjective opinion, but when apologizing, no special rhetoric is needed.

Kim Daesik, who had silently listened to my story, nodded.

As if my intentions had reached him, I sensed no bad feelings from him as he emptied his glass and opened his mouth.

“If you’ve experienced something like that, I couldn’t blame you even if you hated the profession of a journalist itself. Rather… I’m sorry that I seem to have touched on Seonghan’s painful memories.”

“Hmm….”

“Ah! Of course, I’m different from such swindlers. Though I may be lacking, I strive to be faithful to my original role. However, I can’t deny that there are types of journalists who make even fellow journalists ashamed.”

At those words, both Kim Daesik and I smiled wryly.

Even though he must have felt quite wronged as the person involved, he showed consideration for me.

“…I hate to admit it, but there are many truly dirty and petty cases.”

“Well, isn’t it pretty much the same everywhere you go?”

“Indeed… it’s a dirty world, but…”

“And yet, there are also more people who aren’t like that.”

“That’s why, for now, it’s still a world where bad news feels sensational. Isn’t that why people like me can make a living?”

“But Kim Daesik-nim, aren’t you in the entertainment division?”

“That’s true, but it means nothing in the face of a scoop.”

“…That’s also true.”

As we exchanged a bit of our honest thoughts, I realized that Kim Daesik was definitely a different type from the guy who had messed with me.

Though the profession of a journalist itself still causes me stress, I could immediately tell that the man named Kim Daesik before me was not someone I should vent my frustrations on.

More than anything, thanks to Kim Daesik’s eloquence, which was direct and straightforward without adding unnecessary comments or beating around the bush, I was able to have a good time.

“Thanks to CEO Choi-nim, I was barely able to make a living. Now, I’ve also saved my life and could even come this far. I’m simply grateful in many ways.”

“Haha~ Your good articles usually provided us with a lot of help. Isn’t it fate that we’ve come this far together?”

CEO Choi and the two celebrities, who had naturally joined the conversation midway, seemed to have known each other for a long time.

When I showed curiosity about their relationship, CEO Choi briefly explained.

He was someone who had consistently written favorable articles for the celebrities under CEO Choi’s company without reservation.

Of course, he was always ambitious for scoops, but he knew his limits and never crossed the line.

He was definitely different from those bastards I had encountered and known.

Our encounter in Yeongdeungpo was nothing short of luck.

He was on his way to cover Shia and Hyuk hyung, who were filming at Times Square, when he encountered the situation, and by chance met the soldiers and CEO Choi, and came this far together.

Seeing him joke that he survived thanks to his consistent jogging, I felt that Kim Daesik was also a man of great courage.

Thanks to the frank and honest conversation, there was no room for any lingering resentment, and it remained a meaningful time where we got to know each other a little better.

Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol.

Kim Daesik took another step further and subtly revealed his inner thoughts.

“CEO Choi-nim wants to make this experience into a movie. I want to write an article about the experiences I had during this incident.”

“This incident, you mean?”

In response to my question, Kim Daesik, who revealed his aspirations with a serious expression, seemed to have gained courage from the alcohol rather than being drunk.

Kim Daesik’s story, which became a bit more talkative, was a difficult journey just to hear about.

It was to the point where I wondered if it could be written as a drama episode rather than an article.

This man also suffered considerably and survived.

While moderately agreeing with him, I subtly admired Kim Daesik’s tenacious survival ability.

“I’m still organizing the content little by little. Because journalism must be objective and fair, it’s difficult to maintain balance.”

“…I think you’ll do well, Kim Daesik-nim.”

“Is that, is that so?”

For some reason, my single comment pleased Kim Daesik, and he quietly grinned.

CEO Choi seized that moment and poured out all sorts of words.

Abruptly, discussions about producing dramas and movies began, and not to be outdone, Hyuk hyung also joined in, and a heated discussion began.

Though he was indeed an entertainment reporter, Kim Daesik also presented quite plausible opinions, talking splendidly.

‘Well, this is something…’

Until we entered the shelter, I had worried the atmosphere would be a mess, but it was to the point of being meaningless.

Everyone was busy engaging in lively conversation.

The dining hall, which had become noisy in an instant, had a warm and lively atmosphere.

Just as I was about to pour myself more alcohol.

Tap-

Shia, who had silently taken the liquor bottle, filled my glass.

“…Th-thanks?”

“Give me some too.”

“Huh? Oh.”

…Somehow naturally, we refilled each other’s glasses and clinked them together.

“Ugh~”

“If you can’t drink well, drink in moderation.”

Shia, who shivered after a single glass of soju, smacked her lips.

Then, putting some side dish in her mouth, she subtly asked me.

“…Oppa, wasn’t it hard for you?”

“Huh? What?”

“About the hardship you went through because of that article before.”

“Ah, that.”

I chuckled softly and emptied my clinking glass.

Though I hadn’t asked or ordered her to, Shia refilled my empty glass from beside me.

…This situation of a beautiful woman filling my glass was slightly burdensome yet not bad at all…

Slightly avoiding Shia’s gaze, which was somewhat moist and burdensome, I looked down at my glass.

“…Back then, I felt like I was going to die. But there was nothing I could do, so what was I supposed to do? I was dying from hardship, but I couldn’t actually die… I had to find a way to survive.”

“So what did you do?”

“What do you mean, what did I do? I just worked ‘dung-and-live’ like an ox [a Korean idiom meaning working extremely hard, to the point of exhaustion or near death].”

I brought up the story of how I couldn’t find a job and went to a temp agency.

The story of how I worked right up until the zombie apocalypse broke out.

Honestly, there’s nothing else to say besides that.

Because I truly just lived to work.

“After that, nothing much happened. I met Dong-woo, went to pick up the grandparents, then met you and Hyuk hyung. That’s all there is.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just thought it must have been really hard.”

“…I can’t deny that.”

“……”

“I’m fine now. What about you? Are you going through anything difficult?”

At my words, Shia chuckled softly and said.

She said there was nothing particularly difficult, and that she was living well, warm and full, and even worried about gaining weight.

‘Indeed…’

Hearing Shia’s words, I couldn’t just laugh it off.

Although it’s partly because the outside is overflowing with danger, it’s undeniable that everyone living only inside here has significantly reduced their activity levels.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that? Did I gain weight?”

Shia, slightly leaning back and covering her body with both arms, was genuinely flustered.

Not just Shia, but all the women closed their mouths and stared at me.

Silence fell as if by magic.

I learned what a sharp glare was right there and then.