Chapter 51
- Nice to see you again 2021.10.23.
Friday evening.
“Mommy! Have a good trip. Buy lots of presents!”
Yena waved to her mom, who was leaving on a business trip. Jeong-o had been crying the whole time she was packing, but she cheered up at her grandmother's promise to buy her bubble wrap toys, so she was able to say goodbye.
“Don’t worry about the kid and work hard. Be careful about the food!”
Guk-soon, who was seeing her daughter off, didn't forget to give her words of caution.
“Okay. Take care, Mom. Our princess, listen to your grandma!”
Jeong-o also said goodbye cheerfully and left the house. For the few days that Mi-ran was hospitalized, Jeong-o was so busy that she didn't have a moment to spare. As Mi-ran's substitute, she went back and forth to the hospital, consulted with Mi-ran, took care of the filming schedule with Chief Park Young-gwang, and coordinated things so that there would be no disruption to her current work while she was away on a business trip. She couldn't let her guard down for a moment. She had to do her best to ensure that the client didn't think that the quality of the production had deteriorated due to Mi-ran's absence. Jeong-o continued to pore over a vast amount of data even on the plane. After a long 15-hour journey, including the transfer time, Jeong-o arrived in Melbourne, Australia. During the flight, a day had passed, and it was 2 p.m. on Saturday. Jeong-o headed to downtown Melbourne, guided by the location manager, without even unpacking her luggage at the hotel. All filming locations would be checked in advance on Saturday, and filming would take place for three days from Sunday to early Tuesday morning. It was the first time in seven years that she had set foot on this land. Jeong-o sighed as she looked up at the buildings in the city from the car. Almost nothing had changed in the past seven years. It was as if she had gone back to seven years ago. The fact that the buildings and stores were still in the same place, with the same scenery, gave Jeong-o a touching sense of comfort. The location manager asked.
“Assistant Manager Lee, you said you used to live in Melbourne, right?”
“Yes. It was only for a few months, seven years ago.”
“Still, the buildings haven't changed much, so I'm sure you have a lot of memories.”
“That's right, really. I've changed, but it's still the same here.”
Jeong-o captured the scenery of Melbourne in her eyes and heart. The overwhelming day of Saturday quickly passed, and Sunday arrived. On Sunday, preparations began at dawn, and filming began at 9 a.m. The filming took place in a building on the beach, and it was quite difficult to control the surroundings. While filming was in full swing, Chief Park Young-gwang asked with a troubled expression.
“What should we have for lunch? Director Jeong Ji-heon will be here soon.”
When Jeong-o heard Ji-heon's name, she felt her shoulders stiffen. Jeong-o had heard the news that Ji-heon would be joining the filming crew around Wednesday. It was an inefficient business trip where he would have to pay for his own flights and accommodation. It was said that this was purely a choice to please the client, and as expected, the executives at Soritelcom were very happy. They may be happy, but the Max Planning staff were a little uncomfortable. I'm probably the most uncomfortable of all. Although she was full of complaints inside, Jeong-o didn't show it and started searching the internet.
“The client mentioned that they wanted to eat local food. I wonder if there are any restaurants open? Do you have any recommendations?”
“Just a moment.”
Jeong-o checked the map and smiled brightly. Her favorite restaurant was still there.
“Oh. This restaurant is still here.”
“Where?”
Jeong-o showed Chief Park Young-gwang and the planning team leader a picture of the restaurant and explained.
“It's called 'The Crown,' and it's a restaurant I really liked. It has a lot of menus, it's delicious, it's close by, and it's open on Sundays. Their meat pie is amazing...”
Oh my god! Jeong-o's words suddenly stopped. The restaurant was a place where one wall was filled with photos of customers. I took Jeong Ji-heon to that restaurant. And the owner took a picture of us there... There might be a picture of Jeong Ji-heon and me on the wall somewhere...
“If it's that good, we have to go. This place looks really good, Assistant Manager Lee.”
However, Young-gwang, who had already fallen in love with the photo, gave his approval with happy eyes. Jeong-o got up from her seat.
“Chief, can I go somewhere for a moment? It'll take an hour, no, about 40 minutes.”
“Huh? Is something wrong?”
“Yes. I'll make a reservation for the restaurant on the way.”
“Oh. Okay, okay. That'll work.”
Jeong-o came out of the building and quickly ran. She still knew the way to the restaurant like the back of her hand. She even bought a hat on the way and pulled it down low. The Crown. The restaurant, from the sign to the interior, was exactly the same as it was seven years ago. Her heart ached to see the scenery again, but she didn't have time to appreciate it. Jeong-o took a seat in the corner of the wall where the photos were attached and ordered a drink. It wasn't lunchtime yet, so the restaurant was quiet. Jeong-o quickly scanned the wall, watching the staff inside. Oh my god! There's a picture! It was easy to find because the picture was slightly below Jeong-o's eye level. Jeong-o took the picture off when people weren't looking. Soon, her drink came out. Jeong-o gulped down the drink and left the restaurant, successfully making a table reservation. Haaa. Her heart was racing like crazy with urgency and guilt. Jeong-o took out the picture she had put in her pocket and sighed deeply. How could this relic have survived until now? Twenty-six-year-old Jeong Ji-heon with his chestnut hair and twenty-three-year-old Lee Jung-oh with her long, straight hair. The comfortable smiles on their faces, with their lips stretched out, made them look like siblings for some reason. What were we so happy about back then that we smiled so beautifully? * After finishing his schedule in Korea, Ji-heon boarded a plane on Saturday night and arrived in Melbourne on Sunday morning. According to his passport, he had traveled to Australia after being discharged from the military seven years ago. Melbourne seemed to be the last destination of his trip, but there was no trace of him for about three weeks after staying in a hotel in Melbourne for three days. He spent money and time traveling, but he had no memories, so there was nothing to reminisce about. Nevertheless, he felt a strange sense of familiarity with various parts of Melbourne, and his eyes stung a little. Ji-heon checked into his hotel and contacted the planning team leader.
[Yes, Director.]
“Team Leader, I'm out on the beach, but I can't see the building.”
[Assistant Manager Lee Jung-oh has just left.]
As soon as the team leader finished answering, a woman came running towards him like a butterfly from the front. It was the time when Jeong-o was getting closer. In the middle of the day. In the middle of the sun. Lee Jung-oh was in the scenery that felt somehow cold.
She had been running lightly, but when she found Ji-heon, she moved her steps slowly and carefully. As if she was conscious of him. She approached very slowly and greeted him with a businesslike expression, without a hint of joy.
“Director, you're here.”
Has what happened between us become nothing now? Is one kiss not enough? Is that how much I mean to you? There was no one watching, but she was so polite and drew a line so clearly that Ji-heon had no choice but to give a corresponding answer.
“Yes.”
“The clients are over there. Let's go.”
Jeong-o turned around and took the lead. She tensed up, wondering if he would grab her wrist at any moment, or if he would suddenly kiss her like he had done recently. He had an indescribable aura. A charisma that seemed to align everything around him according to his will, like the pattern shown by iron filings near a magnet. In vulgar terms, he was a 'strong guy'. That's why she couldn't stand too close to him. She kept her distance and asked him as they walked down the street.
“Have you had lunch?”
Say you have. Say you have. Say you have. Jeong-o muttered in her heart.
“Not yet.”
“We're going to a local food restaurant together. Is that okay with you?”
Say no. Say no. Say no.
“Yes. Anything.”
Haaa. Is he going to go to that restaurant after all? Jeong-o deeply regretted recommending the restaurant to Chief Park an hour ago. Ji-heon greeted the client and checked the site. It was exactly lunchtime, so he left the site to the production director, and Jeong-o moved to the restaurant with the client, the planning team leader, Chief Park Young-gwang, and Ji-heon. Her heart continued to pound as she walked to the restaurant. As she approached the restaurant, her mind went blank.
“Aaaah...”
Jeong-o grabbed her stomach and groaned.
“I suddenly have a stomach ache and need to go to the bathroom. Don't worry about me, go in and have your meal.”
Ji-heon frowned at her clumsy acting, but Jeong-o nonchalantly said to the planning team leader and slowly backed away.
“I made a reservation under the team leader's name. Then, please take care of it...”
After Jeong-o ran away, Young-gwang sighed as if worried.
“She recommended a good restaurant, but how can she bear not being able to eat it herself...”
“Assistant Manager Lee recommended the restaurant?”
Ji-heon asked.
“Yes, Director. Lee Jung-oh said it's a restaurant she used to go to when she was on a working holiday.”
Ji-heon nodded quietly and moved on. He was unhappy that she kept avoiding him. The restaurant was already crowded with people. When the planning team leader told the owner his name, the owner led them to an empty table. Ji-heon was the last to enter the restaurant.
“Oh?”
But suddenly, the restaurant owner recognized Ji-heon's face and his eyes widened. Ji-heon pursed his lips and looked at the owner. The owner's face soon brightened and he grabbed Ji-heon's hand with a bright smile.
“Nice to see you again!”
“Do you know me?”
Ji-heon asked in English.
“You came to our restaurant a few years ago, don't you remember?”
“Ah, I'm sorry. I don't remember.”
The owner remembered that he had visited the restaurant a few years ago, so Ji-heon smiled bitterly with a look of disbelief.
“Oh dear. I even know your name. Mr. Jeong. My memory is the best in this neighborhood.”
The owner felt sorry for Ji-heon, who said he didn't remember, and added more. Ji-heon looked at the owner again at the title 'Mr. Jeong'. The owner pointed to the wall covered with photos.
“I took a picture of you and put it up here, and the customers went crazy. How is your girlfriend?”
“...Girlfriend?”
“The person you took a picture with, is she not your girlfriend? Did you break up?”
“You say there was someone I took a picture with?”
“Just a moment. Let me find it.”
The boss scanned the wall, eyes gleaming. But soon, the boss tilted his head, perplexed. Pointing to the exact spot where Jeong-o had taken the photo, the boss said to an employee.
“Huh? I’m sure there was a photo attached here until recently. Where did it go? Did it disappear while cleaning?”
Of course. Ji-heon nodded with an indifferent expression.
“Oh dear. I’m sorry.”
But even after apologizing to Ji-heon, the boss didn't seem to give up, examining each photo on the wall one by one. And.
“Oh! Here it is!”
He finally shouted again.
