A Journey to You
After the Great Cataclysm, society changed significantly. One of the cultural shifts was in vacation habits. In the past, everyone would head to the beach or a mountain valley during summer vacation, but now only those who could afford to hire a “Capable One” or had a “Capable One” among their acquaintances went to the beach or the mountains. The majority of people who couldn’t afford such trips didn’t even try to leave the area where they lived. As a result, Lee Soo-hyuk frequently received calls from unknown numbers during the summer vacation season. Since many people called not only his personal number but also his work number, it brought company operations to a standstill. Just this morning alone, there were over ten calls per hour looking for Lee Su-hyuk personally. Sighing as he hung up on yet another call for Lee Su-hyuk, Kim Rok-su glared at him and said,
“Team Leader, if this is how it’s going to be, why don’t you just quit the company? There are plenty of places looking for someone like you—it would be to your advantage, too.”
After hearing Kim Rok-su’s words, Lee Su-hyuk patted Kim Rok-su on the back and replied.
“Roksu, no matter how much money they offer me, I’ll never abandon you and leave.”
After hearing Lee Soo-hyuk’s words, Kim Rok-su wore an expression as if he had heard something he shouldn’t have, but inwardly he felt relieved as he replied.
“Team Leader, you can’t just say something like that and then leave me behind.”
Upon hearing Kim Rok-su’s words, Lee Su-hyuk replied with a smile.
“Would I ever do something like that? By the way, Roksu, are you free next week?”
After hearing Lee Soo-hyuk’s words, Kim Rok-soo glanced at the calendar and replied to Lee Soo-hyuk.
“I seem to recall the team leader telling everyone that he’s going on summer vacation by himself next week, so please don’t suggest that we go together. I’ll be enjoying the time the team leader is away from the office.”
After hearing Kim Rok-su’s words, Choi Jeong-su’s eyes sparkled as she spoke to Lee Su-hyuk.
“Team Leader, even though Rok-su says that, I bet he’s actually looking forward to spending time with you the most, don’t you think?”“
After hearing what Choi Jeong-su said, Kim Rok-su gave him a look that said, “What kind of nonsense are you spouting?” and struck him, but Kim Rok-su’s feeble grip didn’t do Choi Jeong-su any harm at all—it didn’t even hurt. Watching the two of them, Lee Su-hyuk said,
“Rok-su, Jeong-su, you know you’re coming with me on this summer vacation, so keep your schedules open.”
After saying that, Lee Soo-hyuk left the office, and when he was no longer visible, Choi Jeong-soo spoke to Kim Rok-su.
“Roksu, you do remember that it’s the team leader’s birthday next week, right? Do you really think the team leader would be trying to spend time with us for no reason? You know that as well as I do.”
Even without that fool Choi Jeong-su having to say anything, Kim Rok-su knew why Lee Su-hyuk had specifically chosen him and Choi Jeong-su to take the vacation. That was precisely why Kim Rok-su couldn’t bring himself to say “thank you” honestly. So, he turned to Choi Jeong-su with a pointlessly sullen expression and said,
“Why not just celebrate the team leader’s birthday at the office? Instead of going out of our way to take time off just to spend time with him, we could all just hang out together at the office. It’s not like we’re the only ones who want to celebrate his birthday, after all.”
After hearing Kim Rok-su’s words, Choi Jeong-su replied as if she were used to it.
“Since it’ll be more accurate if I say what my classmate is too embarrassed to say, I’ll just shut up here.”
In response to Choi Jeong-su’s words, Kim Rok-su picked up a file folder from his desk and hit Choi Jeong-su with it, and Choi Jeong-su laughed heartily as he took the blow.
*
On his day off, car horns began blaring in front of Kim Rok-su’s house early in the morning. Having been up late the night before organizing documents, Kim Rok-su looked outside with a visibly irritated expression. Outside stood Lee Su-hyuk, wearing sunglasses, with Choi Jeong-su beside him, looking as if he were about to jump into the water at any moment. Upon seeing Kim Rok-su, who had just woken up, Choi Jeong-su spoke to him.
“Roksu, hurry up and come out~ At this rate, the sun will set before we get there!”
After hearing Choi Jeong-su’s words, Kim Rok-su sighed and replied.
“How far do you plan to go that you’re saying the sun will set if we leave now?”
After saying that, Kim Rok-su went inside to get ready to leave, while Lee Su-hyuk and Choi Jeong-su waited for him.
*
As Kim Rok-su stepped out of the house, Choi Jeong-su was startled by the sight of his bag and replied.
“Roksu, are you some kind of peddler? Why do you have so much stuff?”
Kim Rok-su replied to Choi Jeong-su’s words.
“You never know what might happen, so I’d better pack everything.”
Upon hearing Kim Rok-su’s words, Lee Su-hyuk laughed heartily and said,
“Yeah, Roksu’s right. Even though it’s a vacation, you never know what might happen, so it’s okay to pack a lot.”
After saying that, Lee Su-hyuk got into the driver’s seat, and Kim Rok-su, as if it were second nature, took the passenger seat, while Choi Jeong-su got into the back seat. Choi Jeong-su asked Kim Rok-su, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
“Roksu, do you know where you’re going?”
Kim Rok-su answered Choi Jeong-su’s question.
“The team leader kept saying he wanted to go on a mudflat tour, didn’t he? So I guess we’re heading that way.”
After hearing what Kim Rok-su said, Lee Su-hyuk replied to him.
“That’s one thing, but the place I’m going with you guys is Busan.”
After hearing Lee Soo-hyuk speak, Kim Rok-su recalled that this was the site of the Seomyeon Shelter. Worried that Lee Soo-hyuk’s silence about that period might trigger another trauma, Kim Rok-su was about to speak up, but Choi Jeong-soo spoke first.
“Team Leader, is it okay for me to go there?”
Lee Su-hyuk, who understood the meaning behind Choi Jeong-su’s question, said to Choi Jeong-su,
“I’m okay. As long as you guys are here, I’m okay.”
After saying that, Lee Su-hyuk put on a 70s and 80s medley and started driving.
*
Without even stopping at a rest area, the three of them arrived in Busan in just five hours. Lee Su-hyuk checked into a hotel in Haeundae and then asked,
“You two are both sharing this room with me. Someone’s going to have to sleep on the floor—who wants to?”
As if he’d been waiting for this moment, Choi Jeong-su said.
“I’ll sleep on the floor. Rok-su is so weak that he’ll probably end up sleeping on the floor anyway, and since the team leader is the one footing the bill for the hotel, he should sleep in the bed.”
After hearing what Choi Jeong-su said, Kim Rok-su gently stepped on Choi Jeong-su’s foot, and Choi Jeong-su frowned slightly as he spoke to Kim Rok-su.
“I was just telling the truth—why did you step on my foot?!”
Upon hearing Choi Jeong-su’s words, Kim Rok-su smiled brightly, and upon seeing this, Choi Jeong-su decided to hold his tongue.
*
While Choi Jeong-su and Lee Su-hyuk were running around Haeundae Beach with boundless energy, Kim Rok-su was lying on Sun Beach, leisurely reading a book. Then, after Lee Su-hyuk accidentally pushed him into the ocean, Kim Rok-su splashed water at Lee Su-hyuk, and the three of them had a wonderful time, as if they had returned to their childhood. After returning to the hotel, the three of them fell asleep as if they’d fainted, and when they woke up, there was only one hour left until July 29. Since it was too late to buy a whole cake, Kim Rok-su and Choi Jeong-su went to a nearby convenience store, bought some cake slices, and returned. The moment July 29 arrived, Choi Jeong-su and Kim Rok-su said,
“Team Leader, happy birthday.”
After listening to what the two had to say, Lee Su-hyuk spoke to them.
“Okay, thanks for the congratulations. I’m happy to be able to celebrate my birthday with you all again this year.”
Upon hearing those words, Kim Rok-su realized this was a dream. The Lee Su-hyuk in the records hadn’t spoken like that. The first sentence was the same, but the next one was, “I want to retire with you all and farm.” At that moment, the clear background blurred as if covered in static, and the figures of the two men gradually receded into the distance.
“Hello, Team Leader, hello, Choi Jeong-su.”
Kim Rok-su, who had spoken words of farewell as he watched the two of them walk away, woke up from his dream.
*
Kim Rok-su woke up from his dream and checked the calendar—it was Lee Su-hyuk’s birthday today. For Kim Rok-su, this was the first time he had celebrated Lee Su-hyuk’s birthday since becoming Team Leader Kim Rok-su, and it was a day when he longed to feel the warmth of another person.