Chapter 356 (1/2)

He was wearing a short-sleeve t-shirt, shorts with a droplet pattern, and cheap slippers which made him look like he was some neighborhood unemployed person.

“Why do you go around looking like that? Where has the dignity of movie directors gone?”

“It’s tiring to consider every little thing like that. I’ve been wearing a suit all the time recently, so it’s been really hard on me,” Joongjin spoke as he rubbed his stubble.

He was really unpredictable. If he wore a suit, he would look like a corporate executive, and if he wore clothes that were in style, then he would look like a stylish young movie director, but he always wore casual clothes other than when it was really important.

“It must hurt to fall on their back like that.”

Joongjin frowned as he looked at the students that fell backwards.

“I thought you wanted a dynamic action scene. If you want dynamic, then they need to know how to protect their bodies at least.”

Choongho instructed the students to fall on their sides after that. Bangjoo, who learned Judo, did a demonstration for the students. It was really easy for Choongho since someone knew how to do it.

“Should I give you some tea?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“You guys can take a break after that.”

They went to the office and Choongho turned on the electric kettle.

“Do you still drink thick coffee these days?”

“Three at minimum.”

“Watch your blood sugar. You aren’t young anymore.”

“Forty-four is still young. Also, right back at you. You’ll become fifty soon so aren’t you at the age where you have to wrestle with pens and papers? If you break an arm or a leg doing what you did when you were young, it won’t heal as fast you know?”

“Should I experiment how long it takes to heal after I break it?”

When Choongho looked like he was about to give him a kick, Joongjin quickly shook his hands in the air and said that he was joking. Choongho then gave Joongjin, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, the coffee cup. It was some thick coffee with three sticks worth of coffee sticks.

While drinking, Choongho observed Joongjin. This peculiar fella was a rare creature that provokes one’s curiosity just by looking at him. Joongjin raised his pinky before dipping it in the coffee. He quickly stirred the coffee before pulling his finger out and putting it in his mouth.

“Isn’t it hot?”

“It is.”

“You really didn’t throw away any of your old habits. You just have to touch every food with your fingers, don’t you?”

Only after sucking on his pinky did he start drinking his coffee. He hadn’t changed from five years ago. The peculiar actions of this man flashed through Choongho’s head, but he did not put them to words. There were many events that would make him tired just by remembering them. Even three days and nights wouldn’t be enough to change those events into words.

“I was too busy last time to hear anything from you. What have you been doing for the last five years? I don’t think you were even in the country.”

Joongjin drank the coffee in one gulp before slamming down the empty paper cup on the table.

“How sweet. Oh, you asked what I was doing? I got bored of shooting movies, so I went travelling.”

“Travelling?”

“Yes. I’ve been to Europe, China, and even the pilgrimage. Man, the weather was insane over there. An old lady started off in the morning like it was a morning walk, so I followed her, but I almost fainted because of the heat. Some foreigner explained something in French the night before at the pilgrim’s house, and it turned out he was telling us to take extra underwear. My boxers were wet because of all the sweat. I swear I could get a bucket of water if I squeezed it.”

“You didn’t even look into it before going?”

“That’s not travelling. Travelling is about going and learning. If I research a lot of things before I go, I will be bound by that knowledge. Like that, there’s no point in travelling. I’d rather look at photos on the internet at home.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t been to the hospital for anything serious at your age.”

“Well, my body is sturdy. Oh, I took a photo in front of the Santiago De Compostela, do you wanna have a look? It’s the cathedral at the end of the pilgrimage, and I ended up hugging the American that went with me and cried together.”

“I’m okay.”

Choongho crushed the empty paper cup he drank coffee from and threw it in the trash. It bounced off the wall and went straight into the trash can. Seeing that, Joongjin tried to do the same thing, but it didn’t go in. Joongjin repeated his actions several times until the paper cup went in. When it eventually went in, he said ‘now we’re even’.

Looking at Joongjin reminded Choongho of Peter Pan. He was aging on the outside, but he was still a challenging youth that did not lose his adventurous spirit on the inside. Of course, that didn’t mean that he was naïve.

“Do you smoke?”

“I quit.”

“What happened?”

“It was boring.”

“Why are you looking for fun in smoking? People don’t smoke for a reason.”

The flintstones on the lighter made some sounds as it rotated.

“So you’ve been wandering all over the world before coming back to Korea?”

“I guess that sums it up. I’ve been away for too long, and I started becoming homesick.”

“What homesick. You’re probably bored of travelling.”

Hearing those words, Joongjin just grinned.

“But I’m surprised you managed to get investors.”

“I did some legwork and asked some people with money.”

“Who does the distribution?”

“Lucky.”

“That’s a small company though. They shouldn’t be able to distribute it to many cinemas.”

“It’ll be fine once rumors about the movie spread. The thirsty ones will probably dig the well for me.”

“You sound confident.”

“If that doesn’t happen, well, I guess that’s that.”

“I’m sure your investors will love to hear that.”

Choongho put out his half-burnt cigarette on the ashtray. Although he said those words, Choongho thought that this movie would definitely succeed. His reasoning? Because the director was Joongjin. This guy was different from the ordinary folk. He would probably cause a sensation like he did ten years ago.

“It’s about time.”

Joongjin looked at the clock as he spoke.

“Is someone coming?”

“Yes. Oh, you should know her as well.”

Choongho told the questioning Joongjin to wait. Now that he became curious, Joongjin walked around nervously in the office. He really couldn’t endure not knowing something.

After around five minutes, some noise could be heard outside. Choongho opened the door to the office.

“Oho.”

Joongjin smiled and looked at Joohyun standing outside. Joohyun, who was handing out some snacks to the students that were resting, also discovered Joongjin and made a surprised face.

“Director.”

“Wow, it’s been a long time, Miss Joohyun.”

“What brings you here?”

“I have my circumstances.”

Choongho first told Joohyun to come inside. After entering the office, Joohyun took off the cap she was wearing.

“Want some coffee?” Choongho asked.

“No, I’m fine, thanks. Rather than that, director, when did you come back to Korea?”

“I think it’s been three months.”

“And you never contacted me?”

“Sorry about that. I was very busy.”

“That’s just an excuse. You actually didn’t even think about contacting me, did you?”

“Not at all. How could I forget the almighty Ahn Joohyun? You’re the supporting role that made my movie shine.”