Cheat day

Side by Side (1)

On the eighth day of departure, I welcomed the morning of the third day since leaving Jincheon in Chungju.

Despite taking a day off, everyone in our group was completely exhausted when we arrived in Chungju yesterday.

Not only me, but even the usually healthy Ju-ji-seung and Cha-ji-chan had noticeably reduced their chatter.

Baek Woo-jin, who rode a bike, wasn’t in great shape either, but for the first time in a while, the sky was clear.

“It’s clear!”

Baek Woo-jin exclaimed with the brightest voice he had in the past week as he checked outside.

“Oh, maybe today will be a bit easier.”

“I just hope it’s not humid.”

“How’s your blister, hyung?” Ju-ji-seung asked.

“It’s just okay. How about you, Ji-chan?”

“It’s fine.”

“Stop pretending to be tough. You were almost dying yesterday.”

“I’m not pretending; I really am tough.”

Cha-ji-chan said as he ate a sausage from breakfast.

Though he used to say it’s better to eat a balanced diet, he generally avoided processed meats and refined foods, but it seems like his taste has changed recently.

“You didn’t even work out this morning.”

Cha-ji-chan, who usually worked out at dawn, couldn’t get up today. He pretended to be okay, but it was clear that he was fatigued.

“Resting is also a part of exercise. You have to give your muscles time to recover.”

“How about Woo-jin?” Ju-ji-seung asked.

“I’m fine.”

This guy, who often exaggerates his discomfort, keeps saying he’s fine on this trip.

“Alright. Let’s just hang in there a little longer; we’ll rest for a day in Mungyeong the day after tomorrow.”

Ju-ji-seung encouraged us.

“Wasn’t Mungyeong halfway?” I asked.

According to our plan, we should have arrived in Mungyeong either yesterday or today, but it seems that walking in the rain has delayed our schedule bit by bit.

At this rate, it seems difficult to reach Busan in the next two weeks.

“It can’t be helped. Once we reach Mungyeong, let’s speed up as much as possible to avoid the mountain roads.”

“That’s the problem. Most of the path we’re taking today is uphill.”

Baek Woo-jin chimed in.

“Hmm.”

Today is the toughest course of this journey, crossing from Chungju to Mungyeong.

Chungju is vast, and the road to Mungyeong is mountainous, so we’ll likely have to take a day’s rest at Suanbo along the way.

“Well, let’s just go and see. Make sure to eat a hearty breakfast.”

***

3 PM.

We walked endlessly along the Danwolg River.

Under the clear sky, the sun beat down mercilessly, and the smell of grass combined with the humid air made me want to give up entirely.

I often saw people fishing by the river, and if I could just sit there like that, I’d have no other wishes.

“Wow. It’s hot.”

While I was trudging along, looking at the ground, Ju-ji-seung, who was ahead, finally said he was struggling for the first time on this trip.

“Should we rest a bit at that pavilion over there?”

“Let’s do that.”

I had noticed many pavilions along the road, but I had never seen anyone sitting and resting in one.

Perhaps it was simply too hot for that.

As soon as we got to the pavilion, I tossed my backpack aside and lay down.

“…Hyung, do you have any water?” Baek Woo-jin asked in a weak voice.

“I’ve drunk it all.”

As I said I didn’t have any water, Cha-ji-chan silently handed me his water bottle.

Baek Woo-jin took a sip, and I followed suit. Ju-ji-seung seemed thirsty too, so I passed him the bottle.

“As long as it doesn’t rain, this heat and humidity are driving me crazy.”

Cha-ji-chan seemed to be struggling just as much. He took off his outerwear, exposing his bare skin.

“I want ice cream.”

“I want an iced Americano.”

“Air conditioning.”

Cha-ji-chan, having taken the water bottle from Ju-ji-seung, sat up.

“What happened to all the water?”

The three of us, including me, stared at Cha-ji-chan blankly before averting our eyes.

“Wow. No loyalty, really.”

“Isn’t there a convenience store nearby?”

Baek Woo-jin looked around.

All that could be seen between the mountains and fields were a few old houses; there wasn’t a convenience store in sight, let alone any people.

“There’s just one on the map?”

I opened Kakao Map and searched for nearby cafes and convenience stores, and only Y Cafe came up.

“How long will it take?”

“30 minutes.”

“That’s insane.”

“I feel like we have to go to Suanbo to find anything.”

After lying silently in the pavilion for a while, I started to hear cicadas chirping in the distance.

“Should we just sleep here today?”

“No.”

“…Hehe.”

“What’s funny?”

“It’s just absurd. We have to walk for 7 more hours.”

“Hahaha.”

“Hahaha.”

We were all going a bit crazy.

After a long, dreadful rainy season, the thought of moving our feet under the scorching sun felt overwhelming.

“By the way, the number of subscribers for the side dish channel has increased a lot.”

“Really?”

It seems the special episode on white rice dishes from three days ago was surprisingly well received.

There were some negative reactions due to the somewhat excessive approach, but thanks to Baek Woo-jin defending me that night, the negative opinions had mostly subsided.

“You don’t seem that happy about it.”

“I’m more desperate for an iced Americano packed with ice right now.”

Baek Woo-jin rolled over and lay down.

“Hyung, the engagement is no joke.”

Engagement refers to how invested or affectionate customers are toward a company’s products or brand from a corporate perspective.

In this industry, it’s assessed through the number of comments or likes, and the higher the engagement rate, the thicker the core fanbase and the greater the potential for channel growth.

“Seriously, I might hit a million subscribers.”

Ju-ji-seung checked my channel on Baek Woo-jin’s smartphone and made a dream-like statement.

“I’m also feeling a bit conflicted.”

“About what?”

“To be honest, I think I’ll hit it by the end of this trip.”

Ju-ji-seung, Cha-ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin took turns tapping my forehead.

When Ju-ji-seung reached a million subscribers just before our departure, I was the only one among us who didn’t get the gold button, so it felt like I was being congratulated in advance.

“Good for you. You’ve worked hard.”

Baek Woo-jin smiled.

“Would you say that now? No matter how tough it was, it was still better than walking in this blazing sun.”

“True.”

“But isn’t it better than if it were raining?”

“Hmm. That’s ambiguous.”

It seemed like everyone had no intention of getting up. I certainly didn’t feel like going outside the pavilion with the sun blazing so hot.

I wondered what was happening in the chat room and pulled out my smartphone.

└ Why has it grown so much?

└ For real, it used to be fun to negotiate deals, but now it seems like you can’t even read the chat without paying for a super chat.

└ From now on, it’s paid.

└ Just half a year ago, I was sticking a real straw for side dishes, and now I’m looking at a million subscribers.

└ It’s quite monumental.

└ Seriously, why would I want to watch old men drinking?

└ Surprisingly healing, haha. The rural atmosphere is nice.

└ Yeah, the background is good. The sound of cicadas is nice too.

└ Summer is a hellish time. If you hear it in real life, it’ll tear your ears apart.

└ Where did that person go who couldn’t tell the difference between Pepsi and Coca-Cola?

└ Didn’t that blind test conclude that you can’t tell them apart?

└ I can tell, okay?

They were still having fun amongst themselves.

It seemed like the topic today was Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi. I wanted to drink a cola filled with ice.

“Baek Woo-jin, go buy us something to drink.”

Cha-ji-chan said.

“Why me?”

“You have a bicycle.”

“Hyung can ride it.”

“I can’t ride a bike.”

“Didn’t Chan-yong hyung already get you on that?”

“You drank my water.”

Baek Woo-jin stayed silent for a moment before thinking of an excuse.

“Chan-yong hyung drank it.”

Everyone looked at me, so I subtly turned my head to Ju-ji-seung, and Cha-ji-chan and Baek Woo-jin gazed at him as well.

“Alright. I’ll go.”

“Yay!”

“Hey! Why are you doing this?”

As Ju-ji-seung tried to get up, I forcibly sat him back down, and I burst out laughing.

Ju-ji-seung had thinning hair on the back of his head after taking off his hat.

I barely covered my mouth, and Baek Woo-jin also turned his head to stifle his laughter.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing.”

“It’s kind of bland.”

Ju-ji-seung lay back down.

This was dangerous.

Just looking at him made me want to laugh, so I shifted my gaze. Cha-ji-chan took out his smartphone and called someone. After a while, he hung up, apparently not getting an answer.

“Who did you call?”

“Sang-kyu. Where is he sleeping right now?”

Come to think of it, Producer Ahn Sang-kyu was on standby near Idongji.

Whether he was actually sleeping or if something was going on, he wasn’t reachable when we really needed him.

“Ugh. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Staying here would only make us thirstier.

I groaned as I got up and started walking, feeling short of breath.

“Let’s sing while we walk.”

“…….”

“The snowy night is always hard to bear with the memories of the past.”

It really is hard to bear. At this rate, I thought I might just ascend to heaven.

Cha-ji-chan’s voice, which started singing to lighten the mood, faded away, and after about two hours of climbing the terrible uphill, I truly felt like I was dying.

Vroom—

I had seen a few people riding bicycles on their journey, and when I turned my head at the sound of an engine, I saw a man I hadn’t seen before riding a scooter.

“Hello.”

“……Hello.”

“I’m from the side dish store, Shichangjan. I came to bring you water.”

“Excuse me?”

Both I and my companions stopped walking in surprise.

The man pulled out four bottles of water from a black plastic bag and handed them out.

They felt slightly chilled, and I was in a really good mood.

“Thank you! But how did you come here?”

“I heard you say you were thirsty while watching the broadcast, so I came.”

“Wow. Do you live here?”

“Yes.”

“What’s your nickname?”

“It’s Sky Pig.”

“Ah!”

If it’s Sky Pig, I know him well.

He’s the one who used to sponsor me whenever I complained about not wanting to exercise—30,000 won for a walk and 30,000 won for every 10 sets.

“Really? Is it really you, Sky Pig?”

“Yes. I came to donate in person.”

“Haha, wow, thank you so much! I’m so thirsty. Can I drink this?”

Sky Pig nodded.

Meanwhile, Ju-ji-seung, Cha-ji-chan, and Baek Woo-jin were already gulping down the cold water.

“If you succeed, I’ll send you 30,000 won.”

“Up to Suanbo?”

“Up to Busan.”

“……Thank you.”

“Well then, good luck.”

“Are you leaving already?”

“I can’t interrupt the broadcast. Fighting!”

“Thank you!”

As I bowed, the three, who were absorbed in the cold water, finally returned the greeting.

After Sky Pig left, I also took a sip of water, and it was sweeter than any drink I had ever tasted.

Not even the Java Chip Frappuccino, which used to be my go-to drink, could provide this much satisfaction.

Ba-ba-bam ba-ba-bam—

I heard music.

Cha-ji-chan picked up the phone and started shouting.

“What are you doing calling now?”

It seemed like Producer Ahn Sang-kyu was reaching out.

“Hot springs? You went to the hot springs?”

As soon as I heard the word “hot springs,” both Baek Woo-jin and Ju-ji-seung’s eyes lit up.

While we were walking under this scorching sun, feeling a burning thirst, it was infuriating to think that the people who accompanied us were resting comfortably at the hot springs.

“I want to go too!”

“I want to go too!”