Return of the Genius PD

Ji-won’s voice echoed in the quiet room.

“Yeah, I’m about to start.”

[It’s not urgent, so don’t push yourself too hard.]

Ji-won turned on the computer while holding the phone with his shoulder.

“I have to work hard to pay our CEO Choi’s salary.”

[That’s true. I need you to write diligently to upgrade my nameplate.]

“Hehe, look at you changing your tune already. Anyway, I’ll call you when I’m done.”

[Writer, the manuscript takes priority over health.]

After ending the call, Ji-won immediately turned off his phone. He had no intention of leaving his seat until he finished the first episode’s script.

Ji-won stared at the monitor.

New Volume (E:)

On the screen were script files he had written like practice pieces throughout his past life.

“…”

In a way, these files symbolized Ji-won’s lingering attachment. It had been 20 years of writing each character, oscillating between desire and regret. Scripts that had never been shown to anyone. Now, for the first time, these scripts were seeing the light of day.

And

The world turned upside down.

No.

Saying the world turned upside down might be an exaggeration, but at least Ji-won’s world had certainly been flipped.

“Phew…”

Ji-won closed his eyes as he took a deep breath.

The past 5 months spent with flashed by. There were difficult times and obstacles, but- To Ji-won, all those moments felt happy.

Looking back, it was like a dream.

Because he wanted to continue those moments in the future.

Now it’s time to dream a different dream.

He opened his eyes and scanned through the files in the drive. Dozens of scripts forming a lineup of various genres. He had to choose Kyukyu writer’s next works to deliver the follow-up hit.

‘According to the original plan…’

There was a work he had earmarked as the next project since the early stages of producing Ham In-ju. However, there was someone who changed that plan…

It was Kim Seung-yeon.

Ji-won could still vividly recall Director Ko Dong-guk’s face that day. The bitter smile that settled on his face after meeting Kim Seung-yeon following the first broadcast. It was a face he had never seen on the usually glib Director Ko Dong-guk.

-”Still, I thought I had a bond with Writer Kim Seung-yeon… Seems I was the only one who thought so.”

At that moment, Kyukyu writer’s next work was decided in Ji-won’s mind. A meaningful smile bloomed on Ji-won’s lips.

‘You crossed the line, Writer Kim Seung-yeon.’

If she were to be surpassed in the genre she prided herself on… What kind of expression would Kim Seung-yeon make? Ji-won moved the mouse without hesitation and opened a file.

.

.

.

Everyone has such a moment at least once. A moment when you fall so deeply in love that you’re willing to give your all.

For Ji-won, that moment came during his college years. It was with a senior one year older whom he met in the theater club.

And.

The inevitable ending also came. The moment that signaled the end of a relationship he thought would last forever.

One day, she suddenly filed for a leave of absence and cut off all contact.

That was the end.

Ji-won, in his early twenties, spent a while in a daze with a hole in his heart. He just passed each day hoping for this time to pass.

There’s a theory called the “Five Stages of Grief” by Kübler-Ross.

Denial -> Anger -> Bargaining -> Depression -> Acceptance

Perhaps it could be applied to breakups too. After all, a breakup is also the ‘death of a relationship’.

At least…

That’s how Ji-won experienced it.

The inspiration for the script came from the final stage, the ‘Acceptance’ stage. It was when time had passed and he had deeply accepted the breakup.

Suddenly, he had a thought.

He felt a premonition that someday, though he didn’t know when, he would run into her by chance at least once. If the thread of fate still connected them, wouldn’t they meet at least once in this small peninsula? Somehow, he felt it would happen.

So he wondered.

If we had met in a different environment and at a different time… Would we still have been drawn to each other then?

If so.

If we are drawn to each other again after everything has changed. What would be the reason? It was a work that started from a highly personal curiosity.

Tap, tap tap tap-.

Ji-won’s hands danced elegantly over the keyboard.

.

.

.

One day. My ex-girlfriend, now a top star, came to my house-

With a suitcase as big as a house.

“Long time no see, Kim Han-gyeol. Let me crash here for a while.”

“Is this the police? There’s a trespasser here…”

“I’ll explain inside, just move aside for now.”

Then she stubbornly settled into my house, which is also my workshop.

It’s incredibly troublesome. Because we weren’t on those terms anymore.

“Is it okay for you to be here like this? Aren’t you busy?”

“I’m busy as hell. That’s why I ran away.”

Then she spends all day immersed in comic books on the sofa.

“…If you’re going to do this here, why not just go to a comic book cafe?”

“No can do, I’m a top star, I can’t go to public places.”

“Don’t you have a home?”

“I don’t have a home, I have a palace.”

I shook my head and focused back on planing wood. My heart scattered messily like the sawdust flying in all directions.

‘I thought we might run into each other someday?’

Of all times, why now? It felt like a trick of fate.

Why did she come here? Why did she seek me out?

I don’t know.

I wanted to ask, but reason warned me. That we had changed too much. That there was an unbridgeable gap between us. That in the end, I would only get hurt again.

We loved each other for just 1 year. It’s been 11 years since we broke up.

During those 11 years we were apart…

She became a ‘top star’.

And I…

Became a ‘vampire’.

.

.

.

20 episodes. Romantic comedy.

The cursor blinked at ‘End of Episode 1’. Ji-won stretched.

After roughly outlining, from writing to proofreading, it took less than a few hours. To summarize his impression after reading, reading, and reading again…

“It’s interesting.”

It’s interesting.

“It’s incredibly interesting.”

It might sound a bit ridiculous to say this about something I wrote myself, but there’s no avoiding it. Ji-won, who had been reading the result, clasped his hands and prayed.

‘God, did I really write this?’

He maintained the essence of the original while only improving the quality.

The story built on the intricate foundation of plot is similar to architecture in some ways. Adding the perspective of a lifelong-honed planner, he filled in the gaps, supplemented the shortcomings, and built it bigger and higher.

It couldn’t have been better.

That was the moment when Kyukyu writer’s next work, Episode 1 manuscript, was born. Looking out the window, even the lights had disappeared. How many hours had he been sitting?

‘…Did it take about six hours?’

It took longer than expected, but he had already finished the story in his head up to the ending scene of episode 20.

‘It was time well spent.’

Ji-won could sense it. Though different in texture, this work would be no less impressive than ‘Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju’. No, it might even aim higher.

“Gasp.”

At that moment, remembering something, Ji-won hurriedly turned on his phone.

It was because today was the day the final episode of ‘Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju’ was airing. He had completely forgotten about it while immersed in writing. As soon as the phone turned on…

Bzzzz-. Bzzzz-. Bzzzz-. Bzzzz-.

The phone vibrated incessantly. Surprised, Ji-won just watched. Soon, a smile spread across Ji-won’s face. The unceasing flood of messages clearly pointed to ‘a certain fact’.

The fact that the final episode of ‘Eccentric Doctor Ham In-ju’ had reached its target rating.

* * *

JTVN Broadcasting Station lobby.

Amidst the bustle of people coming and going, Director Ko Dong-guk and PD Kim Jong-su were engaged in a staring contest. 

The scene was surrounded by a somewhat solemn atmosphere. PD Kim Jong-su folded his arms and opened his mouth.

“Are you ready?”

Director Ko Dong-guk clenched his fists and glared at PD Kim Jong-su.

“Are you really going to make me do this?”

“We exceeded 20%. It’s a promise, isn’t it?”

PD Kim Jong-su rummaged through his bag and held out something to Director Ko Dong-guk. It was a headband with puppy ears.

“I prepared an item in case you felt embarrassed doing it bare. It’s a Chihuahua that resembles you, Director.”

Director Ko Dong-guk rubbed his eyes as if he’d seen something he shouldn’t have. Then he spoke as if trying to persuade.

“Jong-su… I had no intention of making you do it even if we didn’t hit 20%. Isn’t that obvious? Who would take this seriously! I just said it to motivate you.”

PD Kim Jong-su exclaimed “Oh my!” in surprise and replied.

“Your intention was 100% on target, Director. It certainly motivated me. However…”

His eyes flickered mischievously.

“My motivation was seeing the Director barking like a dog in the lobby, you know?”

He looked back and forth between Director Ko Dong-guk and the headband as he spoke.

“No matter how exhausted I was, just thinking about that day, my fatigue would vanish with a whoosh-! And my blood circulation would improve with a zap-! It was better than playing hwatu!”

Director Ko Dong-guk’s eyes shook incessantly.

“I really intended to do it if we didn’t hit 20%… I guess I’m a bit abnormal for taking it seriously. But!”

Then he shouted with gleaming eyes.

“What can I do! This is who I am!”

Director Ko Dong-guk just blinked his eyes. He sensed there was no escape from the other’s unhinged gaze. PD Kim Jong-su smiled benevolently.

“How about… I give you some time to prepare mentally?”

“Nnngh…”

Watching the groaning Director Ko Dong-guk, PD Kim Jong-su suddenly put on a gloomy expression.

“Director, you’ve been at the desk too long… You’ve lost your old wildness.”

Then he continued, seemingly deflated.

“Back when you were in the field, was barking too much? You were the type to bark even if you had to do it naked, weren’t you?”

Director Ko Dong-guk’s mouth just opened and closed in bewilderment.

“It feels like you’ve aged quite a bit… It makes me a bit sad. Time is cruel.”

Finally, as PD Kim Jong-su gave a bitter smile… Director Ko Dong-guk’s eyes, which had been shaking non-stop, found their place and stopped.

“…You little shit.”

Soon, fire blazed in his eyes.

“How dare you talk to your senior like that? What’s wrong with my age! I’m still in the prime of my youth, you bastard! In this era of centenarians, I’m not even halfway through my life!”

“They say it’s the era of centenarians, but according to 2018 statistics, the average life expectancy for Korean men is 79 years. It’s coming soon. You’ve aged a lot too, Director, so I guess I shouldn’t expect you to be like you used to be. It’s my mistake.”

Director Ko Dong-guk’s eyes widened more than ever.

“What do you mean, coming soon!”

In an instant, Director Ko Dong-guk’s face turned red and blue.

“You think I can’t do it if you tell me to?”

“You said you couldn’t do it earlier.”

Director Ko Dong-guk snatched the headband from Kim Jong-su’s hand with lightning speed. Then he put it on his white-haired head without hesitation.

“I!”

He rolled his eyes.

“AM A 25-YEAR VETERAN, KOOOO DONG-GUUUUUKKKKK!!!!”