89 - Upki Girl

< Thank You, Sorry, I’ll Remember... > "Hello, Producer. I'm Kim Yun-ho, the manager for Eunbit." "Hi, I'm Eunbit, the lead vocalist and variety show representative of Upkey Girl! I'll work hard! Flap flap! Flap flap!" "Oh, oh, thank you for coming. Just... make sure to stay safe and feel at ease. Yes, yes." What kind of program doesn't have a preliminary meeting and jumps straight into filming? The producer of "Flap Flap," who greeted them at a breakwater in Tongyeong, looked like a disheartened man in his 40s, reminiscent of a middle manager forcibly transferred to the countryside. However, he expressed his gratitude for them agreeing to appear over ten times. It quickly became apparent that the show was struggling to recruit guests. There was not even a writer present. The production crew consisted only of the PD and a VJ doubling as an assistant director. The assistant director, with his thick parka hood pulled deep over his head, couldn't take his eyes off Eunbit and Aaliya while checking the fishing gear. Yes, Aaliya had also attended, saying she wanted to see the recording up close. Without being asked, the assistant director didn’t hide the fact that, while he preferred music shows as his desired program, he was also a fangirl of girl groups. He also seemed aware of Upkey Girl. As I was conversing with the PD, the assistant director, having finished checking the equipment, approached Eunbit and Aaliya, who were admiring the ocean view. Judging by him messing with his phone, it seemed he wanted to take a picture. Oh no! Don't talk to the tall one! Ask Eunbit, ask Eunbit for a picture! "Uh... I'm sorry, but could I possibly ask for a photo...? I really enjoy 'Hug Me.' Great song." Oh dear. Out of a 50% chance, he had to approach her. As if answering my concerns, the assistant director spoke to Aaliya. And Aaliya, looking rather incredulous, turned to Eunbit for clarification. "Sis, what kind of person asks for a favor knowing it's bothersome? Are they a sociopath?" "Oh, yes, yes, thank you! Hand me the phone, please!" Fortunately, Eunbit quickly stepped in, redirecting the assistant director's attention toward her. “Riya, could you take a picture of me and the assistant director?” Aaliya grumbled. “What? This is something to ask Jangwoo or Manager Yung for. Jangwoo! Yung!” Today, my nickname was Yung. “Jangwoo oppa is fetching your chair, and the manager is engaged. If you keep this up, you won’t come along next time.” “Urgh…” Aaliya reluctantly took the assistant director's phone like she was handling a dirty rag and took their picture, her expression showing evident displeasure. “Thank you... uh, oh...” The VJ's face fell into an awkward frown as he checked the picture Aaliya had taken. Eunbit peeked at the screen and apologized in her place. “Sorry, she’s a bit clumsy when it comes to interacting with people since she’s from abroad. Let’s take a selfie again.” It seemed like she had taken the picture focusing only on Eunbit, leaving out the assistant director's face. “It’s so unfair that he checked it right away…” “Riya, can we have a little chat?” In the end, I had to intervene. Taking hold of Riya by the scruff, I led her to the van for a quick lecture. “Why do you always do this?” “I told you not to come if you were going to act like this.” “You did.” “Then why did you do it? Are you planning to ruin Eunbit's broadcasting?” “No.” “You’re making the entire team look bad.” “Alright. Sorry.” “If you can’t be polite to the staff, just don’t say anything.” “Got it.” “Don’t just say you will.” “Yung, you’ve been rather edgy. Is something on your mind?” “My constant worry is about the trouble you might cause.” “I just don’t see what I did wrong. He asked for a photo knowing it's inconvenient; he shouldn’t have said sorry if he meant it.” “That’s just a polite expression…” “It isn’t polite at all. It’s like saying, ‘I know you’re hurt, but I’ll hit you.’ Isn’t that sociopathic?” “It’s just a feature of our language, like saying excuse me.” “Oh, is that what it is?” “That’s what it is.” “Well… I’ll try not to do it next time. I honestly didn’t know.” “You’re not planning to apologize, right?” “This incident is already water under the bridge. I do have some pride, you know.” Right. It’s a significant improvement that she promises not to do it again. “If you want to keep coming to watch the recordings, be kind to the staff. If you can’t, stay in the car.” “Alright. I’ll endure it for Eunbit’s sake.” “Yes, please.” “But why isn’t the person teaching us fishing here yet? Are they ignoring us?” “They said they’re almost here.” Almost as soon as I finished speaking, the car carrying the protagonist of the program, the pro fisher, arrived. The basic concept of the show was for a professional fisherman to teach beginner anglers while sharing meals and stories. Today’s segment was boat fishing, so regardless of catching anything, we only needed to spend about three hours on the sea. Since the show was produced with sponsorship and support, we just had to wear the fishing gear provided and the sponsored logo-attired clothing. “Pro Kang, this is Eunbit from Upkey Girl, our rookie girl group member.” The PD introduced us to the fishing pro. He had a sporty hairstyle and a tanned complexion, looking like someone who fished all year round, but his demeanor was very pleasant. “Oh wow, it’s my first time having a girl group member on in two years. It’s an honor. I’m Kang Juseong.” “I’m Eunbit, the lead vocalist and variety representative of Upkey Girl! Please take care of me!” “Haha, it’s great to see someone so cheerful! Have you ever fished before?” “No, I haven’t!” The PD added, “Eunbit’s grandmother is a haenyeo (diving woman) from Jeju Island, so she has some experience in the water.” "Oh, you're from Jeju Island? Then you must be familiar with the ocean." "Yes, just give me the word, and I can dive down and catch fish myself!" "Even joking about that can be dangerous. Alright, let's get going. The sun's out today, so it's warmer than usual. Is she also participating?" The man carrying a fishing bag pointed at Aaliya, prompting a question. I was about to introduce her, but Aaliya impressively spoke up for herself. "Ah, he-llo. I'm Jin Riya, the youngest from Upkey Girl." Her introduction was neither formal nor informal, a peculiar mix. Still, Pro Kang greeted her with a warm smile. "Oh, you're a foreign member? Which country are you from? China?" I clarified on her behalf. "Her nationality is Korean, but she lived abroad for a long time, so her Korean is a bit clumsy. She's just here to cheer us on today." "She's coming on the boat, right?" "Oh, I should have asked earlier, but if it's not a problem, could she join us?" Pro Kang took the initiative to decide for the PD. "Well, since you’re all here, let’s go. Each of us should carry some equipment." The situation was so dire we had to carry our own gear—a fishing show with such low ratings and pay that it barely covered gas expenses. Nevertheless, there was a good reason why I cheerfully agreed to come down. ――――――――― ★ 'Flap Flap' and Yu Eunbit are a perfect match. ――――――――― Right after the showcase ended, Manager Kim Sang-in was heavily debating whether or not to take part in the fishing show. Even though we were desperate for schedules, it seemed too random to do a real fishing show. Just then, a pop-up appeared before me. Trusting the information window, and remembering how Eunbit hit it big with her haenyeo concept on a taste-testing show in my previous life, I accepted it with the hope there might be something similar here. Eunbit was excited about trying something fun as well. At the boat dock, we quickly learned fishing techniques and bait-hooking under Pro Kang's guidance before boarding a boat named Poseidon to reach our first fishing spot. The cameras were managed by the PD and AD, each focusing on Pro Kang and Eunbit. With no writer, there was no script either. We were to create a show with just two fishing rods, and I wasn't sure how well Eunbit, who was fishing for the first time, would contribute. However, with his two years of experience, Pro Kang kept things steady and paid extra attention to helping Eunbit. "Eunbit, you said this is your first time fishing?" "Yes, please teach me a lot, sir." "Well, there's such a thing as beginner's luck, so newcomers often catch fish well." "Oh, does that mean I might catch a big one today, sir? I’d love to have some sashimi!" Well done, my Eunbit. Her enthusiastic reactions had the PD and AD capturing it with satisfied smiles. Aaliya and I, equipped with fishing rods, chuckled, caring less whether we were caught on camera or not. Aaliya particularly enjoyed it, remarking how it was her first time experiencing fishing on a boat. "Eunbit, you mentioned you’re from Jeju Island?" "Yes, that's right." "Have you ever heard of the giant sea bream?" "A monster sea bream?!" "Giant, giant." "Oh, giant. That sounds rather risqué." "It's a species dubbed the queen or prince of the sea for its beautiful colors and form. They can grow up to a meter, giving you the same thrill as reeling in a Siberian Husky." "Oh no, a Husky! If I imagine a Husky caught on a fishing hook, it makes me sad, sir." "Ah, it’s just a metaphor." Pro Kang maintained control over the conversation, unaffected by Eunbit’s uninhibited chatter. "Currently, Hitotsu Tenya is still trendy for fishing sea bream, so we'll try that today. The rod is a Gamakatsu Gure Expedition Special 2 No. 530, a sea bream-specific rod, and the reel is a Shimano 13 Stella 5000..." "Oh my, I really can’t remember all that, sir!" "Eunbit, just use the one I provided. Let’s have you try baiting it yourself. I showed you earlier, right?" "Yes, I’ll try myself. I'm pretty good with worms, sir." "No, you'll use krill. Put two on the hook." "Okay, two..." "Be careful with your hands." "Yes, being careful... Ouch! I got pricked before you even finished speaking, sir!" "Oh dear, are you alright?" Ahhhh. The humor I thought was long buried surfaced once more. "During winter, hands can get numb, so women unfamiliar with the task should be extra cautious. Here, let me do it for you." "Sorry, sir." "Now, just drop it naturally. Let it fall until it hits the bottom..." True to his demeanor, Pro Kang was kind enough to explain everything clearly, avoiding technical jargon. And Eunbit, trying to follow along, accidentally threw the whole fishing rod into the sea instead of the bobber. "Oh no! What should I do, sir? The fishing rod flew away!" "Didn't I tell you to free-fall it gently? Why would you throw it like that?" "Free-fall?" "Never mind, let's retrieve that first... sigh..." Pro Kang eventually sighed in exasperation. Now I feel guilty myself. "That was poor teaching..." Before Aaliya could rightfully complain, I nudged her leg to silence her. "Be quiet." "Okay." After using a net to retrieve the fishing rod, they started from the beginning again. Pro Kang seemed to focus on his own fishing, perhaps deciding to help Eunbit after landing a catch himself. "The key to lure action in red sea bream fishing is 'slow.' The fish usually stay at the bottom, but if they get curious about the lure's movement, they'll rise to midwater to bite. You mustn't let your guard down until you've fully retrieved the lure to avoid missing a sudden bite." "Yes, understood. Slow." I felt a pang of sympathy. Eunbit's reactions seemed a little discouraged. Mimicking Pro Kang’s actions with furtive glances, she tried her best to stand out. Then suddenly, Pro Kang’s fishing rod tensed and bent like a bow. "Oops, it’s on. Tap tap, tap tap, oh, the feel. This one's giving the strong impression of a big sea bream right from the first cast." "Wow, that's amazing, sir!" "It's a powerful one. At times like this, you must keep the rod below horizontal and rely on its natural elasticity to land it at a constant speed." "Hang in there, sir!" "Eunbit, could you prepare the landing net?" "Yes!" "Alright, it's starting to reveal itself. My arm is all stiff..." He didn't need the net after all. After a minute of struggle, what Pro Kang pulled up was not a fish but a boot entangled in seaweed. "Kya-hahaha! Yung, it's a boot! A boot! Can you eat that as sashimi too?! Such a show-off." "Riya, quiet..." Aaliya's provocation caused Pro Kang’s expression to shift unfavorably. "Sometimes, when you fish in the sea, you end up catching some trash. You don't need to fret over it." His words sounded like an excuse as he lowered the fishing line again. But for the next 30 minutes, not even a single nibble came, as if by some foul trick. "Let's move to another spot." That's when it happened. Eunbit called out urgently, tugging at her rod. "Uh, sir! Something keeps tugging, tapping, and pulling! Wow, this feels weird! Wooow!" "Stay calm, stay calm!" "Oh, right. Slowly, slowly..." Eunbit managed to bring the creature to the surface all on her own without any help from Pro Kang. After 30 grueling minutes, drenched in sweat and persistence, Eunbit hauled in a massive red sea bream measuring 94cm. This shattered the previous record purportedly held by Pro Kang at 88cm. Just the feat of a petite girl group member managing to catch such a monstrous fish single-handedly would have been noteworthy, but the real story behind the video becoming the meme of the day was different. "The poor sea bream, its eyes look so sad..." "Let it go, sis, just send it back to the ocean! It might have family waiting!" "Oh no, it's already dead. Maybe it died while the sir was taking pictures. Huh..." "Pro Kang killed the giant fish. Murderer! Murderer! I hate you! Such hate! So much hate!" "You don't have to call it murder..." "Please save our sea bream, Sir, save it..." The broadcast captured Eunbit and Aaliya weeping earnestly while hugging the now-lifeless fish, capturing the hearts and laughter of netizens and earning the monikers "Sea Bream Idol," "Crying Idol," and "Innocent Idol." - The fish was so big it felt like some mammal, making it easy to empathize even for me. - Adding to the humor was the earlier scene with Pro Kang fishing up a boot and his confused reaction behind the crying girls, aligning with the 'Flap Flap' meme that became a viral sensation across major communities and SNS. It reached a point where it was even featured on national news in the evening. Eunbit went so far as to post a tribute to the sea bream on her SNS. Titled, "Thank you, I'm sorry, I'll remember..." <Thank You, Sorry, I’ll Remember...> End