Next Step(1)
It was still too early for lunch—just 11 a.m.
I left the office and walked towards the main gate of Next Planet, preparing to greet my guest.
"Oppa."
It was Min Ji-na.
She quickened her steps as she approached me.
Thanks to the unpredictable spring breeze, jina's hair, cascading along her shoulders, fluttered softly.
She was wearing a white shirt with a light beige cardigan draped over it. She had undone two buttons on her shirt. Didn't she usually only unfasten one button?
Not that it felt revealing—just natural.
Her makeup seemed about the same as before, yet there was something about the color of her lips that struck me as more vivid.
I can't say for sure—I'm not particularly good at noticing these things...
Anyway, she looked both different and yet the same as before.
She greeted me with a smile.
"It hasn't been that long... well, maybe not enough to say 'long time no see,' has it?"
"That's right. It hasn't even been two months since I came here."
"We saw each other nearly every day at Next Global. Maybe that's why? I'm so happy to see you."
"But what brings you all the way out here?"
"Do I need a special reason to come see you, oppa?"
Easy for you, but that's not the case for me. There's something bothering me.
What is the chairman up to? Stuff like that.
"It does feel different seeing you here at Planet instead of Next Global."
Min Ji-na smiled again.
"So! Division Director Lee Hyunmin, would you start showing me just how charming Next Planet is, now that you work here?"
That bright demeanor, as if nothing could wrinkle her spirit—
That must be Min Ji-na's charm.
"Yes, just follow me."
The first place I took her to was, of course, the strawberry waffle food truck that would soon become our star attraction.
Luckily, there weren't many people in line.
Normally, all the strawberry waffles would be sold out by this time.
For now, we're still in the trial phase, selling only 100 waffles in the morning, another 100 in the afternoon, for a total of 200 per day.
I had also given instructions not to sell them to Next Planet employees during work hours.
If I hadn't, the staff would buy them all, and guests wouldn't be able to try them—they're that popular.
"Oh! Division Director! What brings you here at this hour?"
Lee Yunjung, who was making the strawberry waffles, greeted me with a bright smile.
She's always looked like a schoolgirl to me.
"I'm here to buy two strawberry waffles."
"Huh? But it's work hours. Someone way above me gave strict orders to never sell to Next Planet staff—with goblin eyes and all."
"I don't remember making goblin eyes..."
"Hehe! I'm just kidding. But the person next to you... wow! Unni, you're so pretty. Honestly, you're the prettiest person I've seen since I came to Korea."
Min Ji-na bowed her head slightly and replied,
"Thank you for the compliment. Your name is...?"
"It's Lee Yunjung."
"Yunjung, you're adorable, like a fairy. Oppa really has an eye for people—how'd you find such a cute person?"
"I count myself lucky."
"Yunjung, I'm Hyunmin oppa's former coworker. I'm just here at Next Planet for business. Oppa told me these strawberry waffles were incredible."
"I'll make them the best you've ever had. Just wait a moment, please."
With a waffle in each hand, we began walking around Next Planet.
"Wow... I can't even put the taste of this strawberry waffle into words. This will be a hit."
"I'm not just being cocky, you know."
"I haven't had strawberry waffles this good, even in Pangyo."
That made me do a little dance of joy.
She said she didn't want to go on any rides, so we strolled through the theme park like it was a walking path.
One of Next Planet's strengths is its landscaping—not necessarily flashy or unique, but just looking at it puts you at ease.
That's probably thanks to Division Director Oh Kang-il. I've seen him thoroughly inspect every corner of the theme park every day.
Walking under the sunlight made me feel great.
"But oppa, why did you suddenly ask me to take pictures?"
"Oh! Actually, I need to set up photospots in the theme park."
I explained to her how I came to plan the rookie trainee promotion and the work I'd been doing at the Reform Division.
She listened, laughing all the while as if it was all amusing.
"Wow! I never thought Lee Hyunmin, who had no ambition in corporate life, would change like this. Surprising."
"Whose fault do you think that is?"
"Mine? Is it really..."
She fell silent for a moment.
The sounds of rides and people chatting filled the gap.
"It is because of me."
She turned her face toward me. Our eyes met. Her eyes curved into crescents.
"So I had a positive influence on you, oppa."
"We'll have to see if it was positive."
I couldn't help but act a bit coy.
"So what's set for the photospot? There's got to be something decided already."
"We want to capture the concept of beautiful, unrepeatable moments, like a scene from a youth film."
"Sounds good."
"I want to convey two main vibes. The first is friendship."
"Friendship? Not love?"
"The goal is to get groups of young men and women in their early twenties to visit. So friendship works better than love, doesn't it?"
She nodded, tucking windblown hair behind her ear as she spoke.
In that moment, I caught the scent of her shampoo.
"You really have gotten colder, using even emotions like that."
"I have to survive."
"That's impressive."
"Huh? What is?"
"That resolve of yours."
"I'm glad you think so. The other vibe I want is 'analog'."
"I don't quite get it."
"Like this—look."
We were passing by the roller coaster.
I walked over to a corner, tracing a line in the air with my hand.
"I'm going to put a miniature roller coaster and track here."
I stretched out my arms and pretended to walk along an imaginary line, as if balancing.
"In old youth films, there's always that scene—you know, where someone's walking along the tracks."
"Oh! Right, I always wanted to try that."
Ji-na stood behind me and did the same.
"Actually, that's illegal in real life. So we get to do it here, just for fun."
"Oh? I like that. That's exactly the blend of youth and analog. What else?"
"See that tree over there?"
She nodded vigorously.
She seemed really excited.
Seeing that, I grew more confident.
"I'll build a room up in that tree."
"Oh! Like a secret base?"
"Yeah."
"When I was a kid, I always envied the treehouses I saw on American TV shows. I'd love to take a picture in one. Anything else?"
"Over there, I'm going to set up a container and do some graffiti on it..."
I explained my ideas to her enthusiastically.
She clapped as she spoke.
"Sounds good. So what are you worried about?"
"For an event, this all feels too ordinary."
"You set the bar high, oppa."
"I told you, I need to survive."
"So what are you actually looking for?"
"Something more special... but I haven't figured it out yet."
The things I just told Ji-na—they weren't my ideas alone. They came from our team brainstorming sessions. They aren't bad. Actually, they're pretty good.
But they're still missing something. They don't make me feel, 'This is really special.'
I guess, when you're trying to do something, truly special ideas are rare. People settle somewhere reasonable because they can't find something amazing.
Maybe I should do the same?
At that moment, Min Ji-na tugged at the hem of my shirt.
"Come here."
She pulled me along, taking me to a secluded corner where there was a wall covered in ivy.
"Come closer. I told you, I wanted to take a picture together."
She stretched out her arm, holding her phone above our heads.
"I like places like this—quiet, almost forgotten, but with a special point, so it has an inexplicable vibe—like our own secret spot."
The shutter sound clicked.
"Smile a bit."
"I'm not used to this sort of thing."
She took more than ten photos, then showed them to me.
"Didn't they turn out well?"
"It's hard to keep smiling. My face almost cramped up."
"Considering that, they came out great. I'll send them to you."
"Thanks."
"How about this vibe? Before, you talked about friendship and analog. Seems to me that back then, friendship and love used to be all mixed together; people couldn't even tell what their feelings were, which is what made it all so beautiful."
She looked at me and smiled.
"What do you think? Any ideas coming to you?"
"Yeah. Mixed emotions, feelings you can't quite define—they can change at any time. That means it's an ambiguous, secret moment."
"So? What's next?"
"Besides regular photospots, we should make a weekly hidden photospot—designed just like this secret place. If you find it and upload a photo, you get a special prize."
Her smile grew brighter.
"So I did have a positive influence on you, right?"
"We'll see about that."
"You're mean. At least tell me thank you."
"Thanks. Really."
We made a full circle around the theme park.
Just as we started by the main gate, that's where we ended up.
"I'm heading out."
She waved and turned away.
Then I remembered something I'd wanted to ask.
"Ji-na."
She turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Why did you come here today? Did the chairman tell you to?"
"That could be part of it."
She pressed her finger to her lips, as if to say it was a secret.
"I was the one who pushed you to quit your comfortable job and come to the theme park. I kept thinking about that. It bothered me. So I came to see for myself. I'm just glad you seem to be doing well, just as I predicted."
"I'll do well here."
"Yeah, hang in there. I'll always be cheering for you."
***
Min Ji-na turned her head,
Looking at Lee Hyunmin's receding figure for a moment.
She smiled.
Then made a call, to somewhere.
"Yes, dad. I'm at Next Planet now."
Her gaze changed—a chillier look than earlier. Her voice matched.
"Buy up all the motels and pensions in Nonsan. Especially the ones near Next Planet—no matter what. The prices are all way down, anyway. Leave out anything next to the training center."
After Next Planet was built, there had been a lodging boom in Nonsan.
Originally, a company called 'Matinal International' had planned a large hotel.
But Matinal International pulled out due to headquarters' financial problems.
Others seized the opportunity, throwing up a bunch of mid-size lodgings.
But when Next Planet's fortunes faded, so did theirs.
[Why? You think Next Planet's coming back to life?]
"Yeah. This is going to work. The whole concept is good. There's real determination. And, crucially, I trust the person in charge."
[You mean the parachute the chairman sent? Did you know him before?]
"You don't need to know all the details, dad. The customer base is early-twenties, mostly in groups. We should prepare to remodel everything for that."
[But why not a hotel... we already have a business plan, remember?]
"I'm not sure yet if it'll go that far."
[Alright, if that's what you think, then okay.]
She hung up and started her car.
'One of the key points of the trainee promotion is the price of nearby lodging. Once business gets busy, prices jump to ridiculous levels. That ruins everything. If our target is young people, that's an even bigger blow. I hate that.'
The engine roared.
'When I said I was cheering you on, I meant it....'
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
Damn, Mi-na is a chaebol young lady...
I feel like this would make a good K-Drama...
Well, more fun, less drama...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】