Devil’s Music

Geon, having spent a restless night under the influence of the earthquake, got up at dawn and headed to the terrace of Mochi. His attempt to catch a breath of fresh air on the terrace was interrupted by the sound of Yeongseok yelling from outside, causing him to pause and listen.

"No! Mr. President! How can you say that? After an earthquake, there can be aftershocks! Is it even humane to ask us to take the actors to Gorkha now?"

Worried that Yeongseok's loud voice might awaken others, Geon quickly closed the terrace door and stepped outside. He saw Yeongseok, gripping the safety rail of the terrace, turned towards the landscape outside while holding a satellite phone.

"The production team treats this as work! What about the actors? There's no prior agreement for entering a hazardous area. If it was supposed to be a shoot in a dangerous area, consent should have been obtained in advance. It's too dangerous, even if it makes for a hot topic!"

Yeongseok, hitting his chest in frustration, said, "You have to speak within the bounds of common sense, Mr. President. It's not something that can be resolved by asking for understanding. No matter how much a new broadcaster needs recognition, does that make sense? I'd rather take a part of the filming crew who agrees to go to Gorkha for coverage!"

Catching Geon's eye as he turned around, Yeongseok signaled with his hand to wait and continued to yell into the phone.

"If the news team has already left, then they can capture the scene! This is entertainment, entertainment! Waiting until the aftershocks are over and it's safe, then capturing the emotional scenes of clearing debris and helping, that I understand. But how can we enter today when the earthquake happened just last night? Did you not watch the news this morning? There were more aftershocks at dawn!"

"The first quake was a magnitude of 7.9, and the aftershock was 7.2! Imagine if another aftershock happens and our team is there. What if someone gets hurt? No, it would be lucky if it ended with injuries. Can you take responsibility if someone actually dies?"

As Geon quietly pulled up a chair to sit, Yeongseok continued his call from the other side of the safety rail, looking out at the landscape.

'It's the same country, but it's peaceful here. The earthquake struck a major city; how anxious and difficult must the people there feel?'

Clouds drifted leisurely over the Himalayas, entering Geon's view.

'Was this what Haileke meant? I said I would help within my capacity... but what use is my strength in an earthquake.. I'm just a small human being...'

Lost in thought, Geon's ears picked up Yeongseok's sharp yelling again.

"We can't take the actors! Understand that! How can you expect me to say that? There's been a major earthquake, it's dangerous, and yet you want us to enter a hazardous area because the broadcaster needs a hot topic? Do you think the companies they belong to will just sit by? Alright, I'll take only those from the filming crew who agree. I'll handle the content, so just know that! I'm hanging up!"

Yeongseok slammed the phone down on the table on the terrace and pulled out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it up. As he took a deep drag, looking outside, he glanced at Geon and said, "Don't tell Chae-eun about this. I'll handle it."

Geon watched Yeongseok exhale smoke and smiled bitterly. After a moment of silence, Geon spoke cautiously.

"Bro.. I want to go see it."

Yeongseok stopped mid-drag, his body stiffening. After a moment of silence, he took another drag and shook his head.

"No, it's too dangerous. I'm a journalist, so this is my job, but you're not. Well, strictly speaking, I'm not even a correspondent, just an entertainment PD, but since I'm a shareholder and an executive in the company, I have to do it."

Geon quietly looked at the Himalayan landscape and mentioned Haileke's words.

"You heard what Haileke said, right?"

Yeongseok exhaled smoke and shook his head vigorously.

"That was just grabbing at clouds. And this isn't something you can help with your own strength."

After a pause, Geon spoke again.

"I just want to help, even if it's just moving a stone or a fallen tree, to be one of the many hands. It was a promise to myself."

Yeongseok chuckled and said, "In the end, that's all we can do there. No, if the government is controlling the

area, we might not even be able to get close. Capturing the tense national atmosphere while we travel to Pokhara will naturally make the program successful, so you should leave with Chae-eun from the Pokhara airport."

Geon looked at Yeongseok's profile and said, "You said we'd stay in Nayapul for about 3 days, right? If the situation is monitored and controls are lifted, and recovery work starts, couldn't I stay behind while sending Chae-eun back?"

Yeongseok took a deep drag of his cigarette, his gaze drifting towards the distant mountains. Geon waited quietly, and after a while, Yeongseok turned to look at him squarely. Geon met Yeongseok's gaze, and Yeongseok stared back, asking, "Are you serious?"

"Yes, bro."

"It's dangerous."

"I know, bro."

"It's not just about getting hurt. You could die, kid."

"If I die, you'll die too, bro. Won't be lonely, right? Haha, it seems better than me going back to Korea alone and hearing that you got hurt... Haha"

Yeongseok stared at Geon intensely. Geon, not backing down, returned the gaze. After a moment of looking at each other, they both let out a chuckle. Yeongseok took out another cigarette, lighting it and said, "Should quit these damn cigarettes... Sigh. Alright, let's go. First, make a call home with the satellite phone to say we're okay."

Geon quickly called home with the satellite phone, eager to reassure his worried family. When he explained the situation, he naturally faced fierce opposition. Unable to persuade Geon, Yeongha finally handed the phone to Shihwa, who tearfully begged him to come back, but Geon remained adamant. After over thirty minutes of persuasion, Geon sighed and hung up the phone. Yeongseok, who had smoked three cigarettes while listening to Geon's conversation, asked,

"What did they say?"

"You heard everything. It's chaotic, but I've told them I'm going."

"Man, you're as stubborn as an ox."

"Haha, I guess so. What will you tell Chae-eun?"

"I'll explain the situation and finish our original schedule. Then, I'll send her back to Korea from the Pokhara airport."

"Alright, then I won't say anything."

"What do you mean you won't say anything? I heard everything."

Suddenly, Chae-eun's voice startled both men as they turned around. Chae-eun, who had been hiding behind the curtains at the terrace door, walked out with her hands on her hips.

"You're not going without me! I'm coming too!"

Yeongseok, showing his palms, said,

"Whoa, Chae-eun. This isn't a trip. We haven't even discussed it with your company, and it's too dangerous."

Chae-eun, hands still on her hips, mentioned,

"Do you remember the 2008 Sichuan earthquake?"

"Yes, the earthquake in China. What about it?"

"It was a magnitude 8.0, worse than Nepal. I was a university student then and went there as a volunteer. It was a devastating earthquake with over 60,000 casualties. I can definitely be of help."

"No, Chae-eun. Back then, volunteers went after the aftershocks had ended, and it was deemed safe by the rescue teams. You know there could still be more aftershocks here, right? There were several aftershocks within 24 hours of the Sichuan earthquake. It hasn't even been 24 hours since this one."

"I heard everything. You said we'd wait three days in Nayapul, and if there are no more aftershocks, we'll go in. I'm coming too, just so you know."

Yeongseok covered his eyes with his hand,

"But we haven't even talked to your company. What about the contract?"

Chae-eun scoffed,

"If the person involved is okay with it, who's going to complain? I wasn't forced, and I'll talk to my company. If it's not too dangerous, my company wouldn't want to miss this opportunity."

This time, Geon tried to stop her,

"Sister, if it's about making headlines, I can help when we return to Korea. It's too dangerous here."

Chae-eun flicked Geon's forehead,

"What are you talking about? Headlines are the company's concern, not mine. I can't forget the horrors of the Sichuan earthquake from my childhood. If I can offer even the smallest help to those plunged into despair, especially when timing aligns like now, I won't back down."

Geon looked at Chae-eun with newfound respect. Chae-eun lifted her chin and leaned back,

"How about that? Always acting like a big brother, Mr. Geon? Do I seem a bit admirable to you now?"

Geon stood up from his chair, ruffled Chae-eun's hair, and said,

"Yeah, sister. You're incredible."

Chae-eun blushed as Geon, towering over her, patted her head. She glanced up at Geon, then startled when she realized Yeongseok was there, swatting Geon's hand away,

"What, what! Stop! Always acting like an older brother? You're more than ten years younger than me!"

Geon laughed, putting his hands in his pockets,

"Haha, it's because you're cute, so cute~"

"That's the problem!! You're the younger one! I'm your sister! Ugh!"

"Haha, got it, got it."

As Geon teased the blushing Chae-eun, he turned to Yeongseok, who was still smoking,

"Shouldn't you discuss it with the staff?"

Yeongseok extinguished his cigarette on the safety rail of the terrace and said,

"Those guys, they followed me from the previous broadcaster. They'll all agree. Don't worry."

Then the terrace door opened, and the staff poured in. Yeongseok looked at them in surprise as the AD stepped forward,

"Would have been sad if you didn't say the last word, right?"

"What? You guys were all listening?"

The AD grinned,

"Of course. How could we not come check with all that yelling since dawn? Everyone's already on edge."

Yeongseok made eye contact with each staff member. They all smiled back, nodding slightly or giving a thumbs up. After making eye contact with everyone, including Geon and Chae-eun, Yeongseok turned back to gaze at the endless Himalayan mountains stretching beyond the terrace and declared,

"Alright, we're all going together."

>

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