Time Mansour - Chapter 61
Only Noblemtl
Episode 61: When I was about to go back
“I hope nothing is missing.”
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and took a look around the room.
Sunlight streamed in through the open curtains. The sunlight laid down on the empty bed.
Neatly arranged pillows and blankets.
A shadow was cast slanted across the carpet on the floor.
After I erased all traces of my presence.
“Well. Looks like you’ve got everything.”
I put my bag back on properly.
So I checked out of the resort and came out.
“It’s hot. It’s hot.”
The hot sunlight was sparkling over the sea.
The waves crash against the land.
It shatters in the air and shines like a jewel.
A sea that preserves nature intact.
It wriggles like one giant living thing.
‘You did well to come.’
Kkokkut Island.
It takes five hours from Bangkok. No, it takes almost seven hours to get to the island by boat.
Transportation is inconvenient and the infrastructure is not very good.
It wasn’t a travel destination that ordinary backpackers often visited.
There are many nice beaches near Bangkok.
Still.
The reason why I came all the way here.
as soon as.
“The sand is very fine.”
It was because of the white sand on the beach.
Clear sea water crashes into white sandy beaches.
Sand and coral reefs under the water.
The deep blue sea is clearly visible.
I squat down on the white sand beach, scanning the scenery with my eyes. My buttocks are sunken in.
He sat down, grabbed the sand, and lifted it up.
I grab a handful of sand and lift it up, and it flows down to the floor.
Sand slipped through my fingers.
So, I sit facing the sea and play in the sand.
I’m killing time by lifting sand over and over again.
“Hey, you’re here early?”
I heard a voice calling me from behind.
Turn your head and make eye contact.
That foreign couple yesterday.
I got a call from someone asking me to meet them before I left, saying I was leaving the island today.
Both are in swimsuits.
When you dress like that, you look more like a tourist than me.
“Take a look and see where you’re going.”
“I’m going to go snorkeling. Do you want to come with me?”
He shook his head.
I said it twice because I was afraid you wouldn’t understand.
“Why? We came all the way here, so wouldn’t it be nice to go into the ocean and come out?”
“No. I can’t swim. And I’m a little scared of going into the water.”
He raised both hands and waved them from side to side.
I was afraid of water.
Dogs are scary too.
I was also afraid of heights.
“Oh. Sorry. Do you have a fear of water?”
“No. It’s just a phobia. I’m the type to avoid even the slightest danger.”
I was just originally scared.
Actually, I didn’t get a driver’s license for a similar reason.
Because of my personality, I tend not to even try anything that seems dangerous.
so.
“So you could say he’s a heavenly developer.”
I shrugged my shoulders and made a joke.
Two people followed me and laughed together.
“But you guys look busy. Why did you ask to meet today? Don’t you have something planned?”
He asked, tilting his head.
I thought you didn’t have any plans because you suddenly asked to see me today.
“I was just curious.”
“What? To me?”
“Yeah. I found out about it yesterday when I saw Macbook.”
The man muttered, looking far out at the sea.
What are you talking about? I looked at him with an expression that said I still didn’t understand.
The man turned his head and answered me.
“I found out too late that you were the IT of Noon. I just wanted to see your face one more time.”
Then he looks at me and smiles.
Ah… these days, there’s no developer who doesn’t know this.
Although it was something I started out doing with the intention of becoming famous.
“The library manual you organized. We often look at it too. But it’s strange to meet you here… isn’t it?”
It seemed to be more well-known than I thought.
Actually, after gaining a reputation like now.
Continuing to create a library manual was a pointless exercise.
Because it wasn’t something that made money.
Even though there is no need to create a library manual anymore.
At some point, I just started making it out of habit.
There was not a single Spring Java-related library manual that I had not read.
I’m not used to the attention yet, so I don’t know how to deal with it.
I just scratched my head in embarrassment.
“I didn’t know that developer would be you. I was a bit surprised because you were so different from what we had imagined.”
“I?”
“Yeah. I thought the IT troubleshooter at noon had a darker personality. But you’re brighter than I thought.”
So it was a bit unexpected. The man smiled awkwardly.
After speaking, I wondered if I had done anything rude. He kept checking my expression.
“Actually, it was originally dark. It just looks that way because the sun is so hot right now.”
I threw in a little joke.
We chatted for a while, feeling the sea breeze.
It’s time to go, the couple says their final goodbyes.
“thank you.”
“Let’s meet up sometime later when we get a chance.”
“Okay. Go quickly. Have fun.”
As the two people stood up, the white sand began to flutter.
It hovers in the air for a moment and then disappears, gently permeating the sea breeze.
I stared blankly at the sight for a moment.
“Oh. Right. I almost forgot.”
I quickly took out a clear glass bottle from my bag and filled it with white sand.
Fill the bottle by pressing firmly with your hand.
just.
It was a meaningless act.
**
Last day in Thailand.
Time passed quickly.
After visiting a few more tourist destinations near Bangkok.
The last few days have been just annoying.
I just walked around the hotel.
Before we go back, let’s take a moment to meet Siriu.
I should at least see your face before I go. With that in mind, I had a quick beer at a street stall.
“Are you going already?”
“uh.”
He put the beer mug to his lips and nodded.
widely.
After taking a couple of sips, I put the glass down. The ice cubes in the glass were clumping together.
‘Beer in an ice cup.’
I thought it was a bit strange before drinking it.
The hot Thai weather and the cold beer went quite well together.
“Do you have any other plans in Korea?”
“No. Nothing much happened. I just think it’s time to go back now.”
The nervous feeling I had when I first came to Thailand has largely disappeared.
Because each day feels more and more boring.
I felt like it was time to go back now.
“Then go and contact me. We’ll come to Korea to visit sometime.”
“I will. If something comes up, contact me right away. Especially, don’t try to solve optimization problems on your own. Just send me a message right away.”
I get it. I get it. I asked the same question several times. After forcing an answer like that, only then did I get up from my seat.
“I’m going to go now. My flight is going to be late.”
Okay, bye. Thank you. Siriu smiles and gives a thumbs up until the end.
I head to the airport, leaving Siriu wagging her thumb behind.
‘I’m tired. I want to go home.’
I was dozing off in the taxi and before I knew it, I had arrived at the airport.
I stand in line holding my passport. It’s definitely the same passport, but it feels different when I come and when I leave.
‘Here it is.’
I put my heavy passport into my bag and sat down on the window seat.
An airplane that runs for a while and then slowly takes off.
I look down at the world from the plane returning like that.
‘It’s too high to see well.’
When you look down from above, everything appears dim.
Things too.
And people too.
When you’re at the very bottom.
When looking up from below.
Only then can you see a person’s true nature.
“···”
Well, maybe not.
Is it because the trip is over now?
As usual, useless thoughts kept coming to my mind.
**
I woke up from my dream and came back to reality.
Thanks to you.
I suffered from post-travel blues for several days.
‘I should have just stayed in Thailand longer.’
The grass always looks greener on the other side.
In Korea, I wanted to go on a trip.
Because when I actually went on a trip, I wanted to come back home.
People are all like this. Well.
After regretting it like that, I just lazed around at home for a few days.
Then today I went out for the first time in a long time.
I met Chae Dae-ri at a bar.
The two sit facing each other and wait for Manager Cho, who has not yet arrived.
“You didn’t get any sunburn at all? What on earth did you do there?”
“I’m the type of person who doesn’t hit things. I just came back from playing. You’ll be surprised when you hear this.”
That must have been quite the case. Manager Chae snorts and shakes his head.
“How’s work going these days? Have you adjusted to it yet?”
“No. I’m still lost.”
Manager Chae frowned and shook his head.
At the sight of the agent like that.
That’s a bit harsh. I thought to myself.
“You are joking a lot. You are a man who has been through a lot.”
He spoke as transparently as the blue sea.
“It’s really amazing. No matter how many times I experience it, it’s always new. It’s always really exciting.”
Manager Chae frowns again and trembles.
You’re just exaggerating your reaction for no reason.
As I was watching Manager Chae joke around like that.
I could see Manager Cho coming in from afar.
Manager Cho opens the door and enters the bar.
As soon as he found me.
“Sir, please save me.”
This side also starts to cry.
It’s been a while since I saw you, and your complexion doesn’t look too good.
It’s a little sad to see that.
“I’m a doctor? What can I save?”
I shook my head for a moment.
I made a light joke.
Of course, I thought Manager Cho would take it as a joke.
“Oh, that’s right. No.”
The reaction is less interesting than I thought.
Then, Manager Cho let out a deep sigh with a rotten expression.
“Please give me just one bottle of soju.”
Raise your hand toward the kitchen.
What the heck? It seems more serious than I thought.
Manager Chae and I glance at each other.
After exchanging glances for a short while.
“What’s really going on?”
I asked cautiously first.
“There’s always something going on.”
“What is it?”
“A few days ago, I went in for a performance check. But it’s not going well right now. I thought of Director Jeong. You’re an expert in performance optimization.”
“What about experts? I’m just a novice. There must be a real performance expert at the development company. Didn’t the company say they’d assign one?”
“There used to be one. But he hasn’t been coming lately.”
“Yes? Why?”
“Well. Honestly, even I wouldn’t come. Why would a capable gentleman come and miss something?”
Exactly.
Then, Manager Cho turned the cap of the soju bottle.
After pouring a glass of soju into my mouth.
“Director, how much is the freebie fee?”
He asks me a question with a blank expression.
“Would you hire a bank to do this? They probably don’t want to spend money on labor costs.”
“We have to use them. We’ll call as many as we can. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll have to use people anyway. Many people’s lives are at stake in this project.”
Especially the people up there. Then Manager Cho points to the ceiling.
I thought it would be a little precarious with both Chae and I leaving the project at the same time.
But I didn’t know it would start creaking already.
I thought problems wouldn’t arise until at least the end of the year.
I thought about it carefully and then made a slightly troubled expression.
“Are you okay? There must be people inside who are dissatisfied with me···”
“Our director already told Vice Minister Ko.”
“What is it?”
“I want you to formally apologize to the director.”
Manager Cho said it nonchalantly.
Those words were said as if it were nothing.
‘I absolutely must not take on the responsibility. I absolutely must say no. I don’t want to see Vice-Chief Go’s face again.’
I have definitely made up my mind.