Episode 55. In the Name of Sisters (5)
After finishing their meal, Kang Dae-oh went to the gym with Kang Yebin and Kang Yera for a simple workout.
Because they had come in a hurry, he hadn’t been able to bring his usual gym clothes, so he had only put on simple training attire.
On the other hand, Kang Yera got on the treadmill wearing leggings and a short-sleeved top that exposed her navel, borrowed from her sister.
“It’s a good thing I wore a sports bra.”
“Even though you came in a hurry, it seems you packed that well?”
“Yeah. Sports bras are more comfortable than regular bras these days.”
Kang Yera and Kang Yebin continued their unreserved conversation about underwear.
Thanks to this, Kang Dae-oh had to hastily put in his earphones.
Even though they were his daughters, there was no need for him to hear such extremely private conversations like the one they just had.
If Dad made it too obvious that he was trying to listen to his daughters’ conversation, he might even get scolded in return.
While he was deeply engrossed in his workout with his earphones on.
Kang Dae-oh looked at the Americans who were also focused on weight training, just like him.
‘They have good physiques.’
Perhaps because their body types were definitely different from Asians, even their muscle shapes looked somewhat extraordinary.
Thanks to this, Kang Dae-oh’s motivation to work out hard was ignited.
Just then, someone tapped Kang Dae-oh.
Kang Yera pointed at her watch.
“Dad. We’re about to head back. What about you, Dad?”
Kang Yebin and Kang Yera, who had sweated a bucket on the treadmill, said they were going to go back and shower.
“I should head back now too.”
“Then let’s go up together.”
“Shall we?”
Although there were separate showers in the gym, since their rooms were directly accessible by taking the elevator upstairs, there was no real need to use the gym showers.
Many people were seen coming and going on the elevator in their workout clothes, just like them.
Kang Yebin’s room was two floors below the room Kang Dae-oh’s family had booked.
“I’ll head in first.”
“You worked hard today, get some good rest.”
“Yes, you too, Dad. Unnie, you should go in and rest too. You must be tired from the long flight.”
Kang Yera nodded vigorously, replying that she would do as her sister said.
Kang Yera’s eyelids were already so heavy that they were difficult for her to keep open.
She wanted to dive into bed and fall asleep right away.
But shouldn’t she at least remove her makeup before sleeping?
Following Kang Yebin’s advice, Kang Yera forced herself to gather energy and headed straight to the bathroom upon arriving in her room.
Since the room was large, there were two bathrooms; one was for Kang Dae-oh and Min Seung-yeon, and the other was for their two daughters.
Thump.
Min Seung-yeon told Kang Dae-oh, who had quickly finished showering and was sitting in a chair, that he had worked hard.
Kang Dae-oh shook his head, answering her question.
“I just came back from working out. What’s there to be tired about?”
“Not that. I meant you worked hard preparing everything to come here from Korea.”
Booking accommodations, renting a car, etc. Kang Dae-oh handled almost all the miscellaneous tasks.
He couldn’t ask his daughters to do it.
Thinking that it was most ideal for a father to take the initiative, Kang Dae-oh quietly carried out his duties without complaint.
Thanks to this, his family could focus solely on their goal of seeing Kang Yebin.
Min Seung-yeon recalled receiving a text message from Kang Yebin at the time.
“You probably don’t know how surprised I was then, do you? My mind went blank, wondering if something had happened to Yebin.”
Min Seung-yeon, like Kang Dae-oh, was a person who worried immensely about her daughters.
All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind: perhaps something bad had happened to Kang Yebin, or if she had gotten hurt during filming.
Even after hearing from Kang Yebin that she was fine, Min Seung-yeon couldn’t feel at ease unless she confirmed with her own eyes that her second daughter was safe.
This was because, due to her personality, Kang Yebin was highly likely to lie to avoid worrying her family.
In fact, Min Seung-yeon’s attitude also greatly influenced Kang Dae-oh’s decision to immediately book a flight to the US.
Because he knew well how much his children’s mother was worrying about Kang Yebin.
“Still, it was good that we came here ourselves, wasn’t it?”
In response to Kang Dae-oh’s question, Min Seung-yeon nodded her head repeatedly, as if it were obvious.
“Yes. Now that I’ve seen she’s safe, I can finally relax. It seems Yebin was lonely because she’d been living alone for a long time.”
“That must be it.”
Kang Dae-oh didn’t know exactly what kind of life she had lived before the regression.
This was because his daughters rarely talked about their past.
So, he wasn’t sure if Kang Yebin had ever lived apart from her family for a long time in her previous life.
However, after the regression, she certainly hadn’t left her family’s embrace to live alone in a foreign country for such a long time.
It was presumed that this had a significant impact on Kang Yebin’s emotional state.
Because Kang Yebin is also a person.
It couldn’t be helped.
This time, Min Seung-yeon asked Kang Dae-oh in turn.
“It seems you’re also relieved after seeing Yebin in person.”
“Of course.”
It was worth taking time out of his busy schedule to come.
He felt that way.
Although there were many pending matters in Korea that they hadn’t been able to properly resolve before coming.
Everyone was determined to focus on spending time with Kang Yebin while they were in the US.
Today, thanks to Director John Denny’s consideration, the entire family was able to visit the movie set where Kang Yebin was filming.
Kang Yera looked around, sending curious glances everywhere.
There was a reason she couldn’t help but react this way.
“Unnie, this is your first time visiting an overseas movie set, right?”
Kang Yera nodded at Kang Yeyoung’s direct question.
“Because I’m not involved in the film industry.”
Even if she were involved, she couldn’t just freely enter a Hollywood set.
An invitation from the production team, or special consideration like now. Only by belonging to one of these could one visit the set.
That’s because visiting a film set means knowing in advance what scenes and actors will appear in a movie that has not yet been released.
If they were to go around giving strong spoilers to others, the director, the production team, and the person who allowed them onto the set would be in a very difficult position.
To prevent this in advance, “No Entry Except for Authorized Personnel” signs exist.
However, Kang Dae-oh’s family was temporarily granted that “authorized personnel” status today.
Moreover, today happened to be Kang Yebin’s filming day.
Kang Yebin, who had finished her makeup, quickly completed her script reading and immediately prepared for rehearsal.
At this moment, John Denny whispered something, pointing at Kang Yera in English.
Kang Yera asked Kang Yebin, who was standing on stage.
“What is the director saying?”
“Ah… Today’s scene is me singing on a music show, so he’s asking if unnie could be an advisor for just today.”
“Me?”
“Unnie, you’re an active idol, aren’t you? The director also knows a bit about you.”
If someone actively working as an idol in the K-pop market were to take on an advisory role, it would be an unparalleled stroke of luck and honor for John Denny.
This is because it’s a great opportunity to enhance the film’s details.
As a director who practically staked his life on details, missing such a golden opportunity was out of the question for him.
Kang Yera shrugged her shoulders as if there was nothing she could do, then quickly walked towards the stage.
“Yeyoung-ah. You come too.”
“Me too?”
Kang Yeyoung asked again at Kang Yera’s gesture.
“You’re better at seeing camera angles than I am.”
“That’s true.”
In the end, the two sisters actively stepped forward to help their sister.
Kang Dae-oh thought his daughters looked most beautiful when they stepped forward to help each other like that.
Of course, they often had arguments in their usual relationship.
Still, Kang Dae-oh knew very well that deep down, they all cared for each other.
Just seeing them watch Kang Yebin’s stage and generously offer advice, Kang Dae-oh could easily tell.
After the short rehearsal ended.
The main filming began.
Should one say she was truly Kang Yera’s sister?
‘She’s good.’
Kang Dae-oh watched Kang Yebin’s performance so impressively that he almost mistook her for actually debuting as a singer.
Director John Denny also seemed quite pleased, as he gave the “okay” sign immediately without a single blooper.
Thanks to this, Kang Yebin’s filming schedule for the day was able to finish quickly.
As she was greeting the staff and about to leave the set.
Director John Denny briefly called Kang Dae-oh aside.
He had a look as if he wanted to say something.
The words he spoke to Kang Dae-oh were very impressive and meaningful.
“You have wonderful daughters. It was great to see that they are all exceptionally talented and seem to get along well with each other.”
Perhaps it was because he heard praise for his daughters from a famous Hollywood director.
“Thank you, Director.”
A deep smile spread across Kang Dae-oh’s lips.
After finishing all their schedules in the US, Kang Dae-oh’s family arrived at the airport with Kang Yebin.
Although the time spent in the US was incomparably happy and good because his family was there.
Kang Yebin couldn’t keep her family in the US just because of her own desires.
After all, they also had their own schedules.
Before parting, Min Seung-yeon hugged Kang Yebin tightly.
“If anything happens again, contact me anytime. Okay?”
“Yes, Mom. Please go back safely. And contact me when you arrive.”
“Okay.”
Kang Yera and Kang Yeyoung, the sisters, also shared a brief hug with Kang Yebin.
At first, Kang Yebin seemed shy about hugging her unnies and dongsaengs.
Soon, perhaps accustomed to the warm affection between sisters, they hugged each other without complaint.
“Since Yeyoung and I helped you, you have to buy us something delicious when you come to Korea. Got it?”
“Of course. I’ll remember that, unnie. And Yeyoung too.”
Kang Yebin stood in front of Kang Dae-oh one last time.
Kang Dae-oh stroked Kang Yebin’s head, who had grown up so much before he knew it.
“As Mom said, if you miss us again, don’t worry about time differences or anything, just contact us. Dad would rather that than you struggling alone and suffering.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
“No need to thank me. You’re not just anyone; you’re my daughter. I should naturally do this much.”
He wished that his incredibly proud and loving second daughter could fully pursue her unfulfilled dreams in the US.
And that she could return to her family’s embrace in good health.
Kang Dae-oh continued to hope and pray in his heart until the very moment before boarding the plane.
