5/12

I will warn you, this is where things begin to turn.

It's crazy how one day you can feel like you're on top of the world. That you finally found your place in life's puzzle and now you just have to wait for the rest of the pieces to fall into place. But here's the thing,

life is a puzzle with an ever changing picture.

So Sunday morning I wake up around 10 am, finally managing to get some decent sleep. As I left the house, bound for The Bread Blue, I realized my phone was failing to catch a signal. Not that finding a decent wifi connection couldn't fix the problem, but it was still inconvenient while I traveled from place to place. I made a mental note to ask my mom for assistance once I reach the bakery.

To my surprise, Arthur has taken the Sunday morning shift at the bakery, I had assumed he only worked week days. After some short conversation, I got a blueberry muffin and latte, then popped a squat at my usual table. 

Around 12 pm, I started to grow a little concerned that I hadn't heard from 민규 (Mingyu) since he messaged me the night before. It was usual for him to sleep long hours, sometimes as late as 2 pm. But still it seemed strange.

Dave messaged me, informing me that the house party with our mutual friends had been a smashing success the night before. I had planned to go, but work prevented me from being able to make the trip 2 hours into 수원(Suwon) before the subways closed down. 

We also agree to carry out our previously tentative plan that day to visit the sushi shop Dave had just begun working at part time. It was one town over in the city of 하남 (Hanam), so the journey was a bit tedious. 하남 in general is difficult to navigate. A very up and coming area, half the city is under construction. Its as if the whole town were a half finished painting, a subway system that was yet to be completed, roads ending just to further be paved in a week's time, and street signs that still had yet to be marked with names. 

Not to mention, 하남 is much more spread out, and without the help of a completed subway system, it takes twice as long to get anywhere by the mere 4 buses that run around the city. 

On the bright side, its a beautiful area, full of families and wide landscapes. Its very clean and quiet, and is a nice break from the busy city of near 10 million bodies. 

I pack up after completing my work, a bit later than I'd have liked. I was meant to meet Dave at 2:30 but wouldn't be able to make it until around 3. 

No matter, I thought. I'll just send him a message on my way......................... there..........

Right. No signal.

So I hoped for the best and took the journey there, assuming I'd be able to pick up wifi once I got to the station nearest 하남 where we were planning to meet. There's only one subway transfer, and as I wait for the doors to open so I can join the 5 line, a little old man sidles up next to me. 

"American man???"

I look at him with shock and confusion. 

"American man????" He asks again with a gleam of delight in his eyes. I open my mouth to reply but am not sure how to... American, yes. Man? no. 

"미국 사람이에요? (Are you from America?)" 

I giggle and nod my head "네, 네 (Yes, yes)." It was honestly the cutest thing I've ever seen.

As I get myself situated into a nice comfy seat and prepare myself for another 18 minutes of boredom, an announcement comes over the intercom. My head begins to get little pricks of anxiety, as announcements usually meant there was going to be some sort of change to the route. The last time this had happened I wasn't able to get home because my transfer station had started on fire.

Lovely.

Not being able to understand the static infused voice, I chose to just wait it out. If everyone got off the train that was a pretty good sign that I should, too. 

Luckily, the announcement is dismissed after the next stop, and I am relieved, sinking back into my seat. 

When I finally reach my destination, I hop off the train and do my best to get myself connected to the nearby free wifi. Success! I message Dave an apology and ask which exit to meet at.

He tells me 4.

I go outside of 4. No Dave.

He tells me inside 4.

I go back in. No Dave.

He tells me he's in 와플학교 (Waffle Hakgyo | Waffle University). I go inside the small cafe I had JUST PASSED BY UPON EXITING THE TRAIN. There's Dave, a half empty Americano at his side. And then a half empty American.

Me.

HE HAD BEEN HERE THE WHOLE TIME WHY DID I JUST GO IN CIRCLES.

I grab his attention and we agree that we're both ready to eat... buuuuuuuuuuuuut his workplace was on break from until 4 pm. 

So where else to go when you've got time on your hands than the mall? 

The famous Starfield mall to be exact. Its several stories of pure shopping heaven, with brands from all across the world, a spa, a movie theater, and plenty of places to grab a bite to eat. 

But first was the Pokemon Go pop up stand.

Pokemon Go had appeared in Korea much later than in the US, so still was a fad that could be jumped on. So naturally, with the help of Dave, I did.

Team Instinct for the win (although I really don't know what we're winning. where is my medal?). I also managed to catch a carrot-eating friend. 

And entered to compete in best snapshot. 

After our poke shenanigans, Dave and I wander around the mall, getting smoothies from Smoothie King, and visiting fun stores you'd never seen in the US. Such as a gift and toy shop from Switzerland. Everything was incredibly inexpensive, full of useless but ingenious items such as a martini glass that doubled as a pen, chopstick Jenga, and miniature pool tables.

And a designer glasses store selling futuristic glasses that you'd think you'd find in the matrix... but for way more than they're worth.

After the mall, we took a bus deeper into 하남, closer to Dave's restaurant. It was my first time riding in a luxury bus, and I was more than pleased with the amenities. Squishy, soft seating, reclining chairs, cup holders, seat pockets, and a USB charging dock. It was so... luxury.

We walk a bit and stop to  pick up coffees from Mega Box for his coworkers. We pass my favorite restaurant I've ever passed ever. Not for the concept, not for the food...

But for the name. 

We surprise them with the drinks, and they offer some of the kindest service I've ever received in Korea. We order Set A, which consists of a salad, 12 pieces of sushi, tempura shrimp, and your choice of 모밀 (momil) or 우돈 (Udon). 

And they also gifted us a second plate as service that was full of all my favorite things (except salmon). 

After our early dinner, we stop by his home so that I can see 엄마~~~~~~~~~~~~!

25th floor😨

엄마 (eomma | mom) is my number one, favorite Korean mom ever. Why? Because she has adopted me as her second daughter whenever I'm visiting the country. 엄마 loves the color pink, and she makes sure you know it. So I bought her a mug in the states that says "Midwest is Best" in gold cursive over ceramic pastel pink. It was displayed proudly among her other mugs. 

She offered me grapefruit juice. Which also happens to be pink. And we caught up with the best of our abilities to speak the other language (mostly my bad Korean) as she told me about all the exciting things happening to her. 복도리 (bohk dorri), their dog, or as I like to call him, Mini Satan, is the one dog I have never been able to pet. He's very small, cute, and makes it seem like he wants you to pet him. But if you dare try and you're not 엄마... you will be missing a hand shortly. For most visitors, he was relentless, never leaving them at peace. But for some reason he simply accepted me, eyeing me cautiously all along. Listening. Carefully.

The clock ticked into 8 pm, and it being Sunday and a long ride home, we agreed it was best that I made my way home. 엄마 drove me to the subway station, and I gave her big hand hugs goodbye and promised to see Dave in the upcoming weekend.

As I finally return home, I note that 민규 still hadn't even read my messages. I do my best to shrug it off and tuck myself in for the night, feeling very, very sleepy.

Around 2:00 am I wake up feeling the need for pee. So I roll out of bed to go use the bathroom, noticing the two girls vacationing had finally come home and were talking excitedly in their room. Not too loud, though. Bless.

I return to my room and check my phone. I rub my eyes over and over again, reading the first message.

No reason, no explanation, no warning.

Actually, I wanna break up with you.