Chapter 1
“We’re here, James.”
I slowly open my eyes when my girl best friend, Brianna wakes me up from my short nap.
“Rise and shine, Mr. Sniper,” playfully said by my partner-in-crime, Tyler Gonzales.
“Oh, shut up, dagger,” I also said playfully to him.
Brianna Morales, my girl best friend and my childhood friend. We became friends since we’re very young. My dad and her dad are best friends, that’s how we became so close at a very young age. Ever since we’re in middle school up until college, we aren’t separated, we’re like a bubble gum that stick to each other.
Brianna, is really pretty, she has a very sweet smile, soft pale skin, and a long wavy brown hair. She’s actually a volleyball star here in our country, one of the best, that she owns the title as “Golden Setter,” here in the Philippines.
Tyler Gonzales, my partner-in-crime and my buddy. He’s the shooting guard of our team. Yes, you’re right, I’m a basketball player just like him. We’re the so-called “Unstoppable Guards.” Well, that is what it used to be until that day…--- Well, moving forward, Tyler is kinda’ handsome, but I’m more handsome than him. He has this bad boy aura all over him. He’s hot, but I’m hotter, and well, he’s a playboy.
So, that’s it! These two people who are with me right now, are my best friends. They’re currently accompanied me to the airport.
“I’m going to miss you, Bry2x,” Brianna said in a cute way while her eyes are teary.
“It’s just two months, then, I’ll be back. So, don’t cry.”
Brianna tries hard to stop her tears to flow from her pretty face. She’s cute by the way.
“It will be the first time that we’re going to be apart for how so many years.”
I laugh because of the cuteness of my girl best friend. So, I pat her head.
“Don’t worry, I’m going to bring a lot of chocolates and ramyeon when I go back.”
“Okay! That’s a promise!”
I just laugh. Sometimes this best friend of mine is a little bit childish.
I turn my head and look at Tyler who’s standing behind Brianna, and he’s looking at me seriously. I know, he’s a little bit upset of my decision.
“I’m going right now, dagger. Take care!”
“Do you really have to do this?”
“I need to.”
He sighs annoyingly. Then, he looks at me.
“Take care there, I’ll be waiting for you. No,” he shakes his head and seriously said, “We’ll be waiting for you, sniper.”
I just nod at him. I pick up my bag. Before I went inside the airport, I glance at them one last time. I salute to them and then, I enter the premises.
______________________________________
After a few hours of travelling, I finally arrive in Korea. I went out in the airplane I ride. As I go down in the ladder that’s used to climb down and up when you’re going to get in and out of the airplane, I pause for a while and sniff the air of this beautiful place.
“Haaaa…” I inhale and exhale. “This is how Korea smells like.”
“Hey, can you move now? You’re blocking the way,” someone strictly said behind my back, causing me to hurriedly climb down. “I’m sorry,” I timidly said.
“What a fool, acting like you’re in a movie,” she mumbles. Upon hearing it, all I can do is look down because of embarrassment.
As I’m now inside the waiting area, I look around to find someone who will come to get me here. After a few seconds of looking around, I finally found a signage with my name saying, “WELCOME TO KOREA, MY DEAR COUSIN BRIELLE!”
I finally see my dear cousin, Brenson Cortez. I slowly approach him and when he sees me, he waves his hand like a kid.
“Cousin!”
I scoff because of his reaction. He is really like a kid. When I finally in front of him, he then hugs me so tight that I almost choke.
“He---hey… I… I can’t breathe,” I said while tapping his back.
He lets go of me, then, he looks at me with a wide smile plaster in his face.
“I’m sorry,bro, hahaha… I’m just so excited!”
“You’re a grown up, now,” I said while messing his hair.
“Of course! Let’s go! Let me help you with your things,” he said and slowly help me bring my things.
FAST FORWARD>>>>>
After a few minutes of ride, we finally arrived at the house of my cousin Brenson. Well, I’m thankful for that because this cousin of mine is like a girl, he’s so talkative that it made my energy drain.
“Welcome to my beautiful abode, my dear cousin,” he said cheerfully while spreading his arms. I look around the house, it’s not that big but I can feel the cozy atmosphere in it. Then, he went to get my things and we go inside their house.
“Ooohhhh… James,” a beautiful woman in her 40’s welcome me with a hug.
“Aunt Justine.”
“You’re so handsome, my dear nephew.”
I just awkwardly laugh at her compliment to me.
“Okay, mom, let Bry2x rest first. He’s having a jetlag right now.”
“Okay, rest well my dear.”
I just nod at her, then, Brenson help me with my things in carrying it to my bedroom.
“This will be your room. I let you rest for a while. Then, later I’ll accompany you to the different beautiful spots here in Korea.”
I look at him and smile. “Thank you so much, Brenson.”
“You’re always welcome, bry. You know, you’re like my older brother. That’s why when I heard that you’ll have a vacation here, I’m so happy. I can’t wait to spent more time with you again.”
“Thank you.”
“So, I’ll let you rest now,” he said and then close the door.
After he left, I look around in my bedroom. It’s not that big and spacious but its cozy enough. There’s a medium bed in the corner, with a table two inches apart from the bed. Moreover, there’s also a small bookcase beside the study table. Then, a door to the comfort room.
I plop to the bed and stare at the ceiling.
“I’m doing the right decision, right? This is the best way for me to think carefully, right?” I sigh deeply. “What am I doing? I’m like a crazy person, talking to myself.” I annoyingly said to myself.
Instead of thinking anything, I decided to sleep for a while. Maybe because of jetlag, I easily goes to sleep.
[knock…knock]
“Cous?”
I slowly open my eyes as I heard someone knocking in the door of my bedroom.
“Are you awake?”
I slowly get up and went to open the door.
“Hey… are you ready to have fun?” – Brenson
“I’ll change my clothes first,” I said.
“Okay,” he said and then I close the door.
After I change my clothes and pack my camera by hanging it in my neck, I went outside to meet with Brenson, who’s waiting in the living room.
“Let’s go?” – Brenson
I just nod at him and then he picks up his black sling bag and went out of the house. I look at aunt and nod at her, and follow him.
While I am buckling my seatbelt, I look at Brenson and I see the excitement in his eyes.
“Where are we going?”
“Mmm… I’m going to introduce you to one of my favorite places here in Korea, cous.”
“Okay, I’m excited what’s this place you love the most.”
“You’re going to be shock,” he said cheerfully.
“Let’s see. I’m not that easily to get impress.”
He just laughs as a response. I just chukled. This cousin of mine is really energetic.
______________________________________
After a few minutes of travel, we finally arrived at the said favorite place of my dear cousin, and I’m going to take back what I said earlier. I do say, I’m not going to be shock about it, but literally my mouth agape at what I see. I am dumbfounded right now.
“Museum? Really? You?”
This is really unexpected.
“Hahaha… why cous? Don’t you see me as an art lover?”
I look at Brenson with confusion written all over my face. “I don’t really picture you like that.”
He just laughs and then he wrap his arms around my shoulders and seriously said, “Cous, I may be hot and handsome,” I scoff at what he said. “I may look like a bad guy, but I do have a soft spot when it comes to art.”
I just shake my head while he just laughs at my reaction.
“Well then, let me tour you to the world of art,” he said and then went inside the museum. I sigh deeply and follow him.
Inside the museum, Brenson introduce and explain to me the different types of painting hanging in the different corners of the wall. I just listen to him and even take some pictures. Well, I honestly impress with my cousin. He really does have a lot of knowledge in each painting. He is able to decipher the meaning of each, unlike me. If I’m going to be alone in this place, I’m just going to stare at each painting, appreciating its beauty, that’s all. In the case of my cousin, he be able to get the meaning of each painting, the message of it, and that’s what amazes me.
“What can you say about this place, cous?” Brenson ask with a very wide smile showcasing that he’s having fun right now.
I look at him and I can see the excitement in his eyes. “Well, it’s not bad. I slowly start to love it.”
“Well, that’s why I love art. I love paintings, because paintings somehow convey the feelings and thoughts of the painter behind it. It made me wonder, why he be able to paint like this? Why he/she paints it? It’s just so intriguing and wonderful,” marvelously said by Brenson.
I look at my cousin and I can see that he’s really mesmerize by it, but at the same time, I see some sadness in his eyes, or maybe I’m just imagining it.
“Well, I’ll just go to the comfort room, cous. After this, we will go and eat. I’m hungry now. Enjoy yourself for a while.”
I just laugh at him. I once again look at each painting in this gallery. Well, I could say the painter behind of it is really great and this place is famous. That’s because there’s a lot of people actually coming here to see the different paintings here.
I’m just currently taking pictures of the said pictures when suddenly I take a picture of a girl, and I think she notices that I take a photo of her, as she slowly came near me.
“Did you take a picture of me?” she said softly but with a hint of worries in her voice.
A girl with brown wavy hair, pinkish lips, and fluffy cheeks came to me. She’s very fashionable too, she really looks like a model, however, the scarf on her neck and brown bonnet covers her beauty.
“Ah… I just accidentally take a pic of you, but it’s not really my intention. I’m so sorry. I’m just going to delete it,” I said to her.
“Ah… okay… I’m so sorry, I’m not that mad. I just want to ask a favor, not to post it in social media until I will leave here,” she said in a low voice almost like a whisper to me.
“What? I don’t understand… why would I post it in social media?” I frowned.
“Ah…” she said more like, she’s surprised at my response because I can see the confusion in her face after I ask that question. “You…you don’t know me?” she once again asks me but this time confusion is written all over her face.
“Well, I’m ---- we just literally meet, I mean, I just met you today.”
She’s shock after I said that to her. Why would she be shock about it? I mean, we just literally met right now. It’s the first time, why would I know her? She’s really pretty but, she’s weird.
We’re currently staring at each other until her phone rings. She looks at her phone and then, she sighs deeply like she’s sad as soon as she saw the person calling her.
“I’m so sorry, I probably should go. Just don’t mind what I just said to you right now.” She said and left.
I look at where she left. Right now, I’m still wondering why she acted like that.
“Hey couz!”
“Yeah!” I jump because I am surprised at the sudden emerge of Brenson.
“Why are you so shock? Let’s go?”
I nod at him and then we left the museum.
______________________________________
We’re currently at the Onjujeong restaurant. It’s a charming restaurant known for its homemade tofu and traditional dishes. I let my dear cousin to order some food. Right now, my mind is occupied with that girl.
“Tss… What does she think of herself?” I mumble to myself.
“What?” Brenson ask with his eyebrows frowned.
I didn’t know I said that out loud. “Ahm… nothing.”
Brenson look at me with his sneaky smile.
“Yeah, what is that look?”
“Well, I just left to do my business and you happened to meet a girl? Who is it?” Brenson importunate.
“Well, I just met this girl in the gallery. I just accidentally took a picture of her and she notice it. She begs to not post her picture in the social media. Well, why would I post her picture? Who is she for me to post it?” I annoyingly said.
When I couldn’t receive a respond from Brenson, I glance at him and he look at me teasingly. “What’s that look?”
“Is she pretty?”
I snicker at his response. “You know what? Never mind. Let’s just eat.”
“Hahahaha… why?”
I decided to ignore him and focus on eating my food.
______________________________________
After our bonding with Brenson, we finally arrived at his home. Currently, we’re having a dinner right now with his mom and dad.
“How are you, Bry? It’s been so long that I’ve seen you. You grow up as a handsome man,” Uncle John said to me.
I look at him and smile awkwardly at his compliment.
“You’re right honey. How’s your dad by the way?” Aunt Justine said while she’s putting a plate of gamjatang. Gamjatang is one of the famous foods here in Korea. It’s a spicy Korean pork bone soup.
“Well, he’s okay, aunt. He’s currently working on his auto shop.”
“Well, that’s good to hear!”
I smile at her and continue eating my food.
“Mom, do you know? Couz met a girl… and he said she’s pretty.” Brenson suddenly said with a teasing look written all over his face.
“Really?” Aunt Justine ask.
“It’s not like that, aunt,” I awkwardly said.
“Hahaha… what’s her name?”
“I… I don’t know. I mean, she’s weird aunt. She’s not my type,” I said.
Then they all laugh. I give Brenson a glare, and he just laughs it off.
“By the way, how’s basketball?” Uncle John ask.
I couldn’t answer from that question. It made my appetite lose. That’s how sensitive I am talking about basketball.
“Ah…”
I can see from my peripheral vision that Aunt Justine nudge Uncle John’s arms.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Uncle Justin said.
“Uhm… it’s okay,” I said while putting an awkward smile at him.
After that awkward dinner, I’m finally here in my bedroom resting. I’m currently lying at my bed staring at the ceiling.
[FLASHBACK]
“James? James? Are you okay?” Tyler asks me with a worried look written in his face as I am here struggling in enduring the pain in my left ankle.
“Ahhh… damn… man… it hurts so much…” I said while catching my breath.
All I can feel is the pain in my left ankle, that I couldn’t even realize that my body is already lifted.
[END OF FLASHBACK]
I sit up from lying down and look at my left ankle.
“Damn it Damn it!” I said angrily while hitting my left ankle.
Why?
Why do I have to felt this?
Why?
I thought to myself not even realizing that my face got wet from the tears flowing from my two eyes.
