Strange Situation

Time flies. Have you heard the expression before? Because it’s honestly true. You can’t help feeling a sense of nostalgia, but it’s quite best to explain why.

Currently, in life you are comfortable. You had your dream job as a graphic designer, for a top-of-the-line company. Working with such a great company the monetary compensation was quite nice, being able to buy your own dream home. Sure it was not as grandiose as others, but the two-room two bath home was just perfect for you alone.

Yes, alone. Although you had these great things in your life, there was no one to share them with. The main reason is you’re a dork. Most first dates end up with girls leaving, disappointed with who you were not your looks. Oh well, nothing you can do to change your personality.

It was an average Friday after work. You just parked your vehicle in the garage and stepped out. Making way to the entrance of your home you stop yourself from entering through the side garage door, remembering the mail. Walking out the garage gate, your legs pull you closer to the black mailbox until you are in front of it. Opening the mailbox you can see its normal grocery store fliers as well as a few letters. Pulling them out you close the mailbox and walk to the front door, entering your passcode as the door unlocks.

Walking into your home gives you a sense of relief, and relaxation, as you enter the living room. Kicking off your shoes you sit down on your couch as you reach for the tv remote and turn it on. The light from the tv fills the room as you hear the sound of laughter fill the room from your tv. Slowly your hand puts down most of the mail you got as you go one by one opening each envelope.

Bills bills bills and bills. That’s the one thing you can always count on getting in the mail. After looking through those documents and paying them no mind you see there is a final letter in the pile. In the right-hand corner, the insignia from your old school is present on it.

A bit of hesitation hits as your hand reaches out for the letter. Pushing through the worries you had, your hand finally picks it up and rips open the white envelope. Pull out the paper inside you see its written document that has a few choice words standing out, HIGH SCHOOL REUNION.

Greetings Gal Munhee. We here at Seoul Regional High hope you have been well. Five years have quickly passed and it is now time for the high school reunion. We do realize this is a bit earlier than usual but we feel after this pandemic we all might want to reconnect with others and what a perfect way than with the reunion. The reunion will be on July third and we hope to see you there.

Sincerely, the faculty at Seoul Regional High.

Just reading that entire letter made your heart nearly explode. The reason? You were an even bigger dork in high school. The constant teasing is what you can remember the most. It’s happened so often that you became numb to it but it still affected your life choices from there forward.

You got yourself in better shape as well as got a makeover with those little teases always staying in the back of your mind.

Looking at the date you saw it was June ninth, three weeks before the reunion. Maybe you got this letter pretty late but this was on short notice for sure. The question now was, are you going to go to it?

Sure it’s been a while and you have done pretty well in life but there was still stuff you can imagine they will mock you for. The main thing that came to mind was the lack of a partner in life after all this time. Should you do it?

That question was answered as you made a quick text to your boss letting him know you will be absent that day from work. Looks like you got a lot of planning to do in the weeks coming up.

June 16th

That date just echoes in your head as you take a glance at your phone. A week has passed since you got the letter and you have spent the last few days after work getting new clothes for the reunion. With a brand new suit and such at home.

The sound of typing could faintly be heard throughout the floor as the work day was coming to its end.

“ Ehm.”

Looking to the side you quickly found the source of the coughing, your best friend and coworker Wendy.

“Oh noona. Are you all done with your work?”

“You know me. I’m always ahead of others. Now let’s go eat. I feel like stuffing my face with some chicken and beer.”

“Eh, I think I’m gonna keep working on the new design for the phone advertisement.”

“ No no no. I don’t want to hear it at all. Get your ass out of the seat and let’s go. You have been working the hardest out of everyone in this department. You need a small break and you’re already late either way.”

The glare that came from Wendy’s face let you know she wasn’t asking, she was telling you what you are about to do. Not wanting to make Wendy wait any longer, you quickly got up from your seat and saved the rest of the work on your desktop. Looking at Wendy you can finally see a smile as she grabs your hand.

“ Let’s go Pabo!”

Being yanked by your best friend to the elevator just made you laugh. Arriving in front of the elevators you are lucky enough to see a group of people getting off your floor. Entering the elevator your finger presses the button to go down to the lobby. No longer holding your hand, Wendy begins to jump up and down, excited to be out of work.

The elevator ride from the twenty-fifth floor goes by in a flash as the doors open to the lobby. Wendy begins to run out of the elevator as you follow behind her, running as well. After saying Goodnight to the guard at the desk, you walked over to your vehicle and jumped in with Wendy getting in the passenger seat.

Stepping on the break, your hand reaches for the start button on your car as it comes to life. Driving didn’t even take any thinking from you as your mind already knew where to go. Wendy was always a big fan of unwinding after work so chicken and beer were a common thing on the menu for the two of you.

“Peek-a peek-a-boo!”

Those words could repeatedly be heard in your car as you and Wendy’s sang your hearts out to the song. A few more minutes pass as the song ends and there is silence in the car.

“Wendy?”

“ What’s up Munhee?

“ I still think you should quit your job and go become a singer.”

“ You know how complicated it can be trying to become one. Hearing the stories of people trying just discourages me from even trying. Plus I doubt I even have a nice voice.”

“ I don’t want to hear shit about you not having a good voice. I have told you time and time again that you have a voice to make you a star.”

“ I’d rather have a more realistic view on how it will probably go.”

All you can do is shake your head a bit disappointed but you understand what she is saying.

“Well no matter what I’ll always support you noona.”

You could see a small nod come from Wendy as you look in your peripheral vision. At that same time, you happen to be parking your car on the street, getting ready to go to your usual chicken spot.

The walk to the shop was quite uneventful as you both set foot in the busy restaurant. All around you can see servers running like crazy.

“ Wendy, Munhee! Sit down anywhere and I will bring over your usual.”

“Thank you, Mrs.Choi!”

Seeing that your usual corner is still open, your legs bring you towards the table as you pull back the chair and let Wendy sit down. Going back to your seat you finally sit down as your body relaxes a bit in the restaurant. At that time a waitress runs over with two big mugs of beer and places them in front of the both of you.

“Thank you!”

Wendy was the first to grab the mug of beer and bring it to her face. Grabbing your own you begin to chug the beer until your mug is empty. Looking at Wendy you see she drank her whole beer already as well.

“Two more draft beers please!”

“Coming!”

Not even thirty seconds go by as the waitress brings over 2 more glasses of beer. Thanking the woman you grab your fresh mug of beer and begin to drink from it.

“ Jesus. Is it me or do you just seem more stressed than usual?”