Friendships Desires and Secrets

Amy

Alex and Tara were on face time on their computers as soon as they came in from work. The coordinated their outfits so neither overdressed the other. To soon the 4:00 alarm sounded.

"Oh, I have to meet that person at the coffee shop." Alex remembered.

"The one who's name you didn't get."

"Yup that one."

"You want me to come with you?"

"You can, its over here though. Will you have enough time to shower and get your hair and makeup finished if you come all this way and back?"

"Shoot no, probably not." Tara pouted. "Maybe some other time, if she's our sort of friend, you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I mean she seemed nice enough. I won't stay too long cause I still want to get a shower myself."

"How do you even work out showers there? Doesn't everyone on your floor use the same one?"

"Yes, and that why I have to be back for my time slot." Alex groaned." Next year, when my lease is up, I am defiantly moving into a place with its own bathroom. And kitchen! I'm so sick of eating out. Never thought I would say that!"

"I don't know why you don't just break it now."

"Cause I don't want to be labeled and one of "those" foreigners."

Tara scoffed softly. "Since when do you care what anyone thinks about you Alex?"

"Since she will be my ONLY reference when I try to get a nicer place. I have always tried to be over-the-top nice and respectful to her."

"Has it helped?"

"Well..." Alex thought for a moment. "She doesn't try to stop me from using the elevator anymore."

"I told you, you should walk up to the second floor and catch it there."

"And I told you that she watched that thing for most of the day. She would know."

They wrapped up their conversation and Alex walked down all the flights of stairs to the lobby. The down wasn't the hard part. In the US the matronly door guard would have been called an old bitty, poking her nose into everyone's affairs as she watched the people that went in and out. Probably chain-smoking Marlboro reds in a box and blasting soaps on the small TV. But she wasn't some building superintendent's wife. Mrs. Kim owned the building and paid for the use of the elevator. The Korean people were proud of ownership, and she wanted to make sure no one of less than reputable standing got into her building.

There was the difference. Mrs. Kim didn't want wet boots messing up her floors, though she cleaned them daily. She didn't want to be judged or known to have a loose character. It was in her genetic makeup to carry herself in a respectable manner. Molly sucked-her-way-through-high-school wanted to be able to gossip and have information so the hot cops that showed up constantly, would pay attention to her. Dignity and honor versus all the seven deadly sins in one human.

The street was relatively quiet for Seoul, like the whole city was listening to the snow falling. Yesterday it had been a balmy 6 degrees Celsius. (43f) Today it was -6 and snowing heavily. (21f) Maybe the American woman had the good sense to stay home, or to buy a long coat like what everyone else wore. She was saving her won for a new place and didn't want to spend anything. Besides, her sweater and scarf were doing well as long as the weather stayed snowy. Cold rain would quickly permeate the crocheted scarf. She also wore two masks to keep in as much warm air as possible.

When she rounded the building, she could see the woman sitting at a corner table, warming her bare hands around a hot cup of coffee, no long coat in site. When Alex opened the door, the womans eyes flicked up and filled with delight. She stood, almost upending the hot coffee.

"Hey, sorry." She set the coffee right. "I forgot to give you my name this morning. I'm Amy. Amy Shay."

Alex took Amys outstretched hand hesitantly, out of the habit of the customary American greeting. "Alex Conner."

"It feels amazing to speak English. I'm not translating everything I think. How long have you lived here?"

"Not long, but I studied the language and customs before moving here." Alex moved to sit in the opposite seat.

"Oh, so you didn't come for the schools?"

"Well yes sort of," Alex checked her phone. "I honestly came here for the housing market.

Amy looked confused. "It's expensive here though, isn't it?"

"Depends on who you know and what you are willing to settle for. "

Amy nodded and thought about it. "What do you mean settle for?"

"I live in a studio apartment. No bathroom, no kitchen."

Amy cringed outwardly. "Oh yeah. I looked at places like that and couldn't dream of sharing. I have too much stuff."

"I was that way at first, but I have become somewhat of a minimalist since moving here. I used to basically be a hoarder. When you are trying to fit it all into a few bags, lots of things go on the chopping block."

"That's probably better than all the stuff I had shipped here. It was an expensive undertaking to be sure."

"I parted with so much of my stuff before I moved. My sister took some, and I had a farm full of animals that I had to sell or find homes for. It was very much a 'putting your affairs in order' process. Or it was for me anyway."

"Really wow. I had to save forever to come here, but it was worth it. What sort animals did you have?"

"Oh, ducks and chickens. I had goats at one time. I've had dogs and cats for most of my life, so I had to figure all that out. It took over a year to sort out my life there."

Amy nodded. Her phone vibrated and the opened it and answered a text before looking back up at Alex. "So, are you busy this weekend?"

"I actually have plans with a stack of papers to grade. I teach three different classes during the day. We can exchange info and when I have free time, I can text you and we could meet up for coffee."

"Okay, yes! That's perfect." Amy took a sip of the cooling brew in front of her.

After exchanging information and parting ways, Alex booked it back home. The snow was falling in large clumps and was sticking to her scarf. She sighed and was happy when she finally got into the shower. She washed quickly in the scalding water and stood in the stream as long as she had time for, warming her body. It was a mistake with the temperature dropping outside by the minute. She toweled off quickly and dressed in a dark blue blouse and dark denim. She hurried out of the bathroom and back to her room in her shower shoes.

She looked at herself in the mirror and was happy with what she was seeing. She put on her black zip up boots with high socks, minimal makeup and wore her long dark blondish red hair half up in a clip. She wore her normal small hoops and her coin necklace. It was a 1994, 100 won coin in a glass locket. The coin was a gift from Maria and motivation of a sort. To have a bit of Korea close while she prepared. She glanced at herself once and donned her heaviest sweater and scarf before heading out the restaurant.