Moon nights - a summer romance in Seoul

Chapter 17: Ayla

Maybe the reason I'm so afraid of the ocean is because it shares the same unknown depth that exists inside of me

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After we arrived back in Seoul from our day trip to Chuncheon, we decided to lighten up the mood  among us before calling it a day.
The two options we came up with were either karaoke bars or bowling, so we settled with the second option as there was a slight tiredness of the day washing over our bodies from the day trip.

The bowling center in Itaewon was packed with people our age as we made our way to the rented lane. Buckled up with the bowling shoes, we were ready to strike the game. Backed up with various snacks and drinks from the bar. Benefit of doubt, Soju shots while bowling did not make much sense to me. If you wanted to win the game. But if you want a good time? Go for it. Taehyun was taking one after another and he didn't even appear to loosen up with the alcohol in his system. Jonghyun turns all cuddly with that amount of alcohol. The other night, he refused to let go from Faras and proclaimed himself as his biggest fan. It was adorable, I admit. Just like the photo we had taken on Polaroid.

From Tala turning out to be the secret bowling master to Faras slipping and landing on his wrist that may or may not have resulted in a sprained wrist, the game was an absolute delight in which we had to hold onto our stomachs from laughing tears. Tatho would purposefully stretch as if he was getting ready for gymnastic sports at the Olympics, and Jonghyun would throw, as my grandfather would say it, the ball like a watermelon. Which didn't earn him any extra points as he was still lingering in the last spots:

Taehyun: 90

Tala: 89

Faras: 80

Mina: 77

Tatho: 76

Naeun: 70

Ayla: 65

Jonghyun: 47

After a complete set of three rounds, we grabbed some pizza and fried chicken on our way back to our houses. Tired and hungry from the day.

As it was still a scheduled filming day, the cameras continued to film us.
Usually, alcohol doesn't get censored on TV in South Korea. Still, regarding the show, the producers wanted a clean image for the participants so the drinking happened more behind the scenes and on our off days. We needed to appear eager to learn more about history and represent our countries than drinking and smoking. Partying.
Even if the drinking culture of South Korea was immense. Going for drinks after work on a Monday? Completely normal, according to the girls. Mina's father, an executive in the big 4 was out multiple nights a week. "I don't know how his body keeps up with it, it's one big mistake he won't spill", she had said.

"Since when do you wear glasses?" Jonghyun looked up from his notebook, glasses framing his face.

"Every time I overuse my contacts and need to give my eyes a beak" he tapped the black frame of his vintage-styled club master with the pen on his hand.

"I have an important event, and I don't want to risk my eyes getting irritated or causing trouble. Since I'll be wearing circle lenses"

"Is your eyesight that bad? Do you rely on your glasses and contacts that much?", I joked. "You can't see straight?"

"Yeah," he laughed, "I can barely see without them; everything's foggy. But perhaps I should argue that your beauty blinds me and, therefore, can't see straight anymore. How does that sound?"

"Ridiculous. Truly" I returned my attention to video on my phone.

"Ahh, no matter what I do, I can't seem to please you. You cruel, cruel thing" Grinning, he leaned closer, and I didn't pull back, challenging him. Everyone else was distributed around the house, it was only the two of us, in our usual garden corner around midnight.