THE BET 🦋

I.

The sun was setting over the city skyline, casting a warm orange glow across the street. A chilly autumn breeze swept through the streets, causing the leaves to rustle and the branches to sway. I was sitting alone in front of my favorite cafe, and nervously sipped latte as I waited for my boyfriend, Yoo Hyeon-woo. Since I always prefer to be early than late, I knew I would be waiting a little longer. Hyeon-woo has a habit of coming a little later, but over this time I got used to it. But today was a little different. He didn't pick up my phone or answer my messages all day. He didn't reply even when I wanted to confirm the place and time of the meeting.
I hope nothing bad happened to him, Nabi said to herself.
We agreed to meet up after he ends in work to celebrate our six-month anniversary. I nervously looked at my phone, checking the time every few seconds, because it was getting pretty late.
Just as I was about to text Hyeon-woo to see where he was, my phone buzzed. My heart sank as I read the message: "Nabi we need to talk. I can't do this anymore."
What does it mean? What he can't do anymore?
I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I frantically tried to call him, but he wouldn't answer. My mind raced with questions as I stood there, abandoned and alone.
What went wrong? Was there someone else?
The love that I thought would last forever had crumbled to dust in just a few cold words on a phone screen. I didn't know what to do, so I just sat there. My mind was consumed with thoughts of him. When I was replaying them in my head, I realized a few details that I had missed. I was so in love that I didn't see them... or rather I chose not to. Sometimes when he received a message, he hid it or didn't read it at all. When he was on the phone, he went into the next room.
It was my first relationship and I didn't have much experience, so I thought it was probably fine this way. Now if you're wondering how I didn't know that... I've never had an example of someone having an ideal relationship. My parents divorced when I was 13 and since then I have not been in contact with my father. I lived with my mom until I moved away for college. While I was still living with her, she brought all kinds of men home, so I'm basically glad I got the chance to get out of there.
I don't know how or when, I just suddenly dialed Bitna. She is my best friend in the whole world.
"Nabi?" I heard her voice on the phone.
I didn't answer. I didn't have the strength to, because otherwise I would probably burst into an unstoppable stream of tears.
"Oh no, Is it about him again? About Hyeon-woo? What did he do this time?", she asked.
"He...he broke up with me. Through message...," I said in a low voice, so that I could hardly be heard.
"What did the son of a bitch do?" she asked angrily. I don't know if it was anger or rather shock.
"He broke up..."
"Oh, I heard you that first time just right," she said. "Where is he? Tell me where he is and I'll beat the crap out of him for this."
"I don't know. He's not answering my phone or answering my messages. What should I do?", Nabi said in a broken voice. She could barely speak through the lump that formed in her throat and through the tears that poured from her eyes.
"Where are you now?", she asked.
"In front of the Ddong Café."
"I'll tell you right now what you're going to do. I'll pick you up and we'll go to the club. You need to get him out of your head and alcohol is the best way to do that.", she said in a satisfied voice.
"I don't know... you know I don't go to clubs and I don't like big crowds. I don't think I'll be able to have fun in this state," Nabi countered. I really don't like clubs or crowds of people. In this, we are with Bitna the complete opposite. She seeks out such events and she is always assured that everywhere she goes she can be seen, or more importantly heard, either because of her red-black hair or because of her shrill voice.
"Nabi, I know what it's like to break up with someone and I know what the best medicine is. Don't forget that I have much better experience with this than you do." I felt like I could see the wink even through the phone. I let out a weak laugh.
"Well, you see, that's exactly the way I like it. I'm going to get dressed and I'll be there in ten minutes. Please try not to emotionally collapse until then," she said and hung up the phone.
So I was left to sit alone, with my thoughts.

*****

The sun dipped below the horizon and the stars began to twinkle overhead, when Bitna arrived in her used SUV, which she loved and hated at the same time. As a student, however, she could not afford more. In a few days, our first semester at the Korea State University of Art and Design begins. Now I'm really glad that instead of hanging out with friends and drinking in clubs, I worked part-time jobs to earn a small apartment near the school. Of course, I probably wouldn't have been able to do it without my mom's help, but still.
I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and stood up from the table, ready to face the harsh reality of my shattered heart.
"Hop in," she said.
"Where are we even going?" I asked uncertainly, still not very convinced that this was the best idea.
"You will see." That was her whole answer. She probably wanted to keep me in suspense until the very end.
It didn't take long and we arrived in front of the Han River Hype Club. My eyes widened in surprise at how many people were waiting in line. So we will definitely not get into this club, even if we stand in line for several hours.
I decided to express my concerns out loud.
"Hmmm Bitna? I don't think we're going to get in that easily."
"Leave it to me, I have my ways," she said, winking at me.
"As you think."
We looked for a parking spot for a while, but finally found one. It wasn't that big of a problem, because when you want to go clubbing, you definitely don't take your car with you.I followed Bitna towards the club. She went around the long line and didn't stop at all. I'm not at all surprised by the people who looked at us so badly, because they must have been standing here for some time.
She went straight to SBS and started talking to him.
"Hi Jin, how are you?"
"Ah Bitna, I haven't seen you here in a while."
"You know, there's just not always that much time."
"Well, it was nice to see you anyway. Come on, spin it there."
SBS moved the chain away so we could pass. It never ceases to amaze me how Bitna manages to make almost every man fall at her feet. I should learn it from her. If I was half as good as her, Hyeon-woo would be with me now. We would watch some romantic movie, eat popcorn and laugh at the cheesy scenes.
"Before you ask, my friend owns it here. I don't think I ever mentioned it to you. Since you don't like such things, I thought it was unnecessary," said Bitna, turning to me.
"Hey are you even listening to me?"
"Ah yes, sorry." My thoughts were once again scattered in all directions, just not the ones I would have liked.
"Let's go find a place and have something to drink, what do you say?" she smiled, basically didn't even wait for my answer and led me to the bar.
When we were seated, we were almost immediately approached by a young and quite handsome bartender.
"So what will it be for you beautiful ladies?"
"Let's have two glasses of Soju. For a start," she said, winking at him. Maybe it will be the wink that always gets everyone. Even me.
"It will be right away," said the barman and began to pick out glasses.
Suddenly I heard someone's voice next to me. "Excuse me, do you mind if I join you?" he asked. It was beautiful, velvety and foreign.
I turned to see who was talking to me and that's when our eyes met.